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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft supports social projects for children and teenagers in Russian regions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Rosneft and its subsidiaries, within the framework of cooperation agreements with Russian regions, are implementing projects aimed at creating a modern social infrastructure and a favorable environment for the development of medicine, mass sports, culture, educational projects and the upbringing of the younger generation.

    Bashneft supports the construction and reconstruction of children’s institutions within the framework of a cooperation agreement with the Republic of Bashkortostan. For example, in 2024, the Children’s Art Center in the village of Verkhneyarkeevo in the Ilishevsky District was reconstructed, a multifunctional educational center was built in the village of Elan-Chishma in the Yermekeyevsky District, Ufa kindergarten No. 2 was improved, and a multifunctional sports and health complex was built on the territory of the Republican Engineering Boarding School in Ufa.

    In the Samara Region, with the support of Rosneft, the reconstruction of schools No. 28 and No. 29 in Syzran, the Harmony gymnasium in Otradny and school No. 24 in Samara has been completed. Thanks to the help of oil workers, the children’s surgical department and the perinatal center of the Syzran Central City Hospital have been equipped with high-tech equipment. They now have an operating table, an operating shadowless lamp and an open resuscitation system for newborns.

    With the support of Rosneft, a new building of the Small Academy of Sciences with modern laboratories, a biotechnology center with laboratories for genomics and the study of ancient DNA, an IT center, a library, a TV studio, a sports hall and a gym was built in Yakutia. Children’s playgrounds and sports grounds were also opened in Yakutsk, Tas-Yuryakh, Myndyb and elsewhere. In the sponsored school of the Botuobuinsky nasleg of the Mirninsky district, in the school where children of indigenous peoples study, the robotics rooms, 3D modeling, and the press center were renovated, a stadium was built and the assembly hall was reconstructed.

    Under the agreement with the government of Yugra, Rosneft supports the construction and reconstruction of educational and sports institutions in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. In 2024, a kindergarten, the Lider and MediaQuant youth clubs, and an outdoor sports and play complex were opened in Nizhnevartovsk.

    RN-Yuganskneftegaz is implementing a comprehensive program to support children and young people. In 2024, School No. 9 in Khanty-Mansiysk received modern equipment, including interactive panels and equipment for physics lessons. Much attention is paid to the development of children’s sports: ten sports schools in Yugra received almost a thousand units of modern hockey equipment, including sticks, skates and protective helmets. A modern sports complex was opened in the village of Lyamina.

    In Achinsk, with the support of the Company, major repairs are underway at the inpatient department of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Center for the Protection of Motherhood and Childhood No. 2.

    A project IT laboratory has been opened in Udmurtia and two sports halls have been renovated in School No. 12 in the city of Votkinsk in Udmurtia. The laboratory is equipped with modern technology, including an interactive panel, a 3D printer, a laser 3D scanner and all the necessary software.

    In addition, the Company creates “Rosneft-classes” in the regions of its operations based on the best educational institutions: schools, lyceums and gymnasiums. As part of the project, students receive a high-quality general secondary education. Schoolchildren in grades 10-11 study according to programs with in-depth study of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science. The project is aimed at career guidance and motivation of teenagers to enter universities in the Company’s core specialties and subsequent employment of graduates at Rosneft enterprises.

    In the completed academic year, 2.7 thousand schoolchildren studied in 118 Rosneft-classes. The project is being implemented in 56 general education organizations located in 47 cities and towns in 20 regions of Russia.

    In anticipation of International Children’s Day, volunteers of the Company and its subsidiaries are organizing dozens of festive events aimed at developing sports and a healthy lifestyle, and the cultural and patriotic education of youth.

    Kuibyshev Oil Refinery presented an educational interactive project “City of Safety”. Hundreds of children and teenagers have already taken part in it. In a game format, children learn the rules of safe behavior in various life situations, including road traffic and the Internet.

    Workers of the Novokuibyshevsk Oil Refinery organized a holiday for children from social institutions of the city with quizzes dedicated to oil professions. Oil refiners annually organize an ecological family festival “Ecofest” for city residents; this year the festival brought together more than 400 schoolchildren.

    Volunteers of the Syzran Oil Refinery brought gifts to the children of the center for helping children left without parental care. Samaraneftegaz organized a holiday for the children of employees called “Hello, Summer!” with the participation of representatives of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, who conducted a safety lesson in an entertaining manner.

    Employees of the Saratov Oil Refinery conducted an interactive lesson “Ecology” for kindergarten children and donated sports equipment to the social rehabilitation center “Vozvrashchenie”.

    Slavneft-Krasnoyarskneftegaz organized a city football tournament in Krasnoyarsk, during which 150 children had the opportunity to play at a professional stadium. In Krasnoyarsk Krai, oil workers delivered gifts to kindergarten children in the remote village of Kuyumba, overcoming a difficult route by helicopter and special equipment.

    Orenburgneft volunteers conducted a series of eco-lessons as part of the Eco-School environmental marathon, where students were told about a responsible attitude towards the environment.

    Tyumenneftegaz organized a big family day out in the fresh air with sports games, master classes and treats. Volunteers of Kharampurneftegaz organized an excursion to the zoo and an environmental quiz for the children of the Siyanie Severa family center. Volunteers of the corporate institute in Tomsk together with Tomsk Polytechnic University organized a quest game for schoolchildren of the city called “Oil Journey: from the Deposit to the Gas Station”. In a game form, the participants got acquainted with oil and gas professions, and as a reward, the winners received additional points for admission to the university.

    Rosneft Scientific Institute in Ufa is implementing a volunteer project called “Social Tutor”. For the fifth year in a row, the institute’s employees have been voluntarily tutoring children from low-income families online.

    Employees of Rosneft-Stavropol together with representatives of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate held road safety lessons for preschoolers. At the Rosneft gas station in Stavropol Krai, young guests received educational books with creative tasks “Travel with a Polar Bear Cub” as a gift. In Arkhangelsk, RN-North-West organized an educational event “Children for Safe Roads”, where children studied traffic rules and tried themselves in the role of drivers.

    Rosneft employees take an active part in all-Russian and regional campaigns, including the New Year’s “Wish Tree”, “Help Go to School”, “Give a Child a Holiday”, “Spring Week of Kindness”, “Warmth for Children”, “A Backpack for a First-Grader”, “Let’s Get a Child Ready for School”, “There Are No Other People’s Children”, “Santa Claus in Every Home”, “A Gift for School”, “A Gift from Santa Claus” and others.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft May 30, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “AI and machine learning are powerful technologies, but not everyone has learned how to apply them”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The global education industry’s revenue growth could reach 4% in the coming years thanks to the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies. In addition, AI reduces the working hours of teachers by 4-5 times. HSE experts explained how teachers and administrative staff of universities are mastering neural networks, bots and other tools and why there is no need to be afraid that AI will replace them.

    AI is being introduced into higher education

    According to data research HSE and Yandex Education, 49% of students already use generative technologies, and 54% of university employees are confident that these skills will positively influence the career development of students. However, AI technologies are actively used not only by students, but also by teachers and administrative staff.

    Possible scenarios for the use of AI by teachers:

    work with educational programs, curricula, individual modules and topics;

    development of educational content: presentation materials, tests, essay topics;

    assessment of written work and analysis of students’ skills.

    Possible scenarios for the use of AI by university administrations:

    optimization of the educational schedule;

    consulting students on organizational issues and applicants on admission issues;

    analytics and forecasting of educational results;

    creation of marketing content;

    management of local regulatory documents, generation of documents upon request.

    Features of training teachers in AI tools

    Mass training of teachers is not an easy task. To teach such a demanding audience, highly qualified lecturers are needed, and this is a limited resource. Teachers from different faculties and areas expect to receive subject knowledge and specific tools that will allow them to automate the execution of various tasks right now. And all listeners want to hear about cases that are directly related to their field, explained Evgeny Sokolov, scientific director of the Center for Continuous Education, head of Department of Big Data and Information Retrieval HSE Faculty of Computer Science.

    “This complexity is not new at all: we have extensive experience in corporate training in the field of AI, and there we also always hear a request for very specific recommendations and very close cases,” says Evgeny Sokolov. “And this always requires elaboration and explanation. Yes, AI and machine learning are extremely powerful technologies that have already proven themselves and that may have great prospects. But not everyone has learned to use them, not everyone has bright examples of implementation. And therefore we can explain what it is and how it works, show how it brings a lot of benefits in other areas, and then together think about transferring this experience.”

    In total, in 2024, HSE trained 1,750 teachers, researchers, and administrative staff from all campuses to work with artificial intelligence for free. The training was conducted as part of the Priority 2030 strategic academic leadership program. Employees could choose one of the areas based on their level of training — from prompting and Python programming to machine and deep learning.

    Here are some of the applied skills that students learn:

    using generative models to simplify and automate work;

    data analysis and visualization;

    using Python for editing and generating text files: contracts, memos in pdf and word;

    Sending Emails with Python;

    creation of telegram bots to collect information from students, etc.

    The core of the teaching staff of the programs was made up of specialists Faculty of Computer Science HSE University. The organization of advanced training programs was carried out by Center for Continuous Education of the Faculty of Computer Science, and administrative support for all courses was provided by Center for Advanced Studies.

    The Center for Continuous Education of the Faculty of Computer Science trains not only HSE employees. Employees of the Irkutsk National Research Technical University passed advanced training program “Python for automation and data analysis”, and employees of the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service – program advanced training “Modern approaches and methods of teaching the course “Digital Literacy””.

    How Teachers Are Using AI in Their Work

    Project work plays a significant role in the programs. Students reflect on how AI methods can be useful in their tasks, formulate corresponding ideas and receive feedback from experts. These are ideas about simplifying teaching routines, restructuring disciplines and new research tasks.

    Then these proposals begin to receive full implementation. Within the framework of the program, each student prepares a final project on the implementation of neural networks in work processes, some of which are already successfully used in practice.

    For example, the course “Venture Capital” has an assistant based on the bot-psychologist “Anna”. The AI assistant interacts with students, helps answer difficult questions and improve psychological preparation for interaction with investors. Using the assistant has improved the quality of students’ training and provided new tools for discussing the psychological aspects of entrepreneurship.

    Another example is the use of AI to create educational materials. Tools such as Narakeet and invideo AI reduce the time it takes to create presentation-quality video materials by more than 10 times. Teachers now have a wider range of ready-made templates and ideas for visual presentation of lecture material. All this makes the educational process more visual and understandable for students.

    According to teachers, after training they use AI to prepare notes, presentations, cases and tests, check assignments, work with databases, search for scientific literature, and translate texts.

    “Useful content, accessible presentation of the material, as well as patience with our pace and questions. I was genuinely interested in the tools presented in the course, I will study and apply them further in my work. To be honest, I did not even guess that the speed of a heart attack can be predicted by the voice, and about some other discoveries that have already been implemented in practice. So special thanks for keeping us informed of human technical progress,” noted Anastasia Pyatachkova, Deputy Head of the Asia-Pacific Sector. Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies HSE.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Arrangements for admission of professionals of specified skilled trades announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Arrangements for admission of professionals of specified skilled trades announced 
         The Technical Professional List covers eight specified skilled trades, namely new industrialisation technicians, nurses, aircraft maintenance technicians, marine services technicians (for local vessels), information technology technicians, lift/escalator technicians, building information modeling coordinators and electrical technicians. Applicants are to meet the requirements on qualifications, work experience, professional skills (e.g. registration or license to practice), etc, of the specific skilled trade as listed on the List. In addition, according to the prevailing requirements under the GEP and the ASMTP, the relevant professionals are required to have secured an employment offer from a local enterprise before application, and the remuneration package should be commensurate with the market level for similar jobs.
     
         Depending on the skilled trade and the applicant’s qualifications, the first entry visa will be valid for 24 or 36 months. When applying for visa renewal, a technical professional must continue to be employed in the same skilled trade in Hong Kong. If his/her visa renewal application is approved, an extension of stay of not more than 36 months, or in accordance with the validity period of his/her employment contract (whichever is shorter), may be granted.
     
         A Government spokesperson said, “According to the 2023 Manpower Projection published last year, Hong Kong is expected to face an overall manpower shortage of 180 000 by 2028, over one-third of which will be skilled technical workers. As such, the 2024 Policy Address announced that a new channel would be introduced to attract young and experienced non-degree professionals to join skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. The Technical Professional List was compiled by relevant bureaux and departments after careful consideration and in consultation with stakeholders of various industries and sectors. The eight skilled trades identified are all critical to sustaining Hong Kong’s city operation, facing acute manpower shortage at least in the next five years, and in need of manpower that cannot be replenished by local training in good time.”
     
         “The new channel targets mid-level qualified and experienced non-degree technical professionals of specified trades and attracts them to settle in Hong Kong in the long run. This is distinct from and does not overlap with the existing Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme and sector-specific labour importation schemes. The new arrangement will be on a pilot basis for three years, subject to a review after the first year. Meanwhile, the Government will continue its commitment to training for local workers,” the spokesman added.
     
         Under the employment-tied GEP and the ASMTP, employers may apply to employ outside talent, normally with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualifications, to fill job vacancies that could not be readily taken up by locals. For vacancies falling under the professions in the Talent List, the enterprises are not required to conduct a market availability test to prove difficulties in local recruitment before making applications. Employers submitting applications in future through the new technical professional stream under the two schemes will also enjoy such exemption from conducting a market availability test.
     
         Details of the skilled trades of the Technical Professional List, the respective description of tasks and qualification requirements have been uploaded to the website of the Immigration Department (ImmD) (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/TPStream.htmlIssued at HKT 15:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met today (May 30) at Government House with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, to welcome Mr Wang as he visits Hong Kong and attends the Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (the Convention). Mr Lee and Mr Wang had a working luncheon and exchanged views on the work of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), and international exchanges and co-operation related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan; and the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip, also attended the meeting.

    Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government for its strong support in establishing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong. He noted that the IOMed is a high-level international organisation. He said that the Central Government demonstrated its staunch support to the HKSAR in its development as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan through setting up the IOMed Preparatory Office in Hong Kong, completing the negotiations on the Convention, facilitating the consensus among different parties on situating the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong, and hosting the signing ceremony of the Convention in Hong Kong.

    Mr Lee said that the presence of Mr Wang in Hong Kong to witness the historic moment of signing the Convention is a great encouragement to him and the HKSAR Government. The HKSAR Government is well-equipped to promote the IOMed and to develop Hong Kong into a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Mr Lee said that basing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong will bring a host of significant benefits to the city.

    First, the IOMed will elevate Hong Kong’s international status and role in international mediation. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong, as the only common law jurisdiction in China, boasts an established legal system, a solid foundation of the rule of law, diverse legal and dispute resolution services, and a wide pool of legal professionals with a global perspective. He noted that Hong Kong could make important contributions to the work of the IOMed.

    Second, the IOMed will generate substantial economic benefits. Its service demand will create a large number of job opportunities in positions such as mediators, translators and researchers. The IOMed will also attract international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong, drawing high-quality conferences and exhibitions to the city and further boosting sectors like hospitality, food and beverages, logistics and transportation, as well as industries in the conference economy. With a status on par with the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration of the United Nations in The Hague, the IOMed will become a pivotal institution for resolving international disputes. This will facilitate deeper economic co-operation between Hong Kong and overseas economies such as regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, creating more business opportunities.

    Third, the IOMed will further enhance Hong Kong’s ecosystem related to the rule of law, promoting the popularity of a mediation culture and encouraging the community in resolving issues through dialogue. Mr Lee highlighted that the IOMed will help Hong Kong attract more legal and dispute resolution professionals from around the globe, contributing to the development of the legal framework for dispute resolution and further consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international legal hub.

    Mr Lee also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, and Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas for their continued support in deepening the HKSAR Government’s international exchanges and co-operation. This includes the meticulous arrangements for overseas visits of Mr Lee and other HKSAR Government officials, enabling Hong Kong to more effectively showcase its unparalleled advantages of having the strong support of the country while maintaining connectivity with the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

    Noting that consular protection of the country has always been the strongest safeguard for Hong Kong people travelling abroad, Mr Lee thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its ongoing support and care provided to the people of Hong Kong through Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas. The HKSAR Government will continue to enhance Hong Kong people’s understanding of consular protection policies and work related to Hong Kong, and raise their awareness and capabilities in the areas of security and protection.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Findings of investigation into death of PMH doctor released

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Findings of investigation into death of PMH doctor released 
    On February 10, 2025, the CHP received a notification from PMH that three doctors in its oncology department had developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms and one of them unfortunately passed away on February 7. PMH’s preliminary investigation revealed that a stool sample from one of the doctors, who had mild symptoms, tested positive for Shiga toxin genes by nucleic acid testing. Therefore, it was suspected that the cluster might be associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection. The CHP immediately conducted a comprehensive epidemiological investigation of the suspected cluster. A team of experts from the Department of Microbiology of the HKU, led by Professor Yuen, also assisted in the investigation.
     
    The CHP’s investigation revealed that the bacterial culture of the stool sample from the doctor suspected of having an STEC infection but with mild symptoms did not grow any viable STEC bacteria. Samples from the other two doctors, including the deceased doctor, were negative for STEC. The CHP collected 34 environmental samples and 27 food samples from the oncology department and relevant food premises at PMH, all of which were negative for STEC. The CHP also enhanced surveillance on the staff of the oncology department of PMH, and no other related cases were detected. Based on the available information, the CHP confirmed that there was no STEC outbreak in the oncology department of PMH and that there was no linkage between the illnesses of the three doctors.
     
    The pathology department of PMH has conducted an autopsy and pathological examination on the cause of death of the deceased doctor. However, the post-mortem examination could not determine the exact cause of the pathological changes that led to his death. Experts from the Department of Microbiology of the HKU have detected group C rotavirus (a known rotavirus) in various tissue samples of the deceased using nucleic acid testing. However, the virus was not detected in the stool samples of the other two doctors. The experts were of the view that the initial acute gastroenteritis in the deceased was caused by group C rotavirus. The direct relationship between group C rotavirus and the cause of death was uncertain, while other contributing factors could not be ruled out.

    Rotavirus is a gastroenteritis virus commonly found in children and is classified into groups A, B and C, etc. Group A is the most common (accounting for over 90 per cent of rotavirus infections worldwide), mainly affecting children under the age of 5. Scientific studies indicate that group C may infect adults and older children more frequently, with milder symptoms compared to groups A and B. According to the statistics of the Hospital Authority, there have been no deaths from rotavirus infection in public hospitals in the past 10 years. Preventive measures for rotavirus infection are similar to those for other viral gastroenteritis. It is important to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene.
    ???
    Separately, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains, however, such as STEC, can produce strong toxins and cause severe foodborne disease. Generally, STEC infections are often associated with consuming contaminated food or water, such as raw or undercooked meat, contaminated fruits and vegetables, or unpasteurised dairy products. Meanwhile, the bacteria can also be transmitted from person-to-person through the faecal-oral route. Preventive measures for STEC infection are similar to those recommended for other foodborne diseases.
    Issued at HKT 17:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s speech at “Hong Kong Night” business networking reception and seminar in Vancouver, Canada (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST’s speech at “Hong Kong Night” business networking reception and seminar in Vancouver, Canada (English only) (with photo) 
    Distinguished guests, industry leaders and innovators, friends in Canada and from around the world,
     
    Good evening, everyone. Thanks for having me today for this very special occasion, called “Hong Kong Night”. I must say I always wonder why we have “Hong Kong night” in broad daylight. I suppose it could be a distinctive feature of this city which everybody loves. Just now, our colleague from Cathay Pacific mentioned to me that there will be a draw right after for tickets so I’m sure that explains why you are all here.
     
    Let me give you some flavour in terms of how Hong Kong has been faring, and also at the same time some talking points that you may want to share after this session. I want to give you an overview in terms of how Hong Kong has done so far in financial services under my portfolio, and also in particular the reason why I’m here in Vancouver because this is my last stop, after Toronto and also Ottawa. Through this visit, I had the opportunity to see many people at the government, regulators and also financial institutions. What I am impressed most is that it’s really a place where people are looking for a change. You already have a new government. At the same time, you are looking for ways to diversify, in terms of your economy, and also in terms of financial activities. So I think Hong Kong comes at the right time, where it’s a very viable option, either you are a corporate, an individual, or even an investor, to consider that in the context of diversification.
     
    Before I further proceed, maybe first of all, let me give you an overview of how Hong Kong’s been faring so far. I’ve been asked a lot in terms of the impact of tariffs on Hong Kong. I understand that there will be a fireside chat by Rocky (the Director and Head of Policy Research of the Financial Services Development Council, Dr Rocky Tung) later on, and I’ll leave that to the experts. But that said, Hong Kong being a service economy, I must say we don’t have much to export. At the same time, we are a free economy as stipulated in our Basic Law. So far so good in terms of our resilience, I would say, in the broader context of geopolitical change.
     
    More specifically, in our capital market, recently we do see an upsurge in our stock market. Right now, our average daily turnover is exceeding US$32 billion, and also we’ve welcomed a number of key mega IPOs (initial public offerings), like the recent one is CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited). It’s a major or global battery manufacturer for EVs (electric vehicles), and they just got listed at the same time, offering a shares equivalent to the size of around HK$41 billion. And funny enough, when you look at the composition of the investors, we have those from the US. At the same time, we also have investors from the Middle East, where the Kuwait Sovereign Wealth Fund, what we call the KIA, Kuwait Investment Authority, actually put in US$500 million in that offer. So you can see that despite all the talk about the deglobalisation or decoupling, finance, in particular, capital formation takes place, and also monies after returns.
     
    Of course, that is not alone in terms of what we are welcoming. We also welcome Canadian companies to list in Hong Kong as well. Right now, we have around six Canadian companies already listed in Hong Kong, like Manulife and also some of the mining and oil and gas companies. I do very much welcome many more listings, especially from this part of the world, where it could be tech, could be mining, or for other types of new economic activities.
     
    The second part I want to highlight, apart from how Hong Kong has been faring, is in terms of my observations so far this year, so far in my visit. Apart from the general ones that I just highlighted, I do see a number of areas that Hong Kong and Canada can work together. First of all, wealth management, because I got the chance to see and meet a number of insurance companies and banks from this part of the world. In fact, many of them are heavily invested and also have a strong presence in Hong Kong, like Manulife, which takes up 27 per cent of our Mandatory Provident Fund, a pension service system in Hong Kong. And also Sun Life, which is in collaboration with Dah Sing Bank in Hong Kong through the bank insurance businesses. Also we have CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) and others that already have a strong presence in corporate banking in Hong Kong.
     
    Many people see wealth management as an emerging trend, an area where we should work together. Because in the way that we see the world, like all of you, people are looking for ways to diversify. Many of the traditional markets where people want to park their wealth in the Anglo-Saxon world, people are still changing their minds in terms of whether they should diversify through geography or through products. In either way, Hong Kong is an option, because we have been the largest offshore cross-boundary wealth management centre so far in Asia, and we are looking to be the biggest one in the world. It is an area that we are very keen to develop further. Right now, we have 2 700 single family offices. We are going to have facilitated at least 200 more family offices by the end of this year. Also, we are going to have more tax concessions for family offices to cover private credit, carbon credit, and virtual assets. I will leave these details to our Invest Hong Kong colleagues. They will have all the details. All I want to say is wealth management, in particular in terms of family offices and high-net-worth individuals, is an area that I think Hong Kong can walk closely together with this country.
     
    The second area that I think is important to note in terms of collaboration is about what the host mentioned just now – the Web Summit Vancouver. The reason that I’m here is because we just passed a law to regulate stablecoin issues in Hong Kong. It is a big topic, not just in Hong Kong, but regionally, because many people see virtual assets as speculative. But that said, stablecoins being underpinned by fiat currency is a different animal, which potentially can be used in the form of payment. At a time when the US dollar or US-related assets are being questioned, I think many of the alternatives, also at the same time, in the form of stablecoins, have that role to play.
     
    In that regard, I have more to share in terms of our ecosystem effort to build an ecosystem in Hong Kong for our virtual assets. We have already 10 virtual asset exchanges, and also at the same time, we are going to issue licenses for stablecoin issuers. And very soon, we will also regulate these virtual asset custodians. For anyone of you who are participating, in this space, I do urge you to look at what Hong Kong has done and also at the same time how you can leverage the opportunities for your own development.
     
    Last but not least, in terms of what I want to inform this group is having debriefed all of you about what Hong Kong has done in terms of wealth management and virtual assets and also fintech in general, I’m sure that you do see a lot of need to come to Hong Kong. So even though you may not be able to get those free tickets, I’m sure you’re all rich enough to buy your own and also give yourself a reason to come to Hong Kong soon. And anytime, anywhere, you’re most welcome. Thank you.
    Issued at HKT 16:49

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by CE at Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation 
    Honourable Minister Wang Yi (Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs), Your Excellencies, ministers and officials from around the world, honourable representatives of international organisations, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Good morning. I am delighted to join you on this historic occasion: to celebrate with you the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation.
     
    Gathered here today, in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, are high-level representatives of over 80 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe; and from the United Nations and about 20 international organisations. A very warm welcome to Hong Kong!
     
    It is a privilege for us to host this signing ceremony, and to serve as the IOMed headquarters, once the Convention enters into force.
     
    This singular occasion is made possible by the ongoing and dedicated efforts of China, our country, in working with around 20 states, since late 2022, to establish an intergovernmental organisation devoted to mediation. After five rounds of intensive negotiation since 2023, co-ordinated by the IOMed Preparatory Office, the negotiating states concluded the very Convention signed today.
     
    The IOMed will become the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation. It also reflects our shared confidence in mediation as a peaceful means to maintain international peace and security, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.
     
    The IOMed will provide a pathway for countries – regardless of culture, language and legal system – to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding. This is increasingly important amid mounting geopolitical tensions. When protectionism threatens to derail the international trade order, and when unilateralism looms over global supply chains, it is dialogue – not division – that restores balance.
     
    China has long championed equity and unity. The Chinese virtue of “和而不同”, meaning “harmony in diversity”, is deeply rooted in our community and culture. This value of mutual respect in spite of differences also sits at the heart of mediation, the IOMed, and a world that seeks co-operation over conflict.
     
    Despite geopolitical turbulence, Hong Kong builds bridges, not walls. Under our unique “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. With the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has risen as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region.
     
    We are the only common law jurisdiction in China, and the only jurisdiction in the world with a bilingual common law system in both Chinese and English. We have a long tradition of the rule of law, and our courts exercise their judicial power independently. Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal, which is vested with the power of final adjudication, has on its bench eminent jurists from both Hong Kong and overseas common law jurisdictions.
     
    Our robust, efficient and well-respected legal system is supported by world-class legal and dispute resolution professionals. Often bilingual or even multilingual, they are well-versed in international rules and practices, and help to position Hong Kong as a preferred venue for dispute resolution.
     
    In this year’s International Arbitration Survey, Hong Kong is the most preferred seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region, and shares second place globally with another jurisdiction. Our economy also came first in “business legislation” and “international trade” in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. In the latest Business Ready Report published by the World Bank Group, Hong Kong ranks eighth in “dispute resolution” among the 50 economies covered.
     
    All this underscores Hong Kong’s effectiveness as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” among many economies. We contribute to cross-border investment and economic activity through our top-notch professional services. Our “one country, two systems” advantages make us well-placed to be the headquarters of the important institution of the IOMed.
     
    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is devoted to supporting the IOMed’s provision of friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services. We actively promote a vibrant culture of mediation. In fact, it is a general policy to incorporate a mediation clause in all government contracts. We are also enhancing the system on local accreditation and disciplinary matters of the mediation profession.
     
    And we go all out to build bridges with the world. Hong Kong will actively promote the IOMed’s valuable work in settling international disputes through mediation, and advocate mediation as a global tool for peace and justice across borders.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen, the establishment of the IOMed’s headquarters in Hong Kong is a great honour for our city. The headquarters, as you may know, will be based in the building that once housed the Wan Chai Police Station, just a stone’s throw away from here. Built in 1932, this iconic building has a long association with law and order in Hong Kong. From its prime downtown location, it has also witnessed the transformation of our city that has long treasured unity. In its new role as the IOMed headquarters, the building will play a vital part in the future of Hong Kong as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services.
     
    We are working to complete the conversion of the building for its new mission. I’m happy to say that it could open its doors as early as the end of this year. We look forward not only to welcoming its new occupants, but also to supporting them in building new bridges for a more connected, peaceful and prosperous future through mediation.
     
    I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its staunch support of Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the IOMed headquarters here. My sincere gratitude also goes to the international community, for placing your trust and confidence in our city. Let’s renew our commitment to peace, justice and the rule of law. Let’s cultivate a mediation culture together. Let’s build a strong IOMed for a global community of shared future founded on peace and prosperity. Please enjoy the day and enjoy Hong Kong. Thank you.
    Issued at HKT 11:50

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government to further reduce emission allowances of power plants

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government to further reduce emission allowances of power plants 
         The Tenth TM, which is issued under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (the Ordinance), reduces the annual emission allowances of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and respirable suspended particulates (RSPs) from the electricity sector from 2030 onwards at 2 302 tonnes, 8 350 tonnes and 317 tonnes respectively. This represents further tightening by 19 per cent, 25 per cent and 14 per cent respectively when compared with the emission allowances for the electricity sector for 2026 set under the Ninth TM.
     
         A spokesperson for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said, “In setting the new emission allowances, we have taken into account factors such as local electricity demand, the gas-fired electricity generation of the two power companies (including the progress of constructing new gas-fired units for replacement of coal-fired units), the emission performance of existing generating units, the estimated import of nuclear power and clean energy, and the projected electricity intake from renewable energy sources. The Government has also been requiring the two power companies to adopt the best practicable means in their plants’ design and operational management to minimise emissions of air pollutants.”
    　　  
         The Hongkong Electric Company Limited is building a new gas-fired generating unit for operation in 2029, while an existing coal-fired generating unit will be decommissioned correspondingly by then. As for CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP), driven by major infrastructure developments (such as the Northern Metropolis), the electricity demand in 2030-2031 is forecasted to be about 9 per cent higher than the forecast made in the Ninth TM. CLP plans to increase the output of its existing gas-fired generating units to meet the additional electricity demand, and will import more zero-carbon energy from the Mainland. These measures can further reduce the two power companies’ reliance on coal-fired power generation, thereby reducing pollutant emissions.

    　　The spokesperson added, “Hong Kong’s air quality has been improving continuously in recent years. The ambient concentrations of SO2, nitrogen dioxide and RSPs recorded in 2024 had been reduced by 45 per cent to 88 per cent when compared with that in 2004. The number of hours of reduced visibility observed had also been greatly reduced by 82 per cent from its peak in 2004. The significant improvement is also attributable to the Government’s efforts in implementing measures to reduce air pollutant emissions from power plants. As emissions from the electricity sector accounted for 61 per cent, 27 per cent and 13 per cent of the territory-wide emissions of SO2, NOx and RSPs respectively in 2022, the tightened emission allowances for power plants will help further improve the air quality in Hong Kong and the PRD region.　　 
    　　The Tenth TM will be tabled at the Legislative Council on June 4 for commencement by the end of 2025. In accordance with the Ordinance, the new set of emission allowances will come into effect on January 1, 2030.
    Issued at HKT 11:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Japanese medical and life science companies join business mission to understand Hong Kong’s investment environment and explore business opportunities (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Japanese medical and life science companies join business mission to understand Hong Kong’s investment environment and explore business opportunities  
         This is the fourth sector-specific business mission organised by InvestHK and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) in recent years, following the last innovation and technology mission in May 2024, and two food and beverage missions, which were held in February 2025 and April 2023 respectively.
     
         Tying in with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Asia Summit on Global Health and the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair 2025, on May 26 and 27, the delegation attended a series of visits, themed seminars, networking sessions, as well as business matching meetings with potential investors, investees and business partners.
     
         At the welcome dinner held on May 26, the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “With the highest life expectancy in the world, Hong Kong has proven itself as a hub of healthcare excellence and technological innovation. Home to two of the world’s top 30 medical schools, a first-class research talent pool, and globally recognised clinical trial data, our city is a powerhouse for biotech advancement.”
     
         On May 27, the delegates visited the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to attend a briefing session on the business environment and opportunities available in Hong Kong, followed by a tour of the HKSTP’s Japanese tenants’ lab and other facilities. The delegates then attended a networking dinner organised by InvestHK.
    Issued at HKT 14:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Framework agreement on co-operation in Mirs Bay pilotage between Hong Kong and Shenzhen renewed

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Framework agreement on co-operation in Mirs Bay pilotage between Hong Kong and Shenzhen renewed 
         The purpose of the framework agreement is to enhance the navigational safety of vessels in the waters of Mirs Bay and to improve the efficiency of vessels calling at the Shenzhen East Port Area. The framework agreement specifies the scope of pilotage services for vessels, pilot deployment, charging arrangements, pilot management and entry/exit arrangements. According to the framework agreement, vessels that are required to be under compulsory pilotage as stipulated in the laws of both Hong Kong and Shenzhen will be piloted by a single Hong Kong or Shenzhen qualified pilot throughout the entire voyage to or from the Shenzhen East Port Area through Mirs Bay, and the service will be charged once. Compared with the previous requirement for vessels to be guided by pilots from Hong Kong and Shenzhen in separate segments, the pilotage co-operation arrangement effectively reduces operating costs of shipping and port entities, and improves the efficiency and safety of pilotage operations.
     
         A spokesperson for the MD said, “Since the initial signing of the framework agreement in 2022, the pilotage co-operation in Mirs Bay between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has been smooth and efficient, and well-received by the trade. Therefore, we welcome the renewal of the framework agreement with Shenzhen in order to continue to provide convenience for the trade in marine transportation, deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in pilotage services, as well as foster the high-quality development of ports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
    Issued at HKT 14:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: cortAIx SG: Thales Accelerates Trusted AI Innovation in Singapore with Strategic Partnerships

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: cortAIx SG: Thales Accelerates Trusted AI Innovation in Singapore with Strategic Partnerships

    • Thales’s global acceleration in trusted AI extends to Asia for the first time with the launch of cortAIx SG. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), cortAIx SG aims to drive the ethical and effective adoption of AI in Singapore, in alignment with Singapore’s National AI strategy. The Group’s global expansion of cortAIx to Singapore has the dual purpose of serving the needs of both the civil and defence ecosystems.
    • Thales is strengthening its strategic partnerships in Singapore by launching joint initiatives with CAAS1, DSTA2, and HTX3across Aviation, Defence, and Public Safety and Security. These enhanced collaborations include an expanded innovation partnership with HTX focused on AI, border security, quantum, and cybersecurity technologies, as well as the creation of a joint Avionics Lab with CAAS—supported by Changi Airport Group, ICAI4, SATS, and Singapore Airlines—to drive next-generation avionics solutions.
    • With these partnerships, cortAIx SG will become an integral part of the Group’s global cortAIx network of 800 highly-skilled AI and data experts, supported by local talent with deep expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.

    On 30th May, Thales and EDB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the launch of cortAIx SG to extend the Group’s global AI programme to Asia, and further accelerate on AI research and industrialisation. With more than 100 products integrating AI, Thales already develops and deploys trusted AI-powered systems in the most complex and challenging environments. Building on this strong foundation, cortAIx SG will serve as an important accelerator, identifying critical challenges and developing high-impact AI solutions for Thales’ business units across Singapore and the broader Asia region. The centre will play a key role in driving the development and implementation of trusted AI systems in complex and mission-critical environments, thereby strengthening Thales’ R&D capabilities and long-term innovation footprint in Singapore.

    cortAIx SG positions Thales Singapore as a hub for AI leadership and joint innovation, aligned with the nation’s ambitions under the National AI Strategy. The centre will be driven by several key initiatives: including projects that enhance utilisation of knowledge and sensor suites to aid planning and decision support; increase operational efficiency; and drive human-autonomy teaming. Thales will work with the Singaporean government and ecosystem to grow domain and technology capabilities in Singapore, bringing together cutting-edge technology, talent and research to AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, explainable, and operationally effective.

    The announcement was made on the occasion of French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to Singapore, with multiple agreements signed on 29th May and during the France–Singapore Frontier Technologies Forum on 30th May.

    1.Expansion of Strategic Partnership with HTX (Home Team Science & Technology Agency)

    Thales and HTX first signed a Master Agreement for Strategic Partnership for Innovation in 2020.  Today, they expanded the scope of this partnership, extending it for another three years to:

    1. Establish a joint-lab focused on AI-enabled technologies, local capability development and the formation of best practices for trustworthy AI within the local context;  
    2. Enable technology insertion through agile collaboration, testing and technology experimentation aligned to HTX’s evolving needs. Thales will support HTX in translating early-stage technical solutions into concrete systems that can be integrated into HTX’s homeland security programmes to drive rapid innovation and early adoption;
    3. Jointly develop a shared Research and Development (R&D) strategy and future technology roadmap relevant to public safety and security, bringing together HTX, Thales, academia and startups, across five critical technology frontiers: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Technologies and Space.

    2.Joint Avionics Lab with Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to innovate avionics-oriented solutions

    CAAS, Changi Airport Group (CAG), the International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI), SATS Ltd. (SATS), Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Thales signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 29th May 2025 to foster greater innovation and collaboration at the aviation ecosystem level.

    Under this MOU, the partners will work together to identify key challenges to solve and undertake joint innovation projects to develop solutions, which could include the following:

    1. Air traffic optimisation, by combining airlines’ flight operations and cockpit data with air traffic management information. AI-enabled algorithms can detect and predict holding patterns within a particular radius around Changi Airport, helping manage congestion and leading to reduced flight delays.
    2. Digitalising and optimising the data shared between airlines, air traffic management and airports. Data from sensors in the aircraft, like cameras or inflight entertainment systems, can provide real-time, automated data to complement current data streams like video content from ground infrastructures. Enhancing these with AI models can help airlines, air traffic managements and airport operators improve collaborative decision making.

    The Avionics Lab in Singapore, the first of its kind for Thales outside France, represents a significant milestone in deepening Thales’ avionics capabilities in Singapore and the region.   The Avionics Lab complements the AIR Lab (jointly set up by CAAS and Thales in 2019 to work on cutting-edge Air Traffic Management solutions) to optimise air transport operations in the region. 

    The Avionics Lab will serve as a vital platform for collaborative innovation, between the world leading aviation eco-system in Singapore and Thales, to co-develop and test cutting edge concepts grounded in real-world operational scenarios, strengthening Singapore’s position as a hub for aviation technologies.

    3.AI in critical systems for Defence through DSTA – Thales co-lab

    Announced in April this year, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Thales have set up a joint lab for AI-enabled technologies, which can augment combat systems currently in use by the Singapore Armed Forces to efficiently handle drone threats. The lab will work on joint projects, the first of which is related to Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) and advanced sensors.

    Thales is also providing a cyber-secured and AI-powered autonomous mine countermeasures system to the Republic of Singapore Navy, in partnership with ST Engineering. The sonars and mission management system are accompanied by data analysis tools reinforced with AI, in order ​ to facilitate target detection and identification that ease the workload of operators.

    These initiatives form the core of Thales’s AI strategy in Singapore and touch on key sectors aligned with the National AI Strategy 2.0. These collective partnerships will see Thales grow its pool of AI experts in Singapore to over several dozen in the next three years, adding to the Group’s global cortAIx network of 800 highly-skilled AI and data specialists.

    “The launch of cortAIx SG by Thales will add new capabilities to Singapore’s growing AI and innovation ecosystems, and builds on Thales’s longstanding presence in Singapore. We look forward to the impactful AI-enabled solutions cortAIx SG will develop in partnership with our ecosystem for Singapore and the region,” said Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, EDB.

    “Thales is honoured to be working with our strategic partners in Singapore to bring new technologies to the fore, whether in aviation, in public security or to help reinforce national defence and sovereignty. Being able to announce the launch of cortAIx SG this week, in the presence of Ms Clara Chappaz, French Minister Delegate for AI and Digital Affairs and Ms Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, is a true recognition of our role as a technology leader, notably as France and Singapore celebrate 60 years of bilateral cooperation. cortAIx SG will be a valuable asset to help our customers and partners embrace the vast opportunities AI has to offer, deploying it as a force for good, in support of Singapore’s National AI Strategy. We are excited at the prospect of bringing our leading technology, talent and research to deliver AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, explainable and effective.” said Philippe Keryer, Senior Executive Vice President, Strategy, Research and Technology, Thales.

    Thales in Singapore

    Thales has been present in Singapore since 1973, where it has grown from a small avionics presence into a major hub with 2,000 employees across aerospace, defence, cybersecurity, and digital identity (CDI). The country now hosts Thales’s largest CDI manufacturing centre, avionics manufacturing and MRO centre, and cutting-edge R&D labs, including the AIR Lab with CAAS, a joint lab with HTX and the CINTRA research unit with NTU and CNRS. Recent investments include the Thales Singapore Defence Hub, a Co-Lab with DSTA, and Centres of Excellence in Air Traffic Management and Public Security.

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

    The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    1Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

    2Defence Science and Technology Agency

    3Home Team Science & Technology Agency

    4International Centre for Aviation Innovation

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon dominates Indy 500 Data connectivity

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon dominates Indy 500 Data connectivity

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The 2025 Indianapolis 500 race set a new milestone for data usage and connection at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Verizon network. In just one day, inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a total of 172 terabytes (TB) of data was used on the Verizon network, more than we’ve ever seen on the network at this race and one of the highest data usage events Verizon has ever recorded.

    “Connecting a city’s worth of fans at the Indy 500, with more unique users than the Super Bowl had attendees, is a massive undertaking, putting unprecedented demand on wireless networks. We had more data running on our network than any previous NFL draft, and nearly twice the data of any Super Bowl in recorded history. The work and skill that goes into setting up a network to keep hundreds of thousands of people connected in one place is an incredible achievement. It’s the dedication from our teams that ensures our customers don’t have to worry about their phones during this event, no matter the scope,” said Andy Brady, President of Verizon Great Lakes.

    “The unprecedented data usage we witnessed during the 2025 Indy 500 highlights the incredible passion and engagement of our fans,” said Doug Boles, President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “The ability for fans to share their experiences in real-time through Verizon’s robust network significantly enhances the event’s atmosphere and global reach. This level of connectivity is crucial for modern sports experiences, and we’re thrilled to partner with Verizon to deliver it.”

    The data doesn’t just speak for itself; it shouts. Verizon’s network experienced an extraordinary surge at the 2025 Indy 500, with 5G Ultrawideband (UW) playing a dominant role. To put 172 TB into context, that’s equivalent to more than 57 million digital photos (3 MB average). Here are the amazing results:

    • Explosive 5G Growth: A staggering 74.6% leap in 5G UW volume of 61 TB inside the track over last year’s race (43 TB), revealing how fans are embracing the speed and capacity of 5G.
    • Surging Overall Traffic: A massive 48.5% increase in total combined 4G and 5G UW data volume inside IMS, proving the network’s capability to handle the intense demand.
    • High fan engagement: 15 TB of the 61 TB used inside the track was uploaded data, highlighting the high levels of fans sharing in real time.
    • Surrounding Network Impact: Outside the track, more than 111 TB of data volume was used on the network, showing the event’s broader impact.
    • Combined Volume Growth: The combined data volume inside and outside the venue was nearly 172 TB – a 35% increase from last year’s race day, demonstrating substantial year-over-year growth.

    The key driver behind this data explosion was this year’s commercial activation of 5G Standalone at the IMS, allowing fans to easily upload videos and share their experiences in real time, further enhancing the fan experience. “This record breaking amount of traffic really highlights the rapid growth of 5G and how it’s truly built to handle massive events like the Indy 500. The data capacity of the Verizon network is unmatched,” said Brady.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: US foreign aid cuts creating ‘a life threatening vacuum’ for millions of people – new briefing

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The US government has been a major global health funder, supporting HIV prevention, vaccines, maternal care, and humanitarian aid

    Amnesty highlights how the cuts have stopped vital programmes delivering health care, food, shelter, and aid to vulnerable groups, including women, survivors of sexual violence, and refugees

    ‘This abrupt decision and chaotic implementation by the Trump administration is reckless and profoundly damaging’ – Amanda Klasing

    The Trump administration’s abrupt, chaotic and sweeping suspension of US foreign aid is placing millions of lives and human rights at risk across the globe, said Amnesty International.

    In its 34-page briefing, Lives at Risk, Amnesty examines how the cuts have halted critical programmes across the globe, many of which provided essential health care, food security, shelter, medical services, and humanitarian support for people in extremely vulnerable situations, including women, girls, survivors of sexual violence, and other marginalised groups, as well as refugees and those seeking safety.

    The cuts follow President Trump’s executive order, ‘Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,’ and other orders targeting specific groups and programmes. In his congressional testimony, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave weak or misleading responses about the cuts human rights impact, even falsely claiming no deaths have resulted. This contradicts evidence from Amnesty and others, including documented deaths and strong projections of increased mortality due to the cuts.

    Amanda Klasing, Amnesty International USA’s Director of Government Relations, said:

    “This abrupt decision and chaotic implementation by the Trump administration is reckless and profoundly damaging.

    “The decision to cut these programmes so abruptly and in this untransparent manner violates international human rights law, which the US is bound by and undermines decades of US leadership in global humanitarian and development efforts.

    “While US funding over the decades has had a complex relationship with human rights, the scale and suddenness of these current cuts have created a life-threatening vacuum that other governments and aid organisations are not realistically able to fill in the immediate term, violating the rights to life and health, and dignity for millions.”

    Two areas in which the cuts have caused significant harm globally are the forced cutbacks to – or complete closing of – programmes that ensured health care and treatment to marginalised people and those supporting migrants and people seeking safety in countries around the world.

    The rights to life and to health under grave threat

    The US government has long been a key funder of global health, investing in HIV prevention, vaccine programmes, maternal health, humanitarian relief and more. Since President Trump’s abrupt suspension of aid across multiple countries, many vital health services have been suspended or shut down. For example:

    • In Guatemala, funding cuts disrupted programmes supporting survivors of sexual violence, including nutritional support for pregnant girls who had been raped and medical, psychological, and legal support to help survivors of violence rebuild their lives after abuse. Other cuts were to key HIV services, including prevention and treatment.
    • In Haiti, health and post-rape services have lost funding including for child survivors of sexual violence. Cuts to HIV funding has left women and girls, and LGBTI people, with reduced access to prevention and treatment.
    • In South Africa, home to the world’s largest HIV epidemic, funding for HIV prevention and community outreach for orphans and vulnerable children, including for young survivors of rape, was terminated, leaving people without care.
    • In Syria, some essential services in Al-Hol – a detention camp where 36,000 people, mostly children, are indefinitely and arbitrarily detained for their perceived affiliation with the Islamic State armed group – were suspended. Some ambulance services and health clinics were among the first services cut.
    • In Yemen, some lifesaving assistance and protection services, including malnutrition treatment to children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, safe shelters to survivors of gender-based violence, and healthcare to children suffering from cholera and other illnesses have been shut down.
    • In South Sudan, projects providing a range of health services including rehabilitation services for victims of armed conflict, clinical services for victims of gender-based violence, psychological support for rape survivors, and emergency nutritional support for children, have been stopped.

    People seeking safety left without support around the world

    Funding cuts to shelters and groups that provide essential services for migrants, particularly those in dangerous or difficult situations, including refugees, people seeking asylum and internally displaced people, have been widespread and devastating.

    • In Afghanistan, 12 out of 23 community resources centres, which provided approximately 120,000 returning and internally displaced Afghans with housing, food assistance, legal assistance and referrals to healthcare providers, have been shut down. Key aid organisations have suspended health and water programmes, with disproportionate impacts on women and girls.
    • In Costa Rica, local organisations helping asylum seekers and migrants, many from neighbouring Nicaragua, are forced to scale back or close food, shelter, and psychosocial programmes. The funding cuts come as Costa Rica is receiving increased numbers of people seeking safety after being pushed back from the US-Mexico border.
    • Along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border, service providers assisting deported individuals have been forced to cut back on aid including food, shelter, and transportation. With Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the US set to expire, a likely spike in deportations will overwhelm an already diminished support infrastructure.
    • In Mexico, funding cuts have led to the suspension of food programmes, shelter, and legal support for people seeking safety who are now stranded following the end of asylum at the US-Mexico border. Some shelters and organisations fear they will be shut down completely.
    • In Myanmar and Thailand, US-funded health and humanitarian programmes supporting displaced people and refugees have been suspended or drastically reduced. Clinics in Thai border camps closed abruptly after the stop-work orders, reportedly resulting in preventable deaths.

    Amanda Klasing added:

    “The right to seek safety is protected under international law which the United States is bound by.

    “These abrupt cuts in funding put that right at risk by undermining the humanitarian support and infrastructure that enable people around the world who have been forcibly displaced to access protection, placing already marginalised people in acute danger. We call on the US government to restore funding immediately.”

    The unilateral action to stop funding existing programmes and refrain from spending appropriated funds made by the Trump administration bypassed congressional oversight contrary to US law, and came alongside a broader rollback of US participation in multilateral institutions, including announcements to defund or withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization, and the UN Human Rights Council, and reassess membership in UNESCO, and UNRWA.

    Recommendations

    Amnesty urges the Trump administration to restore foreign assistance, through the waiver process or otherwise, to programmes where the chaotic and abrupt cut in funding has harmed human rights and ensure that future aid is administered consistent with human rights law and standards.

    Amnesty calls on Congress to continue robust funding of foreign assistance and reject any requests by the administration to codify foreign assistance cuts through rescission by repealing these measures and ensure that all US foreign assistance remains consistent with human rights and humanitarian principles and is allocated according to need.

    Further, the Trump administration and Congress should work together to ensure that any changes to foreign assistance must be carried out transparently, in consultation with affected communities, civil society, and international partners, and must comply with international human rights law and standards, including the principles of legality, necessity, and non-discrimination.

    All states in a position to do so should fulfil their obligations under UN General Assembly Resolution 2626 and subsequent high-level fora by committing at least 0.7% of gross national income to overseas aid without discrimination. As part of aiming to meet this target, donor states should increase support where possible to help fill critical funding gaps left by the abrupt US aid suspensions and ensure continued progress in realising economic, social, and cultural rights and effective humanitarian response around the world.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemen: A year on, Huthis must free UN, civil society staff 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Huthi de facto authorities should immediately and unconditionally release dozens of staff from the UN, and Yemeni and international civil society organizations who were arbitrarily detained over the course of the past year, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today.  

    The Huthis’ arbitrary arrests of humanitarian workers have a direct impact on the delivery of lifesaving assistance to people in critical need of aid. 

    Starting on 31 May 2024, the Huthis carried out a series of raids in areas under their control, arbitrarily detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organizations. Between 23 and 25 January 2025, the Huthis caried out another wave of arrests, arbitrarily detaining another eight UN staff. The arrests prompted the UN to announce in January that it would suspend all official movements into and within areas under Huthi control.  

    It is shocking that most of these UN and civil society staff have now spent almost a year in arbitrary detention, for simply doing their work in providing medical and food assistance or promoting human rights, peace and dialogue.

    Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International.

    “It is shocking that most of these UN and civil society staff have now spent almost a year in arbitrary detention, for simply doing their work in providing medical and food assistance or promoting human rights, peace and dialogue,” said Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International. “They should have never been arrested in the first place.”  

    Governments with influence on the Huthis and the UN leadership should step up efforts to secure the release of the nongovernmental organization and UN staff. 

    The Huthis have released only seven people – one UN staff member, five staff of nongovernmental groups, and one staff member of a diplomatic mission. At least 50 others rounded up by the Huthis over the past year remain detained without adequate access to lawyers or to their families, and without charge. 

    On 11 February, an aid worker from the World Food Programme, died in Huthi custody. His death heightens fears for the safety and well-being of others who remain arbitrarily detained in Huthi-run detention centres, given the Huthis’ track record of torture and other ill-treatment against detainees. 

    These brutal waves of arrests have also exacerbated an already desperate humanitarian situation in Yemen because many of those arrested were working to provide assistance or protection to those most in need in northern Yemen, the organizations said. The Huthis need to immediately free everyone arbitrarily detained. 

    On 10 February, the UN announced that it had suspended all its activities in Sa’ada in response to the Huthis’ detention of six of its humanitarian workers there in January.  

    The Huthis’ arrests are part of a wider ongoing attack on civic space in areas they control.  These arrests were also accompanied by a Huthi-led media campaign accusing humanitarian organizations and their staff of “conspiring” against the country’s interests through their projects and warning them of the dangers of “espionage.” 

    Since 2015, Amnesty International has documented scores of cases in which Huthi authorities appeared to have brought the spying charges as a means to persecute political opponents and silence peaceful dissent. 

    Local and international civil society organizations play a critical role in alleviating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Despite drastic funding cuts from donor states, particularly the US, that are putting the health and human rights of millions of people in Yemen at risk, aid workers on the ground are delivering lifesaving assistance and protection services, including in Huthi-controlled territories of Yemen.  

    Huthi authorities have targeted human rights and humanitarian workers before. Four Yemeni staff members from OHCHR and UNESCO arrested in 2021 and 2023 remain arbitrarily detained and have been held incommunicado since their arrest. In September 2023, Huthis arrested Hisham Al-Hakimi, the safety and security director at Save the Children, and held him incommunicado.  He died on 25 October 2023 while arbitrarily detained.  

    All countries with influence, as well as the United Nations and civil society organizations, should use all the tools at their disposal to urge the release of those arbitrarily detained and to provide support to their family members.

    Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch.

    “The Huthis need to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers and the movement of aid,” said Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. “All countries with influence, as well as the United Nations and civil society organizations, should use all the tools at their disposal to urge the release of those arbitrarily detained and to provide support to their family members.”  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Oxford Travel Options’ website launches for residents, visitors, and commuters

    Source: City of Oxford

    A new website has launched to help anyone who lives in, works in, or visits Oxford to find alternatives to travelling by car around the city. 

    Oxford Travel Options, aims to provide Oxford residents, commuters, visitors and businesses with information and advice on alternatives to travelling by car. 

    The website has been created by the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership and Low Carbon Oxford North, with support from the Low Carbon Hub. 

    The site includes information on different ways of travelling around the city, which is updated regularly. It covers everything from explaining different bus ticket types, cycling and walking routes, to online journey planners, lift share apps, information on wheelchair bus access, and cargo bike hire. It also includes advice for employers on supporting staff travel. 

    The website also features real stories from local people, with case studies and advice on a range of topics from travelling with kids to finding a liftshare buddy, and finding cheaper and healthier ways to travel.   

    The Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership is a group of Oxfordshire’s leading institutions and employers working together to achieve zero carbon emissions across the county by 2050, including the universities, NHS trusts, councils, large businesses, further education, and community organisations. 

    Low Carbon Oxford North is a community climate charity set up by local residents to support ambitious CO2 cuts through local action. 

    Low Carbon Hub is a social enterprise out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet. They provided funding to Low Carbon Oxford North for the project through their Community Grants Programme, which supports local action on climate change.  

    Transport is the second largest contributor to Oxford’s emissions, accounting for 23% of emissions. In order for Oxford to become a net zero city by 2040, a shift from private car use towards increased public transport-use is needed, as well as cycling, walking, working-from-home, and car sharing. 

    The need for the website was identified by the Partnership’s Sustainable Travel working group, which supports sustainable travel initiatives with employers, and by Low Carbon Oxford North through their work with Oxford residents. 

    Funding for the creation of the website has come from the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership and Low Carbon Hub. Ongoing management of the website will be funded by the Foundation for Integrated Transport and the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership.  

    “Transport is one of Oxford’s biggest sources of carbon emissions, and we know that helping people shift how they travel – even in small ways – is key to tackling this. The website brings together local travel advice to help people choose low-carbon options that fit their daily lives, including guidance for employers supporting staff to travel more sustainably. The Sustainable Travel Working Group identified the need for a central, user-friendly resource like this, and it’s great to see that idea now brought to life. We hope it will be a useful tool for employers, residents and visitors alike to make more confident, informed choices about how they travel.” 

    Jerry Woods, Champion of the ZCOP Sustainable Travel working group

    “We know from working with Oxford residents that there are lots of people in Oxford who would like to drive less and would value some support in making changes – and this is exactly what Oxford Travel Options is intended to do. The site makes it easier for people to access the huge variety of resources and services Oxford offers in support of sustainable travel.  We know people rely on cars for lots of reasons – we also know that small changes to our travel habits can save money, reduce stress and improve happiness, as well as improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. This is not an ‘all or nothing scenario’. We hope that by providing lots of useful information, the website will encourage people to have a try and see how it goes!” 

    Carey Newson, Trustee of community climate charity Low Carbon Oxford North

    “I am delighted to welcome this fantastic initiative from ZCOP. Healthy and sustainable travel options improve every aspect of people’s lives: mental and physical health and wellbeing, educational outcomes, independence and resilience in young people, cleaner air, safer streets, better public transport, and much else.  

    “Part of the county council’s long-term transport strategy for Oxfordshire is to enable residents to feel the many benefits of walking and cycling, and using public and shared transport. The travel options website is an example of organisations working together to inspire others to try something new, one journey at a time.”  

    Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management at Oxfordshire County Council

    “We know from working with the city’s biggest employers that residents & their staff want information on how to travel into and across Oxford conveniently and sustainably. This new website aims to compile this information into one accessible place. I hope that residents will find it useful for journey planning & will encourage them to try different ways of getting to work and around the city.”

    Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council

    “The University of Oxford is pleased to be part of the ZCOP Sustainable Travel Working Group and to support the launch of the Oxford Travel Options website. This resource makes sustainable travel simple and accessible for everyone in Oxford. With so many staff and students travelling daily, it provides valuable support to help make greener travel choices easier. It’s encouraging to see partners across the city collaborating on this initiative.” 

    Ed Wigzell, Sustainable Travel Manager, University of Oxford

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2025 (29 May)- UN Chief Message | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Video Message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of Peacekeepers.

    “With unwavering courage, United Nations peacekeepers step into danger – to help protect thosewho need protection, preserve peace, and restore hope in some of the world’s most challengingcontexts.
    Today, we honour their service.We draw inspiration from their resilience, dedication and courage.And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace.More than 4,400 peacekeepers have died in service – 57 last year alone.We will never forget them – and we will carry their work forward.The focus of this year’s International Day of Peacekeepers is on “the future of peacekeeping”.Today, peacekeepers face increasingly complex situations in an increasingly complex world:Growing polarization and division around the globe …Operations made even more dangerous from a multiplicity of threats such as terrorism…Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation…And challenges that transcend borders – from the climate crisis to transnational crime.As we look ahead, it is essential that peacekeepers have what they need to do their jobs.This is the shared responsibility of the United Nations and Member States.The Pact for the Future – adopted last year at the United Nations – includes a commitment toadapt peacekeeping to our changing world.This challenge is also an opportunity:To analyse what makes peacekeeping operations successful…

    To better understand what hinders them…And to help design new future-focused models that are anchored in political solutions,adequately resourced, and have mandates that are achievable, with clear exit strategies.The first step – reviewing our peace operations – is underway.And together, we will keep pushing this vital effort forward.Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations — and the United Nations needspeacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges”.

    More info: https://www.un.org/en/observances/peacekeepers-day

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqz5pgWUH68

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police catch drink and drug drivers

    Source: New South Wales – News

    South Australia Police detected 53 drink and drug driving offences in a targeted statewide road safety operation last week.

    Operation Stop Drink and Drug Drive was conducted from 23 to 25 May 2025 involving both static and mobile alcohol and drug testing units.

    Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch, Superintendent Shane Johnson said the results indicate that too many drivers are still making the irresponsible decision to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

    “Drink and drug driving is a selfish decision that puts drivers and other road users at unnecessary risk of injury or a loss of life,” Superintendent Johnson said.

    “In this operation, police detected 23 positive drug driving offences and 32 drink driving offences, so 51 people immediately lost their licence and 22 had their vehicle impounded.

    “Police will continue to conduct high-visibility operations across the state to target those who ignore the law. If you drink alcohol or take drugs and get behind the wheel, you are taking an unnecessary risk and will get caught. “

    An incident of note involved a 62-year-old Para Hills woman who was detected allegedly with a blood alcohol reading five times over the legal limit with a reading of 0.266 after failing to navigate a left-hand turn and crashing a vehicle on a pedestrian refuge. She was issued with drink driving and driving without due care and issued with a 12-month immediate loss of licence.

    A 62-year-old Morphett Vale man was also detected with an alleged a blood alcohol reading of 0.266 was stopped for driving in an erratic manner. He was issued with a 12-month immediate loss of licence notice and police impounded his vehicle for 28 days.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – Alphawave IP Group plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.         KEY INFORMATION

    (a) Full name of discloser: Sculptor Capital LP and
    Sculptor Capital Management Europe Limited
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
         The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient.  For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
         Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Alphawave IP Group plc
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
         For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29 May 2025
    (f)  In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
         If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 No

    2.         POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)        Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security:

     

    		 Senior unsecured convertible bond (XS2962835257)
     

     

    		 Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:        
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:

     

    		 5,600,000 3.73    
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
     

         TOTAL:

    		 5,600,000 3.73    
    Class of relevant security:

     

    		 1p ordinary (GB00BNDRMJ14)
     

     

    		 Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:        
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:

     

    		     2,037,859 0.27
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
     

         TOTAL:

    		     2,037,859 0.27

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)        Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.         DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale

     

    		 Number of securities Price per unit
       

     

    		    

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    1p ordinary (GB00BNDRMJ14) CFD Increasing a short position 163,792 USD2.00

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)         Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

     

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
       

     

    		    

    4.         OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included.  If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

     

     

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)  the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

     

     

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hola Prime Launches Performance Coaching Initiative to Tackle the #1 Barrier to Trader Success: The Mind

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In proprietary trading, success is often measured in percentages and profit curves. But behind every chart is a human being, and according to Hola Prime, one of the fastest-growing prop firms globally, that human element is the most overlooked edge in trading.

    To address this critical gap, Hola Prime has launched a new Performance Coaching Initiative, bringing psychological resilience, discipline, and emotional intelligence to the forefront of trader development. The firm has onboarded two accomplished professionals – Lara Leon and Stanislava Puac Jovanovic – and aims to solve what the firm calls “the #1 barrier to consistent trader performance: the mind.”

    “We’ve funded traders all around the globe, and the pattern is clear – strategy alone doesn’t make you consistent. Psychology does,” said Somesh Kapuria, CEO of Hola Prime. “Our Performance Coaching Initiative is built to tackle that challenge head-on.”

    Prop firms often compete on speed, funding, and payouts. But Hola Prime is betting that the next evolution of trading support won’t be just financial – it will be behavioral.

    Whether it’s FOMO, overtrading, revenge trading, or the inability to recover after a loss, psychological missteps are responsible for more failed trading careers than poor technical knowledge. Despite this, few firms invest in helping traders build emotional resilience, daily structure, and self-awareness.

    Hola Prime’s new program is designed to fill that void, offering one-on-one performance coaching, guided psychological routines, and mindset-focused support for its funded traders. The goal is not short-term motivation, but long-term, measurable consistency.

    Globally Renowned Performance Coaches

    To drive the initiative, Hola Prime has onboarded:

    • Lara Leon, a performance coach with over a decade of experience in psychology and active trading. A psychotherapist by training and a trader by passion, Lara blends cognitive insight with technical market expertise – covering order flow, volume profiles, and multi-timeframe analysis. Her coaching focuses on building internal discipline, trade journaling, and walking through emotional pitfalls with clarity and structure.
    • Stanislava Puac Jovanovic, a psychologist and life coach with over 15 years of experience across education, coaching, and systemic psychotherapy. Certified in CBT, REBT, assertive communication, mindfulness, and NLP, she brings a holistic understanding of emotional regulation, stress management, and performance psychology – tools essential for thriving in high-pressure trading environments.

    Both coaches will offer traders structured frameworks to improve risk management, build sustainable habits, and enhance decision-making under stress.

    This initiative marks a shift in how prop firms support their traders – not just with capital, but with cognitive and emotional infrastructure.

    For Hola Prime, performance coaching is not an add-on – it’s a foundational investment in trader longevity. At a time when retail traders face increased market volatility, higher expectations, and rapid information flow, support is more essential than ever.

    “The future of prop trading belongs to firms that understand one truth,” said Kapuria. “The edge isn’t just in the market. It’s in the mind.”

    Social Links

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holaprime_global/  

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVEJa1Ml132Be7tnk-DjeQ  

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hola-prime/?viewAsMember=true  

    X: https://x.com/HolaPrimeGlobal  

    Discord: https://discord.gg/TJ7TcHPXBf  

    Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/HolaPrime/  

    Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/HolaPrime/  

    Medium: https://medium.com/@social_46267  

    Media Contact

    Company: Hola Prime

    Contact: Media Team

    Email: marketing@holaprime.com

    Website: https://holaprime.com/

    SOURCE: Hola Prime

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Closure of Riverside Theatre a Major Loss

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Vice Chairman and Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle:

    “It is deeply disappointing that Ulster University has chosen not to work constructively with the council to explore options to keep the Riverside Theatre open. Instead, the university presented a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum: unless council agreed to take on the lease, full running costs, and liabilities, the theatre would close in summer 2025.

    “This is not a partnership—it’s an offload. And once again, it reflects the ongoing marginalisation of Coleraine in favour of the university’s Jordanstown and Magee campuses.

    “The Riverside Theatre has meant a great deal to me personally. I’ve enjoyed many performances there over the years, and I know how much it matters to the people of this area. It’s Northern Ireland’s fifth-largest theatre and the oldest professional venue outside Belfast. It has hosted remarkable talent—including our very own James Nesbitt, who began his career on its stage.

    “It didn’t have to come to this. I firmly believe a solution could have been found if the university had been willing to engage properly. But council cannot be expected to shoulder all the costs and risks, particularly when we lack the specialist expertise to run such a venue.

    “It’s also regrettable that no support or intervention came from Stormont’s Department for Communities, despite the cultural and economic importance of the theatre.

    “The closure of the Riverside will be a massive loss to Coleraine and the wider Causeway Coast and Glens area—not just in terms of the arts, but in the vibrancy, identity, and opportunities it brought to our community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Heavy rains batter Kerala and coastal Karnataka: red alerts issued

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Torrential monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Kerala and coastal Karnataka on Friday, triggering landslides, flooding, widespread power outages, and disrupting daily life in both states.

    Authorities have issued red alerts in several districts as the situation continues to worsen.

    In Kerala, heavy downpours led to extensive damage and waterlogging across multiple districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for Idukki, Kannur, and Kasargod, and orange alerts for 11 other districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kottayam.

    Flooding in low-lying areas of Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta forced hundreds of residents to seek refuge in relief camps.

    State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian, expressing concern about the worsening situation in his hometown Chengannur, said: “Am told by people in the know of things that if the rain waters do not come down, what was witnessed in 2018 might happen.”

    “All district and revenue officials are on high alert and have been instructed to act swiftly if conditions deteriorate further,” Cherian told IANS.

    Public life has been significantly disrupted – educational institutions were closed in 11 out of 14 districts, train services were cancelled or delayed, and road transport suffered due to landslides and uprooted trees.

    Over five million homes experienced power outages, with the Kerala State Electricity Board estimating damages worth Rs 120 crore. In a tragic incident, an 85-year-old woman died in Ernakulam district after a tree fell on her during the storm.

    In coastal Karnataka, a six-year-old girl identified as Fathima Nayeema lost her life in a landslide in Montepadavu, Ullal taluk, near Mangaluru. The landslide buried two houses, prompting emergency rescue operations. While two people were pulled out safely, rescue efforts for three others trapped under debris are ongoing.

    In Mangaluru, relentless rain flooded several areas, with around 50 houses inundated in Kallapu, leading to emergency evacuations. The district administration declared a holiday for all schools, Anganwadi centres, and colleges, and issued strict advisories against venturing near the sea. Similar precautions were taken in Udupi, where educational institutions were also shut.

    The IMD has issued a red alert in Karnataka for Mangaluru, Udupi, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan until June 2, while orange alerts are in place for Karwar, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, and Bidar.

    Emergency helpline numbers have been issued, and a ban has been imposed on visiting beaches, rivers, and waterfalls in the affected coastal regions.

    Meanwhile, Bengaluru remained under a cloudy sky, with weather authorities predicting more rainfall in the coming days.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. (TSX: BDGI; OTCQX: BDGIF), North America’s largest provider of non-destructive excavating and related services, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “BDGIF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    “We are excited to be added to the OTCQX® Best Market, which provides the opportunity to broaden our market access, enhance liquidity, and strengthen our U.S. investor presence. This move enhances our visibility within the U.S. investment community and provides a convenient way for investors to trade our shares in their own currency and local market. It positions us to expand our investor base as we continue to build sustainable, scalable growth while delivering exceptional service and value to our customers and stakeholders,” said Rob Blackadar, Badger Infrastructure’s President & CEO.

    About Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd.
    Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. is North America’s largest provider of non-destructive excavating and related services. Badger works for contractors and facility owners in a broad range of infrastructure industries and in general commercial construction. Badger’s customers typically operate near high concentrations of underground power, communication, water, gas and sewer lines, where safety and economic risks are high and where non-destructive excavation provides a safe alternative for certain customer excavation requirements. The Company’s key technology is the Badger HydrovacTM, which uses a pressurized water stream to liquify the soil cover, which is then removed with a powerful vacuum system and deposited into a storage tank. Badger is unique in the non-destructive excavation industry because it designs and manufactures all of its hydrovac units at its plant in Red Deer, AB, which has an annual production capacity of more than 350 hydrovac units. To complement the Badger Hydrovac, the Company has a select number of specialty units, including combo trucks, sewer and flusher units, and Air Vacs. The Company is headquartered in Calgary, AB, has a U.S. administrative office and training centre in Brownsburg, IN, a suburb of Indianapolis, IN, and services customers from approximately 140 field locations across both Canada and the United Sates.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS™ are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [GLOBALDATA PLC – 29 05 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 GLOBALDATA PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 29 MAY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 0.01p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 10,981,538 1.3616    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 10,981,538 1.3616    

    NOTE: On 29/05/2025, 7,900 shares were transferred out by a discretionary client.

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 4,395 182.69p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 30 MAY 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB finances Teknia with €30 million loan to support R&D investments for the European automotive sector

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The loan will support Teknia’s research and development (R&D investments) in Spain, Poland, Romania, Germany, Sweden and Czech Republic to develop more sustainable manufacturing technologies for automotive components.
    • This operation by the European Investment Bank (EIB) supports innovation and sustainability in a strategic sector for the EU economy.
    • The agreement contributes to the EIB’s strategic priorities of innovation, climate action and cohesion.
    • The operation is backed by InvestEU, an EU programme that aims to unlock over €372 billion in investment by 2027.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Teknia have signed a loan worth €30 million to finance the company’s research and development activities, and measures to apply them in manufacturing of components for the automotive sector.  Teknia is a Spanish company present in 13 countries specialised in the manufacture of metal and plastic components for mobility solutions using a wide range of technologies.

    The EIB loan will support Teknia’s investments in R&D and in its facilities located in Spain, Poland, Romania, Germany, Sweden and Czechia. The investments will focus on the application of advanced manufacturing technologies, product diversification and cutting CO2 emissions. The company, one of the leading Spanish automotive suppliers, will reinforce its manufacturing capabilities and digitalization which are important pillars of its strategic plan in course.  

    The operation contributes to the EU’s cohesion policy as a significant part of the investments (approximately 51%) will be made in cohesion regions.

    “We are very pleased to be joining forces with Teknia to foster innovation and sustainability in the European automotive sector,” said Antonio Lorenzo, head of the EIB’s Corporate Lending Division Spain and Portugal. “This new financing is a clear example of how the EIB is helping companies to become more sustainable, more innovative and more competitive while contributing to strengthening Europe’s leading position in strategic sectors”.

    “This important loan will allow us to keep growing during these challenging times in the automotive sector and focus even more in innovation to manufacture the mobility of the future in our plants in the most sustainable way, decreasing the carbon footprint of the group”, Javier Quesada de Luis, Teknia CEO, explained. “We look to the future with optimism and will keep reinforcing our operations digitalizing our plants and innovating to codevelop new products together with our clients”.

    The EIB operation will boost EU competitiveness and help to reindustrialise a sector undergoing transformation due to the impact of developments like electrification and digitalisation.

    The loan contributes to the EIB Group’s strategic priorities of innovation and climate action and cohesion. These are three of the Group’s eight priorities set out in its Strategic Roadmap for the years 2024-2027.

    The EIB loan is partially guaranteed by InvestEU, the flagship EU programme to mobilise over €372 billion of additional public and private sector investment to support EU policy goals from 2021 to 2027.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Teknia

    Teknia is a multinational group specializing in the manufacturing of mobility components through metal and plastic components in a wide range of technologies.

    Founded in 1992 as a global supplier to the automotive industry, Teknia is present in 13 countries, with 23 plants and more than 3,500 employees. The company’s clients include the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, as well as other Tier-1 suppliers. Teknia’s revenues reached €431 million in 2024.

    Teknia – RDI and Advanced Manufacturing
    Spain: EIB finances Teknia with €30 million loan to support R&D investments for the European automotive sector
    ©EIB
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Behind Slim: How Samsung Engineered the Galaxy S25 Edge To Break Boundaries

    Source: Samsung

    Understanding users’ evolving needs is key to developing technology that truly matters. The new Galaxy S25 Edge combines flagship-level performance with a portable design, serving as a powerful pocket-sized AI companion that pushes the boundaries of what a mobile device can be.
     
    The Galaxy S25 Edge is more than just a slim smartphone. Every curve, contour and component reflects a breakthrough in precision engineering, delivering a premium experience befitting the S series’ legacy.
     
    Extensive experimentation was required to strike this balance, with numerous prototypes developed to test new combinations of components and structures — challenging established standards in mobile hardware design. The result is a no-compromise smartphone, meticulously engineered for design, performance and camera excellence.
     

     
     
    Ultrathin Yet Built To Last
    The Galaxy S25 Edge continues the design language of the S series while achieving the slimmest profile in Galaxy S series history — measuring just 5.8mm thick and weighing only 163g.
     
    To make this possible, the idea of a smartphone was reimagined from the ground up. The Galaxy S25 Edge’s internal structure features a new mounting system, allowing components to be placed with precision down to 0.1mm.
     
    But the new device isn’t just slim — it’s tough as well. Premium materials, including a titanium frame as seen in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, make up the Galaxy S25 Edge’s robust exterior. It’s further reinforced by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Ceramic 2, a new display cover material strengthened with Samsung’s processing techniques.
     
    It’s a careful balance of design and durability – all without compromise.
     

     

     

     

     
     
    Cool Under Pressure
    The Galaxy S25 Edge may be the slimmest S series device yet, but there’s nothing light about its performance. From everyday responsiveness to intense multitasking, Samsung’s latest smartphone delivers the same power and speed found across the Galaxy S25 series.
     
    At its heart is the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy1 – a powerful processor customized by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to set new standards for on-device AI processing and daily performance. True performance, however, goes beyond the chipset, especially in a device so thin.
     
    A custom thermal system — featuring a reconfigured vapor chamber 10% larger than the one used in the Galaxy S25+ — was developed to suit the Galaxy S25 Edge’s slim profile. To maintain thinness while efficiently managing heat, Samsung introduced a new “hole structure” — a first for Galaxy smartphones — in which a portion of the front metal frame was removed to allow more direct heat transfer from the application processor to the vapor chamber.
     
    In addition, a precisely tailored thermal interface material helps absorb and disperse heat from surrounding components. The outcome? A phone that stays fast, cool and responsive — no matter the task.
     
    The Galaxy S25 Edge shows that power doesn’t need more space — just smarter engineering.
     

     
     
    Ultra-level Camera
    A hallmark of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the premium camera experience, and the Galaxy S25 Edge brings that level of performance to a sleek new form. Its dual camera system with wide and ultra-wide lenses includes a 200MP main sensor that captures Galaxy S25 Ultra-level shots with extraordinary clarity, vibrant color and true-to-life detail, even in challenging lighting conditions.
     
    The thickness of the main camera was reduced by more than 10% through structural optimization of the autofocus and optical image stabilization. A two-layer camera housing design offsets the module’s height, allowing the 200MP sensor to sit naturally within the frame without disrupting the phone’s silhouette. The result is a Galaxy camera experience fit for pros, now in a slimmer, more compact form.
     

     
    The Galaxy S25 Edge embodies Samsung’s dedication to overcoming long-standing limitations in mobile engineering. By uniting flagship performance, intelligent experiences and a pro-grade camera system in a slimmer, more refined form, the device unlocks what’s possible when every detail is designed with intention. More than a design milestone, the Galaxy S25 Edge marks the next chapter in mobile innovation — where design and engineering move forward, together.
     
     
    1 Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Operation Sindoor is India’s frontal assault on terrorism, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed Operation Sindoor as India’s bold and decisive response to terrorism, emphasizing that the mission is “not over, but just a pause.” Addressing officers and sailors aboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, off the Goa coast on Friday, Singh delivered a powerful message to Pakistan: any future misadventure will be met with the full force of the Indian Navy.

    “Operation Sindoor is not just a military action, it is India’s frontal assault on terrorism,” said Singh. “If Pakistan indulges in any unethical or hostile acts, it will face the firepower and resolve of our Navy.”

    The Defence Minister praised the Indian Navy’s silent yet impactful role during the operation. He said the powerful Carrier Battle Group played a crucial role in keeping the Pakistani Navy confined to its ports, ensuring it did not intervene during the coordinated Indian military response.

    Sending a strong message to Islamabad, Singh stated, “The time is up for the dangerous game of terrorism that Pakistan has played since Independence. India will not hesitate to take every necessary step to eliminate terrorism.” He reiterated that India retains the right to act against terrorist threats both across the border and in the seas, and called for Pakistan to hand over terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar—both UN-designated and accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

    On the subject of talks with Pakistan, Singh was clear: “Dialogue will only happen on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). If Pakistan is serious about talks, it should first hand over the terrorists to India so that justice can be delivered.”

    Commending the Navy’s role in Operation Sindoor, Singh detailed the precision and readiness of India’s maritime forces. Within 96 hours of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Indian naval units conducted successful missile and torpedo firings along both the western and eastern seaboards. The Navy’s aggressive deployment and coordination with the Air Force during airstrikes on terror bases underscored the seamless integration among India’s armed forces.

    He emphasized the power projection of the Carrier Battle Group as a symbol of India’s intent and capability. “The Indian Navy’s combat acumen and strategic might have broken the morale of the enemy,” he said, urging continued operational preparedness.

    Rajnath Singh highlighted the transformation of the Indian Navy into a strategic force that extends beyond regional responsibilities. “Today, the Navy is not just the guardian of the Indian Ocean but a force that projects India’s growing global influence,” he said, noting the Navy’s growing focus on cyber, data dominance, and strategic deterrence.

    Drawing a historical parallel, Singh recalled the pivotal role played by the original INS Vikrant during the 1961 Liberation of Goa. Now in its modern incarnation, the carrier once again leads India’s maritime resolve against terrorism.

    Singh was accompanied by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, and other senior officials. He also reviewed frontline warships that were part of the Carrier Battle Group during the operation.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Council agrees regional adaptation plan to support coastal communities

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of the Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee have today agreed a Regional Coastal Change Adaptation Plan which will enable coastal communities to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change over time.

    Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “The world’s climate is changing and already the sea level around Scotland is rising at an alarming rate. Highland coastlines are home to much of our region’s population as well as significant infrastructure such as harbours, ports, roads and railways. It’s crucial that we do everything we can to prepare and support communities who may be affected by increased coastal impacts as a result of climate change. There is a risk that flooding and erosion will impact our communities more frequently and this plan will help us to mitigate disruption to communities, infrastructure and assets along our coastlines.”

    The Regional Coastal Change Adaptation Plan (Regional CCAP) provides an overview of the risks across the Highland Council area, identifying communities and assets that are most likely to be negatively impacted by climate change, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and flooding.

    Cllr Gowans continued: “The plan recognises the need to be flexible in how we respond to the impacts of climate change along our coastlines, in order to help Highland communities and the Highland Council manage current and future risks. Our coastal zone is known for its rich biodiversity, cultural and environmental heritage and it also plays an important role in the Highland economy through industry and tourism. By identifying the highest risk locations and enabling progress at local levels, we can develop an adaptive pathway approach to support our coastal communities, biodiversity, cultural heritage and environment to adapt to the impacts of coastal climate change over time.”

    The plan provides a flexible framework to address long-term and short-term climate change risks and enables Highland Council and coastal communities to adapt and become more resilient to climate change impacts now and in the future. 29 high-risk locations have been identified for further investigation and potential development of Local Coastal Change Adaptation Plans.

    Cllr Gowans added: “For the plan to be successful, it will be important for us to work with communities at risk and collaborate with asset owners and neighbouring local authorities to ensure we can steer future development away from risk whilst safeguarding coastal locations. The plan will be reviewed and updated going forward and made public on our website for shared learning opportunities.”

    30 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: North of Scotland Councils announce multi-million-pound EV charging infrastructure partnership

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils are today announcing that EasyGo has been awarded a 20-year contract to provide EV charging infrastructure for the north of Scotland. The contract is estimated to be worth £300 million, with Highland Council acting as the lead authority.

    The large-scale EV infrastructure project will accelerate the region’s transition to Net Zero and see 570 new charging points installed across the north of Scotland by 2028, more than doubling the existing EV infrastructure and further enhancing the region’s charging network. EasyGo will also adopt and maintain all existing council-owned public charging points in the region.

    Transport Scotland has committed more than £7 million of funding to enable the partnership as part of the Scottish Government’s £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. The fund was launched in 2022 and enables local authorities to work with the private sector to deliver a high-quality public EV charging network across all of Scotland.

    The north of Scotland partnership is the first inter-council contract to have been awarded and is the largest grant award in Scotland since the fund’s inception.

    Councillor Ken Gowans, Vice Convener of The Highland Council said: “We are honoured to lead this groundbreaking initiative in the north of Scotland which sets a new standard for regional cooperation. This project exemplifies the power of collaboration as we work closely with our neighbouring local authorities to create a comprehensive and accessible EV charging network. By addressing the critical need for expanded charging infrastructure, we are removing significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption, better serving our communities in both urban and rural areas and delivering a wide range of community benefits. Together, we are paving the way for a greener, more equitable and connected future across the Highlands and beyond.”

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “This is a huge boost to the electric vehicle charging network in Aberdeen. The new enlarged infrastructure means more places to charge electric vehicles which fits in with Aberdeen City Council’s plans for net zero and with the aim of improving air quality. Hopefully there will be increased use of the charging stations.  We will continue to promote greener technologies because everyone benefits from a cleaner environment. Looking to the future, we want to ensure Aberdeen’s place as energy capital of Europe.”

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The investment in the city’s electric vehicle network is part of our Net Zero Vision and Strategic Infrastructure Plan for Energy Transition. The new infrastructure will help cement our position as a world leader in the energy sector as an economic driver for the city, region, Scotland and the UK.”

    Councillor Gillian Owen, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “This is a hugely aspirational programme for all our regions, and I very much welcome the future development of additional electric vehicle charging infrastructure to help future-proof our network. As a large rural authority, we acknowledge that more needs to be done to improve and extend the existing infrastructure to cater for under-served areas across Aberdeenshire and to ensure far greater reliability of services for motorists. Through this ambitious partnership approach, I am confident it will encourage a major increase in EV usage and help promote equality within both rural and urban areas.”

    Councillor Kathleen Robertson, Leader of Moray Council, said: “This initiative highlights perfectly how collaborative efforts across the north of Scotland can deliver for all of our communities. We’re not only expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Moray but working with our neighbours to open up economic growth and development opportunities across our region. By playing our own part in the drive to net zero we’re helping Scotland make the journey that really matters. As an electric car driver myself I know how welcome this investment will be for locals and visitors and am proud we’re delivering a climate positive network for the ages.”

    Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased that over £7 million from the Scottish Government is transforming public electric vehicle infrastructure across the north of Scotland. Our £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to support this type of collaboration across the country and is expected to support the delivery of around 6,000 additional public charge points by 2030.

    “In the north of Scotland, our investment has enabled an innovative procurement partnership across four local authorities, that is expected to leverage over £4.9 million of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to expand the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging.

    “As we transition away from ChargePlace Scotland, in line with our published vision for public charging infrastructure – this truly collaborative approach, supported through our Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, directly contributes to our ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.”

    EasyGo is a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, operating over 4,500 chargers across more than 1,500 locations in Ireland. Founded in 2018, EasyGo delivers fast, reliable direct current (DC) charging to over 100,000 EV drivers and collaborates with major industry players to enhance the accessibility and interoperability of its charging infrastructure.

    Ollie Chatten, CEO of EasyGo, said: “As the largest EV charging network across Ireland, we are truly excited to be working with the Scottish Government on the north of Scotland electric vehicle charging infrastructure partnership, following a successful and thorough procurement process. Supporting progressive councils across the country in building out EV infrastructure is a vital step towards a more sustainable and future-focused Scotland. This project enables us to bring our proven expertise to the forefront, ensuring a reliable and efficient charging network that will power Scotland’s journey to Net Zero.”

    Highland Council Vice Convener Cllr Ken Gowans

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Partners with Kronos Research to Deliver Institutional-Grade Liquidity and Trading Efficiency

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced a strategic partnership with Kronos Research, a top quantitative trading firm, bringing enhanced market liquidity and trading efficiency to Bitget traders and institutional clients.

    By integrating Kronos’s advanced capabilities, Bitget aims to provide deeper liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads across major trading pairs for its traders and institutional clients. This improvement in market depth ensures that traders can execute large orders with minimal slippage, leading to more efficient and cost-effective trading. Such enhancements are particularly beneficial for both retail and institutional traders seeking optimal execution in a dynamic market environment.

    “The collaboration is yet another step in Bitget’s efforts towards delivering world-class institutional-grade trading services. With Kronos Research, Bitget strengthens its platform’s efficiency, meeting the high standards of security and liquidity required for institutional clients. This adds an additional layer of efficiency for Bitget’s ecosystem. This integration is a strategic partnership to develop infrastructure that meets the needs of our users”, said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    Designed to optimize trading depth and improve execution quality, the integration of Kronos Research’s advanced algorithmic strategies and deep expertise in liquidity enhancement will unlock a more seamless and responsive trading environment, reducing slippage, stabilizing price movements and allowing for more consistent execution across market cycles. This partnership will also extend liquidity coverage for multiple trading categories, including spot and contracts. By supporting a broader set of digital assets with algorithmically driven liquidity solutions, this partnership will offer tighter spreads and more resilient order books.

    “Bitget’s robust infrastructure delivers the low latency and high execution speed we need to operate seamlessly across diverse market conditions,” said Hank Huang, CEO, Kronos Research. “This collaboration enables us to deploy optimized liquidity strategies at scale, driving tighter spreads, enhanced market depth, and a superior trading experience.”

    In 2025, Bitget is doubling down on its commitment to expanding services for institutional clients, making it a central focus of its strategic roadmap. This builds on a strong foundation laid in previous years, including the most recent introduction of crypto lending services for all spot trading pairs and the unified account system, both designed to offer greater flexibility, capital efficiency, and amalgamated asset management for institutional investors.

    Currently, Bitget works with over 1,000 institutional partners. Through continued innovation, strategic integrations, and enhanced product offerings, Bitget caters world-class services to a diverse clientele, ranging from individual investors to large-scale institutions.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.
    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    About Kronos Research

    Established in 2018, Kronos Research is a cutting-edge cryptocurrency market maker and quantitative trading firm fueled by data research and intelligent algorithms, generating billions of US dollars in trading volume a day.

    With trading activity on all tier 1 and tier 2 exchanges, as well as top DeFi protocols and platforms, Kronos is able to deliver superior trading performance and liquidity through advanced trading infrastructure and deep quantitative research capabilities.

    For more information, visit: Website | X | LinkedIn or contact us at media@kronosresearch.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e40c920e-5b96-453f-a96c-21de8fd8dad0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: All aboard for free bus travel to enjoy the spectacle of The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Thousands of visitors heading for the spectacular Tall Ships Races Aberdeen can get on board with a bonanza of free bus travel to the spectacular event.

    First Aberdeen are on deck with the event’s organisers in a campaign that will see 25,000 free Adult Day Tickets available while the beautiful vessels are berthed in the city from July 19 to 22. 
    In addition, First Aberdeen will offer a 50% discount for all customers on a range of tickets during the event, which is expected to attract 400,000 visits to Aberdeen.

    The bus travel bounty – with Aberdeen City Council funding the 25,000 free tickets – is part of a wave of initiatives to minimise road congestion and reduce The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen carbon footprint. 
    Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director for First Bus Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Aberdeen City Council to offer 25,000 free bus journeys across the four days of the historic Tall Ships event coming to Aberdeen in July.

    “It’s set to be a fantastic four days in the city and we’re hoping this brilliant free travel offer further encourages to choose sustainable public transport as their preferred method of travel. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of passengers on board our services during the event.”

    Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of the Tall Ships Aberdeen organising committee, said: “It’s reassuring that the Tall Ships event will benefit from effective and strong partnership working with First Aberdeen. Their involvement helps to ensure that bus travel will be available cheaply, safely and speedily for the many thousands of spectators visiting the event. It is vital to get the transport arrangements right for everyone, especially around the harbour and city centre areas which are the focal points for visitors.  Careful, detailed planning for buses and other forms of transport is underway so that all can enjoy the fantastic and memorable experience of the Tall Ships race 2025.”

    Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “‘All aboard’ is a warm welcome that applies as much to buses as it does to ships… so what could be better than free bus tickets to get to the Tall Ships Races?

    “This is a fantastic initiative that will make it so much easier for thousands of visitors to enjoy what will be one of the biggest and most vibrant events in Scotland this summer.

    “Thanks are due to the council for funding these free tickets and First Aberdeen for the generous discounts that will also encourage people to take the bus to join the high tide of excitement and fun when the Tall Ships are here.”

    Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen, said: “This collaborative effort to provide free and discounted bus travel reflects our shared commitment to making The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen accessible to all. 
    “We’re encouraging sustainable travel to ease congestion in the city and enhance the experience for the hundreds of thousands set to enjoy this magnificent maritime festival.”

    Details of how to get a free Day Ticket will be released in advance of the event along with details on the 50% off incentive to all other customers which will be valid on digital platforms and throughout First Aberdeen’s Two Trip, Day, Three Day and 5 Day ticket range.

    In addition to the treasure chest of free and discounted bus travel, event organisers are offering a tide of initiatives.  These include:
    •    A free event shuttle bus will operate every 20 minutes from Union Terrace with a circular service taking in Tall Ships event spaces at the Port of Aberdeen, Petersons Seabase, King Street Funfair and Castlegate Discovery Zone and Union Terrace Military Village. The shuttle is primarily for those with reduced mobility but will be open to all. 
    •    Additional blue badge parking and a free accessible shuttle bus service for blue badge holders available from Pittodrie Stadium, with shuttle services operating up to every 20 minutes. Places must be booked and blue badges must be on display to gain access.
    •    Four park and ride shuttle bus services from Bridge of Don P&R, Craibstone P&R, P&J Live (surface parking) and Kingswells P&R, with services running up to every 15 minutes. With limited capacity and expected demand, organisers are urging people to buy their tickets in good time. 
    •    Spectators choosing to travel to the event by car or motorcycle should note that there will be limited on and off-street parking in Aberdeen and are advised to use public transport and the event park and ride sites.
    For information on other active and sustainable travel options for travelling to and from the Tall Ships event, please visit: https://www.tallshipsaberdeen.com/event-information/accessibility-and-transport/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –