NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-Evening Report: Internal tensions throw PNG anti-corruption body into crisis

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    Three staffers from Papua New Guinea’s peak anti-corruption body are embroiled in a standoff that has brought into question the integrity of the organisation.

    Police Commissioner David Manning has confirmed that he received a formal complaint.

    Commissioner Manning said that initial inquiries were underway to inform the “sensitive investigation board’s” consideration of the referral.

    That board itself is controversial, having been set up as a halfway point to decide if an investigation into a subject should proceed through the usual justice process.

    Manning indicated if the board determined a criminal offence had occurred, the matter would be assigned to the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate for independent investigation.

    Local news media reported PNG Prime Minister James Marape was being kept informed of the developments.

    Marape has issued a statement acknowledging the internal tensions within ICAC and reaffirming his government’s commitment to the institution.

    Long-standing goal
    The establishment of ICAC in Papua New Guinea has been a long-standing national aspiration, dating back to 1984. The enabling legislation for ICAC was passed on 20 November 2020, bringing the body into legal existence.

    Marape said it was a proud moment of his leadership having achieved this in just 18 months after he took office in May 2019.

    The appointments process for ICAC officials was described as rigorous and internationally supervised, making the current internal disputes disheartening for many.

    Marape has reacted strongly to the crisis, expressing disappointment over the allegations and differences between the three ICAC leaders. He affirmed his government’s “unwavering commitment” to ICAC.

    These developments have significant implications for Papua New Guinea, particularly concerning its international commitments related to combating financial crime.

    PNG has been working to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) framework, with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) closely monitoring its progress.

    Crucial for fighting corruption
    An effective and credible ICAC is crucial for demonstrating the country’s commitment to fighting corruption, a key component of a robust AML/CTF regime.

    Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) often includes governance and anti-corruption measures as part of its conditionalities for financial assistance and programme support.

    Any perception of instability or compromised integrity within ICAC could hinder Papua New Guinea’s efforts to meet these international requirements, potentially affecting its financial standing and access to crucial development funds.

    The current situation lays bare the urgent need for swift and decisive action to restore confidence in ICAC and ensure it can effectively fulfill its mandate.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Audience with Superiors and Officials of the Secretariat of State

    Source: The Holy See

    This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the Superiors and Officials of the Secretariat of State.
    The following is the address delivered by the Holy Father to those present at the meeting:

    Address of the Holy Father
    Your Eminence, Cardinal Parolin
    Your Excellencies, dear bishops and priests,Sisters and brothers!
    First of all, I thank the Secretary of State for his words of introduction and for the ongoing assistance that he is providing me as I take the first steps of my Pontificate.
    I am pleased to be here with you, who offer a precious service to the life of the Church by helping to carry out the mission entrusted to me. Indeed, as Praedicate Evangelium affirms, the Secretariat of State, as the Papal Secretariat directed by the Secretary of State, provides close assistance to the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme mission” (cf. nn. 44-45).
    I am comforted by the knowledge that I am not alone and that I can share the responsibility of my universal ministry with you.
    This is not in the prepared text, but I can say with great sincerity that in these few weeks – a month has not even passed yet since beginning my Petrine ministry – it is evident to me that the Pope cannot work alone. There is great necessity to rely on the assistance of many people in the Holy See, and in a special way on all of you in the Secretariat of State. I offer my heartfelt thanks!
    The history of this institution dates back, as we know, to the end of the fifteenth century. Over time, it has taken on an increasingly universal character and has grown considerably, acquiring additional tasks in response to emerging needs both within the Church and in relations with States and international organizations. Currently, almost half of you are lay faithful. And there are more than fifty women, both lay and religious.
    This development means that, today, the Secretariat of State itself reflects the face of the Church. It is a large community working alongside the Pope: together we share the questions, difficulties, challenges and hopes of the People of God throughout the world. In doing so, we always express two essential dimensions: incarnation and catholicity.
    We are incarnate in time and history since God chose the human condition and the languages of humanity. The Church, therefore, is called to follow the same path, in order that the joy of the Gospel may reach everyone, mediated through today’s cultures and languages. At the same time, we always seek to maintain a Catholic, universal outlook that allows us to appreciate different cultures and sensibilities. In this way, we can be a driving force committed to building communion between the Church of Rome and the local Churches, as well as friendly relationships in the international community.
    In recent decades, these two dimensions — being incarnate in time and having a universal outlook — have become increasingly constitutive of the Curia’s work. We have been guided along this path by the reform of the Roman Curia carried out by Saint Paul VIwho, inspired by the vision of the Second Vatican Council, strongly felt the urgency for the Church to be attentive to the challenges of history, taking into account “the rapid pace of modern life” and “the changed conditions of our times” (Regimini Ecclesiae Universae, 15 August 1967). At the same time, he reaffirmed the need for a service that expresses the catholicity of the Church, and to this end he decreed that “those present in the Apostolic See to govern it, should be called from all parts of the world” (ibid.).
    Incarnation reminds us, then, of the concreteness of reality and the specific, particular issues dealt with by the various curial institutions. At the same time, universality evokes the mystery of the multifaceted unity of the Church and requires a subsequent effort of synthesis to assist the Pope’s mission. It is precisely the Secretariat of State that offers this service of unification and synthesis. Indeed, Paul VI — well versed in the Roman Curia — chose to restructure this office, effectively designating it as a point of connection, and thus establishing its fundamental role of coordinating the other Dicasteries and Institutions of the Apostolic See.
    The recent Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium speaks of the coordinating role of the Secretariat of State as one of the many responsibilities entrusted to the Section for General Affairs, under the direction of the Substitute with the assistance of the Assessor (cf. 45-46). Along with the Section for General Affairs, the Constitution also includes the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations, which is directed by the Secretary with the help of two Undersecretaries. This Section is responsible, particularly in this delicate moment of history, for the diplomatic and political relations of the Holy See with States and other subjects of international law. The Section for Diplomatic Personnel, with its Secretary and Undersecretary, is tasked for its part with assisting Pontifical Representations and the members of the Diplomatic Corps in Rome and throughout the world.
    I know that these tasks are very demanding and, at times, may not be well understood. This is why I wish to express my closeness to you and, above all, my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you for the skills you place at the service of the Church, for your work — which almost always goes unnoticed — and for the evangelical spirit that inspires it. And allow me, as a result of my gratitude, to make an appeal, referring once again to Saint Paul VI: let this place not be clouded by ambition or rivalry; instead, let it be a true community of faith and charity, of “brothers and sisters, and children of the Pope,” who give themselves generously for the good of the Church (cf. Address to the Roman Curia, 21 September 1963).
    I entrust you all to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. I thank you because I know that you pray for me – I hope! – every day, and I warmly bless each of you, your loved ones, and your work. Thank you!

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announces addition of 280 electric buses, targets fully electric fleet by 2027

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, marking World Environment Day on Thursday, announced the addition of 280 electric buses to the city’s public transport fleet.

    “We have decided to add 280 electric buses to Delhi’s fleet. By 2027, the entire fleet of buses operated by the Delhi government will be electric,” Gupta said.

    “We are also introducing a new EV policy,” she added.

    Highlighting the safety and comfort features of the new buses, Gupta said,
    “These buses are a tremendous asset for Delhi. They are highly comfortable, equipped with cameras and a panic button. The buses also have a low floor and are air-conditioned.”

    She also criticized past governments for overlooking environmental concerns.

    “Delhi was deprived of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign under the last government. Our target is to plant 70 lakh trees this year,” she said.

    Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav praised the Centre’s efforts to combat vehicular pollution, pointing to the adoption of smart EVs and hydrogen-powered buses.

    “The central government is continuously working to reduce vehicular pollution. This new campaign for smart EVs and hydrogen buses is a huge step in this direction”, he said.

    Yadav also reflected on the national tree-planting campaign.

    “Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, around 109 crore people planted nearly 140 crore trees yesterday. This year, PM Modi planted a Banyan sapling. Last year, he planted a Peepal sapling. His gift of electric buses to Delhi will surely help purify the air.”

    Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister flagged off 200 electric buses as part of the Delhi government’s sustainable transport initiative.

    Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, CM Rekha Gupta, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, and Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa were present at the event.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4 June 2025 Departmental update Global health leaders urge action on immunization priorities at Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    During the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, held from 19 to 27 May 2025, Member States and global health partners urged continued action on vaccine-preventable diseases—such as cervical cancer, measles, meningitis, polio, and rubella—through Assembly agenda items and side events aimed at accelerating global immunization efforts and preventing future outbreaks. 

    Innovation, integration and investment to outsmart outbreaks 

    Immunization discussions kicked off at the high-level side event, “Outsmarting Outbreaks: Innovation, Integration & Investment”, hosted by Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, and Zambia, and supported by the Gates Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and other partners. The event underscored the alarming resurgence of measles, cholera, and polio amid escalating conflict and climate threats, urging countries to safeguard immunization progress, complete polio eradication efforts, and strengthen preparedness for emerging health risks.  

    Attendees shared successes and challenges, particularly from countries facing simultaneous outbreaks, while emphasizing the criticality of routine immunization, cross-sector partnerships, and innovative techniques – including wastewater monitoring and digital disease modeling for surveillance and the use of electronic registries for immunization in low-resource settings – to controlling preventable diseases and avoid outbreaks.  

    Discussions also emphasized the necessity of a ‘SMART’ approach—strategic, measurable, aligned, resilient, and timely collaboration—as well as innovative solutions like the AI-powered All Hazard Information Management Toolkit, to enhance rapid response capabilities. A call to action capped the event, urging concerted efforts to sustain investment in immunization programmes, build trust in vaccines through community engagement, and ensure robust pandemic preparedness, including through surveillance. 

    Countries reaffirm commitment to defeat meningitis 

    Member States praised WHO’s launch of new guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, and the continued rollout of new vaccines, including Men5CV, in high-burden countries. They also emphasized the strong commitment of national leaders, partners, civil society organizations and the dedicated teams supporting the road map at all levels of WHO. 

    Despite progress, delegates raised key challenges including vaccine affordability and equitable access, shortages in trained healthcare personnel, insufficient laboratory infrastructure, and gaps in surveillance systems.  

    Member States called for technical and financial support, maintaining emergency vaccine stockpiles, research and innovations, particularly of early detection, strengthened community engagement and awareness campaigns among both communities and health care workers as well as supported rehabilitation services.  

    Meningitis was further discussed during an official side event hosted by Mali, Nigeria and Pakistan, along with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on integrating solutions to defeat malaria, meningitis and polio. The event aimed to highlight how an integrated approach to elimination or eradication goals of the three diseases could maximize available resources and improve health service delivery for people and communities. 

    “We are at an inflection point in global health,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in her remarks. “We all know the challenges that we face as partners in global health. Between now and 2030, we will have to work smarter, more collaboratively, and with the needs of countries at the center of everything we do.”  

    Attendees discussed how integration can be achieved within disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care, and prevention through equitable access to vaccines. Several countries presented examples of delivering polio, malaria and meningitis vaccines through integrated campaigns alongside bed net distribution.  The event closed on a call for increased technical and financial support to accelerate integration across the three programmes in order to end polio, malaria, and meningitis. 

    (Left to Right) Derrick Sim, Managing Director of Vaccine Markets & Health Security at Gavi; Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Dr Jo Mulligan, Senior Health Advisor,Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, United Kingdom; H.E. Dr Colonel Assa Badiallo Touré, Minister of Health and Social Development, Mali; H.E. Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria, and Ambassador Bilal Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations. 

    Life-saving power of measles and rubella vaccines emphasized 

    Amidst a global surge in measles outbreaks and with millions of children still lacking protection, global health leaders convened at a high-level side event titled “The Power of Prevention – Immunizing for a Safer, Healthier World” to deliver a unified message: these outbreaks are preventable—if we act decisively and without delay. 

    Co-hosted by Oman, Somalia, the Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UNICEF, and the United Nations Foundation, on behalf of the Measles & Rubella Partnership, the side event focused on accelerating global immunization efforts and promoting equity in vaccine access.  

    “The Measles & Rubella Partnership has been a backbone of measles and rubella programs, surveillance and outbreak response across the world,” said Dr Razia Pendse, WHO Chef de Cabinet in her opening remarks. “Yet, these gains are fragile. Measles is making a dangerous comeback threatening communities, economies and global health security. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to investing in measles vaccination and other vaccines, investments that will lead healthier children, communities, and a more resilient future for people of all ages.” 

    Dr Razia Pendse, WHO Chef de Cabinet and Dr. Hilal bin Ali bin Halil Alsabti, Minister of Health of Oman. 

    The meeting was moderated by Mr. Jarrett Barrios, senior vice-president of the American Red Cross. Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance reminded countries of what is at stake if targets for the organization’s ongoing replenishment are not met—millions of children remaining unprotected and increasing outbreaks. 

    A key focus of the discussion was WHO’s updated rubella vaccine recommendation, which removes the requirement for 80% measles coverage before introducing the combined measles-rubella vaccine. This policy shift allows all countries to include rubella vaccination in routine immunization—opening the door for the 13 remaining countries to introduce the vaccine, save lives, and prevent future outbreaks. 

    Grace Melia, an Indonesian mother who recently lost her daughter after a 12-year battle against the devastating effects of congenital rubella, concluded the event by sharing her testimonial and calling for action. “They say knowledge is power,” she said. “With all due respect, knowledge applied into action would be much more powerful. And I hope we are all here today to be part of that action.” 

    Reaffirmed commitments to achieving a polio-free world 

    During the Assembly, Member States reaffirmed their full support for achieving and sustaining a polio-free world, acknowledging WHO and its partners’ efforts to see the job done. Voicing concern about ongoing variant outbreaks and the need for interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Member States called for continued resourcing to the effort, and smart integration of polio functions within broader public health services. Other key themes were strengthened routine immunization – including with inactivated polio vaccine – through coordination with GAVI, and the need for strong oral polio vaccine cessation planning, the safe and secure containment of polioviruses in research and vaccine manufacturing facilities.  

    Read more about polio here. 

    World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day announced as official WHO campaign  

    As part of ongoing efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, the Assembly established World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day as an official WHO awareness campaign to be marked on 17 November, annually. World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day will promote actions to end the disease and protect the health of women and girls, including increasing access and update of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.  

    Historic Pandemic Agreement  

    Member States formally adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics. The agreement boosts global collaboration to ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics. Next steps include negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing system. 

    —- 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Castellum, Inc. Retires Promissory Note Early

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Va., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) (“Castellum” or “CTM”), a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software engineering services company focused on the federal government, announces that it has retired its note payable with the Buckhout Charitable Remainder Trust (the “Buckhout Trust”) 15 months before its maturity date. Castellum originally issued a promissory note to the Buckhout Trust in November 2019 as part of CTM’s acquisition of Corvus Consulting, LLC (“Corvus”).

    “Retiring this note not only represents a significant milestone in paying off the financing from our acquisition of Corvus; it also highlights the continued dramatic improvement in our balance sheet leverage, reducing our total long-term debt from over $12 million in December 2023 to less than $5 million. Our balance sheet is stronger, and our debt service load is much lower, allowing us to continue our relentless focus on growing our business and serving our customers,” states David Bell, Chief Financial Officer of Castellum.

    About Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM):

    Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) is a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software engineering services company focused on the federal government – https://castellumus.com/.

    Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events and can generally be identified by the use of statements that include words such as “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “shooting to,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “appears,” “goal,” “target” or similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s expectations for revenue growth and new customer opportunities, improvements to cost structure, and profitability. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s expectations for revenue growth and new customer opportunities and other customers, improvements to cost structure, and profitability. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the Company’s ability to compete against new and existing competitors; its ability to effectively integrate and grow its acquired companies; its ability to identify additional acquisition targets and close additional acquisitions; the impact on the Company’s revenue due to a delay in the U.S. Congress approving a federal budget, operating under a prolonged continuing resolution, government shutdown, or breach of the debt ceiling, as well as the imposition by the U.S. government of sequestration in the absence of an approved budget; the ability of the U.S. federal government to unilaterally cancel a contract with or without cause, and more specifically, the potential impact of the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization on government spending and terminating contracts for convenience. For a more detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which can be viewed at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made in this release or in any of its SEC filings except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.

    Contact:

    Glen Ives
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: (703) 752-6157
    info@castellumus.com
    https://castellumus.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/977524be-d2cc-4f2c-adca-88ce8f652841

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Build trust by showing your IAA registration online

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Build trust by showing your IAA registration online

    If your organisation is registered with the IAA, you can now display your regulated status using our official digital verification badge, powered by Yoshki.

    What is the IAA Yoshki badge? 

    The IAA Yoshki badge is a simple but powerful tool that shows clients you’re a registered and regulated immigration adviser or organisation. When added to your website, it performs a real-time check against the IAA’s official register – giving visitors instant confirmation that you’re authorised to provide immigration advice and services. 

    Why use the badge? 

    Adding the IAA Yoshki badge to your website helps you: 

    • Build trust – show clients you’re a legitimate and regulated provider 

    • Stand out – differentiate yourself from unregistered or rogue advisers 

    • Protect your reputation – let users verify your status directly from the IAA’s register 

    How to get the badge 

    If you’re a registered adviser or organisation, it’s quick and free to add the badge: 

    1. Visit the Yoshki website to generate your unique badge code 

    2. Copy and paste the code into your website’s HTML 

    3. The badge will appear on your site and link to your live IAA registration

    Important: If organisations have already done this using the OISC badge, no further action is needed as it will have updated automatically. Only registered advisers and organisations may use the badge. Misuse may result in enforcement action. 

    If you have questions about using the badge or your eligibility, please contact us at info@immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Measles outbreaks continue with risk of holidays causing surge

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Measles outbreaks continue with risk of holidays causing surge

    Latest UKHSA data shows outbreaks continuing, with 109 cases confirmed in April and 86 so far in May.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today publishes its monthly update on measles cases in England, which shows outbreaks continuing, with 109 cases confirmed in April and 86 so far in May. Cases have predominantly been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under, with on-going outbreaks in a number of regions and London reporting almost half of all cases in the past 4 weeks.

    There has also been a global increase in measles cases including Europe over the last year and the Agency is concerned, that with travelling for holidays or to visit family this summer, there is a risk this could lead to another surge of measles cases in England.

    The latest measles epidemiology report on the UKHSA Data Dashboard today reports:

    • since 1 January there have been 420 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England
    • 109 measles cases were confirmed in April and to date 86 in May (number of laboratory confirmed measles cases by month of symptom onset, data reporting lags impact on most recent 4 weeks and therefore the figures are likely to be an underestimate)
    • the majority (276/420, 66%) of these cases were in children aged 10 years and under, but there are also cases being reported in young people and adults
    • London has seen the highest number of cases overall this year (162/420, 39%) and in the last 4 weeks (35/75, 47%)
    • a number of other regions are also reporting outbreaks – with 25% (19/75) of cases in the North West, and 11% (8/75) in the West Midlands in the last 4 weeks

    Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, at least 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK.

    However, measles remains endemic in many countries around the world, and with declines in MMR vaccine uptake observed over the last decade, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also seen large measles outbreaks in Europe and other countries. 

    An analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reported 127, 350 measles cases in the European Region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023 and the highest number since 1997.

    This year outbreaks have been seen in several other European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and WHO recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest number of measles cases worldwide.

    In England, the decline of the uptake of childhood vaccinations including MMR in the past decade (well below the WHO 95% target) means that many thousands of children are left unprotected with the risk of outbreaks linked to nurseries and schools.

    London has the lowest MMR uptake rates compared with other English regions (MMR2 uptake at 5 years is just 73.3% in London compared to English average of 83.9%).

    From Autumn 2023 to summer 2024, England experienced the biggest outbreak of measles since 2012, particularly affecting young children. Since the peak last year cases have declined but local outbreaks continue.

    Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated. The UKHSA is concerned that more outbreaks may occur again on a larger scale this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks.

    It is important that anyone travelling for summer holidays or to visit family, especially parents of young children, check that all members of their family have received both their MMR vaccines.

    Getting vaccinated means you are also helping protect others who can’t have the vaccine, including infants under 1 year and people with weakened immune systems, who are at greater risk of serious illness and complications from measles.

    Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency:

    It’s essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with 2 MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family. Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK.

    Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it’s not something you want to experience when away on holiday.

    The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. Babies under the age of 1 and some people who have weakened immune systems can’t have the vaccine and are at risk of more serious complications if they get measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them.

    It is never too late to catch up, if you’re not sure if any of your family are up to date, check their Red Book or contact your GP practice. Don’t put it off and regret it later.

    Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:

    Tens of thousands of additional MMR vaccinations were delivered following NHS action last year to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella, and the recent increase in cases seen in England and Europe should act as an important reminder to ensure your child is protected.

    Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems. MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child’s vaccination.

    The first MMR vaccine is offered to infants when they turn one year old and the second dose to pre-school children when they are around 3 years and 4 months old. 

    Around 99% of those who have 2 doses will be protected against measles and rubella. Although mumps protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated people are much less severe. 

    Anyone, whatever age, who has not had 2 doses can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch-up. 

    It’s particularly important to check you’ve had both doses if you are: 

    • about to start college or university 
    • travelling overseas
    • planning a pregnancy 
    • a frontline health or social care worker 
    • if you work with young children or care for people as part of your work

    For more information on measles, mumps and rubella see the UKHSA resource: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mmr-for-all-general-leaflet

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Survivors of rape and serious sexual assault given the right to have cases reviewed

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Survivors of rape and serious sexual assault given the right to have cases reviewed

    Victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have it reviewed by a different prosecutor, as part of the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls and its Plan for Change.

    • New pilot to empower victims by giving them the right to ask for a review if prosecutors plan to drop cases
    • Plans will restore confidence in the system and help get victims the justice they deserve
    • The changes are one step in the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, part of the Plan for Change

    Under the current system, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

    Through the changes announced today, for the first time, survivors of rape or serious sexual abuse will be offered the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made, and if that prosecutor determines there is enough evidence, the case will continue.

    The move will help to restore confidence in the justice system, get victims the answers they deserve and put perpetrators behind bars.

    Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    This Government is treating violence against women and girls with the seriousness it deserves, committing to halving this horrific crime as part of our Plan for Change.

    Part of that is about empowering victims and improving their experience of the criminal justice system. That’s exactly why I have worked with the CPS on a new pilot scheme for victims of rape and serious sexual assault, which will allow victims an enhanced right of review in cases where the CPS intends to offer no evidence, importantly prior to a case being stopped.

    Campaigners and experts tell me that this is what they want, and I want to thank them for their advocacy on this vital issue.

    There is much more to do. But this is a further step towards the criminal justice system that victims deserve, and one which will ultimately make Britain’s streets safer.

    Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, campaigned for a change after the CPS dropped her case by offering no evidence in court. A subsequent VRR said the prosecution should have gone ahead but could not be reinstated.

    She said:

    I’m hugely excited about what this pilot could mean for victims, and I hope it proves successful enough to be rolled out across the country. This pilot is a crucial safeguard – one that could have completely changed the outcome in my case, and so many others like it.

    I was profoundly failed and let down by how my case was handled, but I’ve since seen people within the CPS who are genuinely working to make it better.

    Siobhan Blake, CPS lead for rape and Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS West Midlands said:

    We know for rape victims, the prospect of their case being stopped can be absolutely devastating.

    Although they can request a review of our decision making now, if we have already stopped the case in court, there is nothing that can be done to reactivate the case if that review comes to a different conclusion. In those circumstance we offer an apology, but appreciate that for a victim an apology rarely goes far enough or feels like a just outcome.

    This pilot offers greater reassurance for victims. It means that they will be alerted to the prospect of their case being stopped earlier, so that they can ask for a review by a different prosecutor. If the original decision is reversed then the case will continue, but even if it can’t, we hope that victims will have more confidence in the process and the earlier scrutiny of our decision making.

    Rape cases are incredibly complex and sensitive. We have specially trained prosecutors who do an excellent job building strong cases. This pilot offers an earlier check and balance which provides extra reassurance for victims.

    The pilot, which launches this week, is starting in the West Midlands, with the intention for it to be rolled out nationwide if found to be successful.

    Today’s announcement is just one step in the Government’s commitment to restore confidence in the justice system and protect victims of sexual abuse.

    Since coming into office, the Government has already taken immediate action including putting domestic abuse specialists in the first five 999 control rooms under Raneem’s Law, launching new domestic abuse protection orders in select areas, announcing new measures to tackle stalking and investing nearly £20 million in funding for specialist services which support victims of abuse.

    Notes to editors

    When a prosecutor identifies a case which they believe is eligible for the pilot, they escalate to a senior manager and the review timetable will be set and a second reviewer found.

    A letter will be sent to the victim letting them know of the proposal to bring to the prosecution to an end and explaining why. They will then be given the chance to have that decision reviewed and given a set period to respond. If they request a review, the aim is that this will be completed within 20 working days.

    Where a case does not qualify for the pilot, victims will be still be able to request a review through the standard VRR scheme.

    Once a review is complete, a Local Case Management Panel will approve the decision either to proceed with the prosecution or to offer no evidence. The victim will be informed of the final decision.

    The pilot, which launches this week, is starting in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit of CPS West Midlands. The pilot has been designed to assess how the flexibility of offering an earlier review can be operated by the CPS.

    Care has also been taken to balance the interests of the victim, the defendant and the prosecutorial independence of CPS. This means that the CPS will decide when its internal review process is complete and when no evidence will be offered.

    The pilot also recognises the need to progress the review in a way that maintains fairness to a defendant.

    The pilot will run initially for six months with each case in scope evaluated individually before the pilot is evaluated and decisions are taken on next steps.

    More information on VRR can be found here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Applications open for 2025-26 ACT Environmental grants

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 05/06/2025

    Community groups, volunteers and citizen scientists are invited to apply for funding to support projects that protect and restore the ACT’s natural environment, with applications now open for the 2025–26 ACT Environmental Grants Program.

    A total of $360,000 is available across two grant streams:

    • Environment Grants – Up to $35,000 per project is available for community-led initiatives that improve biodiversity, restore landscapes, connect people to nature and support Caring for Country.
    • Environmental Volunteer Group Assistance Grants – Up to $5,000 per project is available to help volunteer groups build their capacity and continue their valuable environmental work.

    Now in its 29th year, the Environmental Grants Program has supported hundreds of local initiatives, from ecological restoration and habitat creation to youth engagement and citizen science projects.

    Launching the grants on World Environment Day, Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy and Water Suzanne Orr said there is no better time to highlight the vital role local groups play in protecting the environment.

    “There’s no better time than World Environment Day to highlight the incredible contribution Canberrans make in protecting our natural spaces,” Minister Orr said.

    “The ACT Government deeply values the tireless work of community groups, environmental volunteers and citizen scientists who are restoring bushland, enhancing biodiversity and helping to make Canberra a more liveable, sustainable city.”

    Minister Orr said the grants not only support conservation outcomes, but also deliver social and educational benefits.

    “These grants are about empowering local communities to lead the way, whether through habitat restoration, education, or on-ground conservation. They also support wellbeing by connecting people to nature in meaningful ways,” she said.

    “If you’re part of a local group with a great idea to care for our environment, I encourage you to apply.”

    Friends of Magpie Hill co-convenors Morgyn Phillips and Astrida Upitis said the support their group received through the program had already delivered long-term benefits.

    “Thanks to an Environmental Volunteer Group Assistance Grant, our volunteer group, Friends of Magpie Hill has been able to access expert training in plant and bird identification,” they said.

    “This training has helped us gain a better understanding about native grasses and plants in our park and where to focus our regeneration efforts.”

    The grants have also had a lasting impact on education-focused projects across the ACT, including at Merici College, where students recently restored a degraded grassy woodland corridor on school grounds.

    Felicity Maher, Sustainability Coordinator at Merici College, said the program was a valuable opportunity for students to engage with environmental issues.

    “Thanks to funding from the ACT Environmental Grants Program, our students planted 600 native plants in a degraded grassy woodland corridor on our school grounds,” Ms Maher said.

    “The project not only enhanced local biodiversity but also created an outdoor learning space for students and a green corridor the wider community can enjoy.”

    “It’s a fantastic opportunity for schools and community groups to make a lasting environmental impact.”

    Applications for the 2025-26 ACT Environmental Grants close Wednesday 17 July 2025.

    For more information and to apply, visit: www.act.gov.au/money-and-tax/grants-funding-and-incentives.

    – Statement ends –

    Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jim Costa Denounces Trump’s Rescission of Funds for California’s High-Speed Rail

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it would rescind $4 billion from California’s High Speed Rail Project.   “President Trump just ripped roughly $4 billion from California’s High-Speed Rail (CAHSR). This undermines over 15,000 jobs created, growing local economies, and connecting both rural and urban communities alike.  He doesn’t understand the San Joaquin Valley or the legal challenges that have delayed this project. Instead, he is stalling progress and killing good-paying jobs to score political points. While President Trump remains stuck in the past, the people of California and the Valley are focused on building a cleaner, more connected future through modern rail infrastructure.  The President of the United States asked the question years ago, why America doesn’t have high-speed rail systems like those in Europe and Asia. The answer to that question is simple. He could provide the leadership to build high-speed rail corridors in America, as other countries have over the last 40 years in other parts of the world.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Albanese will need some nuance in facing a female opposition leader

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

    Anthony Albanese loves a trophy, especially a human one. He prides himself on his various “captain’s pick” candidates – good campaigners he has steered into seats.

    Way back in the Gillard days, he was key in persuading discontented Liberal Peter Slipper to defect. Slipper became an independent and Labor’s speaker.

    The exercise helped the government’s numbers, but the bold play didn’t end well for Labor or for Slipper. The government was tarnished, and Slipper, relentlessly pursued by the Coalition and mired in controversy, eventually had to quit the speakership. The affair did produce Julia Gillard’s famous misogyny speech, however.

    Now Albanese has another gee-whiz prize – Western Australian Senator Dorinda Cox, who has defected from the Greens. Cox, after being defeated in a bid for Greens deputy leader, approached Labor and the PM drove her course to being accepted into the party.

    The manoeuvre makes a marginal but insignificant difference to Senate numbers – Labor will still need the Greens to pass legislation opposed by the Coalition.

    Taking in Cox is a risk, and some in Labor are looking at it askance.

    The prime minister’s embrace of Cox contradicts Labor’s argument when its Western Australian senator Fatima Payman defected to become an independent. It said then hers was a Labor seat and she should therefore resign. But this wouldn’t be the first time expediency trumped consistency in politics.

    Cox, who is Indigenous and was spokeswoman for First Nations and resources in the last parliament, has been a fierce critic of the extending the North West Shelf gas project, which the government has just announced. Albanese says he is confident she “understands that being a member of the Labor Party means that she will support positions that are made by the Labor Party”.

    She has also faced allegations of treating staff badly. Labor discounts the claims against her, saying they are overblown and a product of Greens factionalism and toxicity. Certainly, she was given a tough time by the hard-left faction represented by deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi. Labor would be wise to ensure Cox feels supported in her new party home.

    Albanese perhaps calculates that the worst that can happen is there’s a blow up and she defects to the crossbench. Labor could shrug and say, she was never really one of us.

    Snatching a senator from the Greens is particularly satisfying to Albanese because he hates the party so much. Last term, lower house Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather (defeated at the election) really got under his skin. More generally, the Greens held up important legislation, most notably on housing.

    In the new Senate, Labor will need only the Greens to pass legislation opposed by the Coalition. How new Greens leader Larissa Waters – who replaced Adam Bandt after he lost his seat – handles the party’s relationship with the government will be crucial for the more contentious parts of Labor’s legislative program.

    The usually low-key Waters will be under a lot of pressure. The Greens had a bad election, losing three lower house seats. Now they have lost a senator at the start of Waters’ watch.

    Waters conceded on the Serious Danger podcast in late May that Labor had successfully run the narrative of the Greens as blockers. “So I do think we’re going to need to be quite deft in how we handle balance of power in this term, […] People want us to be constructive. They don’t just want us to roll over and tick off on any old shit. They want meaningful reforms.”

    Waters will want to pick her fights carefully, and also find ways of pursuing the Greens’ agenda where the party co-operates. The first deal is likely to be on the government’s legislation to increase the tax on those with large superannuation balances, which contains the controversial provision to tax unrealised capital gains.

    Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and her team will confront some of the same problems as the Greens – when to oppose and when to seek to negotiate with the government.

    For his part, Albanese will have a novel challenge with Ley – what stance to adopt against the first female opposition leader, especially but not only in parliamentary clashes.

    After facing two alpha male opposition leaders, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, a new approach will obviously be necessary. As one Labor man succinctly puts it, “Labor can’t monster a woman”. There can be no repeat of Albanese, a frontbencher a decade ago in the Shorten opposition, interjecting to urge a female colleague engaged in a stoush with Ley to “smash her”.

    For Ley, trying to deal with the Liberals’ multiple difficulties in attracting women voters and candidates must be high on her agenda. Former Liberal federal president Alan Stockdale, one of the three-person group currently running the NSW division of the party, showed himself part of the problem when this week he told the NSW Liberal Women’s Council, “The women in this party are so assertive now that we may need some special rules for men to get them pre-selected”.

    Stockdale said later he was being “light-hearted”. Tone deaf might be a better term. Ley jumped on him. “There is nothing wrong with being an assertive woman. In fact I encourage assertive women to join the Liberal Party.”

    The jury is out on whether Ley will be able to make any sort of fist of her near-impossible job. But in the short time she’s been leader, she has shown she is willing to be assertive.

    She emerged from the brief split in the Coalition looking much steadier than Nationals leader David Littleproud, even though she had to persuade her party room to accept the minor party’s policy demands.

    In her frontbench reshuffle, she was willing to wear the inevitable criticism that came with dropping a couple of senior women who had under-performed.

    As deputy leader, Ley adjusted her style a while before the election, toning down the aggression and sometimes wild attacks, that had characterised her performance earlier in the term. A Liberal source said she found her “line and length”. As leader, she will have others, notably deputy Ted O’Brien, to do the head-kicking, giving her room to attempt to develop a positive political persona.

    Labor leaned into attacking Dutton – never afraid to name him. With Ley, Albanese might adopt the Bob Carr approach of avoiding using his opponent’s name. At least until he finds his line and length in dealing with her.

    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. Grattan on Friday: Albanese will need some nuance in facing a female opposition leader – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-albanese-will-need-some-nuance-in-facing-a-female-opposition-leader-257338

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tasmania could go to an election just 16 months after its last one. What’s going on?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania

    Tasmania’s Liberal government and its premier, Jeremy Rockliff, have come under huge pressure since the state budget was handed down last week.

    It’s culminated in the Tasmanian House of Assembly voting to pass a motion of no confidence in the premier – but only after the speaker, Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne, cast a tie-breaking vote in favour.

    Rockliff has since confirmed he’ll recall parliament to sit early next week and debate some emergency bills, then ask the governor for permission to call an early election.

    It’s been a wild few days in Tasmanian politics, with huge amounts of conjecture and confusion. Here’s how it all unfolded.

    What is a no confidence motion?

    First, we need a short lesson in our system of government, called the Westminster system. The Tasmanian situation right now all started with a motion of no confidence in the premier, Rockliff.

    This type of parliamentary motion is used to declare the parliament no longer has confidence in the target of the motion.

    No confidence motions can be directed at a specific minister or a government as a whole.

    If a no confidence motion in a minister is passed, they usually resign from their ministry and sometimes from parliament as well.

    If a no confidence motion in a government is passed, the leader of the government usually recommends one of two options to the governor. They can ask the governor to dissolve parliament and call an election, or they can advise the governor to ask someone else (usually the leader of the opposition) to have a go at forming government.

    What is happening in Tasmania?

    Strap in, it’s complex.

    On May 29, the Liberal government presented the state budget. The outlook is grim, with the state forecast to be over $10 billion in debt by 2029.

    To address this, the government proposed big cuts to the public service in the coming years.

    On June 2, the leader of the opposition, Labor’s Dean Winter, tabled a motion of no confidence in the premier at the end of his budget reply speech.

    “Tabling” a motion means putting it on the agenda for discussion at some point in future. To be debated, it has to be “moved”.

    Winter stated he wouldn’t move the motion until he had enough support to guarantee it would pass. The motion focused on three things:

    • alleged poor financial management

    • the ongoing Spirit of Tasmania ferry fiasco

    • and the government’s plan to potentially privatise some state-owned businesses.

    Support was fast in coming. By Monday evening, three of the six cross-benchers had said they would vote for the motion, meaning Labor only needed the five Greens MPs to jump onboard.

    At a party meeting early on Wednesday morning, the Greens decided they would do just that.

    So, instead of debating the budget, Wednesday and Thursday were spent debating the no confidence motion.

    There was a lot of confusion in Tasmanian political circles at this point. There is very little formal procedure that describes how no confidence motions work in Tasmania’s parliament.

    Instead, what happens is defined by convention, which means there are lots of grey areas. There have only been a few successful no confidence motions in Tasmania’s history (the most recent ones were in 1989 and 1982).

    So how did it play out?

    This time around, there were a few complications.

    The motion referred to the premier, not the government. There was speculation, therefore, that if the motion passed, the Liberal Party could replace Rockliff as leader, and Labor would then pass the budget.

    However, during parliamentary debate, several Liberal MPs argued they saw the motion as indicating lack of confidence in the whole government – not just the premier. Under this view, Rockliff would have to go to the governor, Barbara Baker, and ask her to call an election, or advise her to ask Winter to try to rally the numbers to govern.

    Although the convention is that the governor follows the premier’s advice, there is precedent for them making their own decision.

    Just to spice things up further, Baker is currently on leave. The decision would need to be made by the lieutenant-governor, Chief Justice Chris Shanahan, who is new to his role – and the state.

    An election quickly shaped up as the most likely outcome. On Thursday morning, Rockliff announced that if the motion passed, he would ask the governor to dissolve parliament and call an election.

    Shortly after that, Winter ruled out governing in coalition – or doing a deal – with the Greens. This made it very unlikely any alternative government would have the numbers to pass legislation through the lower house, leaving the lieutenant-governor with few options.

    Late on Thursday, parliament voted on the motion. With the numbers tied at 17-17, the speaker cast her vote with the “ayes” alongside the other nine Labor MPs, all five Greens MPs, independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston, and the Jacqui Lambie Network’s last remaining MP, Andrew Jenner.

    Following an emotionally charged speech, Rockliff met with the lieutenant-governor. Speaking to the media afterwards, he said he’ll recall parliament on Tuesday with the aim of passing an emergency supply bill to ensure public servants continue to be paid despite the delay in the budget process.

    Rockliff said he would then ask Baker – who returns from leave next week – for permission to call an election. It will be interesting to see if she takes his advice or not.

    What happens now?

    All this means Tasmania could head back to the polls in mid-July, just 16 months after the last state election.

    The Liberals will seek to pin the blame for the snap election on Labor and the crossbench, and hope that a grumpy electorate punishes them for this.

    They will also try to convince Tasmanians they are the only party that can get the controversial stadium in Hobart is built, thereby delivering the state its long-desired AFL team.

    Labor will campaign on the three things it cited in the no confidence motion, while arguing it will also guarantee that Tasmania gets an AFL team.

    They’ll also be hoping to ride the wave of the recent strong result for federal Labor at the national election. However, on past evidence, they can’t bank on this.

    Labor’s challenge will be differentiating themselves from the current government, because their positions are pretty closely aligned on key issues, including the stadium, salmon farming, and the proposed development assistance panels.

    The Greens will set out their stall as the only party firmly against the current stadium proposal and in favour of removing salmon farming in Tasmanian waters.

    For the independents, an early election is bad news. Campaigns are expensive, and without extensive party resources to draw on, some independents may be forced to decide whether they can afford to run again so soon.

    All of this does not point to a more stable parliament. The vote share of the two major parties has been steadily decreasing in Tasmania. A new election is not likely to reverse this trend.

    In the meantime, Tasmanians are left to wonder when their political leaders will get serious about tackling the state’s complex health, housing, education, sustainability, and productivity challenges.

    Robert Hortle 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. Tasmania could go to an election just 16 months after its last one. What’s going on? – https://theconversation.com/tasmania-could-go-to-an-election-just-16-months-after-its-last-one-whats-going-on-258180

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: ATIF Holdings Limited Announces Strategic Diversification to Bitcoin Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Irvine, California, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ATIF Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: ZBAI), today announced its strategic expansion into the Bitcoin (BTC) sector with an ambitious five-year plan to accumulate 1,000 BTC through a combination of direct purchases, and mining operations.

    As part of this initiative, ATIF Holdings will deploy a hybrid approach in the next five years including:

    • – Direct acquisition of BTC in the open market;
    • – Building and Operating proprietary BTC mining facilities; and/or acquiring operating BTC mining sites

    The company has tentatively selected West Texas as the primary location for its proprietary mining operations. This decision is driven by several key factors: Texas’ favorable regulatory environment for digital asset mining, abundant and affordable land, and a well-developed, deregulated electricity market with competitive power costs. Additionally, ATIF Holdings aims to implement advanced power utilization strategies to further reduce production costs and enhance overall operational efficiency.

    “We view Bitcoin not only as a long-term store of value but also as a strategic asset for growth and diversification,” said Kamran Khan, the CEO. “Our investment in mining infrastructure—particularly in a power-efficient region like West Texas—positions us to participate directly in Bitcoin’s network while optimizing cost control and scalability.”

    The planned mining facilities will emphasize energy efficiency, sustainable operations, and smart grid integration, aligning with broader industry trends towards responsible and forward-looking crypto infrastructure development.

    The company has purchased BTC in the open market and plans to continue to do so in the near future.   

    This move marks a significant evolution in ATIF Holdings’ business and underscores its commitment to innovation and long-term value creation in emerging technologies.

    About ZBAI

    ATIF Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: ZBAI) is a business consulting company that specializes in providing professional IPO, M&A advisory and post-IPO compliance services to small and medium-sized companies seeking to go public on a stock exchange in the United States. The Company is currently exploring business opportunities in the BTC sector.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, “estimated,” “projected,” Words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “predict”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “seek”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “future”, “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the opposite of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control and may cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

    Important factors include:

    • Bitcoin price and uncertainty in the regulatory of the crypto currency industry;
    • future financial and operating results, including revenues, income, expenses, cash balances and other financial items;
    • Ability to manage business development, growth and expansion; Current and future economic and political conditions;
    • The ability to compete in industries with low barriers to entry;
    • The ability to obtain additional financing to fund capital expenditure for the planned business in the future.
    • Ability to attract new customers and further enhance brand awareness;
    • Ability to hire and retain qualified management and key staff for the current and planned business;
    • Trends and competition in the financial advisory services industry;
    • Pandemic or epidemic disease and etc.

    Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions you that actual results may differ materially from the expected results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make. You should not interpret forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements represent only the beliefs and assumptions of our management as of the date such statements are made. The above forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release.

    Contact Information

    Name: Christina

    Email: Christina@zbai.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Yuanbao Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Yuanbao Inc. (“Yuanbao” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: YB), a leading technology-driven online insurance distributor in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operational Highlights

    • Total revenues in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB970.1 million (US$133.7 million), representing a 43.8% increase from RMB674.5 million in the same period of 2024.
    • Net income in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB295.1 million (US$40.7 million), representing a 122.1% increase from RMB132.9 million in the same period of 2024.
    • Net income margin in the first quarter of 2025 was 30.4%, compared with 19.7% in the same period of 2024.
    • Net operating cash inflow in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB425.1 million (US$58.6 million).
    • Number of new policies1 in the first quarter of 2025 was 6.8 million, representing a 21.3% increase from 5.6 million in the same period of 2024.

    Recent Developments

    • Leveraging the latest large language model (“LLM”) capabilities:
      • YB Agents. The Company has implemented an intelligent quality inspection Agent, capable of autonomously planning and coordinating multiple inspection tasks. This enables rapid deployment and reuse across complex scenarios, significantly enhancing inspection efficiency. The Company is also developing agents across other operational areas to improve process efficiency.
      • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Enhancements. The Company has addressed the limitations of LLMs in processing specialized professional knowledge by integrating a specialized insurance knowledge database with RAG, resulting in more accurate responses to consumer insurance inquiries.
      • Multi-Modal Applications. The Company is implementing multi-modal capabilities to broaden its interaction methods, seamlessly combining text, images, and other data types to promote more convenient and efficient insurance services.
    • In terms of the Company’s full consumer service cycle engine (recommendation models), as of the end of March, the Company had developed more than 4,700 models capable of analysis across more than 5,100 labels, an increase of 600 models and 1,000 labels from a year ago.

    “Achieving our Nasdaq listing marks the most significant strategic milestone in Yuanbao’s growth since our founding in 2019,” said Mr. Rui Fang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yuanbao. “In the first quarter of 2025, we reported a substantial increase in revenue and net income, with all core operational metrics demonstrating double-digit year-over-year growth. Notably, the number of new policies increased by 21.3% compared with the prior year period. In technology, we continued to upgrade our full consumer service cycle engine and expand large language model applications across the entire business process. These advancements have remarkably enhanced both the efficiency and user experience of post-sale services, particularly in claim processing. As of the end of March, we had developed over 4,700 models capable of analysis across more than 5,100 labels, an increase of 600 models and 1,000 labels from a year ago. These developments have led to more accurate predictions and significantly improved operational efficiency. Looking ahead, we are committed to increasing investment in R&D to better serve evolving consumer needs. We will also focus on optimizing the full consumer service cycle, deepening strategic collaborations with insurance partners, and creating long-term value for shareholders.”

    Mr. Ray Wan, Chief Financial Officer of Yuanbao, commented, “We are pleased to report a strong start to 2025, fueled by stellar financial and operational performance in the first quarter. Our total revenues reached a record RMB970.1 million, marking a 43.8% year-over-year increase, underpinned by the strength and efficiency of our engine. Additionally, we continued to improve our profitability, with net income growing 122.1% and net income margin expanding by 10.7 percentage points to 30.4%, compared with the prior year period. These solid results underscore Yuanbao’s leadership in China’s fast-growing online health insurance industry, where we leverage our core technological strengths to pursue growth while maintaining profitability. We remain confident that our healthy financial position and robust cash reserves will support our strategic initiatives, enhance our competitive advantage, and enable us to explore new opportunities for sustainable future growth.”

    1 The number of new policies for a given period represents the total number of both short-term and long-term insurance policies purchased by the Company’s insurance consumers during that period.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Total Revenues. Total revenues in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB970.1 million (US$133.7 million), representing a 43.8% increase from RMB674.5 million in the same period of 2024. This growth was primarily driven by significant increases in revenues from both insurance distribution services and system services.

    Insurance Distribution Services. Revenues from insurance distribution services in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB321.8 million (US$44.3 million), representing a 45.0% increase from RMB221.9 million in the same period of 2024. This growth was mainly due to an increase in the number of policies purchased by insurance consumers on Yuanbao’s platform, partly driven by the Company’s enhanced targeted marketing efforts.

    System Services. Revenues from system services in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB647.0 million (US$89.2 million), representing a 43.2% increase from RMB451.7 million in the same period of 2024. This growth was primarily driven by the Company’s enhanced ability to provide partnered insurance carriers more effective marketing services and accurate analytics services, enabled by the Company’s continuously improving full consumer service cycle engine. Additionally, the increase was attributable to an expanded provision of system services to both existing and newly acquired partnered insurance carriers.

    Others. Revenues from other services in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB1.3 million (US$0.2 million), representing a 27.8% increase from RMB1.0 million in the same period of 2024.

    Total Operating Costs and Expenses. Total operating costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB680.6 million (US$93.8 million), representing a 24.1% increase from RMB548.6 million in the same period of 2024.

    Operations and Support Expenses. Operations and support expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB44.8 million (US$6.2 million), representing a 16.8% increase from RMB38.3 million in the same period of 2024. This increase was primarily driven by business growth.

    Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB493.2 million (US$68.0 million), representing a 15.0% increase from RMB428.9 million in the same period of 2024. This increase was primarily due to enhanced efforts to attract new consumers and retain existing consumers.

    General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB66.6 million (US$9.2 million), representing a 50.7% increase from RMB44.2 million in the same period of 2024. This increase was primarily due to higher salary and benefits expenses.

    Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB76.1 million (US$10.5 million), representing a 104.5% increase from RMB37.2 million in the same period of 2024. This increase was primarily due to intensified research and development efforts and an expansion in R&D personnel, aimed at reinforcing the Company’s leadership position as a technology-driven online insurance distributor.

    Investment Income. Investment income in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB6.9 million (US$0.9 million), compared with RMB0.1 million in the same period of 2024. This growth was primarily due to higher gains from short-term investments.

    Net Income and Net Income Margin. Net income in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB295.1 million (US$40.7 million), representing a 122.1% increase from RMB132.9 million in the same period of 2024. Net income margin in the first quarter of 2025 was 30.4%, compared with 19.7% in the same period of 2024.

    Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income2and Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income Margin. Non-GAAP adjusted net income in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB312.2 million (US$43.0 million), representing a 103.2% increase from RMB153.6 million in the same period of 2024. Non-GAAP adjusted net income margin in the first quarter of 2025 was 32.2%, compared with 22.8% in the same period of 2024.

    Basic and Diluted Net Income per ADS.3 Basic net income per ADS in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB17.87 (US$2.46), compared with RMB4.97 in the same period of 2024. Diluted net income per ADS in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB6.46 (US$0.89), compared with RMB2.95 in the same period of 2024.

    Cash Position and Cash Flow

    As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, time deposits, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB2.77 billion (US$381.3 million), compared with RMB2.34 billion as of December 31, 2024.

    In the first quarter of 2025, net cash provided by operating activities was RMB425.1 million (US$58.6 million).

    2 Non-GAAP adjusted net income is defined as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure” and “Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” at the end of this press release.
    3 Each ADS represents six of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.

    Exchange Rate

    This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi (“RMB”) amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at a rate of RMB7.2567 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of March 31, 2025, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The Company makes no representation that any RMB or US$ amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all.

    Conference Call

    The Company’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on June 5, 2025 or 8:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the first quarter of 2025.

    Participant Online Registration:
    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIa888df307303472fb71951c383b5a7ba

    Participants should complete online registration using the link provided above at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Upon registration, participants will receive the conference call access information, including dial-in numbers, a personal PIN and an e-mail with detailed instructions to join the conference call.

    Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at ir.yb-inc.com.

    About Yuanbao Inc.

    Yuanbao Inc. is a leading technology-driven online insurance distributor in China, committed to protecting health and well-being through innovative technology. Leveraging its proprietary consumer service cycle engine and advanced technologies, Yuanbao delivers customized insurance solutions from its partnered insurance carriers to over ten million insurance consumers throughout the entire insurance lifecycle, ranging from personalized recommendations to post-sales services. Through deep collaboration with insurance carriers and the use of data-driven insights, Yuanbao empowers carriers to tailor flagship products, enhances consumer engagement, and drives scalable and efficient distribution.

    For more information, please visit: ir.yb-inc.com.

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    The unaudited condensed consolidated financial information is prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

    The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income and adjusted net income margin, in evaluating the Company’s operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Adjusted net income represents net income excluding share-based compensation expense, and adjusted net income margin represents adjusted net income as a percentage of revenue. Such adjustments have no impact on income tax.

    The non-GAAP financial measures are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool and when assessing the Company’s operating performance, investors should not consider it in isolation. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Adjusted net income presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure to the Company’s data.

    For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release 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. Among other things, quotations in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Yuanbao may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases 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 Yuanbao’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: Yuanbao’s mission, goals and strategies; Yuanbao’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the insurance industry in China; Yuanbao’s expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; Yuanbao’s expectations regarding its relationships with consumers, insurance carriers and other partners; competition in the industry and relevant government policies and regulations relating to insurance industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Yuanbao’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Yuanbao does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Yuanbao Inc.
    E-mail: ir@yb-inc.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Hui Fan
    Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
    E-mail: yb@thepiacentegroup.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: yb@thepiacentegroup.com

    YUANBAO INC.
    UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
     
        As of December 31,
    2024    		   As of March 31, 2025
        RMB   RMB USD
    ASSETS          
    Current assets:          
    Cash and cash equivalents   1,904,674   2,236,013 308,131
    Time deposits   80,000   80,000 11,024
    Restricted cash   15,000   15,000 2,067
    Short-term investments   336,217   435,708 60,042
    Accounts receivable, net   260,958   332,586 45,832
    Prepayments and other current assets, net   75,964   44,991 6,200
    Total current assets   2,672,813   3,144,298 433,296
    Non-current assets:          
    Property and equipment, net   4,896   5,087 701
    Intangible assets, net   58,049   58,026 7,996
    Right-of-use assets   19,335   16,171 2,228
    Deferred tax assets, net   6,936   7,045 971
    Other non-current assets, net   17,611   17,611 2,427
    Total non-current assets   106,827   103,940 14,323
    TOTAL ASSETS   2,779,640   3,248,238 447,619
    LIABILITIES          
    Current liabilities:          
    Accounts payable   10,676   20,730 2,857
    Contract liabilities   117,649   95,405 13,147
    Salary and welfare payable   160,690   159,426 21,969
    Taxes payable   51,359   51,173 7,052
    Current lease liabilities   13,447   13,548 1,867
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   586,990   758,236 104,487
    Total current liabilities   940,811   1,098,518 151,379
    Non-current liabilities:          
    Non-current lease liabilities   5,714   2,297 317
    Deferred tax liabilities, net   46,030   48,473 6,680
    Total non-current liabilities   51,744   50,770 6,997
    TOTAL LIABILITIES   992,555   1,149,288 158,376
    YUANBAO INC.
    UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
     
        As of December 31,
    2024    		   As of March 31, 2025
        RMB   RMB USD
    MEZZANINE EQUITY:          
    Series Seed convertible redeemable preferred
       shares (US$0.0001 par value; 30,769,231 and
       30,769,231 shares authorized, issued
       and outstanding as of December 31, 2024
       and March 31, 2025, respectively)    		   692,051     695,316   95,817  
    Series Angel convertible redeemable
       preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value;
       21,978,022 and 21,978,022 shares
       authorized, issued and outstanding as of
       December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025,
       respectively)    		   495,921     497,729   68,589  
    Series B convertible redeemable preferred
       shares (US$0.0001 par value; 45,315,510
       and 45,315,510 shares authorized, issued
       and outstanding as of December 31, 2024
       and March 31, 2025, respectively)    		   1,028,888     1,027,703   141,621  
    Series C-1 convertible redeemable preferred
       shares (US$0.0001 par value; 37,373,616
       and 37,373,616 shares authorized, issued
       and outstanding as of December 31, 2024
       and March 31, 2025, respectively)    		   851,362     833,372   114,842  
    Series C-2 convertible redeemable preferred
       shares (US$0.0001 par value; 15,650,202
       and 15,650,202 shares authorized, issued
       and outstanding as of December 31, 2024
       and March 31, 2025, respectively)    		   352,660     345,176   47,567  
    TOTAL MEZZANINE EQUITY   3,420,882     3,399,296   468,436  
               
    SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT:          
    Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value,
       348,913,419 and 348,913,419 shares
       authorized, 106,994,625 and 106,994,625
       shares issued, 106,994,625 and
       106,994,625 shares outstanding as of
       December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025,
       respectively)    		   71     71   10  
    Additional paid-in capital   198,664     215,743   29,730  
    Statutory reserves   80,975     80,975   11,159  
    Accumulated deficit   (1,932,128 )   (1,615,440 ) (222,614 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   18,621     18,305   2,522  
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   (1,633,797 )   (1,300,346 ) (179,193 )
    TOTAL LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   2,779,640     3,248,238   447,619  
    YUANBAO INC.
    UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
    (All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data)
     
      For the three months ended,
      March 31, 2024     March 31, 2025
    		  
      RMB     RMB   USD  
    Revenues 674,536     970,056   133,677  
    Operating costs and expenses*:              
    Operations and support (38,332 )   (44,756 ) (6,168 )
    Selling and marketing expenses (428,867 )   (493,150 ) (67,958 )
    General and administrative expenses (44,211 )   (66,640 ) (9,183 )
    Research and development expenses (37,212 )   (76,098 ) (10,487 )
    Total operating costs and expenses (548,622 )   (680,644 ) (93,796 )
    Other income:              
    Interest income 6,017     5,228   720  
    Exchange gains/(loss) 34     (138 ) (19 )
    Investment income 142     6,879   948  
    Others, net 791     439   60  
    Income before income taxes 132,898     301,820   41,590  
    Income tax expenses (47 )   (6,718 ) (926 )
    Net income 132,851     295,102   40,664  
    Accretion to preferred shares redemption value (64,607 )   21,586   2,975  
    Net income attributable to Yuanbao Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 68,244     316,688   43,639  
                   
    Net income 132,851     295,102   40,664  
    Other comprehensive income/(loss):              
    Foreign currency translation adjustments 396     (316 ) (44 )
    Total comprehensive income 133,247     294,786   40,620  
    Accretion to preferred shares redemption value (64,607 )   21,586   2,975  
    Comprehensive income attributable to Yuanbao Inc.’s ordinary shareholders 68,640     316,372   43,595  
                   
    Net income per share attributable to Yuanbao Inc.’s ordinary shareholders              
    Basic 0.83     2.98   0.41  
    Diluted 0.49     1.08   0.15  
                   
    Net income per ADS attributable to Yuanbao Inc.’s ordinary shareholders              
    Basic 4.97     17.87   2.46  
    Diluted 2.95     6.46   0.89  
                   
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net income per share              
    Basic 82,325,900     106,358,492   106,358,492  
    Diluted 270,332,095     273,915,113   273,915,113  
                   

    *Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating costs and expenses as follows：

      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2024 March 31, 2025
      RMB RMB USD
    Operations and support –   (11 ) (2 )
    Selling and marketing expenses (4,626 ) (3,730 ) (514 )
    General and administrative expenses (12,105 ) (8,437 ) (1,163 )
    Research and development expenses (4,067 ) (4,901 ) (675 )
    Total (20,798 ) (17,079 ) (2,354 )

    **Each ADS represents six ordinary shares.

    YUANBAO INC.
    RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
    (All amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)
     
      For the Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2024 March 31, 2025
      RMB RMB USD
    Net income 132,851 295,102 40,664
    Add:      
    Share-based compensation expenses 20,798 17,079 2,354
    Non-GAAP adjusted net income 153,649 312,181 43,018

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Punishment for Te Pāti Māori over Treaty haka stands – but MPs ‘will not be silenced’

    RNZ News

    Aotearoa New Zealand’s Parliament has confirmed the unprecedented punishments proposed for opposition indigenous Te Pāti Māori MPs who performed a haka in protest against the Treaty Principles Bill.

    Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi will be suspended for 21 days, and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for seven days, taking effect immediately.

    Opposition parties tried to reject the recommendation, but did not have the numbers to vote it down.

    Te Pati Maori MPs speak after being suspended.  Video: RNZ/Mark Papalii

    The heated debate to consider the proposed punishment came to an end just before Parliament was due to rise.

    Waititi moved to close the debate and no party disagreed, ending the possibility of it carrying on in the next sitting week.

    Leader of the House Chris Bishop — the only National MP who spoke — kicked off the debate earlier in the afternoon saying it was “regrettable” some MPs did not vote on the Budget two weeks ago.

    Bishop had called a vote ahead of Budget Day to suspend the privileges report debate to ensure the Te Pāti Māori MPs could take part in the Budget, but not all of them turned up.

    Robust, rowdy debate
    The debate was robust and rowdy with both the deputy speaker Barbara Kuriger and temporary speaker Tangi Utikare repeatedly having to ask MPs to quieten down.

    Flashback: Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipa-Clarke led a haka in Parliament and tore up a copy of the Treaty Principles Bill at the first reading on 14 November 2024 . . . . a haka is traditionally used as an indigenous show of challenge, support or sorrow. Image: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone/APR screenshot

    Tākuta Ferris spoke first for Te Pāti Māori, saying the haka was a “signal of humanity” and a “raw human connection”.

    He said Māori had faced acts of violence for too long and would not be silenced by “ignorance or bigotry”.

    “Is this really us in 2025, Aotearoa New Zealand?” he asked the House.

    “Everyone can see the racism.”

    He said the Privileges Committee’s recommendations were not without precedent, noting the fact Labour MP Peeni Henare, who also participated in the haka, did not face suspension.

    MP Tākuta Ferris spoke for Te Pāti Māori. Image: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

    Henare attended the committee and apologised, which contributed to his lesser sanction.

    ‘Finger gun’ gesture
    MP Parmjeet Parmar — a member of the Committee — was first to speak on behalf of ACT, and referenced the hand gesture — or “finger gun” — that Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer made in the direction of ACT MPs during the haka.

    Parmar told the House debate could be used to disagree on ideas and issues, and there was not a place for intimidating physical gestures.

    Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said New Zealand’s Parliament could lead the world in terms of involving the indigenous people.

    She said the Green Party strongly rejected the committee’s recommendations and proposed their amendment of removing suspensions, and asked the Te Pāti Māori MPs be censured instead.

    Davidson said the House had evolved in the past — such as the inclusion of sign language and breast-feeding in the House.

    She said the Greens were challenging the rules, and did not need an apology from Te Pāti Māori.

    Foreign Minister and NZ First party leader Winston Peters called Te Pāti Māori “a bunch of extremists”. Image: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

    NZ First leader Winston Peters said Te Pāti Māori and the Green Party speeches so far showed “no sincerity, saying countless haka had taken place in Parliament but only after first consulting the Speaker.

    “They told the media they were going to do it, but they didn’t tell the Speaker did they?

    ‘Bunch of extremists’
    “The Māori party are a bunch of extremists,” Peters said, “New Zealand has had enough of them”.

    Peters was made to apologise after taking aim at Waititi, calling him “the one in the cowboy hat” with “scribbles on his face” [in reference to his traditional indigenous moko — tatoo]. He continued afterward, describing Waititi as possessing “anti-Western values”.

    Labour’s Willie Jackson congratulated Te Pāti Māori for the “greatest exhibition of our culture in the House in my lifetime”.

    Jackson said the Treaty bill was a great threat, and was met by a great haka performance. He was glad the ACT Party was intimidated, saying that was the whole point of doing the haka.

    He also called for a bit of compromise from Te Pāti Māori — encouraging them to say sorry — but reiterated Labour’s view the sanctions were out of proportion with past indiscretions in the House.

    Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the prime minister was personally responsible if the proposed sanctions went ahead. Image: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

    Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the debate “would be a joke if it wasn’t so serious”.

    “Get an absolute grip,” she said to the House, arguing the prime minister “is personally responsible” if the House proceeds with the committee’s proposed sanctions.

    Eye of the beholder
    She accused National’s James Meager of “pointing a finger gun” at her — the same gesture coalition MPs had criticised Ngarewa-Packer for during her haka. The Speaker accepted he had not intended to; Swarbrick said it was an example where the interpretation could be in the eye of the beholder.

    She said if the government could “pick a punishment out of thin air” that was “not a democracy”, putting New Zealand in very dangerous territory.

    An emotional Maipi-Clarke said she had been silent on the issue for a long time, the party’s voices in haka having sent shockwaves around the world. She questioned whether that was why the MPs were being punished.

    “Since when did being proud of your culture make you racist?”

    “We will never be silenced, and we will never be lost,” she said, calling the Treaty Principles bill a “dishonourable vote”.

    She had apologised to the Speaker and accepted the consequence laid down on the day, but refused to apologise. She listed other incidents in Parliament that resulted in no punishment.

    NZ Parliament TV: Te Pāti Māori Privileges committee debate.  Video: RNZ

    Maipi-Clarke called for the Treaty of Waitangi to be recognised in the Constitution Act, and for MPs to be required to honour it by law.

    ‘Clear pathway forward’
    “The pathway forward has never been so clear,” she said.

    ACT’s Nicole McKee said there were excuses being made for “bad behaviour”, that the House was for making laws and having discussions, and “this is not about the haka, this is about process”.

    She told the House she had heard no good ideas from the Te Pāti Māori, who she said resorted to intimidation when they did not get their way, but the MPs needed to “grow up” and learn to debate issues. She hoped 21 days would give them plenty of time to think about their behaviour.

    Labour MP and former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe started by saying there were “no winners in this debate”, and it was clear to him it was the government, not the Parliament, handing out the punishments.

    He said the proposed sanctions set a precedent for future penalties, and governments might use it as a way to punish opposition, imploring National to think twice.

    He also said an apology from Te Pāti Māori would “go a long way”, saying they had a “huge opportunity” to have a legacy in the House, but it was their choice — and while many would agree with the party there were rules and “you can’t have it both ways”.

    Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi speaking to the media after the Privileges Committee debate. Image: RNZ/Mark Papalii

    Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said there had been many instances of misinterpretations of the haka in the House and said it was unclear why they were being punished, “is it about the haka . . . is about the gun gestures?”

    “Not one committee member has explained to us where 21 days came from,” he said.

    Hat and ‘scribbles’ response
    Waititi took aim at Peters over his comments targeting his hat and “scribbles” on his face.

    He said the haka was an elevation of indigenous voice and the proposed punishment was a “warning shot from the colonial state that cannot stomach” defiance.

    Waititi said that throughout history when Māori did not play ball, the “coloniser government” reached for extreme sanctions, ending with a plea to voters: “Make this a one-term government, enrol, vote”.

    He brought out a noose to represent Māori wrongfully put to death in the past, saying “interpretation is a feeling, it is not a fact . . .  you’ve traded a noose for legislation”.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) backs $8.7m initiative to unite African nations against extreme weather events in the Ubangi River Basin

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Home to one of the largest tributaries of the Congo River, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will benefit from a pioneering cross-border initiative to prepare for extreme climatic events and develop joint water resource management strategies with $8.7 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). 

    Approved this Monday by the GEF Council, the “Regional program for integrated water resources management in the transboundary basin of the Ubangi River between the CAR and the DRC” aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two African nations while improving technical and institutional capacities for managing increasingly extreme floods, droughts and erratic rainfall patterns affecting the Ubangi River basin.  

    The GEF implementing agencies of the project are the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Development Bank. A regional body and two national ministries are ensuring the execution of the initiative: the International Commission of the Congo-Ubangi-Sangha (CICOS), the Ministry of Rural Development of the DRC, and the Ministry of Development of Energy and Water Resources of the CAR. 

     Thierry Kamach, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of CAR said: “The degradation of natural resources is undeniable. The United Nations 2030 Agenda is an inspiring and unifying message to build strong resilience around a transformative project that will further strengthen ecosystem interdependence for a greener and more sustainable future.” 

    Flowing between the CAR, the DRC and the Republic of Congo, the Ubangi stretches over 2,272 kilometres and is the main right-bank tributary of the Congo River. As such, it is part of the Congo River basin, the second-largest river basin in the world and a global biodiversity hotspot with over 1,000 fish species.  

    The river basin’s rainforest harbours more than 10,000 plant species and 2,500 animal species, including two-thirds of all primates, which are under pressure from deforestation and land cover clearing. In parallel, changes in hydrological regimes, riverbank erosion, sedimentation and mining pollution threaten the river’s fish and shore fauna, which are becoming increasingly rare, and the Ubangi’s role as a regulator of regional and global climates. These challenges will be addressed by the new GEF initiative in an integrated fashion, considering the nexus between biodiversity, climate and ecosystem degradation, and between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. 

    “This initiative is vital as it brings together the communities and institutions of two countries to conserve one of Africa’s most ecologically and economically important river basins. By working across borders, these countries will strengthen their resilience to climate change while protecting biodiversity and the natural systems that sustain life” said IUCN Director General, Grethel Aguilar. “Through its strong on-the-ground presence in the Congo basin, IUCN will mobilise actors in the forest and environmental sectors to promote collaborative basin management and community-led nature-based solutions at the regional, national and local levels. Our focus will be as much on biodiversity and water resources, as it will on safeguarding the livelihoods of the region’s 25 million inhabitants, many of whom depend on the Ubangi River for navigation, trade and agriculture”.

     “This initiative is aligned with GEF’s long-standing commitment and investments in the sustainable management of the Congo basin,” said GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez. “By funding this crucial effort in support of sustainable management of water and land resources while averting pollution and land degradation, the GEF also contributes to maintaining the ecosystem functions of this gigantic forest system in supporting the stability of the regional and global hydrological cycle.” 

    Over the past 30 years, changes in rainfall patterns have progressively decreased water levels and reduced runoff in the Ubangi River by up to 18%. Coupled with the erosion, this further accentuated the siltation of the river, which is not only detrimental to biodiversity but also cripples navigation, limits trade and restricts access to residential areas. Alternating with drought periods, destructive floods are another harsh reality affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the region over the last decade, leading to population displacement to neighbouring countries.  

    The new GEF initiative will enable more effective binational cooperation in decision-making and the political monitoring of water crises by establishing a joint observatory and shared tools and data protocols between the DRC and CAR to enhance forecasting, prevention, and common crisis management measures. To combat biodiversity loss caused by human activities in the river basin, practical demonstrations of nature-based solutions —such as agroforestry, conservation farming and ecosystem rehabilitation— will be carried out on site. 

    Ensuring social inclusivity and promoting a “whole of society” approach, the project will roll out a framework for dialogue and exchange among stakeholders, including regional and local authorities, the private sector (particularly local small to medium-sized enterprises), young professionals, and female community leaders. This aims to strengthen local actors’ capability to contribute to shared watercourse management through training and capacity-building, and to assist them in formulating strategies to resolve common challenges. 

    Anthony Nyong, Director of the Climate Change and Green Growth Department at the African Development Bank, stated: “The Bank welcomes this GEF-supported initiative to strengthen cooperation in the Ubangi basin, enhance local resilience, and promote women’s leadership. Its nature-based, people-centred approach aligns with our High 5s and offers a model for basin-wide collaboration in Africa.” 

    With $67 million mobilised in co-financing, the GEF initiative complements a pre-existing project entitled “Regional Support Programme for the Development of Cross-border Water Infrastructure and Resources between the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – PREDIRE”, being implemented by the African Development Bank, by mainstreaming environmental, ecosystem and participative approaches into the sectors of water, agriculture and transport. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • OpenAI finds more Chinese groups using ChatGPT for malicious purposes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    OpenAI is seeing an increasing number of Chinese groups using its artificial intelligence technology for covert operations, which the ChatGPT maker described in a report released Thursday.

    While the scope and tactics employed by these groups have expanded, the operations detected were generally small in scale and targeted limited audiences, the San Francisco-based startup said.

    Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, there have been concerns about the potential consequences of generative AI technology, which can quickly and easily produce human-like text, imagery and audio.

    OpenAI regularly releases reports on malicious activity it detects on its platform, such as creating and debugging malware, or generating fake content for websites and social media platforms.

    In one example, OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China, including criticism of a Taiwan-centric video game, false accusations against a Pakistani activist, and content related to the closure of USAID.

    Some content also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, generating X posts, such as “Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who’s supposed to keep eating?”.

    In another example, China-linked threat actors used AI to support various phases of their cyber operations, including open-source research, script modification, troubleshooting system configurations, and development of tools for password brute forcing and social media automation.

    A third example OpenAI found was a China-origin influence operation that generated polarized social media content supporting both sides of divisive topics within U.S. political discourse, including text and AI-generated profile images.

    OpenAI has cemented its position as one of the world’s most valuable private companies after announcing a $40 billion funding round valuing the company at $300 billion.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  
    At noon on June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, conferred a decoration upon President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and hosted a state banquet for President Heine and her husband at the Presidential Office. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations and speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. He also expressed hope for Taiwan and the Marshall Islands to work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges, and that together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. At the decoration ceremony, President Lai personally conferred the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on President Heine before delivering remarks, a translation of which follows:  The Marshall Islands was the first Pacific ally that I visited after taking office as president. When I arrived there, I was immediately drawn to its beautiful scenery. And I received a very warm welcome from the local people. This gesture showed the profound friendship between our two nations. I was truly touched. I also remember trying your nation’s special Bob Whisky for the first time. The flavor was as unique and impressive as the landscape of the Marshall Islands.  In addition to welcoming our distinguished guests today, we also presented President Heine with the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to thank President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations, and for staunchly speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. Both I and the people of Taiwan are profoundly grateful to President Heine for her friendship and support. Over the past few years, cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown ever closer. And this visit by our distinguished guests will allow our two countries to further expand areas of bilateral exchange. I have always believed that only through mutual assistance and trust can two countries build a longstanding and steadfast partnership. I once again convey my sincere aspiration that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges. Together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. In closing, I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for leading this delegation to Taiwan, which deepens the foundations of our bilateral relationship. May our two nations enjoy a long and enduring friendship. President Heine then delivered remarks, stating that she felt especially privileged to receive the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and humbly accepted the honor with the utmost gratitude, humility, and deep responsibility. This is a deep responsibility, she said, because she understands that since its inception in 1933, this order has been bestowed upon a select few. She then thanked President Lai for this great honor. President Heine stated that the banquet was not just a celebration of our bilateral friendship, but a true reflection of the generosity of the Taiwan spirit and a testament to the enduring ties between our nations, founded on shared values and aspirations, including a respect for the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and a deep commitment to democracy. President Heine stated that the Taiwan-Marshall Islands partnership continues to evolve through practical cooperation and mutual support. In recent years, she said, our countries have worked hand in hand across a range of vital sectors, including the recent opening of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telehealth Center and the ongoing and successful Taiwan Health Center, various technical training and scholarship programs, and various climate change adaptation projects in renewable energy, coastal resilience, and sustainable agriculture.   President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands continues to be a proud and vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations. Taiwan’s exclusion from these platforms, she said, is not only unjust, but is bad for the world, and the global community needs Taiwan’s voice and expertise.  President Heine also expressed sincere appreciation to all of the Taiwanese friends who have contributed their efforts to deepening bilateral relations, including government officials, healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and volunteers. The people of the Marshall Islands, she said, deeply appreciate and value everyone’s efforts and service. President Heine said that as we celebrate our partnership, let us look to the future with hope and determination, continue to work together, learn from one another, and support one another to champion a world where all nations can chart their own course based on peace and international law. Also attending the state banquet were Marshall Islands Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Finance David Paul, Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chairperson Joe Bejang, and Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai and President Hilda C. Heine of Marshall Islands hold bilateral talks and witness signing of agreements
    On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Presidential Office following a welcome ceremony with military honors for her and her husband. The leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government and the Nitijela (parliament) of the Marshall Islands for their longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation and for voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. President Lai said that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to deepen its diplomatic partnership with the Marshall Islands and build an even closer cooperative relationship across a range of fields, engaging in mutual assistance for mutual benefits and helping each other achieve joint and prosperous development to yield even greater well-being for our peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I once again warmly welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and our guests to Taiwan. During my visit to the Marshall Islands last year, I said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family. When Vice President Hsiao and I took office last year, President Heine led a delegation to Taiwan. It is now one year since our inauguration, and I am delighted to see President Heine once again, just as if I were seeing family arrive from afar. Through my visit to the Marshall Islands, I gained a profound sense of the friendship between the peoples of our two nations, well-demonstrated by bilateral exchanges in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. And it is thanks to President Heine’s longstanding support for Taiwan that our countries have been able to further advance collaboration on even more issues, including women’s empowerment and climate change. In recent years, the geopolitical and economic landscape has changed rapidly. We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to deepen our partnership and build an even closer cooperative relationship. In just a few moments, President Heine and I will witness the signing of several documents, including a memorandum of understanding and a letter of intent, to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as sports, education, and transportation. Taiwan will take concrete action to work with the Marshall Islands and advance mutual prosperity and development, writing a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the government and Nitijela of the Marshall Islands. In recent years, the Nitijela has passed annual resolutions backing Taiwan’s international participation, and President Heine and Marshallese cabinet members have been some of the strongest advocates for Taiwan’s international participation, voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. Building on the pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, Taiwan will continue to work with the Marshall Islands and other like-minded countries to deepen our partnerships, engage in mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and help one another achieve joint and prosperous development. I have every confidence that the combined efforts of our two nations will yield even greater well-being for our peoples and see us make even more contributions to the world. President Heine then delivered remarks, and began by conveying warm greetings of iokwe from the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She said she was deeply honored to be in Taiwan for an official visit, and extended appreciation to President Lai and his government for their gracious invitation and warm welcome. President Heine stated that this year marks 27 years of diplomatic ties between our two nations, and that they are proud of this enduring friendship. This special and enduring relationship, she said, is grounded in our shared Austronesian heritage, and strengthened by mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems and our steadfast commitment to the core values of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. President Heine stated that Taiwan’s continued support has been invaluable to the people and national development of the Marshall Islands, particularly in the areas of health, education, agriculture, and climate change. She also expressed deep appreciation to Taiwan for providing Marshallese students with opportunities to study in Taiwan, and for the care extended to Marshallese who travel here for medical treatment. President Heine also announced that she would be presenting a copy of a resolution by the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands reiterating their appreciation for the support provided by the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and calling on the United Nations to take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people from the UN system. She added that she looked forward to the bilateral discussions later that day, and to continuing the important work that both countries carry out together. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Heine witnessed the signing of a letter of intent regarding sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft, marking the formal beginning of Taiwan-Marshall Islands air transport cooperation. The visiting delegation also included Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair Joe Bejang. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai welcomes President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands with military honors  
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and her husband on the morning of June 3 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. The president said that over our 27 years of diplomatic relations, our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. And moving ahead, he said, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Heine each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great pleasure to welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. When I traveled to the Marshall Islands on a state visit last December, I was received with great warmth and courtesy. I once again thank President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share Austronesian cultural traditions, and we are like-minded friends. Throughout our 27 years of diplomatic relations, we have always engaged with each other in a spirit of reciprocal trust and mutual assistance. Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. This is President Heine’s first state visit to Taiwan since taking office for a second time. We look forward to engaging our esteemed guests in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern. And moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with the Marshall Islands across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. In closing, I thank President Heine, First Gentleman Kijiner, and their entire delegation for visiting Taiwan. I wish you all a pleasant and successful trip.  A transcript of President Heine’s remarks follows: Your Excellency President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, honorable members of the cabinet, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings of iokwe on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I wish to also convey my appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, for the hospitality and very warm welcome – kommol tata. This visit marks my seventh official state visit to this beautiful country. It’s a testament to my strong commitment to further deepening ties between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan). During this visit, I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with Your Excellency President Lai to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two nations and our peoples.  For over a quarter-century, Taiwan has been a strong ally and friend to the Marshall Islands. Our partnership has thrived across many sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. Through Taiwan’s generous support and collaboration, we have made significant progress in improving the lives of our people, empowering our communities, and fostering sustainable growth. The Marshall Islands deeply values our partnership with Taiwan and appreciates Taiwan’s support over the years. Despite our small size and limited voice on the global stage, the Marshall Islands deeply cherishes our friendship with Taiwan, and to that end, I wish to reaffirm my government’s commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In light of current constraints in global affairs, it is now more urgent than ever that the international community of nations recognize the fundamental rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people and recognize Taiwan’s aspiration to engage fully in global affairs. It is with this in mind that I wish to reiterate to Your Excellency President Lai, the Taiwanese people, and the world that under my government, Marshall Islands will continue to acknowledge Taiwan’s contribution on the global stage and urge like-minded countries to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in the international arena. In closing, may I once again extend our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for your warm welcome.  Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-05-29
    President Lai attends 2025 Europe Day Dinner
    On the evening of May 29, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2025 Europe Day Dinner. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan looks forward to further establishing institutionalized mechanisms with Europe for our trade and investment ties and hopes to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. The president said that Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains, and noted that Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it is in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. He expressed hope to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: Chairman [Henry] Chang (張瀚書), thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your second term. I’m confident that under your leadership, the ECCT [European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan] will build even more bridges for cooperation between Taiwan and Europe. I would also like to thank EETO [European Economic and Trade Office] Head [Lutz] Güllner and all the European country representatives stationed in Taiwan. Your hard work over the years has helped deepen Taiwan-Europe relations and brought about such fruitful cooperation. Thank you. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. In 1950, then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to create a European federation dedicated to preserving peace. The declaration symbolized a new flowering in the post-war era of democracy, unity, and cooperation. As we face the geopolitical challenges and drastic economic changes of today’s world, the Schuman Declaration still speaks to us profoundly. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with our democratic partners, and will join hands with Europe to build a partnership of even greater resilience and mutual trust. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner. It is also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Last year, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Europe totaled US$84.7 billion. This demonstrates our vibrant economic and trade ties and reflects the high levels of confidence our businesses have in each other’s markets and systems. We look forward to Taiwan and Europe further establishing institutionalized mechanisms for our trade and investment ties. And we hope to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the EU, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. Today’s Taiwan has an internationally recognized democracy and a semiconductor industry vital to global security and prosperity. This enables us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic supply chains and the economic order. In particular, we see supply chains dominated by a new authoritarian bloc expanding their influence through non-market mechanisms, price subsidies, and monopolies on resources, as they seek global control of critical technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Their actions not only distort principles of market fairness, but also threaten the international community’s basic expectations for democracy, the rule of law, and corporate responsibility. In response, Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains. We will also introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. This is more than a proposal for economic cooperation; it is an alliance of shared values and advanced technology. Security in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability have always been issues of mutual interest for Taiwan and Europe. So here today, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to thank the EU and European nations for continuing to take concrete actions in public support of peace and stability across the strait. Such actions are vital to regional security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster itself to achieve real peace through strength, and will work with democratic partners to safeguard freedom and democracy, thereby showing our determination for regional peace. At this critical time, Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it’s in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. I look forward to our joining hands at this strategic juncture to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. Also in attendance at the event was British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.

    Details
    2025-05-28
    President Lai meets US delegation led by Senator Tammy Duckworth
    On the afternoon of May 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States Senator Tammy Duckworth. In remarks, President Lai thanked the US Congress and government for their longstanding and bipartisan support for Taiwan. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. He pointed out that the Taiwan government has already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties and will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses. He then expressed hope of deepening Taiwan-US ties and creating more niches for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome this delegation led by Senator Duckworth, a dear friend of Taiwan. Senator Duckworth previously visited in May last year to convey congratulations after the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. Your bipartisan delegation was the first group from the US Senate that I met with as president. Today, you are visiting just after the first anniversary of my taking office, demonstrating the staunch support of the US and our deep friendship. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincere appreciation and greetings. And I invite you to come back and visit next year, the year after that, and every year. Taiwan and the US share the values of democracy and the rule of law and believe in free and open markets. Both sides embrace a common goal of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. I thank the US Congress and government for their longstanding, bipartisan, and steadfast support for Taiwan. In 2021, to help Taiwan overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Duckworth made a special trip here to announce that the US government would be donating vaccines to Taiwan. In recent years, Senator Duckworth has also promoted the TAIWAN Security Act, STAND with Taiwan Act, and Taiwan and America Space Assistance Act in the US Congress, all of which have further deepened Taiwan-US cooperation and steadily advanced our ties. For this, I express my deepest appreciation. I want to emphasize that the people of Taiwan have an unyielding determination to protect their homeland and free and democratic way of life. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience. The government is committed to reforming national defense, and it has proposed prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP. This will continue to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US. In addition to jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability, we also aspire to deepen bilateral trade and economic ties. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Taiwan’s delegation was once again the biggest delegation attending the event – proof positive of our close economic and trade cooperation. We have already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties. We will narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy and agricultural and other industrial products from the US. We will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses to stimulate industrial development on both sides, especially in such industries as national defense and shipbuilding. We therefore look forward to Congress passing the US-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act as soon as possible, as this would deepen Taiwan-US trade ties and create more niches for business. In closing, I once again thank Senator Duckworth for making the trip to Taiwan. Let us continue to work together to elevate Taiwan-US ties. I wish you a pleasant and successful visit. Senator Duckworth then delivered remarks, saying that she is happy to be back in Taiwan and that she wanted to make sure to come back just after President Lai’s one-year anniversary of taking office to show the dedication and the outstanding friendship that we have. She noted that because no matter who is in the White House, no matter which political party is in power in Washington, DC, she has always believed that if America wants to remain a leader on the global stage, it has to show up for friends like Taiwan.  Senator Duckworth mentioned that in the years that she has been coming to Taiwan since pre-COVID times, she has seen a remarkable increase in participation in its defense and the support of the Taiwanese people for defending the homeland. She then thanked Taiwan for making the commitment to its self-defense, and also for being a partner with other nations around the world.  The STAND with Taiwan Act, the senator noted, is so named because the US wants to stand side by side with Taiwan. Pointing out that Taiwan is an important leader in the Indo-Pacific and on the global stage, she reiterated that there is support on both sides of the aisle in Washington for Taiwanese democracy, and added that the people of Taiwan are showing that they are willing to shore up their own readiness. Senator Duckworth said that whether it is delivering vaccines to Taiwan or making sure that the US National Guard works with Taiwan’s reserve forces or even with its civilian emergency response teams, these are all important components to the ongoing partnership between our nations.  Senator Duckworth indicated that there are many great opportunities moving forward beyond our military cooperation with one another. Whether it is in chip manufacturing, agricultural investments, shipbuilding, or in the healthcare field, those investments in both nations will facilitate stability and development in both our nations. She said that is why she wants to continue the Taiwan-US relationship, underlining that they are in it for the long haul. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Virgin Australia is coming back to the share market. Here’s what this new chapter could mean

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rico Merkert, Professor in Transport and Supply Chain Management and Deputy Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney

    Petr Podrouzek/Shutterstock

    It is finally happening. After five years of being a private company, Virgin Australia will relist on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on June 24. The company is expected to raise A$685 million through the initial public offering (IPO).

    So, who will benefit from Virgin Australia’s return to the share market? Having paid $3.5 billion for the bankrupt carrier back in 2020, private equity firm Bain Capital will be the most immediate winner.

    Earlier this year, Bain had sold 25% of the company to Qatar Airways. Now, with the IPO, Bain will reduce its stake from about 70% down to 40%.

    With Virgin’s anticipated market capitalisation close to $2.3 billion and enterprise value of reportedly up to $3.6 billion, it is now evident that Bain Capital has – with Jayne Hrdlicka at the helm of the airline – not only managed to turn the company around, but to also profit nicely from doing so.

    Without Bain’s rescue at the beginning of the pandemic (which was catastrophic for airlines globally), the situation may have become quite detrimental for travellers. It also avoided having the Australian taxpayer foot the bill for a bailout.

    Whether the airline’s customers end up better off will depend on what Virgin Australia ends up doing with the $685 million it raises, on top of the substantial profits it has recently been able to generate.

    Stronger competition for Qantas?

    Looking at the strategies of both Virgin Australia and its biggest competitor, Qantas, in recent years, it seems both have learned to love playing the duopoly game.

    Based on our own calculations, Virgin controls roughly 33% of Australia’s domestic seat capacity and the Qantas group (which includes Jetstar) much of the rest on the country’s core flight network.

    In the 2010s, the two airlines were out-competing themselves in adding capacity to the market, which drove down yields (or revenue per passenger) and nearly killed Virgin Australia 1.0.

    Now, Qantas and Virgin have new chief executives who understand both airlines can be very profitable if they show some (capacity) discipline in how many seats they create and sell.

    Better services

    For that reason, it’s likely not much will change in terms of competition, at least in the domestic market. But this is only true as far as capacity is concerned.

    It seems reasonable to assume Virgin’s raised capital will only support future growth if it is profitable. The majority of the funds will likely go towards fleet renewal and improvement of the airline’s product.

    For consumers, this wouldn’t necessarily mean lower airfares in the domestic market. But it would mean newer aircraft and enhanced services, which is a positive for both flyers and the environment.

    International departures

    Virgin Australia will become a more formidable competitor to Qantas, thanks to its newly formed relationship with international partner Qatar Airways and the additional cash from relisting.

    It will be interesting to observe what Qatar will do next and whether a new player – perhaps Singapore Airlines – will enter the scene and take a stake in the airline once Virgin Australia is trading publicly again.

    It would not be the first time an international airline has taken a stake in Virgin Australia, and could create some interesting dynamics.

    Another beneficiary is Virgin Australia’s management team, who’ve been somewhat shackled by the priority of getting the IPO off the ground. The IPO will free up management to deploy resources towards more longer-term priorities.

    Many will see a significant payday – it’s estimated staff are sitting on shares that could soon collectively be worth $180 million.

    Why now?

    Bain Capital has timed this IPO carefully. Virgin Australia has (in tandem with Qantas) produced a stellar financial performance in the last financial year. It may deliver an even better one in the current reporting period.

    To maximise returns, it is likely Bain did not want to waste the opportunity to capitalise on the moment. Global markets are still full of volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. What may diminish is the financial performance of the core business Bain Capital is trying to sell.

    At $2.90 a share, Virgin Australia will have a price-to-earnings ratio (used to assess how relatively expensive a share price is) of seven times its expected earnings this financial year. This is lower than Qantas’ ratio of ten times expected earnings this financial year.

    Profits are likely to remain high this year, with continuing strong demand, high yields and low jet fuel prices. The brokers and underwriting investment banks will use this to sell the story.

    IPOs can sometimes deliver those already holding shares in a company significant day-one windfall profits. In this case, however, Bain’s expertise in the venture capital market means it is unlikely to leave any money on the table.

    One may also argue while Virgin appears to be priced at a discount compared to Qantas, there may be legitimate reasons for the price differential, such as Qantas’ very profitable loyalty business.

    Given uncertainties around demand and geopolitical tensions, there is no guarantee the share price of Qantas will remain at record highs for too long, which means the opportunity to present Virgin shares as a bargain may be short-lived.

    In the long term, it is widely agreed airlines are by definition volatile investments and not necessarily something the average investor should have in their portfolio.

    Moving forward

    Symbolically, the decision for Virgin to use a new stock ticker – VGN instead of the old VAH – may avoid bringing back bad memories.

    Five years can be a lifetime in aviation, but maybe not to bond holders who got just 10 cents in the dollar and shareholders (including the large airline partners who held equity stakes) who got nothing when the airline collapsed in 2020.

    From a strategy perspective, it will be important for management to avoid history repeating itself with international airlines buying into Virgin and securing board seats.

    This can be one way of influencing the strategy of the carrier’s domestic arm to funnel more passengers to their own international flights.

    It is positive, for both Virgin Australia and the Australian aviation industry, that Bain Capital appears set to pull this off and that the revitalised airline is now truly Virgin Australia 2.0.

    Rico Merkert and his team of PhD students receive funding from the Australian Research Council through a discovery project and various research industry project, including with Thales and Air New Zealand. He has previously worked on research with and for international airlines, including Qantas and Virgin Australia.

    – ref. Virgin Australia is coming back to the share market. Here’s what this new chapter could mean – https://theconversation.com/virgin-australia-is-coming-back-to-the-share-market-heres-what-this-new-chapter-could-mean-258179

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trash or trend? Chinese enterprises recycle plastic waste into chic souvenirs

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

    In a gift shop at Beijing’s Palace Museum, a tote bag featuring a design inspired by a classic Chinese ink painting displays an intriguing symbol on its strap: the number nine alongside an illustration of beverage bottles.

    The sign indicates that the bag is made from nine recycled beverage bottles. Another bag, also adorned with antique patterns, features a graphic showing a reduction of 419 grams of CO2 emissions as its silky fabric is made from recycled plastic waste.

    These items are part of a special collection of souvenirs available at an ongoing exhibition. Their exquisite designs contrast with their humble origins — recycled PET bottles, disposable meal boxes, and other plastic waste.

    World Environment Day 2025, which falls on Thursday, calls for collective action to tackle plastic pollution. In China, a number of recycling initiatives, such as those repurposing beverage bottles into crafted souvenirs, are helping to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the value of recycling.

    “Environmental protection is not just about lecturing the public,” said Liu Xuesong, founder of Beijing Bottloop Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (BOTTLOOP), the start-up that designed and produced the sustainable souvenirs sold at the Palace Museum exhibition.

    Liu believes in the power of creativity, with which everyday trash can be transformed into aesthetic and functional souvenirs. Liu hopes that young consumers will choose their products not just because it is a responsible option, but also because they are drawn to the elaborate designs and the eco-friendly stories behind them.

    Since both PET and synthetic fibers are mainly derived from petroleum, PET bottles and other plastics can be transformed into fabric through a series of processes. Liu explained the science behind these waste-to-wonder practices: typically, recycled plastic products are cleaned and shredded into small flakes. These flakes are then melted and extruded into yarn, which is spun into thread, and finally woven into rolls of fabric.

    BOTTLOOP, founded in 2019, has a parent company that handles the initial processes, while supply chain partners take care of the remaining steps, all adhering to a unified environmental standard.

    Recycling the plastics is accredited with saving consumption of petroleum and exempting the waste from landfills and incineration, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

    According to an on-site investigation by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, the recycling rate for PET beverage packaging in China reached 96.48 percent.

    However, the overall plastic waste recycling rate was less optimistic. In 2022, China generated 63 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which approximately 30 percent was recycled, according to the China National Resources Recycling Association.

    BOTTLOOP is not alone in navigating the niche market for recycled souvenirs, especially as the recent surge in public interest in traditional Chinese culture has fostered a young generation of museum-goers and sparked a craze for stylish cultural and creative items.

    According to a report by Zhiyan Consulting, the market size of China’s cultural and creative products reached 16.38 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 13.09 percent. Recycling initiatives are capitalizing on this boom to attract a broader audience.

    Shanghai-based GOOD CYCLE, founded in 2018, offers plastic recycling solutions to corporate clients. Both BOTTLOOP and GOOD CYCLE are participants in the Palace Museum’s waste-free initiative.

    Zhao Wenjing, the founder of GOOD CYCLE, believes that sustainable culture and creative products hold the potential to inspire the public to take eco-friendly action.

    Zhao has witnessed rising business interest in recycling, as evidenced by increasing numbers of both domestic companies engaged in the waste recycling business and companies that seek cooperation with them.

    “Moreover, our business partners now span a much wider range of industries, and they seek our expertise in providing office supplies and corporate gifts made from recycled materials.”

    She credits the transformation to supportive government policies, rising environmental awareness among the public, and a heightened sense of social responsibility among Chinese companies.

    In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of policies to reduce the use of single-use plastic products and encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly alternatives.

    In 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced a plan aimed at effectively reducing plastic pollution by 2025, which mentioned “stepping up standardized recycling and use of plastic waste.” In 2023, China initiated a three-year action plan to promote the use of bamboo as an alternative to plastic products to curb pollution.

    According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems every year, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.

    GOOD CYCLE’s recycled bags and wristbands were made available during the just-concluded Dragon Boat Festival.

    “It is a Chinese tradition to give gifts on special occasions,” Zhao said. “We hope our products are seen not just as gifts for family and friends, but also as presents for Mother Earth.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New vision for UK ports will propel prosperity in Britain’s coastal communities

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New vision for UK ports will propel prosperity in Britain’s coastal communities

    Have your say on the draft revised national policy statement for ports until 29 July 2025.

    • plans to boost expansion of maritime ports to propel economic growth and support jobs across the country, as part of the Plan for Change
    • new guidance will help ports save time and money on planning applications to expand sites, opening up jobs and opportunities in coastal communities
    • plans will secure the long-term future of the maritime industry, inviting private investment into coastal communities and supporting development of green technologies, delivering on the UK’s clean energy ambitions

    Coastal communities across England stand to benefit from proposals set out yesterday (4 June 2025), which will better support ports to deliver important national infrastructure more quickly, helping to boost local economies and jobs.

    The proposals aim to streamline the planning process for ports in England and expedite planning applications by more clearly outlining the existing needs for port facilities and how to design applications to meet the latest requirements to avoid process delays.  

    For instance, updated proposals will more clearly outline how ports can meet obligations on noise and emissions, increasing the likelihood of achieving successful planning approvals and saving time and money during the planning process. Greater clarity, fewer delays and reduced costs will give ports the confidence they need to expand, creating more local, skilled jobs and driving money back into communities.

    The plans tie in with wider reforms, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and will see ports going further and faster with commercial projects, helping to secure millions of pounds in investment and supporting jobs across the country.  

    By enabling ports to go further and faster with their infrastructure projects, the UK aims to build on the levels of investment already flowing into ports.  

    Just last month, it was announced that £35 million is being driven into the Port of Liverpool to develop a new deep-water terminal, while just under £1 billion is being invested in the Port of Tyne to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure.  

    Revisions to the national policy statement for ports (NPSP) will also see planning decisions judged and approved, against the need to kickstart economic growth and cement the UK as a clean energy superpower.  

    Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, said:  

    Ports are the lifeblood of the UK economy, keeping the country moving and trading, and are vital in unlocking prosperity and opportunity for our coastal communities.  

    We are determined to deliver the projects that will make a real difference to local people, turbocharge economic growth and create jobs as part of our Plan for Change.

    The proposals have been published alongside the UK’s port freight demand forecasts, which show an expected rise in UK port freight tonnage overall, particularly of roll-on-roll-off cargo such as cars, buses, trailers, etc, as well as containers and dry bulks.  

    Taking these forecasts into account, the revisions will help secure the long-term future of ports, ensuring they are equipped to handle growing trade demands and to best meet the needs of the country in terms of the movements of goods and people. 

    Richard Ballantyne OBE, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association, said: 

    The ports industry is optimistic about its long-term future, with significant growth expected in trade volumes and other sectors such as offshore wind. A refreshed ports policy statement is welcome recognition from government of the value of port development and expansion to the UK’s future prosperity. We hope it will speed up planning processes, delivering on shared industry and government economic growth ambitions.

    Geraint Evans, Chief Executive of UK Major Ports Group, said: 

    Ports are central to delivering the government’s ambitions on economic growth and clean energy and the draft national policy statement rightly recognises the vital role our sector plays across the UK – alongside the need to unlock its full potential by speeding up consents for sustainable port development.

    With the right policy frameworks, major ports can double the levels of private investment – going further and faster – opportunity for coastal communities nationwide.

    Matt Beeton, Chief Executive of the Port of Tyne, said: 

    Growth at our ports is vital to the UK economy. The government’s modernisation agenda will reset the maritime sector, attract significant investment, ensure our ports are fit for the future and boost generational employment opportunities.

    Claudio Veritiero, CEO of Peel Ports Group, said:

    Ports are the unsung heroes of the UK economy, and this is an extremely encouraging development. We have invested more than £1 billion in the last decade and intend to exceed that level of investment in the coming years.

    We want to be able to invest for the future, creating jobs and opportunities right across the country and anything that streamlines that process and allows us to create conditions for economic growth is to be welcomed.

    Professor Chris Shirling-Rooke MBE, Chief Executive of Maritime UK, said: 

    We welcome this announcement, which will provide valuable support for our coastal communities. These regions represent a significant opportunity for economic growth and job creation, vital for strengthening our proud maritime nation. We appreciate the government’s continued commitment to the maritime sector and this announcement highlights just that.

    Industry and the wider public are now invited to give their views on the proposals as part of a consultation on the NPSP.

    This is part of the government’s determination to go lockstep with the sector, to ensure prosperity for industry as well as for people across the UK.

    Maritime media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Special Report: Education Cooperation Boosts China-Russia Friendship

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, June 5 (Xinhua) — “The meaning of studying in Russia for me is not only to gain knowledge but also to get to know another culture,” Chinese student Shen Daiyu told Xinhua.

    In recent years, China-Russia cooperation in the field of education has continually achieved new results. According to the Chinese side, in 2023, the total number of Chinese students studying in Russia exceeded 58 thousand, and Russian students in China – 16 thousand. In addition, 14 specialized associations have been created, covering more than 600 universities in the two countries.

    Shen Daiyu studied Russian as an undergraduate. After completing her undergraduate degree, she entered the master’s program at several universities, and chose to study at the Higher School of Translation and Interpreting at Lomonosov Moscow State University.

    “I believe that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the culture it represents. In Moscow, I can not only communicate with locals, but also visit the Bolshoi Theater and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall to enjoy Russia’s artistic masterpieces. In addition, I see street musicians everywhere, which makes me feel the passion Russians have for life,” the Chinese woman shared.

    Russian students also have the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture at universities in China, including Nick Gu, a graduate student at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

    “China’s rapid development has opened up unprecedented opportunities and career prospects for foreigners who speak Chinese,” says Nick Gu, who has been studying Chinese for nearly 20 years. His excellent command of the language has led him to become a host at student events on numerous occasions. As a political science major, he notes, “I especially enjoy the weekly seminars where my classmates and I discuss Sino-Russian relations and exchange opinions.”

    At the same time, the scope and depth of educational cooperation between China and Russia continues to expand. For example, language teaching: as of early April this year, more than 140 universities and over 220 schools in Russia offer Chinese language courses. In addition, there are 19 Confucius Institutes, five Confucius Classrooms, and many other institutions of additional education in the country that teach Chinese.

    In February of this year, Moscow School No. 548 “Tsaritsyno” hosted a concert dedicated to the Spring Festival /Chunjie, Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar/ and the 20th anniversary of the School of Chinese Language and Culture of China at School No. 548. “The successes of our students and graduates are our joy. This is what we work for, what we strive to instill in our children a love for Chinese culture and the Chinese language,” said Deputy Principal of School No. 548, Head of the School of Chinese Language and Culture of China at School No. 548 Lyubov Konyushenko in an interview with Xinhua.

    Last year, School No. 548 graduate Sofia Don entered the Institute of Media and Communications at Shanghai Jiaotong University. “I chose to study at a Chinese university, on the one hand, out of interest in Chinese culture, and on the other, because of my desire for the country’s high-quality educational resources,” she says. “Wherever I live and work in the future, I want to contribute to the development of ties between Russia and China.”

    At the level of inter-university cooperation, China and Russia have also achieved significant results. The China-Russia Mathematics Center, established in 2020 on the initiative of Peking University and Moscow State University, actively develops international research teams, promotes the construction of international cooperation bases, carries out joint training of specialists and organizes academic exchanges, strengthening the results of scientific and educational cooperation between China and Russia.

    MSU-BPI University in Shenzhen /Guangdong Province, South China/ is the first Chinese-Russian joint university, a flagship project of humanitarian and educational cooperation between the two countries. In 2024, the number of students studying at this university reached a record 3,500 people. Among the bachelor’s degree graduates of 2024, the proportion of those who found a job or continued their education reached 95%, and the proportion of those who entered master’s programs was 73%.

    From primary education to higher education, from language teaching to scientific cooperation, the educational cooperation between China and Russia continues to deepen and expand. The youth of the two countries will continue to march forward shoulder to shoulder, continuing to write new chapters in the history of China-Russia cultural exchanges and friendship that has been passed down from generation to generation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Harris Releases Statement Following the Appropriations Committee Release of the FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

    Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris said, “The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill reflects a clear, conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a top priority. This legislation also prioritizes agricultural research, rural broadband expansion, and protects our food and drug supply, all while reducing the wasteful spending of the Biden Administration era. Just as importantly, by supporting fresh, affordable, American-grown food, this bill helps Make America Healthy Again. America’s farmers feed the world, and this bill ensures they have the investment, support, and resources they deserve — while reducing the burgeoning federal deficit.”

    Chairman Tom Cole said, “The prosperity of our future golden age depends on the strength and perseverance of our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. This FY26 bill delivers targeted investments to protect U.S. agriculture and family farms, bolster agricultural research, and safeguard access to nutrition and health programs. From livestock and crops to pharmaceuticals and broadband, the legislation strengthens the agriculture economy and infrastructure across the nation. Just as our producers responsibly tend to the land, Chairman Harris has stewarded this legislation to protect core duties while upholding fiscal responsibility.”

    The Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill

    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $25.523 billion, which is $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.

    The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The bill is fiscally responsible and refocuses programs on their core mission while putting the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers first.
     
    Key Takeaways

    Champions U.S. farmers, agriculture, and rural communities by: 

    • Continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs.
    • Providing funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices.
    • Ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.
    • Reining in harmful regulations proposed during the Biden Administration that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals.
    • Increasing resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to fund frontline meat and poultry inspectors and bolster support for state inspection programs.
    • Providing a rider to block any revised energy standards for newly constructed homes financed by USDA that would increase costs for rural, lower-income households that was proposed during the Biden Administration.

    Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

    • Allocating the President’s requested total funding of $6.8 billion for the FDA to keep food, drugs, and devices safe and for initiatives to Make America Healthy Again.
    • Delivering $1.15 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is a priority in the President’s budget to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.
    • Codifying President Trump’s executive orders by prohibiting funding for DEI activities and ending federal censorship of free speech.
    • Retaining the gene editing provision, which prohibits the “editing” of heritable genes or altering of genes that can be passed on to offspring.
    • Maintaining “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.
    • Closing the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-8 and hemp flower, being sold online and in gas stations across the country.

    Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

    • Addressing foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving the tracking system of foreign-owned land and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review agricultural transactions, including purchases made by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Directing USDA to provide transparency into research funding spent collaborating with foreign governments including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Continuing a program to increase inspection of foreign drug manufacturing facilities in China and India.
    • Providing adequate funding for land-grant universities to conduct agricultural research to ensure American producers can compete with China.

    Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

    • Capturing DOGE savings by reducing salaries and expenses where appropriate to account for staffing reductions and reducing grant programs that housed canceled grants.
    • Eliminating funding for the Biden-era Rural Partners Network initiative.
    • Including no funds for climate hubs or climate corps.
    • Eliminating funds for the Office of Urban Agriculture.

    A summary of the bill is available here.
    Bill text is available here.

    For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bay area to host environmental event

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The “National Event on the Environment Day 2025” was held in Chongqing this morning, with the Ministry of Ecology & Environment announcing that next year’s event will be jointly organised by Guangdong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau SAR.

    In a handover ceremony, the ministry passed the event flag to government representatives of the places – Guangdong’s Vice-Governor Zhang Shaokang, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Macau’s Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau Ip Kuong-lam.

    In recent years, authorities including the ministry and the Central Office of Spiritual Civilization Construction have collaborated with local governments in staging National Event on the Environment Day. The event has become an important platform for promoting and implementing President Xi Jinping’s vision of “ecological civilization”, showcasing the development of “a beautiful China”, and mobilising people from all walks of life to participate.

    Government representatives of the three places today emphasised that organising the National Event on the Environment Day is an important opportunity to practice President Xi’s vision of ecological civilization and promote the development of an international first-class beautiful Greater Bay Area.

    Under the ministry’s guidance, the three places will learn from the experiences of previous organising cities in striving to stage an excellent National Event on the Environment Day 2026.

    Additionally, the three places will seek to deepen communication and co-operation in the ecological and environmental field, jointly build an integrated and innovative beautiful bay area, and provide more concrete support for transforming it into a strategic fulcrum for new development, a demonstration area for high-quality development and a leading region for Chinese modernisation.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Minister Ramokgopa announces preferred bidders for the 3rd bid window of the BESIPPPP

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    MINISTER RAMOKGOPA TO ANNOUNCE PREFERRED BIDDERS FOR THE 3rd BID WINDOW OF THE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE INDEPENDENT POWER PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME (BESIPPPP)

    Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announces the selection of Preferred Bidders under the BESIPPPP Bid Window

    This announcement aligns with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) and relevant Ministerial Determinations that govern procurement under the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (IPPPP).

    In 2020, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy established a target to procure 28GW of new generation capacity through the IPPPP. To date, eight bid windows have been released, including the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), Renewable Energy IPP Procurement (REIPPPP) Bid Windows 5, 6, and 7, Battery Energy Storage IPP Procurement (BESIPPPP) Bid Windows 1, 2, and 3, and the Gas to Power Independent Power Procurement Programme (GASIPPPP) Bid Window 1.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewh-c77zQoY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LaMalfa Applauds DOT Report Confirming California High-Speed Rail Has No Path Forward

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s newly released compliance report confirming that California’s High-Speed Rail project is in default of its federal grant agreements and has no viable path to completion.

    The 315-page report, released by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, cites years of mismanagement, missed deadlines, inflated ridership projections, and a staggering $7 billion funding gap just to complete a small segment between Merced and Bakersfield. The full cost of the project has now ballooned to $128 billion. Notably, the Federal Railroad Administration stated it has no confidence CHSRA will ever deliver an operating high-speed rail system and found that the state cannot support the representations it made when applying for Federal funds. In other words, California misled the federal government to secure billions in taxpayer dollars—and still has nothing to show for it.

    “This report confirms what Californians have known for years: this project is a train to nowhere. It was supposed to be done by 2020. Now they’re saying 2030 just to finish a small stretch that costs more than the entire original plan. The price tag has quadrupled to $128 billion, they’re now an incredible $110 billion short, and have only raised about $17 billion after 17 years. They’ve barely built anything. It’s a waste of time, money, and trust—a shining example of government waste. The state has not held up its end of the deal. It’s well past time to shut this down and send the money to real infrastructure projects that can actually be delivered, like water storage that California desperately needs, or road repairs and traffic relief. I appreciate Secretary Duffy’s leadership in holding the line for taxpayers. It’s long past time for accountability,” said Rep. LaMalfa.

    Congressman LaMalfa joined Secretary Duffy earlier this year at a press conference calling attention to the project’s mounting failures and urging a full federal review. The report issued today by the Federal Railroad Administration makes clear that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has failed to meet its basic obligations under the $4 billion in federal grant funding it received.

    The DOT has given the state until mid-July to respond before the administration moves to terminate the grants. You can find a full copy of the letter and report, here.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Parliamentarians unite in Helsinki to advance gender equality in politics

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

    Headline: Parliamentarians unite in Helsinki to advance gender equality in politics

    Participants in the event ‘Realizing Gender Equality in and by Parliaments’. Helsinki, 3 June 2025 (OSCE) Photo details

    More than 60 parliamentarians and experts from Europe and Central Asia gathered at the Finnish Parliament for a two-day workshop on gender-sensitive parliaments, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) with support from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and OSCE field operations. Entitled Realizing Gender Equality in and by Parliaments, the workshop highlighted the critical role of national parliaments in driving progress toward gender equality.
    “It is difficult to recognize inequality when you are on the side of the privileged. Equality work must be continuous to respond to societal changes. The goal of equality policy is a society in which every individual has the opportunity to grow to their full potential,” highlighted Tarja Filatov, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Finland in her opening remarks.
    “A gender-sensitive parliament does not only mean equal participation of women and men,” said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma. “It is much more than that. It reflects the diverse needs and experiences of all people in its work, structures, policies, and culture. That is why advocating for gender-sensitive parliaments does not mean favouring women. It simply benefits democracy, good governance, and peace and security.”
    In the 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action set out international norms on women’s rights and gender equality, many national parliaments across the OSCE region have taken steps to implement gender-sensitive practices, often in co-operation with academia, civil society, and international partners. Some parliaments have conducted gender audits, developed parliamentary gender action plans, set up targeted gender equality committees, and introduced practices of gender-sensitive lawmaking and oversight. However, significant gaps remain, and much work is still required to ensure that all parliaments across the OSCE region become truly gender-sensitive institutions.
    “As institutions at the heart of our democracies parliaments are uniquely positioned to legislate for change, and at the same time they embody the values of equality, inclusivity and representation,” said Tea Jaliashvili, ODIHR’s First Deputy Director.
    The workshop provided a platform for Members of Parliament to reflect on how to embed gender equality more effectively within parliamentary work. Discussions underlined the importance of institutional reforms, gender-sensitive legislation and oversight, addressing violence against women in politics, and engaging men as active partners in advancing equality.
    A highlight of the workshop was the endorsement of the Helsinki Pledges on Gender-sensitive Parliaments in the OSCE Region by all participants. The Pledges call on national parliaments to commit to working towards gender-sensitive parliaments and targeted action to realise this aim in all their functions, from representation through lawmaking, to oversight.
    “All of the legislative work we do in our national parliaments needs to be looked carefully through the gender lens and unfortunately none of us is doing this well enough yet. We have to do better.  Also, we can do better in empowering women in business as well as in politics. We need to start engaging women from grass-roots level and support them for example with finding the proper funding”, said Saara Sofia Sirén, Finnish MP and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender.
    Participants agreed that the Helsinki Pledges should be discussed widely in parliaments across the OSCE region and used as a basis for action and dialogue.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Olli Rehn: Europe at the crossroads – common defence, re-emerging economy?

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Presentation accompanying the speech

    Dear Friends of Bruegel and the Bank of Finland,

    It is a great pleasure to celebrate with you all today both the 20th anniversary of Bruegel and the 30th anniversary of Finland’s membership of the EU. It is indeed an honour to organise and hold this conference together with Bruegel and to celebrate Europe Day.

    The founders of Bruegel were truly visionary 20 years ago. They recognized a gap – a growing need for stronger economics-based analysis and research on the shaping of the European Union. Anchoring the think tank firmly with EU Member States was also a wise decision.

    I had the privilege and pleasure of being present – if not at Bruegel’s creation, then certainly at its institutional foundation – as economic policy advisor to Finland’s Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The Finnish Government, specifically the Ministry of Finance, decided to become a founding member institution. More recently, the Bank of Finland also joined the club, and we have made good use of Bruegel’s valuable work.

    Today, we all appreciate Bruegel for its diverse and independent research, which significantly enhances evidence-based and research-informed policymaking in Europe. Let me extend my warmest congratulations and wish you many more dynamic and productive years as Europe’s leading policy think tank.

    Dear Friends,

    Europe Day today marks the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid out the foundation for European integration. In 1950 Europe was still recovering from the human and economic devastation of the Second World War.

    From the Finnish standpoint, the immediate post-war years were not a brilliant time to be a small nation. As Private Rahikainen put it in Väinö Linna’s The Unknown Soldier, in response to a minister’s idealistic speech after the armistice in September 1944:

     “To hell with their damned speeches. When your powder’s all gone, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than go spouting about the rights of small nations. A dog raises his hind leg on them.”

    The Schuman Declaration nevertheless turned the tide and became the starting point for Pax Europaea, the long period of relative peace with notably few conflicts between European countries.

    Indeed, an essential manifestation of Europe as a peace project is the EU’s 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The European Union had, by then, “for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”.

    Slide 2: Outline of today’s talk

    I’d like to structure my remarks today under three themes. First, the seismic geopolitical shift which the world is currently witnessing. Second, the need for immediate investments in common defence to secure Europe’s peace. And third, revitalising the EU economy through advancements in innovation, trade and productivity.

    Slide 3: Power politics is overshadowing the world economy

    Let me start with the shifting geopolitical landscape, which presents the EU with significant new security challenges.

    The rules-based international order, on which Europe built its post-war recovery, is under strain. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have each, in their own way, challenged this order − pushing for a world where great powers claim their spheres of influence and where might is only right. Such a tri-polar world would not be a world of peace and prosperity.

    Since the Second World War, for good reason we have trusted that it is in the enlightened self-interest of the United States to stand as the security backstop for the Euro-Atlantic community. To my mind, as a long-time student of US foreign and security policy, this self-interest has clearly been rational from the standpoint of the United States’ own national security and its global strategic interests and influence. However, the US is now making decisions based on a very different type of rationality that involves strained relations with the European Union.

    I am aware that some are holding out hope that this is just temporary – that we’ll be back to ‘the old normal’ in a few years. Two points on that. First, I would not bet on it – there is no guarantee of a policy U-turn, as we may be witnessing a deeper political current in the US. And second, even more fundamentally, we must ask: can European security over the longer term be left at the mercy of the political winds in Pennsylvania’s rust belt and seven swing states? Or should Europe finally take substantially greater responsibility for its own security?

    In my view, the answer is clear, given the current and probable future defence environment: Europe must build its own credible common defence. Supporting Ukraine and reinforcing European defence is imperative for the security of the whole of Europe. Common defence is a crucial European public good. We need a strong, independent Europe, capable of defending itself as the European pillar of Nato.

    The COVID-era recovery fund and earlier crisis responses have shown that the EU is capable of solidarity. A similar level of unity and quick decision-making is now needed for defence.

    Many EU countries have already increased defence spending. Germany has committed to major investments. Not all EU states currently have the fiscal capacity to follow suit. That’s why Europe must build joint capabilities, interoperable forces − and, if necessary, common financing.

    Europe would also benefit from a broad and liquid market for safe assets, such as the US enjoys. Bonds issued by EU institutions have consistently drawn strong investor demand. The currently unpredictable nature of US economic policy only increases the demand for stable investment options. Europe should capitalise on that by developing genuine safe assets – another field calling for Bruegel’s continued active input.

    Moreover, I have been reading with great interest about the proposal for a European Defence Mechanism (EDM), which was launched by Bruegel last month. Such an intergovernmental organisation would apparently be modelled on the existing and well-tested template of the European Stability Mechanism. I see many merits in this proposal and would love to dive deeper into this – but I shall refrain from doing so, as I suppose that the panel will shortly be discussing the EDM more closely.

    Let me nevertheless comment that Bruegel’s proposal includes cooperation with the United Kingdom, which shares our values and has a strong military. Despite no longer being part of the EU, the UK remains a key partner in Europe’s security architecture. I should also add that we cannot afford to be held back by foot-dragging or by hostile Member States, such as Hungary, which might wish to hinder progress.

    This is why we must, as Bruegel has done, search for creative solutions, typically driven by coalitions of the capable and willing, to ensure that we move forward with our shared goals.

    At the same time, we must work for more effective European institutional arrangements that better serve the common good. These should include a significantly larger EU budget and more streamlined decision-making structures.

    This is also an opportunity to make Europe economically and financially stronger, as we need a liquid and large market of safe assets, as I alluded to earlier. Could European defence bonds provide such safe assets? A precondition for this would be that these bonds would be used to finance genuine European public goods and be backed by larger common revenues in the future.

    Solidarity and unity within the EU are reinforced by standing together, demonstrating our commitment to collective security and prosperity. Let us recall that the Treaty on European Union offers the legal basis for common defence in its Article 42. Involvement from us all is vital in maintaining a united front and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous Europe for future generations.

    Slide 4: Growth in the euro area has been picking up

    My third and final theme is the re-emerging European economy. Yes, re-emerging, even though it provides a mixed picture today.

    Recent data has shown signs of recovery in the euro area, but the outlook remains clouded by exceptional uncertainty due to President Trump’s trade war. Employment is solid in the euro area, and unemployment is low at 6.2%. Private consumption has benefited from stronger real incomes. Investments in Europe’s common defence and infrastructure will bolster manufacturing further and strengthen long-term growth. Europe will continue to build up resilience against global shocks.

    With disinflation on track and the growth outlook weakening, we decided at the European Central Bank’s Governing Council meeting on 17 April to lower interest rates. This was the seventh reduction since last summer.

    Given the pervasive uncertainty, the Governing Council is maintaining full freedom of action in monetary policy. We will adjust our rates to bring inflation to 2% in the medium term – just as our strategy tells us to do.

    Slide 5: Bank of Finland’s scenario calculation: A trade war would weaken growth worldwide

    The elevated uncertainty brings me to the significant risks in our economic outlook, especially trade protectionism.

    An extensive trade war would weaken economic output worldwide, and we have already seen major turbulence in the global stock markets.

    Calculations by the Bank of Finland show that if the US were to impose tariffs targeting all imports from EU countries and China – raising them by 25 percentage points – and the EU were to take equivalent counter measures, world GDP could decline by over 0.5% in both 2025 and 2026. The impact on the euro area economy could be slightly greater, with the estimated GDP effect ranging from 0.7% to 1.5% in the first year, depending on the increased uncertainty and the extent of counter measures taken. With all the usual caveats, these figures illustrate the seriousness of the threat posed by a full-scale trade war.

    Bank of Finland’s earlier calculations concerning the effects of the trade war on the Finnish economy are in line with these estimated effects on the euro area economy. While the model estimations come with uncertainty, they consistently speak to significantly negative outcomes for open economies such as Finland, as a result of trade war.

    In my view, in the face of US protectionism, the European Commission’s response has been justified and rational. The Commission has rightly suggested a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the EU and the US. While Europe remains committed to constructive negotiations with the US, the Commission has been preparing proportionate countermeasures to reinforce our negotiating position, with the aim of reaching a solution that benefits everybody and avoids further damage to growth.

    Slide 6: Investment needed now in security and productivity

    “This is Europe’s moment” has become a slogan of the era. But to what extent is there substance to it?

    No doubt, President Trump’s policies are compromising the United States’ economic and institutional dominance, while Europe’s position is benefiting from its stability and certain political developments.

    Yet, the fact remains that the size of the US bypasses the European economy significantly in many dimensions, especially in factor productivity and therefore in growth. Will Europe adopt Mario Draghi’s recommendations to boost productivity? European industry must strengthen its technological capabilities. Cutting-edge research and innovation, and investment in areas like AI, will be crucial.

    Furthermore, Europe’s Savings and Investment Union needs to be advanced. The US has a larger and more unified internal capital market which benefits from scaling, a strong venture capital ecosystem, and fewer regulatory hurdles. The US dollar may remain the world’s leading reserve currency at the centre of the global financial system. But many investors are keen to diversify their portfolios to euro-denominated assets, which will also strengthen the international role of the euro.

    The price of energy is a considerable burden to European competitiveness. Unlike the US, the EU has no abundant fossil fuel supplies, so there is no other viable strategy for increasing our energy security than decarbonisation and the green transition. The green transition in energy is not just climate action – it’s a geopolitical investment. So is the digital euro and the broader effort to bolster the international role of the euro.

    Human capital and academic freedom are among Europe’s greatest assets. As these freedoms are eroded in the United States, Europe has a unique opportunity. In my view, the EU should rapidly create a special visa programme for top researchers seeking intellectual freedom without political pressure. We must highlight Europe’s universities where critical thinking is encouraged and academic liberty protected. This is an investment in Europe’s future prosperity and influence.

    Slide 7: Conclusions

    To conclude, today’s world is experiencing yet another major transition, as it was 30 years ago when the Cold War came to an end. But now, unfortunately, it is moving in reverse gear.

    Europe’s external security and its soft power depend now on strengthening its hard power, particularly in terms of coordinated defence solutions. Moreover, despite the current uncertain geopolitical environment, international cooperation remains essential in a highly interconnected world. We stand for it.

    At the same time, Europe must strengthen its economic foundation by finding ways to increase productivity and hence fulfil its true potential. At the ECB, we will contribute to this by ensuring price stability and financial stability, thus laying the foundation for Europe’s economic and social re-emergence and long-term resilience.

    In sum, this truly is Europe’s moment. We must defend our way of life – solving conflict and making progress through reason, dialogue and democracy.

    As Reinhold Niebuhr, the theologian and international relations theorist from our western neighbour, once said:

    “The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.”

    That is precisely Europe’s task now – more so than for decades.

    Thank you!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Olli Rehn: Walking a fine line – the European economy and ECB monetary policy in a shifting global landscape

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Let me first thank the LCMA [Lorenzo Codogno Macro Advisors] for inviting me to speak at this conference. To kick off, I will briefly discuss the ongoing change in the global landscape and its implications for the economic outlook in the euro area and for the ECB’s monetary policy.

    Slide 2. Geopolitics overshadowing the economy

    Today, we are on the cusp of profound changes in the global trading and economic relations. A rules-based multilateral system is being challenged by deals-based bilateral relationships.

    From a European perspective, the uncertainty extends beyond economics. The security policy environment of Europe is currently transforming as rapidly as it did in the early 1990s, only this time in reverse.

    These developments come on top of challenges we were already grappling with: from climate change and Europe’s productivity slowdown to persistent conflict in the Middle East and China’s challenge to liberal world order.

    Slide 3. Shifting global landscape implies major uncertainty

    With the backlash of globalisation and the European security order being damaged, it is no exaggeration to say that the economic outlook for Europe is marked by pervasive and persistent uncertainty.

    And by any metric you wish to look at, uncertainty related to policy – particularly around US trade policy – has grown enormously. These developments are now reverberating also through financial markets, where we are witnessing heightened volatility across asset classes. Notably, the behaviour of US-related assets has been unusual, as investors reassess their view of the US economy.

    Tariffs will have a negative effect on growth in the short, medium and long term. Apart from direct effects, it is the pervasive uncertainty – especially policy uncertainty – that is detrimental to investment and economic activity.

    Taken together, the pervasive uncertainty and the tariffs themselves hold back the global growth momentum-which was already estimated to be weaker than that in the pre-pandemic era. As a result, downside risks dominate the outlook.

    Slide 4. The economic outlook is surrounded by downside risks  

    What does this all mean for the European economy?

    Based on recent data, the euro area economy was recovering pretty much in line with the ECB’s forecasts. Private consumption growth has strengthened due to the increase in real income, and tentative signs of improvement have emerged in the manufacturing sector, which has been under pressure for some time. Employment in the euro area is solid, and unemployment is at a historic low of 6.1%. The fiscal impulse from increasing spending and investments in Europe’s common defence and infrastructure will contribute to bolstering growth in the medium term.

    However, the trade war and the enormous uncertainty it brings are now holding back growth also in the euro area. Some of the downside risks foreseen in the ECB’s March projections have already materialised, and as a result, the growth outlook has further weakened.

    Slide 5. Inflation is converging towards the ECB’s 2% target

    Turning to the inflation outlook, the ECB’s March projections suggested that euro area inflation is stabilising at our 2% target over the medium term. Disinflation is well on track.

    A particularly important development is the decline in services inflation, which had remained stubbornly high at around 4%, but has now clearly moderated. Wage inflation, including forward-looking indicators, supports the view that underlying inflationary pressures are easing.

    Looking ahead, economists are largely unanimous that tariff increases will accelerate inflation in the US, but in the euro area the effects are two-way. The higher import costs increase some prices, but weaker growth dampens inflation.

    Most economists also assumed the euro to depreciate in response to US tariff actions. In fact, the opposite has occurred-adding further complexity to the inflation outlook. At the same time, China may redirect exports to Europe, potentially increasing supply and dampening prices further.

    Overall, financial markets seem to think that tariffs and the surrounding uncertainty will slow down euro area inflation, at least in the short term. This time I tend to agree with the markets. Taking into account these developments, I find it reasonable to assume that there are downside risks to the inflation outlook in the ECB’s March projections.

    Slide 6. The ECB retains full freedom of action due to uncertainty

    Against this growth and inflation outlook, we decided before Easter at the ECB Governing Council to cut rates again by 25 basis points. Since last June, we’ve cut rates seven times – from 4% to 2.25%. These moves support consumption and investment in the face of global headwinds.

    It is important that we remain vigilant about any deviations from our symmetric 2% inflation target, in line with our strategy. If inflation is projected to fall below our 2% inflation target over the medium term, then the right reaction is to cut rates further. I think it is important that we do not let any thresholds, such as an estimated neutral rate, constrain us.  This is a time for agile and active monetary policy.

    We will continue to decide on interest rates at each meeting in accordance with our three-element framework: the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission. Under the pervasive uncertainty, it is even more important than before that the Governing Council maintains full freedom of action in setting its monetary policy.

    And finally, while markets have been able to weather the recent volatility and are functioning well, we of course monitor the events closely and stand ready to use all instruments that are necessary in order to preserve price stability and financial stability.

    Let me conclude. In these uncertain times, we at the ECB will do our part in creating favourable conditions for Europe’s success. First and foremost, this means safeguarding the euro area’s price and financial stability. In the face of policy- or politics-driven turbulence and elevated uncertainty, a strong commitment to maintaining price stability over the medium term is more important than ever.

    Thank you for your attention. I will be glad to take any questions that you have.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Former world darts champion Rob Cross banned as director over unpaid taxes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Former world darts champion Rob Cross banned as director over unpaid taxes

    Darts professional banned after company failed to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax

    • Former world darts champion Rob Cross has been disqualified as a director after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax 

    • The Insolvency Service also found Cross withdrew more than £300,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023 that should have gone to creditors 

    • Cross has now been banned as a company director until June 2030 and entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) last year in a bid to pay off some of the money he owes 

    Former world darts champion Rob Cross has been banned as a director for five years after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax. 

    Cross, known for winning the PDC World Darts Championship in 2018 and five World Series of Darts titles, was the director of Rob Cross Darts Limited, which was set up for the 34-year-old to receive his earnings and prize money. 

    However, between March 2020 and November 2023, Cross removed more than £300,000 in company money which should have been paid to creditors, including to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). 

    He had also taken out more than £400,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited in the form of a director’s loan account by the time the company went into liquidation. 

    In an attempt to repay part of his debts, Cross has entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), a legally binding agreement where he has committed to making regular payments to an insolvency practitioner. The monthly contributions Cross makes to the IVA will vary depending on the income he receives through his performances at darts tournaments during this year and future years. 

    Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    When directors fail to pay the correct amount of tax, it directly impacts the government’s ability to fund vital public services such as the NHS, schools, transport infrastructure, and our national defence.  

    Rob Cross’s company owed more than £400,000 in corporation tax alone when it went into liquidation. For more than three years, he withdrew funds from the company which should have gone to HMRC and other creditors. 

    This case demonstrates that we will pursue action against directors who deprive the public purse of much-needed funds. The rules apply equally to everyone in business, and we expect all company directors to comply with their legal responsibilities. 

    Enforcing these rules consistently is crucial in maintaining a level playing field and preventing companies from gaining an unfair competitive advantage over compliant businesses that properly fulfil their tax obligations.

    Rob Cross Darts Limited was formed in May 2017, with Cross appointed as director on the same day. 

    Insolvency Service investigations found that the company received just more than £1 million from Cross’s earnings between the start of March 2020 and the date of liquidation in November 2023. 

    A total of £169,500 in sponsorships and £261,901 from his management company was also paid in to the company. 

    However, in the same period, Cross withdrew funds of at least £306,403 from the company which he acknowledged was “to the risk and ultimate detriment of HMRC”. 

    A further £665,419 was paid into the personal account of a connected party. 

    By the time the company went into liquidation, it owed £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance contributions. 

    The company had only paid £41,936 to HMRC between March 2020 and November 2023. 

    Cross’s director’s loan account was also overdrawn by £423,608 when the company went into liquidation with liabilities of £579,805. 

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Cross, and his ban started on Thursday 5 June. 

    It prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court. 

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –