Category: Politics

MSP for paddy, pulses, oilseeds raised ahead of Kharif season

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025–26 marketing season.

Among the crops that saw the highest MSP hike, nigerseed received the biggest absolute increase of ₹820 per quintal, followed by ragi at ₹596 per quintal, cotton at ₹589 per quintal, and sesamum at ₹579 per quintal. For paddy, the staple crop, the MSP has been raised by ₹69 per quintal.

In the pulses category, the MSP of tur (arhar) has been raised by ₹450, moong by ₹86, and urad by ₹400 per quintal. Among oilseeds, the support prices for groundnut, sunflower seed, and soybean have been increased by ₹480, ₹441, and ₹436 respectively. The move is expected to support better price realization for farmers and reduce dependence on imports.

The increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing MSPs at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. According to the government, the expected margin for farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in bajra at 63 per cent, followed by maize and tur at 59 per cent each, and urad at 53 per cent. For the remaining crops, the margin is estimated to be at least 50 per cent.

The government stated that in recent years it has consistently promoted the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds, and nutri-cereals, also known as Shree Anna, by offering comparatively higher MSPs. This is intended to not only improve farmers’ income but also to encourage nutritional security and crop diversification.

Data shared by the government highlights a significant increase in procurement and financial support to farmers over the last decade. From 2014-15 to 2024-25, procurement of paddy stood at 7,608 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), compared to 4,590 LMT during 2004-05 to 2013-14. For all 14 Kharif crops combined, procurement during the same period was 7,871 LMT, as against 4,679 LMT in the previous decade.

The MSP payout to paddy farmers surged to ₹14.16 lakh crore in the last decade, as compared to ₹4.44 lakh crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14. Similarly, the total MSP amount paid for all 14 Kharif crops was ₹16.35 lakh crore, a sharp rise from ₹4.75 lakh crore during the earlier period.

India follows a three-season cropping calendar: Kharif crops, which are monsoon-dependent, are sown in June-July and harvested in October-November; Rabi crops are sown post-monsoon in October-November and harvested from January onwards; and summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Addressing measures of United States aimed against China’s shipping industry

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Yim Kong and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 28):

Question:

Last month, the United States released the findings of the “Section 301 Investigations” under the Trade Act of 1974 and announced that port fees would be imposed on vessels owned or controlled by Chinese entities (including Hong Kong entities), including vessels whose owner or operator is headquartered in Hong Kong and vessels of which more than 25 per cent of the equity interest is held by a citizen or citizens or the Government of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the fourth largest shipping register in the world, with over 1 100 maritime-related companies currently operating here. Some preliminary analyses have pointed out that such maritime companies will be faced with risks such as an upsurge in operating costs and a decline in market competitiveness, and ship leasing and ship financing businesses will also be affected by knock-on impacts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government has systematically assessed the negative impact of the aforesaid measures of the United States on Hong Kong’s shipping and maritime-related industries, and formulated a cross-departmental collaboration plan to safeguard Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre, as well as companies’ legitimate rights and interests;

(2) whether it will provide targeted relief measures to the affected companies engaged in shipping, ship leasing and so on, or provide certain financial support for them to adjust their route deployments; and

(3) whether it has proactive measures to attract “non-US” ship operators or relevant high-end maritime service providers to carry on developing their business in Hong Kong?

Reply:

President,

The United States (US) Government announced on April 17 this year the results of its Section 301 Investigations against Chinese maritime, logistics and ship building industries and decided to impose port fees on vessels owned or operated by Chinese (including Hong Kong and Macao) companies, and vessels built in China for the use of US ports. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has immediately issued a press release to express its strong opposition to the decision, particularly for the fact that the measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately dividing the international maritime community and undermining the spirit of international solidarity and co-operation.

The HKSAR Government is highly concerned about the incident and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) has been maintaining close liaison with the industry to assess the situation and respond as needed. With regard to the various parts of Hon Yim’s question, my reply is as follows:

(1) The US authorities has announced that the port fees will take effect on October 14 this year. For a vessel of 50 000 net tonnage, it will be charged US$2.5 million per entry into a US port, thereafter increased annually reaching US$7 million in April 2028. Each vessel will be charged up to a maximum of five times per year. The fees are indeed detrimental to others without beneficial to oneself, not only undermining the interests of the US port industry, cargo owners and consumers but also unfairly increasing the costs of Hong Kong’s shipping companies on their business operations routing to and from the US ports.

Hong Kong is an international maritime centre supported by our country. Over the years, Hong Kong has attracted shipping companies of different capital backgrounds from all over the world to operate in the city by virtue of our “one country, two systems”, bilingual common law as well as a free and open business environment. Each of these shipping companies has its own specific business portfolio and clientele. The extent to which they will be affected would depend on the share of the US market in their respective portfolios and their scope for adjusting shipping routes and business portfolios. It is therefore difficult to generalise the situation.

Recently, we have been visiting the shipping companies one after another, and the industry has reflected that the business environment in Hong Kong is indeed unrivalled and that the Hong Kong’s ship registry has brought an edge to their ships in terms of quality assurance and international reputation. The industry is striving to identify solutions to the incident, and we do not underestimate the pressure faced by them due to various commercial considerations. On the strength of our country’s strong backings, the HKSAR Government will render its full support to the Hong Kong’s shipping companies to cope with the challenges. At the same time, we urge the industry to stay confident and avoid making hasty decisions under short-term geopolitical pressures at the expense of the long-term development opportunities in Hong Kong.

(2) We understand from the affected companies that they consider financial subsidies from the Government neither financially sustainable nor an effective solution to the problem. In contrast, the industry hopes that the Government can better consolidate the edges for the maritime sector operating in Hong Kong.

In recent years, the Government has introduced a number of measures to enhance the competitiveness of the maritime industry, which has indeed saved up for a rainy day and enhanced the industry’s resilience in coping with the complex external circumstances. We will capitalise on our strengths via a systematic and proactive approach to reinforce the local maritime industry chain internally as well as to expand market opportunities in our country and the world externally. We would have four key areas of work in future, including strengthening the maritime ecosystem, leading the industry to seize the opportunities arising from green shipping, deepening Hong Kong’s role as an international exchange platform, and expanding opportunities in Mainland and overseas markets:

(i) Strengthening the maritime ecosystem, including the introduction of a half-rate tax concession for commodity traders and enhancement of the existing tax concessions for the maritime industry, for which the legislative bill is to be submitted to the Legislative Council in the first half of next year; continuing to provide green cash incentives and implementing the Block Registration Incentive Scheme for Hong Kong-registered ships;

(ii) Supporting and leading the industry to seize the opportunities arising from green shipping. The TLB has promulgated the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering at the end of last year, with a view to promoting Hong Kong into a high-quality green maritime fuel bunkering centre by, inter alia, providing collaborative platforms for catalysing green maritime fuel supply and trading, thereby equipping the industry to cope with the international trend of green transition.

(iii) Deepening Hong Kong’s role as an international exchange platform for facilitating interfaces between the local and overseas industry and expanding global business opportunities. The Government has been actively deepening collaborations with the international maritime organisations. The Hong Kong Maritime Week last year has been one of the most international editions ever where the key organisations like the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Maritime Organization had staged events in Hong Kong. These organisations have confirmed their continued participation in the Hong Kong Maritime Week this year and there would also be other international organisations staging events in Hong Kong for the first time.

(iv) Assisting and leading Hong Kong shipping companies to expand opportunities in Mainland and overseas markets, capitalising on Hong Kong’s connectivity. This include establishing a “rail-sea-land-river” intermodal transport system with the Mainland for securing more cargo sources for Hong Kong, as well as utilising the port community system to be launched in January next year for connecting with the international maritime community, thereby assisting the industry to further enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

In addition, the Government will soon set up the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board to be chaired by a non-official and provided with dedicated team and resources for enhancing its research, promotion and manpower training capabilities, so as to provide more effective support to the Government in promoting the development of Hong Kong’s maritime industry.

(3) The aforementioned measures will significantly enhance Hong Kong’s business environment and attractiveness, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre. We will continue to step up external promotion on the advantages of operating in Hong Kong through the Marine Department’s service points located in seven different continents and Invest Hong Kong’s network at home and abroad. The Marine Department will also set up a new dedicated team in the Middle East in the fourth quarter of this year for targeted promotion towards the emerging markets there.

Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:25

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: ‘Killing is part of their life’: the men raised on violence who are both perpetrators and victims as South Sudan faces return to civil war
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Heidi Riley, Adjunct Research Fellow, University College Dublin, and Affiliate Researcher in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London

*Some pseudonyms are used to protect the identities of interviewees.

“I saw a lot of suffering.” The old man, Lokwi, gestures towards the woman cooking beside their hut as he talks. “The husband of this woman … was killed here.”

The woman is Lokwi’s sister-in-law. He is recalling the day in 1988 when his brother was killed by soldiers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Lokwi was still a child when the SPLA captured the town of Kapoeta and surrounding settlements, where he lived with his family. The day his brother was killed, everybody was forced to leave:

There was nothing good that day … They burned all the villages and the soldiers attacked the civilians. People were scattered.

South Sudan – a central African country of around 11.5 million people split in half by the White Nile – suffered decades of conflict prior to gaining independence from the rest of Sudan in 2011. While independence brought optimism, this was thwarted two years later by internal disputes among the ruling parties that led to a resurgence of the violence.

While a ceasefire was brokered in 2018 and a power-sharing agreement signed between opposing political factions, there has been a lack of political will to implement it. The dire economic situation, worsening food insecurity driven by climate change and political instability, and legacies of ethnic rivalries continue to perpetuate ethnically motivated violence and distrust between communities. In April, the head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, warned that the world’s youngest nation is once again on the brink of civil war.

Amid this resurgence of violence, Lokwi – who is from the Toposa community – continues to be haunted by memories of the attack that killed his brother. Sitting under the shade of a tree in the village where it took place, he explains how he fled into the bush and survived for days on wild fruit until, starving, he managed to get to the town of Narus, where he was given some food by a local Dinka man.

When Lokwi finally returned to his village, he found everything destroyed by fire – huts, livestock and granaries “all burned”. Whereas he decided to start again and rebuild the village, his surviving brother, now living in Narus, promised “never to step in this land again because of the memories and pain”.

Today, Lokwi works as a peace activist in South Sudan. He spends a lot of time encouraging people in his village and the surrounding area to engage in peaceful dialogue with rival groups – and to resist violence. With an expression of concern, he explains the difficulties he faces in dissuading young men from engaging in violence:

When I tell them to stop the conflict … we have homes and families who listen and stay calm, but other individuals like the [male] youths don’t listen, they still create problems.

South Sudan’s long history of cattle raiding

Over the course of 2024, Anna Adiyo Sebit and three other South Sudanese researchers interviewed more than 400 men and women from South Sudan’s Toposa and Nuer communities as part of the XCEPT programme. This programme, based at King’s College London, seeks to understand the role that conflict-related trauma plays in influencing who engages in violence and who doesn’t.

As well as inter-ethnic fighting, South Sudan has a long history of cattle raiding. Cattle are central to the pastoralist communities which make up over half of the population, including ethnic groups such as the Dinka, Nuer and Toposa.

In most rural households, financial capital is typically held in livestock, mainly cows – which are also required for dowry payments and as compensation for any crimes committed. This places high value on cattle ownership, meaning that raiding and inter-community disputes over cattle are common.

Among South Sudan’s rural households, much of the financial capital is held in cows.
Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

And whereas these disputes were once fought with sticks, stones and spears, years of political conflict have left the country awash with guns – so cattle raiding has become a lethal activity. As one old man who described himself as a “retired warrior” explained:

In our grandparents’ and grand ancestors’ [time], in battles or fighting we used stones, pangas, sticks, spears and arrows. [At this time there were] rare fights or raids waged against [other] tribes … But after the introduction of AK-47 machine guns, it accelerated [to] higher numbers of raids and increased casualties in both communities.

Among these pastoralist communities, gender norms determine that where women and girls are tasked with maintaining domestic life, including sustaining subsistence farming and constructing huts, men are expected to keep and secure cattle. Many young men are active in cattle camps, which are in areas with better pastures where cows are taken to graze – but can be vulnerable to raids from other ethnic groups.

In many parts of rural South Sudan, young men are expected to fight to secure and protect their livelihood – including achieving the required “bride price” for their marriage to go ahead. Successful cattle raids can earn a young man respect among his peers.

But the trauma of experiencing violence from a young age, as so many of these young men have, is likely to be a factor in the perpetuation of various forms of violence in adulthood, including the prevalence of revenge killings.

The high rates of violence are also having a devastating impact on women and girls in South Sudan. According to a 2024 UN Population Fund study, 65% of women and girls have experienced some form of gender-based violence, of which intimate partner violence is the most prevalent. The UN Mission in South Sudan has also reported a steep increase in sexual violence and abductions of women and girls by armed groups in 2024.

Aware of the prevalence of violence against women by cattle youth, Lokwi speaks of confronting the issue at community meetings in his village where he brings together members of rival communities:

The youths are also part of the meeting. Everybody is given the chance from both communities to talk, and we tell them ‘stop killing women in the bush’. I tell them that women are the ones who give birth to generations, and [ask]: ‘Why do you kill women?’ [Some] will feel touched and listen and stop – but there are other individuals [for] whom killing is part of their life … They will still kill women.

Masculine expectations

In South Sudan, like many countries, masculine expectations that associate men with being the provider or protector, and with characteristics of strength, stoicism and bravery, play an important role in how men experience trauma and the coping mechanisms they use.

Men are often socialised into suppressing emotions such as sadness or hurt. As a result, alternative outlets for dealing with trauma and stress can manifest in more violent or aggressive emotions.

I have spent many years researching how societal expectations of masculinity play into the way men respond to traumatic experiences. In narratives of wartime suffering, our understanding of male trauma is often overshadowed by the association of masculinity with the perpetration of violence.

While not all men suffering from trauma respond in the same way, research by the Brazilian NGO Promundo has found that men and boys are more likely than women and girls to exhibit maladaptive coping behaviour such as risk-taking, low physical activity, withdrawal and self-harm – or violence in its multiple forms. There is also evidence that rates of alcohol and substance abuse are higher among men affected by trauma or high levels of stress.

Psychological studies suggest a link between masculine norms, emotional restriction, and PTSD symptoms. As such, men are less likely to seek help or open up to others about the difficulties they are experiencing. This in turn increases their risk of developing negative coping mechanisms.

During conflict or in situations of acute food insecurity, daily stresses through an inability to fulfil masculine expectations can become particularly acute – and lead to increasingly violent behaviour. This pattern emerges in many of the interviews conducted for the XCEPT project.

SPLA soldiers in 2016: the head of the UN mission in South Sudan has warned the country is back on the brink of civil war.
Jason Patinkin (Voice Of America) via Wikimedia Commons

Eric, from the South Sudan state of Eastern Equatoria, lost his father when he was ten. His father was a fairly wealthy man but after his death, that wealth was passed on to Eric’s uncles on his father’s side, rather than his mother or her three co-wives. (The tradition of inheritance passing to male relatives is reflective of women’s lack of economic independence in rural South Sudan.)

Eric was then required to respect his uncles as stepfathers as they became the de facto authority over his mother, her co-wives and their children. As the oldest son, he endured years of beatings from his stepfathers, as well as witnessing violence by them against his mother.

Upon reaching adulthood, Eric said he realised he was able to escape the “catastrophic mistreatment from his stepfathers” and needed to “adventure” for his own survival. However, due to food shortages, survival meant engaging in cattle raiding.

On his first raid, his “warrior group” secured a herd of cattle by killing the cattle owner. Eric was granted four cows – but apart from one, these had to be handed over to his stepfathers. As he explained:

On my arrival, people in my village were excited to see me back without any injuries and I brought these cows. On [the] spot, my stepfathers took them. As in [the] culture of Toposa, anything from your enemies belongs to elder people. I was only left with one cow.

On his second raid, Eric secured 30 goats, of which his stepfathers allowed him to keep ten.

Aware of the suffering that this raiding had caused and now with an established reputation as a “warrior”, Eric then stepped back from raiding and used the ten goats to breed more. This gave him the resources for marriage and to start a family – but he carried the legacy of his involvement in the killings during past raids, and the knowledge that he was now a target for retaliatory violence. He explained:

So far, I have killed six enemies; hence am also included as a warrior in my community. I do not want them [the enemy] to know my name because they will kill me if they know me.

For Eric and many other men like him in South Sudan, it is difficult to show emotions such as sadness or fear, as this could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. Our researcher and interviewer, Anna Adiyo Sebit, describes the expectations placed on men in her culture: “As a man, even when someone dies, you do not shed a tear, especially in front of women. Instead, you cry from your heart inside.”

The trauma of war

Ten years ago, while conducting fieldwork in Nepal for my PhD and book, I interviewed more than 60 former members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to examine how their participation in the civil war – known as the People’s War – affected notions of masculinity within the armed group.

While I never asked about trauma or psychological difficulties, it became clear these were present for many of the men – just never explicitly spoken about. Instead, they would talk about their sense of disillusionment or lack of ability to fulfil societal expectations of masculinity – all the while, carefully keeping their emotions in check.

These emotions would only surface in more casual conversations over tea or food, following the formal interviews. In these moments, the men revealed a more vulnerable side – often expressing sadness, frustration, and a desire to share their more personal stories.

It was a clear shift from the displays of hardened masculinity in their narratives of the battlefield. Some of these informal exchanges hinted at signs of PTSD – for example, in their descriptions of flashbacks, sleep difficulties and short temperedness. One young man who was extremely polite and courteous became very fidgety after the end of the interview. He told me: “In the night I can’t sleep, because I hear bomb blasts inside my head.”

Another, clearly proud of his role in the People’s War, recounted his bravery on the battlefield. Yet, when he spoke of the six months of torture he had endured in police custody, his composure faltered and he struggled to hold back tears. He showed me a photo of his three-year-old child, saying: “This is why I will never return to battle.”

What I encountered was men who appeared uneasy about expressing emotions as this runs contrary to masculine expectations, but were also frustrated at a lack of outlets to tell their story.

During one interview with a former PLA member in the western district of Bardiya, I noticed a group of ex-PLA fighters gathered at the boundary of his home after they had heard an interview was taking place. As my interpreter and I were leaving, a thin man at the front of the crowd began shouting aggressively at us.

Having initially assumed his anger was directed at my presence in the area, I realised it stemmed from his frustration at not being selected for an interview. “Why does everyone always want to interview you?” he shouted at the man I had just spoken to. The former fighter’s anger, fuelled by alcohol, appeared to reflect his frustration at lacking a platform to share his own story.

From Nepal in 2016 to South Sudan in 2024, amid the violence and trauma of war and the daily expectations of masculinity associated with being a provider and protector, there appeared to be few outlets through which these men could talk freely about their emotions, tell their stories, and admit their mental health difficulties.

Many of the men interviewed in South Sudan had been involved in violent clashes involving killings at some point in their lives. In interviews carried out in Kapoeta North, a county in eastern Equatoria, some men reported having constant flashbacks to the sounds of gunshots – when they tried to sleep at night, these sounds would “become real”, stopping them getting any proper rest:

Sometimes you can wake up in the middle of the night and find yourself trembling as if these people are coming for you.

One man explained how he would get up in the night to follow a “black shadow” like a ghost. When community members would run after him to stop him, he would become “hostile and behave like he wants to kill everyone” – because, he explained, he saw his friend being killed on the battlefield and the memory of this would not leave him, especially in the night.

A woman described how, when young men are involved in “killing”, their “mind is not functioning well”. Contextualising this claim she explained: “There was this man who got traumatised due to the ongoing conflict of raiding. He fought many battles until the gunshot sound affected his brain and made him crazy.”

She then described a man who could not accept his friend had died in a cattle camp raid and insisted on returning to the battlefield, even though the community told him not to. “After confirming [his friend’s death] he ran mad and became confused. We say that such a person had his heart broken by the incident he witnessed, and we say he is mad.”

Men whose companions have been killed can become fixated on revenge, as Sebit explains, “It will torture their mind until they go and avenge the death of the person that was killed.” Some will encourage them to take revenge but others, like Lokwi, are trying to discourage revenge killings and working towards peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue.

Societal expectations of masculinity

The link between societal expectations of masculinity, trauma and violent behaviour among men is important in better understanding ongoing insecurities in rural South Sudan. A man is supposed to own cows in order to gain respect from their community. Without these, they can be rejected – leading to feelings of isolation, despair and a fear of ridicule.

As noted by another elderly interviewee: “If a man does not go for raiding, he will be cursed by elders. [In contrast], if he comes back with cows, people will celebrate – and if he dies, people will say he died as a warrior.”

It can be a vicious circle. If you do not get cows when you raid another community, this may lead to further feelings of shame – driving the young men to put themselves at further risk. In a state of stress and having grown up in a culture of conflict, they may regard themselves as having no choice but to risk death in the quest for cows. Those who have been orphaned or do not have other family members to support them can be particularly vulnerable to this.

A young boy brandishes an immitation pistol made of mud in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
Richard Juilliart/Shutterstock

Such concerns about masculinity emerge in many of the interviews with young men in South Sudan – and also in discussions with support workers there. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is one of the few organisations in South Sudan who have run trauma awareness training for men. A local CRS programme manager, Luol, explained to me in an online meeting how men’s worries about marriage rights can spiral into acts of violence:

What is actually happening in [young men’s] brains is they are thinking: ‘Okay, I am 18 or 17 years old now, in the next two years I have to have my partner at home, but I don’t have resources. [So] the best way to get resources is to raid or steal people’s properties.’ This is the thinking of war. This is the thinking of a person who has been exposed to conflict – that the best way to get resources is to raid from somebody.

In another meeting, Luol described his experience of facilitating trauma awareness programmes with men. He explained that “many of the men have participated in cattle raiding and have seen horrific kinds of events such as, seeing somebody [being] killed, and [they] can be traumatised because [they] participated in that war [raid].”

Luol described one young man who came and spoke to him after the first day of training:

He wanted to testify that he’s now recovering from his trauma because he participated in the war and he saw children and women being killed and when he returned home, he saw [in] his own children, the children who were killed, and he cried, he felt ashamed for participating and playing a part in this. And he was trying to recover from that effect of trauma. And that’s very common. Most of the young men who participate in war come back traumatised.

The importance of such outlets for men to come and talk together about their emotions was emphasised in our meeting. For cultural reasons, neither individual counselling sessions nor sessions including women would be acceptable to the men.As noted by another local CRS staff member :

If women are in that group, the men are likely not to talk about [trauma] because of masculinity issues. They don’t want the women to hear men accepting weakness or vulnerability … But if the men are talking alone [about] their life they will say: ‘Yes, this is what happened to me, and this is how we can move forward.’

While these sessions are not supposed to be a form of restorative justice or “amnesty” for crimes committed, Luol explained that opening up about feelings of guilt in the small group is helpful in addressing “displaced anger” that can manifest in continued violence in the community, clan or in the family.

CRS Trauma Awareness and Social Cohesion programmes also encourage discussions of alternatives to violence or cattle raiding, presenting a longer-term life vision for those present. According to one attendee, his less traumatised brain allows for rational thinking such as: “If I start cultivating this year and I want to marry in two or three years’ time, I’ll be able to produce the crops, sell them in the market, and then buy cows if I need to buy cows.”

The programme was piloted in South Sudan’s Greater Jonglei State in 2014 using CRS private funding. Three years later it secured funding from USAID after “demonstrating its value”. In 2020, with additional funding from the EU, the programme was expanded to areas of Eastern Equatoria. While the programme has now ended with the completion of its funding cycle, CRS continues to seek future funding to re-establish the initiative.

Soldiers celebrate the anniversary of South Sudan’s independence day, which briefly brought peace.
Richard Juilliart/Shutterstock

‘Everything gets destroyed’

While recognising that most men do not engage in violence, the reality is men are overwhelmingly responsible for violence when it does occur. This is the case in South Sudan as in all countries. It is therefore vital to engage with men, not just as perpetrators of violence but as potential peacemakers.

Unfortunately, gender stereotyping within the humanitarian and donor sector has resulted in a lack of trauma response targeted at men. Instead, men and boys tend to be framed as perpetual perpetrators of violence and discrimination – as “emasculated troublemakers” not worth engaging with, or at best by the “men can cope by themselves” narrative.

Wider research by XCEPT has found that out of 12 humanitarian organisations interviewed in northern Syria, northern Iraq and South Sudan, only two had programmes specifically targeted at men. The situation appears little changed from the conclusion reached in the 2021 Promondo report, which stated:

This de-prioritisation of boys and men in emergency response is rooted in donors’ and international organisations’ lack of political will to meaningfully acknowledge that vulnerability exists beyond women and girls … Chronic inattention to boys and men has resulted in programs, services and spaces not being sufficiently tailored to meet their needs.

This not only has an impact on men and boys’ wellbeing. It also fails to take on board the reality that unaddressed trauma among men correlates with increases in community violence, revenge killings, cattle raiding and gender-based violence suffered by women and girls. As an international CRS staff member explained:

Unless donors have a way of facing [the reality of trauma] and addressing it in all interventions, all the money we’re spending on health programs and infrastructure programs and education programs and whatever it is, it’s just money down the drain. Because eventually, everything gets destroyed in violence.

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Heidi Riley receives funding from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Development from the UK government. (Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.) She also received funding from the Irish Research Council for the Nepal research mentioned. Sincere thanks to Anna Adiyo Sebit, expert researcher with Catholic Relief Services in South Sudan, for her fieldwork and other contributions to this article.

– ref. ‘Killing is part of their life’: the men raised on violence who are both perpetrators and victims as South Sudan faces return to civil war – https://theconversation.com/killing-is-part-of-their-life-the-men-raised-on-violence-who-are-both-perpetrators-and-victims-as-south-sudan-faces-return-to-civil-war-256177
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – EU innovation funding for an ageing Europe – E-001092/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The next multiannual financial framework is an opportunity to better focus EU spending on the EU’s shared priorities. Addressing demographic change is one of these shared priorities. In general, as per the Commission’s political guidelines[1], the EU will also step up its work on preventive health, in particular for mental health and cardiovascular diseases, as well as on treatments for degenerative illnesses.

As recalled in the recent Commission’s communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’[2], financing the social transition will require maximising public investment and leveraging private capital.

There is scope for increasing additionality to ensure that the EU budget focuses on investments which would not have materialised otherwise.

Reinforcing the link between overall policy coordination and the EU budget will also be key to ensure better alignment with EU priorities and inform decisions on investments and reforms at EU and national level, including in the social care sector.

In line with the ‘better regulation’ principles[3], the Commission intends to use evidence-based policymaking supported by thorough impact assessments and stakeholder consultations to ensure future initiatives address actual needs.

In addition, a comprehensive performance framework will support the monitoring and reporting of the progress toward the defined objectives, using appropriate performance indicators.

[1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf.

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0046.

[3] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d0bbd77f-bee5-4ee5-b5c4-6110c7605476_en?filename=swd2021_305_en.pdf.
Last updated: 28 May 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Commission’s response to the incomplete implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Member States – E-000810/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
In the implementation of EU funds under Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)[1], Member States and the Commission should ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights[2] and the implementation and application of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) throughout the programming period, also when designing the selection criteria for operations[3].

In addition, the horizontal enabling condition (HEC)[4] on the implementation and application of the UNCRPD requires that a national framework to ensure implementation of the UNCRPD is in place. Other thematic enabling conditions (TEC) also promote the shift to community-based services and care, through deinstitutionalisation[5].

The Commission assesses the fulfilment of the HEC and TECs and their application by the Member States throughout the CPR programming period and when not fulfilled, the related expenditure under the CPR is not reimbursed from the EU budget. Member States are required to appoint monitoring committees to ensure the correct implementation of programmes[6].

The Commission participates in a monitoring and advisory capacity, with annual review meetings to examine the performance of each programme[7].

Through the application of the relevant HEC and TEC, the Commission remains committed to enabling shift to community-based services and care, through deinstitutionalisation.

The Commission has issued guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding[8].

The approach presented in this notice is relevant to all EU funding instruments within their scope of support, including EU’s external action and EU-funded projects internationally.

[1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng.

[2] Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.

[3] Article 73 CPR.

[4] Annex III CPR.

[5] Annex IV CPR.

[6] Articles 38 and 39 CPR.

[7] Article 41 CPR.

[8] Commission Notice Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7188/oj/eng.
Last updated: 28 May 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: New EU strategy for secure, prosperous and resilient Black Sea region

Source: European Commission

European Commission Press release Brussels, 28 May 2025 Today the EU is putting forward a new strategy for a stable and secure Black Sea region. This Strategy aims to boost connections and growth, by linking Europe with the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and beyond. Amidst Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the strategy will also reinforce the EU’s geopolitical role as a reliable actor in the Black Sea region.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of hatching season
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of hatching season

Public and construction trade vigilance needed as oak processionary moth (OPM) growth higher at start of greatest risk period
Image credit: Henry Kuppen

The public are being urged today (Wednesday 28 May) to be vigilant for any sightings of oak processionary moth caterpillars, a tree pest which can strip oak trees of their foliage and leave them susceptible to disease.

The caterpillars – predominantly found in South East England – descend down oak trees in head-to-tail processionary form, occasionally taking the form of an arrow shape, earning them their name. They feed on the leaves as they migrate causing the leaves to sometimes drop off which negatively impacts their growth. This can weaken the tree and leave it more vulnerable to other stresses, such as drought and further diseases.

The warning has been issued today by the Forestry Commission who are urging the public to report any sightings via the TreeAlert portal or by email to opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Oak processionary moth was first identified in London in 2006 after being accidentally transported over from Europe in trees for planting. It has since spread to surrounding counties in the South East, and last July, a small outbreak of the caterpillars was found at a site designated free from the pest.

OPM caterpillars and their nests, which are made of distinctive white silken webbing, contain hairs that can cause itchy rashes, eye and throat irritation and should not be touched under any circumstances. The nests can be found in the trunk or branches of oak trees, and fade to a light brown over time. The public are urged never to try and dispose of the nests themselves.

Forestry Commission Oak Processionary Moth Programme Manager Dr Edward Straw said:

“The warm weather in spring has led to oak processionary moth growing quicker than in previous years. We’re already receiving reports of homeowners being affected by the caterpillars, coming out in painful rashes, and it is important those living and working in areas affected by oak processionary moth remain vigilant about the health risks they pose.

“The Forestry Commission has a whole host of information online that can be used to identify the moth, simply visit managing oak processionary moth in England. If you spot the pest, report the sighting via our TreeAlert portal . Alternatively, you can email opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk.”

The Forestry Commission continues to undertake a rapid management response and extensive surveillance work is in place to monitor the area and continue to direct appropriate control measures to prevent the potential spread of OPM.

Professor Nicola Spence, UK Chief Plant Health Officer, said:

“Oak trees are an iconic and much-loved part of our British landscape. By reporting any sightings of the oak processionary moth to the Forestry Commission, we can all minimise the pest’s spread as well as reduce their impact on tree health.

“I would advise that members of the public living in London, the surrounding areas and Derbyshire, avoid any contact with the caterpillar and its nests, as this can cause irritation.”

By identifying threats such as pests and diseases, we protect the benefits plants provide to the public, to wildlife, the environment, and our economy. More information can be found on the Plant Health Action.org website.

How to identify Oak processionary moth caterpillars

Nests are typically dome or teardrop-shaped, averaging the size of a tennis ball. They are white when fresh, but soon become discoloured and brown. The caterpillars have black heads and bodies covered in long white hairs which contain proteins which can cause itchy rashes, eye, and throat irritations. They can also occasionally cause breathing difficulties in people and pets, so should not be touched under any circumstances.

A public information leaflet covering how to identify OPM and methods to control is available,

There is also a document outlining species commonly confused with OPM which can be found here.

For more information, visit ‘Managing Oak Processionary Moth in England’.

Contact with Oak Processionary Moth

Following possible OPM contact, visit your pharmacist for relief from milder skin or eye irritations. Consult a GP or call NHS111 for more serious reactions. Contact a vet if animals are seriously affected.

An interactive map showing the locations of recent confirmed reports of OPM and the national management zones is available.

A toolkit for local authorities and larger landowners to help plan for and manage OPM has been developed by the Tree Council, in partnership with Forest Research.

A guide for the policy changes to OPM management

The Tree Health Pilot scheme offers a local authority grant for oak with OPM. It supports local authorities in the OPM ’established area’ to organise surveying of oak trees for OPM and create an OPM management plan and communications strategy to understand the risks and appropriate management of the affected area. Funding is also available for communications materials such as signage, and biosecurity items including boot cleaning equipment and red tape/posts for cordoning off areas. For more information and details of how to apply see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-pilot-scheme-2024/grants-for-oak-with-oak-processionary-moth-opm

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Published 28 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Lee Jae-myung Leads in Popularity Among South Korean Presidential Candidates — Poll

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

SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) — Lee Jae-myung, the liberal Democratic Toburo Party’s presidential candidate, is more than 10 percentage points ahead of his main rival in the June 3 election, according to a poll by Flower Research released Wednesday.

According to the data received, 48.8 percent of voters support Lee Jae-myung, while 37.7 percent support Kim Moon-soo, a candidate from the ruling conservative Civil Power Party. 10.7 percent of respondents are ready to vote for Lee Joon-suk, a candidate from the small conservative New Reform Party.

The poll of 15,008 voters was conducted by Flower Research from May 24 to 27. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Coping with extreme weather

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ17: Coping with extreme weather
Question:

There are views pointing out that in recent years, Hong Kong has been affected time and again by localised rainstorms, super typhoons and even very hot weather, thereby exposing the safety as well as lives and properties of members of the public to a greater risk. On coping with extreme weather, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of weather warnings and signals issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) in each of the past five years (set out by type of weather warnings and signals);

(2) in order to cope with extreme weather (including super typhoons and severe rainstorms) that may occur in Hong Kong, of the details of the interdepartmental drills conducted and contingency plans drawn up by various government departments so far this year (including the number of government departments and personnel involved); whether various government departments have put in place a comprehensive contingency mechanism for coping with extreme weather to assist members of the public and disseminate the relevant information in a timely manner;

(3) given that in the past, flooding and landslides frequently occurred in some districts (including Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Wan Chai, Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui) during rainstorm, whether the authorities have increased the supporting staff for flood and disaster prevention work specifically for those districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the authorities will formulate a mechanism to require the relevant government departments to take corresponding measures in the districts concerned simultaneously when the Localised Heavy Rain Advisory was issued by the HKO, e.g. strengthening local flood monitoring and deploying manpower to clear the drains, with a view to preventing the occurrence of localised large-scale flooding;

(5) given that the 2023 Policy Address indicated that the Drainage Services Department would complete the “Strategic Planning Study on Flood Management against Sea Level Rise and Extreme Rainfall” and develop a forward-looking strategy, of the progress of the relevant work and the findings of the Study; whether the Government has set aside resources for the implementation of the recommendations of the Study and the construction of the relevant infrastructure facilities; and

(6) whether it has further stepped up public education on disaster preparedness, e.g. regularly arranging for members of the public and students to participate in disaster prevention exercise, and teaching members of the public the corresponding measures to take when extreme weather and even natural disasters occur; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will strengthen such efforts in the future?

Reply:

President,

The responses to the various parts of the question are as follows:

(1) Based on the information provided by the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory, the number of various warnings and signals issued by the Observatory in the past five years is set out below:

(i) Number of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals issued

Year (ii) Number of Thunderstorm Warning, Special Announcement on Flooding in the northern New Territories, Rainstorm Warning Signal and Landslip Warning issued

Year(iii) Number of other warning and signal issued

Year(2) After consultation with the Security Bureau and the Home Affairs Department, our reply is as follows:

The Government has implemented the following measures in relation to emergency response mechanisms, interdepartmental drills, and the provision of timely assistance and dissemination of relevant information:

To address extreme weather events, the Security Bureau has formulated the Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters, which sets out the Government’s strategies, organisational framework, and alerting system for dealing with natural disasters, as well as the functions and responsibilities of Government bureaux/departments, public utility companies, and non-governmental organisations in the events of natural disasters. When major natural disasters happen, the Security Bureau will immediately activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre to co-ordinate a comprehensive response and collaborate the actions of relevant departments and organisations (including their emergency control centres) to ensure the incidents are handled swiftly and effectively.

In the event of super typhoons or other large-scale natural disasters, the Chief Secretary for Administration will convene an interdepartmental Steering Committee meeting for provisioning high-level co-ordination and supervision in the various stages of preparedness, contingency and recovery as well as setting priorities for various tasks, thereby enabling the normal daily living of the community to resume as quickly as practicable. If a natural disaster has caused extreme and widespread impacts, such as widespread flooding, severe landslides, or severe disruption to public transportation services, the Steering Committee will consider making an “extreme conditions” announcement to advise members of the public to remain in their original safe locations.

The Security Bureau has been organising interdepartmental drills to enhance communication and collaboration among various government departments under different extreme weather conditions. Through the drills with various testing scenarios, the departments’ emergency plans will be refined. As at May 18 this year, the Security Bureau and relevant departments had conducted a total of 10 drills related to extreme weather, involving 33 policy bureaux and departments, with a total of 960 participants. For areas vulnerable to flooding or seawater inundation, the respective District Offices will also conduct interdepartmental drills before the typhoon season to strengthen co-ordination among departments, enhance response capabilities and raise residents’ understanding of response arrangements.

The Government will also, as appropriate, disseminate to the public the latest weather forecasts, natural disaster alerts, and related information including flooding, landslides, and traffic arrangements for affected roads through the Information Services Department, the media and social media platforms.

(3) The Drainage Services Department (DSD) is currently taking forward 15 major drainage improvement works and it is anticipated that these projects will be completed progressively by 2030. These projects include works in the abovementioned areas of concern, namely Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long, and Tsim Sha Tsui (Note). In recent years, the DSD has also completed a number of minor works in these districts, including improvement works to the drainage systems near Chai Wan Road roundabout and in Wong Tai Sin.

The DSD has identified around 240 locations prone to blockage in Hong Kong. Whenever the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts severe rainstorm, the DSD will arrange and deploy resources to step up their inspections and, where necessary, carry out immediate clearance of blocked drains to ensure proper functioning of the drainage system.

In relation to landslides, apart from conducting regular inspections of slopes under their maintenance responsibilities, relevant government departments need to additionally carry out special inspections for government man-made slopes adjacent to sole accesses to community or important livelihood facilities before each wet season. This helps minimise the potential impact on people’s lives due to incidents on these slopes. The relevant inspections were completed before the wet season this year. On the other hand, the Geotechnical Engineering Office will remind private owners to complete all regular slope inspections and the necessary slope maintenance before the onset of wet season through letters, social media posts, television promotional videos, radio broadcasts and media briefings, etc.

(4) The DSD has been working closely with the Hong Kong Observatory and has implemented the “Just-in-time Clearance” arrangement since 2020. Under this arrangement, when the Observatory forecasts severe rainstorms, the DSD will immediately deploy manpower to inspect locations prone to blockage and clear any blocked drains, thereby reducing the risk of flooding during heavy rainstorms. Since 2022, the DSD has taken proactive measures to further enhance its preparatory measures following the Hong Kong Observatory’s issuance of the Localised Heavy Rain Advisory. During periods of heavy rainstorms, the DSD, depending on the rainfall severity, will increase the number of emergency response teams to 180 teams. These teams are deployed to various districts to promptly handle flooding incidents so as to minimise the impact of flooding on the public.

The DSD also adopts innovative technologies, including the deployment of powerful pumping robots, piloting artificial intelligence-based flood monitoring systems, and the use of new flood monitoring devices, such as Flood Monitoring Devices, and dissemination of real-time water level information.

(5) The DSD completed the “Strategic Planning Study on Flood Management Against Sea Level Rise and Extreme Rainfall”, and the findings and recommendations were presented at the meeting of the Panel on Development held on May 27, 2025. Please refer to the relevant document for details www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/english/panels/dev/papers/dev20250527cb1-904-4-e.pdf
(6) To enhance public awareness of disaster preparedness, departments under the Security Bureau carry out publicity and education through websites, social media platforms, and carnival events. In addition, the DSD promotes awareness of the risks associated with extreme weather and the corresponding measures to the public and stakeholders through a variety of channels, including TV promotional videos, publications, and outreach education programmes. The DSD also assists the property management sector to understand appropriate actions to take during flooding incidents. The Civil Engineering and Development Department also formulates action plans to address floods in low-lying coastal areas, maintains communication with residents and raises awareness of climate change through various activities. Furthermore, the Geotechnical Engineering Office promotes public awareness of slope safety through public education and publicity activities, including exhibitions and talks in shopping malls and schools, and providing maintenance advice to private slope owners.

Note: Major drainage improvement works in Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui include: (i) Drainage improvement works in Eastern District – phase 1, (ii) Drainage improvement works in Wong Tai Sin, (iii) Yuen Long Barrage Scheme, (iv) Improvement of Yuen Long Town Nullah (town centre section), (v) Drainage improvement works at Yuen Long – stage 2 and (vi) Drainage Improvement Works in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Issued at HKT 17:12

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH organises International Medical Device Regulatory Forum to promote advancement of health through research and technology (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH organises International Medical Device Regulatory Forum to promote advancement of health through research and technology
Addressing the opening ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, “Given the rapid development of AI technology, the DH is committed to developing a regulatory framework in Hong Kong to help healthcare workers and members of the public choose safe and reliable medical devices. The DH has issued guidance on cybersecurity and AI medical devices in 2023 and 2024 to help manufacturers navigate and follow the voluntary Medical Device Administrative Control System (MDACS), which was introduced by the DH. To date, 22 AI medical devices have been listed in the MDACS, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiography (ECG) systems.

“The HKSAR Government is committed to developing Hong Kong as a hub for health and medical innovation. The soon-to-be-established Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will conduct independent evaluations on the safety, quality, and efficacy of medical products based on clinical data. In addition, with the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, Hong Kong will leverage its unique advantages under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and serve as a ‘super connector’, linking Mainland China and the global market. This will create opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive while supporting our country in enhancing its new quality productive forces in the health field,” said Dr Lam.

“The emergence of innovative medical devices is bringing revolutionary changes to the healthcare industry. Multinational and cross-border collaborations are required to enable the development of a regulatory system that aligns with the rapid advancement in medical technology. The CUHK is delighted to partner with the DH in hosting the first forum to strengthen co-operation in medical innovation. The goal is to enhance health and medical industry standards by engaging leaders and pioneers in the field,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the CUHK, Professor Philip Chiu.

Today’s forum featured keynote speeches by representatives of medical device regulatory authorities from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, as well as local and Hungarian academia. The forum focused on trends in the medical device industry, international regulatory co-ordination mechanisms and breakthroughs in AI technology in the healthcare sector. Participants proactively engaged in discussions, sharing their insights and experiences.

The DH will continue to promote exchanges between governments, industry, and academia through various means to strengthen international collaboration networks, and lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong to develop into an international medical innovation hub.
Issued at HKT 18:50

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Borrowing on the part of foreign domestic helpers

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ20: Borrowing on the part of foreign domestic helpers
Question:

     The Government has indicated that the borrowing problems of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) not only affect their own financial well-being, but also bring much trouble to their employers. It has been reported that in recent years, there have been instances where employers or former employers of FDHs are harassed by money lenders or financial intermediaries as FDHs default on loans. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the annual number of cases received by the Companies Registry from FDH employers, in 2024 and this year to date, in which harassment was allegedly inflicted on them by licensed money lenders during debt recovery from their FDHs;

(2) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on November 27 last year, the Government indicated that it was formulating specific measures for public consultation along such directions as reviewing the existing regulations on money lenders and enhancing publicity and education, and it planned to commence such consultation in the first half of this year, of the progress of the public consultation on such new measures and the actual implementation timetable;

(3) as the revised Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP) promulgated by the Labour Department (LD) in May last year requires employment agencies to, when making an application for a licence and renewal of a licence, inform the LD of whether they are associated with any financial institution, of the number of employment agencies that have made such declarations to LD since the revision of CoP;

(4) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on January 8 this year, the Government indicated that only about 90 licensed money lenders had joined or were in the process of joining “Credit Data Smart” (CDS), a Credit Reference Platform, how the authorities plan to encourage the remaining licensed money lenders to join CDS so that the affordability of borrowers (including FDHs) for unsecured personal loans can be more accurately assessed by the industry; and

(5) as it is learnt that some FDHs have successfully applied for loans using their former employers’ addresses despite the completion of their agreements, whether the authorities have plans to address this issue, such as requiring financial institutions to verify with the authorities whether the FDH has an employment relationship with the employer declared by him or her before approving the loan?

Reply:

President,

     The Government is very concerned about the borrowing issue of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and will strictly regulate licensed money lenders (money lenders) and step up publicity and education etc, to better protect the interests of FDHs and their employers. In consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Companies Registry (CR) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the reply to various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) In 2024 and 2025 (as at April), the CR received 11 and four complaints respectively on the alleged harassment of employers of FDHs by licensed money lenders due to debt collection in relation to the FDHs. The CR referred the cases concerned to the Police for handling.

(2) The Government has been closely monitoring the market situation in the money lending sector to continuously review and enhance the prevailing regulatory measures. In 2021, we enhanced the licensing conditions of money lenders, including requiring money lenders, before entering into a loan agreement for an unsecured personal loan, to undertake an assessment of the borrower’s repayment ability and have due regard to the assessment outcome, and requiring money lenders to immediately cease to use a referee’s information after they are informed or aware that the written consent was in fact not signed by the referee. In 2022, we lowered the statutory interest rate cap and the threshold of extortionate rate from 60 per cent to 48 per cent and from 48 per cent to 36 per cent respectively.

     To step up efforts in addressing the issue of excessive borrowing, we will commence a public consultation this June on enhancing regulation of unsecured personal loans and strengthen protection for loan referees etc, and will consult the Legislative Council Panel on Financial Affairs in July. After the consultation period, we will collate and summarise the views to be received to finalise relevant measures and formulate relevant legislative proposals.

(3) To enhance the protection for job seekers and employers, the Labour Department (LD) promulgated the revised Code of Practice (CoP) for Employment Agencies on May 9, 2024. The revised CoP requires employment agencies (EAs) to declare, when applying for a licence or licence renewal, whether they operate any financial institution on the same premises as EAs, and whether the EA licensee or the person intending to be the licensee is at the same time the responsible person of any financial institution.

     As at April 2025, the LD received and processed declarations from 3 362 EAs during applications for a licence or licence renewal in accordance with the aforementioned requirement. Among the 3 362 EAs, 41 EAs declared affiliations with financial institutions.

(4) To encourage more money lenders to join the Credit Data Smart (CDS), the Government and the HKMA have been working closely with the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the Hong Kong Association of Restricted Licence Banks and Deposit-taking Companies, and the Hong Kong S.A.R. Licensed Money Lenders Association Limited to research into and provide different solutions, as well as to organise briefing sessions on the CDS and proactively invite money lenders that have not joined the CDS to meetings.

     Furthermore, under the strong support and promotion of the HKMA, the platform operator (i.e. Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited) has developed an interface, namely the “Common Module”, which provides an effective, lower-cost, and more convenient way for money lenders to connect to the CDS, saving the need to establish their own application programming interfaces (API).

     The Government and the HKMA will continue to co-operate with the industry to develop enhancement measures to assist more money lenders in joining the CDS, so as to build a more comprehensive database.

(5) To address situation of employers or former employers being harassed due to borrowing of their FDHs, the licensing conditions of the current money lenders licence have clearly set out the relevant regulatory requirements. According to licensing condition 10 of the money lenders licence, a money lender and his debt collector shall only recover debts from the person who is in law indebted to him. A money lender and his debt collector shall not, while trying to locate the whereabouts of debtors, harass anyone, adopt unlawful or improper debt collection practices. Therefore, if a FDH employer or former employer discovers that his/her residential address is used improperly and feels harassed, he/she may lodge a complaint with the money lender concerned and request immediate cessation of his improper debt collection behaviours.

     Money lenders should strictly comply with the licensing conditions in carrying on their business. Any breach of the licensing conditions during the course of business is an offence under the Money Lenders Ordinance. Upon conviction, offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years. If the Registrar of Money Lenders (Registrar) and the Police consider that a money lender has ceased to be a fit and proper person to carry on business as such, they may apply to the Licensing Court for revocation of his licence or refusal of his licence renewal application. Therefore, if there is any complaint against a money lender for improperly harassing a FDH employer or former employer, the complaint may serve as a ground for the Registrar or the Police to apply to the Licensing Court for revocation of his licence, or make an objection against his licence renewal application.

     In addition, we will step up promotional and educational efforts targeting the FDH community, reminding FDHs that they could not provide their employers’ or former employers’ addresses as the borrower’s contact address without seeking their prior consent. We will also strengthen co-operation with the LD and non-governmental organisations to ensure that the relevant messages are effectively conveyed.
Issued at HKT 16:21

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCED to attend Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SCED to attend Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo
During the two-day (May 30 and 31) meeting, Mr Yau and participating ministers will attend discussion sessions on various topics related to information and communications technology development, including sustainable digital infrastructure and accessibility, inclusive digital innovation and growth, secure and trusted digital environment, and empowering the Asia-Pacific industry’s role in digital transformation. The Ministerial Meeting will adopt a joint statement at the end of the meeting to further foster regional collaboration.

The APT is an intergovernmental organisation with the aim of promoting information and communication technology development in the Asia-Pacific region. The APT now has 38 members, four associate members and 140 affiliate members from private companies and academia.
　
During his stay in Tokyo, Mr Yau will also meet with government officials of Japan and business leaders to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities.

Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on the evening of May 31. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau’s absence.
Issued at HKT 16:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Traffic incidents involving animals

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ19: Traffic incidents involving animals
Question:

Under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), the driver of a vehicle shall stop if an accident involving that vehicle occurs whereby damage is caused to animals not in the vehicle, and the Government included cats and dogs in the definition of “animal” under the Ordinance in 2021. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information in respect of traffic accidents involving vehicles hitting animals in each of the past five years: (i) the number of animals being hit (set out in the table below a breakdown by the type of animals (i.e. (a) horses, (b) cattle, (c) ass, (d) mules, (e) ‍sheep, (f) pigs, (g) goats, (h) cats and (i) dogs)), (ii) the number of reports received by the Government on such accidents, and (iii) ‍among these accidents, the number and percentage of cases involving hit-and-run drivers, (iv) the number of such accidents investigated by the Government under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), and (v) among them, the number of prosecutions instituted;

Year(2) of the current handling procedures adopted by the government departments concerned upon receipt of cases of animals being hit by vehicles; the number of such cases in which animal carcasses were handled directly by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in each of the past five years, and their percentage in the total number of cases involving animals being hit by vehicles;

(3) as there are views that the deterrent effect of the existing legislation on accidents involving vehicles hitting animals is inadequate, whether the authorities will introduce fixed penalty or incorporate a demerit point system; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the Government will allocate additional resources to assist in rescuing animals hit and injured by vehicles; and

(5) whether the Government will review the legislation to include more local wild animals (including but not limited to monkeys and wild pigs) in the definition of “animal” under Cap. 374; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) (the Ordinance) provides that the driver of a vehicle shall stop if an accident involving that vehicle occurs whereby damage is caused to specified animals not in the vehicle. Drivers are also required to provide particulars, including name and address, to any police officer or any person having reasonable grounds for requiring the information. Otherwise, the driver must report the accident to the Police as soon as possible and in any case no later than 24 hours after the accident. The Government amended the definition of specified animals under the Ordinance on November 7, 2021 to include cats and dogs. Currently, specified animals include horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat, cat and dog.

Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the reply to the question from the Hon Chan Hak-kan is as follows:

(1) In the past five years, the HKPF has received a total of 933 reports of vehicle hitting the specified animals (details set out at the Table below), 147 of them involved driver failing to stop after hitting the animals. The HKPF does not maintain breakdown of statistics by the type of animals, cases investigated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), and the prosecution number.

Year(as at April 30)
For the drivers involved, if such person did not stop after the accident, or provide particulars to police officers or report to the Police in accordance with the requirements of the Ordinance, the HKPF will investigate and follow up according to the established mechanism; and will instigate prosecution if there is sufficient evidence.

As regards the disposal of animal carcasses, upon receipt of referrals from departments or reports from the public, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange for contractors to collect animal carcasses at the scene and deliver them to the landfills of the Environmental Protection Department for disposal. The FEHD does not maintain a breakdown of animal carcasses collected in traffic accidents.

(3) Under the Ordinance, a driver failing to stop upon a relevant accident is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for 12 months, whereas failing to provide particulars and report to the Police according to the requirements of the Ordinance is liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. In general, enforcement by fixed penalty notices is targeted at cases which are simple, straightforward, clear-cut and capable of being easily established, but whether a driver has complied with the Ordinance requires further investigation of the Police, hence it is more appropriate to prosecute by issuing summonses. As regards demerit point system, considering the existing penalties have a certain deterrent effect, we do not intend to include the above offences in demerit point system at this stage, but will timely review them as necessary.

(5) The Ordinance requires drivers to stop if they hit a specified animal, with the intent of facilitating livestock owners to seek compensation from the drivers concerned for the loss incurred. The Government’s inclusion of cats and dogs as specified animals under the Ordinance in 2021 aimed to enable cats and dogs injured in traffic accidents to receive timely treatment. As regards whether other wild animals will be included, making reference to the legislation in some overseas jurisdictions, similar stopping and reporting requirements generally only cover animals that are commonly kept by people but not wild animals. In fact, a number of stakeholders raised at the public consultation for amending the Ordinance in 2021 that if monkeys and wild pigs are to be included as specified animals, the drivers may suddenly stop their vehicles and lead to road traffic safety problems. The Government will closely monitor the implementation of the Ordinance and strive to strike a balance between safeguarding animal welfare and the safety of road users, and will timely review whether there is room to further enhance the Ordinance.
Issued at HKT 11:45

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Commission cuts red tape and maximises impact of foreign aid investment

Source: European Commission

European Commission Press release Brussels, 28 May 2025 The European Commission is increasing the efficiency and firepower of its External Action Guarantee (EAG), a key financial tool under the Global Gateway strategy that offers more affordable loans to unlock investments in partner countries around the world. In an increasingly complex geopolitical context, the EU is reaffirming its role as a global actor by strengthening its strategic and responsive capabilities.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Predatory contracts for the supply of vaccines during the pandemic – E-002009/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002009/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

The decision of the European Court of Justice – establishing that the European Commission was wrong to withhold an explanation for its rejection of a journalist’s request for access to the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the President of Pfizer during the vaccine negotiations – completely fails to address the crux of the matter. It does not respond to the public call for the contracts to be published in their entirety, including details on the exact quantities and the terms and conditions of the contracts for the supply of vaccines during the pandemic. It also certainly fails to highlight the real scale of the problem, as well as the heavy liability left unattributed.

The matter is linked to fierce competition between pharmaceutical groups for ‘a slice of the pie’ – i.e. taxpayers’ money – with the the EU institutions fraternising with monopolistic groups.

Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

1.What view does it take of the fact that it is the Commission’s own responsibility to satisfy the public call for all contracts to be published in full – with their terms, conditions and quantities – so that the people know how many vaccines they paid for and why?

2.What view does it take of the fact that political and criminal liability needs to be attributed to those responsible for the predatory contracts that were demonstrably signed not only with this group but also with the others that concluded contracts with the EU for the supply of vaccines?

Submitted: 20.5.2025
Last updated: 28 May 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ ETFs Announces Distributions on CVNY, CONY, YMAG, YMAX, ULTY, and Others

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ today announced distributions for the YieldMax™ Weekly Payers and Group C ETFs listed in the table below.

ETF Ticker¹	ETF Name	Distribution Frequency	Distribution per Share	Distribution Rate^2,⁴	30-Day SEC Yield³	ROC⁵	Ex-Date & Record Date	Payment Date
CHPY	YieldMax™ Semiconductor Portfolio Option Income ETF	*Weekly*	$0.3860	–	–	96.94%	5/29/25	5/30/25
GPTY	YieldMax™ AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF	*Weekly*	$0.2895	33.82%	0.00%	100.00%	5/29/25	5/30/25
LFGY	YieldMax™ Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF	*Weekly*	$0.4906	62.59%	0.00%	100.00%	5/29/25	5/30/25
QDTY	YieldMax™ Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call ETF	*Weekly*	$0.3115	38.15%	0.00%	100.00%	5/29/25	5/30/25
RDTY	YieldMax™ R2000 0DTE Covered Call ETF	*Weekly*	$0.3538	40.76%	0.00%	97.17%	5/29/25	5/30/25
SDTY	YieldMax™ S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call ETF	*Weekly*	$0.2578	30.71%	0.00%	100.00%	5/29/25	5/30/25
ULTY	YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF	*Weekly*	$0.0954	79.40%	0.00%	100.00%	5/29/25	5/30/25
YMAG	YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs	*Weekly*	$0.2929	97.28%	70.00%	96.58%	5/29/25	5/30/25
YMAX	YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs	*Weekly*	$0.2149	81.04%	95.10%	81.23%	5/29/25	5/30/25
ABNY	YieldMax™ ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3871	41.70%	3.22%	93.60%	5/29/25	5/30/25
AMDY	YieldMax™ AMD Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4233	70.38%	3.31%	96.48%	5/29/25	5/30/25
CONY	YieldMax™ COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.7351	106.24%	3.39%	80.80%	5/29/25	5/30/25
CVNY	YieldMax™ CVNA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$4.5659	125.74%	2.37%	99.33%	5/29/25	5/30/25
FIAT	YieldMax™ Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.2667	65.81%	1.14%	96.24%	5/29/25	5/30/25
HOOY	YieldMax™ HOOD Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$3.3036	–	–	99.33%	5/29/25	5/30/25
MSFO	YieldMax™ MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5498	40.29%	3.26%	92.68%	5/29/25	5/30/25
NFLY	YieldMax™ NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.6832	46.84%	2.79%	94.49%	5/29/25	5/30/25
PYPY	YieldMax™ PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5507	53.61%	3.54%	95.28%	5/29/25	5/30/25
Weekly Payers & Group D ETFs scheduled for next week: CHPY GPTY LFGY QDTY RDTY SDTY ULTY YMAG YMAX AIYY AMZY APLY DISO MSTY SMCY WNTR XYZY YQQQ

Standardized Performance and Fund details can be obtained by clicking the ETF Ticker in the table above or by visiting us at www.yieldmaxetfs.com

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

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

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

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

¹All YieldMax™ ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, FEAT have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. YMAG has a management fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.83% for a gross expense ratio of 1.12%. FIVY has a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.59% for a gross expense ratio of 0.88%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio of 1.40%, and a net expense ratio after the fee waiver of 1.30%. The Advisor has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.10% through at least February 28, 2026.

² The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on May 27, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent`t its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.

³ The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended April 31, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.

⁴ Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
⁵ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage indicates how much the distribution reflects an investor’s initial investment. The figures shown for each Fund in the table above are estimates and may later be determined to be taxable net investment income, short-term gains, long-term gains (to the extent permitted by law), or return of capital. Actual amounts and sources for tax reporting will depend upon the Fund’s investment activities during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year to tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

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

Important Information

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

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

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

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

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

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Referenced Index Risk. The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Index (or the Index ETFs). This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of companies that comprised the Index or an ETF that tracks the Index, even though it does not.

Indirect Investment Risk. The Index is not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates and is not involved with this offering in any way. Investors in the Fund will not have the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the companies that comprise the Index but will be subject to declines in the performance of the Index.

Russell 2000 Index Risks. The Index, which consists of small-cap U.S. companies, is particularly susceptible to economic changes, as these firms often have less financial resilience than larger companies. Market volatility can disproportionately affect these smaller businesses, leading to significant price swings. Additionally, these companies are often more exposed to specific industry risks and have less diverse revenue streams. They can also be more vulnerable to changes in domestic regulatory or policy environments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GPTY)

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

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

Risk Disclosure (applicable only to MARO)

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

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

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

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

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

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

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

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

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

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

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

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

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

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

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

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA, MSTR), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole. Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to CHPY)

Semiconductor Industry Risk. Semiconductor companies may face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, and such competition may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Semiconductor companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Semiconductor companies’ supply chain and operations are dependent on the availability of materials that meet exacting standards and the use of third parties to provide components and services.

The products of semiconductor companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Capital equipment expenditures could be substantial, and equipment generally suffers from rapid obsolescence. Companies in the semiconductor industry are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights would adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

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

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

May 28, 2025

Golden archer, greater spirit: Harvinder Singh honoured with Padma Shri

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Para-archer Harvinder Singh was conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, honouring his trailblazing achievements in Indian para-archery and his inspiring journey of resilience and success.

Born on February 25, 1991, in a remote village in Haryana, Harvinder Singh defied early life challenges to etch his name in India’s sporting history. A childhood medical mishap resulted in a permanent disability in his left leg, but this adversity became the foundation of his unyielding determination.

Taking up archery in 2012 under the mentorship of coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja, Harvinder’s rise was swift and inspirational. His international debut came in 2017, and within a year, he created history by clinching India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. He triumphed in the Men’s Individual Recurve (Open category), a feat that placed him firmly on the global map.

Harvinder Singh’s accomplishments only grew from there. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, he became the first Indian archer to win a Paralympic medal, securing bronze. He followed this with another bronze in the Men’s Team Recurve event at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

However, it was his golden performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games that truly defined his legacy. With a commanding win in the Men’s Recurve Archery (Open category), Harvinder Singh delivered India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery at the Paralympic level—a moment of immense pride for the nation.

Beyond the sporting arena, Harvinder Singh has also excelled in academics. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Punjabi University, Patiala, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field, embodying the spirit of all-round excellence.

His contributions have previously been recognised with the Arjuna Award in 2021 and the Bhim Award by the Haryana government in 2022. Now, with the conferment of the Padma Shri, Shri Harvinder Singh joins the ranks of India’s most respected civilian honourees.

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin took part in the jubilee parade of cadets

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The annual parade of the Moscow cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War took place on Victory Square on Poklonnaya Gora.

Before the parade began, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the Mayor of Moscow addressed the cadets with a welcoming speech. Sergei Sobyanin and the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov.

“I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the glorious anniversary that we are celebrating on these bright May days. Moscow sacredly honors the legacy of the victors. Courage, fortitude, patriotism and selfless service to the Fatherland. Cadets and the entire younger generation grow and are brought up on these values. And today, on Poklonnaya Gora, we see the best representatives of the Moscow cadet movement in the parade formation. Next to you, shoulder to shoulder, are cadets from other cities of Russia and Belarus. This emphasizes the traditions of the cadet brotherhood. You are smart and talented, strong and courageous, energetic and purposeful. And such concepts as honor and dignity are the main principles of life for you. Your peers look up to you, your family and friends are rightfully proud of you. Everything is ahead of you. And I am sure that you will succeed, because where there are cadets, there is victory,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ congratulated the cadets on the holiday.

“Moscow has truly changed beyond recognition in recent years. It is a wonderful city, convenient for living, beautiful, which really reflects the general development of our entire state. Many thanks to Sergei Semyonovich Sobyanin, the City Hall, all those who work to beautify and improve all aspects of Muscovites’ lives. Of course, thanks to all of us, to all our people, to all working people, to all who love their country and work for its prosperity,” noted Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill.

The Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov emphasized that Moscow is becoming the center of the cadet brotherhood, which is based on spiritual and moral values, courage and loyalty to traditions. Today, a strategy for the development of cadet education is being developed. 510 thousand children are studying in cadet and Cossack corps and schools, educational organizations with cadet and Cossack classes.

“The Moscow Cadet Movement unites young patriots who are ready to take up the baton of serving the Fatherland from their great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and fathers. Cadets are the golden fund of the Russian state. The future of the country is in your hands. And now your main task is to comprehend the world, study science, and get good and excellent grades. Cadet – that sounds proud. Love for the Fatherland is not just words, but deeds,” added Sergey Kravtsov.

The parade was attended by seven thousand people. Among them were combat veterans, including participants in the special military operation (SVO), representatives of legislative and executive authorities, law enforcement agencies and public organizations, teachers, parents and students from the capital’s schools.

On behalf of the Moscow cadet movement, Artem Lazorev, a student of school No. 1794 named after A.S. Chufistov, spoke.

“In May, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. We are proud of the feat of our ancestors. A feat that will be inscribed in history and in our hearts for centuries. We will be proud that we continue the work of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We are preparing to serve our great Motherland. We remember them, we thank them. The connection between generations will not be broken,” the cadet thanked.

More than three thousand cadets took part in the parade – 52 parade units. Among them:

— 43 ceremonial units of students from cadet classes of comprehensive schools in Moscow;

— three ceremonial units of students from federal general education institutions: the Alexander Nevsky Cadet Corps of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the M.A. Sholokhov Moscow Presidential Cadet School of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, and the Moscow Suvorov Military School of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;

— a ceremonial crew of the cadet boarding school with initial flight training named after three times Hero of the Soviet Union A.I. Pokryshkin (city of Fryazino, Moscow region);

– four parade units from Lugansk, Kherson, Izhevsk and Perm;

— a ceremonial formation of the cadet delegation from Belarus (city of Brest).

The Moscow Cadet Movement Parade has been held since 2015. Its goal is to increase the prestige of the capital’s cadet education, to develop in young people a sense of pride in the history of the country and belonging to the cadet brotherhood, and to cultivate a readiness to serve the Fatherland.

Festival-forum of the Moscow cadet movement

This year, the Moscow Cadet Movement Festival and Forum began after the parade. The practical cluster for cadets and other guests hosts interactive master classes and exhibitions on tactical medicine, UAV control, VR training and fire training. Speaker sessions are also held here with the participation of Heroes of the Fatherland, representatives of the veteran community, government bodies, popular athletes and opinion leaders in the field of patriotic education of youth. These meetings are of greatest interest to educators, parents and teachers.

The sports cluster hosts tournaments in team sports and tactical games: basketball, handball, mini-football, tag rugby, laser tag and archery tag. Guests can also attend master classes organized by sports federations, autograph sessions and meetings with famous athletes.

The career guidance cluster features an exhibition of leading universities – partners of the Cadet Class in a Moscow School project and law enforcement agencies, interactive career guidance platforms and demonstration performances.

In the creative cluster, spectators will see performances by the best creative cadet groups, exhibitions and photo zones on the theme of traditional crafts and Cossack culture.

The festival-forum will end with a gala concert featuring popular domestic performers.

Cadet education in Moscow

In total, the cadet movement in the capital includes more than 30 thousand children. It has a banner approved by the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation, presented by the Mayor of Moscow and consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.

In Moscow schools, cadet education is one of the types of specialized training aimed at preparing students for military and civil service. The project began in 2014 with the first 70 cadet classes. They are now open in 236 schools.

“Cadet education is one of the most popular in Moscow schools. More than 28 thousand children study in specialized classes. They are brought up in the best cadet traditions – with an emphasis on erudition, physical development, service to the Motherland and people. Many children join volunteer organizations and choose a military career,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote in

on your telegram channel.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

Cadets are mainly trained in daytime mode from the seventh to the 11th grade. Cadet classes with round-the-clock stay in the system Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow are available at two cadet boarding schools (the First Moscow Cadet Corps and Cadet Boarding School No. 5), as well as at the Police College.

There are also five cadet educational institutions of federal subordination in Moscow. These are the Moscow Suvorov Military School, the Moscow Presidential Cadet School named after M.A. Sholokhov of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, the Cadet School of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation named after Alexander Nevsky, the Moscow Cadet Corps “Boarding School for Pupils of the Ministry of Defense of Russia” and the Moscow Military Music School of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

Children are selected for cadet classes of city schools based on their academic achievements, physical development and health, and their degree of focus on the future choice of a military or civil servant profession. The profile of cadet education is provided by ministries and departments of the security forces, including the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Together with them, schools determine the subject profile and a variable set of additional general development programs for cadet classes depending on the specifics of the department, and also provide in-depth study of Russian history.

In 2024, more than 90 percent of graduates of cadet classes and institutions entered higher education institutions and secondary vocational education organizations, including law enforcement agencies.

Every year, Moscow cadets participate in city events of patriotic orientation. Among them:

— the parade of the Moscow city cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War;

— Moscow meta-subject Olympiad “The connection between generations will not be broken”;

— Cadet Class Day at the Victory Museum (standing watch as an honor guard at post No. 1 near the Flame of Memory and Glory on Poklonnaya Hill);

— educational project “Cadet Day at VDNKh”;

– Cadet Spartakiad;

— city competition “Review of the formation and songs. “March to the victors!””;

— events dedicated to days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia;

— events held by public and veteran organizations of Moscow: Moscow City Council of Veterans of War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies; Club of Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation and Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory of the City of Moscow and the Moscow Region; Regional Public Fund for the Support of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Russian Federation named after General E.N. Kocheshkov; Interregional Public Fund for Social Security “Law and Order-Shield”.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 895 students of cadet classes became winners and prize-winners of the meta-subject Olympiad “The Connection between Generations Will Not Be Broken”. More than six thousand cadets passed the demonstration exam. More than eight thousand students attended classes in 20 areas of the cycle of introductory professional trials “Cadet Class – Path to the Profession” and career guidance events at partner universities.

Among the cadets’ sporting achievements is passing the standards of the “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO) complex. Thus, 3,134 cadets became holders of the gold GTO badge, 2,076 people became holders of the silver badge, and 1,873 students became holders of the bronze badge.

Patriotic education of youth

Patriotic education is an integral part of the educational process in the Moscow education system.

The main areas of this work include preserving the continuity of generations. Priorities include perpetuating the memory of the participants in the Great Patriotic War and implementing joint projects with veterans’ organizations. In the system of the Moscow Department of Education and Science, more than 70 schools and colleges are named after heroes. For example, in recent years, the capital’s schools have been named after V.A. Matrosov, R. Sorge, A.N. Samsonov, M.V. Grizodubova. In 2024, the name of A.S. Chufistov, director of school No. 1794 who died in the SVO, was perpetuated.

Every year, together with the city’s veteran organizations, about a thousand joint projects are implemented, including museum-historical Olympiads, competitions, meetings with students in school museums, and courage lessons.

Since 2001, the Heroes’ Cup review competition has been held for the best organization of patriotic education in educational organizations of the capital’s Department of Education and Science. The competition takes into account the presence of volunteer and young army units, sports and tourist sections and associations, as well as the number of children attending them. Important components of the assessment are the work of children in caring for memorial sites under the patronage of the educational organization, the quality of passing five-day training camps and fulfilling the standards of the GTO complex. All subordinate educational organizations participate in the competition.

Museum pedagogy is developing. There are more than 1,100 museums in the capital’s schools. Of these, more than 600 are dedicated to the history of Russia, including the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation. Military personnel take an active part in organizing exhibitions: they donate personal belongings and documents to museums, and also hold meetings with children.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, military-patriotic clubs began to develop in the Moscow education system as associations of additional education. From September to May, their number increased from 193 to more than 400. Currently, over 22 thousand people are involved in military-patriotic clubs.

The city’s educational institutions closely cooperate with the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill. Together with the largest museum complex in Russia dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War and World War II, a project such as the educational and historical quest “The Feat of the People” is being implemented. It is visited by 103 thousand people per year.

The interactive excursion program is of great interest “Battle for Moscow. First Victory”The exhibition at the Victory Museum includes five three-dimensional interactive panoramas, 24 multimedia complexes, more than 1.7 thousand exhibits, including personal belongings of soldiers, generals and people’s militia fighters, over 3.5 thousand photographs, over a thousand scanned documents and over two thousand reference materials. The exhibition is visited by 60 thousand people per year.

Together with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Victory Museum is holding an interactive tour, “A Journey into History. Faith in Victory.” The project tells about the contribution of believers — Orthodox and representatives of other faiths — to the fight against fascism and the approach of the Great Victory. Schoolchildren will learn about the exploits of partisan priests, the origin of the expression “sister of mercy,” and the qualities that warrior defenders cultivate in themselves. The annual number of excursionists is 25 thousand people.

Another direction of patriotic education of youth is conducting lessons “Conversations about the important”. Each school week in educational institutions of the city begins with the raising of the State Flag of the Russian Federation and the performance of the anthem. Classes of the cycle “Conversations about the important” are held, dedicated to the peoples of Russia, its history, culture, nature.

These classes are also held at the sites of additional education centers and cultural institutions. In September 2024, the project “Conversations about the Important in the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia” began, which was organized by the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia and the Moscow Center for Educational Practices. Excursions dedicated to significant events in the history of Russia in the 19th-21st centuries were attended by more than 10 thousand schoolchildren and students;

Young people actively participate in the volunteer movement. Every year, students from schools and colleges, under whose patronage there are more than a thousand objects of military glory, take part in citywide memorial and patronage events.

Other areas of volunteer work include social, environmental, sports, cultural, media volunteering, professional and cyber volunteering.

On the basis of schools and colleges, 22 support sites have been created, which are operators of volunteer projects and actions. More than 100 thousand students actively participate in volunteer squads;

An important area of patriotic education is preparing young people for military service. Every year, 10th graders and second-year college students attend five-day training camps as part of the study of the program “Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Homeland.”

This year, the training camp is being held at the Patriot Health and Educational Center, the Avangard Educational and Methodological Center, the Preobrazhensky Defense and Sports Center, and military units. More than 40,000 people will take part in the training camp. The children will learn the basics of military topography and military regulations, and acquire military medical, drill, tactical, fire, and technical training skills;

In addition, more than 55 thousand Moscow schoolchildren participate in the All-Russian military-patriotic public movement “Yunarmiya”. The capital’s Yunarmiya members take part in events held by the main headquarters of the movement. The largest of them are ceremonial events dedicated to memorable dates and days of military glory of Russia (more than 25 thousand participants), the All-Russian military-patriotic game “Zarnitsa 2.0” (more than 17 thousand participants) and the All-Russian children’s and youth festival “Voroshilov shooter” (more than five thousand participants);

The work of directors’ education advisers is of great importance in the patriotic education of young people. This position was introduced in Moscow schools and colleges in September 2023 as part of the federal project “Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Russian Federation” of the national project “Education”. Currently, more than 1.2 thousand such specialists work in educational institutions.

Directors’ advisors play an important role in the implementation of key federal and city projects in the field of education, as well as the development of children’s initiatives. They involve children in children’s public associations, school and student theaters, volunteer units, patriotic, sports and tourist clubs. Specialists also conduct various patronage events and courage lessons. This helps preserve the memory of the participants of the Great Patriotic War, heroes and veterans.

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

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12872050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Syria: EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions on Syria, enacting recent political agreement

Source: Council of the European Union

Following its political announcement on 20 May, the Council lifted the EU’s economic sanctions on Syria imposed ontothe Assad regime. It also removed 24 entities from the EU list of those subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources. In parallel, it extended the listings of individuals and entities linked to the Assad regime until 1 June 2026.In support of the transitional authorities’ efforts to safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrian people, the Council also imposed new restrictive measures on two individuals and three entities for human rights abuses and stands ready to consider further listings on those fuelling instability.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Closing Learning Gaps Through Scalable and Innovative Solutions

Source: Asia Development Bank

Focused, scalable interventions can bridge learning gaps, as demonstrated by Pratham’s Read India initiative.

Prioritizing interactive, student-centered teaching methods has proven successful. Finland’s holistic model emphasizes collaboration and creativity, while Kenya’s “Tusome” project has trained teachers in participatory learning strategies, significantly improving literacy rates. When students are actively engaged in their learning, they become more motivated and perform better.

Adaptive assessments and real-time quiz platforms like Class Saathi are helping teachers identify learning gaps instantly and tailor instruction accordingly. These methods not only reduce the burden of manual grading but also create a continuous feedback loop that supports individual learning progress.

Countries like Singapore are shifting toward holistic evaluations that nurture emotional intelligence and creativity alongside academic achievement. Similarly, Japan is adopting personalized learning frameworks to ensure that no child is left behind. Schools embracing inclusive innovation—whether through policy, pedagogy, or technology—are seeing measurable improvements in participation and learning outcomes.

Low-tech and offline solutions can also be leveraged. Some tools are specifically designed to function without internet or electricity, ensuring equitable access to personalized learning even in the most remote schools. Pilot programs have shown that when solutions are tailored to local contexts, even minimal infrastructure can support meaningful educational improvements. Countries like Rwanda are prioritizing early learning to establish strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Collaborative efforts between governments and organizations are bridging infrastructure gaps, equipping schools with essential resources and tools.

When designed with simplicity and scalability in mind, educational technology can enhance learning in diverse and underserved environments.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resetting our relationship with the third sector

Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

Council Leader Jane Meagher writes in the Evening News today about the need to support Edinburgh’s third sector.

With our population growing and more people struggling with the cost of living, Edinburgh’s third sector is in a precarious position.

According to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, seven in 10 charities now cite financial trials as their biggest challenge, up significantly in just two years. Traditional funding streams from the public sector, which provide vital grants to allow charities to operate in our local communities, are under growing pressure too.

Echoing these concerns, a report to the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee late last year made it clear that short-term funding cycles are creating financial instability for charities, diverting time and resources away from what’s important – delivering valuable services for vulnerable people.

This predicament came into sharp focus for Edinburgh earlier this year when the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) – which oversees health and social care spend in the city – had to make difficult decisions to help it make necessary savings of close to £30m. Dozens of local projects and charities have seen their funding pulled as a result.

Immediately, councillors united to intervene and see what could be done to prevent the devastating closures and redundancies these cuts could bring. Thankfully, we’ve been able to step in to provide emergency £2m funding, providing short term relief for 46 projects.

Yesterday at Policy and Sustainability Committee, we also agreed how to spend a contingency fund worth £273,473 to further support primarily small, local projects and organisations in our communities which have lost EIJB funding. Grants of £10,000 will be made available this autumn to help with the resilience of the sector.

Yet, the fact remains that the council also faces significant financial challenges. We remain the worst funded council in Scotland and plugging this gap will be difficult in future years. To that end, we need to find a longer-term sustainable way forward for this sector which provides so much good. Tackling poverty is one of our city’s top priorities and we cannot achieve this without the support of projects which focus on prevention.

To get ahead of this, we’ve engaged the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh, and to ultimately find solutions for improving funding certainty in future years. This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.

We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and collaborate to help those who need this sector’s support most. You can share your views through our Consultation Hub webpage, or by attending a workshop from now until Thursday 5 June. Results will be shared with those who take part and with the wider third sector, and will be reported to our next Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.

In a successful city like Edinburgh, it is unacceptable that 80,000 people are living in poverty– including close to a quarter of all children – which makes tackling inequality and preventing poverty one of the biggest challenges facing the capital.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The 2025 budget allocates 14% more funds for science than the previous year

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko welcomed the participants of the General Meeting of Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

He emphasized that the academy has always played a significant role in the development of Russia and under the leadership of Gennady Yakovlevich Krasnikov its authority is only growing stronger. In May, a board of trustees was created, headed by the head of state Vladimir Putin. It included high-level leaders, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.

“I am confident that the President’s decision will allow the Russian Academy of Sciences to realize its potential in decision-making at all levels of government in the most effective way. This is especially important in the context of the national goal set by the head of state to achieve technological leadership. The Russian Academy of Sciences is solving one of the main tasks here, creating a fundamental reserve in priority areas of science. Also, now, based on the proposal of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Higher Attestation Commission will be formed,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He noted that today the country has set ambitious goals that cannot be achieved without the persistent work of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is important to ensure the continuity of fundamental science and applied solutions necessary for the creation of the most important science-intensive technologies.

As part of the expansion of the new approach “State Task 2.0”, RAS aggregates business needs and formulates corresponding fundamental tasks for them.

“In the 2025 budget, within the framework of the state program for scientific and technological development, 14% more money has been allocated for science than in 2024, or to be precise, 83.3 billion rubles. The main increase is in the section “fundamental scientific research” – by 50.1 billion rubles,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

He also reported that, according to surveys for last year, 79% of citizens trust the opinions of Russian scientists. Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized the importance of maintaining the openness of science to society and noted that the driver of this work is the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Last year, with the support of the Scientific and Technical Council (STC), lists of priority areas and the most important science-intensive technologies were formed, included in the decree of the President. An examination of regional programs of scientific and technical progress of the subjects, national projects and applications for the creation of new world-class scientific centers was carried out, which made it possible to assess the scientific component and the quality of the implementation of strategies.

“The Academy’s expert potential is growing every year. Last year, RAS experts conducted about 80 thousand examinations, which is 2 times more than in 2022. In the future, we will ensure the expansion of the Academy’s expert work, involve RAS in the examination of the scientific component of such flagship projects as “Priority 2030″, which covers 141 universities,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko

He congratulated the participants of the meeting on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, drew attention to the importance of the work on preserving historical memory, which is being carried out by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and also thanked all the involved members of the academy for their participation in the work of the Government.

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Gennady Krasnikov, presented the results of the Academy’s activities and the most important scientific achievements of Russian scientists in 2024.

“This meeting is special for us. In addition to the report on the activities of the academy and the presidium, at this meeting we elect new members of the Russian Academy of Sciences to our ranks. The last such elections were in 2022, so this time we have many vacancies. We expect that those who are elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences will actively work for the benefit of the academy and our country,” said Gennady Krasnikov.

In 2025, the event will run from May 28 to 30.

During the next two days of the General Meeting, the procedure for electing members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and foreign members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as the Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will take place. In addition, a ceremonial awarding of leading Russian and foreign scientists with the highest awards will take place.

The meeting is attended by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Gennady Krasnikov, the Chairperson of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Liliya Gumerova, the Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergei Kabyshev, and the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko. In total, more than 1,000 people are involved in the work of the meeting, including the presidents of Russian academies of education, arts, architecture and construction sciences, as well as representatives of state corporations.

The General Meeting of the members of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the highest governing body of the RAS. At the meeting, participants highlight current areas of development of scientific thought and discuss challenges facing the state and society. Following the General Meeting, resolutions are adopted that contain instructions and recommendations to the management and departments of the Academy.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: work to attract investment creates conditions for regional growth

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

May 28, 2025

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

May 28, 2025

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

May 28, 2025

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

May 28, 2025

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Zanubis in motion: Tracing the active evolution of the Android banking malware

Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

Headline: Zanubis in motion: Tracing the active evolution of the Android banking malware

Introduction

Zanubis is a banking Trojan for Android that emerged in mid-2022. Since its inception, it has targeted banks and financial entities in Peru, before expanding its objectives to virtual cards and crypto wallets.

The main infection vector of Zanubis is impersonating legitimate Peruvian Android applications and then misleading the user into enabling the accessibility permissions. Once these permissions are granted, the malware gains extensive capabilities that allow its operators to steal the user’s banking data and credentials, as well as perform remote actions and control the device without the user’s knowledge.

This Android malware is undergoing continuous development, and we have seen new samples extending their data exfiltration and remote-control functionality as well as new obfuscation methods and deceptive tactics. The threat actors behind Zanubis continue to refine its code – adding features, switching between encryption algorithms, shifting targets, and tweaking social engineering techniques to accelerate infection rates. These updates are often aligned with recurring campaigns, suggesting a deliberate effort to keep the malware relevant and effective.

To understand how the Trojan reached its current stage, we need to look back at its origins and the early signs of what was to come. Join us in this blogpost as we take a closer look at the malware’s evolution over time.

2022: From zero to threat

Zanubis was first observed in the wild around August 2022, initially targeting financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchange users in Peru. At the time of its discovery, the malware was distributed through apps disguised as a PDF reader, using the logo of a well-known application to appear legitimate and lure victims into installing it.

In its early stages, Zanubis used to employ a much simpler and more limited approach compared to the functionality we would explore later. The malware retrieved its configuration and the package names of all the targeted applications by reaching a hardcoded pastebin site and parsing its data in XML/HTML format.

Upon startup, the malware would collect key information from the infected device. This included the contact list, the list of installed applications, and various device identifiers, such as the manufacturer, model, and fingerprint. The Trojan also performed specific checks to identify whether the device was a Motorola, Samsung, or Huawei, suggesting tailored behavior or targeting based on brand.

Additionally, the malware attempted to collect and bypass battery optimization settings, likely to ensure it could continue running in the background without interruption. All of the gathered information was then formatted and transmitted to a remote server using the WebSocket protocol. For that, Zanubis used a hardcoded initial URL to establish communication and exfiltrate the collected data and also received a small set of commands from the C2 server.

The malware operated as an overlay-based banking Trojan that abused Android’s accessibility service. By leveraging accessibility permissions, the malware was able to run silently in the background, monitoring which applications were currently active on the device. When it detected that a targeted application was opened, it immediately displayed a pre-generated overlay designed to mimic the legitimate interface. This overlay captured the user’s credentials as they were entered, effectively stealing sensitive information without raising suspicion.

Zanubis targeted 40 banking and financial applications in Peru. The malware maintained a predefined list of package names corresponding to these institutions, and used this list to trigger overlay attacks. This targeting strategy reflected a focused campaign aimed at compromising users of financial services through credential theft.

At that point, the malware appeared to be under active development – code obfuscation had not yet been implemented, making the samples fully readable upon decompilation. Additionally, several debugging functions were still present in the versions captured in the wild.

2023: Multi-feature upgrade

In April 2023, we identified a new campaign featuring a revamped version of Zanubis. This time, the malicious package masqueraded as the official Android application of SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria), Peru’s national tax and customs authority. It copied both the name and icon of the legitimate app, making it appear authentic to unsuspecting users.

Shift to obfuscation

Unlike earlier versions, this variant introduced significant changes in terms of stealth. The code was fully obfuscated, making manual analysis and detection more difficult. After decompilation, it became clear that in order to sophisticate the malware analysis, the threat actors used Obfuscapk, a widely used obfuscation framework for Android APKs. Obfuscapk combines multiple techniques, including a range of obfuscators and so-called “confusers”. These techniques vary in complexity: from basic measures like renaming classes, adding junk code, and replacing method signatures, to more advanced strategies such as code RC4 encryption and control-flow obfuscation. The goal was to hinder reverse engineering and slow down both static and dynamic analysis, giving the operators more time to execute their campaigns undetected.

Junk code (on the left) and renaming (on the right) obfuscation methods applied to the malicious implant

Once installed and executed, the malware began setting up its internal components, including various classes, functions, and the SharedPreferences object, which are essential for the Trojan’s operation. The latter typically stores sensitive configuration data such as C2 server URLs, encryption keys, API endpoints, and communication ports.

Deceptive tricks

Throughout all versions of Zanubis, a key step in its execution flow has been to ensure it has accessibility service permissions, which are crucial for its overlay attacks and background monitoring. To obtain these, the malware checks if it is running for the first time and whether the necessary permissions have been granted. If not, it employs a deceptive tactic to manipulate the user into enabling them, a feature that varies between versions.

In the 2023 version, the malware displayed a fake instructional webpage using WebView, claiming that additional permissions were needed to view a document – a plausible excuse, given the app’s disguise as an official application. On this page, a prominent button labeled “Ir a Accesibilidad” (“Go to Accessibility”) was presented. Once tapped, the button triggered a redirection to the system’s Accessibility Settings screen or directly to the specific panel for enabling accessibility features for the malicious app, depending on the device model.

Instructions to trick the user into enabling Accessibility Permissions

Translation:

“Steps to view documents”, “1. Select the downloaded file”.

This trick relies heavily on social engineering, leveraging trust in the app’s appearance and the user’s lack of awareness about Android’s permission system. Once accessibility permissions are granted, the malware silently enables additional settings to bypass battery optimization, ensuring it can remain active in the background indefinitely, ready to execute its malicious functions without user intervention.

With background access secured, the malware loads a legitimate SUNAT website used by real users to check debts and tax information. By embedding this trusted page in a WebView, the app reinforces its disguise and avoids raising suspicion, appearing as a normal, functional part of SUNAT’s official services while continuing its malicious activity in the background.

Data harvesting

Just like earlier versions, the malware began by collecting device information and connecting to its C2 server to await further instructions. Communication with the C2 API was encrypted with RC4 using a hardcoded key and Base64-encoded. Once initialization was complete, the malware entered a Socket.IO polling loop, sleeping for 10 seconds between checks for incoming events emitted by the C2 server. This time, however, the list of available commands had grown significantly, expanding the malware’s capabilities far beyond previous versions.

When a targeted app was detected running on the device, this version of Zanubis took one of two actions to steal user data, depending on its current settings. The first method involved keylogging by tracking user interface events such as taps, focus changes, and text input, effectively capturing sensitive information like credentials or personal data. These logs were stored locally and later sent to the C2 server upon request. Alternatively, Zanubis could activate screen recording to capture everything the user did within the app, sending both visuals and interaction data directly to the server.

SMS hijacking

Another new feature introduced in this campaign is SMS hijacking, a critical technique for compromising bank accounts and services that rely on SMS for two-factor authentication. Once instructed by the C2 server, Zanubis set itself as the default SMS app on the device, allowing it to intercept all incoming messages via a custom receiver. This gave the malware access to verification codes sent by banks and other sensitive services, and even the ability to delete them before the user could see them, effectively hiding its activity.

These actions remained completely hidden from the user. Even if the user attempted to regain control and set their default SMS app back to normal, Zanubis would block that possibility.

Fake updates

One of the most invasive and deceptive behaviors exhibited by Zanubis was triggered through the bloqueoUpdate (“update lockout” in English) event, which simulated a legitimate Android system update. When activated, the malware locked the device and prevented any normal interaction, rendering it almost completely unusable. Attempts to lock or unlock the screen were detected and locked, making it nearly impossible for the user to interrupt the process.

Before displaying the fake update overlay, the malware could send a warning notification claiming that an urgent update was about to be installed, advising the user not to interact with the device. This increased the credibility of the ruse and reduced the chances of user interference.

Behind this fake update, Zanubis continued operating silently in the background, performing malicious tasks such as uninstalling apps, intercepting SMS messages, changing system settings, and modifying permissions, all without the victim’s awareness.

Fake update blocking the user from making use of the phone

Translation:

“Some screen components are being updated, please keep your device connected to the internet and wait approximately 30 minutes for the update to finish”. “Do not lock or interact with the device”.

2024: Continuous development

During 2024, we continued monitoring Zanubis on various resources, including third-party platforms. In early May, we detected the appearance of new variants in the wild, particularly observed on VirusTotal. Over 30 versions of the malware were uploaded from Peru, revealing the developer’s efforts to test and implement new functionalities and features into the malware.

Samples uploaded to VirusTotal

Reinforced encryption

In these newer iterations of Zanubis, the developers implemented mechanisms to protect hardcoded strings, aiming to complicate analysis and reduce detection rates. The threat actors used a key derived via PBKDF2 to encrypt and decrypt strings on-the-fly, relying on AES in ECB mode. This method allowed the implant to keep critical strings hidden during static analysis, only revealing them when needed during execution.

Source strings were not the only data encrypted in these new implants. The communication between the C2 and the malware was also protected using AES in ECB mode, which indicates a shift from the use of RC4 in previous samples. Unlike the hardcoded key used for string encryption, in this case, a new 32-byte key was randomly generated each time data was about to be sent.

Device credential stealing

Among the most critical actions performed by this version of Zanubis was the theft of device credentials. Once active in the background, the malware constantly monitored system events triggered by other applications. When it detected activity related to authentication that needed the input of a PIN, password, or pattern, it attempted to identify the type of authentication being used and captured the corresponding input.

The malware monitored specific signals that indicated the user was interacting with the lock screen or a secure input method. When these were identified, the malware actively collected the characters entered or gestures used. If it detected that the input was invalid, it reset the authentication tracking to avoid storing invalid data. Once the input process was completed and the user moved on, the malware sent the collected credentials to the C2 server.

Device credentials collected by Zanubis

Expanding scope

This version of the malware continued to target banking applications and financial institutions in Peru, expanding its reach to include virtual card providers, as well as digital and cryptocurrency wallets. This update added 14 new targeted applications, increasing the scope of its attacks and broadening the range of financial services it can exploit.

2025: Latest campaign

In mid-January of 2025, we identified new samples indicating an updated version of Zanubis. The updates range from changes in the malware distribution and deception strategy to code modifications, new C2 commands, and improved filtering of target applications for credential theft.

New distribution tactics

Zanubis previously impersonated Peru’s tax authority, SUNAT. However, in this new campaign, we have identified two new Peruvian entities being spoofed: a company in the energy sector and a bank that was not previously abused.

The Trojan initially disguises itself as two legitimate apps from the targeted companies, each crafted to exploit a specific user need. For the energy company, the malicious APK is distributed under names like “Boleta_XXXXXX” (“bill”) or “Factura_XXXXXX” (“invoice”), deceiving users into believing they are verifying a supposed bill or invoice.

Fake screen designed to verify invoices

Meanwhile, for the bank, victims are enticed to download the malware under the guise of instructions from a fake bank advisor. This setup acts as the initial dropper for the malware, using familiar, trusted contexts to ensure successful installation.

Follow your advisor’s instructions message from the fake bank app

Silent installation

Once the user downloads and launches the lure app, a screen appears with the company’s logo, stating that necessary checks are in progress. Meanwhile, in the background, the dropper attempts to silently install the final payload, Zanubis, which is embedded in the initial malware’s internal resources (res/raw/). To retrieve the APK, the dropper leverages the PackageInstaller class. This installation process occurs without any user involvement, as there are no prompts or warnings to alert the victim. By utilizing PackageInstaller, the malware writes the APK to the device in the background and completes the installation automatically, unnoticed. This technique is employed to evade detection. After installation, an intent is sent to signal that the package has been successfully installed.

Sharpening targets

In the latest iteration of the malware, the scope of targeted entities has been significantly narrowed, with a clear focus on banks and financial institutions. The once-broad range of targets, including cryptocurrency wallets, has been abandoned.

This strategic shift suggests an intention to streamline the attack efforts and concentrate on sectors that manage the most sensitive and valuable data, such as banking credentials and financial transactions. By honing in on these high-stakes targets, the malware becomes even more dangerous, as it now focuses on the most lucrative avenues for cybercriminals.

Who’s behind?

Based on our ongoing analysis of Zanubis, several indicators suggest that the threat actors behind the malware may be operating from Peru. These indicators include, for instance, the consistent use of Latin American Spanish in the code, knowledge of Peruvian banking and government agencies, and telemetry data from our systems and VirusTotal.

The focus on Peruvian entities as targets also strongly indicates that the threat actors behind Zanubis are likely based in Peru. These regional indicators, combined with the malware’s ongoing financial fraud campaigns, point to a well-organized operation focused on exploiting local institutions.

Conclusions

Zanubis has demonstrated a clear evolution, transitioning from a simple banking Trojan to a highly sophisticated and multi-faceted threat. The malware has been continuously refined and enhanced, incorporating new features and capabilities. Its focus remains on high-value targets, particularly banks and financial institutions in Peru, making it a formidable adversary in the region.

Furthermore, the attackers behind Zanubis show no signs of slowing down. They continue to innovate and adjust their tactics, shifting distribution methods to ensure the malware reaches new victims and executes silently. This constant refinement demonstrates that Zanubis is not a transient threat but an ongoing, persistent menace, capable of further mutations to fulfill the financial goals of its developers.

As Zanubis continues to evolve and adapt, it is crucial for users and organizations alike to stay vigilant. The threat landscape is constantly changing, and this malware’s ability to evolve and target new victims makes it an ever-present risk that cannot be ignored.

Indicators of compromise

Zanubis 2025 version
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b33f1a3c8e245f4ffc269e22919d5f76
bcbfec6f1da388ca05ec3be2349f47c7
e9b0bae8a8724a78d57bec24796320c0
fa2b090426691e08b18917d3bbaf87ce

MIL OSI Economics –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Parliamentary Members from India

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call from a delegation of Indian Parliamentarians at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, SG Dr. Kao commended the Indian Parliament’s active engagement in promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue and ASEAN-India cooperation, particularly as an observer in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). He highlighted the significance of aligning legislative and executive efforts in advancing ASEAN’s regional priorities, and reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. They also exchanged views on transnational crime, including combating terrorism and violent extremism.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Parliamentary Members from India appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa highlights importance of US Working Visit

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has underscored the significance of his recent working visit to the United States, telling Parliament that the engagement was both necessary and timely, given the critical role the US continues to play in South Africa’s economic landscape.

“The United States continues to play such a big role in the life of our economy. It was necessary and important for us to go and engage with them, because many of our people’s jobs are dependent on our economic dealings with the United States,” President Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.

The President was responding to questions from Members of the National Assembly, with economic growth and the cost of living being among issues for deliberation.

Last week, the President concluded a successful working visit to the United States of America, supported by a delegation of Ministers, eminent South Africans, business and labour.

The visit was aimed at resetting and revitalising bilateral relations between South Africa and the US.

The President explained that the objective of the trip was to engage with the US government to discuss tariffs, investments, and other related matters. It was also to encourage the US President to attend the G20 Summit which South Africa will host and to promote investment by American companies in South Africa and South African companies in the US.

He reiterated that the primary goal of the working visit was to reset the relationship between the two countries, recognising the significant economic and political ties.

The delegation aimed to address the deteriorating relationship, which was a concern for many in South Africa, and to ensure mutual economic benefits.

“The issue of relations between South Africa and the United States was an issue that occupied many people’s minds in our country, and many had raised concerns about the deteriorating relationship between our two countries, having recognised the important role that both our countries play in each other’s economy, apart from various political relations, diplomatic relations, and we realised that the impact on our country’s economy would be adverse unless we were able to repair or reset the relationship between our two countries,” the President said.

The President highlighted the importance of the United States as a trading partner, with over 600 American companies invested in South Africa, and vice versa.

READ | SA and US have ‘everything to gain’ from closer relations

On the economic and sectoral impact, President Ramaphosa detailed that the sectors that would be affected by the relationship with the United States including the agriculture and automotive sector.

He added that the visit aimed to protect jobs and investments in these sectors by maintaining strong economic ties.

“A number of our jobs, some of the sectors that would be affected would be agriculture, the auto sector and steel and aluminium sector, and a number of other sectors that make machines, and the mining sector, where we sell critical minerals to the United States, would be adversely affected if the relations were not straightened out. So it was to this end that we were motivated to reset that relationship,” the President explained.

President Ramaphosa said the second objective was to set up a process of engagement between the United States and South Africa.

“There had hitherto been a process of disengaging, where we were no longer really engaging at government level to deal with issues that governments normally deal with on an ongoing basis. And we wanted to engage on tariffs, on investments and related matters,” the President said.

G20 and resetting relations

On the Group of Twenty (G20) the President said that the trip aimed to highlight the significance of the G20 process and to encourage US participation.

“The third objective was to discuss the G20 and to highlight the important role that a country like the United States, which is the largest economy in the world, plays in the activities of the G20 which we are so deeply immersed in and having the responsibility of leading and that it’s important for the United States to engage with the G20 process, and ultimately to entice the leader of the United States to come to the leaders’ summit at the end of the year,” the President said.

The President emphasised that despite public perceptions, the delegation had meaningful discussions with President Trump and his representatives, fostering ongoing engagement.

He added that the engagement process initiated after the trip has led to discussions on tariffs and investments, indicating a positive reset of relations.

The reset of relations is believed to have been achieved, with ongoing discussions expected to continue through the G20 process.
“We do believe that we achieved those objectives. The engagement with the American government has started soon after we left Washington…and there are discussions that are happening in relation to tariffs, in relation to investments, and we’ve believed that we have reset the relationship.

“Despite what we could have seen on television, we were able to have a much more meaningful discussion and meeting with President Trump and his representatives during the quiet room where we had lunch together and had meaningful exchanges on a number of issues. And we do believe that the engagement will continue through the G20 process,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Special Official Funeral Category 1 declared in honour of Ma Gertrude Shope

Source: South Africa News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late Ma Gertrude Shope, who served the nation as an educator, freedom fighter, trade unionist and Member of Parliament, will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 1 on Saturday, 31 May 2025.

Ma Shope passed away in her home in Gauteng last week Thursday at the age of 99.

President Ramaphosa reiterated his deep condolences to Ma Shope’s family and friends and her political home, the African National Congress.

“Ma Shope will be honoured with a funeral ceremony that will incorporate military honours. President Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at flag stations around the country from Wednesday to the evening of the funeral,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The Presidency said details of the funeral arrangements will be provided during the course of the week.

Ma Shope was a recipient of the Order for Meritorious Service (Silver), which recognises South Africans who have rendered exceptional public service.

Her sacrifice, service and revolutionary bravery played out in formations from the African National Congress, where she was elected President of the Women’s League in 1990 – to the Federation of South African Women, the World Federation of Trade Unions and the first Parliament of the democratic South Africa.

Due to her anti-apartheid activism, Shope was forced to live in exile for nearly 25 years with her husband Mark and her children in countries, including Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia and in the then Czechoslovakia.

She organised women and communities in the country as well as international organisations to oppose apartheid and alleviate the plight of oppressed communities while the struggle was underway.

She also had the distinction of being listed as a co-conspirator in the Rivonia Trial, alongside Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo, Ben Turok, Duma Nokwe, Joe Modise, Jack Hodgson and others. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Call for collective action to end teenage pregnancy

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has called for a collaborative effort to end the scourge of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, where approximately 30% of teenagers report having been pregnant at some point.

“While this number has decreased over the past few years, it is still unacceptably high. Teenage pregnancy is a serious public issue and social problem, with 95% occurring in developing countries,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

The department emphasised that teenage pregnancy is not a challenge that can be addressed by only one government department, but it requires a collective effort with all stakeholders playing their critical roles.

“There is a need for interventions in the health, education, and social development sectors to lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in South Africa. [These should focus on] intensifying health education, particularly sexual and reproductive health, which include the benefits of delaying sexual activity until readiness, consistent and correct contraception use like condoms, or birth control available freely in public health facilities,” the department said.

The department also acknowledged that several factors contribute to teenage pregnancy, including cultural traditions, socio-cultural dynamics, and religious influences.

The department added that low socio-economic status, restricted educational opportunities, and premature sexual activity can perpetuate the incidence of teenage pregnancy.

“Teenage pregnancy in SA is a real issue and has been increasing in all provinces each year [with] higher rates in rural provinces, such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape, [compared to] urban provinces, such as Gauteng and Western Cape.”

The department warned that teenage pregnancy often perpetuates a cycle of poverty, particularly in households where there are no family support structures to care for children, thereby hindering young mothers from continuing their education.

“Families and communities need to join hands with government authorities and play their role by creating a conducive environment for open and honest discussion about sex education, together with the dangers associated with teen pregnancy,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Chief Economists Outlook studio session trailer

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

With uncertainty continuing to shape global markets, understanding the path forward is more important than ever. We asked leading economists to share their views on what lies ahead—and how we can navigate this evolving landscape.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#WorldEconomicForum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAlZMDM6oWE

MIL OSI Video –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: The Briefing Room | Chief Economists Outlook May 2025

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

With uncertainty continuing to shape global markets, understanding the path forward is more important than ever. We spoke with leading economists—Jinny Yan of ICBC Standard, Guy Miller of Zurich Insurance and Sandra Phlippen of ABN AMRO Bank—who shared their insights on what to expect and how to navigate the changes to come.

The World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists Outlook May 2025 edition is out now: https://wef.ch/chiefeconmay25

#chiefeconomists25 #GlobalEconomy #Trade

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

#WorldEconomicForum

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

MIL OSI Video –

May 28, 2025

Category: Politics

South Sudan’s long history of cattle raiding

Masculine expectations

The trauma of war

Societal expectations of masculinity

‘Everything gets destroyed’

Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of hatching season

Forestry Commission Oak Processionary Moth Programme Manager Dr Edward Straw said:

Professor Nicola Spence, UK Chief Plant Health Officer, said:

How to identify Oak processionary moth caterpillars

Contact with Oak Processionary Moth

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Festival-forum of the Moscow cadet movement

Cadet education in Moscow

Patriotic education of youth

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

Yuri Trutnev held a meeting of the Far Eastern Federal District Council

Introduction

2022: From zero to threat

2023: Multi-feature upgrade

Shift to obfuscation

Deceptive tricks

Data harvesting

SMS hijacking

Fake updates

2024: Continuous development

Reinforced encryption

Device credential stealing

Expanding scope

2025: Latest campaign

New distribution tactics

Silent installation

Sharpening targets

Who’s behind?

Conclusions

Indicators of compromise