NewzIntel.com

Category: Sport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK concludes trade deal with India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK concludes trade deal with India

    Multi-billion-pound boost to UK economy with landmark India trade deal to make working people better off

    • Huge economic win for UK as trade deal with India agreed which will deliver for working people and British businesses 

    • Deal will slash Indian tariffs on key products such as whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines for UK exports to unleash opportunities for businesses across regions and nations of UK 

    • Delivers on Plan for Change as £4.8 billion added to UK economy and £2.2 billion in wages every year in the long run under deal 

    The UK and India have today agreed a landmark trade deal which delivers on this government’s core mission of growing the economy, raising living standards, and putting money in people’s pockets. 

    Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade. 

    Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75% before reducing to 40% by year ten of the deal, while automotive tariffs will go from over 100% to 10% under a quota. 

    Other goods with reduced tariffs, which can open markets and make trade cheaper for businesses and Indian consumers, include cosmetics, aerospace, lamb, medical devices, salmon, electrical machinery, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits.  

    British shoppers could see cheaper prices and more choice on products including clothes, footwear, and food products including frozen prawns as UK liberalises tariffs. 

    The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, UK GDP by £4.8 billion and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run. 

    UK businesses gain a competitive edge over international competitors when entering India’s enormous market as it gets even bigger, forecasted to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held final talks in London last week after relaunching negotiations only two months ago. Negotiators across both sides have worked around the clock since February to get this deal done, which is the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal the UK has done since leaving the EU, and the best deal India has ever agreed. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK’s economy, putting more money in working people’s pockets.  

    Through this government’s stable and pragmatic leadership, the UK has become an attractive place to do business. Today we have agreed a landmark deal with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which will grow the economy and deliver for British people and business.  

    Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our Plan for Change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home.   

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    This government’s number one mission is growing the economy as part of our Plan for Change so we can put more money in people’s pockets.  

    By striking a new trade deal with the fastest-growing economy in the world, we are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year and unlocking growth in every corner of the country, from advanced manufacturing in the North East to whisky distilleries in Scotland. 

    In times of global uncertainty, a pragmatic approach to global trade that provides businesses and consumers with stability is more important than ever.

    At least 1.9 million people with Indian heritage call the UK their home and striking this deal will strengthen the vital partnership between our two democracies. 

    The benefits for UK businesses and consumers under this deal are massive, with wins across an array of sectors.  

    Notes to editors 

    Benefits for businesses of all sizes 

    Barriers to trading will be dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on a whole host of products including whisky, medical devices, advanced machinery, and lamb, making UK exports more competitive. Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.  

    Exporting to this huge market will be easier than ever before thanks to India agreeing to release goods as quickly as possible after arrival at customs, work with the UK on one streamlined portal for trade and publish customs procedures and laws online in English. In addition, new digital commitments will support electronic contracts and transactions. These changes could particularly support small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier for them to enter the Indian market. 

    Delivering for high-growth sectors 

    High-growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy are supported through this deal, including: 

    • Tariffs cut on the UK’s large and varied advanced manufacturing sectors from aerospace and automotive, electrical circuits and conductors, and high-end optical products. 

    • The clean energy industry will have brand new, unprecedented access to India’s vast procurement market as the country makes the switch to renewable energy and continues to see growing energy demand. 

    • Reduced tariffs on medical devices that take the UK’s complex supply chains into consideration will unleash new opportunities for the UK life sciences sector. 

    • Enhanced copyright protections for the creative sector will give exporters confidence thanks to a commitment that their work will continue to be protected for at least 60 years. 

    • World-class UK services sectors – who export just over £500 billion worldwide will now benefit from market certainty when trading into the growing Indian market. 

    More choice and protections for consumers 

    As bilateral trade grows under this deal, the UK will benefit from the best India has to offer with British shoppers enjoying access to a greater variety of clothes and shoes.  New commitments will also help protect consumers from spam texts from India, which could include requiring opt-out or prior consent. 

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, welcomed the “transformational” deal: 

    The UK-India free trade agreement is a once in a generation deal and a landmark moment for Scotch Whisky exports to the world’s largest whisky market. It shows that the UK government is making significant progress towards achieving its growth mission, and the Scotch Whisky industry looks forward to working with the UK and Indian governments in the months ahead to implement the deal, which would be a big boost to two major global economies during turbulent times. 

    The reduction of the current 150% tariff on Scotch Whisky will be transformational for the industry, and has the potential to increase Scotch Whisky exports to India by £1bn over the next 5 years, creating 1,200 jobs across the UK. It will also give discerning consumers in India far greater choice of brands, as more SME Scotch Whisky producers have the opportunity to enter the market.” 

    Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said:  

    India continues to be incredibly important to the Premier League and its clubs. It is a vibrant country that presents exciting opportunities and significant potential. The Premier League’s recent announcement of an office opening in Mumbai demonstrates our commitment to build on longstanding work to engage local fans, develop grassroots and elite football and further promote the game in India. 

    The continued growth of the Premier League and UK businesses in India will have a positive impact on our domestic economy and we welcome the news of this new trade deal secured by Government, which will support UK businesses operating in India.” 

    Bill Winters CBE, Group CEO of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said:

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is a significant achievement. It will create new opportunities for UK and Indian businesses, enable greater access to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, and drive growth and innovation across the UK-India corridor. We welcome this strong commitment to partnership and prosperity.   

    Markus Kessler, Managing Director, UPS UK, Ireland and Nordics said: 

    We welcome the announcement of this important agreement between two countries that are both vital markets in our global network. We look forward to continuing to help businesses of all sizes across the UK reach new customers in one of the world’s most populous and dynamic countries.

    Richard Heald, OBE, UK-India Business Council Chair said: 

    The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) welcomes the agreement of the new Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and India. This marks a significant milestone in the deepening of economic and strategic ties between our two nations.  

    It matters when the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world reach a trade agreement. Such an agreement is illustrative of the positive momentum in the UK-India relationship, the commitment and ambition of both Governments, and the opportunities for greater trade, investment and collaboration between our countries.

    Notes to editors 

    • We have championed our values – securing India’s first ever chapters on anti-corruption, consumer protections, labour rights, gender, and development. We have protected the NHS, ensured the points-based immigration system is not affected, upheld our high food standards, and maintained our animal welfare commitments throughout. 

    Data sources for this release include: 

    • FTA economic impacts: DBT Technical Note: The preliminary economic impacts of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement 

    • India forecast to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India is the fastest growing economy in the world: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India and the UK are the fifth and sixth largest economies: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025 

    • 1.9 million people with Indian heritage live in the UK: ONS 2021 Census

    • UK services exports are worth over £500 billion: ONS UK trade February 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Independent Football Regulator Chair pre-appointment hearing: Culture, Media & Sport Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is holding a pre-appointment hearing with David Kogan, the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of the new Independent Football Regulator.

    The session will give MPs the chance to test whether Mr Kogan has the required skills, independence and experience in regulation to carry out the role, which will be established when the Football Governance Bill completes its passage through Parliament.

    He is likely to be asked about his motivations for wanting the job and his approach and priorities for the Independent Football Regulator should he be appointed. There could also be wider questions about what he sees as the main current and emerging challenges facing English football.

    Mr Kogan, who has held several senior positions in the media and sports industries, was announced as the preferred candidate by the Government two weeks ago.

    Following the session, the Committee will publish a short report on the candidate’s suitability for the Government to consider.

    #Football #PremierLeague #FootballRegulator #FootballLeague

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc0LcPzBy7w

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK signs trade deal with India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK signs trade deal with India

    Multi-billion-pound boost to UK economy with landmark India trade deal to make working people better off

    • Huge economic win for UK as trade deal with India agreed which will deliver for working people and British businesses 

    • Deal will slash Indian tariffs on key products such as whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines for UK exports to unleash opportunities for businesses across regions and nations of UK 

    • Delivers on Plan for Change as £4.8 billion added to UK economy and £2.2 billion in wages every year in the long run under deal 

    The UK and India have today agreed a landmark trade deal which delivers on this government’s core mission of growing the economy, raising living standards, and putting money in people’s pockets. 

    Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade. 

    Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75% before reducing to 40% by year ten of the deal, while automotive tariffs will go from over 100% to 10% under a quota. 

    Other goods with reduced tariffs, which can open markets and make trade cheaper for businesses and Indian consumers, include cosmetics, aerospace, lamb, medical devices, salmon, electrical machinery, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits.  

    British shoppers could see cheaper prices and more choice on products including clothes, footwear, and food products including frozen prawns as UK liberalises tariffs. 

    The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, UK GDP by £4.8 billion and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run. 

    UK businesses gain a competitive edge over international competitors when entering India’s enormous market as it gets even bigger, forecasted to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held final talks in London last week after relaunching negotiations only two months ago. Negotiators across both sides have worked around the clock since February to get this deal done, which is the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal the UK has done since leaving the EU, and the best deal India has ever agreed. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK’s economy, putting more money in working people’s pockets.  

    Through this government’s stable and pragmatic leadership, the UK has become an attractive place to do business. Today we have agreed a landmark deal with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which will grow the economy and deliver for British people and business.  

    Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our Plan for Change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home.   

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    This government’s number one mission is growing the economy as part of our Plan for Change so we can put more money in people’s pockets.  

    By striking a new trade deal with the fastest-growing economy in the world, we are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year and unlocking growth in every corner of the country, from advanced manufacturing in the North East to whisky distilleries in Scotland. 

    In times of global uncertainty, a pragmatic approach to global trade that provides businesses and consumers with stability is more important than ever.

    At least 1.9 million people with Indian heritage call the UK their home and striking this deal will strengthen the vital partnership between our two democracies. 

    The benefits for UK businesses and consumers under this deal are massive, with wins across an array of sectors.  

    Notes to editors 

    Benefits for businesses of all sizes 

    Barriers to trading will be dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on a whole host of products including whisky, medical devices, advanced machinery, and lamb, making UK exports more competitive. Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.  

    Exporting to this huge market will be easier than ever before thanks to India agreeing to release goods as quickly as possible after arrival at customs, work with the UK on one streamlined portal for trade and publish customs procedures and laws online in English. In addition, new digital commitments will support electronic contracts and transactions. These changes could particularly support small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier for them to enter the Indian market. 

    Delivering for high-growth sectors 

    High-growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy are supported through this deal, including: 

    • Tariffs cut on the UK’s large and varied advanced manufacturing sectors from aerospace and automotive, electrical circuits and conductors, and high-end optical products. 

    • The clean energy industry will have brand new, unprecedented access to India’s vast procurement market as the country makes the switch to renewable energy and continues to see growing energy demand. 

    • Reduced tariffs on medical devices that take the UK’s complex supply chains into consideration will unleash new opportunities for the UK life sciences sector. 

    • Enhanced copyright protections for the creative sector will give exporters confidence thanks to a commitment that their work will continue to be protected for at least 60 years. 

    • World-class UK services sectors – who export just over £500 billion worldwide will now benefit from market certainty when trading into the growing Indian market. 

    More choice and protections for consumers 

    As bilateral trade grows under this deal, the UK will benefit from the best India has to offer with British shoppers enjoying access to a greater variety of clothes and shoes.  New commitments will also help protect consumers from spam texts from India, which could include requiring opt-out or prior consent. 

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, welcomed the “transformational” deal: 

    The UK-India free trade agreement is a once in a generation deal and a landmark moment for Scotch Whisky exports to the world’s largest whisky market. It shows that the UK government is making significant progress towards achieving its growth mission, and the Scotch Whisky industry looks forward to working with the UK and Indian governments in the months ahead to implement the deal, which would be a big boost to two major global economies during turbulent times. 

    The reduction of the current 150% tariff on Scotch Whisky will be transformational for the industry, and has the potential to increase Scotch Whisky exports to India by £1bn over the next 5 years, creating 1,200 jobs across the UK. It will also give discerning consumers in India far greater choice of brands, as more SME Scotch Whisky producers have the opportunity to enter the market.” 

    Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said:  

    India continues to be incredibly important to the Premier League and its clubs. It is a vibrant country that presents exciting opportunities and significant potential. The Premier League’s recent announcement of an office opening in Mumbai demonstrates our commitment to build on longstanding work to engage local fans, develop grassroots and elite football and further promote the game in India. 

    The continued growth of the Premier League and UK businesses in India will have a positive impact on our domestic economy and we welcome the news of this new trade deal secured by Government, which will support UK businesses operating in India.” 

    Bill Winters CBE, Group CEO of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said:

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is a significant achievement. It will create new opportunities for UK and Indian businesses, enable greater access to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, and drive growth and innovation across the UK-India corridor. We welcome this strong commitment to partnership and prosperity.   

    Markus Kessler, Managing Director, UPS UK, Ireland and Nordics said: 

    We welcome the announcement of this important agreement between two countries that are both vital markets in our global network. We look forward to continuing to help businesses of all sizes across the UK reach new customers in one of the world’s most populous and dynamic countries.

    Richard Heald, OBE, UK-India Business Council Chair said: 

    The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) welcomes the agreement of the new Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and India. This marks a significant milestone in the deepening of economic and strategic ties between our two nations.  

    It matters when the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world reach a trade agreement. Such an agreement is illustrative of the positive momentum in the UK-India relationship, the commitment and ambition of both Governments, and the opportunities for greater trade, investment and collaboration between our countries.

    Notes to editors 

    • We have championed our values – securing India’s first ever chapters on anti-corruption, consumer protections, labour rights, gender, and development. We have protected the NHS, ensured the points-based immigration system is not affected, upheld our high food standards, and maintained our animal welfare commitments throughout. 

    Data sources for this release include: 

    • FTA economic impacts: [DBT Technical Note(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-india-free-trade-agreement-technical-note)]: The preliminary economic impacts of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement 

    • India forecast to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India is the fastest growing economy in the world: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India and the UK are the fifth and sixth largest economies: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025 

    • 1.9 million people with Indian heritage live in the UK: ONS 2021 Census

    • UK services exports are worth over £500 billion: ONS UK trade February 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: APO Group Founder and Chairman Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard Invited to Attend the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Congress and Sports Media Awards

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

    RABAT, Morocco, May 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is pleased to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, will attend the 2025 AIPS (International Sports Press Association) Congress and Sports Media Awards, set to take place from 13 to 17 May in Morocco.  

    The AIPS Congress is a gathering of esteemed sports journalists and industry leaders from around the world, providing a platform for meaningful discussions on the future of sports journalism. The event will return to Morocco for the second time in 2025, with Marrakech having been the host venue in 2005. Nearly 300 attendees are expected, including leading sports journalists and media stakeholders. They will explore emerging trends such as event coverage, ethical reporting, and the growing role of technology in sports journalism.  

    APO Group has established itself as a key player in Africa’s sports media industry, reflecting an ongoing commitment to showcasing African sporting excellence. Pompigne-Mognard has led several high-profile efforts to amplify African sporting narratives globally, and his presence at the 2025 AIPS Congress underscores his continued dedication to elevating sports journalism and promoting the potential of African sport on the world stage. 

    Expanding on APO Group’s commitment to sports journalism, Pompigne-Mognard said, “I am delighted to once again be part of such a significant gathering of sports media professionals. Sport is a powerful driver of unity and economic growth. At APO Group, we are passionate about the potential that it holds for positioning Africa as an attractive investment destination. AIPS provides an important platform to share ideas and strengthen professional standards, and I look forward to engaging in conversations that shape the industry’s future.” 

    Building on these sentiments and further underscoring its dedication to advancing the sector, APO Group partners with major sports organisations across Africa. This includes serving as the pan-African public relations agency for the NBA and the Basketball Africa League and as a strategic partner of the Olympic Movement in Africa (ANOCA). APO Group was also the PR agency of FIFA in Africa for three consecutive years and has supported iconic sporting-related organisations and initiatives like Olympique de Marseille’s OM Africa programme, NTT Pro Cycling, the Lux Afrique Polo Day, and the Beast Foundation. 

    Named among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine in both 2023 and 2024, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard is widely recognised for his strategic understanding of Africa’s media landscape. He is trusted by global and regional organisations for his expertise, authenticity, and passion for African storytelling. He also serves as a Special Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa and is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Football Summit. 

    Through its presence at the 2025 AIPS Congress and Sports Media Awards, APO Group looks forward to positively influencing sports journalism on the African continent. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: BigCommerce Taps Klarna as Global Preferred Partner for Flexible Payment Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading provider of open, composable commerce solutions for B2C and B2B brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors, today announced that Klarna, the AI-powered payments and commerce network, has become a global preferred payments partner. As a global preferred partner, Klarna will bring its flexible, interest-free payment options to merchants worldwide, enhancing the shopping experience and driving growth with one single integration.

    Klarna offers a wide range of payment options, including Pay in Full, a hassle-free transaction for those who want to pay the full amount of their order upfront, Pay in 4, which allows customers to split their purchase into four interest-free payments, as well as Fair Financing, which offers flexible payment plans for larger purchases. The partnership furthers BigCommerce and Klarna’s mutual mission to help brands and retailers optimize their checkouts and conversion rates by offering payment flexibility and making large purchases more accessible to consumers.

    “BigCommerce is committed to empowering merchants with the flexibility and tools they need to grow on their own terms,” said Michaela Weber, senior vice president of strategic business development and general manager of payments at BigCommerce. “Klarna’s extensive global reach, trusted brand and shopper-first approach make them an ideal partner for our merchants. Together, we are expanding access to flexible payment solutions that drive conversion and customer loyalty across international markets.”

    “Today’s consumers expect greater flexibility and convenience in how they pay,” said David Sykes, chief commercial officer at Klarna. “Our partnership with BigCommerce enables brands and retailers to streamline their operations through a single global solution, eliminating the need for fragmented regional providers and delivering a smooth, scalable experience for businesses and their customers alike.”

    Klarna is natively integrated to BigCommerce and can be easily enabled for the brands, retailers, manufacturers, distributors and other merchants that choose to use it. As a native integration, it is also maintained by BigCommerce’s development team, making it a great option for merchants that need checkout customizations and flexibility.

    “Implementing Klarna with our BigCommerce store has been a big asset to our strategy to provide a market-leading purchasing experience,” said Jon Cleaver, CTO at SportsShoes.com, a leading UK-based online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer. “Our customers appreciate the flexibility it gives them, and it in turn has helped maintain SportsShoes.com’s position as an unrivalled retailer in the running, fitness and outdoor communities.”

    To learn more about Klarna’s integration with BigCommerce, click here.

    About BigCommerce
    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    About Klarna

    Klarna is on a mission to be available everywhere for everything. With over 93 million global active Klarna users and 2.9 million transactions per day, Klarna’s AI-powered payments and commerce network is empowering people to pay smarter — online, in-store and through Apple Pay in the U.S., UK and Canada. More than 675,000 retailers trust Klarna’s innovative solutions to drive growth and loyalty, including Uber, H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macy’s, Ikea, Expedia Group, Nike and Airbnb. For more information, visit Klarna.com.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:
    Brad Hem
    pr@bigcommerce.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How did sport become so popular? The ancient history of a modern obsession

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia

    Roman mosaics discovered in Sicily show women playing different sports. David Pineda Svenske/Shutterstock

    It’s almost impossible to go a day without seeing or hearing about sport.

    Walk around any city or town and you will almost always catch a glimpse of people playing sports in teams or participating solo.

    Turn on the TV or radio and you’ll be able to find some kind of sport being played at international or national level.

    Why do people love sport so much?

    To answer this question, it’s worth a dive back into ancient history.

    An ancient person’s perspective

    One of the most famous figures from the ancient world, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), once wrote that when he was a boy he was obsessed with playing sports:

    I liked to play ball as a boy and my playing slowed my progress in learning to read and write.

    The earliest portrait of Saint Augustine in a 6th century fresco, Lateran, Rome.
    Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    In fact, Saint Augustine was so preoccupied with playing ball that his teacher was said to sometimes beat him for it. His teacher said it was bad to waste one’s youth on such things – it’s better to study hard.

    Why was Saint Augustine obsessed with ball games? He loved to win:

    I loved to play games […] in these games I was overmastered by my vain desire to excel, so I used to strive to win, even by cheating.

    Plenty of people today probably share Saint Augustine’s view that winning is one of the things that make sport enjoyable.

    Of course, there are many other reasons why people might like to play sport.

    What sports did they play?

    If you walked down a city street in ancient Greek and Roman times, it’s likely you’d come across children or even adults playing a ball game.

    Handball games played in ancient Greece.
    Gardiner, E. Norman/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    The Roman playwright Plautus (3rd/2nd century BC) even has one of his characters complain about people “who play ball in the street”.

    Ball games were probably the most popular sporting activity in the ancient world and could be played in many different ways.

    In one ball game, called episkyros, two teams competed against each other. If one team got the ball over the line behind the other team, they scored. Feet and hands could be used and tackles were permitted.

    Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

    Of course, many other sports were also popular: athletics, swimming, wrestling, lifting weights and boxing were all favourites.

    Ancient ideas about the origins of sports

    For the ancient Greeks, the earliest mention of a ball game appears in the Odyssey, an epic poem composed by the poet Homer in probably the eighth or seventh century BC.

    In the Odyssey, Nausicaa, daughter of the King of the Phaeacians, plays a ball game with some other girls on the beach. While they throw the ball, they sing songs:

    Then when they had had their joy of food, she and her handmaids, they threw off their headgear and fell to playing at ball, and white-armed Nausicaa was leader in the song.

    During the game, Nausicaa throws the ball too far. Her maid can’t catch it and the ball flies into the sea. All the girls shout out when it goes flying.

    Already in the 3rd century BC, Nausicaa was sometimes regarded as the inventor of ball games. However, other people attributed the invention of ball games to different regions of Greece, saying the games were invented by the Sicyonians or Spartans.

    But it is unlikely any Greeks were the original inventors of ball games.

    In Egypt, thousands of years before Homer’s epics, there are already artistic depictions of ball games.

    For example, in the tomb of the Nomarch of the 11th Dynasty (c. 2150-2000 BC), Baqet III, there is artwork showing women playing ball games and men wrestling each other.

    Ancient ball games.
    J. Murray/Picryl, CC BY

    Baqet III, whose tomb contained these artistic depictions of various sports, was likely a true sports lover.

    Why did people like sports?

    People liked ball games for many different reasons.

    One was for the sheer fun and excitement. Another was because they were considered a healthy type of exercise.

    Ancient Greek and Roman doctors even told their patients to play ball games to become healthier.

    For example, the famous ancient Greek physician Galen (129-216 AD) wrote an essay titled On Exercise with a Small Ball.

    He argued “exercises with a small ball are superior to other kinds of exercises”.

    He claimed ball games were especially healthy because they moved all of the muscles and because teamwork was good for the soul.

    People in the ancient world also thought just watching sport could be something worth doing.

    The writer Lucian of Samosata (born 120 AD), for instance, said watching athletes competing for glory could help to encourage men to achieve similar feats: “many of the spectators go away in love with manfulness and hard work”, wrote Lucian.

    So it seems there’s nothing new about our modern love of playing and watching sports, and this obsession will probably continue for thousands of years into the future.

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

    – ref. How did sport become so popular? The ancient history of a modern obsession – https://theconversation.com/how-did-sport-become-so-popular-the-ancient-history-of-a-modern-obsession-254057

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Encounter Festival Secures Major Arts Council Funding

    Source: City of Preston

    06 May 2025

    Preston’s flagship cultural celebration, Encounter Festival, is set to return on Saturday, 20 September 2025 following confirmation of significant funding of £90,000 from Arts Council England (ACE).

    This support marks a major milestone for the festival’s tenth edition and will enable an ambitious one day programme packed with nationally renowned performances, new artist commissions and deepened community engagement across the city centre.

    Arts Council England’s backing will help develop Encounter Festival’s artistic vision while investing in local talent and placing Preston firmly on the cultural map.

    The funding will also support a series of artist development opportunities and community workshops in the run-up to the festival, ensuring meaningful involvement from local residents and creatives.

    Esther Ferry Kennington, Executive Producer of Encounter Festival said:

    “I’m so pleased to see Encounter Festival continue to be delivered annually and this year we celebrate 10 years since the first event. The world has changed a lot in those 10 years, as has our approach, but we’re as excited as ever to deliver our iconic torchlight procession and this year we’ll be developing the festival village on the Flag Market with great shows and music, food and drink”

    The funding will enable the 2025 festival host a standout curated programme, including:

    • Inspirate’s Ancient Giants, bringing large-scale storytelling to the streets.
    • Local favourites Magical Story Jars and Let’s Grow Preston, offering family-friendly creative activities.
    • A brand-new piece from Raggle Taggle Arts titled Rhythm of the Vardo, combining music, storytelling and performance.

    The ACE funding will also enable an ambitious expansion of the Torchlight Procession, the festival’s iconic finale that lights up the city centre with movement, music and fire.

    This year’s procession will feature new commissions from Preston artists, creating original firelight-inspired processional works to lead the parade.

    A central highlight will be a giant puppet of Arthur Wharton, the world’s first Black professional footballer and former Preston North End player, developed in partnership with Preston North End FC.

    The procession will also showcase the ongoing involvement of local community groups, dance troupes, bands and organisations, creating a lively, moving experience. With investment from ACE, the festival will also develop a ‘Festival Village’ across the Harris Quarter, creating a central hub where visitors can gather, explore performances, enjoy local food and drink, and take part in workshops.

    This new format is designed to encourage audiences to stay in the city throughout the day and into the evening, boosting footfall for local businesses and hospitality.

    Encounter Festival 2025 marks ten years since the original pilot, and this new investment is an endorsement of its role in Preston’s cultural calendar.

    The event continues to champion the voices, talent and energy of the North West, while inviting nationally and internationally recognised performers to connect with local audiences.

    Further programming announcements will follow in the coming months. To stay informed, please visit the Encounter Festival website or follow on social media.

    About Encounter Festival

    Encounter Festival is an authentic voice for Preston, celebrating the breadth of the County’s cultural offer with high quality and high profile arts. Taking place on Saturday, 20 September, Encounter Festival sees the city of Preston buzzing with life and alight with creativity.

    The past Encounters have seen an array of spectacular performances, inspiring arts and impressive music, bringing spectators to their feet.

    About Arts Council England 

    Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture.

    We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences.

    We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning application submitted for new Heath Town homes on former pub site

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Construction partner Keon Homes has put forward proposals, on behalf of City of Wolverhampton Council, for 32, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments on vacant land where the Duke of York pub once stood.

    The development, facing Wednesfield Road, Tremont Street and Inkerman Street, would include wheelchair accessible ground floor homes.

    The proposals form part of a second phase of Heath Town regeneration that is aiming to deliver up to 120 new council homes across 5 sites – and works could start in winter 2025/26.

    The first phase saw 40 new council houses built on Hobgate Road and 1 site on Tithe Croft, off Chervil Rise.

    This came on the back of an extensive demolition programme of vacant buildings, while existing residential blocks are undergoing major improvements by Wolverhampton Homes, and 3 new play areas and a football pitch have been created.

    Through a Local Lettings Plan developed with the Heath Town Tenants and Residents Association, the majority of the first phase homes have been allocated to existing council tenants, including those with a local connection to Heath Town.

    City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “One of our key priorities is to increase the number of good homes in well connected neighbourhoods across the city.

    “The regeneration of Heath Town is helping achieve that and it is heartening to see how it is changing the lives of families for the better.

    “This planning application is part of the next phase of our transformation of the estate, which is being built on the strong sense of community at Heath Town, where we have delivered improvements and new homes the residents can be proud of.”

    Other works completed as part of the redevelopment include the demolition of walkways and garages in the Hobgate Road area of the estate and the refurbishment of the ground and lower ground floors of Ling House to provide new office, meeting and activity space for Hope Family Centre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements summarises visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (May 6) announced that the overall number of visitors to Hong Kong reached around 1.1 million following the conclusion of the five-day Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (May 1 to 5) yesterday (May 5), representing an increase of 22 per cent over the same period last year. All aspects of receiving visitors operated smoothly.

         Mr Chan said, “During this year’s Labour Day Golden Week, a variety of festive events were organised across Hong Kong. Apart from the festival-themed drone show over Victoria Harbour on May 1, there were also the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at the Po Lin Monastery, the Buddha’s Birthday Carnival at Victoria Park, and a series of activities in Shau Kei Wan in celebration of the Tam Kung Festival, among others. These distinctive cultural experiences were well received, fostering a vibrant atmosphere and showcasing Hong Kong’s unique cultural charms, enabling both visitors and the general public to immerse themselves in Hong Kong’s authentic culture.”

    Visitor flow, situation of control points, and traffic and public transport arrangements 

         During the Labour Day Golden Week, the Immigration Department recorded a total of around 1.1 million inbound visitors to Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points. Among them, Mainland visitors accounted for about 920 000, representing a year-on-year increase of about 20 per cent and around 84 per cent of the total arrivals; and the number of non-Mainland visitors was around 180 000, representing a year-on-year increase of about 31 per cent.

         The arrival of Mainland visitors peaked on May 2 with around 270 000 Mainland visitors arriving in Hong Kong. During the Golden Week, the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The overall operation of the control points and transport services ran smoothly.

         Throughout the Labour Day Golden Week, the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operated 24 hours a day to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services in all districts, boundary control points, major stations and tourist spots across Hong Kong, and took prompt measures to address service demands.

         For cross-boundary traffic, the TD steered public transport operators to enhance their service capacity with a view to meeting the cross-boundary passenger demand. Regarding local public transport services, the TD co-ordinated with various public transport operators proactively to enhance their capacity, reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors, and deploy additional staff to maintain passenger order. The overall traffic conditions were mostly smooth during the festive period.

    Mega events

         The drone shows held at the Wan Chai Harbourfront and Gold Coast attracted a large number of locals and tourists. The raceday on May 4 and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival held yesterday also attracted numerous visitors to experience the unique atmosphere of horse racing tourism and the traditional festival of Hong Kong.

    Major tourist attractions, inbound tour groups and hotel occupancy rate

        Visitors to Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week were spread across different tourist attractions in the city. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 per cent in general. High visitor flow and good order were observed at major tourist attractions including theme parks, the Peak, Ngong Ping, temples, etc. Visitors were also found at outlying islands and hiking trails. Local areas like Old Town Central, Yau Ma Tei and Kennedy Town emerged as popular urban walking routes.

         In terms of Mainland inbound tour groups, over 900 Mainland inbound tour groups brought nearly 33 000 visitors to Hong Kong during the Golden Week, with around 70 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. The number of tour groups significantly exceeded the record of the same period last year by 60% and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. 

         “During the Labour Day Golden Week, the city was vibrant and bustling, with many people in the retail and catering sector indicating that they saw growth in their businesses compared to last year. The smooth operation of various hospitality arrangements was attributable to the collaboration of relevant government departments, organisations and industries in making comprehensive preparations and responses, as well as the co-operation of the public and tourists. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will follow up with relevant departments and the trade to review the experiences from the Labour Day Golden Week and optimise various aspects. These include enhancing the telecommunication network capacity at high-traffic points, strengthening information dissemination and improving amenities for tourists under the new travel patterns, so as to continue to provide quality travel experiences for tourists visiting Hong Kong in the future,” said Mr Chan.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD launches first Hong Kong ICH Month in June (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹In the 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed organising Hong Kong ICH Month to promote the safeguarding and passing on of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). In support of the annual Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on the second Saturday of June designated by the country, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch the first Hong Kong ICH Month in June with the theme of ICH Around Town, presenting a series of rich and diversified activities involving over 80 ICH performances, 60 interactive experiential booths and 20 ICH Highlight Tours to give the public and tourists greater insight into the ICH of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and enable them to experience the cultural richness of ICH and the pleasure it brings.

         â€‹Activities throughout the month will cover over 100 ICH items and bring together over 50 ICH practitioners, including representative bearers of national ICH. This annual ICH month is expected to attract over 100 000 participants.
     
         â€‹Among the fascinating activities to be held during Hong Kong ICH Month 2025, the free ICH Highlight Tours will bring the public and tourists to six selected districts, namely Yau Tsim Mong, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sha Tin, Eastern and the Islands, and explore special ICH of the communities. Registration will open on May 16 and details will be announced later. Information maps and guides of the ICH Highlight Tours as well as videos will be rolled out at the end of May to help the public and tourists learn more about the relevant ICH items in these districts.

         â€‹Carnivals or fun days will be held in various districts across Hong Kong on several weekends and Sundays in June, which will be suitable for all ages. Under the theme of ICH festive events across Hong Kong, the Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 Opening Ceremony cum ICH Carnival to be held on May 31 and June 1 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, and will have performances including Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau in Sai Kung, floating colours parade in Cheung Chau, Engor, Cantonese opera excerpts and dragon/lion dance. There will also be interactive booths showcasing Yip Man Wing Chun; rowing of dragon boat on land, which is a part of Hoi Luk Fung/Hoklo traditional wedding ceremonies (dragon boat dance); and unicorn dance, etc.
     
         â€‹The ICH Infinity∞ Fun Day at the Hong Kong ICH Centre in Sam Tung Uk Museum in Tsuen Wan, scheduled for June 14 and 15, will present an ICH fashion show and Nanyin performances with a fusion of tradition and innovation. Interactive booths featuring blown sugar and face threading techniques will also be available.
     
         â€‹The Vibrant ICH will be held at the New Town Plaza and Sha Tin Town Hall on June 22. Under the theme of “ICH Encounter: Hong Kong X Jiangxi”, in addition to performances and booths featuring Hong Kong ICH items including the Pok Fu Lam fire dragon dance, puppetry and the Chinese brush making technique, there will also be performances of the representative items of the national ICH such as Gannan traditional tea plucking opera and Xingguo mountain song.

         â€‹The ICH Flavours Carnival to be held at Oil Street Art Space on June 28 and 29 will feature the food culture of ICH. Participants can experience the making techniques of Jiangxi Gannan Hakka pounded tea, shrimp paste blocks and shrimp paste, sweet potato cake and rice dumpling with lye at the workshops and booths.
     
         â€‹Another highlight is the “Genesis and Spirit – Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition on Jiangxi’s Ganzhou Hakka Culture” (tentative title) at the Hong Kong Central Library, which runs from June 14 to July 1. The exhibition will introduce representative Hakka-related ICH items of Ganzhou in Jiangxi, together with around 40 other representative ICH items from the province. During the exhibition period, there will be over 40 performances, demonstrations, interactive experiential activities, talks, etc.
     
         â€‹The LCSD will collaborate with the cultural promotion organisation ICH June to hold a seminar on the theme of “Safeguarding and Developing ICH at the Same Time” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on June 14. Scholars and ICH bearers from the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) will be invited to participate and explore the transmission and development of ICH in the GBA from an academic perspective. A “public unconference” will also take place on the same day to engage secondary school students, tertiary students, youth culture groups, and members of the public in discussions on ICH-related issues.
     
         â€‹Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the ICHO of the LCSD, with ICH June as a strategic partner. For details, please visit the website www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.html.
     
         â€‹For programme details of strategic and other partners, please visit the following websites and social media:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and “Veterans of Russia” laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the State University of Management took part in a ceremonial laying of wreaths and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden.

    The event, organized by the All-Russian public movement “Veterans of Russia”, brought together more than 200 participants, including Acting Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov, Chairman of the Moscow City Organization of the All-Russian Public Organization “Union of Paratroopers” Andrey Peshkov, students and teachers of the State University of Management, veterans, volunteers, representatives of public organizations and sports associations of Moscow, employees of the Department of Labor and Social Protection, the Moscow Sports Committee, the Department of Health of the capital and many others.

    The event was given a special solemnity by the participation of the Honor Guard Company, which accompanied the laying of two wreaths – from the State University of Management and “Veterans of Russia”.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/06/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Esports Chess: Online Battles, Dynamic Formats, and Hundreds of Thousands of Moves

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Online battles, dynamic formats, streams and hundreds of thousands of moves – this is how the INTER series of eSports chess tournaments, organized by students of the Polytechnic University, took place.

    The tournaments were organized by the INTER team. This project was founded at the Polytechnic University, but has already gone far beyond its borders and become part of the international student chess arena.

    From February to April, several large-scale online competitions in different formats were held under the auspices of INTER. These were the standard Interuniversity Team Battles game and the Hunger Games, where participants played new types of chess at each stage.

    More than a thousand people from 18 countries participated in the tournaments. Representatives from Russia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Fiji, Mexico, Peru, Kenya, Brazil, India, Algeria, the Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan, Ghana, the Republic of South Africa, Turkmenistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Argentina fought for victory. The total number of moves made exceeded half a million. This was not just a game, but a real test of endurance, strategic thinking and psychological fortitude.

    Participants trained weekly, followed game analysis, learned from professionals, and found out what was happening in the world of chess and what helps them win.

    The winners and prize winners of the series were:

    8th Interuniversity Team Battle

    1st place – MTUCI chess club; 2nd place – Voenmekh chess club; 3rd place – TUSUR chess club.

    9th Interuniversity Team Battle

    1st place — VolSU Chess Club (SSC “Kogorta”); 2nd place — Voenmekh Chess Club; 3rd place — Polytechnic Chess Club (SPbPU).

    10th Interuniversity Team Battle

    1st place — VolSU Chess Club (SSC “Kogorta”); 2nd place — MTUCI Chess Club; 3rd place — BSU Chess Club.

    The INTER project is an example of how friendship and rivalry do not need borders. All that is needed are people who believe in the game and in each other, noted organizer Ruslan Barseghyan.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Good atmostphere in Golden week

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    (To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

    Chief Executive John Lee said that the number of visitors coming to Hong Kong has gone up drastically during the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week, creating a very good atmosphere for Hong Kong and bringing huge economic benefits.

    Ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mr Lee pointed out that he has asked the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau and related departments to sum up their experiences in this Golden Week and work with relevant industries to heighten the good feelings of travellers. 

    “I think we should really gather information about the new travelling patterns of visitors, particularly those from the Mainland, because they represent a big chunk of our tourists, to know about their new travelling patterns, their new needs and new routes, so that we can take good care of them.”

    He highlighted that Hong Kong has to be a city that welcomes all tourists, regardless of whether they are high-end or non-high-end travellers.

    “Anything which we do to make any sector of tourists feel that they are not being welcomed, that will be harmful to the overall image of Hong Kong as a tourist city.

    “There will be high-end travellers and there will also be non-high-end travellers, but we must look at tourism as a whole so that every tourist will find the experience in Hong Kong is an enjoyable one, is a welcome one.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Zelensky – not Trump – may have ‘won’ the US-Ukraine minerals deal

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Eve Warburton, Research Fellow, Department of Political and Social Change, and Director, Indonesia Institute, Australian National University

    Last week, the Trump administration signed a deal with Ukraine that gives it privileged access to Ukraine’s natural resources.

    Some news outlets described the deal as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “caving” to US President Donald Trump’s demands.

    But we see the agreement as the result of clever bargaining on the part of Ukraine’s war-time president.

    So, what does the deal mean for Ukraine? And will this be help strengthen America’s mineral supply chains?

    Ukraine’s natural resource wealth

    Ukraine is home to 5% of the world’s critical mineral wealth, including 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as vital for defence, construction and high-tech manufacturing.

    However, there’s a big difference between resources (what’s in the ground) and reserves (what can be commercially exploited). Ukraine’s proven mineral reserves are limited.

    Further, Ukraine has an estimated mineral wealth of around US$14.8 trillion (A$23 trillion), but more than half of this is in territories currently occupied by Russia.

    What does the new deal mean for Ukraine?

    American support for overseas conflict is usually about securing US economic interests — often in the form of resource exploitation. From the Middle East to Asia, US interventions abroad have enabled access for American firms to other countries’ oil, gas and minerals.

    But the first iteration of the Ukraine mineral deal, which Zelensky rejected in February, had been an especially brazen resource grab by Trump’s government. It required Ukraine to cede sovereignty over its land and resources to one country (the US), in order to defend itself from attacks by another (Russia).

    These terms were highly exploitative of a country fighting against a years-long military occupation. In addition, they violated Ukraine’s constitution, which puts the ownership of Ukraine’s natural resources in the hands of the Ukrainian people. Were Zelensky to accept this, he would have faced a tremendous backlash from the public.

    In comparison, the new deal sounds like a strategic and (potentially) commercial win for Ukraine.

    First, this agreement is more just, and it’s aligned with Ukraine’s short- and medium-term interests. Zelenksy describes it as an “equal partnership” that will modernise Ukraine.

    Under the terms, Ukraine will set up a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund for foreign investments into the country’s economy, which will be jointly governed by both countries.

    Ukraine will contribute 50% of the income from royalties and licenses to develop critical minerals, oil and gas reserves, while the US can make its contributions in-kind, such as through military assistance or technology transfers.

    Ukraine maintains ownership over its natural resources and state enterprises. And the licensing agreements will not require substantial changes to the country’s laws, or disrupt its future integration with Europe.

    Importantly, there is no mention of retroactive debts for the US military assistance already received by Ukraine. This would have created a dangerous precedent, allowing other nations to seek to claim similar debts from Ukraine.

    Finally, the deal also signals the Trump administration’s commitment to “a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine” – albeit, still without any security guarantees.

    Profits may be a long time coming

    Unsurprisingly, the Trump administration and conservative media in the US are framing the deal as a win.

    For too long, Trump argues, Ukraine has enjoyed US taxpayer-funded military assistance, and such assistance now has a price tag. The administration has described the deal to Americans as a profit-making endeavour that can recoup monies spent defending Ukrainian interests.

    But in reality, profits are a long way off.

    The terms of the agreement clearly state the fund’s investment will be directed at new resource projects. Existing operations and state-owned projects will fall outside the terms of the agreement.

    Mining projects typically work within long time frames. The move from exploration to production is a slow, high-risk and enormously expensive process. It can often take over a decade.

    Add to this complexity the fact that some experts are sceptical Ukraine even has enormously valuable reserves. And to bring any promising deposits to market will require major investments.

    What’s perhaps more important

    It’s possible, however, that profits are a secondary calculation for the US. Boxing out China is likely to be as – if not more – important.

    Like other Western nations, the US is desperate to diversify its critical mineral supply chains.

    China controls not just a large proportion of the world’s known rare earths deposits, it also has a monopoly on the processing of most critical minerals used in green energy and defence technologies.

    The US fears China will weaponise its market dominance against strategic rivals. This is why Western governments increasingly make mineral supply chain resilience central to their foreign policy and defence strategies.

    Given Beijing’s closeness to Moscow and their deepening cooperation on natural resources, the US-Ukraine deal may prevent Russia — and, by extension, China — from accessing Ukrainian minerals. The terms of the agreement are explicit: “states and persons who have acted adversely towards Ukraine must not benefit from its reconstruction”.

    Finally, the performance of “the deal” matters just as much to Trump. Getting Zelensky to sign on the dotted line is progress in itself, plays well to Trump’s base at home, and puts pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table.

    So, the deal is a win for Zelensky because it gives the US a stake in an independent Ukraine. But even if Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves turn out to be less valuable than expected, it may not matter to Trump.

    Eve Warburton receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Westpac Scholars Trust.

    Olga Boichak is a director of the Foundation of Ukrainian Studies in Australia. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Westpac Scholars Trust.

    – ref. Why Zelensky – not Trump – may have ‘won’ the US-Ukraine minerals deal – https://theconversation.com/why-zelensky-not-trump-may-have-won-the-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-255875

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: 26/2025・Trifork Group: Interim report for the quarter ending 31 March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Trifork Group AG
    Company announcement no. 26/2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 6 May 2025
    Interim Financial Report for the first quarter ending 31 March 2025

    Trifork Group reports revenue growth of 14.1% and EBITDA growth of 29.4% in Q1 2025

    CEO Jørn Larsen comments on the first quarter:
    “Q1 showed good progress toward our strategic ambition of becoming a more product- and solutions-led business. To support this direction, we revamped Trifork.com in Q1 to highlight our full range of products and platforms, and I invite you to explore our current offering. AI continues to break new ground, and we now discuss AI with most of our customers in one form or another. Our platforms Corax and AI Assist are seeing strong interest as they bring significant value to our customers very fast, in a very flexible, scalable, and secure way without customers needing to employ large data science teams.

    In Q1, we began to see the impact of several larger deals initiated in 2024. In Denmark, the good trend from Q4 continued in Q1, with the activities in the public sector increasing the most. The US business doubled its revenue and became the second-largest in the Group in Q1, proving that our IP-anchored strategy, executed in close collaboration with our Labs companies and global tech partners, can unlock new avenues of growth in revenue and profits.

    We have now completed most of the organizational changes announced last year and have identified cost-saving measures expected to deliver annual savings of EUR 10 million based on 2024 activity levels. For the remainder of 2025, we will continue to focus on further optimization and cost-efficiency across the Group, and I am encouraged by the strong and constructive cost savings efforts of our entire organization.”

    First quarter 2025

    • Trifork Group
      • In Q1 2025, Trifork Group revenue amounted to EURm 57.5, a net increase of 14.1% from Q1 2024, the combined result of an organic growth of 10.8% and an inorganic growth of 3.5%. In the quarter, Trifork had EURm 4.2 more revenue from hardware and third-party licenses compared to Q1 2024. Excluding these revenues, Group revenue growth was 5.9% in Q1 2025.
      • Trifork Group adjusted EBITDA amounted to EURm 6.9, corresponding to growth of 29.4% compared to Q1 2024. The margin was 11.9% (Q1 2024: 10.5%). No special items were recorded.
      • Trifork Group EBIT amounted to EURm 2.8, corresponding to growth of 95.5% compared to Q1 2024. The margin was 4.9% (Q1 2024: 2.8%).
    • Trifork Segment
      • In Q1 2025, adjusted EBITDA in the Trifork Segment amounted to EURm 7.4 (Q1 2024: EURm 5.8), corresponding to growth of 26.3%. The margin was 12.8% (Q1 2024: 11.6%).
      • Sub-segments
        • Inspire revenue increased by 25.0% to EURm 0.7 and realized an adjusted EBITDA of EURm -0.8 (Q1 2024: EURm -1.0).
        • Build revenue declined by -1.2% to EURm 38.3 and realized an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.2% (Q1 2024: 15.7%).
        • Run revenue increased by 68.5% to EURm 18.5. Adjusted for hardware and third-party licenses, revenue growth was 33.9%. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.0% (Q1 2024: 13.1%).
    • Trifork Labs
      • In Q1 2025, fair value adjustment of Trifork Labs investments was EURm -0.1 (Q1 2024: EURm 2.0).
      • At 31 March 2025, the book value of active Labs investments amounted to EURm 82.7 (31 March 2024: EURm 73.4).

    The financial outlook for full-year 2025 provided on 28 February is maintained:

    • Revenue is expected to be in the range of EURm 215-225, equal to 4.4-9.3% total growth
    • Organic revenue growth is expected in the range of 2.9-7.8%
    • Adjusted EBITDA in Trifork Segment is expected in the range of EURm 32.0-37.0
    • EBIT in Trifork Group is expected to be in the range of EURm 14.5-19.5.

    The guidance does not include potential effects from new acquisitions or divestments.

    Main events in the first quarter of 2025

    • Inspire
      Q1 is seasonally a quarter with low conference activity. With more than 2 million views in Q1, the online GOTO universe have reached 83 million video views in total. At the end of the quarter, we had 1.1 million video subscribers. We are continuously sharpening our planning of events and have optimized our cost structure. Our business development efforts are anchored in technology partnerships, where workshop and conference presentations are central to the efforts. We hosted multiple events, including our Observability day in Copenhagen, and attended NVIDIA GTC together with Lenovo, who also co-attended an industrial conference in Germany with us. We held multiple events focusing on SAP.
    • Build
      Build revenue accounted for 66.6% of Group revenue in Q1 and declined by 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. We spent the quarter focusing our Build activities closer to our own product offerings so that focus is more on implementation, integration, and customization of these and building individual extensions on top. Generally, corporates continued to take a cautious approach to IT spending in light of the global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, but our business development efforts made up for some of the private market weakness. Our public sector customer base primarily consists of Danish engagements. Danish public revenue grew 23.4% in Q1 compared to the same quarter last year and accounted for 47% of revenue in Denmark. In Q1, we announced new engagements with SBSYS (41 municipalities and two regions) and Aalborg University, and a new partnership with Cognizant focused on testing-as-a-service for implementation with KOMBIT (all Danish municipalities).
    • Run
      Run revenue accounted for 32.2% of Group revenue in Q1 and increased by 68.5% in Q1 compared to the same quarter last year (33.9% growth excluding revenues from third-party licenses and hardware, which can be volatile on a quarterly basis). In Q1, we revamped our website Trifork.com to increase focus on our products and platforms, which are central to our growth strategy and which provide more stability to our revenues as the licenses are sold on a recurring basis. Our Cloud Operations business has built a good pipeline supported by our Contain product offering, and it seems that the interest in cloud hosting in our Danish data centers increased in Q1. This was driven by both public and private customers. Our managed services security business continues to be in discussion with potential strategic partners to accelerate growth and market share, and we look forward to updating the market on the progress. Any potential deconsolidation is not included in the current financial guidance for the year. Overall, revenue within Hosting and Security operations increased by 23.2% in Q1.
    • Trifork Labs
      No new investments or exits were completed in Trifork Labs in Q1. Activities in the quarter primarily included reviewing investment proposals from new or existing investors in individual Labs companies in relation to upcoming financing rounds, including the announced EURm 11.5 financing round in Dawn Health led by existing investors Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). We see this as a testament to continued strong belief in the company’s potential after showing significant progress with large pharma partners such as Merck and Novartis. The investment is aimed at supporting Dawn Health’s strategy to deliver its platform and product suite through a SaaS model, while continuing to invest in further offerings within the Dawn Product Suite.

    Results presentation
    Trifork will host a results presentation and Q&A session with CEO Jørn Larsen and CFO Kristian Wulf-Andersen today, 6 May 2025 at 11:00 CEST in a live webcast that can be accessed via the following link, or via the investor website:

    https://trifork.zoom.us/j/96719631909?pwd=sI6nAeNybYebaVXxyFn3Wp8tpU5BOL.1#success

    A recording will be made available on our investor website. More information can be found at https://investor.trifork.com/events/.

    Investor & Media contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 7317


    About Trifork Group
    Trifork is a pioneering and global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative digital solutions. With 1,215 professionals across 71 business units in 16 countries, Trifork specializes in designing, building, and operating advanced software across sectors such as public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. The Group’s R&D arm, Trifork Labs, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic, high-potential technology companies. Trifork also owns GOTO, which inspires the global tech community through conferences and an online video channel with over 1.1 million subscribers and 83 million views. Trifork Group AG is publicly listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Brazil close to appointing new manager, says official

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

    The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) aims to name a new men’s national team manager by next week, sporting director Rodrigo Caetano said on Monday.

    The position has been vacant since March 28, when Dorival Junior was sacked following a 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires.

    Caetano said he continued assessing potential candidates with CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues and technical coordinator Juan Santos.

    “We are constantly in internal meetings … and we are trying to confirm this name as quickly as possible,” Caetano told Sportv.

    “Due to the confidential nature of our negotiations, it is practically impossible for us to talk about probabilities. We know that it is a national issue and that the choice of the head coach for the Brazilian national team is an extremely important one. We hope to be able to confirm the new manager next week at the latest.”

    Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is understood to remain the CBF’s preferred choice, with Jorge Jesus and Abel Ferreira also contenders.

    The CBF previously said it intended to appoint a new manager in time for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June.

    “We are working with a very small number of names … and we have our targets,” Caetano said. “But it’s very difficult to talk about any specific name right now because it could be counterproductive.”

    Brazil is currently fourth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, 10 points behind leader Argentina with four matchdays remaining.

    The top six teams will earn an automatic place at football’s showpiece tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada next year. The seventh-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why Zelensky – not Trump – may have ‘won’ the US-Ukraine minerals deal

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eve Warburton, Research Fellow, Department of Political and Social Change, and Director, Indonesia Institute, Australian National University

    Last week, the Trump administration signed a deal with Ukraine that gives it privileged access to Ukraine’s natural resources.

    Some news outlets described the deal as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “caving” to US President Donald Trump’s demands.

    But we see the agreement as the result of clever bargaining on the part of Ukraine’s war-time president.

    So, what does the deal mean for Ukraine? And will this be help strengthen America’s mineral supply chains?

    Ukraine’s natural resource wealth

    Ukraine is home to 5% of the world’s critical mineral wealth, including 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as vital for defence, construction and high-tech manufacturing.

    However, there’s a big difference between resources (what’s in the ground) and reserves (what can be commercially exploited). Ukraine’s proven mineral reserves are limited.

    Further, Ukraine has an estimated mineral wealth of around US$14.8 trillion (A$23 trillion), but more than half of this is in territories currently occupied by Russia.

    What does the new deal mean for Ukraine?

    American support for overseas conflict is usually about securing US economic interests — often in the form of resource exploitation. From the Middle East to Asia, US interventions abroad have enabled access for American firms to other countries’ oil, gas and minerals.

    But the first iteration of the Ukraine mineral deal, which Zelensky rejected in February, had been an especially brazen resource grab by Trump’s government. It required Ukraine to cede sovereignty over its land and resources to one country (the US), in order to defend itself from attacks by another (Russia).

    These terms were highly exploitative of a country fighting against a years-long military occupation. In addition, they violated Ukraine’s constitution, which puts the ownership of Ukraine’s natural resources in the hands of the Ukrainian people. Were Zelensky to accept this, he would have faced a tremendous backlash from the public.

    In comparison, the new deal sounds like a strategic and (potentially) commercial win for Ukraine.

    First, this agreement is more just, and it’s aligned with Ukraine’s short- and medium-term interests. Zelenksy describes it as an “equal partnership” that will modernise Ukraine.

    Under the terms, Ukraine will set up a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund for foreign investments into the country’s economy, which will be jointly governed by both countries.

    Ukraine will contribute 50% of the income from royalties and licenses to develop critical minerals, oil and gas reserves, while the US can make its contributions in-kind, such as through military assistance or technology transfers.

    Ukraine maintains ownership over its natural resources and state enterprises. And the licensing agreements will not require substantial changes to the country’s laws, or disrupt its future integration with Europe.

    Importantly, there is no mention of retroactive debts for the US military assistance already received by Ukraine. This would have created a dangerous precedent, allowing other nations to seek to claim similar debts from Ukraine.

    Finally, the deal also signals the Trump administration’s commitment to “a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine” – albeit, still without any security guarantees.

    Profits may be a long time coming

    Unsurprisingly, the Trump administration and conservative media in the US are framing the deal as a win.

    For too long, Trump argues, Ukraine has enjoyed US taxpayer-funded military assistance, and such assistance now has a price tag. The administration has described the deal to Americans as a profit-making endeavour that can recoup monies spent defending Ukrainian interests.

    But in reality, profits are a long way off.

    The terms of the agreement clearly state the fund’s investment will be directed at new resource projects. Existing operations and state-owned projects will fall outside the terms of the agreement.

    Mining projects typically work within long time frames. The move from exploration to production is a slow, high-risk and enormously expensive process. It can often take over a decade.

    Add to this complexity the fact that some experts are sceptical Ukraine even has enormously valuable reserves. And to bring any promising deposits to market will require major investments.

    What’s perhaps more important

    It’s possible, however, that profits are a secondary calculation for the US. Boxing out China is likely to be as – if not more – important.

    Like other Western nations, the US is desperate to diversify its critical mineral supply chains.

    China controls not just a large proportion of the world’s known rare earths deposits, it also has a monopoly on the processing of most critical minerals used in green energy and defence technologies.

    The US fears China will weaponise its market dominance against strategic rivals. This is why Western governments increasingly make mineral supply chain resilience central to their foreign policy and defence strategies.

    Given Beijing’s closeness to Moscow and their deepening cooperation on natural resources, the US-Ukraine deal may prevent Russia — and, by extension, China — from accessing Ukrainian minerals. The terms of the agreement are explicit: “states and persons who have acted adversely towards Ukraine must not benefit from its reconstruction”.

    Finally, the performance of “the deal” matters just as much to Trump. Getting Zelensky to sign on the dotted line is progress in itself, plays well to Trump’s base at home, and puts pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table.

    So, the deal is a win for Zelensky because it gives the US a stake in an independent Ukraine. But even if Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves turn out to be less valuable than expected, it may not matter to Trump.

    Eve Warburton receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Westpac Scholars Trust.

    Olga Boichak is a director of the Foundation of Ukrainian Studies in Australia. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Westpac Scholars Trust.

    – ref. Why Zelensky – not Trump – may have ‘won’ the US-Ukraine minerals deal – https://theconversation.com/why-zelensky-not-trump-may-have-won-the-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-255875

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese box office exceeds 740M yuan during May Day holiday

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

    People walk past movie posters at a cinema in Boxing County of Binzhou City, east China’s Shandong Province, May 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s box office grossed more than 740 million yuan (about 102 million U.S. dollars) during the five-day May Day holiday, which ends on Monday, according to film data platform Maoyan.

    Leading the holiday sales chart was Andrew Lau’s “The Dumpling Queen,” which earned over 190 million yuan. The film traces the journey of a Hong Kong street food vendor who founds a household frozen food brand.

    Securing second place was the financial crime thriller “A Gilded Game.” Centered on high-stakes fraud and market manipulation, the movie has generated a revenue of over 133 million yuan.

    Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” claimed the third position with earnings of over 69 million yuan. Originally released in Japan in 1997, this environmental epic is widely regarded as Hayao Miyazaki’s breakout international hit.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How did sport become so popular? The ancient history of a modern obsession

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia

    Roman mosaics discovered in Sicily show women playing different sports. David Pineda Svenske/Shutterstock

    It’s almost impossible to go a day without seeing or hearing about sport.

    Walk around any city or town and you will almost always catch a glimpse of people playing sports in teams or participating solo.

    Turn on the TV or radio and you’ll be able to find some kind of sport being played at international or national level.

    Why do people love sport so much?

    To answer this question, it’s worth a dive back into ancient history.

    An ancient person’s perspective

    One of the most famous figures from the ancient world, Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), once wrote that when he was a boy he was obsessed with playing sports:

    I liked to play ball as a boy and my playing slowed my progress in learning to read and write.

    The earliest portrait of Saint Augustine in a 6th century fresco, Lateran, Rome.
    Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    In fact, Saint Augustine was so preoccupied with playing ball that his teacher was said to sometimes beat him for it. His teacher said it was bad to waste one’s youth on such things – it’s better to study hard.

    Why was Saint Augustine obsessed with ball games? He loved to win:

    I loved to play games […] in these games I was overmastered by my vain desire to excel, so I used to strive to win, even by cheating.

    Plenty of people today probably share Saint Augustine’s view that winning is one of the things that make sport enjoyable.

    Of course, there are many other reasons why people might like to play sport.

    What sports did they play?

    If you walked down a city street in ancient Greek and Roman times, it’s likely you’d come across children or even adults playing a ball game.

    Handball games played in ancient Greece.
    Gardiner, E. Norman/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    The Roman playwright Plautus (3rd/2nd century BC) even has one of his characters complain about people “who play ball in the street”.

    Ball games were probably the most popular sporting activity in the ancient world and could be played in many different ways.

    In one ball game, called episkyros, two teams competed against each other. If one team got the ball over the line behind the other team, they scored. Feet and hands could be used and tackles were permitted.

    Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

    Of course, many other sports were also popular: athletics, swimming, wrestling, lifting weights and boxing were all favourites.

    Ancient ideas about the origins of sports

    For the ancient Greeks, the earliest mention of a ball game appears in the Odyssey, an epic poem composed by the poet Homer in probably the eighth or seventh century BC.

    In the Odyssey, Nausicaa, daughter of the King of the Phaeacians, plays a ball game with some other girls on the beach. While they throw the ball, they sing songs:

    Then when they had had their joy of food, she and her handmaids, they threw off their headgear and fell to playing at ball, and white-armed Nausicaa was leader in the song.

    During the game, Nausicaa throws the ball too far. Her maid can’t catch it and the ball flies into the sea. All the girls shout out when it goes flying.

    Already in the 3rd century BC, Nausicaa was sometimes regarded as the inventor of ball games. However, other people attributed the invention of ball games to different regions of Greece, saying the games were invented by the Sicyonians or Spartans.

    But it is unlikely any Greeks were the original inventors of ball games.

    In Egypt, thousands of years before Homer’s epics, there are already artistic depictions of ball games.

    For example, in the tomb of the Nomarch of the 11th Dynasty (c. 2150-2000 BC), Baqet III, there is artwork showing women playing ball games and men wrestling each other.

    Ancient ball games.
    J. Murray/Picryl, CC BY

    Baqet III, whose tomb contained these artistic depictions of various sports, was likely a true sports lover.

    Why did people like sports?

    People liked ball games for many different reasons.

    One was for the sheer fun and excitement. Another was because they were considered a healthy type of exercise.

    Ancient Greek and Roman doctors even told their patients to play ball games to become healthier.

    For example, the famous ancient Greek physician Galen (129-216 AD) wrote an essay titled On Exercise with a Small Ball.

    He argued “exercises with a small ball are superior to other kinds of exercises”.

    He claimed ball games were especially healthy because they moved all of the muscles and because teamwork was good for the soul.

    People in the ancient world also thought just watching sport could be something worth doing.

    The writer Lucian of Samosata (born 120 AD), for instance, said watching athletes competing for glory could help to encourage men to achieve similar feats: “many of the spectators go away in love with manfulness and hard work”, wrote Lucian.

    So it seems there’s nothing new about our modern love of playing and watching sports, and this obsession will probably continue for thousands of years into the future.

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

    – ref. How did sport become so popular? The ancient history of a modern obsession – https://theconversation.com/how-did-sport-become-so-popular-the-ancient-history-of-a-modern-obsession-254057

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Kane finally ends trophy drought with Bundesliga title

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

    “Sofa-Meister” – or “Couch Champion” – may have been a new phrase in Harry Kane’s German vocabulary this week, but it now defines the long-awaited first major title of his career.

    The term refers to a team clinching a championship while off the pitch, waiting for a rival to slip. That was the case on Sunday evening, as Bayern Munich players, including England captain Kane, gathered at Kafer, a high-end restaurant in the affluent Munich district of Bogenhausen, to watch Bayer Leverkusen face Freiburg.

    Harry Kane (front) of Bayern Munich takes a penalty to score during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg in Munich, Germany, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)

    Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw sealed Bayern’s 34th Bundesliga title, handing Kane his first piece of silverware after 16 years in professional football.

    It was a bittersweet scenario for many players – particularly Kane, who would have preferred to secure the title on the pitch. The 31-year-old missed Saturday’s 3-3 draw against RB Leipzig due to an accumulation of yellow cards, forced to watch from the stands. Just before full time, he came down to the sideline to join his teammates for what he hoped would be a title celebration, only to witness Leipzig’s last-minute equalizer.

    “Harry, just one more week,” teammate Thomas Muller said to console him. Muller, 35, secured his 13th Bundesliga crown.

    For Kane, the championship ends a painful run of near-misses. Six major final defeats with Tottenham Hotspur and England made him one of the most accomplished players never to win a trophy – until now.

    Kane’s contribution to Bayern’s success has been immense. After scoring 36 goals and providing 10 assists in his debut Bundesliga season, he has followed up with 24 goals and 11 assists in the current campaign from just 29 appearances. Beyond the stats, he has emerged as a leader in the dressing room and a focal point of Bayern’s attack.

    Following confirmation of the title, social media showed Kane posting a trophy emoji, while video clips circulated of the Bayern squad celebrating with chants of “We are the Champions” and singing England’s football anthem “Sweet Caroline.” Photos later showed Kane embracing his teammates as years of frustration gave way to jubilation.

    Bayern will officially lift the Meisterschale trophy next Saturday at home against Borussia Monchengladbach. For Kane, it will mark the symbolic end of a long wait – and the beginning of a decorated chapter in Munich. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Archery World Cup 2025 unveils star-studded lineup in Shanghai

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

    The 2025 Hyundai Archery World Cup – Lujiazui Shanghai leg is set to kick off from May 6 to May 11.

    As an International Grade A event sanctioned by World Archery, the tournament will, as in previous years, feature 10 disciplines across men’s and women’s recurve and compound categories, including individual, team and mixed team events.

    Qualifying and elimination rounds will take place at Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium from May 6 to 9, while finals will unfold on May 10 to 11 along the Binjiang Avenue in Pudong New Area, offering spectators breathtaking views of the Huangpu River.

    The star-studded lineup has been officially unveiled, comprising athletes from 36 countries and regions. In addition to the Chinese national team, including rising stars and seasoned Olympians, the event will feature world stars such as An San, archery’s first triple Olympic champion; Alejandra Valencia, the current world No 2 archer from Mexico; Brady Ellison, the reigning world No 1 in the recurve category and the 2019 World Champion from the United States; Andrea Becerra from Mexico, the current world No 1 in compound category and winner of the Auburndale Stage’s women’s individual event; and Mike Schloesser, the current world No 1 in the compound category from the Netherlands.

    Beyond elite competition, the event will amplify its civic impact through the archery carnival, a series of public activities targeting youths, white-collar professionals and amateur enthusiasts. Community challenges, school workshops and interactive exhibitions in commercial hubs will allow locals to test their skills alongside international athletes, fostering grassroots participation.

    Since its debut in 2006, the Shanghai leg has become the cornerstone of the Archery World Cup circuit, hosted 13 times in Pudong. By integrating “landmark sports” with the city’s skyline, it has elevated archery’s profile while also promoting tourism and urban development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of projected “Trump Slump,” Governor Newsom announces record-high tourism — again

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 5, 2025

    What you need to know: California remains the #1 state for tourism, with record-high tourism spending reaching $157.3 billion in 2024. However, the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric are driving away tourists, killing tourism and hospitality jobs, and already leading to decreased tourism projections.

    SACRAMENTO — Governor Newsom and Visit California today announced that California’s tourism spending continued to grow in 2024, reaching a record-high of $157.3 billion in tourism spending throughout the state — an increase of 3% from 2023, another record-spending year.  This comes after recent news that California’s economy is now the fourth-largest economy in the world and experienced a population increase for the second year in a row.

    “California dominates as a premier destination for travelers throughout the nation, and around the globe. With diverse landscapes, top-rate attractions, and welcoming communities, California welcomes millions of visitors every year. We also recognize that our state’s progress is threatened by the economic impacts of this federal administration, and are committed to working to protect jobs and ensure all Californians benefit from a thriving tourism industry.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The announcement comes with the release of Visit California’s 2024 Economic Impact Report and revised 2025 forecast released today. According to Visit California’s report, in 2024:

    • Visitors spent $157.3 billion at businesses across the state.
    • Tourism spending supported 1.2 million jobs and created 24,000 new jobs.
    • $12.6 billion in state and local tax revenues was generated from tourism.

    Economic progress at risk of Trump Slump

    However, the forecast also anticipates a 1% dip in overall visitation and a 9.2% decline in international visitation in 2025, in direct response to federal economic policy and an impending “Trump Slump.” Looking ahead, 2025 is projected to be more challenging, particularly due to global economic pressures and a slowdown in international tourism, the direct result of declining global sentiment about travel to the United States. California is already seeing the impact, with a sharp year-over-year decline in March of this year.

    In anticipation of the slump caused by the Trump administration, Governor Newsom and Visit California are encouraging Californians to continue to travel within the state to help support the booming tourism industry. The Governor has also launched a new campaign encouraging Canadian consumers to continue to travel to the Golden State.

    More people moving to California 

    In addition to record-breaking tourism, California is welcoming more new residents. Governor Newsom recently announced California’s population increased for the second year in a row. The announcement also noted that previous reports that California’s population had declined by hundreds of thousands of people in 2021 and 2023 were found inaccurate, and since 2021, California’s population has increased by nearly 275,000 people. 

    California’s economic leadership

    With a nation-leading GDP and more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, California’s economy remains a global powerhouse driven by diversity, creativity, and opportunity.

    • 4th largest economy in the world: California’s $4.1 trillion GDP recently surpassed Japan.
    • #1 in the nation: Leads the U.S. in Fortune 500 companies, new business starts, venture capital access, manufacturing output, high-tech industries and agriculture.
    • Major trade powerhouse: Over $675 billion in two-way trade, making California the largest importer among U.S. states and a key driver of job creation.
    • Manufacturing hub: Home to 36,000+ manufacturing firms, employing over 1.1 million workers, with strengths in aerospace, electronics, and zero-emission vehicles.
    • AI & innovation leader: California hosts 32 of the world’s top 50 AI companies and produces 25% of global AI patents and conference papers.

    Recent news

    May 2, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today after the University of California Board of Regents named James Milliken the new president of the University of California: “California’s future depends on the strength of our institutions,…

    May 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…

    May 1, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong

    Sotheby’s responds to the legal notice with the assurance that full attention is given to this matter

    Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 8:35PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has taken swift and comprehensive measures to prevent the auction of the sacred Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, underscoring India’s commitment to protecting its cultural and religious heritage. These relics, excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa—widely recognized as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha—hold immense historical and spiritual significance.

    The Piprahwa Relics, which include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones, were excavated by William Claxton Peppé in 1898. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha, deposited by the Sakya clan. The majority of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899 and are classified as ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, prohibiting their removal or sale. While a portion of the bone relics was gifted to the King of Siam, a selection retained by Peppé’s descendants has now been listed for auction.

    Upon learning of the proposed auction, the Ministry of Culture initiated the following actions:

    1. The Ministry collected detailed background information on the auction and issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong to stop the auction immediately. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also requested the Consulate General of Hong Kong to take up the matter with authorities there demanding the immediate cessation of the auction.
    2. During a bilateral meeting on May 2, 2025, Culture Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the issue with Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, United Kingdom. The Minister emphasized the cultural and religious significance of the relics and urged immediate action to halt the auction and facilitate their repatriation.
    3. On May 5, 2025, the Secretary of Culture convened a high-level review meeting to outline further steps. The Ministry of External Affairs has been requested to engage with embassies in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong through its Europe West and East Asia Divisions to ensure the auction is stopped.
    4. The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) has been asked to coordinate with its counterpart in Hong Kong to highlight the illegality of the auction and ensure compliance with international laws.
    5. Ivy Wong, Ivy Wong, Associate General Counsel Sotheby’s in her reply to the legal notice assured that our full attention is given to this matter.

    The Ministry of Culture remains steadfast in its efforts to protect India’s cultural heritage and ensure the repatriation of the Piprahwa Relics. We call upon Sotheby’s Hong Kong to immediately withdraw the relics from auction and cooperate with Indian authorities to return these sacred artifacts to their rightful place.

    ****

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2127159) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bun Scrambling Competition concludes successfully (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Bun Scrambling Competition concludes successfully  
         The event attracted around 1 650 spectators, who experienced the thrilling atmosphere of the competition. They witnessed 12 finalists scrambling up the bun tower to gather as many buns as they could within a three-minute time limit to vie for the championships.
     
         Apart from the individual race, there was also an invitation relay in which three teams from Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao competed against seven local teams from Cheung Chau.
     
         The results are as follows:
     

    Individual contest

    WomenWinner of “Queen of Queens”: Kung Tsz-shan (three-time champion in the women’s division since 2016)

    Winner of “Full Pockets of Lucky Buns”: Yip Kin-man (Number of buns gathered: 170)
     

    Invitation relayShenzhen Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports AssociationZhuhai Climbing Association TeamThe Petrel Athletic Association Limited Team AIssued at HKT 2:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Sign Bills into Law Expanding Support Services and Increasing Safety in Colorado Schools

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed bills into law to expand access to speech pathology services for all Coloradans, and increase safety in Colorado school sports with proper guidelines for using life-saving devices. 

    • HB25-1075 – Regulate Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, sponsored by Representatives Lori Garcia Sander and Jacque Phillips, and Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Kyle Mullica. 

    “Everyone in Colorado deserves the opportunity to access needed services like speech pathology so more Coloradans can reach their full potential,” said Governor Polis. 

    • SB25-191 – Cardiac Emergency Plans for School Sports, sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts and Iman Jodeh, and Representatives Meghan Lukens and Lindsay Gilchrist 

    “Safety in sports is a top priority, and no athlete or parent should have to wonder about the safety standards and resources that are available when there is an emergency. Thank you to the sponsors for addressing the importance of having clear safety standards for life-saving devices across all Colorado school sports to keep our student-athletes safe,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis signed the following bills into law administratively: 

    • SB25-164 – Opioid Antagonist Availability & State Board of Health, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter and Janice Marchman, and Representatives Jamie Jackson and Jenny Willford
    • SB25-166 – Health-Care Workplace Violence Incentive Payments, sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, and Representative Lisa Feret
    • SB25-125 – Rule Review Bill, sponsored by Senators Mike Weissman and Lisa Frizell, and Representatives Matt Soper and Javier Mabrey
    • SB25-177 – Sunset Continue Early Childhood Leadership Commission, sponsored by Senators Cathy Kipp and Scott Bright, and Representatives Emily Sirota and Mary Bradfield
    • SB25-009 – Recognition of Tribal Court Orders, sponsored by Senators Dylan Roberts and Jessie Danielson, and Representatives Ron Weinberg and Junie Joseph.
    • SB25-194 – Sunset Dental Practice Act, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kyle Mullica, and Representatives Monica Duran and Anthony Hartsook. Read the Governor’s signing statement here.
    • SB25-152 – Health-Care Practitioner Identification Requirements, sponsored by Senators Lisa Frizell and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Representatives Lori Garcia Sander and Lisa Feret. Read the Governor’s signing statement here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Precipitate to Present at the OTC’s Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference May 6th at 2:00pm (EST)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Precipitate Gold Corp. (the “Company” or “Precipitate”) (TSXV: PRG, OTCQB: PREIF) is pleased to announce that the Company’s President & CEO, Jeffrey Wilson will present live at the OTC’s Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on May 6th.

    DATE: May 6, 2025
    PRESENTATION TIME: 2:00pm ET (11:00 am Pacific Standard Time)
    PRESENTATION LINK: REGISTER HERE

    Available for 1×1 meetings with Company CEO, Jeffrey Wilson:
    Monday, May 5th, 12:00pm EST to 8:00pm EST
    Tuesday, May 6th, 12:00pm EST to 1:00pm EST
    Wednesday, May 7th, 12:00pm EST to 1:00pm EST and 5pm EST
    Thursday, May 8th, 12:00pm EST to 1:00pm EST
    Alternative times can be arranged directly

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the Company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    About Precipitate Gold:
    Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Dominican Republic, including its 100% owned Juan de Herrera project located immediately adjacent to GoldQuest Mining’s Romero Project, its 100% owned Pueblo Grande project located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick, and its 100% owned Ponton project located 30km east of the Pueblo Viejo mine. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company’s portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions.

    Additional information can be viewed at the Company’s website www.precipitategold.com.

    On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,
    “Jeffrey Wilson”
    President & CEO
    For further information, please contact:

    Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll    Free: 855-558-0335    investor@precipitategold.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This press release may contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “proposed”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.’s (“Precipitate” or the “Company”) current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: How Wildfires Reshape Landscapes

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: How Wildfires Reshape Landscapes

    Exploring USGS’s Role in Understanding Postfire Changes

    Background

    Wildfires have long played a crucial role in reshaping and rejuvenating landscapes. They can clear out dead vegetation, return nutrients to the soil, and promote the growth of diverse plant species. However, the aftermath of wildfires also brings significant changes to the environment, some of which pose challenges to ecosystems and dangers to local communities. The USGS conducts extensive research to understand these changes and to develop strategies for hazard mitigation and recovery in fire-prone communities.

    The Good: The Beneficial Role of Fire in Landscapes

    First, let’s discuss “the good” and why wildfires are a natural part of forest and rangeland habitats. While wildfires can have destructive effects, they play a beneficial role in many ecosystems:

    • Nutrient Cycling. Fires consume dead and decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil, which promotes new plant growth.
    • Habitat Diversity. By clearing dense vegetation, fires create a mosaic of different habitats, supporting a variety of plant and animal species.
    • Pest and Disease Control. Fires can reduce populations of pests and pathogens, contributing to the overall health of forests and grasslands. 

    The Bad: How Wildfires Alter Landscapes

    Next, let’s discuss “the bad” and how wildfires potentially negatively alter the landscape:

    • Soil Becomes Water-Repellent. Intense heat from wildfires can cause soils to become hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. This occurs when organic materials in the soil are vaporized by the heat, and upon cooling, these vapors condense and form a waxy coating around soil particles. As a result, rainwater cannot easily penetrate the soil, leading to increased surface runoff and a higher risk of flash flooding.
    • Streams Become Polluted. After a wildfire, ash and debris can be washed into nearby rivers and streams during rainfall. This runoff may contain elevated levels of nutrients, sediments, and heavy metals, which can degrade water quality and pose risks to aquatic life and human health. For instance, following Colorado’s 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, water supplies experienced significant contamination, highlighting the long-term impacts wildfires can have on water resources.
    • Slopes Become Unstable. Vegetation plays a vital role in stabilizing soil on slopes. When wildfires destroy this vegetation, the roots that bind the soil together decay, increasing the likelihood of landslides and debris flows, especially during subsequent rainstorms. The USGS has developed models to assess and predict these post-wildfire debris-flow hazards, aiding in the development of early warning systems and mitigation strategies.
    • Invasive Plants Can Spread. Wildfires can create opportunities for invasive plant species to establish themselves in burned areas. These species often outcompete native vegetation, leading to reduced biodiversity and altered ecosystem functions. The USGS collaborates with land managers to monitor these changes and develop strategies to promote the recovery of native plant communities. 

    The Ugly: The Future Impacts of Wildfires on Society

    Lastly, “the ugly.” Wildfires are not going away. In fact, wildfires in the United States are becoming more frequent, intense, and destructive. Several factors contribute to this trend, including prolonged droughts and increasing urban development in fire-prone areas. Scientists predict that future wildfire seasons will last longer, burn larger areas, and pose even greater challenges for communities, ecosystems, and emergency responders. The increasing severity of wildfires will have profound effects on public safety, public health, and the economy. For example, some ways wildfires will continue to be problematic include:

    • More Frequent Disruptions. Longer fire seasons will lead to more evacuations, power outages, and damage to infrastructure. Areas that were once considered safe may now face a growing threat of wildfire.
    • Air Quality and Health Concerns. Wildfire smoke contains harmful pollutants that can worsen respiratory illnesses, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting health conditions. Regions far from active fires can still experience dangerous air quality levels due to drifting smoke.
    • Economic Costs. Wildfires already cost billions of dollars annually for firefighting efforts, property damage, and lost economic productivity. As fires become more extreme, these costs are expected to rise, placing strain on local, state, and federal budgets.
    • Water and Food Security. Wildfires can damage watersheds, leading to long-term impacts on water supply and quality. Agricultural areas near fire zones may also suffer losses, reducing food production and increasing prices.

    The USGS plays a vital role in helping communities recover from wildfires and prepare for future events. By partnering with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and state Geological Surveys, the USGS is driving innovation in fire science and management. These partnerships ensure that responders and decision-makers have the best available information to protect lives, property, and natural resources.

    The USGS employs more than 100 scientists whose research focuses on fire-related topics, including using high-resolution remote sensing to characterize vegetative fuel loads; applying the latest satellite technology to detect fires and map wildfire perimeters; evaluating best practices to reduce wildfire risks; and assessing post-wildfire flooding and debris-flow hazards. This work also includes creating and sharing best practices to support recovery across landscapes. Together, USGS expertise and monitoring capabilities are greatly improving the safety of first responders and the public-at-large.

    Researchers across the USGS are working with the interagency fire community to expand the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other rapid-computing capabilities. For example, the USGS uses artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to detect fire boundaries and develop burn severity maps, and to identify distribution and abundance of fire-adapted invasive species like cheatgrass in the Great Basin.

    The USGS Wildland Fire Science Strategy aligns with national initiatives as defined in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Developed by a broad swath of stakeholders at all levels, the Cohesive Strategy calls for science and management that promote resilient landscapes and fire-adapted communities for safe and effective wildfire responses.

    Preparing for the Future

    While wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems, things are changing and society must take proactive steps to protect lives, property, and the environment from the growing wildfire threat. Given the increasing risks, wildfire management strategies must evolve. Investments in forest management, improved building codes, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure will be crucial in reducing wildfire impacts. The USGS and other agencies will continue to play a key role in researching fire behavior, mapping high-risk areas, and providing vital information to help communities adapt.

    Understanding both the positive and negative impacts of wildfires is essential for effective land management. The USGS’s comprehensive research and collaboration with other agencies enhance public safety, inform policy decisions, and promote resilient ecosystems in the face of wildfire events.

    As part of the wildfire community, USGS is deeply connected to the people and landscapes we serve. Wildfires often affect our colleagues, friends, and neighbors, underscoring the importance of our mission to provide critical fire science. Each new fire reminds us of our shared responsibility to understand, adapt to, and mitigate wildfire risks in the face of future challenges.

    Case Study: The January 2025 Los Angeles Fires

    In January 2025, Southern California faced an unprecedented wildfire crisis as extreme Santa Ana winds fueled four large wildfires (the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth Fires) and dozens of smaller blazes that scorched the region. The fires burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed 12,000 structures, and led to at least 30 fatalities. Amid this devastation, the USGS delivered essential science and information that supported fire response efforts, assessed postfire hazards, and aided recovery in impacted communities.

    The USGS worked alongside federal and state agencies, providing critical tools and information for every stage of the fire management.

    • Real-Time Fire Mapping. The USGS National Civil Applications Center generated wildfire boundary maps for the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires. Using satellite imagery, these maps were delivered to Incident Commanders each morning to inform daily firefighting strategies and evacuation plans.
    • Ecological Research and Recovery. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center advised land managers on fire behavior and postfire recovery strategies. This included addressing erosion risks, invasive species management, and advising how to use native vegetation to restore burned areas. The Suppression and Planning Actions for Restoring Communities and Species (SPARCS) team collaborated directly with resource managers to assess their needs and provide support.
    • Postfire Hazard Assessments. The USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center led assessments of postfire debris flow risks in the steep terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains. Working with the California Geological Survey and other partners, USGS scientists mapped soil burn severity and modelled the likelihood and volume of debris flows during future storms. This data will help the National Weather Service issue warnings and guide local recovery efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: eThekwini Municipality urges caution when booking accommodation ahead of Nedbank Cup Final

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    As thousands of South African football fans are expected to descend on Durban for the highly anticipated 2025 Nedbank Cup final, the eThekwini Municipality has urged visitors and tourists to remain vigilant when booking accommodation, to prevent falling victim to online scams.

    A thrilling showdown between South African football giants, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, is set to take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, on Saturday afternoon.

    This marks the tournament’s return to Durban since it was last hosted in the city in 2019.  The match promises to deliver a thrilling spectacle that will captivate fans across the country.

    EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba, welcomed the return of the event, highlighting that the economic and tourism benefits it brings.

    “We encourage visitors to immerse themselves in the rich cultural offerings, stunning beaches, and diverse attractions that make our city a premier destination for both local and international travellers,” Xaba said.

    However, Xaba warned visitors, and tourists to remain vigilant when booking accommodation, to prevent falling victim to online scammers.

    “Visitors are also encouraged to carefully verify any packages that advertise “free tickets” and to obtain their tickets exclusively through registered outlets,” Xaba said.

    Travel safety tips

    To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, visitors are advised to follow these essential travel and accommodation safety tips:

    •    Research your accommodation: Before booking, look for customer reviews and ratings across multiple platforms. Be cautious if reviews appear overly positive or generic, as they may be fabricated.

    •    Contact the property directly: Use verified contact information to reach out to the property. If you cannot find this information on trusted sites, proceed with caution.

    •    Check for professionalism: Legitimate businesses typically maintain professional websites featuring clear contact information, terms and conditions, and policies regarding cancellations and refunds.

    •    Compare prices: If a deal seems too good to be true, ensure you compare prices with established booking sites to get a sense of reasonable rates.

    •    Verify the URL: Ensure the website has a secure connection (look for “https://” rather than just “http://”) and check for any spelling errors in the domain name.

    Important safety precautions

    • Use trusted platforms: Stick to well-known travel booking websites or apps, which usually offer customer service support to address issues.

    •    Avoid wire transfers: Always opt for secure payment methods that offer protection, such as credit cards, over wire transfers or cash.

    •    Read the fine print: Thoroughly review booking terms and conditions, especially regarding cancellation policies and any additional fees.

    •    Stay informed: Keep up with updates from local tourism authorities concerning safe travel practices and potential scams.

    •    Share your itinerary: Inform someone of your travel plans, including accommodation details, for added safety.

    •    Keep an eye on your belongings: Always keep your bags where you can see them and avoid displaying valuables like jewellery or electronics publicly.

    •    Report any suspicious illegal activities to the nearest police station.

    To further enhance the excitement around the Nedbank Cup final, the municipality will host public viewing areas in various parts of Durban to afford everyone an opportunity to watch the game.

    Details for the public viewing areas will be announced on the Municipal platforms. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Calls on NHL to Bring Major Event to UBS Arena

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today sent a letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressing her disappointment in the League’s decision to cancel the 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena. In the letter, Governor Hochul urged the NHL to commit to bringing a major NHL event of equal or greater value to Long Island.

    The full text of the letter is below:

    Dear Commissioner Bettman:

    I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the NHL’s decision to cancel the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena and replace it with a Winter Olympics kick-off event. This decision was made without consultation with the State of New York, which has been a critical partner in supporting this facility and the NHL’s presence on Long Island as well as the entire State.

    Through a public-private partnership with New York Arena Partners, New York State invested more than $100 million to build the first new LIRR station in nearly 50 years, supporting UBS Arena as a world-class venue. We made this investment not only for the local community and the New York Islanders but also in support of the league itself. We acted in good faith based on commitments that were publicly celebrated and on the belief that this was a true public-private partnership.

    The cancellation of the 2026 All-Star Weekend, an event expected to bring millions in economic activity to the region, is deeply disappointing. While we understand the significance of the Winter Olympics, the conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed through early coordination. This decision overlooks the efforts by New York State and sends the wrong message to every public entity that has supported the NHL.

    Therefore, we request that the NHL revisit this matter immediately. Given that Long Island’s 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend has been canceled, the NHL should bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region in 2027.

    New York, home of three NHL franchises and the league’s headquarters, has always been and will continue to be a proud hockey state, and mutual respect is essential in any partnership. We are prepared to be constructive, but we also expect the NHL to honor its commitments to the people of New York.

    Sincerely,

    Governor Kathy Hochul

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tiffany Announces Winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

    WAUSAU, WI – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the winners of Wisconsin’s Seventh District 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Created in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity for young artists to have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. This year’s theme was: A day in the life of Wisconsin.   

    “Each year, I become more impressed by the young talent in Wisconsin’s Seventh District. Thank you to all the artists who participated in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, and congratulations to this year’s winners,” said Congressman Tiffany.

    First Place Winner

    Name: Aubrey Cronce 

    School: Wausau East High School 

    Title: Midsummer Spark

     

    Second Place Winner

    Name: Anna Rose Czarnecki 

    School: Wolfpack Academy (Greenwood) 

    Title: Down the Road

      

    Third Place Winner

    Name: Francesca Germano 

    School: Northwestern High School 

    Title: I Went Golfing Yesterday

      

    Honorable Mention

    Name: Sona Ovezmyradova 

    School: Hayward High School 

    Title: Dairyland Memories

     

    The first-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The Cannon Tunnel is the most highly traveled walkway between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Southwest Airlines also offers each first-place winner two round-trip tickets to attend the Winners’ Celebration in Washington, DC. The second-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Washington, DC office, and the third-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Wausau office. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –