NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Children and Young People’s Survey report published26 March 2025 ​​The 2024 Jersey Children and Young People’s Survey report has been released today by Statistics Jersey.   Every Jersey child in school years 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 were invited to take part in the… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    26 March 2025

    ​​The 2024 Jersey Children and Young People’s Survey report has been released today by Statistics Jersey.   

    Every Jersey child in school years 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 were invited to take part in the survey during school time in the Autumn Term of 2024. Home-educated students also had the opportunity to take part. Translations into Portuguese and polish were also available to the students.  Student participation was voluntary and anonymous. 

    Conducted independently by Statistics Jersey, the survey included topics requested by a range of stakeholders across government to support their work in children’s services. 

    Questions were age appropriate and covered a range of social topics such as health, food, exercise, bullying, alcohol, smoking and drugs. New topics this year included questions on religion, leisure time, criminal child exploitation and attitudes to gender stereotypes. Some sections (e.g. drugs and sex) were not included, or were amended, for the younger children’s versions of the questionnaire. 

    The survey in various forms has been run since 1998, enabling changes in behaviours and attitudes to be monitored over time. The results from the survey will allow everyone in the Island to better understand life from a child’s perspective, and help in the decision-making of those providing services to children.  

    Statistics Jersey wishes to thank the young people who took part in the survey. 

    2024 Jersey Children and Young People’s Survey report​​​​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stay Safe on Shared Paths

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    26/03/25

    With weather improving over spring, people using shared paths in Dundee are being urged to show consideration for others as more walkers, wheelers and cyclists take to the network. 

    The reminder is being issued by a senior councillor, who is encouraging people to get out and make the most of Dundee’s shared paths, which include the 26-mile Green Circular. 

    Councillor Siobhan Tolland, depute convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure, said: “Dundee has many shared paths that are a great way of travelling round the city and I hope as many people as possible get out and enjoy them during the coming months.  

    “I’d like to take this opportunity to remind them to show consideration to other users of these paths. 

    “This network is a great asset to help improve health and wellbeing and I would like it to remain a safe environment for everyone.” 

    Top tips for shared paths include: 

    • When it’s dark, or in dull conditions, make sure you are visible to others, cyclists should use lights at night. 

    • Be particularly careful at junctions, bends, entrances onto the path, or any other ‘blind spots’ where people could appear in front of you without warning. 

    • Please be aware, especially of more vulnerable users such as older people, people with small children, people in wheelchairs, or the hearing or visually impaired.   

    • When riding a bike, ring a bell well in advance if approaching people from behind, but remember, this might not always be enough to alert people that you’re coming. 

    More details on Dundee’s shared paths can be found on the City Council’s website here  

    Leader tours new Drumgeith Community Campus and Greenfield Academy

    Leader tours new Drumgeith Community Campus and Greenfield Academy

    Dundee City Council leader Councillor Mark Flynn visited the site of the new Drumgeith Community Campus and Greenfield Academy on Wednesday March 19 to see progress on the £100 million…

    19/03/25

    Dundee’s traditional Christmas offering announced

    Dundee’s traditional Christmas offering announced

    Dundee City Council has announced its plans for the city’s 2025 festive period including the return of a Christmas tree to City Square, a Christmas lights switch-on event and the continuation of…

    17/03/25

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Baroness Finn resigns from the Committee on Standards in Public Life

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Baroness Finn resigns from the Committee on Standards in Public Life

    Baroness Finn, the Conservative member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has resigned from the Committee with effect from 26 March 2025.

    © House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris

    Doug Chalmers, Chair of the Committee, thanked Baroness Finn for her service to the Committee over the past three years.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – Triple J Hack with Dave Marchese

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    PRESENTER DAVE MARCHESE: So, let’s get into this a bit more now with Anne Aly, the Youth Minister. Minister, thank you very much for joining us on Hack. The government hoping to pass its tax cuts for all Australians. The Opposition, calling them a cruel hoax, says Labor’s bribing voters. Are you bribing voters?

    MINISTER ANNE ALY: No, these are tax cuts. And I think that every Australian out there who knows the value of the dollar, particularly for young people, for whom cost of living is a particularly acute issue that’s impacting on them every day, knows exactly what it means to have an extra dollar or two or three or four in your pay packet. These are pretty significant tax cuts. They build on the tax cuts that we already gave. And everyone will remember that if it was up to the Coalition, people earning under $45,000 —which is a lot of young people —would have got absolutely zero, zilch, nothing, nada in terms of tax cuts, according to their plan for tax cuts. So, they voted against the tax cuts today. Shows exactly where their heads are at when it comes to giving a little bit of cost-of-living relief.

    MARCHESE: But is it fair everyone gets them? Like, do you think it’s fair that a nurse is going to be paying for a tax cut for someone like an MP, like a politician, you.

    ALY: Well, we all pay tax according to what we earn. One of the important things to note is bringing the lower tax bracket down to 14,000. And I think, you know, I think most Australians understand the more you earn, the more tax you pay. So, if you’re going to get a tax cut, of course it’s going to be a bigger tax cut.

    MARCHESE: But I guess people are asking, why not give more relief to those who need it, those who below the poverty line? Because there are some people out there saying, we don’t need this.

    ALY: Whether it’s like the largest, you know, increase in rent assistance, 45 per cent increase in rent assistance. Whether it’s increasing JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy. You know. The increases that we’ve made to the minimum wage, the increases that we’ve made in industrial relations to allow wages to increase. Whether it’s energy bill, rebates, medicines, cost of medicines, bringing the cost of medicines down, particularly also for young people, the HECS debt, saving them an average of $5,500. So, it’s not just the tax cuts in isolation. And I don’t think you could ever just give cost of living relief through one mechanism.

    MARCHESE: You mentioned HECS, which is obviously something a lot of our listeners are really keen to hear reform on. You’re promising to cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debts, but only if you’re re-elected. Why do people have to wait for this? Why do students have to wait? Because the government’s had three years.

    ALY: I think it’s got to do with like setting everything up and everything like that. To be honest, you know, that’s more of a question for the Minister for Education around the timing of it as well…

    MARCHESE: It does affect young people though, and you’re the Youth Minister.

    ALY: It does, but the thing is. Yeah, yeah, you’re right there, Dave, I’ll give you that one. But look, I think the thing is that we’ve been doing a whole lot of reform across the whole education sector. Now when you get into government, there’s a whole lot of stuff that you have to do and you do them – you know, sometimes it’s incremental, sometimes you can do things straight away, sometimes you can’t do things straight away. I tell you what, if I had a magic wand or some kind of superpower, I would have loved to have done everything straight away.

    MARCHESE: But do you understand why some voters might think, well, it is a bribe. It’s only if I vote that I get this relief that I’ve needed not just this year but for years.

    ALY: I guess that is kind of reflective of also a more broader cynicism towards politics where every measure that we do is, you know, put into the basket of, oh, well that’s just a bribe or that’s just a bribe…

    MARCHESE: Or is it people just saying you’ve had three years and why can’t we see these changes in your term of government? Is it time to give someone else a go?

    ALY: Well, if they give someone else a go, that someone else is Peter Dutton. I can guarantee you he’s not going to give you any cuts off your HECS debt. I can guarantee you he’s not going to give you any cost-of-living relief. I can guarantee you he’s not going to fix the indexation or give you a fee-free TAFE. In fact, they voted against all of those things.

    MARCHESE: Alright, this is Hack. I’m Dave Marchese getting into the details of the budget with Youth Minister Anne Aly. Hearing from you on the text line. Someone says doing better than the coalition is not a flex. Someone else ‘This is so disappointing and disgusting, never ever voting Labor or Liberal again. And I know a lot of young people doing the same.’ Minister hearing loud and clear from the Hack audience, a lot of them asking about the long term because it is deficits as far as the eye can see. Young Australians are going to be the ones dealing with all this. Is there any plan for how we’re going to pay all of this off in the years ahead?

    ALY: Yeah, you know, I hear the term deficit and surplus. I’ll remind everyone that we did deliver two surpluses in a row and that there are a lot of global headwinds that contribute to the deficits and that the Treasurer has been very upfront in saying that we will be looking at deficits largely due to a lot of global kind of economic trends and activities. I’m not, you know, for the young people that I speak to, Dave, and I do speak to a lot of young people, not just in this portfolio. The starkest and most acute issue is what is impacting on their life currently and that is cost-of-living and that is being able to have the kind of life that they see that their parents had.

    MARCHESE: But that won’t be possible if there’s all this debt that has to be paid off later. Like Australia is spending $50 billion more per year than we’re collecting in tax. Shouldn’t we be seeing some sort of structural changes in the budget that will paint a picture of how this is all going to be dealt with in the future, how young Australians are going to deal with this.

    ALY: Well, the Treasurer has talked about how we’ve made some structural reform and structural repair of the budget too in terms of banking revenue back into the budget and continuing to bank revenue into the budget as well. What I think I would say is that, you know, in some senses deficit is, as the Treasurer said, unavoidable when there are global kind of economic headwinds at play that we have little control over. The role of a government, a responsible government, particularly at a time where there is high inflation and where people are facing real cost of living pressures, is to really ensure that we give that cost of living, ease those cost-of-living pressures without putting upward pressure on inflation. And we’ve managed to bring inflation down. I think one of the things that you’re talking about here is, you know, long term vision. I would say to you, and I would probably agree with the point that it’s when you have three year terms in government which actually effectively work out to about two and a half years of actually being able to work in your role as a Minister or as a representative in Parliament, it’s very difficult to instigate and put into place really long term reform.

    MARCHESE: But that is the system that we have, and we’ve had for a long time. And I mean, some of the concern here that we’re hearing from listeners. You’ve got someone on Hack’s Instagram now, Danny, that says, you know, ‘This isn’t a budget, it’s a slap in the face’, is that people think that they’ve been promised something that hasn’t been delivered. That when Anthony Albanese was pitching to be in government at the last election, he was saying nobody would be left behind. But the reality is now we’ve had the biggest fall in disposable income in the OECD over the past two years, that people are feeling worse off than they were a few years ago at that last election. How do you convince young Australians to vote for you with all of that in mind?

    ALY: Oh, we’re not sugarcoating anything here, Dave. We know that people are doing it tough. We know that. But I would say to young people and indeed, you know, all Australians, have a look at what we have done. Have a look at what we have managed to achieve in a situation where many, many other countries have been unable to achieve what we have. And, you know, it was, Peter Dutton said it the other day, he said judge people by their actions. And I would say if you were to judge the Labor government over the last two and a half years by the actions that we have taken to stave off for Australians some of the most egregious and worst impacts that we could have had, with global inflation being what it is, with the global economic headwinds being what they are, I think that if you looked at what we’ve done I think we have a good story to tell. By no means does that mean everything is hunky dory and everyone’s doing, you know, ‘beauty one mate’. But it does mean that we are conscious of people doing it tough. There’s more work to do.

    MARCHESE: I didn’t expect you to quote Peter Dutton in your pitch to voters, Anne Aly. But look, thank you very much for joining us. Youth Minister Anne Aly appreciate you coming on Hack.

    ALY: Thaks so much Dave. Appreciate you having me on.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – DREDGING WORK AT MĀLA BOAT RAMP STARTS NEXT WEEK, March 25, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – DREDGING WORK AT MĀLA BOAT RAMP STARTS NEXT WEEK, March 25, 2025

    Posted on Mar 25, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

    DREDGING WORK AT MĀLA BOAT RAMP STARTS NEXT WEEK

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

    March 25, 2025

     

    LAHAINA, Maui – The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has awarded a contract to American Marine Corporation for dredging work to remove accumulated sediment at the Māla Boat Ramp and entrance channel, which will include temporary stockpiling and upland disposal/reuse of dredged material.

     

    Dredging work is scheduled to begin on March 31, 2025, with an estimated completion date of late September 2025. The project cost is $1,061,000.

     

    The boat ramp and entrance channel are expected to remain open throughout the duration of the project, but users should be aware that there may be intermittent interruptions. The contractor will work closely with users to ensure impacts are kept to a minimum.

     

    “We recognize the importance Māla Ramp has to west Maui users, especially with Lahaina Harbor closed for rebuilding, and we want to thank the users for their patience while DOBOR worked on funding and regulatory approvals to get this project started,” said Meghan Statts, DOBOR Administrator. “We also want to thank the legislature for providing the funding and the Governor for working quickly to release the funding.”

     

    # # #

     

    RESOURCES

    (All images/video Courtesy: DLNR)

     

    HD Video – Māla Wharf (April 9, 2024):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5kmsyea6br3qgqgcgr62n/mala_wharf-_april_9-_2024-1080p.mp4?rlkey=w84ch0nhp64ws23o6f146844y&st=84564f90&dl=0

     

    HD Video – Māla Wharf (Sept. 26, 2023):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2b2nvvrhqqi7to5u9e614/mala_wharf-_sept._26-_2023-1080p.mp4?rlkey=vn70vkqcoc0eixxum7qdah34r&st=58gy5j7n&dl=0

     

    Photographs – Māla Wharf, Maui (April 9, 2024):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/mygdf9v138do1vrt26gf5/AAuUvnbvQ4ycHfFRK8xUWYI?rlkey=7yz5mg2eui36yvrbefkg8e2kc&st=0jdaoam1&dl=0

     

    Photographs – Māla Wharf, Maui (Sept. 26, 2023):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dedgvltgjwlk70m6qrbrn/AEbgRTbkzB6r2e0UISUp8c8?rlkey=wnfreuernlnisfx8r4auxhv2d&st=x7nyfji5&dl=0

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

    808-587-0396 

    Email: [email protected] 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Effectiveness of online tools against disinformation – E-000327/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Under the Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] providers of very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) are required to assess the risks to which their service gives rise in relation to civic discourse, electoral processes and public security, and to put in place measures to mitigate such risks, while protecting the fundamental rights of their users and of persons affected by their services, in particular the right to freedom of expression under the EU Charter of Fundamental rights[2].

    The DSA does not prescribe fact-checking as a measure mitigating such risks. Rather, providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs are required to put in place reasonable, proportionate and effective mitigation measures, tailored to the specific systemic risks identified, which may include fact-checking.

    Adherence to the Code of Conduct on Disinformation (the Code)[3], may constitute an appropriate risk mitigation measure in relation to the risk of disinformation.

    The Code is a set of voluntary commitments to which providers of online platforms may adhere to address the risks that arise from the dissemination of disinformation online.

    Adherence to a code of conduct does not in itself presume compliance with the DSA. The effectiveness of specific mitigation measures needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

    The Commission also provides substantial support to initiatives involving civil society organisations such as the European Digital Media Observatory[4].

    The Commission is continuously monitoring the compliance of VLOPs and VLOSEs with the DSA and can open proceedings, should this be necessary.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the Parliament and the Council (OJ 2022/2065).
    • [2] Enshrined in Article 11 of the Charter on freedom of expression.
    • [3] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/code-conduct-disinformation
    • [4] https://edmo.eu/
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Potential security risks and geopolitical implications of the Iran-Venezuela alliance for the EU – E-000309/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) is aware that Venezuela cooperates with Russia on defence matters, conducting joint military exercises and receiving military training.

    Iran has maintained oil deals with Caracas in order to circumvent sanctions and obtain financial resources. The EU monitors those developments closely.

    The rapprochement between Caracas, Moscow and Tehran is of concern due to potential impact on democratic stability in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and on the EU-LAC partnership.

    As the HR/VP said at the Munich Security Conference[1], the EU has to keep united and work with allies, including the United States, to counter the attempts of Russia, Iran and others to team up against the EU.

    For this reason, it is crucial to continue supporting the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, to promote an enabling environment for civil society and to uphold human rights.

    Working together with key international and regional partners is essential to foster a Venezuelan-led democratic resolution to the crisis.

    In doing so, the EU will pursue targeted engagement to address concerns and facilitate meaningful dialogue on human rights and the transition to democracy.

    The EU will continue to protect shared values and mutual interests in Latin America. The EU has mobilised all its foreign policy instruments to foster democracy in Venezuela, including targeted sanctions against those responsible for undermining democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and by putting in place an embargo on arms and equipment used for repression.

    • [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/munich-security-conference-press-remarks-high-representativevice-president-kaja-kallas-upon-arrival_en?channel=eeas_press_alerts&date=2025-02-14&newsid=0&langid=en&source=mail
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Paragon spyware scandal and the surveillance of European journalists and civil society organisations – P-000589/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the recent reports on the use of Paragon. Its position on the use of spyware is clear: any attempts to illegally access citizens data, including journalists and political opponents, is unacceptable, if confirmed.

    The Commission closely followed the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of the Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA).

    Based on the PEGA report and recommendations, as well as its own fact-gathering exercise, the Commission will decide on the most appropriate way forward.

    The data protection and privacy acquis offers comprehensive protection to the confidentiality of communications and users’ personal data.

    EU data protection law is applicable to the processing of personal data by private entities, even where such processing is required for national security purposes.

    Under the ePrivacy Directive[1], the interception or surveillance of communications is prohibited without the consent of the user. While restrictions are permitted for important public objectives, they are subject to conditions and safeguards.

    The Law Enforcement Directive[2] is also applicable when competent authorities process personal data for law enforcement purposes. Supervisory authorities also have effective powers to examine any allegations of misuse, and data processed can also be subject to judicial review.

    On 8 August 2025, Article 4(3)(c) of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)[3] will become applicable. This and other safeguards in EMFA should ensure free and independent media across the EU and protect them against interference. The Commission will use all the tools at its disposal to ensure effective compliance with this provision.

    • [1] Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications), OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37.
    • [2] Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA
      OJ L 119, 4.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1083
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Lack of transparency, misuse of public funds and assurance of sound management in European institutions – E-000405/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) provides financial support for the functioning of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), supporting civil society’s participation to policy making. The Commission has no indication that ongoing LIFE operating grants breach the LIFE Regulation[1] or the EU Financial Regulation[2].

    Operating grants are awarded competitively, and applicants submit proposals that include the description of their work-programmes of activities in areas under the LIFE Regulation.

    This description is annexed to the grant agreement. The work programme may mention, among other activities, advocacy activities. The Commission does not prescribe the specific activities.

    The Commission agrees that funding agreements involving specifically detailed activities directed at EU institutions and some of their representatives, even if they do not breach the legal framework, may entail a reputational risk for the EU.

    To mitigate this risk, the Commission issued guidance[3] clarifying which activities should not be mandated as a requirement for EU financing.

    The Commission adheres strictly to its transparency obligations[4] by publishing information about LIFE recipients and the amounts received in the Financial Transparency System[5] and on the LIFE website[6]. In addition, the Commission proactively shares the objectives and outcomes of funded projects on the Funding and Tenders Portal[7].

    Furthermore, interest representatives are required to report their lobbying activities and main funding sources as well as the amount of each contribution above EUR 10 000 exceeding 10% of their total budget in the Transparency Register[8].

    • [1] LIFE Regulation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng
    • [2] Financial Regulation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202402509
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/guidance-funding-dev-impl-monit-enforce-of-eu-law_en.pdf
    • [4] Article 38 of the Financial Regulation requires publishing information about recipients and does not require the disclosure of advocacy activities funded through grant agreements.
    • [5] Financial T ransparency System https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/index.html
    • [6] https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en
    • [7] EU Funding and Tenders Portal https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home
    • [8] Transparency Register https://transparency-register.europa.eu/index_en
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Start of trials in relation to Tunisian conspiracy case – E-001073/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001073/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE)

    On 4 March 2025, the trial in relation to case 36/6835 started in Tunisia. This case concerns the prosecution of 40 individuals, including political opponents, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders, who stand accused of several serious charges, including ‘conspiracy against the internal and external security of the State’. Some of these individuals have been in pre-trial detention since 10 February 2023. Experts refer to the case as ‘the conspiracy case’ and have expressed concerns about the instrumentalisation of judicial institutions for political purposes by the Tunisian authorities and the lack of independence of the Tunisian courts. Human Rights Watch expressed concerns[1] about the lack of evidence and several major legal flaws.

    • 1.What is the Commission’s view on case 36/6835, and does it have sufficient trust in the independence of the Tunisian judiciary to guarantee the right to fair trial for the individuals charged, and on what basis?
    • 2.Has the Commission engaged in dialogue with the Tunisian authorities about this specific case and will the Delegation of the EU to Tunisia monitor the trial?
    • 3.Can the Commission provide an overview of the specific funding, including under the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, directly or indirectly benefiting the Tunisian Ministries of Justice and the Interior?

    Submitted: 12.3.2025

    • [1] https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/05/abusive-conspiracy-trial-opens-tunis.
    Last updated: 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on energy-intensive industries – B10-0199/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Giorgio Gori, Wouter Beke, Jana Nagyová, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Brigitte van den Berg, Benedetta Scuderi
    on behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

    B10‑0199/2025

    European Parliament resolution on energy-intensive industries

    (2025/2536(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the report of September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘On the future of European competitiveness’,

    – having regard to the report of April 2024 by Enrico Letta entitled ‘Much more than a market’,

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘Action Plan for Affordable Energy’ (COM(2025)0079),

    – having regard to the question to the Commission on energy-intensive industries (O‑000010/2025 – B10‑0000/2025),

    – having regard to Rules 142(5) and 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

    A. whereas energy-intensive industries (EIIs) account for a significant share of the EU’s economy and play a key role in job creation, especially in areas and regions where they are concentrated; whereas EIIs are crucial for the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness, as well as for decarbonisation, taking into account their energy footprint;

    B. whereas the transition to a decarbonised economy and a clean energy system must lead to reducing energy prices and must take into account all available technologies that contribute to reaching the EU’s net zero goal for 2050 in the most cost-efficient way, avoiding lock-in effects and taking into account the different energy mix across Member States, including with regard to renewables and nuclear;

    C. whereas electrification is at the centre of the decarbonisation of EIIs; whereas EIIs include sectors that use fossil resources to meet temperature, pressure or reaction requirements, such as chemicals, steel, paper, plastics, mining, refineries, cement, lime, non-ferrous metals, glass, ceramics and fertilisers, for which greenhouse gas emissions are hard to reduce because they are intrinsic to the process or because of high capital or operating expenditure costs or low technological maturity;

    D. whereas the energy price gap between the EU and the US and China undermines the competitiveness of the EU’s industries; whereas elevated and volatile fossil fuel prices heavily affect electricity prices and the affordable cost of renewable energy sources is not transferred to energy bills;

    E. whereas an insufficiently integrated energy union poses further challenges to EIIs, in particular in relation to the lack of cross-border interconnections and the limited availability of clean energy, owing to lengthy permitting procedures or high capital or operating expenditures, as well as grid congestion;

    F. whereas the emissions trading system (ETS) provided long-term investment signals and helped bring down the emissions of ETS sectors by 47 %; whereas the energy market has profoundly changed since the introduction of the ETS, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the shift from pipeline gas to liquid natural gas (LNG); whereas a lack of carbon market transparency risks hampering EIIs’ competitiveness; whereas ETS revenues are used unevenly across Member States, failing to adequately support EIIs’ decarbonisation;

    G. whereas unnecessary regulatory burdens and lengthy permitting procedures undermine the business case for investing in decarbonisation in Europe; whereas the concept of overriding public interest is provided for in EU legislation; whereas complex and fragmented EU funding impedes timely investment in net-zero technologies and digitalisation, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

    H. whereas the lack of necessary private investment risks hindering EIIs’ decarbonisation; whereas relying excessively on State aid can have the unwanted consequences of exacerbating disparities and distorting competition across the EU;

    I. whereas the EU’s dependencies and limited access, both in quantity and quality, to primary and secondary raw materials pose significant challenges to EIIs; whereas circularity and efficiency can help reduce the annual investment needs in industry and in energy supply; whereas currently, ferrous metals exported to non-EU countries account for more than half of all EU waste exports, raising concerns about their sound treatment;

    J. whereas unfair competition from non-EU countries, including subsidised overcapacity, poses a great challenge to EU companies; whereas many regions around the world do not currently have ambitious decarbonisation targets, thus increasing the risk of carbon leakage;

    K. whereas a profound transformation of EIIs cannot succeed without the involvement of local and regional communities, workers and social partners, which are heavily affected by the transition;

    1. Reiterates its commitment to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives and to stable and predictable climate and industrial policies;

    2. Calls on the Member States to accelerate permitting and licensing processes for clean energy projects, ensuring administrative capacity, and to facilitate grid connections to enable clean, on-site energy generation, especially in remote areas; stresses that the growth of renewables and electrification will require massive investment in grids and in flexibility, storage and distribution networks; calls on the Commission to develop, beyond the concept of overriding public interest, solutions for speeding up decarbonisation projects;

    3. Believes that further action is needed to implement the electricity market design (EMD) rules, especially to promote power purchase agreements (PPAs) and two-way contracts for difference (CfDs) to reduce volatility and energy costs for EIIs; calls on the Commission to propose urgent measures to address current barriers to the signing of long-term agreements, especially for SMEs, using risk reduction instruments and guarantees, including public guarantee such as by the European Investment Bank (EIB); suggests that additional ways to decouple fossil fuel prices from electricity prices be explored, in the framework of the EMD, including with the aim of boosting long-term contracts in line with the affordable energy action plan, and by advancing the analysis of short-term markets to 2025;

    4. Calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of scaling up best practice for EIIs from Member States, such as Italy’s energy release; calls on the Commission to develop recommendations for reducing the exposure of consumers, and especially EIIs, to rising energy costs, such as by reducing taxes and levies and harmonising network charges, while ensuring public investment in grids;

    5. Calls for the enhancement of energy system integration, in particular in relation to cross-border interconnections, to ensure clean and resilient energy supply; asks for increased investment in flexibility, such as storage, including pumped storage hydropower and heat and waste heat storage, and demand response, to optimise grid stability; recalls the importance of energy efficiency in bringing costs down;

    6. Underlines the need to phase out natural gas as soon as possible; stresses that some sectors cannot rely substantially on electrification in the short to medium term; calls on the Member States – over the same time span and for these limited sectors – to develop measures to address gas price spikes in duly justified cases; calls on the Commission to develop tools to ensure gas supply at a mitigated cost, by enabling demand aggregation, building on AggregateEU, and joint gas purchasing, while keeping decarbonisation objectives; highlights the importance of encouraging stable contracts with gas suppliers, diversifying supply routes and improving market transparency and stability, in line with current legislation; calls for an impact assessment in the upcoming ETS review to analyse the relationship between the gas market and CO2 prices and the role of the market stability reserve and its parameters;

    7. Calls on the Commission to support EIIs in adopting clean and net-zero technologies, including hydrogen, and energy-efficient production methods by strengthening funding mechanisms and ensuring that ETS revenue is used effectively by Member States; calls for EU-level support to be complemented by State aid that allows for targeted support to EIIs, while preserving a level playing field within the single market;

    8. Calls for InvestEU to be topped up before the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and for leftover Resilience and Recovery Facility loans to support investment in EII decarbonisation; notes that the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform already allows for flexibility within current programmes but that this is insufficient; insists that the upcoming MFF increase funding to support EIIs, building on the Innovation Fund and the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy or through the competitiveness fund; stresses that the European Hydrogen Bank and the carbon contracts for difference programme need to be scaled up; calls on the Commission to build on the Net-Zero Industry Act[1] in the upcoming decarbonisation accelerator act, to streamline the processes for granting permits and strategic project status;

    9. Stresses the need to simplify bureaucratic procedures to enhance the attractiveness of private investment and support EIIs’ transition; believes that both InvestEU and the EIB are pivotal in catalysing private financing, especially through de-risking measures;

    10. Emphasises the need to secure access to critical raw materials; stresses that the upcoming circular economy act should improve resource efficiency, including through better waste management of products containing critical raw materials, as well as fostering the demand and availability of secondary raw materials; stresses the need to define those secondary raw materials that are strategic and that should be subject to export monitoring, such as steel and metal scrap, and to tackle any imbalance in their supply and demand, including by exploring export restrictions; insists on the effective enforcement of the Waste Shipment Regulation[2];

    11. Calls on the Commission to make full and efficient use of trade defence instruments; calls on the Commission to find a permanent solution to address unfair competition and structural overcapacity, before the expiry of current steel safeguard measures in 2026; calls on the Commission to engage with the US in relation to the announced tariffs on EU imports and avoid any harmful escalation;

    12. Stresses that an effective implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is essential to ensure a level playing field for EU industries and prevent carbon leakage, taking into account the impact of the parallel phasing out of the ETS free allowances and the risk of increased production costs; calls on the Commission to address the risks of resource shuffling and circumvention of the CBAM; asks, furthermore, for the implementation of an effective solution for EU exporters and an analysis of the possible extension to further sectors and downstream products, preceded by an impact assessment;

    13. Calls for the creation of lead markets for clean and circular European products, via non-price criteria in EU public procurement, such as sustainability and resilience and a European preference for strategic sectors, as well as by creating voluntary labelling schemes and minimum EU content requirements in a cost-effective way;

    14. Highlights the importance of a just transition to assist areas heavily reliant on EIIs, by keeping and creating quality jobs through upskilling and reskilling programmes for workers and through the effective use of regional support mechanisms, such as the Just Transition Fund and the Cohesion Fund; stresses that public support will be pivotal for the transition of EIIs and that this support should be tied to their commitment to safeguarding employment and working conditions and preventing off-shoring; welcomes the Union of Skills initiative to ensure a good match between skills and labour market demands;

    15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ ETFs Announces Distributions on PLTY (100.21%), MARO (75.43%), ULTY (75.27%), MRNY (69.46%), LFGY (61.87%), and Others

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ today announced distributions for the YieldMax™ Weekly Payers and Group B ETFs listed in the table below.

    ETF Ticker1 ETF Name Distribution Frequency Distribution per Share Distribution Rate2,4 30-Day
    SEC Yield3    		 ROC5 Ex-Date & Record Date Payment Date
    GPTY YieldMax™ AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly $0.2787 34.11% 0.00% 98.94% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    LFGY YieldMax™ Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF Weekly $0.4749 61.87% 0.00% 0.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    QDTY YieldMax™ Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call ETF Weekly $0.2711 – – 55.02% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    RDTY YieldMax™ R2000 0DTE Covered
    Call ETF    		 Weekly $0.3037 – – 100.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    SDTY YieldMax™ S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call ETF Weekly $0.2133 – – 0.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    ULTY YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF Weekly $0.0986 75.27% 0.00% 100.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    YMAG YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly $0.0837 27.36% 61.87% 21.53% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    YMAX YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs Weekly $0.1315 47.15% 85.03% 61.95% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    BABO YieldMax™ BABA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.7578 47.80% 2.36% 0.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    DIPS YieldMax™ Short NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.5851 61.41% 2.90% 96.87% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    FBY YieldMax™ META Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.5506 39.97% 3.47% 0.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    GDXY YieldMax™ Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.6394 50.38% 3.08% 0.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    JPMO YieldMax™ JPM Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.3717 28.32% 3.40% 42.17% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    MARO YieldMax™ MARA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $1.4783 75.43% 4.21% 95.22% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    MRNY YieldMax™ MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.1827 69.46% 5.01% 94.71% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    NVDY YieldMax™ NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $0.7874 57.94% 4.02% 100.00% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    PLTY YieldMax™ PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF Every 4 Weeks $5.3257 100.21% 2.63% 97.91% 3/27/25 3/28/25
    Weekly Payers & Group C ETFs scheduled for next week: GPTY LFGY QDTY RDTY SDTY ULTY YMAG YMAX ABNY AMDY CONY CVNY FIAT MSFO NFLY PYPY


    Performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling     (833) 378-0717.

    Note: DIPS, FIAT, CRSH and YQQQ are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs”.

    Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

    Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

       
    1 All YieldMax™ ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, YMAG and FEAT have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. FIVY has a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.59% for a gross expense ratio of 0.88%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio after the fee waiver of 1.30%. The Advisor has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.10% through at least February 28, 2026.
    2 The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on March 25, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.
    3 The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended February 28, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.
    4 Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
    5 ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage is the portion of the distribution that represents an investor’s original investment.
       

    Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

    Standardized Performance

    For YMAX, click here. For YMAG, click here. For TSLY, click here. For OARK, click here. For APLY, click here. For NVDY, click here. For AMZY, click here. For FBY, click here. For GOOY, click here. For NFLY, click here. For CONY, click here. For MSFO, click here. For DISO, click here. For XOMO, click here. For JPMO, click here. For AMDY, click here. For PYPY, click here. For SQY, click here. For MRNY, click here. For AIYY, click here. For MSTY, click here. For ULTY, click here. For YBIT, click here. For CRSH, click here. For GDXY, click here. For SNOY, click here. For ABNY, click here. For FIAT, click here. For DIPS, click here. For BABO, click here. For YQQQ, click here. For TSMY, click here. For SMCY, click here. For PLTY, click here. For BIGY, click here. For SOXY, click here. For MARO, click here. For FEAT, click here. For FIVY, click here. For LFGY, click here. For GPTY, click here. For CVNY, click here. For SDTY, click here. For QDTY, click here. For RDTY, click here.

    Important Information

    This material must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus. For all prospectuses, click here.

    Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs.

    THE FUND, TRUST, AND ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable to all YieldMax ETFs referenced above, except the Short ETFs)

    YMAX, YMAG, FEAT and FIVY generally invest in other YieldMax™ ETFs. As such, these two Funds are subject to the risks listed in this section, which apply to all the YieldMax™ ETFs they may hold from time to time.

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer periods.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTR, MARA, CVNA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Indirect Investment Risk. The Index is not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates and is not involved with this offering in any way.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GPTY)

    Artificial Intelligence Risk. Issuers engaged in artificial intelligence typically have high research and capital expenditures and, as a result, their profitability can vary widely, if they are profitable at all. The space in which they are engaged is highly competitive and issuers’ products and services may become obsolete very quickly. These companies are heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by loss or impairment of those rights. The issuers are also subject to legal, regulatory and political changes that may have a large impact on their profitability. A failure in an issuer’s product or even questions about the safety of the product could be devastating to the issuer, especially if it is the marquee product of the issuer. It can be difficult to accurately capture what qualifies as an artificial intelligence company.

    Technology Sector Risk. The Fund will invest substantially in companies in the information technology sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability.

    Risk Disclosure (applicable only to MARO)

    Digital Assets Risk: The Fund does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

    Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

    Depositary Receipts Risk: The securities underlying BABO and TSMY are American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

    Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

    Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

    Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

    Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

    The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

    YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

    Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

    Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

    Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

    Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

    Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

    Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer periods.

    Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

    Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

    Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

    Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

    Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

    High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

    Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

    Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

    New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

    Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

    Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

    Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

    Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

    Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

    Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

    Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

    YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, or YieldMax™ ETFs.

    © 2025 YieldMax™ ETFs

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Currency Exchange International Announces Voting Results from Annual General Meeting March 25, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Currency Exchange International, Corp. (the “Group” or “CXI”) (TSX: CXI; OTCBB: CURN) is pleased to announce the detailed voting results for the Company’s Annual General Meeting of shareholders held on March 25, 2025 (the “Meeting”). A total of 4,103,217 common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”), being 65.12% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as of the record date of February 5, 2025, were present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.

    The nominees listed in the management information circular dated February 5, 2025 were elected as directors of the Company at the Meeting. Detailed results of the vote are set out below:

    Nominee Votes For % Withheld %
    Chirag Bhavsar 2,967,242 91.41% 278,814 8.59%
    Chitwant Kohli 2,692,505 82.95% 553,551 17.05%
    Mark Mickleborough 2,692,505 82.95% 553,551 17.05%
    Randolph W. Pinna 3,233,413 99.61% 12,643 0.39%
    V. James Sardo 2,692,505 82.95% 553,551 17.05%
    Stacey Mowbray 2,615,505 80.57% 630,551 19.43%
    Daryl Yeo 2,698,396 83.13% 547,660 16.87%

    Shareholders also approved resolutions appointing Doane Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s auditors.

    For more information, please refer to the Company’s information circular dated February 5, 2025, available on its SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.com.

    About Currency Exchange International, Corp.

    Currency Exchange International is in the business of providing comprehensive foreign exchange technology and processing services for banks, credit unions, businesses, and consumers in the United States and select clients globally. Primary products and services include the exchange of foreign currencies, wire transfer payments, Global EFTs, and foreign cheque clearing. Wholesale customers are served through its proprietary FX software applications delivered on its web-based interface, www.cxifx.com (“CXIFX”), its related APIs with core banking platforms, and through personal relationship managers. Consumers are served through Group-owned retail branches, agent retail branches, and its e-commerce platform, order.ceifx.com (“OnlineFX”).

    The Group’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Exchange Bank of Canada, based in Toronto, Canada, provides foreign exchange and international payment services in Canada and select international foreign jurisdictions. Customers are served through the use of its proprietary software, www.ebcfx.com (“EBCFX”), related APIs to core banking platforms, and personal relationship managers.

    Contact Information

    For further information please contact:
    Bill Mitoulas
    Investor Relations
    (416) 479-9547
    Email: bill.mitoulas@cxifx.com
    Website: www.cxifx.com

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

    This press release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management’s expectations with respect to, among other things, the voluntary cessation of operations and discontinuance of Exchange Bank of Canada (EBC), the conclusion of referral agreements for customers and selected employees, regulatory approvals required for the discontinuance process, establishing direct correspondent banking relationships to support its U.S. payments business, the management of employee and customer transitions, the Company’s liquidity position during the cessation and discontinuance period, financial performance in fiscal 2025 and 2026, and the associated costs and outcomes of the cessation and discontinuance period in general. Forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “project,” “will,” “would,” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. 

    Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date such information is provided and on information available to management at such time. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in such forward-looking information. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in forward-looking information due to a number of factors including, without limitation, the inability of the Company to complete the cessation of EBC and discontinuance in accordance with applicable regulatory and legal requirements on a basis which is cost effective and protects the goodwill of the Company, an inability to establish direct correspondent banking relationships to support its U.S. payments business on terms which are economic or at all, the impact of delays or challenges in obtaining regulatory approvals, a failure to obtain the necessary approvals for referral agreements for customers and selected employees or an inability to conclude such arrangements on a basis which is beneficial to the Company and its selected employees, an inability to manage one-time wind-down costs and severance obligations on cost-effective basis, potential disruptions to operations during the transition period. the risk of reduced liquidity during the transition periods and, generally, the potential for unforeseen liabilities arising during or after the cessation of operations and discontinuance of EBC. 

    Additional risks include the ability of the Company to comply with regulatory requirements in general, the competitive nature of the foreign exchange industry, the impact of geo political changes, and trade wars on factors relevant to the Company’s business, currency exchange risks, the need for the Company to manage its planned growth, the effects of product development and the need for continued technological change, protection of the Company’s proprietary rights, the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry in which it operates, network security risks, the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems, theft and risk of physical harm to personnel, reliance on key management personnel, unexpected losses or challenges associated with customer attrition during the discontinuance, global economic deterioration negatively impacting tourism, volatile securities markets impacting security pricing in a manner unrelated to operating performance and impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital, as well as the factors identified throughout this press release and in the section entitled “Financial Risk Factors” of the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the twelve months ended October 31, 2024. 

    The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents management’s expectations as of the date hereof (or as of the date such information is otherwise stated to be presented) and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. 

    The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. No stock exchange, securities commission, or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this press release. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intchains Group Limited Announces Entry into Agreement for Registered Direct Offering of its ADSs and Warrants

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intchains Group Limited (Nasdaq: ICG) (“we,” “us” or the “Company”), a company that engages in the provision of altcoin mining products, the strategic acquisition and holding of Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies, and the active development of innovative Web3 applications, today announced it has entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Institutional Investor”) for a registered direct offering of 361,011 of its American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each ADS representing two Class A ordinary shares of the Company (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) at US$2.77 per ADS. The Company has also agreed to issue to the Institutional Investor warrants (the “Warrants” and, together with the ADSs, the “Securities”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 361,011 ADSs (representing 722,022 Class A Ordinary Shares), at an exercise price of $2.77 per ADS. The Warrants are exercisable at any time on or after the date of issuance and expire five years from the date of issuance. In addition, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to grant the Institutional Investor an additional purchase option to purchase up to an aggregate of $1.0 million of additional ADSs at the applicable per ADS purchase price determined pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement or at a price mutually agreed to by the parties. The Institutional Investor may exercise this option in whole or in part at any time during the period commencing on the effective date until 60 days after the closing of this offering, provided that the Institutional Investor may exercise this option only once during such period.

    The gross proceeds to the Company from the registered direct offering are estimated to be approximately $1.0 million before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

    The offering is expected to close on or about March 27, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The net proceeds from this offering will be used for upgrading our offerings of altcoin mining machines, with the remaining proceeds allocated to working capital and other general corporate purposes that support our long-term goals.

    The Benchmark Company, LLC is acting as the exclusive placement agent in connection with this Offering. These Securities are being offered through a prospectus supplement and a base prospectus pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-279865), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 9, 2024, and declared effective on August 5, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”).

    A prospectus supplement related to the offering will be filed with the SEC. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and these securities cannot be sold in any state in which this offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Any offer will be made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective Registration Statement.

    About Intchains Group Limited

    Intchains Group Limited is a company that engages in the provision of altcoin mining products, the strategic acquisition and holding of Ethereum-based cryptocurrencies, and the active development of innovative Web3 applications. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: https://intchains.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about: (i) our goals and strategies; (ii) our future business development, formed condition and results of operations; (iii) expected changes in our revenue, costs or expenditures; (iv) growth of and competition trends in our industry; (v) our expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, our products; (vi) general economic and business conditions in the markets in which we operate; (vii) relevant government policies and regulations relating to our business and industry; (viii) fluctuations in the market price of ETH-based cryptocurrencies; gains or losses from the sale of ETH-based cryptocurrencies; changes in accounting treatment for the Company’s ETH-based cryptocurrencies holdings; a decrease in liquidity in the markets in which ETH-based cryptocurrencies are traded; security breaches, cyberattacks, unauthorized access, loss of private keys, fraud, or other events leading to the loss of the Company’s ETH-based cryptocurrencies; impacts to the price and rate of adoption of ETH-based cryptocurrencies associated with financial difficulties and bankruptcies of various participants in the industry; and (ix) assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is per information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Intchains Group Limited

    Investor relations
    Email: ir@intchains.com

    Redhill

    Belinda Chan
    Tel: +852-9379-3045
    Email: belinda.chan@creativegp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trident Announces Strategic Collaboration with Two Global E-Commerce Firms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization services and Web 3.0 activation based in Singapore, today announced it has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with two partners in the e-commerce sector. Per the Collaboration Agreement, Trident will join forces with Silkoo Dutyfree Limited (“Silkoo”), an e-commerce retailer and import-export trader, and Haitu Trade Co., Limited (“Haitu”), an e-commerce entity specializing in beauty and cosmetics, to foster a synergistic partnership that drives business growth, enhances customer satisfaction, and promotes operational efficiency.

    The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in several key areas, including data analytics, strategic planning, supply chain optimization, platform integration, and customer experience enhancement. As a result of the collaboration, the parties hope to drive mutual growth through consumer data synergies, coordinated market strategies, optimized logistics networks in Southeast Asia, expanded inter-platform ecosystems, and the delivery of seamless, personalized customer experiences that foster loyalty and operational excellence.

    Each company will bring unique operational strengths to the table. Trident will contribute its sophisticated Web 3.0-based digital identity platform, Tridentity, which offers secure authentication across its diverse ecosystem of services including Tri-food, Tri-events, Tri-Buy, and TriVerse. This will create a comprehensive digital experience framework that can serve as the technological backbone for the partnership. Silkoo will provide extensive e-commerce expertise with its established presence in five Southeast Asian countries, along with valuable third-party merchant status on TikTok Global Shop that will drive substantial customer data acquisition and cross-border sales capabilities. Haitu will contribute specialized knowledge in cosmetics and beauty product distribution, bringing its successful experience as a proprietor of an overseas cosmetic account on Pinduoduo, which provides access to diverse global customer segments and market insights.

    Together, these complementary strengths aim to create a powerful alliance that combines Trident’s technological innovation, Silkoo’s regional e-commerce presence, and Haitu’s specialized product expertise to develop an integrated digital commerce ecosystem.

    Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, stated, “This strategic collaboration represents a significant milestone in our e-commerce journey. By combining our cutting-edge Tridentity platform with Silkoo’s e-commerce network and Haitu’s specialized expertise, we’re creating a powerful ecosystem that transcends traditional boundaries. Our partnership will leverage data analytics, streamlined supply chains, and optimized integration to deliver exceptional customer experiences across multiple touchpoints. Together, we endeavor to expand our market reach while fundamentally reimagining how digital commerce can seamlessly connect consumers with products and services throughout Southeast Asia and across the globe.”

    About Trident
    Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in digital optimization, technology services, and Web 3.0 activation worldwide based in Singapore. The Company offers commercial and technological digital solutions designed to optimize its clients’ experience with their end-users by promoting digital adoption and self-service.

    Tridentity, the Company’s flagship product, is an innovative and highly secure blockchain-based identity solution designed to provide secure single sign-on authentication capabilities to integrated third-party systems across various industries. Tridentity aims to offer unparalleled security features, ensuring the protection of sensitive information and preventing potential threats, thus promising a new secure era in the global digital landscape in general, and in Southeast Asia etc.

    Beyond Tridentity, the Company’s mission is to become the global leader in Web 3.0 activation, notably connecting businesses to a reliable and secure technological platform, with tailored and optimized customer experiences.

    About Silkoo
    Silkoo Dutyfree Limited is primarily engaged in the business of E-commerce, online retail, import and export and trading (electrical equipment, furniture, cosmetics, etc.) Silkoo also owns and operates the “Shepinport” intellectual property across five countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. As an authorised third-party merchant on TikTok Global Shop, Silkoo Dutyfree leverages the platform to drive customer data, traffic, and sales, offering a range of products to its customers.

    About Haitu
    Haitu Trade Co. Limited is a specialized e-commerce entity principally engaged in the online retail and distribution of cosmetics and beauty products. Notably, the company is the proprietor of an overseas cosmetic account on the Pin Duo Duo (PDD) platform, thereby leveraging this prominent digital marketplace to cater to a diverse customer base across different regions in the world.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    Investor and Media Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Robin Yang, Partner
    ICR, LLC
    Email: investor@tridentity.me
    Phone: +1 (212) 321-0602

    Media Relations
    Brad Burgess, SVP
    ICR, LLC
    Email: Brad.Burgess@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Odysight.ai Reports Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMER, Israel, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: ODYS), a leading provider of visual based predictive maintenance (PdM) and condition-based monitoring (CBM) solutions, announces its full year 2024 financial results and provides a business update.

    Key highlights

      ● 2024 annual revenues of approximately $4 million, reflecting YoY growth of 31%.
         
      ● Inaugural Aerospace revenues, increasing the backlog1 by more than 450% to approximately $15 million focused on Aerospace.
         
      ● Secured commercial agreements with a leading international defense contractor, Israeli Air Force, NASA, and Israel Railways successfully transitioning from the Medical to Aerospace vertical while expanding into Transportation.
         
      ● Uplisted to Nasdaq and raised gross proceeds of $23.7 million during February 2025; net cash position of approximately $39 million as of February 28, 2025.
         

    Yehu Ofer, Chief Executive Officer of Odysight.ai, stated: “We are excited with the increasing recognition Odysight.ai is receiving from prominent global companies in the Aerospace industry. We take pride in the substantial growth of our backlog and, based on discussions with clients and partners, we expect that this trend will continue in the foreseeable future. Odysight.ai’s successful shift from the medical sector to the high-value aerospace sector is already yielding positive results. Our next step is to offer our pioneering solutions, integrating AI-based video analytics and machine learning algorithms, on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. Looking ahead, we are excited to expand our reach into new markets, including transportation and energy, and leverage our innovative solutions to drive further growth. The future holds immense potential for Odysight.ai, and we are committed to capitalizing on these opportunities to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders.”

    Einav Brenner, Chief Financial Officer of Odysight.ai, stated: “We are pleased with our financial performance in 2024, which reflects our successful transition into the Aerospace sector and the growing demand for our innovative solutions. We believe our strong revenue growth and expanding backlog underscore the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives and our dedication to creating value for our shareholders. Additionally, our recent uplisting to Nasdaq and the successful capital raise of $23.7 million in gross proceeds have strengthened our financial position. We welcome new valued investors to our shareholder base and look forward to driving continued growth and innovation.”

    Financial highlights for full year ended December 31, 2024

    Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were approximately $4 million, compared to $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of approximately 31%. The increase was attributable to Industry 4.0 related revenues.

    Backlog reached approximately $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of over 450% compared to December 31, 2023.

    Cost of Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $2.8 million, compared to $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of approximately 11%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in revenues.

    Gross Profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $1.2 million, reflecting a gross margin of 29%, compared to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, with a gross margin of 17%. The improvement was attributable mainly to Industry 4.0 revenues.

    Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $13.7 million, compared to $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of approximately 23%. The increase was primarily due to the expansion of the Company’s operations, including the development of new Industry 4.0 products.

    Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $11.8 million, compared to $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    Cash Balance2 as of December 31, 2024 was $18.5 million, compared to approximately $17 million as of December 31, 2023. In July 2024, the Company completed a private placement raising gross proceeds of $10.3 million.

    In addition, during February 2025, the Company uplisted to Nasdaq and completed an underwritten public offering that resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $23.7 million.

    1Backlog is measured and defined differently by companies within our industry. We refer to “backlog” as our booked orders based on purchase orders or hard commitments but not yet recognized as revenue. Backlog is not a comprehensive indicator of future revenue and is not a measure of profitability. Orders included in backlog may be cancelled or rescheduled by customers. A variety of conditions, both specific to the individual customer and generally affecting the customer’s industry, may cause customers to cancel, reduce or delay orders that were previously made or anticipated. Projects may remain in backlog for extended periods of time.

    2Including cash, cash equivalents, short term deposits and restricted deposit.

    About Odysight.ai

    Odysight.ai is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.ai leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.ai’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.ai’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

    We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the Investors section of our website. For more information, please visit: https://www.odysight.ai or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

    Backlog

    We present our results of operations in a way that we believe will be the most meaningful and useful to investors, analysts, rating agencies and others who use our financial information to evaluate our performance. Backlog is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for any GAAP financial measures, including revenue or net income (loss), and, as calculated, may not be comparable to companies in other industries or within the same industry with similarly titled measures of performance. In addition, backlog should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Therefore, backlog should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding sustained demand for the Company’s products, the Company’s positive trajectory in commercializing its products and optimism about future growth. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.ai technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.ai’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.ai’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2025, and our other reports filed with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.ai undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Company Contact:

    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com
    Tel: +1-917-607-8654

    ODYSIGHT.AI INC. (Formerly known as ScoutCam Inc.)

    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

        Year ended December 31,  
        2024     2023  
        USD in thousands
    (except per share data)    		  
                 
    REVENUES     3,964       3,033  
    COST OF REVENUES     2,807       2,524  
    GROSS PROFIT     1,157       509  
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES     6,884       5,602  
    SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES     1,218       1,109  
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES     5,562       4,431  
    OPERATING LOSS     (12,507 )     (10,633 )
    OTHER INCOME     –       200  
    FINANCING INCOME, NET     740       988  
    LOSS BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME     (11,767 )     (9,445 )
    TAXES ON INCOME     –       –  
    NET LOSS     (11,767 )     (9,445 )


    ODYSIGHT.AI INC. (Formerly known as ScoutCam Inc.)

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

        December 31,  
        2024     2023  
        USD in thousands  
                 
    Assets                
                     
    CURRENT ASSETS:                
    Cash and cash equivalents     18,164       8,945  
    Restricted deposit     322       –  
    Short terms deposits     –       8,096  
    Accounts receivable     1,510       1,372  
    Inventory     203       504  
    Other current assets     588       432  
    Total current assets     20,787       19,349  
                     
    NON-CURRENT ASSETS:                
    Contract fulfillment assets     1,017       1,256  
    Property and equipment, net     407       477  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     1,113       1,380  
    Severance pay asset     259       271  
    Other non-current assets     96       96  
    Total non-current assets     2,892       3,480  
                     
    TOTAL ASSETS     23,679       22,829  
                     
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                
                     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
    Accounts payable     442       287  
    Contract liabilities – short term     702       527  
    Operating lease liabilities – short term     539       470  
    Accrued compensation expenses     1,124       546  
    Related parties     120       41  
    Other current liabilities     368       211  
    Total current liabilities     3,295       2,082  
                     
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
    Contract liabilities – long term     1,373       1,795  
    Operating lease liabilities – long term     508       856  
    Liability for severance pay     259       261  
    Other non-current liabilities     –       28  
    Total non-current liabilities     2,140       2,940  
                     
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     5,435       5,022  
                     
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                
    Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, 12,612,517 and 10,443,768 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023     13       10  
    Additional paid-in capital     64,205       52,004  
    Accumulated deficit     (45,974 )     (34,207 )
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     18,244       17,807  
                     
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     23,679       22,829  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic hosted a forum of student dormitory councils

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    At the end of March, more than 200 people gathered at the student council forum, the largest and most significant event for all activists of the student self-government of SPbPU dormitories. The event was held in the Student Club. The forum was organized by United Student Council of SPbPU Dormitories.

    The forum is not just an event within the walls of the Polytechnic University, it is a platform that has been uniting hundreds of people, dozens of student councils of dormitories and several universities for the fourth year. The forum is aimed at improving the quality of the results of our self-government, interaction and exchange of experience, increasing legal literacy, as well as creating connections between members of our organization, – noted the chairman of the United Student Council of the Polytechnic Dormitories Thomas Shochenmayer.

    This year the event was held on four tracks.

    Track one was a student council competition, where teams demonstrated their experience in self-government and developed competencies.

    Track two is a competition for class leaders, in which the students presented their projects to improve the quality of life of students in dormitories.

    Track three is the SPbPU OSS award. Its goal is to stimulate the work of student councils, identify and encourage best practices in 11 nominations (Leisure, Comfort, Adaptation, Rights, Self-realization, Health, Ecology, Safety, Work with foreign students, Information work, Corporate culture).

    Track 4 – “Lead with your heart”. A track aimed at improving the communication skills of potential leaders to improve their effectiveness in interacting with administrative bodies and other student organizations, as well as providing participants with effective tools for managing in dormitories.

    The training covered the most relevant topics for activists.

    “Values and motivation” (Anna Kalugina, director of the psychological support center “Tochka Opory”). “Teamwork and healthy communication” (Angelina Kulanova, acting director of the Student Club). “Grants without panic, or how to win from A to Z” (Maxim Ruzakov, head of the cultural and mass department of the OSS). “The art of negotiations” (Thomas Shochenmayer, chairman of the OSS SPbPU).

    The guys learned about team building, values and motivation for their activities. In practice, they solved cases, learned to negotiate, and also experienced the entire life cycle of the Dormitory Council.

    The forum has become larger. More strong teams, real leaders have appeared. It is now much more difficult to determine the best. New nominations have been added. The interest from universities in St. Petersburg and other cities has grown, – said Galina Melekhova, Deputy Director of the SPbPU Student City for Educational Work.

    The event was attended by over 30 guests from other universities: SPbGLTU, NovSU, SPSU and VShTE. They took part in the training track, and the chairmen of the student councils of the Mining University and the Higher School of Technology and Energy became experts of the competition.

    Director of the SPbPU Student City Vyacheslav Olshevsky emphasized: From year to year, the level of the forum is noticeably growing, gaining momentum, being brighter, more powerful, stronger. The guys get the necessary skills, pump up their competencies in various areas, especially in student self-government.

    All teams tried very hard to win, their performances were very bright, memorable. The jury had a difficult task: to determine the best among the best.

    Winners of the student council competition.

    1st place – hostel #3 2nd place – hostel #19 3rd place – hostel #6

    The team of foreign students from Dormitory No. 13 has been an active participant in the forum for the second year. Their projects were recognized as the best in three award nominations at once. The other winners were the teams from Dormitories No. 6 and No. 16.

    Svetlana Bakhtina from dormitory #6 won the competition among the seniors. Felix Zhumaliev from dormitory #11 came in second, and Karina Mokerova from dormitory #5 came in third.

    Link to the SSO forum group

    Photo: SPbPU Youth News Service

    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 Russia: Schoolchildren solved real engineering problems at the Polytechnic Olympiad

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The final stage of the Polytechnic Olympiad took place on March 23. On this day, more than one hundred schoolchildren took part in the in-person round, which took place simultaneously at three educational sites – at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, at the AMTEK Lyceum (Cherepovets), and at the specialized educational and scientific center of the North Caucasus Federal University (Stavropol).

    The Polytechnic Olympiad has been held since 2010. Over the years, it has become a platform for testing the knowledge and skills of thousands of students in subjects such as mathematics, chemistry, physics and computer science. The Olympiad has long established itself as one of the main competitions among high school students seeking to connect their lives with technical professions. However, in 2025, the concept of the event underwent significant changes. Polytechnic, being one of the leading engineering universities in the country, decided to focus on engineering sciences. This is due to the desire to prepare future engineers to solve real production problems that they will face after graduation.

    At the selection stage, the participants received an unusual task – they had to pass an interview at PolyTechCorp. To get to the final, the guys had to demonstrate knowledge in various areas of modern engineering. They researched the properties of complex materials, studied the features of modern alloys and composite materials, understood the operation of circuits and circuits, analyzed their characteristics and looked for optimal solutions. One of the tasks was the design of mechanisms and calculation of motion trajectories, which allowed the participants to immerse themselves in the real atmosphere of an engineer’s work.

    The finalists have already become part of a large engineering team, where they faced specific tasks similar to those that real engineers solve when creating and manufacturing products. One of the key tasks was to detect errors in the interns’ drawings. This allowed them not only to test their theoretical knowledge, but also to develop practical skills in analyzing and finding solutions under limited time.

    The tasks of the final stage tested not only the level of theoretical preparation of schoolchildren, but also the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. That is why the organizers allowed the participants to use any available sources of information, which made the competition even closer to real engineering activities.

    The Olympiad tasks seemed difficult but interesting to me. It was exciting to try myself in the role of a real engineer and take part in the production stages. Thanks to this experience, I feel more confident in technical disciplines and understand where I want to move on, – shared his impressions a participant in the final stage.

    The results of the Olympiad will be known in April. The winners and prize winners will be invited to a ceremonial award ceremony, where they will receive gifts and diplomas. A prize place in the Olympiad allows schoolchildren to receive 10 additional points when entering the Polytechnic University, which significantly increases the chances of successful enrollment.

    We are glad to see how the children show interest in engineering. Our goal is to create conditions in which schoolchildren can apply their knowledge in practice and feel like real professionals. It is important that the Olympiad tasks are based on real engineering problems that students will face in the future. Such events help to form a new generation of engineers ready for the challenges of the modern world, – noted the organizer of the Polytechnic Olympiad Evgeniya Lyzlova.

    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 Europe: United Nations – Adoption of the resolution on the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (25.03.25)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    France and Brazil welcome the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption, following more than 100 co-sponsorships, of a resolution extending the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition until 2030. The resolution, on their initiative, supports political momentum at every level to eradicate all forms of malnutrition, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

    On 27 and 28 March, France is hosting the Nutrition for Growth summit, which promotes a cross-cutting approach to development in the health, agriculture, water, hygiene and sanitation sectors. Malnutrition is a scourge that strikes every country in the world, with grave consequences, affecting nations’ human capital and development potential: 45 million children suffer from acute malnutrition and 150 million are plagued by chronic malnutrition. Overweight and obesity, as well as undernutrition in elderly people, are rapidly becoming more widespread.

    France and Brazil are committed to food and nutrition security through concrete initiatives such as the School Meals Coalition, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and the momentum generated by the Nutrition for Growth summit to identify new sources of funding and mobilize the international community.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Issuance strategy for 2025 is unchanged despite government financing of KommuneKredit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Danish Government and KommuneKredit have agreed that Danmarks Nationalbank, on behalf of the central government, will finance KommuneKredit at the central government’s financing costs, as soon as possible. Hereby, the public sector can reduce its total interest costs, since the central government finances its activities at a lower interest rate than KommuneKredit. The initiative is not considered to contribute to increased credit risk for the central government.

    The specific terms of financing will be negotiated between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, KommuneKredit, and Danmarks Nationalbank, which is responsible for government debt management on behalf of the Ministry of Finance.

    Danmarks Nationalbank looks forward to the future collaboration with KommuneKredit.

    Issuance strategy for 2025 is unchanged

    In 2025, the central government will finance KommuneKredit by drawing on the central-government account at Danmarks Nationalbank. Over time, financing will be covered by issuances of government securities, which in turn contributes to maintaining a well-functioning and liquid government debt market. Both EMU and central-government debt are unaffected by the initiative as the resulting rise in central-government liabilities will be offset by the corresponding increase in assets.

    Enquiries can be directed at Henrik Nørby on phone +45 3363 6525.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to defense white paper stressing importance of cross-strait peace to Europe issued by European Commission and EU high representative

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to defense white paper stressing importance of cross-strait peace to Europe issued by European Commission and EU high representative

    • Date：2025-03-20
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    March 20, 2025  

    The European Commission and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on March 19 issued the joint White Paper for European Defence—Readiness 2030. The paper expressed great concern over China’s rapid military buildup, noting that China was intensifying coercive political, economic, military, cyber, and cognitive measures against Taiwan. It emphasized that a shifting Taiwan status quo raised the risk of a major disruption that would have profound economic and strategic consequences for Europe.

     

    The white paper also underscored the paramount importance of critical raw materials to economic and industrial production, defense capabilities, and competitiveness, adding that they were increasingly a cause for competition and conflict as an aspect of power politics. It pointed out that an escalation of tensions across the Taiwan Strait could cut off EU access to critical materials, technologies, and components. The paper further called attention to the cross-border challenges posed by hybrid threats and cyberattacks, noting that these would be addressed by the EU through greater security cooperation with like-minded partners worldwide.

     

    In June 2023, the European Council summit adopted conclusions that for the first time included content highlighting EU concern over growing tensions across the Taiwan Strait and opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. This affirmed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are a common concern shared by the 27 EU member states. Last year, the European External Action Service (EEAS) issued statements in prompt response to China’s Joint Sword-2024A and Joint Sword-2024B military drills, stressing the strategic importance of cross-strait peace and stability to regional and global security and prosperity as well as the EU’s direct interest in the preservation of the Taiwan Strait status quo. 

     

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely welcomes and appreciates the EU’s continued close attention to developments across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific, intense concern over all forms of Chinese coercion targeting Taiwan, and staunch support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Minister Lin reiterates that Taiwan will steadily deepen cooperation and exchanges with the EU and other like-minded partners to jointly safeguard the core values of freedom and democracy, uphold the rules-based international order, and demonstrate to the world its determination to defend its democracy.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA sincerely thanks Belgian Chamber of Representatives for adopting resolution backing Taiwan and highlighting fact that UNGA Resolution 2758 takes no position on Taiwan

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA sincerely thanks Belgian Chamber of Representatives for adopting resolution backing Taiwan and highlighting fact that UNGA Resolution 2758 takes no position on Taiwan

    • Date：2025-03-21
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    March 21, 2025  

    No. 079  

    The Chamber of Representatives of Belgium adopted a resolution on March 20 expressing concern over the growing threat of China to Taiwan. It passed with an overwhelming majority of 126 votes in favor, none against, and 13 abstentions. The resolution called on the government of Belgium to condemn through diplomatic channels China’s increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan and to demand that China alleviate tensions, end all provocations, and respect the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. It further noted that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not take a position on Taiwan, and urged the Belgian government to clarify this fact at the United Nations. 

     

    In addition, the resolution advocated for the Belgian government to work with European partners to play an active role in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and pursue an economic agreement with Taiwan at the European Union-level to strengthen supply chain resilience. It also called on all levels of government in Belgium to collectively foster economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation with Taiwan; support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and other international organizations; and continue to enhance civil society and media exchanges with Taiwan to jointly combat disinformation. 

     

    The resolution was introduced by Representative Els Van Hoof, Co-president of the Belgium-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted Taiwan-friendly resolutions in November 2015 and July 2020. This latest resolution was the first to condemn China’s threats against Taiwan and the first to be passed by the current Belgian parliament since it opened last July, which was of special significance to the advancement of Taiwan-Belgium relations. 

     

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for its support and emphasizes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will build on the existing solid foundation to steadily deepen substantive exchanges and friendly cooperation between Taiwan and Belgium. (E) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya reaffirming importance of cross-strait peace in meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya reaffirming importance of cross-strait peace in meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang

    • Date：2025-03-23
    • Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

    March 23, 2025

    Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya met with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Tokyo on March 22. During the meeting, Minister Iwaya expressed concern over China’s military activities targeting Taiwan and reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait were of utmost importance to Japan and the international community. He also called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. 

    The government of Japan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of cross-strait peace and stability at major international events in recent years, urging the global community to pay attention to security across the Taiwan Strait. These events included the US-Japan summit and the trilateral meeting between the US secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, both in February, as well as the Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in March.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks Japan for continuing to follow security developments across the Taiwan Strait and staunchly supporting cross-strait peace and stability. He stresses that Taiwan has consistently welcomed international actions that contribute to safeguarding regional peace. Taiwan is committed to steadily enhancing its self-defense capabilities and bolstering cooperation with like-minded nations to jointly uphold peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA and Ministry of Agriculture to form new smart agriculture advisory team to promote Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    March 24, 2025
    No. 082

    In a cross-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on March 24, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih decided to form a new smart agriculture advisory team. The team will bring together public and private resources from the government, industry, academia, research institutions, the agricultural industry, and other sectors. In the spirit of integrated diplomacy, the new group will jointly implement a smart agriculture flagship plan under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. 

    Through coordination with diplomatic allies and friendly countries, the plan will enhance AI and digital technology applications in precision agriculture and other areas. Taiwan will work with partner countries to develop new smart agriculture, promote an agricultural Taiwan+n model (where n refers to a growing number of partners), and help the Taiwanese agricultural industry expand globally. Collaboration between Taiwan, partner countries, and friendly nations will also strengthen global food security, improve agricultural sustainability and resilience, and deliver a concerted response to the challenges of climate change.

    During the meeting at MOA, Minister Lin, Minister Chen, and their staff discussed how to expand agricultural cooperation projects with allies and friendly countries and create reciprocal and mutually beneficial business opportunities. They explored ways to assist countries in upgrading and transforming their farming sectors, increasing productivity and competitiveness, and achieving sustainable development. Potential avenues included technical cooperation, professional training, the establishment of demonstration sites, and business and investment matchmaking. The officials also discussed how to train young farmers and specialists in new smart agriculture both in Taiwan and target countries to give them a competitive edge.

    Meanwhile, the ministers deliberated on three key projects—expanding agricultural cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines under the Executive Yuan’s economic diplomacy task force, further promoting smart aquacultural cooperation with Palau to develop its tourism industry, and exploring the possibility of cooperation to establish a seedling center in the Caribbean. They also exchanged views on organizing an agricultural trade goodwill mission to the United States in September.

    The agricultural industry is the bedrock of Taiwan’s economy and food security. President Lai Ching-te’s National Project of Hope includes the promotion of agricultural transformation and advancement to achieve sustainable resilience. The Executive Yuan’s Smart Taiwan 2.0 initiative also develops creative applications across various sectors. Under these policies and based on the new agriculture section of the Five Plus Two Industrial Innovation program, Minister Lin has launched a raft of new initiatives. These include promoting the concept of new smart agriculture; expanding applications of AI and smart solutions in agricultural production, management, and marketing; collaborating with MOA’s smart agriculture alliances; transforming agriculture to become smarter and more sustainable; and creating an international fleet focused on Taiwan’s new smart agriculture.

    Looking ahead, MOFA and MOA will continue working with partners from various sectors to assist diplomatic allies and friendly countries in adopting smart agricultural technology to enhance food security, realize sustainable development, and create shared prosperity and mutual benefits. In line with President Lai’s vision for sustainable resilience, the ministries will further contribute to global agricultural development and food security. MOFA and MOA will jointly support the efforts of Taiwanese agricultural businesses to expand their presence in the international market and ensure that Taiwan remains a thriving global economic powerhouse. (E) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces Listing of Walrus (WAL) with 120,000 WAL and 70,000 USDT Prize Pools

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is pleased to announce the Walrus (WAL) listing on March 27, 2025(UTC). To celebrate this significant addition to the exchange, MEXC is launching two special events with a combined prize pool of 120,000 WAL and 70,000 USDT for participants.

    Walrus is an eagerly anticipated project in the blockchain space, bringing a fresh approach to decentralized data storage. Developed with technical guidance from Mysten Labs, the team behind SUI blockchain, Walrus addresses critical infrastructure challenges faced by Web3 applications. The innovative platform works by fragmenting data into smaller pieces and distributing them across a global network of nodes, which significantly enhances access speed and creates resilience against potential network disruptions. This architecture makes Walrus particularly effective for storing and retrieving both standard data and rich media content, solving a persistent pain point in the blockchain ecosystem. The total supply of the project’s tokens is 5,000,000,000 WAL.

    MEXC has prepared exclusive events to mark the WAL listing, offering substantial rewards for participants:

    Event 1: Airdrop+

    The Airdrop+ event will run from March 26 to April 5, 2025(UTC), offering:

    • Benefit 1: Deposit and share 120,000 WAL (New user exclusive)
    • Benefit 2: Futures Challenge – Trade to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus (For all users)
    • Benefit 3: Invite new users and share 20,000 USDT (For all users)

    Event 2: Spread the Word & Win 1,000 USDT Rewards

    From March 26 to April 1, 2025(UTC), users can share the Airdrop+ event on social media for a chance to win a share of the 1,000 USDT prize pool.

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently offering users early access to promising web3 projects. In 2024, MEXC introduced 2,376 new tokens, including 1,716 initial listings. Recent market analysis from TokenInsight confirms MEXC’s leading position in the industry — the exchange completed 461 spot listings, outpacing competitors like Gate by 1.5 times and Bitget by 4.5 times.

    Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to enhance its platform, offering advantages such as low fees, deep liquidity, a wide selection of trending tokens, and daily airdrops. This reaffirms MEXC’s user-centric approach, providing traders with early access to high-potential projects, generous rewards, and an optimal trading experience.

    For full event details and participation rules, visit the event page.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 34 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article about cryptocurrencies does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f651b4f-3f7d-4f9d-8ea5-6d51d91ef083

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor on tax top-ups and budget bottom lines

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    As the election starter’s gun is about to be fired, Tuesday’s budget announced modest income tax cuts as the government’s latest cost-of-living measure. The Coalition has opposed the tax relief, with Peter Dutton’s Thursday budget reply to put forward his policy counters on the cost of living.

    Meanwhile, the domestic economic debate is being conducted as President Donald Trump prepares to unveil more tariffs, which are likely to produce further uncertainty in the world economy.

    On this podcast we are joined by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor.

    Chalmers says the government is making every last-minute effort to argue against Australia being hit with more US tariffs. He’s ready to make personal representations if that’s thought useful.

    I’ve been discussing that with Don Farrell, the minister for trade, whether or not that would be helpful to some of the efforts that he’s currently engaged in. So we’re working as a team on it. We’re working out the best [and] most effective ways to engage with the Americans. Again, speaking up for and standing up for our national interest.

    We’re not uniquely impacted by the tariffs either already imposed or proposed. But we’ve got a lot of skin in the game here. We’re a trading nation, we generate a lot of prosperity on global markets.

    A criticism from some about the budget was that climate change wasn’t mentioned explicitly. Chalmers takes issue with that.

    I would have thought that an extra A$3 billion for green metals, which is about leveraging our traditional strengths and resources, our developing industries and the energy transformation to create something that the world needs, I think that’s a climate change policy.

    And also the Innovation Fund, another $1.5 billion or so for the Innovation Fund in terms of sustainable aviation fuels, that’s a climate policy and also we’re recapitalising another couple of billion for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

    So in every budget, we’ve made new investments in climate change and in energy and this week’s budget was no different in that regard.

    Angus Taylor is scathing about Labor’s “top-up” tax cuts, which were the budget’s centrepiece, saying:

    A government that has overseen an unprecedented collapse in our living standards, unrivalled by any other country in the world, and they’re trying to tell Australians that 70 cents a day, more than a year from now, is a solution to that problem?

    It’s laughable, it is not even going to touch the sides, it’s Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It’s a cruel hoax. And frankly, the idea that this is good government is absolutely laughable.

    On what change of approach a Coalition government would take, Angus Taylor points to the “fiscal rules that we adhered to when we were last in government”.

    They were on the back of the rules that were established in the Charter of Budget Honesty that was established by Peter Costello in the 1990s to make sure your economy grows faster than your spending. That doesn’t mean spending doesn’t grow, it just means your economy grows faster.

    So both of those things matter, a faster growing economy and managing your spending so that it’s not growing faster. Jim Chalmers doesn’t get that.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor on tax top-ups and budget bottom lines – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-jim-chalmers-and-angus-taylor-on-tax-top-ups-and-budget-bottom-lines-253112

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Investing in Scotland’s natural resources

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding to help local authorities restore biodiversity.

    Local authorities will directly receive £10 million to support new, or to enhance existing, approaches to restoring biodiversity through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).

    More than £55 million has been awarded via the NRF since its launch in 2021 for projects delivering habitat and species restoration, coastal and marine initiatives and control of invasive non-native species.

    Acting Minister for Climate Action, Dr Alasdair Allan said:

    “Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, and is essential for sustaining the ecosystems that provide us with food, fuel, health, wealth, and other vital services. We know there is an urgent need to act decisively to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change together.

    “Just like climate change, the loss of species and degradation of our natural environment is an existential threat to humanity. We have a vision for a future where Scotland’s natural environment is restored and supports thriving communities and wildlife alike.

    “The Nature Restoration Fund is a vital mechanism to support projects across Scotland on land and at sea – that address the twin crises and restore our natural environment and supports a whole-of society approach to achieving these goals.”

    The Edinburgh Process strand of the NRF provides funding direct to Local Authorities to deliver nature restoration projects in their communities, sitting alongside the NRF strand administered by NatureScot. This latest allocation will bring the total allocated to Local Authorities through the Edinburgh Process strand to £32 million, since 2021.

    The NRF aims to help local authorities and their partners protect and restore Scotland’s biodiversity on land and sea.

    The Fund has five strategic themes that will be delivered across all the funding streams:

    • Habitat and species restoration: Management for enhancement and connectivity
    • Freshwater restoration, including restoration of natural flows in rural catchments
    • Coastal and marine initiatives which promote restoration, recovery, enhancement or resilience
    • Control of invasive non-native species (INNS) impacting on nature
    • Urban: Enhancing and connecting nature across, and between, towns and cities

    The Edinburgh Process strand seeks to deliver the five strategic priorities through sub-national delivery. This approach can deliver multiple benefits like supporting health and well-being, green jobs, air and water quality improvements in addition to supporting nature recovery.

    NatureScot Chair Colin Galbraith said:

    “The Nature Restoration Fund is helping environmental groups, communities and local authorities across Scotland take vital action for Scotland’s nature now.

    “It’s crucial that we do everything we can to respond to the twin crises of nature loss and climate change. With this kind of support, we can make a positive and lasting difference that will put our land, seas and wildlife back on the road to recovery. This is not only good for nature, but good for people too as we all benefit from a healthy and thriving natural world.”

    The Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework for biodiversity, including the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 and Delivery Plan to 2030, published in November 2024, sets out our ambition and plans to halt the loss of nature by 2030 and make significant progress to restoring nature by 2045.

    Background

    Global biodiversity framework: Edinburgh Process – information – gov.scot

    Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 – gov.scot

    Biodiversity: delivery plan 2024 to 2030 – gov.scot

    Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) | NatureScot

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Land Reform Bill must correct vast historic wrong

    Source: Scottish Greens

    26 Mar 2025 Climate

    Land is power.

    More in Climate

    The Scottish Government’s Land Reform Bill must advance efforts to overturn Scotland’s vastly unequal historic land ownership and allow more of our land to be managed in a way that delivers for people and planet, say the Scottish Greens.

    With the Bill set to be debated for the first time at Stage One today, Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess has urged the government to work with her and community campaigners to ensure it is as robust as possible.

    Ms Burgess is calling for meaningful powers to break up the big estates and empower communities to buy and transform the land around them. The Highlands and Islands MSP is also seeking changes that will ensure large estates are managed for the public’s benefit, including tackling the climate crisis.

    The Bill, which began as a result of the Bute House Agreement that brought the Greens into government, is meant to ensure large landowners are legally required to produce land management plans, and engage with local communities over how it is used, including on vital issues like restoring nature, and reducing the impacts of climate change.

    With half of Scotland’s land owned by less than 1% of people, our land distribution is some of the most unequal in Europe.

    Ms Burgess said:

    “Land is power, and this Bill has the potential to be a huge step forward for rural communities and in addressing the historic wrongs that continue to block the fairer distribution of Scotland’s land today.

    “Our country should belong to all of us. We need to ensure that landowners are using their land in ways that benefit our communities, our nature and our environment.

    “At its heart, land reform is about challenging power and empowering our communities. From our cities to our countryside and from our hills to our iconic rivers and our beautiful coastlines, huge swathes of Scotland are owned by a very small number of extremely wealthy people.

    “It is over 20 years since Scotland introduced community right to buy laws, but one of the biggest barriers to community ownership is the complex process for communities to register their interest to buy land when it becomes available. This includes small parcels of land that could be used for self-build housing, community orchards or new community enterprises.

    “That’s why it’s vital that this Bill goes much further in delivering robust powers that will allow us to break up big estates that come up for sale and to manage them for the wider public benefit.

    “These kinds of changes will make community ownership a far more viable and affordable option for many communities and give them more of a stake in their future.

    “By diversifying how we use our land we can tackle the impacts of climate change and nature loss and secure a thriving biodiversity and more rural jobs in Scotland.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour must tax wealthy, not cut vital services

    Source: Scottish Greens

    26 Mar 2025 Finance

    Austerity is a choice.

    More in Finance

    The UK Government’s Spring Statement will be a test of Labour’s morals, says Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater MSP.

    Ms Slater has urged the party to tax the super-rich with wealth taxes to boost our green industries, undo the cruel cuts that have been inflicted and build a fairer society for people and planet.

    According to research from the Tax Justice Network, a 1% annual wealth tax on net assets over £10 million could raise almost £10 billion a year while only impacting the richest 0.4% of the population.

    Polling from Oxfam shows that two-thirds of Scots back increasing taxes for the rich, which would raise far more money than any ‘savings’ made through cuts.

    Ms Slater said:

    “The assault on social security and public services is not inevitable. It is a political choice.

    “Labour is choosing to punch downwards and punish the most vulnerable rather than taxing the super-rich who have seen their incomes soaring while millions of people have been unable to make ends meet

    “This is one of the wealthiest societies there has ever been, but so much of that wealth is being hoarded by a small number of very rich people and corporations.

    “By properly taxing wealth, we can do far more to tackle poverty, improve healthcare, invest in public services and create better, happier and healthier communities.”

    Ms Slater added:

    “Labour promised change, but it was one of the most dishonest election campaigns in history.

    “You can’t undo the catastrophic impact of 14 years of Tory rule with even more cuts.

    “Every Labour MP faces a moral test. Will they back wealth taxes on the super rich, or will they back plans which they know will plunge even more of their constituents into poverty?”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA widens review of UK’s steel defences

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    TRA widens review of UK’s steel defences

    The TRA has  expanded the scope of its review of the steel safeguard measure to ensure new concerns raised by the UK steel industry are fully considered.

    The TRA has today (Wednesday 26 March) expanded the scope of its review of the steel safeguard measure to ensure new concerns raised by the UK steel industry are fully considered. 

    UK Steel, the trade association for the UK steel industry, submitted evidence to the TRA earlier this month that there have been changes in circumstance that may warrant a change to the current tariff rate quotas imposed. The TRA has therefore decided to examine this new evidence as part of a review already underway into the developing countries excepted from the safeguard measure. This will mean a solution can be found in a timely and efficient manner. 

    UK Steel’s submission noted that the quotas of certain categories of steel (namely categories 4, 7 and 13) are being dominated and exhausted by individual countries. The TRA has also acquired other data which indicates that there are other categories whose residual quotas have been exhausted early in the quarter (categories 5, 16, 17 and 21).  

    The submission also noted that there has been a decline in global demand for steel, both in the UK and globally, including China, where demand has fallen by 3%. The submission points to a fall in demand in the UK, and notes that demand has contracted by 16% between 2018 and 2023. UK Steel claims that against this backdrop, the current safeguard measure does not offer adequate protection to UK industry.  

    The TRA will therefore consider whether the tariff rate quotas to which certain steel products are subject should be varied. 

    Once the TRA has concluded its review of the tariff rate quota, it will publish an intended recommendation, allow interested parties to comment, before submitting a final recommendation to the Secretary of Business and Trade.  

    As a result of the expanded matters being considered in the review, interested parties can now register their interest or provide updated submissions via the TRA’s public file before 9 April 2025. 

    Notes to editors: 

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were transitioned into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing these to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs.
    • UK industries concerned about imports have been able to submit applications for a new trade remedy measure since January 2021. These applications are considered by the TRA to see if there are grounds for an investigation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

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