Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Allies Against Slavery Releases Landmark State Human Trafficking Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allies Against Slavery released its first-ever State Human Trafficking Report, analyzing anti-trafficking policies and federal prosecution patterns across all 50 states. The report offers policymakers, law enforcement officials, and service providers the most comprehensive picture to date of how states are addressing human trafficking through legislation and criminal justice responses.

    “This groundbreaking report illuminates the progress our country has made and the gaps that remain in the fight against human trafficking,” said John Nehme, President and CEO of Allies Against Slavery. “For the first time, we’ve assembled data on 695 state policies and over two decades of federal prosecution records to create a more complete picture of America’s anti-trafficking landscape. This report shows that while states have made remarkable progress in establishing basic anti-trafficking frameworks, significant gaps remain in prevention policies that could stop trafficking before it starts.”

    The report examines 20 specific policies across prevention, protection, and prosecution for each state, while also analyzing federal prosecution data from 2000 to 2022.

    Key findings include:

    • States have enacted a total of 695 anti-trafficking policies since 2003, demonstrating significant momentum in legislative responses.
    • States with the most comprehensive policy frameworks include Florida, Tennessee, and Washington, while others like Idaho have significant policy gaps.
    • Prevention policies continue to lag behind prosecution and protection policies, with many states missing critical prevention measures.
    • Prosecution data reveals a significant bias toward cases involving minor victims of sex trafficking, which account for over double the number of adult sex trafficking and labor trafficking cases combined.
    • The most populated states in the U.S. also have the highest numbers of federally prosecuted cases. This includes California (n=222), Florida (n=215), Texas (n=206), and New York (n=184).
    • South Dakota has prosecuted the most federal human trafficking cases per capita, while states like Colorado, Delaware, and Alabama have prosecuted the fewest per capita.

    Dr. Vanessa Bouché, Chief Impact Officer at Allies Against Slavery, emphasized the importance of this data for informing policy decisions: “This report doesn’t just document what states have done—it provides a roadmap for what they should do next. By analyzing policies across prevention, protection, and prosecution, we’ve created a strategic framework states can use to strengthen their anti-trafficking response and close critical gaps.”

    The State Human Trafficking Report will be updated annually to track policy progress and prosecution trends. The full report, along with individual state profiles, is available for download at https://bit.ly/stateHTreport25

    About Allies Against Slavery

    Allies Against Slavery harnesses data to illuminate and eradicate human trafficking through its innovative data platform and strategic partnerships. Since 2010, they have worked to dismantle silos, build networks, and shine a light on the vulnerabilities that lead to exploitation. Their pioneering software, Lighthouse, aggregates national and statewide data to help professionals, leaders, and policymakers identify victims, coordinate care, and understand trafficking trends. To date, Allies’ solutions have helped identify over 20,000 victims of trafficking across the United States. Allies is building a future where every community has the data it needs to combat and prevent human trafficking.

    Learn more about Allies Against Slavery: https://www.alliesagainstslavery.org/

    Media Contact:  Tad Druart (512) 497-9880, tdruart@piercom.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Sunrise Padel Capital Closes First Fund and Launches Second to Accelerate Padel Growth Across North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunrise Padel Capital, a pioneering investment firm focused on scaling padel through strategic real estate and operating investments, today announced the successful closing of its first fund with deployments into nine clubs across major U.S. markets. The firm has also officially launched its second fund, a dual-structure vehicle designed to invest in both real estate and operating companies, targeting a combined $50 million in capital commitments.

    Sunrise Padel Capital Fund I served as a proof of concept, backing high-potential operators and real estate acquisitions in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, and Denver. Several of these investments included equity participation in both the operating company and the underlying real estate, positioning the fund for long-term value creation.

    Following the momentum of Fund I, the firm has launched Sunrise Padel Capital Fund II, which consists of two complementary strategies:

    • PropCo Fund ($25M target): Focused on acquiring and developing padel-specific real estate to be leased to premium operators, delivering stable cash flow and long-term asset appreciation.
    • Growth Fund ($25M target): Investing in operating companies, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem players across technology, hospitality, and professionalization.

    “Our vision is to be the leading capital partner behind the sport’s rapid growth in the U.S.,” said Diego Campos, Managing Partner at Sunrise Padel Capital. “Fund II allows us to double down on what’s working—backing top-tier founders and acquiring high-potential real estate—while scaling the infrastructure that padel needs to thrive.”

    The firm also announced a new strategic partnership with a U.S.-based family office with over $2B in real estate AUM to co-invest in select PropCo transactions, enhancing deal flow and execution capacity.

    With a growing pipeline of opportunities and multiple clubs opening in the next 6–8 months, Sunrise Padel Capital continues to shape the future of padel in North America.

    For more information or to request the Fund II deck, contact:
    info@sunrisepadelcapital.com
    www.sunrisepadelcapital.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Amplify ETFs Launches the Next Generation of Bitcoin Option Income ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify ETFs, a leading provider of breakthrough ETF solutions, announces the launch of the Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF (BITY) and Amplify Bitcoin Max Income Covered Call ETF (BAGY). These two actively managed ETFs seek to employ weekly options-writing strategies on Bitcoin ETPs*, transforming Bitcoin’s volatility into income opportunities with upside potential:

    Amplify Bitcoin 24% Premium Income ETF (BITY)

    BITY targets 24% annual option premium1 income, seeking to balance upside potential with attractive income generation. BITY seeks to deliver monthly income while maintaining high upside appreciation by writing 5-10% out-of-the-money2 weekly call options on a portion of the portfolio’s Bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs).

    This short-dated approach provides 4x more opportunities to reset strike prices and collect income compared to monthly options, enabling potential for compounded income and greater total return. BITY is designed for investors seeking Bitcoin growth exposure and income through an active risk-managed approach.

    Amplify Bitcoin Max Income Covered Call ETF (BAGY)                

    BAGY is optimized for maximum monthly option income and seeks to generate 30-60% annualized option premium income while preserving exposure to approximately 5% Bitcoin price appreciation weekly. BAGY writes 5% out-of-the-money covered call options on Bitcoin ETPs with expirations of one week or less, meaning potential option premiums are collected 4x more often versus monthly options, enabling compounded premium income generation. BAGY’s frequent, high-premium call-writing strategy focuses on converting Bitcoin’s price swings into a consistent income stream with capital appreciation potential each week. BAGY provides potential for high income with weekly upside participation.

    “Bitcoin’s volatility is a challenge and opportunity for investors,” said Christian Magoon, CEO of Amplify ETFs. “BAGY and BITY represent the next generation of weekly Bitcoin option income strategies as they seek to deliver attractive income while offering upside exposure to Bitcoin’s growth potential. Whether investors seek maximum weekly income with capital appreciation potential via BAGY or prefer to balance an attractive 24% target premium yield with greater capital appreciation potential with BITY, Amplify offers two carefully managed opportunities at compelling price points.”

    The process for both ETFs includes buying long Bitcoin exposure through ETPs and synthetic options, writing weekly covered calls, rolling expiring contracts, and seeking to pay high monthly distributions. This structure aims to provide high income, flexibility in call pricing, and clear participation in Bitcoin upside in an accessible investment vehicle.

    Both ETFs provide investors with monthly distribution frequency, enhanced total return through income generation potential, and a compelling way to access the growing digital asset space. Their versatility aligns well with allocations in a portfolio’s income, growth, or alternative sleeves.

    The funds are actively managed. Amplify Investments LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. Kelly Strategic Management, LLC and Penserra Capital Management LLC each serve as investment sub-advisers to the Funds.

    Learn more:

    About Amplify ETFs
    Amplify ETFs, sponsored by Amplify Investments, has over $10 billion in assets across its suite of ETFs (as of 3/31/2025). Amplify ETFs delivers expanded investment opportunities for investors seeking growth, income, and risk-managed strategies across a range of actively managed and index-based ETFs. To learn more visit AmplifyETFs.com.


    1
    An option premium is the cost an option buyer pays to the seller for the right to trade an asset at a set price within a certain period.
    2Out of the money (OTM) options has a strike price that the underlying security has yet to reach.

    *The Funds do not invest directly in bitcoin. Bitcoin ETPs are exchange-traded investment products not registered under the 1940 Act that seek to generally match the performance of the price of Bitcoin, and trade intra-day on a national securities exchange.

    There is no guarantee that BITY will achieve the Target Option Premium in any given year. If the NAV of the Fund remains level or decreases during any one-year period, the annualized premium generated by the Fund may be significantly less than the Target Option Premium for that time period.

    Carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s statutory and summary prospectuses, which may be obtained at AmplifyETFs.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

    Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee the investment strategy will be successful. The Funds are considered to be non-diversified. The Funds are actively managed and their performance reflects the investment decisions that the Adviser makes for the Funds.

    The Funds face risks by investing in Bitcoin through the Bitcoin ETP and Bitcoin ETP Options, as bitcoin is a new and highly speculative investment. The market for bitcoin is volatile and subject to rapid changes, regulatory actions, and numerous challenges to widespread adoption. Issues such as slow transaction processing, variable fees, and price volatility further increase these risks.

    There is a lack of consensus regarding the regulation of digital assets, including bitcoin, and their markets. Trading in shares of a Bitcoin ETP on U.S. securities exchanges may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of an exchange, make trading in shares of the Bitcoin ETP inadvisable.

    Option contract prices are volatile and affected by changes in the underlying asset’s value, interest or currency rates, and expected volatility, all of which are influenced by political, fiscal, and monetary policies. The Funds may use FLEX Options, which can be less liquid than standardized options. This may make it difficult to close out FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices.

    With covered call risk, the Funds might miss out on profits if the security’s value rises above the option’s premium and strike price while still facing potential losses if the value declines. With covered put risk, significant stock price increases can lead to substantial losses on your short position. The premium provides some income but may not fully offset the loss if the stock rallies unexpectedly.

    The Funds currently expect to make distributions on a monthly basis, a portion of which may be considered return of capital.

    Amplify Investments LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. Kelly Strategic Management, LLC and Penserra Capital Management LLC each serve as investment sub-advisers to the Funds.

    Amplify ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Data: Since 2014, 52,000 Migrants Died Fleeing Humanitarian Crises; IOM Urges Collective Action 

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Berlin/Geneva, 29 April 2025 – A new report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveals that most people who die while migrating are not taking dangerous journeys purely out of choice, but out of desperation – fleeing insecurity, conflict, disaster, and other humanitarian crises.  

    Since 2014, more than 52,000 people have died while trying to escape crisis-affected* countries. That’s nearly three-quarters (72%) of all migrant deaths recorded globally during this period. These include over 39,000 people who died within crisis zones, often while trapped in unsafe conditions, and more than 13,500 who died while trying to flee conflict or disaster.  

    “These numbers are a tragic reminder that people risk their lives when insecurity, lack of opportunity, and other pressures leave them with no safe or viable options at home,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “We must invest to create stability and opportunity within communities, so that migration is a choice, not a necessity. And when staying is no longer possible, we must work together to enable safe, legal, and orderly pathways that protect lives.” 

    Crisis Zones: The Deadliest Places for Migrants  

    More than half (54%) of all recorded migrant deaths since 2014 occurred in or near countries affected by conflict or disaster. For example:  

    • In Afghanistan, over 5,000 people have died in transit, including thousands who perished while fleeing the country following the 2021 political upheaval.  
    • Among the Rohingya people from Myanmar, more than 3,100 people have died – many in shipwrecks or while crossing into Bangladesh.  
    • The Central Mediterranean remains the deadliest single migration route worldwide, with nearly 25,000 people lost at sea.  

    A Call for Stronger Global Cooperation  

    Despite the scale of the crisis, migrants are often overlooked in humanitarian planning. Needs assessments and aid appeals frequently fail to include targeted efforts to protect those on the move – even though nearly one in four missing migrants came from a crisis-affected country.

    “Too often, migrants fall through the cracks,” said Julia Black, coordinator of IOM’s Missing Migrants Project and the report’s author. “And due to data gaps – especially in war zones and disaster areas – the true death toll is likely far higher than what we’ve recorded.”  

    IOM is urging States and humanitarian partners to work together to ensure migrants are not excluded from crisis responses. This means expanding legal pathways, improving access to aid and healthcare, and investing in data systems that can better track and protect those at risk.  

    Note to Editor:  

    * For the purposes of this report, “countries in crisis” refers to 40 countries with an active Crisis Response Plan (CRP) or Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) listed by IOM and/or UN OCHA as of December 2024.   

    Click here to access the Missing Migrants Project 2024 annual report.  

    The analysis in this press release is based on data available as of 1 March 2025. For the latest figures, click here.   

    IOM’s Missing Migrants Project is currently maintained with financial support of the governments of Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and the European Union. The preparation of this year’s report was co-funded through IOM’s Flexible Funding Mechanism (FFM), enabling the use of data and evidence to save lives and protect people affected by humanitarian crises. IOM appreciates the generous unearmarked and softly earmarked voluntary contributions from our donors to the Flexible Funding Mechanism, which made this initiative possible.  

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre  

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City families reminded to check vehicle hire companies during Prom season

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing team is working with schools and other councils across the region to alert families to potential risks.

    Officers are warning that not all companies that advertise the services of stretched limousines and other luxury or performance vehicles are licensed.

    The following advice is being issued so people can be sure that the vehicle being booked is safe and legal. The type of checks needed depend on how many passenger seats the vehicle has.

    Advice includes:

    • companies hiring out a vehicle and driver with fewer than nine seats may require a private hire vehicle operators licence from City of Wolverhampton Council. Ask the company if they are licensed and which local authority licenses them, then contact that authority to confirm
    • parents/carers can also check to see if they are licensed online at Taxi licences by clicking ‘Online Licence Registers’ and then selecting ‘Operators’
    • companies hiring out a limousine with a driver with nine passenger seats or more must have a public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence, issued by a Traffic Commissioner. You can check online at GOV.UK.
    • if the company doesn’t have a licence, it could be operating illegally. You can report this at Taxi Complaints – Report a taxi driver or by calling 01902 55 TAXI (01902 558294)
    • officers warn that extra care is needed when booking services advertised on social media as this is where the unlicensed trade primarily operates.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Prom nights are special occasions for young people to get together and celebrate all that they have achieved.

    “Unfortunately, we are aware that there may be unscrupulous companies looking to take advantage at this time of year. The driver may not have had a criminal record check or the vehicle may not be roadworthy. In addition, unlicensed vehicles and drivers won’t be insured.

    “Hiring a vehicle and driver that hasn’t been properly vetted and licensed could put your child and their friends at risk.

    “Please consider making checks on the company you are thinking of hiring from to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe on Prom night.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “I hope that I will be able to initiate new research at the Higher School of Economics”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © TASS

    More than 10,000 scientific projects were supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) in 2024. One of the recipients of the foundation’s grants is a scientist from Iran, HSE Associate Professor Ahmad Ostovari Moghaddam. Thanks to the support of the RSF and HSE, he decided to stay in Russia for a long time.

    A conference was held at TASS to sum up the results of the RSF’s work last year. In his greeting, RSF Director General Vladimir Bespalov recalled that the foundation carried out its activities in accordance with the presidential decree, which defined the strategic directions for the foundation’s development until 2030. The RSF development program includes activities in four priority areas: support for scientific research and the development of research teams that occupy leading positions in certain areas of science; support for projects to develop promising and priority science-intensive technologies in order to solve problems associated with major challenges for society, the state and science; support for young scientists and popularization of the achievements of Russian science.

    In 2024, the funding volume for 10 thousand projects implemented with the support of the Russian Science Foundation amounted to 39.2 billion rubles, 60 thousand performers from more than 800 organizations in 81 regions of the Russian Federation worked on them, including from the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporizhia region. Based on the results of research supported by the Russian Science Foundation, more than 45 thousand reporting publications were published. A significant part of them were published in leading peer-reviewed Russian and foreign scientific journals.

    The projects not only contribute to the “development of science, but also have practical value, ensuring the creation of new industries,” Vladimir Bespalov noted. In 2024, 2.3 thousand new projects were supported. “It is very important that one and a half thousand managers received grants from the Science Foundation for the first time,” the speaker said. At the same time, in 2025, with the support of the Russian Academy of Sciences, “the post-grant life of the projects will be implemented,” he added. According to him, “the research teams implementing the projects supported by the foundation are centers of attraction for young people in science.” The majority of project implementers (42.7 thousand) are under 39 years of age (inclusive), including more than 9 thousand postgraduate students and more than 7 thousand students.

    Associate Professor of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Ahmad Ostovari Moghaddam, a scientist from Iran, noted that he submitted documents to begin research in Russia and in a number of European countries. “But of all the options that I had, it was work in Russia that seemed the most interesting and convenient. This concerned both the interesting topic for scientific work that was proposed at the Higher School of Economics and the advanced equipment that the university provided,” the scientist said. HSE gave him the opportunity to “form his own research teams.” “I have permanent young research associates who work with me, and I also have the opportunity to implement projects in my own laboratory at the Higher School of Economics,” he noted.

    It was thanks to the support of the Higher School of Economics and the Russian Science Foundation (the foundation awarded the scientist a grant twice) that Ahmad Ostowari Moghaddam decided to stay in Russia for a long time. The project that the scientist is currently implementing at the Higher School of Economics is related to the use of catalytic technologies. “I am also studying the reaction of oxygen reduction from carbon dioxide. My future goal is to increase the focus on practical research, to move away from the academic format. Although, of course, publishing articles and participating in scientific projects are extremely important, I would like my research to also benefit people, making their lives easier and more convenient. As one of the recipients of the Russian Science Foundation grant, I hope that I will be able to initiate new research at the Higher School of Economics,” he noted.

    The scientist recommends “all young researchers from foreign countries to join scientific work in Russia, to come and implement their projects here.”

    The press conference was also attended by Georgy Yakovlev, Assistant to the General Director of Svetlana-Rost (he spoke about the implementation of a new technology in the field of the full-cycle semiconductor industry) and Director of the Research Institute of Neurosciences of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, laureate of the Russian President’s Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists Susanna Gordleeva. She emphasized that a very important mission of the RSF is to support young scientists. Speaking about her personal experience, Susanna Gordleeva noted that “she started with winning a small RSF grant”, and this year she was lucky enough to win an interdisciplinary RSF grant, where there was a competition of about 20 people per place. “We are trying to develop biologically plausible realistic mathematical models that we build on the basis of experimental data to explain the mechanisms of formation of cognitive functions, as well as the development of neurodegenerative diseases,” she said about her work. The obtained research results allow us to move “to the development of new promising artificial intelligence technologies that will be built on the principles of the brain’s functioning.”

    According to the Chair of the RSF Expert Council, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yulia Gorbunova, last year marked the tenth anniversary of the RSF’s existence and its work was cited as an example of the “gold standard”. “Of course, when we talk about finances, it is very important how we distribute them, to whom, for what work we give this money. And here, of course, the correct examination mechanism is very important, which is constantly being improved at the RSF,” she noted. In particular, according to her, the procedure for selecting experts is very thorough: their achievements, their scientific reputation are assessed, possible conflicts of interest are identified, etc.

    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 United Kingdom: Joint statement on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 29 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Joint statement on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 29 April 2025

    The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas Symonds and the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič gave a joint UK-EU statement on 29 April 2025.

    Joint statement by the co-chairs of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, 29 April 2025 :

    The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) today held a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in London. The Joint Committee co-chairs took note of the state of play of the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement since the last meeting on 16 May 2024, renewing the EU and UK’s shared commitment to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Agreement in all its parts.

    The co-chairs reiterated that citizens’ rights are a key joint priority. In that spirit, the co-chairs warmly welcomed the legislative step taken by the UK Government relating to legal clarity for EU citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme and look forward to its practical application. They highlighted the importance of ensuring a smooth transition for citizens from temporary to permanent residence over the course of the next two years. The co-chairs agreed to further strengthen their ongoing cooperation on all citizens’ rights issues to ensure that all citizens who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can fully enjoy their rights now and in the future.

    The co-chairs recalled the importance they attach to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while continuing to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and ensuring the protection of the EU Single Market, to which Northern Ireland has a unique access, and the integrity of the UK’s Internal Market.

    They noted the considerable work undertaken to date in the implementation of the Windsor Framework, having delivered benefits across areas, including on agri-foods, trade, VAT and excise, and engagement with stakeholders. They recalled specifically that, since the last Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, the arrangements for human medicines had started applying effective from 1 January 2025. At the meeting today, they also completed important work on safeguards allowing new customs facilitations on parcels and freight to take effect on 1 May 2025.

    They reiterated their unwavering commitment to stepping up the work for the full delivery of safeguards underpinning the facilitations, in particular in the agri-food area.

    The co-chairs welcomed the Joint Committee newly adopted decisions on the implementation of the Windsor Framework. Finally, they adopted the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee Annual Report for the year 2024.

    The co-chairs agreed to continue working in a spirit of mutual trust and remain in very close contact to achieve full delivery of the Withdrawal Agreement and to strengthen bilateral relations in view of the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The Government of France contributes EUR 1 million to WFP resilience projects in Afghanistan

    Source: World Food Programme

    KABUL – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan welcomes a contribution of EUR 1 million from the Government of France in flexible funding which has been programmed towards WFP’s resilience projects.

    For a period of six months, this funding will allow WFP to reach over 1,100 families with vocational trainings, support farmers in remote regions and create assets that help communities become more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis. Additionally, when a family member participates in asset creation or vocational skills training, they receive food or a monthly allowance of AFN 6,400 (approximately US$90) for six months to help cover basic food needs. 

    “The climate crisis is destroying Afghanistan’s farms, homes, and hopes. With flash floods on top of years of drought, millions are left with no way to grow food or earn a living,” said H.E. Ms Céline Jurgensen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Rome. “Afghan communities need long-term solutions to be able to achieve economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.” 

    WFP’s vocational training programmes empower Afghan women by teaching them marketable skills. The programmes focus on tailoring, carpet weaving and food value chains such as jam making and food preservation. They serve as a vital source of livelihood and offer some of the few remaining safe spaces for Afghan women outside their homes.

    To help Afghan communities stand on their own feet, WFP supports them – especially women – with vocational trainings and the creation of climate-resilient infrastructure including building irrigation canals, dams and flood protection walls, which mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and boost farming productivity,” said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director a.i. in Afghanistan, “WFP thanks the Government of France for their support to the vulnerable communities of Afghanistan.”

    Last year, via resilience projects in Afghanistan, WFP reached over half a million people – nearly half of them being women and girls – by distributing 5,400 metric tons of food and nearly US$ 24 million in cash for food. This year, WFP plans to reach 50,000 families (350,000 people) through resilience projects, covering 61 districts across 30 provinces of Afghanistan. 

    The Government of France has proven to be a steadfast partner in supporting WFP operations in Afghanistan, contributing approximately EUR 50 million from 2021 to 2024. 

    #                    #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter: @wfp_media @WFP_Afghanistan

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HPV health poster design competition launched for WHO Immunisation Week

    Source: City of Salford

    • Salford launches design a HPV vaccination poster competition for young people to support WHO Immunisation Week.
    • The HPV vaccine plays an important role in preventing cervical cancer, as almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.
    • The poster design competition is free to enter and open to all young people aged 11 to 16 who live in Salford or attend a Salford school. 

    In a strong pledge of global public health initiatives, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Immunisation Week campaign, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible,” highlights the vital impact of vaccines in saving lives. 

    WHO recommends that at least 95% of children should be immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases targeted for elimination or control, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, measles, mumps, and rubella.

    Following this campaign, Salford City Council Health Protection team are working with a group of young people from across the city to take part in an exciting creative health competition to design a poster promoting the HPV vaccination in schools.

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a very common group of viruses. Teenage boys and girl are offered the HPV vaccination at high school, in year 8.  The HPV vaccine plays an important role in preventing cervical cancer, as almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.

    This competition aims to improve health literacy among secondary school pupils in Year 8. By involving students, we can empower them to become champions for the HPV vaccine and own the importance of protecting their health and the health of others.

    Cllr John Merry, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Adult Services, Health, and Wellbeing, said: “I’m genuinely excited to see creative approaches to health, like the HPV poster competition. I encourage all children to get involved and hope more Salford high schools join our HPV School’s Education Programme.

    We have already seen excellent outcomes with flu vaccination for children aged 2 to 3 in Swinton, Pendlebury, Walkden and Little Hulton Primary Care Networks (PCN). In addition, the Salford University GP service organised vaccination catch-up clinics for students and staff, ensuring our university community remains well-protected.

    The more Salford’s public health colleagues, service providers, and key stakeholders work together to boost the immunisation rates, the greater the opportunity to reduce health inequalities and protect the whole community.”

    Councillor Arnold Saunders, Vice Chair of the Community and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel, also shared: “While immunisation rates in Salford have declined since 2013, it’s encouraging to note that vaccination rates in children aged five have increased for the first time in over a decade.

    Offers of local health events and clinics in Broughton community settings, including evening and weekend sessions have increased, and means more people can now access services at the right time and right place.

    Broughton is a diverse community so programmes that educate residents and service providers about vaccinations and other health priorities are vital to encouraging higher vaccine uptake and better community health for all.”

    The HPV health poster design competition is free to enter and open to all young people aged 11 to 16 who live in Salford or attend a Salford school. 

    For information on how to enter, the prizes, and terms and conditions, visit www.salford.gov.uk/hpvposterdesign

    Submissions open on 25 April 25 and close on 16 June 2025.

    Salford City Council is committed to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all. To achieve this vision, it has set out seven interconnected priorities as the focus for our work from 2024 to 2028.

    • Good growth
    • A good home for all
    • Tackling poverty and inequality
    • Creating places where people want to live
    • A child friendly city
    • Responding to climate change
    • Healthy lives and quality of care for all.

    Find out more about our ambitions and how we intend to deliver them in our corporate plan, This is our Salford, at www.salford.gov.uk/this-is-our-salford. The plan builds on past successes and continues to find new and innovative ways to improve residents’ lives.

    Salford continues its remarkable story of transformation with already much to celebrate as a city – more well-paid jobs, new affordable and social homes, thriving local schools, award-winning green spaces, iconic infrastructure, cleaner transport, more integrated health and care and a vibrant cultural scene. 

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    Date published
    Tuesday 29 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Perth Museum shortlisted for Museum of the Year

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, annually shortlists five outstanding museums for Museum of the Year.

    The 2025 prize recognises inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024. In addition to looking at the overall achievements of the organisation, the judges are tasked with identifying impactful projects that spotlight the wide range of remarkable people, including museum staff and volunteers, who bring museums to life by engaging with communities, families and younger visitors, artists and creatives.

    Helen Smout, Chief Executive Officer of Culture Perth and Kinross said: “We are thrilled to be in the running as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, and honoured to be the only Scottish museum on the shortlist.

    “This nomination belongs to the people of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and all our staff, volunteers, supporters, and contributors who have helped make Perth Museum a very special place since we opened just over a year ago. We are changing perspectives on what a small, regional museum can achieve. Regardless of who takes home the grand prize, we already feel like winners. Good luck to all of our fellow shortlistees.”

    Perth Museum, home of the Stone of Destiny, opened in March 2024 following a £27 million development at the former Perth City Hall, telling the story of over 10,000 years of Scottish and world history through a local lens.

    Alongside the stone, the Museum displays Perth & Kinross’s Recognised Collections of National Significance as well as iconic loans and exhibitions. Perth Museum has welcomed over 250,000 visitors since opening, exceeding its annual visitor target of 167,000 by 50%.

    Councillor Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, added: “Perth Museum has been a wonderful addition to the city and this nomination is extremely well-deserved.  I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make Perth Museum such a success and am delighted their efforts have been recognised by Art Fund.

    “Perth Museum brings our history to life in new and innovative ways with The Stone of Destiny at its heart, and this is complemented by fantastic and thought-provoking temporary exhibitions such as the new Macbeth exhibition which opened last week.

    “It has been a huge hit with visitors, attracting more than quarter of a million visitors since it opened, and I am sure it will only go from strength-to-strength going forward.”

    The four other shortlisted museums are Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (County Durham); Chapter (Cardiff); Compton Verney (Warwickshire); and Golden Thread Gallery (Belfast).

    The winning museum, recipient of £120,000, will be announced on 26 June at a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool, the first time the event will be held outside London. £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists – bringing the total prize money to £180,000.

    The 2025 judging panel, chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, includes: Rana Begum (Artist), Dr David Dibosa (Director of Research and Interpretation, Tate), Jane Richardson (Chief Executive, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales) and Phil Wang (Comedian, Writer, Actor). The judges will visit each of the finalists to inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through events and activities for new and current visitors.

    Art Fund director Jenny Waldman said: “Congratulations to Perth Museum on being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025. This year’s finalists are inspiring examples of museums at their best – deeply connected to their local communities, responsive to the world around them, and alive with energy and ideas. Each one offers a distinctive experience, showing the endless creativity and care that goes into making museums inspiring and exciting spaces for everyone. Art Fund is proud to celebrate their work and support their ambition through Art Fund Museum of the Year. We hope people across the UK will be inspired to visit these remarkable places and museums in their local area to discover the powerful role they can play in our lives.”

    The prize is funded thanks to the generosity of Art Fund’s members who buy a National Art Pass. During the shortlist celebration period (29 April to 26 June), Art Pass holders can enjoy free entry to the new Macbeth exhibition at Perth Museum, and 50% off all paid exhibitions at Perth Museum and Perth Art Gallery year-round.

    Macbeth: An Exhibition, 25 April – 31 August 2025, invites visitors to explore the real medieval King Macbeth, and the Shakespearean play that made him a household name. From Birnam Wood and Dunsinane Hill, to the Stone of Destiny used to crown the Kings of Scotland, the story of Macbeth is embedded in Perthshire. 

    Visitors can get up close to a never-before-displayed 11th century sword from the time of the real King Macbeth, a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, and first editions of the key historical texts that inspired the play. Cinema fans will also be in for a treat with costumes worn by Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in the 2015 film Macbeth on display for the first time. From medieval royalty, to court intrigue, to witchcraft trials, to popular culture, this exhibition examines the enduring influence of Macbeth across the centuries.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resistance emerges to newest antibiotic

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Resistance emerges to newest antibiotic

    A new study published by UKHSA shows some bacteria have already become resistant to one of the newest antibiotics introduced to the NHS.

    A new study published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that some bacteria have already become resistant to one of the newest antibiotics introduced to the NHS. Thankfully the levels of resistance are still low, but the data is an important reminder to ensure that antibiotics are used appropriately to slow down the development of resistance.

    Ceftazidime/avibactam is an antibiotic used in the NHS since 2017.

    Ceftazidime/avibactam is used to treat some of the most serious infections in hospitals, such as bloodstream infections, typically in individuals who are infected with known multi-drug resistant bacteria or after other antibiotics have failed. The study, which analysed data from 2016 to 2020, found that 6.3% of bacteria tested in routine surveillance showed resistance to the drug. Percentage resistance per bacterial species varied over time, stabilising as routine surveillance testing was established.

    The antibiotic was used by 69.5% of NHS Trusts during the study period.

    As a ‘Reserve’ classified antibiotic, it should be prescribed only in exceptional circumstances based on how difficult the infection is to treat.

    Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but use of antibiotics, whether appropriate or not, accelerates this process.

    Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are less likely to respond to treatment, causing serious complications, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and hospitalisation. This is why it is important to take antibiotics only where necessary and when they are prescribed. UKHSA has recently launched a new digital campaign to help keep antibiotics working and tackle the threat of antibiotic resistance.

    Dr Colin Brown, UKHSA Deputy Director responsible for AMR, said:

    This study reminds us how important resistance surveillance is. Research like this means clinicians and prescribers can access the most relevant information available to prescribe the best antibiotics for their patients, while protecting the long-term effectiveness of antibiotics for future use.   

    We aren’t going to be able to tackle antibiotic resistance solely by finding new drugs. While we continue to support innovation in developing new treatments, resistance will emerge and so it’s important that we all work together to keep antibiotics working.

    While Ceftazidime/avibactam is only prescribed in specific situations in hospitals, UKHSA’s new campaign to help keep antibiotics working highlights that everyone has a role in reducing antibiotic resistance.

    Over the course of the 6-week long campaign, ‘Andi Biotic’ will embark on a mission to answer people’s uncertainties about when and how to take antibiotics to help preserve their effectiveness today and for future generations. ‘Andi’ will come to the rescue in a variety of scenarios to make sure people are taking antibiotics in the right way, including:

    • not taking antibiotics for colds and flu, which they don’t work for
    • only taking antibiotics when you have been prescribed them and taking them as directed by a healthcare professional
    • not saving antibiotics for future use

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British-built satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    British-built satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time

    A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests in 3D from space.  

    Artist’s impression of Biomass in orbit. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

    The European Space Agency (ESA) Biomass Earth observation mission, which launched successfully from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana today, aims to enhance our understanding of the world’s forests and their role in the carbon cycle. The mission will use state-of-the-art radar technology to uncover new insights into forests, including their size and weight, and areas of deforestation.  

    This work will be crucial to helping us understand how tropical forests are changing and provide critical data to understand the carbon cycle and help develop climate strategies. 

    Biomass taking to the skies on 29 April 2025. Credit: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin

    The concept was conceived in Yorkshire, at the University of Sheffield by Professor Shaun Quegan, working with the National Centre for Earth Observation in Leicester. Other academics from the University of Edinburgh and UCL have brought modelling and data assimilation expertise to the application of Biomass data.   

    Since 2016 the UK has won almost £77 million in contracts for Biomass through its membership of ESA. 

    Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said:  

    The Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage.     

    Britain is not only stepping to the forefront of the space industry, but of global climate action too.    

    Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology and will attract global investment into our vibrant space ecosystem, helping us boost growth and deliver our Plan for Change.

    Biomass was built by Airbus in Stevenage, UK. Credit: Airbus.

    Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said:  

    It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionise our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time. Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite.   

    Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia. The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.   

    Airbus UK is the Prime Contractor and has manufactured the satellite in Stevenage. Throughout construction, it has supported approximately 250 highly skilled jobs, benefitting the local economy and bolstering the UK’s 52,000-strong space workforce. 

    Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said:  

    Biomass is a groundbreaking mission that will advance our understanding of how carbon is stored in the world’s forests – delivering crucial data in the fight against climate change. With more than 50 companies involved across 20 nations, the team in Stevenage has shown exceptional leadership in delivering this flagship ESA mission.

    Many other businesses in the UK supply chain have contributed, including ABSL in Abingdon, which has provided the battery, European Astrotech UK in Westcott, which has provided test services, and Nammo, in Cheltenham, providing the service valves.

    Its revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by deforestation. The satellite will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new (non-3D) maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission, providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.   

    Both deforestation, which releases carbon dioxide, and forest growth, which soaks up CO2 from the atmosphere, are crucial parts of climate change.  

    Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access.     

    The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy. By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.  

    Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.   

    Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:  

    The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. By mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail, it will provide critical insights into how our planet is responding to climate change — helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action.  

    We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Adventures of Foreigners in Russia. How a Telegram Channel Helps Foreign Students

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Life is in full swing at the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University: the university was recently visited by an unusual guest — Arina Rylova, a representative of the popular Telegram channel “Adventures of Foreigners in Russia.” The meeting within the university walls turned into a real brainstorming session: activists of student organizations supervising the adaptation of foreign guests shared their experiences, and the guest shared success stories and plans for the future.

    Imagine: a student from Nigeria comes to Russia, gets lost in a pile of documents, doesn’t know where to run. We become his guides, — the channel’s representative begins the presentation. The project, which has united tens of thousands of subscribers, works as a multilingual bridge between foreigners and Russian bureaucracy. Through a bot integrated with the Ministry of Digital Development, the guys quickly resolve migration issues. The channel publishes life hacks in five languages (Chinese, English, French, Arabic, Spanish): how to open an account, extend a visa or find a doctor.

    But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The channel is also a social lift.

    “Last year, our activists visited the SPIEF and the Russia-Africa forum,” the speaker says proudly. “The guys were able to communicate with the leaders of their countries.”

    The faces of the channel’s heroes flash across the screen. Here is Ibrahim from Algeria. He entered, learned Russian so well that he received citizenship, and now he runs a blog for his fellow countrymen. Next to him is a smiling student from Africa, whose blog about life in Russia was noticed by Yandex and invited to work.

    We don’t just provide information – we open doors, the speaker emphasizes.

    In response, Polytechnic student leaders are demonstrating their ecosystem of support. PolyUnion is a whole world.

    Adapters and tutors meet newcomers at the airport with signs in their native language, help with documents, and even teach them how to pay for the metro. The Council of Associations from 20 countries organizes Nowruz, Chinese New Year, and excursions around St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. The guys act as a link between students and the university administration. The Women’s Club creates a safe space for female students: from culinary master classes to career advice. The UN Model turns classrooms into diplomatic arenas, where foreigners hone their Russian in heated debates.

    Polytechnic University foreign students try to take part in activities outside our university: Our volunteer group recently visited Rzhevka, where we spent time walking dogs from a local shelter. For many students who left their pets at home, this trip was special – they happily interacted with animals, played with cats and shared warmth with those who need it, – shared one of the PolyUnion leaders and the ideological inspirer of the “Women’s Club” Alexandra Le Gall.

    PolyUnion actively participates in organizing humanitarian aid for countries that have found themselves in difficult situations. For example, in previous years, they collected aid for Syria and Turkey, and now they are holding an action for Myanmar. Collection points are open in the main building of the university, the Interclub and the dormitory: you can bring clothes, medicines, long-term storage products and other necessary things there. Everything collected through the embassy will be sent to Myanmar to support people affected by the crisis.

    Olesya Stepanova, Head of the Special Projects Department of the Polytechnic University’s USO, spoke about joint projects with foreign students, including the development of instruction cards for applicants from abroad who want to study at SPbPU. The meeting culminated in joint plans. The first candidates from the Polytechnic University will take part in the Summer International Gathering of the channel, which will become a platform for training bloggers.

    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 New Zealand: New Zealand ‘nowhere to be seen – again’ – on intensifying Gaza genocide – PSNA

    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

     

    The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is demanding the New Zealand government justify its absence from submitters to the International Court of Justice hearings at the Hague into Israel blocking vital supplies entering Gaza.

     

    The ICJ’s ongoing investigation into Israeli genocide in Gaza is now considering the illegality of Israel cutting off all food, water, fuel, medicine and other essential aid entering Gaza since early March.

    Countries submitting include the UK, Spain, Belgium and Malaysia.  New Zealand is not on the list for making a submission.

     

    PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says the New Zealand government has gone completely silent on Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

     

    “A year ago, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were making statements about how Israel must comply with international law.”

     

    “They carefully avoided blaming Israel for doing anything wrong, but they issued strong warnings, such as telling Israel that it should not attack the city of Rafah.”

     

    “Israel then bombed Rafah flat.  The New Zealand response was to go completely silent.

     

    “Israeli ministers are quite open about driving Palestinians out of Gaza, so Israel can build Israeli settlements there.  And they are just as open about using starvation as a weapon.”

     

    “Our government says and does nothing.  Chris Luxon had nothing to say about Gaza when he met British Prime Minister Keir Stamer in London earlier in the month.  Yet Israel is perpetuating the holocaust of the 21st Century under the noses of both Prime Ministers.”

     

    Maher Nazzal says that it is deeply disappointing that a nation which so proudly invokes its history of standing against apartheid and of championing nuclear disarmament, chooses to not even appear on the sidelines of the ICJ’s legal considerations.

     

    “New Zealand cannot claim to stand for a rules-based international order while selectively avoiding the rules when it comes to Palestine.”

     

    “We want the New Zealand government to urgently explain to the public its absence from the ICJ hearings.  We need it to commit to participating in all future international legal processes to uphold Palestinian rights, and fulfil its ICJ obligations to impose sanctions on Israel to force its withdrawal from the Palestinian Occupied Territory.”

     

    “If even small countries, such as Vanuatu, can commit their meagre resources to go to make a case to the ICJ, then surely our government can at the very least do the same.’

     

    See here for the official list of countries and other organisations submitting to the ICJ

    https://icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/196/196-20250423-pre-01-00-en.pdf

     

    Co-National Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – History shows patients at risk from Physician Associates – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    Avoidable harm caused to patients both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom shows the introduction of physician associates is a risk to patient safety, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
    Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced that physician associates will be regulated as a new profession in New Zealand.
    NZNO President Anne Daniels says the introduction of the new, overseas trained workforce, leaves patients vulnerable to misdiagnoses or worse. Similar concerns have also been raised by the Resident Doctors’ Association.
    “Here in New Zealand there have been concerns physician associates have failed to take a patient’s blood pressure, leading to a brain bleed and loss of vision.
    “In the United Kingdom where physician associates have been part of the health sector for the past 20 years, there has been a litany of issues including the misdiagnosis of an aggressive breast cancer resulting in the death of a young mother, opiates illegally prescribed, failure to detect a deadly pulmonary embolism and a drain left in a patient’s abdomen.”
    Anne Daniels says nurses are focused on providing the safe, high-quality and culturally appropriate care New Zealanders expect and deserve.
    “The introduction of physician associates is an unnecessary quick and cheap fix to the doctor shortage when we have a competent and experienced nurse practitioner workforce available to do this work. The Minister must immediately stop the introduction and regulation of physician associates here,” she says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Events – Unions to hold Nationwide Day of Action on May Day – CTU

    Source: CTU

    This Thursday 1 May (May Day) the union movement are holding a Nationwide Day of Action to fight back against the Government’s anti-worker agenda.

    Thousands of workers from a wide range of industries in both the public and private sectors will be taking action including participating in lunchtime hui, stop work meetings, and strike action, with key events in 12 centres from Whāngarei to Invercargill.

    “Every year on May Day workers and their unions around the world celebrate the union movement, our history, and our purpose – to build workers’ power and solidarity,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “This year we are coming together to resist the ongoing assault on workers and unions in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past 18 months. This Government has declared war on working people. They are removing our rights, destroying jobs, and ruining the economy.

    “We are sending send a strong message to those in power that we demand a better deal for working people, and an end to the attack on unions. We will also be calling on the Government to deliver pay equity and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    “Workers are sick and tired of having their rights trampled on by this Government, and this Thursday will be out in force to demand change,” said Wagstaff.

    Details of nationwide events:

    Whāngarei

    Tarewa Park

    12-1pm

    Auckland

    Manukau Plaza

    12-1pm

    Hamilton

    Hamilton Lake Rose Garden

    12.30-1.30pm

    New Plymouth

    Huatoki Plaza

    12-1pm

    Mt Maunganui

    Hopukiore (Mt Drury) Reserve

    12-1pm

    Rotorua

    Ranolf & Arawa St roundabout  

    12-1pm

    Palmerston North

    Arena 3

    12.30-1.30pm

    Wellington

    Queens Wharf

    12-1pm

    Nelson

    1903 Square (Top of Trafalgar St)

    12.30-1.30pm

    Christchurch

    Addington Raceway

    12-1pm

    Dunedin

    Otago University Student Union Hall

    12.30-1.30pm

    Invercargill

    Workingmens Club

    12.30-1.30pm

     

    In addition to these main events, health unions have organised events at hospitals focusing on workers’ rights and the public health system. Details of those hui can be found herehttps://link.nzctu.org.nz/click/sDAAiSKYLKJS.j2KawNATEPiY.fn2P4wBdbh_/2BOtzy1a/3s/www.psa.org.nz/campaigns/fight-back-together-maranga-ake-2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI: Charging Robotics: Revoltz Secures First Institutional Client for PORTO EV Logistics Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Marks Expansion Beyond Individual Customers into Fleet and Commercial Applications

    Tel Aviv, Israel, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Charging Robotics Inc. (OTC: CHEV), announced today that its affiliate, Revoltz Ltd. (of which Charging Robotics owns 19.9%), has secured its first institutional client for the PORTO EV, Revoltz’s flagship electric micro-vehicle designed for last-mile logistics. The new order marks a significant step in Revoltz’s commercial expansion strategy, transitioning from individual sales into larger fleet deployments.

    The institutional customer — a prominent logistics provider — will integrate PORTO EVs into its urban delivery fleet, reinforcing the growing demand for sustainable, compact electric mobility solutions across commercial operations.

    “This first institutional order validates our vision to transform urban logistics with efficient, eco-friendly electric vehicles,” said Amir Zaid, CEO and Co-founder of Revoltz. “Fleet customers are seeking solutions that reduce operating costs, meet new sustainability goals, and deliver operational agility in crowded urban settings. We believe that the PORTO EV fits perfectly into that vision.”

    The order comes shortly after Revoltz’s successful launch of its commercial phase in Israel, which included the delivery of the first 50 PORTO EV units to its exclusive local distributor under a multi-year $2.7 million agreement.

    The PORTO EV offers key features ideal for institutional logistics use, including:

    • High-volume cargo capacity across dual axles
    • Full-day operational range on a single charge
    • Compact design optimized for dense urban areas
    • License-free operation for users aged 16+ under Israeli regulations

    The Israeli distributor is leading ongoing sales and service operations, focusing on local delivery fleets, logistics companies, and urban businesses.

    As Revoltz continues to scale operations, it expects to further penetrate the growing last-mile delivery sector both in Israel and internationally, addressing a critical need for sustainable urban transportation.

    About Revoltz Ltd.

    Revoltz Ltd., an affiliate of Charging Robotics Ltd., specializes in the design and manufacture of high-end, mini electric vehicles, bridging the gap between traditional automotive design and emerging micro-mobility solutions. Revoltz is committed to creating cutting-edge designs that revolutionize the micro-mobility sector.

    About Charging Robotics

    Charging Robotics is developing various automatic wireless charging solutions such as robotic and stationary charging systems for EVs. Robotic solutions are intended to offer the driver the ability to initiate charging by use of a simple smartphone app that instructs an autonomous robot, which navigates under the EV for access and charging capabilities. Our stationary systems offer various charging solutions, including in automatic car parks where the company’s system allowing EVs to charge in places where drivers can’t connect plugs to sockets. For further information, visit: https://www.chargingrobotics.com/

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on the current expectations of Charging Robotics, and its subsidiary Charging Robotics Ltd. (together, the “Company”), they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, performance or achievements of the Company could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. For example, the Company uses forward looking statements when it discusses Revoltz’s vision to transform urban logistics with efficient, eco-friendly electric vehicles.

    The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. The Company is not responsible for the contents of any third-party websites.

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Michal Efraty
    Investor Relations
    michal@efraty.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election Diary: Albanese will be encouraged by ‘Trump’ effect in helping Canadian Liberals to victory

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

    Labor will be encouraged by the Liberals’ victory in Canada’s election, undoubtedly much helped by US President Donald Trump.

    Trump’s extraordinary attack on the United States’ northern ally, with his repeated suggestion Canada should be the 51st American state, galvanised voters. Former banker Mark Carney, seen as best able to deal with Trump, won the internal race to succeed Justin Trudeau as PM, and now has clinched the election. The Conservatives, favourites a few months ago, couldn’t compete.

    The Trump factor is not so dramatic in our election, but it is present and working for Labor. In a time of instability, some potential swinging voters are more inclined to opt for the status quo.

    Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday, “Mark Carney has stood for Canada’s national interests, just as I stand up for Australia’s national interest”.

    Australians don’t like Trump or his policies. A recent Lowy poll found people’s trust in the US to act responsibly in the world has dropped 20 points in a year, although they were nearly equally divided on whether Albanese or Peter Dutton would be better to handle the US and Trump.

    After initially thinking Trump’s election could assist the Coalition, Dutton has not been able to shake off the “Trump factor” since it became clear it was a drag.

    Meanwhile, Dutton was having another difficult day on the campaign trail on Tuesday. His electorate office had been vandalised (again) in the early hours. Then, when he visited a sporting ground in the highly marginal seat of Gilmore on the NSW south coast, three local unionists, outfitted in protective gear, turned up to play for the cameras at finding a spot for a nuclear reactor.

    In Gilmore former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance is making another run, after being narrowly pipped by Labor at the 2022 election.

    Dutton had planned to hold his news conference at the ground, but cancelled it and moved on. When the press conference finally happened, it was short but not sweet. Both leader and press pack were, by that stage, tetchy.

    Unlike his unfortunate experience on Sunday with the price of eggs, Dutton did pass the test when asked the inflation rate. He quickly answered 2.7%. This is not the headline rate, which is 2.4%, but it is the trimmed mean rate. That’s the rate preferred by the Reserve Bank, so he would get a tick from Governor Michele Bullock, even if his choice caused some confusion in the media. On Wednesday we get the March quarter CPI figures.

    How the leaders’ debates rated

    Nine won by a whisker the “ratings” contest among TV stations in the leaders’ debates, followed by the ABC. These are considered high figures for election debates. What we don’t know is how many viewers watched all four debates. Now that took some stamina!

    How voters rate former PMs

    Essential Research’s latest poll has an interesting table of people’s ratings of former prime ministers, with John Howard and Bob Hawke filling the first two spots.

    Howard, 85, remains in demand for Liberal campaigning. Speaking to The Conversation, he reels off quite a round of seats he’s visited, including Curtin, Tangey, Bullwinkel and Hasluck in Western Australia (all in a day and a half); Wentworth, Mackellar, Robertson, Warringhah and Bennelong (his old seat) in NSW, and Bruce in Melbourne. He agrees the campaign cycle is faster these days, but he obviously still relishes the smell of the political grease paint.

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

    ref. Election Diary: Albanese will be encouraged by ‘Trump’ effect in helping Canadian Liberals to victory – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-albanese-will-be-encouraged-by-trump-effect-in-helping-canadian-liberals-to-victory-255387

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets NBR delegation  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-04-28
    President Lai meets Japanese Diet Member and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae
    On the afternoon of April 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi Sanae. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. The president expressed hope that in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, Taiwan and Japan can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides, and jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Representative Takaichi as she returns for another visit to Taiwan. I am also very happy to have Members of the House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi and Ozaki Masanao, and Member of the House of Councillors Sato Kei all gathered together here to engage in these very important exchanges. Our visitors will be taking part in many exchange activities during this trip. Earlier today at the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank’s International Political and Economic Forum, Representative Takaichi delivered a speech in which she clearly demonstrated the great importance she places upon the friendship between Taiwan and Japan. For this I want to express my deepest appreciation to each of our guests. The peoples of Taiwan and Japan have a deep friendship and mutual trust. We have a shared commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, but beyond that, we both have striven to contribute to regional peace and stability. I also want to thank the government of Japan for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at important international venues. Tomorrow you will all make a trip to Kaohsiung to visit a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who once said, “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” We will always remember the firm support and friendship he showed Taiwan. Since taking office last year, I have worked hard to improve Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and implement our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. By strengthening our national defense capabilities, building up economic security, demonstrating stable and principled cross-strait leadership, and deepening partnerships with democratic countries including Japan, we can together maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, in the face of China’s continually expanding red supply chains, we hope that Taiwan and Japan, as important economic and trade partners, can continue to cooperate closely in such fields as semiconductors, energy, and AI technology to create non-red supply chains that further enhance economic resilience and industrial competitiveness for both sides. Going forward, Taiwan will work hard to play an important role in the international community and contribute its key strengths. I hope that, with the support of our guests, Taiwan can soon accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Japan so that we can jointly pave the way for further prosperity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, I thank each of you once again for taking concrete action to support Taiwan. I am confident that your visit will help deepen Taiwan-Japan ties and create even greater opportunities for cooperation. Let us all strive together to keep propelling Taiwan-Japan relations forward.  Representative Takaichi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and Taiwanese political leaders for the warm hospitality they extended to the delegation, and mentioning that the visiting delegation members are all like-minded partners carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. July 8 this year will mark the third anniversary of the passing of former Prime Minister Abe, she said, and when the former prime minister unfortunately passed away, President Lai, then serving as vice president, was among the first to come offer condolences, for which she expressed sincere admiration and gratitude. Representative Takaichi stated that Taiwan and Japan are island nations that face the same circumstances and problems, and that Japan’s trade activities rely heavily on ocean transport, so once a problem arises nearby that threatens maritime shipping lanes, it will be a matter of life and death for Japan. Taiwan and Japan are similar, as once a problem arises, both will face food and energy security issues, and supply chains may even be threatened, she said. Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Representative Takaichi stated that both sides must first protect and strengthen supply chain resilience. President Lai has previously said that he wants to turn Taiwan into an AI island, she said, and in semiconductors, Taiwan has the world’s leading technology. Representative Takaichi went on to say that Taiwan and Japan can collaborate in the fields of AI and semiconductors, quantum computing, and dual-use industries, as well as in areas such as drones and new energy technologies to build more resilient supply chains, so that if problems arise, we can maintain our current standard of living with peace of mind. Representative Takaichi indicated that cooperation in the defense sector is also crucial, and that by uniting like-minded countries including Taiwan, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and even countries in Europe, we can build a stronger network to jointly maintain our security guarantees. Representative Takaichi expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will continue to strengthen substantive non-governmental relations, including personnel exchange visits and information sharing, so that we can jointly face and respond to crises when they arise. Regarding the hope to sign a Taiwan-Japan EPA that President Lai had mentioned earlier, she also expressed support and said she looks forward to upcoming exchanges and talks. The visiting delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai delivers remarks at International Holocaust Remembrance Day event
    On the afternoon of April 23, President Lai Ching-te attended an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event and delivered remarks, in which he emphasized that peace is priceless, and war has no winners, while morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability, defending democracy, freedom, and human rights. He said we must never forget history, and must overcome our differences and join in solidarity to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Upon arriving at the event, President Lai heard a testimony from the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, followed by a rabbi’s recitation of the prayer “El Maleh Rachamim.” He then joined other distinguished guests in lighting candles in memory of the victims. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to thank the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, German Institute Taipei, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for co-organizing this deeply significant memorial ceremony again this year. I also want to thank everyone for attending. We are here today to remember the victims of the Holocaust, express sympathy for the survivors, honor the brave individuals who protected the victims, and acknowledge all who were impacted by this atrocity. It was deeply moving to hear Ms. [Orly] Sela share the story of how her grandmother, Yehudit Biksz, escaped the Nazi regime. I want to thank her specially for traveling so far to attend this event. From the 1930s through World War II, the Nazi regime sought to exclude Jewish people from society. In their campaign, they perpetrated systematic genocide driven by their ideology. Policies and directives under the authoritarian Nazi regime resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. Millions of others were persecuted, including Romani people, persons with disabilities, the gay community, and anyone who disagreed with Nazi ideology. It is one of the darkest chapters in human history. Many countries, including Taiwan, have enacted anti-massacre legislation, and observe a remembrance day each year. Those occasions help us remember the victims, preserve historical memory, and most importantly, reinforce our resolve to fight against hatred and discrimination. Twenty-three years ago, Chelujan (車路墘) Church in Tainan founded the Taiwan Holocaust Memorial Museum. It is the first Jewish museum in Taiwan, and the second Holocaust museum in Asia. Its founding mission urges us to forget hatred and love one another; put an end to war and advocate peace. Many of the exhibition items come from Jewish people, connecting Taiwan closer with Israel and helping Taiwanese better understand the experiences of Jewish people. In this way, we grow to more deeply cherish peace. When I was mayor of Tainan, I took part in an exhibition event at Chelujan Church. I was also invited by the Israeli government to join the International Mayors Conference in Israel, where I visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. I will never forget how deeply that experience moved me, and as a result, peace and human rights became even more important issues for me. These issues are valued by Taiwan and our friends and allies. They are also important links connecting Taiwan with the world. Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. We will continue to expand cooperation with democratic partners and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. We will also continue to make greater contributions and work with the international community to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. However, we still see wars raging around the world. We see a resurgence of authoritarian powers, which could severely impact global democracy, peace, and prosperous development. Today’s event allows for more than reflection on the past; it also serves as a warning for the future. We are reminded of the threats that hatred, prejudice, and extremism pose to humanity. But we are also reminded that morality, democracy, and respect for human rights are powerful forces against violence and tyranny. We must never forget history. We must overcome our differences and join in solidarity for a better future. Let’s work together to ensure that the next generations live in a world that is more just and more peaceful. Also in attendance at the event were Member of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and Taiwan friendship group Chair Boaz Toporovsky, ISECO Representative Maya Yaron, and German Institute Taipei Deputy Director General Andreas Hofem.

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai pays respects to Pope Francis  
    On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te visited the Taipei Archdiocesan Curia to pay respects in a memorial ceremony for His Holiness Pope Francis. As officiant of the ceremony, President Lai burned incense and presented flowers, fruits, and wine to pay his respects to Pope Francis. At the direction of the master of ceremonies, the president then bowed three times in front of Pope Francis’s memorial portrait, conveying his grief and deep respect for the late pope. After hearing of Pope Francis’s passing on April 21, President Lai promptly requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express sincere condolences from the people and government of Taiwan to the Vatican. The president also instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-04-23
    President Lai meets US CNAS NextGen fellows
    On the morning of April 23, President Lai Ching-te met with fellows from the Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Program (NextGen) run by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of the United States for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan over the years, supporting Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its national defense capabilities and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The president pointed out that we will promote our “Taiwan plus one” policy, that is, new arrangements for Taiwan plus the US, and form a “Taiwan investment in the US team” to expand investment and bring about even closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, allowing us to reduce the trade deficit and generate development that benefits both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Ms. Michèle Flournoy, chair of the CNAS Board of Directors, is a good friend of Taiwan, and she has made major contributions to Taiwan-US relations through her long-time efforts on various aspects of our cooperation. I am happy to welcome Chair Flournoy, who is once again leading a NextGen Fellowship delegation to Taiwan. CNAS is a prominent think tank focusing on US national security and defense policy based in Washington, DC. Its NextGen Fellowship has fostered talented individuals in the fields of national security and foreign affairs. This year’s delegation is significantly larger than those of the past, demonstrating the increased importance that the next generation of US leaders attach to Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to you all. The Taiwan Strait, an issue of importance for our guests, has become a global issue. There is a high degree of international consensus that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable elements in global security and prosperity. Facing military threats from China, Taiwan proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we are actively implementing military reforms, enhancing whole-of-society defense resilience, and working to increase our defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP. Second, we are strengthening our economic resilience. As Taiwan’s economy must keep advancing, we can no longer put all our eggs in one basket. We are taking action to remain firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence and marketing worldwide. In these efforts, we are already seeing results. Third, we are standing side-by-side with other democratic countries to demonstrate the strength of deterrence and achieve our goal of peace through strength. And fourth, Taiwan is willing, under the principles of parity and dignity, to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China towards achieving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This April 10 marked the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act. We thank the US government for continuing its arms sales to Taiwan over the years, supporting Taiwan’s efforts to enhance its national defense capabilities and jointly maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to Taiwan and the US continuing to strengthen collaboration on the development of both our defense industries as well as the building of non-red supply chains. This will yield even more results and further deepen our economic and trade partnership. The US is now the main destination for outbound investment from Taiwan. Moving forward, we will promote our “Taiwan plus one” policy, that is, new arrangements for Taiwan plus the US. And our government will form a “Taiwan investment in the US team” to expand investment. We hope this will bring Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation even closer and, through mutually beneficial assistance, allow us to generate development that benefits both our sides while reducing our trade deficit. In closing, thank you once again for visiting Taiwan. We hope your trip is fruitful and leaves you with a deep impression of Taiwan. We also hope that going forward you continue supporting Taiwan and advancing even greater development for Taiwan-US ties.  Chair Flournoy then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for making time to receive their delegation. Referring to President Lai’s earlier remarks, she said that it is quite an impressive group, as past members of this program have gone on to become members of the US Congress, leading government experts, and leaders in the think-tank world and in the private sector. She remarked that investing in this group is a wonderful privilege for her and that they appreciate President Lai’s agreeing to take the time to engage in exchange with them. Chair Flournoy emphasized that they are visiting Taiwan at a critical moment, when there is so much change and volatility in the geostrategic environment, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of unpredictability. She stated that given our shared values, our shared passion for democracy and human rights, and our shared interests in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, this is an important time for dialogue, collaboration, and looking for additional opportunities where we can work together towards regional peace and stability.

    Details
    2025-04-18
    President Lai meets US delegation from Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific
    On the afternoon of April 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Senator Pete Ricketts, chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. In remarks, President Lai said we hope to promote our Taiwan plus one policy, that is, new industrial arrangements for Taiwan plus the US, to leverage the strengths of both sides and reinforce our links in such areas as the economy, trade, and technological innovation. The president said that by deepening cooperation, Taiwan and the US will be better positioned to work together on building non-red supply chains. He said a more secure and sustainable economic and trade partnership will allow us to address the challenges posed by geopolitics, climate change, and the restructuring of global supply chains. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome you all to Taiwan. I want to take this opportunity to especially thank Chairman Pete Ricketts and Ranking Member Chris Coons for their high regard and support for Taiwan. Chairman Ricketts has elected to visit Taiwan on his first overseas trip since taking up his new position in January. Ranking Member Coons made a dedicated trip to Taiwan in 2021 to announce a donation of COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the US government. He also visited last May, soon after my inauguration, continuing to deepen Taiwan-US exchanges. Thanks to support from Chairman Ricketts and Ranking Member Coons, the US Congress has continued to introduce many concrete initiatives and resources to assist Taiwan through the National Defense Authorization Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, bringing the Taiwan-US partnership even closer. For this, I want to again express my gratitude. There has long been bipartisan support in the US Congress for maintaining security in the Taiwan Strait. Faced with China’s persistent political and military intimidation, Taiwan will endeavor to reform national defense and enhance whole-of-society defense resilience. We will also make special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP, up from the current 2.5 percent, so as to enhance Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. We look forward to Taiwan and the US continuing to work together to maintain peace and stability in the region. We will also promote our Taiwan plus one policy, that is, new industrial arrangements for Taiwan plus the US. We hope to leverage the strengths of both sides and reinforce our links in such areas as the economy, trade, and technological innovation, jointly promoting prosperity and development. We believe that by deepening cooperation through the Taiwan plus one policy, Taiwan and the US will be better positioned to work together on building non-red supply chains. A more secure and sustainable economic and trade partnership will allow us to address the challenges posed by geopolitics, climate change, and the restructuring of global supply chains. In closing, I wish Chairman Ricketts and Ranking Member Coons a smooth and successful visit. Chairman Ricketts then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his hospitality. He said that he and his delegation have had a wonderful time meeting with government officials, industry representatives, and the team at the American Institute in Taiwan. Highlighting that Taiwan has long been a friend and partner of the US, he said their bipartisan delegation to Taiwan emphasizes long-time bipartisan support in the US Congress for Taiwan, and though administrations change, that bipartisan support remains. Chairman Ricketts stated that the US is committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and that they want to see peace across the Taiwan Strait. He also stated that the US opposes any unilateral change in the status of Taiwan and that they expect any differences between Taiwan and China to be resolved peacefully without coercion or the threat of force. To that end, he said, the US will continue to assist Taiwan in its self-defense and will also step up by bolstering its own defense capabilities, noting that there is broad consensus on this in the US Congress. Chairman Ricketts stated that they want to see Taiwan participate in international organizations and memberships where appropriate, and encourage Taiwan to reach out to current and past diplomatic allies to strengthen those bilateral relationships. He pointed out that the long economic relationship between the US and Taiwan is important for our as well as the entire world’s security and prosperity. He also noted that there are many opportunities for us to continue to grow the economic relationship that will help create more prosperity for our respective peoples and ensure that we are more secure in the world. Chairman Ricketts emphasized that they made this trip early on in the new US administration to work with Taiwan to develop three points: security, diplomatic relations, and the economy. He stated that in the face of rising aggression from communist China, the US will provide commensurate help to Taiwan in self-defense and that they will continue to provide the services and tools needed. In closing, Chairman Ricketts once again thanked President Lai for the hospitality and said he looks forward to dialogue on how we can continue these relationships. Ranking Member Coons then delivered remarks. Mentioning that their delegation also visited the Philippines on this trip, he said that there and in Taiwan, they have been focused on peace, stability, and security, and the ways for deepening and strengthening economic and security relations. He noted that 46 years ago, the US Senate passed the Taiwan Relations Act, adding that it was strongly bipartisan when enacted and that support for it is still strongly bipartisan today. Its core commitment, he said, is that the US will be engaged and will be a partner in ensuring that any dispute or challenge across the strait will be resolved peacefully, and that Taiwan will have the resources it needs for its self-defense. Ranking Member Coons said that between people, friendships are deepest and most enduring when they are based not just on interests but on values, and that the same is true between the US and Taiwan. Free press, free enterprise, free societies, democracy – these core shared values, he said, anchor our friendship and partnership, making them deeper. He remarked that they are grateful for the significant investment in the US being made by companies from Taiwan, but what anchors our partnership, in addition to these important investments and investments being made by Taiwan in its own security, are the values that mobilize our free-enterprise spirit and our commitment to free societies. In Europe in recent years, Ranking Member Coons said, an aggressive nation has tried to change boundaries and change history by force. He said that the US and dozens of countries committed to freedom have come to the aid of Ukraine to defend it, help it stabilize, and secure its future. So too in this region of the world, he added, the US and a bipartisan group in the US Senate are committed to stable, secure, peaceful relations and to deterring any unilateral effort to change the status quo by force. In closing, he said he is grateful for a chance to return to Taiwan after the pandemic and that he looks forward to our conversation, our partnership, and the important work we have in front of us. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Marriott International Announces Plans to Debut First Autograph Collection Safari Camp in Serengeti, Tanzania

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

    SERENGETI, Tanzania, April 29, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Marriott International (www.Marriott.com), Inc. has signed an agreement to open the first Autograph Collection safari camp globally. Expected to debut in Q3 2025, Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection will deliver a distinctive and immersive safari experience in Tanzania’s world-renowned Serengeti wilderness, marking a milestone expansion for the brand into experiential, nature-based travel.

    Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection is set in the heart of the Serengeti ecosystem, near the Fort Ikoma gate of Serengeti National Park. Positioned between Central Serengeti and the western migration corridor, the camp lies directly along the Great Migration route, where vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope pass through between May and July each year. The surrounding area teems with wildlife year-round—including lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and giraffe—offering remarkable encounters in every season.  

    “Mapito Safari Camp will mark a defining moment for Autograph Collection as we introduce the brand’s first safari experience in one of the world’s most breathtaking wildlife destinations,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “The Serengeti’s scale, beauty, and cultural heritage will make an unforgettable setting for a property that will embody the individuality and character that Autograph Collection is known for.” 

    Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection is expected to offer 16 tented suites, including a two-bedroom villa. Each suite will feature an outdoor deck, fire pit and retractable roof for open-air stargazing — a first for the region. Plans for the camp include a spa, fitness centre, swimming pool and multiple dining options, such as ‘The Boma’, a communal restaurant inspired by traditional bonfire gatherings. 

    Design inspiration will be drawn from the surrounding landscape and local Ikoma culture, and the camp will aim to incorporate sustainable practices that support conservation and minimise environmental impact.  

    Guests can anticipate a range of immersive experiences, from spectacular daytime game drives and evocative night safaris that unveil the Serengeti’s nocturnal rhythms, to walking safaris, hot air balloon flights, bush dining, and meaningful engagement with the local Ikoma tribe. 

    “We are excited to collaborate with Marriott International to bring Autograph Collection to the Serengeti,” said Rishen Patel, developer of Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, Autograph Collection. “This camp will offer an intimate, and immersive experience that reflects both the natural wonder of the region and the timeless storytelling and craftsmanship of the brand.” 

    Autograph Collection’s global portfolio currently includes over 330 hotels that are carefully selected for their vision, passion, and unique perspectives on design and hospitality. Each property offers immersive moments that are Exactly Like Nothing Else

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI: Unlock Your Trading Edge With Axi at the Finance Magnates Africa Summit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi is attending this year’s Finance Magnates Africa Summit (FMAS:25), taking place on May 29-30, 2025, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.  

    Event attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Axi Select, Axi’s all-inclusive capital allocation program, designed to empower ambitious traders on their trading journey. “We invite all traders to visit our booth and explore our innovation that is Axi Select,” says Louis Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer at Axi, before adding, “We look forward to networking with follow traders and showcase the exceptional benefits of our program. Axi Select features zero registration fees, capital funding of up to $1,000,000 USD, the opportunity to earn up to 90% of the profits, and advanced tools to maximise traders’ trading potential.” 

    Additionally, visitors can explore the broker’s Introducing Broker (IB) and Affiliate programs or learn more about Axi’s longstanding partnership with Man City, Premier League Champions. Manchester City memorabilia and the club’s mascot will be on-site for photos and attendees stand the chance to win exciting prizes, including signed player shirts and other merchandise.  

    The broker has a longstanding partnership with Premier League club, Manchester City FC, as well as LaLiga club, Girona FC, and Brazilian club, Esporte Clube Bahia. In 2023, they also announced England international John Stones as their Brand Ambassador. The broker was recognised with the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award at the 2024 Dubai Forex Expo, as well as with the being named ‘Best Funded Trader Programme’ by the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025.  

    The Axi Select programme is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. In our dealings with you, we will act as a principal counterparty to all of your positions. This content is not available to AU, NZ, EU and UK residents. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. 

    About Axi 

    Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more. 

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  • MIL-OSI: Southside Bancshares, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • First quarter net income of $21.5 million;
    • First quarter earnings per diluted common share of $0.71;
    • Annualized return on first quarter average assets of 1.03%;
    • Annualized return on first quarter average tangible common equity of 14.14%(1); and
    • Nonperforming assets remain low at 0.39% of total assets.

    TYLER, Texas, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Southside Bancshares, Inc. (“Southside” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SBSI) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Southside reported net income of $21.5 million and earnings per diluted common share of $0.71 for both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was 10.57%, compared to 11.02% for the same period in 2024. The annualized return on average assets was 1.03% for both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

    “We are pleased to report financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, which included earnings per share of $0.71, a return on average assets of 1.03%, and a return on average tangible common equity of 14.14%,” stated Lee R. Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Southside. “Linked quarter, the net interest margin increased three basis points to 2.86%, net interest income increased $145,000 to $53.9 million, and deposits net of public fund and brokered deposits increased $91.9 million. The linked quarter decrease in total loans was primarily due to payoffs exceeding original projections. Our loan pipeline is solid and we continue to anticipate mid-single-digit loan growth for 2025; however, it will likely be heavily weighted in the last half of the year.”

    Operating Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

    Net income was $21.5 million and earnings per diluted common share were $0.71 for both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. Annualized returns on average assets and average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2025 were 1.03% and 10.57%, respectively, compared to 1.03% and 11.02%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Our efficiency ratio and tax-equivalent efficiency ratio(1) were 57.04% and 55.04%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 57.95% and 55.54%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 56.08% and 54.00%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $53.9 million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 0.9%, compared to the same period in 2024. Linked quarter, net interest income increased $0.1 million, or 0.3%, compared to $53.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The increase in net interest income for both periods was due to the decrease in the average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities and the increase in the average balance of our interest earning assets, partially offset by the decrease in the average yield of interest earning assets and the increase in the average balance of our interest bearing liabilities.

    Our net interest margin increased to 2.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 2.72% for the same period in 2024, while tax-equivalent net interest margin(1) was 2.86% for both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. Linked quarter, net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest margin(1) increased from 2.70% and 2.83%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    Noninterest income was $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, an increase of $0.5 million, or 5.1%, compared to $9.7 million for the same period in 2024. The increase was primarily due to increases in gain on sale of loans and trust fees, partially offset by an increase in net loss on sale of securities available for sale (“AFS”). On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income decreased $2.1 million, or 16.8%, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in other noninterest income, an increase in net loss on sale of securities AFS and a decrease in deposit services income. The decrease in other noninterest income was due to a decrease in swap fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

    Noninterest expense increased $0.2 million, or 0.6%, to $37.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $36.9 million for the same period in 2024, due to increases in other noninterest expense and professional fees, partially offset by decreases in salaries and employee benefits expense and amortization of intangibles. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense decreased by $1.1 million, or 2.8%, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, due to decreases in salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy, other noninterest expense and professional fees.

    Income tax expense increased $0.1 million, or 2.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. On a linked quarter basis, income tax expense increased $0.1 million, or 1.3%. Our effective tax rate (“ETR”) increased to 18.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to 17.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and increased from 17.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The higher ETR for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, was primarily due to an increase in state income tax expense.

    Balance Sheet Data

    At March 31, 2025, Southside had $8.34 billion in total assets, compared to $8.35 billion at March 31, 2024, and $8.52 billion at December 31, 2024.

    Loans at March 31, 2025 were $4.57 billion, a decrease of $10.1 million, or 0.2%, compared to $4.58 billion at March 31, 2024. Linked quarter, loans decreased $94.4 million, or 2.0%, due to decreases of $79.7 million in construction loans, $19.7 million in municipal loans, $2.5 million in commercial real estate loans and $1.9 million in loans to individuals. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $8.5 million in commercial loans and $1.0 million in 1-4 family residential loans.

    Securities at March 31, 2025 were $2.74 billion, an increase of $24.2 million, or 0.9%, compared to $2.71 billion at March 31, 2024. Linked quarter, securities decreased $76.9 million, or 2.7%, from $2.81 billion at December 31, 2024.

    Deposits at March 31, 2025 were $6.59 billion, an increase of $45.1 million, or 0.7%, compared to $6.55 billion at March 31, 2024. Linked quarter, deposits decreased $63.4 million, or 1.0%, from $6.65 billion at December 31, 2024.

    At March 31, 2025, we had 178,840 total deposit accounts with an average balance of $34,000. Our estimated uninsured deposits were 40.0% of total deposits as of March 31, 2025. When excluding affiliate deposits (Southside-owned deposits) and public fund deposits (all collateralized), our total estimated deposits without insurance or collateral was 20.8% as of March 31, 2025. Our noninterest bearing deposits represent approximately 20.9% of total deposits. Linked quarter, our cost of interest bearing deposits decreased nine basis points from 2.92% in the prior quarter to 2.83%. Linked quarter, our cost of total deposits decreased five basis points from 2.31% in the prior quarter to 2.26%.

    Our cost of interest bearing deposits decreased 14 basis points, from 2.97% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to 2.83% for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Our cost of total deposits decreased 10 basis points, from 2.36% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to 2.26% for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

    Capital Resources and Liquidity

    Our capital ratios and contingent liquidity sources remain solid. During the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, we did not purchase any common stock pursuant to our Stock Repurchase Plan. Under this plan, repurchases of our outstanding common stock may be carried out in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to any trading plan that might be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares under the Stock Repurchase Plan and may modify, suspend or discontinue the plan at any time. Subsequent to March 31, 2025, and through April 25, 2025, we purchased 196,419 shares of common stock at an average price of $26.82 pursuant to the Stock Repurchase Plan.

    As of March 31, 2025, our total available contingent liquidity, net of current outstanding borrowings, was $2.29 billion, consisting of FHLB advances, Federal Reserve Discount Window and correspondent bank lines of credit.

    Asset Quality

    Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2025 were $32.2 million, or 0.39% of total assets, an increase of $24.2 million, or 303.5%, compared to $8.0 million, or 0.10% of total assets, at March 31, 2024. Linked quarter, nonperforming assets increased $28.6 million, or 797.0%, from $3.6 million at December 31, 2024 due primarily to increases of $27.5 million in restructured loans and $1.1 million in nonaccrual loans. The increase in restructured loans was due to the extension of maturity on a $27.5 million commercial real estate loan to allow for an extended lease up period. Classified loans totaled $67.0 million on March 31, 2025, compared to $48.0 million on December 31, 2024, primarily due to the downgrade of a $17.9 million commercial real estate loan in the first quarter that paid off on April 4, 2025.

    The allowance for loan losses totaled $44.6 million, or 0.98% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $44.9 million, or 0.96% of total loans, at December 31, 2024. The allowance for loan losses was $43.6 million, or 0.95% of total loans, at March 31, 2024. The increase in allowance as a percentage of total loans was primarily due to an increase in economic concerns forecasted in the CECL model, partially offset by a decrease in the loan portfolio due to payoffs.

    For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $42,000, compared to a provision of $1.2 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Net charge-offs were $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024, compared to net charge-offs of $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

    We recorded a provision for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures of $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to a reversal of provision for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures $1.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The balance of the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures was $3.8 million and $2.8 million at March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in other liabilities.

    Dividend

    Southside Bancshares, Inc. declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.36 per share on February 6, 2025, which was paid on March 6, 2025, to all shareholders of record as of February 20, 2025.

    _______________

    (1) Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for more information and for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.
       

    Conference Call

    Southside’s management team will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter ended March 31, 2025 financial results on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CDT. The conference call can be accessed by webcast, for listen-only mode, on the company website, https://investors.southside.com, under Events.

    Those interested in participating in the question and answer session, or others who prefer to call-in, can register at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI1a8ec95cd2734970adaf83fadfc7f01d to receive the dial-in number and unique code to access the conference call seamlessly. While not required, it is recommended that those wishing to participate, register 10 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure a more efficient registration process.

    For those unable to attend the live event, a webcast recording will be available on the company website, https://investors.southside.com, for at least 30 days, beginning approximately two hours following the conference call.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the following fully taxable-equivalent measures (“FTE”): (i) Net interest income (FTE), (ii) net interest margin (FTE), (iii) net interest spread (FTE), and (iv) efficiency ratio (FTE), which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis. Interest income earned on certain assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments.

    Net interest income (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE). Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments and is not permitted under GAAP in the consolidated statements of income. We believe that this measure is the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and that it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin (FTE) is the ratio of net interest income (FTE) to average earning assets. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread (FTE) is the difference in the average yield on average earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

    Efficiency ratio (FTE). The efficiency ratio (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that provides a measure of productivity in the banking industry. This ratio is calculated to measure the cost of generating one dollar of revenue. The ratio is designed to reflect the percentage of one dollar which must be expended to generate that dollar of revenue. We calculate this ratio by dividing noninterest expense, excluding amortization expense on intangibles and certain nonrecurring expense by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income, excluding net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale and certain nonrecurring impairments. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our efficiency ratio.

    These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. Whenever we present a non-GAAP financial measure in an SEC filing, we are also required to present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and reconcile the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure and such comparable GAAP measure.

    Management believes adjusting net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread to a fully taxable-equivalent basis is a standard practice in the banking industry as these measures provide useful information to make peer comparisons. Tax-equivalent adjustments are reflected in the respective earning asset categories as listed in the “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables.

    A reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

    About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

    Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $8.34 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, that owns 100% of Southside Bank. Southside Bank currently has 53 branches in Texas and operates a network of 73 ATMs/ITMs.

    To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at https://investors.southside.com. Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data. To receive email notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the website under Resources and Investor Email Alerts. Questions or comments may be directed to Lindsey Bailes at (903) 630-7965, or lindsey.bailes@southside.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this press release and in other written materials, documents and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date. These statements may include words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For example, benefits of the Share Repurchase Plan, trends in asset quality, capital, liquidity, the Company’s ability to sell nonperforming assets, expense reductions, planned operational efficiencies and earnings from growth and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rates and our expectations regarding rate changes, tax reform, inflation, tariffs, the impacts related to or resulting from other economic factors are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. Accordingly, our results could materially differ from those that have been estimated. The most significant factor that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements include the ongoing impact of higher inflation levels, interest rate fluctuations, including the impact of changes in interest rates on our financial projections, models and guidance, and general economic and recessionary concerns, as well as the effects of declines in the real estate market, tariffs or trade wars (including reduced consumer spending, lower economic growth or recession, reduced demand for U.S. exports, disruptions to supply chains, and decreased demand for other banking products and services), high unemployment and increasing insurance costs, as well as the financial stress on borrowers as a result of the foregoing, all of which could impact economic growth and could cause a reduction in financial transactions and business activities, including decreased deposits and reduced loan originations, and our ability to manage liquidity in a rapidly changing and unpredictable market.

    Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, under “Part I – Item 1. Forward Looking Information” and “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.

     
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Summary (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      As of
        2025       2024  
      Mar 31,   Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,
    ASSETS                  
    Cash and due from banks $ 103,359     $ 91,409     $ 130,147     $ 114,283     $ 96,744  
    Interest earning deposits   293,364       281,945       333,825       272,469       307,257  
    Federal funds sold   34,248       52,807       22,325       65,244       65,372  
    Securities available for sale, at estimated fair value   1,457,939       1,533,894       1,408,437       1,405,944       1,405,221  
    Securities held to maturity, at net carrying value   1,278,330       1,279,234       1,288,403       1,305,975       1,306,898  
    Total securities   2,736,269       2,813,128       2,696,840       2,711,919       2,712,119  
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost   34,208       33,818       40,291       32,991       27,958  
    Loans held for sale   903       1,946       768       1,352       756  
    Loans   4,567,239       4,661,597       4,578,048       4,589,365       4,577,368  
    Less: Allowance for loan losses   (44,623 )     (44,884 )     (44,276 )     (42,407 )     (43,557 )
    Net loans   4,522,616       4,616,713       4,533,772       4,546,958       4,533,811  
    Premises & equipment, net   142,245       141,648       138,811       138,489       139,491  
    Goodwill   201,116       201,116       201,116       201,116       201,116  
    Other intangible assets, net   1,531       1,754       2,003       2,281       2,588  
    Bank owned life insurance   137,962       138,313       137,489       136,903       136,604  
    Other assets   135,479       142,851       124,876       133,697       130,047  
    Total assets $ 8,343,300     $ 8,517,448     $ 8,362,263     $ 8,357,702     $ 8,353,863  
                       
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
    Noninterest bearing deposits $ 1,379,641     $ 1,357,152     $ 1,377,022     $ 1,366,924     $ 1,358,827  
    Interest bearing deposits   5,211,210       5,297,096       5,058,680       5,129,008       5,186,933  
    Total deposits   6,590,851       6,654,248       6,435,702       6,495,932       6,545,760  
    Other borrowings and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   691,417       808,352       865,856       763,700       770,151  
    Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt
    issuance costs
      92,078       92,042       92,006       91,970       93,913  
    Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   60,276       60,274       60,273       60,272       60,271  
    Other liabilities   92,055       90,590       103,172       144,858       95,846  
    Total liabilities   7,526,677       7,705,506       7,557,009       7,556,732       7,565,941  
    Shareholders’ equity   816,623       811,942       805,254       800,970       787,922  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 8,343,300     $ 8,517,448     $ 8,362,263     $ 8,357,702     $ 8,353,863  
                                           
       
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
    (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
       
      Three Months Ended
        2025       2024  
      Mar 31,   Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,
    Income Statement:                  
    Total interest and dividend income $ 100,288     $ 101,689     $ 105,703     $ 104,186     $ 102,758  
    Total interest expense   46,436       47,982       50,239       50,578       49,410  
    Net interest income   53,852       53,707       55,464       53,608       53,348  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses   758       1,384       2,389       (485 )     58  
    Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit losses   53,094       52,323       53,075       54,093       53,290  
    Noninterest income                  
    Deposit services   5,829       6,084       6,199       6,157       5,985  
    Net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale   (554 )           (1,929 )     (563 )     (18 )
    Gain (loss) on sale of loans   55       138       115       220       (436 )
    Trust fees   1,765       1,773       1,628       1,456       1,336  
    Bank owned life insurance   799       848       857       1,767       784  
    Brokerage services   1,120       1,054       1,068       1,081       1,014  
    Other   1,209       2,384       233       1,439       1,059  
    Total noninterest income   10,223       12,281       8,171       11,557       9,724  
    Noninterest expense                  
    Salaries and employee benefits   22,382       22,960       22,233       21,984       23,113  
    Net occupancy   3,404       3,629       3,613       3,750       3,362  
    Advertising, travel & entertainment   924       884       734       795       950  
    ATM expense   378       378       412       368       325  
    Professional fees   1,520       1,645       1,206       1,075       1,154  
    Software and data processing   2,839       2,931       2,951       2,860       2,856  
    Communications   383       320       423       410       449  
    FDIC insurance   947       931       939       977       943  
    Amortization of intangibles   223       249       278       307       337  
    Other   4,089       4,232       3,543       3,239       3,392  
    Total noninterest expense   37,089       38,159       36,332       35,765       36,881  
    Income before income tax expense   26,228       26,445       24,914       29,885       26,133  
    Income tax expense   4,721       4,659       4,390       5,212       4,622  
    Net income $ 21,507     $ 21,786     $ 20,524     $ 24,673     $ 21,511  
                       
    Common Share Data:      
    Weighted-average basic shares outstanding   30,390       30,343       30,286       30,280       30,262  
    Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding   30,483       30,459       30,370       30,312       30,305  
    Common shares outstanding end of period   30,410       30,379       30,308       30,261       30,284  
    Earnings per common share                  
    Basic $ 0.71     $ 0.72     $ 0.68     $ 0.81     $ 0.71  
    Diluted   0.71       0.71       0.68       0.81       0.71  
    Book value per common share   26.85       26.73       26.57       26.47       26.02  
    Tangible book value per common share   20.19       20.05       19.87       19.75       19.29  
    Cash dividends paid per common share   0.36       0.36       0.36       0.36       0.36  
                       
    Selected Performance Ratios:                  
    Return on average assets   1.03 %     1.03 %     0.98 %     1.19 %     1.03 %
    Return on average shareholders’ equity   10.57       10.54       10.13       12.46       11.02  
    Return on average tangible common equity (1)   14.14       14.12       13.69       16.90       15.07  
    Average yield on earning assets (FTE) (1)   5.23       5.24       5.51       5.45       5.38  
    Average rate on interest bearing liabilities   3.03       3.12       3.28       3.32       3.22  
    Net interest margin (FTE) (1)   2.86       2.83       2.95       2.87       2.86  
    Net interest spread (FTE) (1)   2.20       2.12       2.23       2.13       2.16  
    Average earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities   128.10       129.55       128.51       128.62       127.71  
    Noninterest expense to average total assets   1.78       1.80       1.73       1.72       1.77  
    Efficiency ratio (FTE) (1)   55.04       54.00       51.90       52.71       55.54  
    (1) Refer to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.
       
       
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
       
      Three Months Ended
        2025       2024  
      Mar 31,   Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,
    Nonperforming Assets: $ 32,193     $ 3,589     $ 7,656     $ 6,918     $ 7,979  
    Nonaccrual loans   4,254       3,185       7,254       6,110       7,709  
    Accruing loans past due more than 90 days                            
    Restructured loans   27,505       2             145       151  
    Other real estate owned   388       388       388       648       119  
    Repossessed assets   46       14       14       15        
                       
    Asset Quality Ratios:                  
    Ratio of nonaccruing loans to:                  
    Total loans   0.09 %     0.07 %     0.16 %     0.13 %     0.17 %
    Ratio of nonperforming assets to:                  
    Total assets   0.39       0.04       0.09       0.08       0.10  
    Total loans   0.70       0.08       0.17       0.15       0.17  
    Total loans and OREO   0.70       0.08       0.17       0.15       0.17  
    Ratio of allowance for loan losses to:                  
    Nonaccruing loans   1,048.97       1,409.23       610.37       694.06       565.01  
    Nonperforming assets   138.61       1,250.60       578.32       613.00       545.90  
    Total loans   0.98       0.96       0.97       0.92       0.95  
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans outstanding   0.03       0.08       0.04       0.02       0.03  
                       
    Capital Ratios:                  
    Shareholders’ equity to total assets   9.79       9.53       9.63       9.58       9.43  
    Common equity tier 1 capital   13.44       13.04       13.07       12.72       12.43  
    Tier 1 risk-based capital   14.49       14.07       14.12       13.76       13.47  
    Total risk-based capital   17.01       16.49       16.59       16.16       15.92  
    Tier 1 leverage capital   9.73       9.67       9.61       9.40       9.22  
    Period end tangible equity to period end tangible assets (1)   7.54       7.33       7.38       7.33       7.17  
    Average shareholders’ equity to average total assets   9.75       9.76       9.67       9.52       9.35  
    (1) Refer to the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.
       
       
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
       
      Three Months Ended
        2025       2024  
    Loan Portfolio Composition Mar 31,   Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,
    Real Estate Loans:                  
    Construction $ 458,101     $ 537,827     $ 585,817     $ 546,040     $ 599,464  
    1-4 Family Residential   741,432       740,396       755,406       738,037       720,508  
    Commercial   2,577,229       2,579,735       2,422,612       2,472,771       2,413,345  
    Commercial Loans   371,643       363,167       358,854       359,807       358,053  
    Municipal Loans   371,271       390,968       402,041       416,986       427,225  
    Loans to Individuals   47,563       49,504       53,318       55,724       58,773  
    Total Loans $ 4,567,239     $ 4,661,597     $ 4,578,048     $ 4,589,365     $ 4,577,368  
                       
    Summary of Changes in Allowances:                  
    Allowance for Securities Held to Maturity                  
    Balance at beginning of period $     $     $     $     $  
    Provision for (reversal of) securities held to maturity   64                          
    Balance at end of period $ 64     $     $     $     $  
                       
    Allowance for Loan Losses                  
    Balance at beginning of period $ 44,884     $ 44,276     $ 42,407     $ 43,557     $ 42,674  
    Loans charged-off   (613 )     (1,232 )     (773 )     (721 )     (634 )
    Recoveries of loans charged-off   310       277       365       444       347  
    Net loans (charged-off) recovered   (303 )     (955 )     (408 )     (277 )     (287 )
    Provision for (reversal of) loan losses   42       1,563       2,277       (873 )     1,170  
    Balance at end of period $ 44,623     $ 44,884     $ 44,276     $ 42,407     $ 43,557  
                       
    Allowance for Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures                  
    Balance at beginning of period $ 3,141     $ 3,320     $ 3,208     $ 2,820     $ 3,932  
    Provision for (reversal of) off-balance-sheet credit exposures   652       (179 )     112       388       (1,112 )
    Balance at end of period $ 3,793     $ 3,141     $ 3,320     $ 3,208     $ 2,820  
    Total Allowance for Credit Losses $ 48,480     $ 48,025     $ 47,596     $ 45,615     $ 46,377  
                                           

    The tables that follow show average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the earning assets and the average rate of the interest bearing liabilities for the periods presented. The interest and related yields presented are on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are therefore non-GAAP measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” for more information.

     
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
       
      Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
      Average Balance   Interest   Average Yield/Rate (3)   Average Balance   Interest   Average Yield/Rate (3)
    ASSETS                      
    Loans (1) $ 4,625,902     $ 68,160   5.98 %   $ 4,604,175     $ 70,155   6.06 %
    Loans held for sale   752       11   5.93 %     1,562       23   5.86 %
    Securities:                      
    Taxable investment securities (2)   749,155       6,363   3.44 %     784,321       6,949   3.52 %
    Tax-exempt investment securities (2)   1,134,590       10,253   3.66 %     1,138,271       10,793   3.77 %
    Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)   1,041,038       13,523   5.27 %     1,031,187       12,043   4.65 %
    Total securities   2,924,783       30,139   4.18 %     2,953,779       29,785   4.01 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments   43,285       483   4.53 %     37,078       591   6.34 %
    Interest earning deposits   319,889       3,370   4.27 %     273,656       3,160   4.59 %
    Federal funds sold   43,813       478   4.42 %     43,121       508   4.69 %
    Total earning assets   7,958,424       102,641   5.23 %     7,913,371       104,222   5.24 %
    Cash and due from banks   89,703               102,914          
    Accrued interest and other assets   457,948               454,387          
    Less: Allowance for loan losses   (45,105 )             (44,418 )        
    Total assets $ 8,460,970             $ 8,426,254          
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                      
    Savings accounts $ 593,953       1,429   0.98 %   $ 594,196       1,456   0.97 %
    Certificates of deposit   1,336,815       14,406   4.37 %     1,187,800       13,537   4.53 %
    Interest bearing demand accounts   3,406,342       21,412   2.55 %     3,459,122       23,468   2.70 %
    Total interest bearing deposits   5,337,110       37,247   2.83 %     5,241,118       38,461   2.92 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   614,897       5,837   3.85 %     572,993       5,557   3.86 %
    Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   92,060       932   4.11 %     92,024       945   4.09 %
    Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   60,275       1,014   6.82 %     60,274       1,095   7.23 %
    Repurchase agreements   75,291       666   3.59 %     80,891       782   3.85 %
    Other borrowings   33,061       740   9.08 %     61,196       1,142   7.42 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities   6,212,694       46,436   3.03 %     6,108,496       47,982   3.12 %
    Noninterest bearing deposits   1,334,933               1,383,204          
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities   88,450               112,320          
    Total liabilities   7,636,077               7,604,020          
    Shareholders’ equity   824,893               822,234          
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 8,460,970             $ 8,426,254          
    Net interest income (FTE)     $ 56,205           $ 56,240    
    Net interest margin (FTE)         2.86 %           2.83 %
    Net interest spread (FTE)         2.20 %           2.12 %
    (1) Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
    (2) For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities do not include unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities.
    (3) Yield/rate includes the impact of applicable derivatives.
       

    Note: As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, loans totaling $4.3 million and $3.2 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

     
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024
      Average Balance   Interest   Average Yield/Rate (3)   Average Balance   Interest   Average Yield/Rate (3)
    ASSETS                      
    Loans (1) $ 4,613,028     $ 72,493   6.25 %   $ 4,595,980     $ 70,293   6.15 %
    Loans held for sale   871       11   5.02 %     1,489       24   6.48 %
    Securities:                      
    Taxable investment securities (2)   791,914       7,150   3.59 %     783,856       7,009   3.60 %
    Tax-exempt investment securities (2)   1,174,445       11,825   4.01 %     1,254,097       12,761   4.09 %
    Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)   886,325       11,976   5.38 %     830,504       11,084   5.37 %
    Total securities   2,852,684       30,951   4.32 %     2,868,457       30,854   4.33 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments   41,159       582   5.63 %     40,467       573   5.69 %
    Interest earning deposits   281,313       3,798   5.37 %     300,047       4,105   5.50 %
    Federal funds sold   33,971       488   5.71 %     75,479       1,021   5.44 %
    Total earning assets   7,823,026       108,323   5.51 %     7,881,919       106,870   5.45 %
    Cash and due from banks   100,578               110,102          
    Accrued interest and other assets   455,091               424,323          
    Less: Allowance for loan losses   (42,581 )             (43,738 )        
    Total assets $ 8,336,114             $ 8,372,606          
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                      
    Savings accounts $ 598,116       1,490   0.99 %   $ 604,753       1,454   0.97 %
    Certificates of deposit   1,087,613       12,647   4.63 %     1,020,099       11,630   4.59 %
    Interest bearing demand accounts   3,409,911       24,395   2.85 %     3,513,068       25,382   2.91 %
    Total interest bearing deposits   5,095,640       38,532   3.01 %     5,137,920       38,466   3.01 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   618,708       6,488   4.17 %     606,851       6,455   4.28 %
    Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   91,988       937   4.05 %     92,017       936   4.09 %
    Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   60,273       1,180   7.79 %     60,271       1,171   7.81 %
    Repurchase agreements   83,297       899   4.29 %     88,007       955   4.36 %
    Other borrowings   137,482       2,203   6.37 %     143,169       2,595   7.29 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities   6,087,388       50,239   3.28 %     6,128,235       50,578   3.32 %
    Noninterest bearing deposits   1,344,165               1,346,274          
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities   98,331               101,399          
    Total liabilities   7,529,884               7,575,908          
    Shareholders’ equity   806,230               796,698          
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 8,336,114             $ 8,372,606          
    Net interest income (FTE)     $ 58,084           $ 56,292    
    Net interest margin (FTE)         2.95 %           2.87 %
    Net interest spread (FTE)         2.23 %           2.13 %
    (1) Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
    (2) For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities do not include unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities.
    (3) Yield/rate includes the impact of applicable derivatives.
       

    Note: As of September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, loans totaling $7.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

     
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended
      March 31, 2024
      Average Balance   Interest   Average Yield/Rate (3)
    ASSETS          
    Loans (1) $ 4,559,602     $ 68,849   6.07 %
    Loans held for sale   8,834       18   0.82 %
    Securities:          
    Taxable investment securities (2)   780,423       6,967   3.59 %
    Tax-exempt investment securities (2)   1,285,922       13,168   4.12 %
    Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)   764,713       10,119   5.32 %
    Total securities   2,831,058       30,254   4.30 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments   40,063       333   3.34 %
    Interest earning deposits   380,181       5,202   5.50 %
    Federal funds sold   62,599       838   5.38 %
    Total earning assets   7,882,337       105,494   5.38 %
    Cash and due from banks   114,379          
    Accrued interest and other assets   441,783          
    Less: Allowance for loan losses   (42,973 )        
    Total assets $ 8,395,526          
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Savings accounts $ 604,529       1,424   0.95 %
    Certificates of deposit   941,947       10,341   4.42 %
    Interest bearing demand accounts   3,634,936       26,433   2.92 %
    Total interest bearing deposits   5,181,412       38,198   2.97 %
    Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   607,033       5,950   3.94 %
    Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   93,895       956   4.10 %
    Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs   60,270       1,175   7.84 %
    Repurchase agreements   92,177       967   4.22 %
    Other borrowings   137,287       2,164   6.34 %
    Total interest bearing liabilities   6,172,074       49,410   3.22 %
    Noninterest bearing deposits   1,338,384          
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities   100,014          
    Total liabilities   7,610,472          
    Shareholders’ equity   785,054          
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 8,395,526          
    Net interest income (FTE)     $ 56,084    
    Net interest margin (FTE)         2.86 %
    Net interest spread (FTE)         2.16 %
    (1) Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
    (2) For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities do not include unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities.
    (3) Yield/rate includes the impact of applicable derivatives.
       

    Note: As of March 31, 2024, loans totaling $7.7 million were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

    The following tables set forth the reconciliation of return on average common equity to return on average tangible common equity, book value per share to tangible book value per share, net interest income to net interest income adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 21% marginal tax rate for interest earned on tax-exempt assets such as municipal loans and investment securities, along with the calculation of total revenue, adjusted noninterest expense, efficiency ratio (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE) for the applicable periods presented.

     
    Southside Bancshares, Inc.
    Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Unaudited)
    (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
     
        Three Months Ended
          2025       2024  
        Mar 31,   Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,
    Reconciliation of return on average common equity to return on average tangible common equity:                    
    Net income   $ 21,507     $ 21,786     $ 20,524     $ 24,673     $ 21,511  
    After-tax amortization expense     176       196       220       243       266  
    Adjusted net income available to common shareholders   $ 21,683     $ 21,982     $ 20,744     $ 24,916     $ 21,777  
                         
    Average shareholders’ equity   $ 824,893     $ 822,234     $ 806,230     $ 796,698     $ 785,054  
    Less: Average intangibles for the period     (202,784 )     (203,020 )     (203,288 )     (203,581 )     (203,910 )
    Average tangible shareholders’ equity   $ 622,109     $ 619,214     $ 602,942     $ 593,117     $ 581,144  
                         
    Return on average tangible common equity     14.14 %     14.12 %     13.69 %     16.90 %     15.07 %
                         
    Reconciliation of book value per share to tangible book value per share:                    
    Common equity at end of period   $ 816,623     $ 811,942     $ 805,254     $ 800,970     $ 787,922  
    Less: Intangible assets at end of period     (202,647 )     (202,870 )     (203,119 )     (203,397 )     (203,704 )
    Tangible common shareholders’ equity at end of period   $ 613,976     $ 609,072     $ 602,135     $ 597,573     $ 584,218  
                         
    Total assets at end of period   $ 8,343,300     $ 8,517,448     $ 8,362,263     $ 8,357,702     $ 8,353,863  
    Less: Intangible assets at end of period     (202,647 )     (202,870 )     (203,119 )     (203,397 )     (203,704 )
    Tangible assets at end of period   $ 8,140,653     $ 8,314,578     $ 8,159,144     $ 8,154,305     $ 8,150,159  
                         
    Period end tangible equity to period end tangible assets     7.54 %     7.33 %     7.38 %     7.33 %     7.17 %
                         
    Common shares outstanding end of period     30,410       30,379       30,308       30,261       30,284  
    Tangible book value per common share   $ 20.19     $ 20.05     $ 19.87     $ 19.75     $ 19.29  
                         
    Reconciliation of efficiency ratio to efficiency ratio (FTE), net interest margin to net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread to net interest spread (FTE):                    
    Net interest income (GAAP)   $ 53,852     $ 53,707     $ 55,464     $ 53,608     $ 53,348  
    Tax-equivalent adjustments:                    
    Loans     581       598       608       633       656  
    Tax-exempt investment securities     1,772       1,935       2,012       2,051       2,080  
    Net interest income (FTE) (1)     56,205       56,240       58,084       56,292       56,084  
    Noninterest income     10,223       12,281       8,171       11,557       9,724  
    Nonrecurring income (2)     554       (25 )     2,797       (576 )     18  
    Total revenue   $ 66,982     $ 68,496     $ 69,052     $ 67,273     $ 65,826  
                         
    Noninterest expense   $ 37,089     $ 38,159     $ 36,332     $ 35,765     $ 36,881  
    Pre-tax amortization expense     (223 )     (249 )     (278 )     (307 )     (337 )
    Nonrecurring expense (3)     (1 )     (919 )     (219 )     2       17  
    Adjusted noninterest expense   $ 36,865     $ 36,991     $ 35,835     $ 35,460     $ 36,561  
                         
    Efficiency ratio     57.04 %     56.08 %     53.94 %     54.90 %     57.95 %
    Efficiency ratio (FTE) (1)     55.04 %     54.00 %     51.90 %     52.71 %     55.54 %
                         
    Average earning assets   $ 7,958,424     $ 7,913,371     $ 7,823,026     $ 7,881,919     $ 7,882,337  
                         
    Net interest margin     2.74 %     2.70 %     2.82 %     2.74 %     2.72 %
    Net interest margin (FTE) (1)     2.86 %     2.83 %     2.95 %     2.87 %     2.86 %
                         
    Net interest spread     2.08 %     1.99 %     2.10 %     2.00 %     2.02 %
    Net interest spread (FTE) (1)     2.20 %     2.12 %     2.23 %     2.13 %     2.16 %
    (1) These amounts are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are non-GAAP measures.
    (2) These adjustments may include net gain or loss on sale of securities available for sale, BOLI income related to death benefits realized and other investment income or loss in the periods where applicable.
    (3) These adjustments may include foreclosure expenses and branch closure expenses, in the periods where applicable.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Twelve arrested in MHRA’s biggest ever crackdown on organised medicines trafficking

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Twelve arrested in MHRA’s biggest ever crackdown on organised medicines trafficking

    Dawn raids in four counties across the West Midlands and the Northwest of England this morning (29 April) dismantle major criminal network trafficking unlicensed medicines.

    Some of the medicines seized in raids today. Credit: MHRA

    Twelve suspects have been arrested in dawn raids in four counties across the West Midlands and the Northwest of England this morning (29 April) in the largest criminal investigation into organised medicines trafficking in the history of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

    The individuals have been arrested on suspicion of participating in the activities of an organised crime group, conspiracy to sell or supply controlled drugs and unlicensed medicines, and money laundering. Suspects are being held for questioning at police stations across the two regions.

    The raids across the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Merseyside follow a lengthy intelligence-led investigation, codenamed ‘Operation Subaru’, by the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit. Around 150 officers were deployed in today’s operation, with MHRA staff supported by West Midlands and North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, the National Crime Agency, Staffordshire Police and Greater Manchester Police.

    In searches of 22 residential and commercial premises, hundreds of thousands of doses of medicines have been seized including controlled drugs such as opioid painkillers and anti-anxiety medicines, around £100,000 in cash, luxury watches and suspected criminal assets held in cryptocurrency. The MHRA has also obtained restraint orders for more than £3.5 million in assets suspected to be linked to criminal activity.

    Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, said:

    “Today’s search and arrest operation follows a long, complex and thorough investigation by the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit. Operation Subaru is the largest investigation we’ve ever undertaken and demonstrates the MHRA’s commitment to protecting the public by dismantling the organised international criminal networks that cause so much harm.

    “Trafficking in medicines destroys lives and places a huge financial burden on wider society. Our dedicated team will stop at nothing to tackle this illegal trade by taking potentially harmful medicines off the street and bringing those responsible to justice. As today’s operation shows, there is nowhere to hide.”

    “I’m extremely grateful to each of our law enforcement partners involved today for their substantial, enthusiastic and unwavering support.

    “I would also urge the public to be extremely cautious when buying medicines online. Medicines should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional. Taking medicines sourced in any other way carries serious risks to your health – there are no guarantees about what they contain, and some may even be contaminated with toxic substances.

    The MHRA #FakeMeds website offers helpful guidance and advice for staying safe when buying medicines online.

    This operation is the latest step in the MHRA’s crackdown on illegal medicines trafficking. In 2024, the Agency’s Criminal Enforcement Unit and its partners in the Home Office’s Border Force removed more than 17.5m doses of trafficked medicines from circulation. The seized medicines, including painkillers, sleeping tablets and erectile dysfunction treatments, had a potential street value of more than £40 million.

    Notes to editors 

    1. The Criminal Enforcement Unit is the MHRA’s in-house law enforcement function, leading the Agency’s response to medicines crime. Its strategic mission is to protect the public, maintain confidence in regulation and uphold the rule of law by preventing offending where it can, disrupting offending where it cannot, and bringing offenders to justice where it should. It uses the full range of its powers and capabilities, including intelligence analysis, online disruption, covert techniques and asset recovery to tackle criminal threats to the UK public, working closely with the police and law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas.

    2. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from a medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the Yellow Card website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.

    3. The MHRA’s Accredited Financial Investigators are authorised by the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). They support investigations by tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to crime, including money laundering and the illegal supply of medicines. Their work includes seizing cash, valuable items, and freezing bank accounts or cryptocurrency suspected of criminal origins. The Home Office’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) allows a proportion of the proceeds of crime recovered under POCA, to be redistributed to agencies involved in the asset recovery process.

    4. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.

    5. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

    6. For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Digital GTO took place at SPbGASU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Participants of the Digital GTO. In the center – Yulia Yakovleva and Ilya Gladushevsky

    The Digital GTO test was taken at SPbGASU on April 22. Over the course of an hour, 77 schoolchildren and college students answered one hundred questions about construction, design, and 3D modeling. Those who scored more than 70 points out of a possible one hundred will receive an additional five points to their Unified State Exam results when entering SPbGASU for the training program 08.03.01 Construction and specialty 08.05.02 Construction of unique buildings and structures.

    “Digital GTO” is an interactive test developed by the Etalon Group and the National Association of Organizations in the Sphere of Information Modeling Technologies (NOTIM) as part of the career guidance project “I am the builder of the future!” of the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of Russia. “Digital GTO” is designed to help future young specialists determine the level of their digital competencies in the field of construction. The project’s objectives are to expand opportunities for admission, prepare sought-after professionals, and fill the personnel shortage.

    The Digital GTO project was launched at the Growth Point of SPbGASU. Ilya Gladushevsky, responsible secretary of the admissions committee, associate professor of the department of ground transport and technological machines, addressed the participants: “I have already seen many of you and will see you again in the summer. Today you have a unique opportunity to participate in the Digital GTO project! The day will be eventful and interesting!” he noted.

    Yulia Yakovleva, Head of Adaptation and Special Projects at Etalon Group, spoke about the tasks included in the test and why it is held at our university: “The tasks were developed by employees of EtalonProekt, the general designer of our group. We can say that this is not a basic level, but a level “with an asterisk”. The test is intended for those who already have in-depth knowledge, participate in career guidance events, and are passionate about their profession. Today, many companies are hunting for personnel and hold their own events to work with future students. Even kindergartens are specialized – they start raising personnel from the cradle!”

    We asked the guys why they came to SPbGASU to take the Digital GTO.

    Vadim Savelyev, 11th grade student of Gymnasium No. 261 (St. Petersburg): “I am planning to enroll in SPbGASU. I am choosing between the Industrial and Civil Construction and Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures programs. It is interesting to learn about the university, to see it from the inside. I have not been here yet, but I have many friends, and they have told me about it. The fact that you can get additional points is also important. I prepared on my own, studied programs, new technologies. And my school teachers helped.”

    Maria Krestyaninova, a fourth-year student at the Academy of Urban Environment Management, Urban Development and Printing (AUGSiP, St. Petersburg): “I came here because I am very interested in this profession. Friends told me that they teach well here, the teachers are good. And the extra points interested me. I have studied many programs over four years. I rely on my knowledge and hope for a good result.

    I am currently writing my thesis. I will be applying to SPbGASU this year.”

    After the formal part, the participants went to the computer rooms and started taking the test. The children concentrated on solving the tasks for an hour, then they had a tour of our university. Arina Sukhacheva, a third-year student of the architecture department, introduced the audiences, the model workshop, and the drawing department. Returning to the “Growth Point”, the children watched a presentation about the university prepared by Elena Abashina, a fourth-year student of the construction department, a specialist in the admissions committee. The results were summed up and the winners were awarded here. The scores were calculated by a computer program. The best results were shown by five people:

    Timofey Isaev (gymnasium No. 52, 9th grade) – 90 points; Alexey Ermilov (school No. 18, grade 11) – 76 points; Yaroslav Karachakov (school No. 531, 10th grade) – 75 points; Ivan Postnikov (gymnasium No. 540, 11th grade) – 75 points; Tikhon Bayruk (school No. 18, 11th grade) – 73 points.

    “I have 90 points. Luck was on my side today! I will definitely apply to PGS. It was difficult at the Olympiad itself!” said Timofey Isaev.

    “You can only participate in the Digital GTO in person. This time, schoolchildren and college students from St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Tula and other cities came to us. In the future, we plan to cooperate with the Etalon Group to disseminate information about the project as widely as possible,” said Elvira Tkachenko, deputy responsible secretary of the admissions committee.

    “We will conduct the “Digital GTO” on the platform of the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of Russia “I am the builder of the future!” quite often. If it didn’t work out this time, there will be a chance next time!” – Yulia Yakovleva, a representative of the Etalon Group, encouraged the guys.

    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 USA: Take It Down Act Passes the House and Heads to President’s Desk

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    strong>(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the bipartisan, bicameral TAKE IT DOWN Act (S.146), completing its passage through Congress. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate in February 2025. The TAKE IT DOWN Act protects victims of real and deepfake ‘revenge pornography’ by criminalizing the publication of these harmful images, in addition to requiring websites to quickly remove them. The rising popularity of AI requires decisive federal legal protections that will empower victims of these heinous crimes, most of whom are women and girls.

    You can see Rep. Salazar’s remarks in front of the House of Representatives here. 

     

    “This is a historic day for parents and children facing unprecedented new challenges with technology. My TAKE IT DOWN Act will finally give innocent victims real protection from online exploitation. Websites and platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok must remove fake, compromising pornographic images within 48 hours or face consequences. No more inaction. No more excuses: if you exploit an innocent child, you will face jail time,” said Rep. Salazar (FL-27).

     

    “The TAKE IT DOWN Act’s passage is a significant step forward in Congress’ responsibility to protect the privacy and dignity of Americans against bad actors and the most harmful developments of AI. It takes only minutes to create a deepfake or share intimate images without consent, yet the lasting consequences devastate its victims — often girls and women. Our bill requires platforms to remove these horrifying images and videos from the internet within 48 hours. I’m deeply grateful to work with Sen. Klobuchar, Sen. Cruz, and Rep. Salazar to create this bipartisan federal law,” said Rep. Dean (PA-04). 

     

    “The publication of sexually exploitative images—including AI-generated deepfakes—is a terrifying reality of the digital age. I applaud the First Lady for her leadership and the Problem Solvers Caucus for working across party lines to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act. This is a critical first step, and we must continue working together to protect people from these reprehensible acts,” said Rep. Suozzi (NY-03). 

     

    “As a father, husband, and proud South Texan, I’m glad we got this important bill across the finish line in the House and the Senate in a bipartisan way. The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a vital step in safeguarding the dignity and safety of individuals, particularly our most vulnerable. It ensures the swift removal of harmful content and holds perpetrators accountable—prioritizing the protection and well-being of those affected by deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery,” said Rep. Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28). 

    “The increasing use of artificial intelligence to create and circulate deep fake pornography threatens the wellbeing and security of its victims, primarily women. Perpetrators have used deep fake pornography as a tool to harass, humiliate, and intimidate women and children online, and we need to work together to protect against these threats. This is a serious and growing issue that requires urgent action, which is why I introduced the Take It Down Act. I am thankful it has been passed by the House, and I look forward to it promptly being signed into law,”said Rep. Dingell (MI-12) 

    “In an age where personal privacy can be violated with a click, the House’s passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act marks a critical step forward. This bipartisan legislation creates long-overdue federal safeguards against non-consensual intimate imagery and the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. It establishes a clear legal standard: victims have the right to have these exploitative images removed, and perpetrators will be held accountable. This is a commonsense, essential measure to protect Americans, empower survivors, uphold justice, and bring our laws in line with the realities of the digital era,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

    “There is nothing more personal than one’s image and dignity. NCII is a cruel and deeply violating issue, and with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, there has been a disturbing increase in these images online. The Take It Down Act is a crucial step in personal and internet security, and I am proud to help send this bill to President Trump’s desk. By introducing new protections against NCII content and criminalizing the publication of such content, we are making our world, both in person and online, safer for everyone,” said Rep. Bresnahan (PA-08) 

    “Congress must make sure there are protections in place, especially for minors, as technology rapidly evolves. Bipartisan support for and House passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a critical step toward providing individuals who are victimized and inappropriately distorted through AI strong mechanisms to take action and remedy such traumatic situations,” said Rep. Edwards (NC-11). 

    “The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a historic win in the fight to protect victims of revenge porn and deepfake abuse. This victory belongs first and foremost to the heroic survivors who shared their stories and the advocates who never gave up. By requiring social media companies to take down this abusive content quickly, we are sparing victims from repeated trauma and holding predators accountable. This day would not have been possible without the courage and perseverance of Elliston Berry, Francesca Mani, Breeze Liu, and Brandon Guffey, whose powerful voices drove this legislation forward. I am especially grateful to my colleagues—including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Maria Salazar, Rep. Madeleine Dean, First Lady Melania Trump, and House Leadership—for locking arms in this critical mission to protect Americans from online exploitation,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (TX). 

    We must provide victims of online abuse with the legal protections they need when intimate images are shared without their consent, especially now that deepfakes are creating horrifying new opportunities for abuse. These images can ruin lives and reputations, but now that our bipartisan legislation is becoming law, victims will be able to have this material removed from social media platforms and law enforcement can hold perpetrators accountable,” said Sen. Klobuchar (MN). 

    Over 120 organizations representing victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and leaders in the tech industry have voiced their support for the TAKE IT DOWN Act, including Meta, Snap, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, X, Amazon, Bumble, Match Group, Entertainment Software Association, IBM, TechNet, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Internet Works, the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE).

    The TAKE IT DOWN Act addresses these issues while protecting lawful speech by:

     

    • Criminalizing the publication of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), or the threat to publish NCII, in interstate commerce;
    • Permitting the good faith disclosure of NCII to assist victims including for law enforcement or medical treatment purposes;
    • Requiring websites to take down NCII within 48 hours of receiving notice from victims; and
    • Requiring that computer-generated NCII meet a “reasonable person” standard for appearing to realistically depict an individual, consistent with current First Amendment jurisprudence.

     

    Rep. Salazar reintroduced this bill in January and led the effort in the House to get it signed into law. President Trump endorsed the TAKE IT DOWN Act during a recent address to Congress. You can see his remarks here. The Act has been a legislative priority of former First Lady Melania Trump. Thanks to her strong advocacy, including a roundtable on Capitol Hill last month, this bill has now passed. 

     

    More information about the TAKE IT DOWN Act can be found here.

     

    The full text of the bill can be found here.

     

    The passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is Congresswoman Salazar’s ninth bill to be signed into law. Other key policies sponsored by Rep. Salazar that have been enacted into law include:

     

    • The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Relief Act to provide economic relief for Floridians. Implemented by the Biden Administration in March 2021.
    • The Reinforcing Nicaragua’s Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform (RENACER) Act to sanction the Ortega Regime in Nicaragua. Signed into law in November 2021.
    • The PRICE Act to make it easier for small businesses to get federal contracts. Signed into law in February 2022.
    • The Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act to reauthorize critical funding for programs that address mental health and substance abuse issues. Signed into law in December 2022.
    • The REEF Act to incentivize retired Navy ships to be sunk and used as artificial reefs in marine ecosystems across America. Signed into law in December 2023.
    • The RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act to recover billions in fraudulent government loans and restore fiscal responsibility and government accountability. Implemented by the Biden Administration in December 2023.
    • The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act to protect migratory birds and their habitat, which is critical for the Everglades. Signed into law April 2024.
    • The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act honors 60 diplomats who risked their lives during World War II to save Jews from Nazi persecution. Signed into law December 2024.

    You can read more about Congresswoman Salazar’s legislative victories here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Moon Observing Instrument to Get Another Shot at Lunar Ops

    Source: NASA

    A NASA-developed technology that recently proved its capabilities in the harsh environment of space will soon head back to the Moon to search for gases trapped under the lunar surface thanks to a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between NASA and commercial company Magna Petra Corp.
    The Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) successfully demonstrated the full range of its hardware in lunar conditions during the Intuitive Machines 2 mission earlier this year. Under the new agreement, a second MSOLO, mounted on a commercial rover, will launch to the Moon no earlier than 2026. Once on the lunar surface, it will measure low molecular weight volatiles in hopes of inferring the presence of rare isotopes, such as Helium-3, which is theorized to exist, trapped in the regolith, or lunar dust, of the Moon.
    “This new mission opportunity will help us determine what volatiles are present in the lunar surface, while also providing scientific insight for Magna Petra’s goals,” said Roberto Aguilar Ayala, research physicist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “Learning more about the lunar volatiles and their isotopes supports NASA’s goal of sustaining long-term human space exploration. We will need to extract resources locally to enhance the capabilities of our astronauts to further exploration opportunities on the lunar surface.”
    The MSOLO instrument will be integrated on a commercial rover, selected by Magna Petra. The rover will allow MSOLO to gather the data needed for researchers to understand which low-molecular weight gases reside within the Moon’s surface.
    NASA will work with the partner to integrate MSOLO so that it will function properly with the rover, and the partner will analyze and share data in real time with NASA to understand the location of these volatiles on the Moon and their ability to be extracted in the future.
    Magna Petra hopes to understand the presence of Helium-3 isotope within the Moon’s surface, with the ultimate goal of collecting it and bringing it back to Earth for use in a variety of industries, including energy production through nuclear fusion, quantum computing, health care, and specialized laboratory equipment.
    The MSOLO instrument began as a commercial off-the-shelf mass spectrometer designed to analyze volatiles used in the manufacturing of semi-conductors, which helped keep NASA’s development costs down. NASA modified the device to withstand the rigors of spaceflight and the Moon’s harsh conditions. On its first journey to the Moon, MSOLO was part of the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment 1.
    Signed on April 2, the reimbursable agreement is the first of its kind established at NASA Kennedy. Under the agreement, Magna Petra will reimburse NASA for costs such as supporting MSOLO integration and testing with the rover, pre-mission preparation and mission operations of the instruments, and expertise in system engineering, avionics, and software.
    “This innovative agreement promises to provide valuable data to both partners,” said Jonathan Baker, chief of Spaceport Development at NASA Kennedy. “This approach demonstrates NASA’s commitment to finding unique ways to work with commercial industry to help advance technology in a fiscally responsible way and enabling innovation for the benefit of humankind.”
    Throughout the mission, NASA will retain ownership of MSOLO. Once the mission is complete, the instrument will no longer have access to power and communications and will remain on the surface of the Moon. The valuable data gathered during the mission will be submitted to the Planetary Data System for public dissemination.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: How Are We Made of Star Stuff? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 58

    Source: NASA

    [embedded content]

    How are we made of star stuff?
    Well, the important thing to understand about this question is that it’s not an analogy, it’s literally true.
    The elements in our bodies, the elements that make up our bones, the trees we see outside, the other planets in the solar system, other stars in the galaxy. These were all part of stars that existed well before our Sun and Earth and solar system were even formed.
    The universe existed for billions of years before we did. And all of these elements that you see on the periodic table, you see carbon and oxygen and silicon and iron, the common elements throughout the universe, were all put there by previous generations of stars that either blew off winds like the Sun blows off a solar wind, or exploded in supernova explosions and thrust their elements throughout the universe.
    These are the same things that we can trace with modern telescopes, like the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These are all elements that we can map out in the universe with these observatories and trace back to the same things that form us and the elemental abundances that we see in stars now are the same things that we see in the Earth’s crust, we see in asteroids. And so we know that these are the same elements that were once part of these stars.
    So the question of, “How are we made of star stuff?”, in the words of Carl Sagan, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
    [END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Piero Cipollone: Navigating a fractured horizon: risks and policy options in a fragmenting world

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the conference on “Policy challenges in a fragmenting world: Global trade, exchange rates, and capital flow” organised by the Bank for International Settlements, the Bank of England, the ECB and the International Monetary Fund

    Frankfurt am Main, 29 April 2025

    I’m honoured to welcome you to this conference, jointly organised by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Bank of England, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[1]

    Today, we come together to discuss the urgent challenges posed by global fragmentation – a growing risk to our interconnected world. Earlier this month, the President of the United States announced tariff hikes, sending shockwaves through the global economy – a stark reminder that the fractures we face are no longer hypothetical, but real.

    This announcement is but the latest chapter in a series of four major shocks that have been reshaping our world in recent years.

    First, since 2018 the intensifying power struggle between the United States and China has led to tit-for-tat tariffs affecting nearly two-thirds of the trade between these two economic giants. Second, starting in 2020, the pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to supply chains, which prompted a re-evaluation of the balance between global integration and resilience. Third, in 2022 Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine not only triggered an energy crisis but also deepened a geopolitical divide that continues to have worldwide repercussions. And fourth, we are now facing the rising risk of economic fragmentation within the western bloc itself, as new trade barriers threaten long-standing international partnerships.

    The data paint a sobering picture. Geopolitical risk levels have surged to 50% above the post-global financial crisis average, and uncertainty surrounding trade policy has risen to more than eight times its average since 2021.[2] What we are experiencing is not merely a temporary disruption – it is a profound shift in how nations interact economically, financially and diplomatically. So, it does not come as a surprise that financial markets have experienced considerable volatility in recent weeks. It remains to be seen if, for markets to find a stable equilibrium, it will be enough to step back from the current international economic disorder towards a more stable, predictable and reliable trading system – a development that appears elusive in the short term. Against this backdrop, recent moves in exchange rates, bond yields and equities, suggest that US markets have not been playing their usual role as a safe haven in this particular episode of stress. This potentially has far-reaching longer-term implications for capital flows and the international financial system.

    Today I will focus on three key points. First, we are seeing increasing signs of fragmentation becoming visible across the economy and financial system. Second, the implications of this accelerating fragmentation could extend far beyond the immediate disruptions, with consequences for growth, stability and prosperity. Third, in this evolving economic landscape, central banks must adapt their approaches yet retain a steadfast focus on their core mandates, while striving to preserve international cooperation.

    The emerging reality of fragmentation

    Let me begin by addressing a common belief – still held by many until recently – that, despite rising geopolitical tensions, globalisation appears largely resilient. Headline figures in trade and cross-border investment, for example, do indeed appear to support this belief. In 2024 world trade expanded to a record USD 33 trillion – up 3.7% from 2023. Similarly, the global stock of foreign direct investment reached an unprecedented USD 41 trillion.[3] However, these surface-level indicators may not reflect the underlying realities, creating a misleading sense of stability when important changes are already underway. In reality, fragmentation is already happening in both the global economy and the financial system.

    Fragmentation of the real economy

    Fragmentation is most evident in rebalancing trade, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions. Take, for instance, the escalating US-China trade tensions that have been intensifying since 2018. Studies show the impact of geopolitical distance on trade has become notably negative. A doubling of geopolitical distance between countries – akin to moving from the position of Germany to that of India in relation to the United States – decreases bilateral trade flows by approximately 20%.[4]

    The series of shocks to the global economy in recent years have also contributed to this fragmentation. According to gravity model estimates, trade between geopolitically distant blocs has significantly declined. Trade between rivals is about 4% lower than it might have been without the heightened tensions post-2017, while trade between friends is approximately 6% higher.[5] Global value chains are being reconfigured as companies respond to these new realities. In 2023 surveys already indicated that only about a quarter of leading firms operating in the euro area[6] that sourced critical inputs from countries considered subject to elevated risk had not developed strategies to reduce their exposure.[7]

    However, these shifting trade patterns have not yet been reflected in overall global trade flows. Non-aligned countries have played a crucial role as intermediaries, or connectors, helping to sustain global trade levels even as direct trade between rival blocs declines.[8] But this stabilising influence is unlikely to endure as trade fragmentation deepens and geopolitical alliances continue to shift.

    The tariffs announced by the US Administration are far-reaching and affect a substantial share of global trade flows. The effects on the real economy are likely to be material. In its World Economic Outlook, published last week, the International Monetary Fund revised down global growth projections for 2025-26 by a cumulative 0.8 percentage points and global trade by a cumulative 2.3 percentage points.[9] This notably reflects a negative hit from tariffs that ranges between 0.4% to 1% of world GDP by 2027.[10] In particular, IMF growth projections for the United States have been revised down by a cumulative 1.3 percentage points in 2025-26. The cumulative impact on euro area growth is smaller, at 0.4 percentage points.

    Financial fragmentation

    The fragmentation we are witnessing in global trade is mirrored in the financial sector, where geopolitical tensions are also reshaping the landscape.

    In recent years, global foreign direct investment flows have increasingly aligned with geopolitical divides. Foreign direct investment in new ventures has plunged by nearly two-thirds between countries from different geopolitical blocs. However, strong intra-bloc investments have helped sustain overall foreign direct investment levels globally, masking some of the fragmentation occurring beneath the surface.[11]

    But, as with trade flows, this dynamic is unlikely to persist as geopolitical tensions grow within established economic blocs. For instance, increased geopolitical distance is shown to curtail cross-border lending. A two standard deviation rise in geopolitical distance – akin to moving from the position of France to that of Pakistan in relation to Germany – leads to a reduction of 3 percentage points in cross-border bank lending.[12]

    The impact of fragmentation in global financial infrastructure is perhaps even more revealing. Since 2014 correspondent banking relationships – crucial for facilitating trade flows across countries – have declined by 20%. While other factors – such as a wave of concentration in the banking industry, technological disruptions and profitability considerations – have played a role[13], the contribution of the geopolitical dimension can hardly be overstated. The repercussions of this decline can be profound. Research shows that when correspondent banking relationships are severed in a specific corridor, a firm’s likelihood of continuing to export between the two countries of that corridor falls by about 5 percentage points in the short term, and by about 20 percentage points after four years.[14]

    Contributing to this trend, countries such as China, Russia and Iran have launched multiple initiatives to develop alternatives to established networks such as SWIFT, raising the possibility of a fragmented global payment system.[15] Geopolitical alignment now exerts a stronger influence than trade relationships or technical standards in connecting payment systems between countries.[16] This poses risks of regional networks becoming more unstable, increased trade costs and settlement times, and reduced risk sharing across countries.

    Additionally, we are witnessing a noticeable shift away from traditional reserve currencies, with growing interest in holding gold. Central banks purchased more than 1,000 tonnes of gold in 2024, almost double the level of the previous decade, with China being the largest purchaser, at over 225 tonnes. At market valuations, the share of gold in global official reserves has increased, reaching 20% in 2024, while that of the US dollar has decreased. Survey data suggest that two-thirds of central banks invested in gold to diversify, 40% to protect against geopolitical risk and 18% because of the uncertainty over the future of the international monetary system.[17] There are further signs that geopolitical considerations increasingly influence decisions to invest in gold. The negative correlation of gold prices with real yields has broken down since 2022, a phenomenon we have also observed in recent weeks. This suggests that gold prices have been influenced by more than simply the use of gold to hedge against inflation. Moreover, countries geopolitically close to China and Russia have seen more pronounced increases in the share of gold in official foreign reserves since the last quarter of 2021.

    The looming consequences of fragmentation

    Accelerating fragmentation is resulting in the immediate disruptions we are now seeing, but this is likely to only be the beginning – potentially profound medium and long-term consequences for growth, stability and prosperity can be expected.

    Medium-term impacts

    The initial consequences of fragmentation are already evident in the form of increased uncertainty. In particular, trade policy uncertainty has led to a broader rise in global economic policy instability, which is stifling investment and dampening consumption. Our research suggests that the recent increase in trade policy uncertainty could reduce euro area business investment by 1.1% in the first year and real GDP growth by around 0.2 percentage points in 2025-26[18]. Consumer sentiment is also under strain, with the ECB’s Consumer Expectations Survey revealing that rising geopolitical risks are leading to more pessimistic expectations, higher income uncertainty and ultimately a lower willingness to spend.[19] Moreover, ECB staff estimates suggest that the observed increase in financial market volatility might imply lower GDP growth of about 0.2 percentage points in 2025.

    Over the medium term, tariffs are set to have an unambiguously recessionary effect, both for countries imposing restrictions and those receiving them. The costs are particularly high when exchange rates fail to absorb tariff shocks, and some evidence suggests exchange rates have become less effective in this role.[20]

    The Eurosystem’s analysis of potential fragmentation scenarios suggests that such trade disruptions could turn out to be significant. In the case of a mild decoupling between the western (United States-centric) and the eastern (China-centric) bloc, where trade between East and West reverts to the level observed in the mid-1990s, global output could drop by close to 2%.[21] In the more extreme case of a severe decoupling – essentially a halt to trade flows – between the two blocs, global output could drop by up to 9%. Trade-dependent nations would bear the brunt of these trade shocks, with China potentially suffering losses of between 5% and 20%, and the EU seeing declines ranging from 2.4% to 9.5% in the mild and severe decoupling scenarios respectively. The analysis also shows that the United States would be more significantly affected if it imposed additional trade restrictions against western and neutral economies – with real GDP losses of almost 11% in the severe decoupling scenario – whereas EU losses would increase only slightly in such a case.[22]

    The inflationary effects of trade fragmentation are more uncertain. They depend mainly on the response of exchange rates, firms’ markups and wages. Moreover, they are not distributed equally. While higher import costs and the ensuing price pressures are likely to drive up inflation in the countries raising tariffs, the impact is more ambiguous in other countries as a result of the tariffs’ global recessionary effects, which push down demand and commodity prices, as well as of the possible dumping of exports from countries with overcapacity. The short to medium-term effects may even prove disinflationary for the euro area, where real rates have increased and the euro has appreciated following US tariff announcements.

    In fact, a key feature of most model-based assessments is that higher US tariffs lead to a depreciation of currencies against the US dollar, moderating the inflationary effect for the United States and amplifying it for other countries. But so far we have seen the opposite: the risk-off sentiment in response to US tariff announcements and economic policy uncertainty have led to capital flows away from the United States, depreciating the dollar and putting upward pressure on US bond yields. Conversely, the euro area benefited from safe haven flows, with the euro appreciating and nominal bond yields decreasing.

    Long-term structural changes

    The long-term consequences of economic fragmentation are inherently difficult to predict, but by drawing on historical examples and recognising emerging trends, it’s clear that we are on the verge of significant structural changes. Two areas stand out.

    The first one is structurally lower growth. On this point, international economic literature has reached an overwhelming consensus.[23] Quantitatively, point estimates might vary. For example, research of 151 countries spanning more than five decades of the 20th century reveals that higher tariffs have typically led to lower economic growth. This is largely due to key production factors – labour and capital – being redirected into less productive sectors.[24]

    However, data from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period which tariff supporters often look back to, seem to tell a different story. At that time, trade barriers across countries were high – the US effective tariff rate, for example, reached almost 60%, twice as high as after the 2 April tariffs. And sometimes countries imposing higher trade barriers enjoyed higher growth, which may provide motivation for current policymakers’ trade tariff policies. But these episodes need to be read in historical context. Before 1913, tariffs mostly shielded manufacturing, a high-productivity sector at the time, attracting labour from other, less productive sectors, like agriculture. Therefore, their negative effects were mitigated by the expansion of industries at the frontier of technological innovation. Moreover, the interwar years offer further nuance – the Smoot-Hawley tariffs of the 1930s had relatively limited direct effects on US growth, mainly because trade accounted for just 5% of the economy.

    But today’s tariffs are unlikely to replicate the positive effects seen in the 19th century. Instead, they risk creating the same inefficiencies observed in the course of the 20th century, by diverting resources from high-productivity sectors to lower-productivity ones. This contractionary effect could lead to persistently lower global growth rates. In fact, the abolition of trade barriers within the EU and the international efforts towards lower trade barriers in the second half of the 20th century were a direct response to the economic and political impact of protectionism,[25] which had played a key role in worsening and prolonging the Great Depression[26] and had contributed to the formation of competing blocs in the run-up to the Second World War.[27]

    The second long-term shift driven by fragmentation might be the gradual transition from a US-dominated, global system to a more multipolar one, where multiple currencies compete for reserve status. For example, if the long-term implications of higher tariffs materialise, notably in the form of higher inflation, slower growth and higher US debt, this could undermine confidence in the US dollar’s dominant role in international trade and finance.[28] Combined with a further disengagement from global geopolitical affairs and military alliances, this could, over time, undermine the “exorbitant privilege” enjoyed by the United States, resulting in higher interest rates domestically.[29]

    Moreover, as alternative payment systems gain traction, regional currencies may start to emerge as reserves within their respective blocs. This could be accompanied by the rise of competing payment systems, further fragmenting global financial flows and international trade. Such shifts would increase transaction costs and erode the capacity of countries to share risks on a global scale, making the world economy more fragmented and less efficient.

    The central bank’s role in a fragmented world

    So, as these tectonic shifts reshape the global economic landscape, central banks must adapt their approaches while remaining steadfast in their core mandates. The challenges posed by fragmentation require a delicate balance between confronting new realities and working to preserve the benefits of an integrated global economy. In order to navigate the present age of fragmentation, it is necessary to take action in four key areas.

    First, central banks must focus on understanding and monitoring fragmentation. Traditional macroeconomic models often assume seamless global integration and may not fully capture the dynamics of a fragmenting world. Enhanced analytical frameworks that incorporate geopolitical factors and how businesses adjust to these risks will be essential for accurate forecasting and effective policy formulation. The Eurosystem is reflecting on these issues.

    Second, monetary policy must adapt to the new nature of supply shocks generated by fragmentation. The effects of the greater frequency, size and more persistent nature of fragmentation-induced shocks and their incidence on prices require a careful calibration of our monetary responses. In this respect, our communication needs to acknowledge the uncertainty and trade-offs we face while giving a clear sense of how we will react depending on the incoming data. This can be done by making use of scenario analysis and providing clarity about our reaction function, as emphasised recently by President Lagarde.[30]

    Third, instead of building walls, we must forge unity. Even as political winds shift, central banks should strengthen international cooperation where possible. Through forums such as those provided by the BIS and the Financial Stability Board, we can keep open channels of cooperation that transcend borders. Our work on cross-border payments stands as proof of this commitment in line with the G20 Roadmap[31]. The ECB is pioneering a cross-currency settlement service through TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) – initially linking the euro, the Swedish krona and the Danish krone. We are exploring connections between TIPS and other fast-payment systems globally, both bilaterally and on the basis of a multilateral network such as the BIS’ Project Nexus.[32]

    And fourth, central banks must enhance their capacity to address financial stability risks arising from fragmentation. The potential for sudden stops in capital flows, payment disruptions and volatility in currency markets requires robust contingency planning and crisis management frameworks. Global financial interlinkages and spillovers highlight the importance of preserving and further reinforcing the global financial safety net so that we can swiftly and effectively address financial stress, which is more likely to emerge in a fragmenting world.[33]

    In fact, the lesson from the 1930s is that international coordination is key to avoiding protectionist snowball effects, where tit-for-tat trade barriers multiply as each country seeks to direct spending to merchandise produced at home rather than abroad.[34] In order to avoid this, the G20 countries committed to preserving open trade could call an international trade conference to avoid beggar-thy-neighbour policies[35] and instead agree on other measures, such as macroeconomic policies that can support the global economy in this period of uncertainty and contribute to reduce global imbalances.

    Let me finally emphasise that the current situation also has important implications for the euro area. If the EU upholds its status as a reliable partner that defends trade openness, investor protection, the rule of law and central bank independence, the euro has the potential to play the role of a global public good. This requires a deep, trusted market for internationally accepted euro debt securities. That is why policy efforts to integrate and deepen European capital markets must go hand in hand with efforts to issue European safe assets.[36]

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    As we stand at this crossroads of global fragmentation, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: we are drifting toward a fractured economic and financial landscape where trust is eroded and alliances are strained.

    Central banks now face a double challenge: to be an anchor of stability in turbulent economic waters while reimagining their role in a world where multiple economic blocs are forming. The question is not whether we adapt, but how we mitigate the costs of fragmentation without sacrificing the potential of global integration.

    Our greatest risk lies not in the shocks we anticipate, but in the alliances we neglect, the innovations we overlook and the common ground we fail to find. The future of global prosperity hinges on our ability to use fragmentation as a catalyst to reinvent the common good.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Madagascar: Improving Infrastructure Resilience to Reduce Climate-Related Economic Losses

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Madagascar: Improving Infrastructure Resilience to Reduce Climate-Related Economic Losses

    (In collaboration with UNDRR and CDRI)

    One of the world’s largest islands, located in the tropical south-west Indian Ocean, Madagascar needs new roads, schools, electricity networks, and more to lift large portions of its 30 million population out of poverty. But even as it builds this new infrastructure, its progress remains fragile. Tropical cyclones and other extreme hazard events can wipe out these development gains, and climate change multiplies that threat. 

    The challenge is significant. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, and its relatively small population is spread out, much of it in rural hard-to-access areas. Most villages are isolated and they lack access to decent roads, drinking water or electricity, preventing sustainable development and poverty reduction too. Rapid population growth increases the pressure to build new infrastructure fast, but Madagascar must also find new ways to protect its transport networks, energy supplies, water supplies, and more from the growing threat of climate change. 

    Building resilience into infrastructure will bring significant benefits. Madagascar’s infrastructure currently suffers damage worth roughly USD 100 million each year. Cyclones account for 85 percent of this damage and are expected to increase with climate change.  

    With that in mind, Madagascar has become one of four countries – together with Bhutan, Chile, and Tonga – to pioneer the Global Methodology for Infrastructure Resilience Review. Developed by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the methodology helps countries to identify and prioritize strategies that will make their infrastructure more resilient through a five-step approach. 

    • Developing the plan
    • Developing the plan

      “With this new way of looking by zooming out, we have more of an overall vision of everything that makes infrastructure vulnerable,” Randrianandrasana Lila Norolalaina, Head of Disaster Risk Reduction at the Ministry of Education, says.

      Together, these stakeholders looked at six specific sectors – transport, energy, water, telecommunications, health and education – analyzing them against ten key hazards. Cyclones account for most of Madagascar’s recorded losses, but floods, rising sea levels, variations in rainfall patterns, and heatwaves also have an impact. 

      Cascading disasters were central to the analysis, since a failure in one infrastructure sector can spread to others. Electricity failure impacts communication, transportation, and water supply systems, for example. And pumping equipment loses power and is unable to keep floodwaters under control around the capital Antananarivo, then an electricity failure would lead to other disasters, for example. Understanding these interdependencies helps to prevent a chain of failures and thus much bigger crises

      The UNDRR stress testing tool simulated various scenarios and assessed the potential impact on different sectors. It helped decision-makers to understand their vulnerabilities and to analyse the possibilities for cascading disasters. Finally, it concluded that telecommunications and energy were the sectors most likely to trigger further failures, while wastewater management was the most vulnerable to disruptions from elsewhere. 

      Interdependencies of Functions and Cascading Effects

    • Energy
    • Energy

      Discussed within the context of resilient infrastructure, energy is also vital for Madagascar’s human development. It is, however, in short supply throughout the country and this shortage prevents the country from industrialising its key sectors, especially farming. Some 80 percent of the workforce is involved with subsistence farming, for example, while failure to industrialise prevents the creation of higher paying jobs. The lack of energy also slows the modernisation of Madagascar’s young mining sector, a major contributor to GDP, through exports of nickel, cobalt, chromium, titanium, and heavy metals.

      Madagascar aims to connect 70 percent of its population to electricity by 2030, from just 15 percent at present. For those who are connected, however, power cuts and voltage fluctuations are frequent, causing serious disruptions to daily life and economic development alike. The issue is often acute in rural areas, where just 5 percent of the population is connected.

      Stress-testing analysis, Energy

      Inadequate maintenance is part of the problem, but cyclones, heavy rains, landslides, and strong winds all lead to widespread interruptions and power outages. Two of six power stations are vulnerable to rising water levels, while earthquakes and cyber-attacks can also damage production. Droughts and fires threaten serious impacts to water supplies. They can therefore limit the production of electricity from hydropower, which accounts for 31 percent of Madagascar’s energy. 

      Resilience is a vital priority. Part of Madagascar’s resilience plan is to move away from imported fossil fuels towards renewables. Oil and coal, for example, account for 49 and 19 percent respectively of the island’s energy production, but they depend heavily on Madagascar’s transport, which is also vulnerable to storms. Madagascar wants renewables to account for 80 percent of its energy production by 2030, up from 33 percent at present. 

      Even before the review of infrastructure resilience, Madagascar had already begun to improve its energy infrastructure, through its 2015-2030 New Energy Policy (NPE). One key element of NPE is to integrate disaster risk management into the energy sector. In case of emergency, Madagascar has also developed a contingency plan to ensure continuity of essential services. With support from the World Bank, Madagascar is enhancing its energy sector management and improving service quality.

      These opportunities mainly link to information and data. Stakeholders discussed the need to strengthen and update data for monitoring and evaluation, as well as to request information and disaster risk best practices from private operators in the sector. By mapping the state of energy infrastructure, including an assessment of vulnerability and resilience levels, Madagascar will be better placed to prioritise its interventions.

      Following the Global Methodology for Infrastructure Resilience Review, therefore, Madagascar has already begun to work with other partners. The Global Risk Modelling Alliance (GRMA), for example, is working with Madagascar to improve their data through better hazard modelling.

    • Transport
    • Transport

      Made up of four sub-sectors – air, sea, road, and rail – Madagascar’s transport illustrates the country’s challenges effectively too. Even without the natural hazards, Madagascar’s transport networks are limited. To the south, for example, one single trainline connects a region of roughly 100,000 people to the rest of the country. Also in the South, covering 500km by road can take three days. 

      With limited internal roads and railways, Madagascar uses its air network to connect different parts of the vast country, especially in the rainy season or when humanitarian aid is needed urgently. Its ports are also vital for the country’s economy, exporting vanilla and other agricultural products, together with minerals and seafood products. 

      Much of this infrastructure is, however, vulnerable to disasters, such as cyclones, cyber-attacks, fire hazards, and even pandemics. Cyclones, landslides, and flooding routinely damage roads and – in the wake of Cyclone Gamane in March 2024 – reconstruction of road infrastructure was set to cost USD 76 million.

      International financial institutions, such as the World Bank and European Investment Bank, support Madagascar to recover from cyclone damage and to make their transport infrastructure more resilient. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting the USD 640 million expansion of Toamasina port, the gateway for about 75 percent of Madagascar’s international freight, while the African Development Bank (AfDB) is also considering rehabilitation of the port at Manakara. 

      Policies on rigorous maintenance, disaster planning, and construction or rehabilitation of new infrastructure, such as Ivato International Airport, will also help Madagascar to strengthen its infrastructure resilience. 

      Stress-testing analysis, Transportation

      However, the Infrastructure Resilience Review brought new insights, enabling Madagascar to prioritise its interventions. Data analysis identified:

      Stakeholders discussed the need to improve regulations and institutions alike, including by incorporating resilience principles. More work is needed on climate adaptation, while Madagascar would also benefit from better engagement with financial institutions and the insurance sector too. Better coordination would improve national adaptation plans and coastal area management. 

      Stakeholders also discussed the need for more data analysis, preventive maintenance, capacity building, and emergency planning, as well as the need to involve the private sector and facilitate more competition. 

      One key topic was the importance of resilience norms, especially in the transport sector. How does Madagascar develop these and then ensure compliance? These norms – and stakeholder compliance – are essential in reducing the amount of substandard construction, a major boost for resilience. 

    • Lessons for other countries
    • Lessons for other countries

      The Infrastructure Resilience Review represents an important step forward by Madagascar towards infrastructure resilience. Stakeholders hope it will also benefit donors and provide key lessons for other countries. 

      Resilient infrastructure is important because it enables and protects sustainable development. All too often, ferocious storms have destroyed donor-financed infrastructure, which means – in other words – that insufficient resilience puts development progress at risk.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Al-Wahab Foundation (AWF)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Since 2014, Al-Wahab Foundation (AWF) has delivered emergency and developmental aid to combat and eradicate poverty, growing to reach thousands of people each year.

    AWF’s aim is to see a world where people are empowered to step out of deprivation and build their future with independence and dignity. With your support, our aid solutions serve people in remote and rural areas, providing food, clean water, healthcare, education and innovative livelihood support programmes.

    MIL OSI United Nations News