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  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Blasts Trump Administration for Shuttering the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 02.12.2025
    CFPB Protects Americans, Particularly Servicemembers and Military Families, Against Predatory and Illegal Financial Scams; Has Returned $20 Billion from Banks to Americans Since it was Created

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) joined his colleagues in calling for the Trump Administration to immediately reverse its decision to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB provides relief to Americans who have been wronged by unethical practices from banks, payday lenders, and other financial companies by investigating and addressing consumer complaints about financial products and services. For example, the CFPB put in place rules that prevent mortgage lenders from issuing loans with hidden terms and costs that have caused people to lose their homes. The CFPB has also taken action against unreasonable bank overdraft fees which has encouraged other banks to remove or reduce their overdraft policies to avoid being penalized. Since the agency’s creation, the CFPB has returned over $21 billion owed to American consumers who have fallen victim to abusive and illegal activity from financial institutions.
    In a letter led by Peters and his colleagues, the senators underscored how the Administration’s decision to close the CFPB and idle its nearly 2,000 employees will make Americans more susceptible to predatory lending and other deceitful financial practices, particularly servicemembers and military families who are at heightened risk of being targeted by these tactics. This is because the Administration’s decision also halted key CFPB oversight of protections from the Military Lending Act (MLA) and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that prevent servicemembers from being taken advantage of. These protections support our military readiness, recruitment, and retention efforts by allowing servicemembers to focus on their service obligations while on active duty, rather than worrying about making ends meet at home. Peters and his colleagues urged the CFPB to resume its essential work of investigating violations of consumer financial protection laws and taking actions against scammers and payday lenders to protect the financial well-being of our military families and all Americans.
    “This funding, supervision, enforcement, and communications freeze will hit military families especially hard. Without a functional CFPB, military families will be stripped of their financial protections under the bipartisan Military Lending Act (MLA) that they have earned and deserve by serving our Nation,” Peters and the senators wrote. “The CFPB is the primary agency responsible for supervising and enforcing the MLA against nonbank financial companies, including payday lenders, pawnshops, and debt collectors who have charged servicemembers interest rates as high as 600% and who have threatened to derail their careers if they do not pay up.”
    “Accordingly, we request that the CFPB continue to supervise and investigate violations of the consumer financial protection laws and take forceful enforcement actions against lenders that violate the law, especially when it comes to predatory lending that harms our military readiness. We also request that the CFPB continue to make public communications to consumers, especially to servicemembers regarding the rights that they are owed under the SCRA,” the letter concluded.
    To read the full text of the letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Delaying RFK Jr. Confirmation Vote on Senate Floor, Warren Highlights Kennedy’s Egregious Conflicts of Interest, “Long History of Promoting Anti-Science Conspiracy Theories”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 12, 2025

    Warren, Democrats hold Senate floor for 30 hours to oppose “dangerous” RFK Jr. confirmation 

    “Kennedy’s actions speak louder than his latest words, and time and time again, Kennedy has shown us who he is: An anti-science conspiracy peddler who is willing to gamble with American lives. We know who he is, we need to pay attention.”

    “(W)hile you and your family are forced to deal with the grave consequences of Kennedy’s conspiracy-driven health care decisions, Kennedy could set himself up to make millions of dollars off his anti-vaccine crusade – just like he’s been doing for decades. ” 

    Video of Remarks (YouTube)

    Washington, D.C. – On the floor of the United States Senate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Democrats in delaying a final vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Warren warned that American families and children would pay the price for Mr. Kennedy’s “conspiracy-driven health care decisions,” while his serious ethics conflicts remain unresolved. 

    Senator Warren called on her colleagues to oppose his nomination. The Senate is scheduled to vote on Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation on the morning of February 13, 2025. 

    Transcript: Floor Speech Opposing the Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services
    U.S. Senate Floor
    February 12, 2025 
    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. President. And I want to say thanks to the Senator from Minnesota for her leadership on this point. I know that the great research institutions in Minnesota that count on her support are out there fighting thanks to Donald Trump, as they are in Massachusetts. And the people all around this country that rely on those research institutions, who are looking for those cures, for those better treatments, for those opportunities in their lives that right now Donald Trump and his co-president, Elon Musk, seem to want to cut off. So we will stay in this fight. We will indeed. 

    I am here today because Americans didn’t vote to bring back measles.

    Americans didn’t vote to bring back polio.

    Americans didn’t vote to bring back dangerous diseases that we thought we had wiped out decades ago. 

    Americans didn’t vote to get rid of critical vaccines that we know — based on science — we know save lives.

    But that is what Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vision would mean for Americans. That is the vision Donald Trump will empower him to carry out.

    Kennedy not only worked to undercut vaccines at home and abroad, he’s made a lot of money doing it. In fact, Kennedy has made millions off of peddling harmful conspiracy theories that hurt real people. He opposed the life-saving Covid vaccine just six months into the pandemic. And he’s set himself up so that he and his family could make millions more from putting Americans’ health at risk.

    One thing is very clear: We cannot trust Robert Kennedy to make health care decisions that will affect every person in this country.

    Right now, millions of Americans are sitting down for dinner with their kids. And I hope we just think for a minute about what RFK Jr.’s plans would mean for them.

    Will their teeth decay because Kennedy took fluoride out of our water based on some conspiracy theory? 

    Will they have to worry about getting measles at school because Kennedy is spreading anti-vax conspiracies on government letterhead? 

    Will parents have to risk their kids getting polio—and maybe dying—by sending them to daycare because Kennedy used HHS rules to open the door to a flood of bogus lawsuits that forced manufacturers to pull the vaccines?

    Look, here’s the thing: Robert Kennedy has spent years on an anti-vaccine crusade, spreading baseless conspiracy theories under the guise of protecting children, so we don’t need to guess the level of harm he will cause; his past already tells us everything we need to know.   

    In July 2018, two children died immediately after receiving a measles vaccine that nurses had incorrectly mixed with a muscle relaxant. Within weeks, the Samoan Health Ministry publicly confirmed the nursing error and charged the nurses with manslaughter. Nevertheless, leading anti-vaccine groups, including Kennedy’s own organization, Children’s Health Defense, exploited public fears to question the reports and spread baseless claims.

    On August 5th, 2018, Kennedy’s organization, Children’s Health Defense, posted on Facebook, and I will quote the post. “Were these once-healthy children the only two to receive MMR that day? If not, why were they the only ones to die? Research needs to determine susceptibility so that no child is ever injured.” Del Bigtree, Kennedy’s partner and former campaign manager, also released a video linking the tragedy to false claims about measles, and telling his followers to “share it with everyone you know. This is how we are changing the world.” 

    Now, amidst public distrust and a paused vaccine program in Samoa, the vaccination rates plummeted. About 10 months later, once the Samoan government had finally stood up against the disinformation and resumed the vaccine program, Kennedy visited the island to meet with the Prime Minister.

    Later, recognizing the blowback that comes with how much went wrong when a conspiracy theory cost people their lives, Kennedy has since denied that his visit had anything to do with vaccines and said that anything suggesting otherwise was an “industry propaganda trope.” In other words, totally false. “Industry propaganda trope.” 

    Kennedy lied. A blog post that Kennedy himself wrote in 2021 admits he went to Samoa to meet with the Prime Minister, who wanted to discuss the possibility of “measur(ing) health outcomes following the ‘natural experiment’ created by the nation’s respite from vaccines.” 

    Think about what that means. Another way to say it is that Kennedy was interested in taking advantage of how the vaccination rate had plummeted, caused by misinformation, so that they could conduct uncontrolled trials on whether unvaccinated kids were healthier than vaccinated kids, a conspiracy theory he has spread widely. You see, at the time, one of his traveling partners was working on a similar study with two anti-vaccine activists, which was ultimately retracted following an investigation that “raised several methodological issues and confirmed that the conclusions were not supported by strong scientific data.” 

    Now, there’s no surprise here. The Prime Minister declined Kennedy’s outrageous proposal – he didn’t want his country to be Kennedy’s guinea pig. He didn’t want unvaccinated children to be studied to see what happened to them when measles or other diseases broke out. But that didn’t stop him from spreading his message. On this trip to Samoa, he met with various anti-vaccine influencers, one of whom said the meeting was “profoundly monumental for (the) movement.” A few months after Kennedy left, in October 2019, the vaccination rate in Samoa hit an historic low of 31%, down from 74% the prior year – and no surprise, a massive measles outbreak erupted. So here is Kennedy telling us now he had nothing, nothing to do with this, his trip to Samoa had nothing to do with the measles vaccine and calling any claim “industry propaganda trope.” And yet, he himself posted a blog about meeting with the Prime Minister and talking about a study to measure health outcomes following a natural experiment of studying children–some with no vaccination and some that were vaccinated. And the anti-vax groups that he met with talked about how profoundly important it is, then Mr. Kennedy leaves, vaccination rates drop down to 31%.

    The measles outbreak was truly tragic. In total, more than 70 children died, right up until a door-to-door vaccination campaign brought the disaster to an end.

    As HHS Secretary, Kennedy would be responsible for whether we keep our children vaccinated or subject them to, in his words, the same “natural experiment” he was interested in testing in Samoa.

    Is that what we want for our kids? Is that what we want for our elderly parents? That is a living nightmare — and it could truly be our reality with Kennedy heading up the Department of Health and Human Services. And all the while that this is going on, while Kennedy is promoting this anti-vax theory, he and his family are profiting off of the plan.

    Now, I’ve been sounding the alarm about Kennedy since the minute Donald Trump announced that he would nominate him for HHS Secretary. It’s not just that he’s unqualified — his long history of promoting anti-science conspiracy theories make him disqualified.

    This is a man who claimed “there is no vaccine that is safe and effective.” “No vaccine.” 

    He said that the polio vaccine “killed many, many more people” than polio ever did. Now, Kennedy came to our committee and said don’t worry, he swears anti-vaccine. But he’s spent his entire career on an anti-vaccine crusade, spreading baseless conspiracy theories under the guise of protecting children and making millions in the process.

    And when, in Senate hearings, he was confronted with his own words, he simply denied saying them.  Denied saying them— despite the videotapes, the transcripts, the blog posts, and the people who heard them. Kennedy thinks he knows what he needs to say to try to get the job that will put him in charge of our vaccine program, so he says he didn’t say exactly what he said.

    Kennedy’s actions speak louder than his latest words, and time and time again, Kennedy has shown us who he is: An anti-science conspiracy peddler who is willing to gamble with American lives. We know who he is, we need to pay attention.

    Let’s do a quick count of some of the ways that, as HHS Secretary, Kennedy could make the anti-vaccine lawsuits — and his own payouts — even bigger. What could Kennedy do? Well, as Secretary of HHS: 

    • He could publish his anti-vaccine conspiracies, but this time on U.S. government letterhead — something that might impress a jury in a subsequent trial. 
    • He could appoint people to the CDC vaccine panel who share his anti-vax views and let them do his dirty work.
    • He could tell the CDC vaccine panel to remove a particular vaccine from the vaccination schedule. 
    • He could remove vaccines from a special compensation program, which would “open up manufacturers to mass torts (lawsuits).” 
    • He could “make more injuries eligible for compensation even if there’s no causal evidence.” 
    • He could change vaccine court processes to make it easier to bring junk lawsuits that could get vaccines pulled from the market.
    • He could turn over FDA (data) to his friends at the law firm, and they could use it however benefits their lawsuits. 

    In short, as HHS Secretary, Kennedy would have the power to make health care decisions that would affect millions of Americans — for working Americans, kids, seniors — on everything from vaccines to abortion to life-saving drugs. Kennedy would have the capacity, as head of HHS, to make it easier to sue vaccine manufacturers. And in an area where the profit margins on vaccines are quite modest, if those lawsuits mount up, vaccines could simply disappear from the market altogether. Manufacturers could decide, “you know, it’s just not worth the lawsuits. We’ll go produce other drugs.” 

    Those kinds of decisions are critically important, and the consequences are grave. For many Americans, they may be the difference between life and death. And they can change lives forever.

    So, while you and your family are forced to deal with the grave consequences of Kennedy’s conspiracy-driven health care decisions, Kennedy could set himself up to make millions of dollars off his anti-vaccine crusade – just like he’s been doing for decades. 

    Remember, the very first ethics agreement that Kennedy submitted to us on the Senate Finance Committee, he said that even while serving as HHS Secretary, he planned to keep his financial stake in ongoing litigation — including vaccine-related litigation. That means that from the jump, Kennedy’s plan was to keep making money off the backs of lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, some of which directly related to the very products he would have the power to regulate as Secretary of HHS. So, there he is. He has the power to regulate these drugs. He has the power to make life a little better or a little worse for the vaccine manufacturers. He has the power to make it more likely that lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers would succeed. And his initial plan was even while he sat there as Secretary of HHS, he was going to keep on making money from that. 

    This was a damning conflict of interest, so we called it out. Kennedy told us okay, okay, he would submit an updated ethics agreement. Sounds good? What was his update?

    Well, he said instead of personally keeping the millions he’d make off these ongoing lawsuits… he would hand that money directly to his son. Later, he confirmed that the son he’s handing his interests off to is the one who works at Wisner Baum—the same law firm that Kennedy has maintained his very lucrative arrangement with over years, so far netting him a reported $2.5 million just in the last few years. And Kennedy has made clear that he can use his tools as HHS Secretary to open up the door for more anti-vax litigation, and once he’s through as Secretary of HHS, go right back to Wisner Baum and cash in on the new flood of cases that Kennedy himself has unleashed.

    So that is Kennedy’s idea of “fixing” an ethics issue.

    And beyond that, Kennedy has flip-flopped countless times in his answers to the Finance Committee. He is untrustworthy. He has made so many contradictory statements that it’s come to the point it is hard to believe anything he says is true.

    For example, Kennedy originally said he was not an attorney of record in any of these vaccine-related lawsuits. But we did a little homework and we found at least five cases related to the vaccine litigation that hadn’t been disclosed where Kennedy seems to be an attorney of record. That is important because what it means is that Kennedy is a lot closer to these cases than he’s revealing — cases that he and his family will be able to make bank off even as he serves as HHS Secretary. 

    The importance of this litigation can’t be overstated. Just 20 years ago, we watched vaccine makers pull their products off the market because they didn’t have protection from these kinds of lawsuits. The consequence of Kennedy’s ability to make those lawsuits easier is also the ability to shut down access and manufacturing for vaccines for every one of us. And I think that is a terrible mistake.

    Kennedy claims that he is taking on Big Pharma, but that is the lie he is peddling to hide his conflicts. I pressed him on real ways to take on the industry, including using marching-in on Big Pharma’s patents when they use taxpayer funds to bring drugs to market and then turn around and jack up prices on hardworking Americans, and by having the government negotiate prices directly with Big Pharma on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. But Kennedy, after talking a big game about taking on Big Pharma, said no, he doesn’t support march-in rights and no, he didn’t want to commit to defending Medicare price negotiations, two proven methods to take on the drug industry and put money back into Americans’ pockets. So whose side is he on? 

    Well, one thing is for sure: RKF Jr. is on the side of his own bottom line. He has also refused to share a list of cases that he stands to benefit from. Now, I told you. He said nope, he was not attorney of record on any cases. We dug around and we found five. How many more are there? Well, here’s what Kennedy said when we said, just give us a list of the cases that you’re participating in so we can take a look at the possible conflicts. His answer? The list is so long and the conflicts so clear that, evidently, it would be more damning than what we already know. 

    Kennedy’s list of ethics issues and financial issues are a mile long—and there’s still too much that he refuses to reveal. Think about this. He’s already told us enough about his conflicts, about how he plans to keep making money, even while he was Secretary of HHS. He revealed all that right upfront. He said “Yep, I’m going to make money while I’m Secretary of HHS.” 

    And yet on basic questions like can you just give us a list of the cases that you participated in? He says, “No, I can’t do that,” which really makes you ask what on Earth is he hiding? He is dodging questions from the Senate, he is contradicting himself, and he keeps changing his answers in order to muddy the waters and really make it hard to understand what’s going on.

    Look, no one is fooled about what is happening here. Kennedy has said he’ll, “slam shut the revolving door,” between government agencies and the companies they regulate. But what he won’t agree to is cut off his own family’s steady stream of money flowing in from lawsuits that he personally can directly affect while he is Secretary of HHS. 

    Kennedy knows that these conflicts are serious. And that’s why he scrambled to update his ethics agreement and hand off his interests to his son in a desperate attempt to “fix” things.

    Video of Senator Warren’s full remarks can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China leads in energy transition investment

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

    China led the world in energy transition investment last year, accounting for two-thirds of the $2.1 trillion spent globally in 2024, according to BloombergNEF (BNEF), a research and advisory firm.

    Driven by strong domestic demand, China remained the dominant force in clean energy investment last year, with spending focused on solar power, lithium batteries, electric vehicles, and power grids, BNEF said in its recently released Energy Transition Investment Trends 2025 report.

    With a 20 percent year-on-year growth, the Chinese mainland alone contributed $134 billion of the $202 billion global investment increase in 2024. The country posted solid growth across multiple sectors, including renewables, energy storage, nuclear power, EVs, hydrogen, heat pumps and power grids, it said.

    China’s rapid investment surge widened its lead over other economies, with its energy transition spending more than double that of any other country. Even when adjusted for economic size, China’s investment accounted for 4.5 percent of its GDP, far exceeding countries like the United States with 1.2 percent, said the research firm.

    China’s renewable energy sector experienced a stellar year in 2024, with the total installed capacity of wind and solar power surpassing 1.4 billion kilowatts, further reinforcing the country’s role as a global leader in renewable energy development.

    Industry experts said China has always been a global leader in the green energy shift.

    The Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute, a think tank that is part of China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, has forecast that China’s investment in its energy transition is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency and accelerating electrification.

    China has doubled the share of renewable energy in its energy investment mix, spending more than 40 percent of its energy transition funds on renewables, or roughly twice the amount allocated to fossil fuels, said Luo Daqing, vice-president of the institute.

    According to Zhou Libo, deputy secretary-general of the China Electricity Council’s electric transportation and energy storage branch, investment in China is set to continue growing in integrated energy stations, photovoltaic-storage-charging hubs and supercharging stations.

    Data released by BNEF reveal that China also maintained its dominance in the clean energy supply chain, accounting for 81 percent of global supply chain investment in 2024.

    BNEF expects China to continue leading global clean energy spending in the years ahead.

    Beyond renewables, investment in other low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear power, rose sharply in 2024, underscoring a global revival of nuclear energy, it said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nation’s rail network continued to break records in 2024

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

    Remarkable progress was made in China’s railway sector in 2024, with the improvement of the nation’s transportation infrastructure contributing to economic growth and improving lives.

    As of the end of last year, China’s railway network had stretched to 162,000 kilometers, with 48,000 km dedicated to high-speed rail, further pressing its advantage as the global leader in high-speed rail. The network also expanded into more remote and mountainous areas, where constructing railways was once considered impossible.

    Freight train services linking China and Europe saw steady growth in 2024. Launched in 2011, the total number of China-Europe freight train services surpassed 100,000 last year.

    One of the highlights of the year was the debut of the CR450 prototypes, the next generation of high-speed trains that are faster, greener and more comfortable than those in current operation. Once they enter commercial operation, speeds will be increased to 400 km/h from the current 350 km/h. This development underscores China’s commitment to advancing transportation technology and improving efficiency.

    China’s railway freight and passenger volumes both reached record highs last year, playing a key role in supporting socioeconomic development. According to China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, in 2024, China’s national railway handled a record 4.08 billion passenger trips, with daily traffic reaching a high of nearly 21.45 million. The network also moved 3.99 billion metric tons of cargo, marking the eighth consecutive year of growth.

    Expansion milestones

    On a crisp September morning during China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Luo Wei and her family stood at Chengdu East Railway Station, excited but unsure. They were embarking on a last-minute trip to Jiuzhaigou, a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the mountains of western Sichuan province. In the past, such a journey would have been an exhausting multi-day ordeal. The eight-hour road trip from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou is notorious for its winding roads through the mountains and steep drop-offs below. But this time, they were about to board a new train service that would transform the experience.

    In 1 hour and 39 minutes, they reached their destination, smoothly gliding through the mountains aboard a cutting-edge bullet train. Although a two-hour bus ride linking the railway station and the scenic area still awaits, it was much better than the previous eight-hour journey from Chengdu. No more hours spent cramped in a car on winding roads. It was a glimpse into the future of transportation in China, where high-speed rail has turned what once felt like an impossible journey into a comfortable, efficient reality.

    “We thought it might be different to see Jiuzhaigou by train, especially with our 10-year-old son,” Luo said, reminiscing about the challenging, fun-filled backpacking and self-driving trips she and her husband had taken several times during their school years.

    “It (the train journey) was certainly easier, and the trip was far more comfortable — much more suitable for a family outing, especially with a child,” she said.

    “Before, a round trip to Jiuzhaigou would take at least three days. Now we can do it in just a day.”

    The 69-km newly opened railway from Zhengjiangguan to Huangshengguan links this remote yet breathtaking region to China’s extensive railway network for the first time.

    Over a century ago, Sun Yat-sen, a pioneering Chinese revolutionary leader, envisioned a modernized China in his book The International Development of China. His plan included the construction of 1.6 million km of roads and approximately 160,000 km of railways. Last year, while Sun’s vision for railways became a reality, the development of China’s high-speed rail has in all likelihood exceeded his expectations.

    Last year, more than 3,100 km of new rail was built, including 2,457 km of high-speed rail, linking key cities and regions.

    Since 2012, the total length of China’s rail network has grown by more than 65 percent, while high-speed rail has expanded over fourfold.

    Compared to 2012, when China’s total railway length was 98,000 km with 9,356 km of high-speed rail, the country’s rail infrastructure has undergone an impressive transformation.

    Li Jingwei, deputy head of the development and reform department of China State Railway Group, highlighted the accelerated pace of construction.

    “Since 2012, the expansion of China’s high-speed rail has intensified, with an average of over 3,000 km of new high-speed rail lines put into operation annually,” Li said.

    Notably, China is the only country to achieve commercial operation of high-speed rail at 350 km/h, showcasing technological prowess, he said.

    “From snowy forests in the northern part of China to the water towns in the eastern region, and from the desert to the sea, China’s high-speed rail traverses major rivers and rugged mountains, and connects all regions,” Li said.

    He added that the high-speed railway network covers more than 96 percent of cities with populations over 500,000, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

    By 2030, China aims to have built a world-class modern railway network covering about 180,000 km, including around 60,000 km of high-speed rail. This expansion will create a more efficient and interconnected transportation system, allowing passengers to travel between major cities in just one to three hours and ensuring the swift movement of cargo across the country.

    The expansion of the network has not only reduced travel times but also increased connectivity between major cities and more isolated areas, including regions with challenging terrain, where building roads is already difficult, let alone railways. This is particularly true in the rugged mountains of Sichuan and the Xizang autonomous region, where new rail lines have brought services to remote locations, boosting regional development and tourism.

    Greater access

    The improvement of China’s railway network has had a transformative effect on the tourism industry.

    Yin Wei, head of a travel agency in Jiuzhaigou, with 12 years of experience in the industry, has witnessed dramatic changes in travel patterns over the years. He said the new rail line has had an enormous impact on tourism.

    “The travel time from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou has been greatly shortened,” he said.

    “Tourists have eagerly awaited this rail line, and we received a lot of inquiries,” he said. “In the past, our tours typically lasted five days, but now, visitors can experience it in just one or two days.”

    The agency has already started developing tailored weekend getaway packages for tourists.

    “Visitors can arrive on Friday and spend two days exploring Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, or even come for a one-day trip to enjoy the snowy scenery in the morning and return by evening. It’s incredibly appealing to tourists,” he said.

    Yin believes the easy access will benefit not only Jiuzhaigou but also the surrounding attractions, leading to an overall increase in tourism revenue for the region.

    Ferrying freight

    While passenger services have seen dramatic improvements, China’s railway network is also revolutionizing global trade. A notable milestone was achieved on Dec 3 when freight train X8083 — carrying goods such as electronics, home appliances, auto parts and daily necessities — arrived in Duisburg, Germany, marking the 100,000th journey between China and Europe. The train, which departed from Chongqing on Nov 15, took 18 days to reach the German city.

    As a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Europe freight train has evolved into a critical link for trade and connectivity, fostering open cooperation, mutual benefit and economic integration among the countries along the route.

    In 2024, the service hit a significant benchmark with 19,000 China-Europe freight trains operated, transporting 2.07 million containers — an increase of 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

    Since launching in 2011, the service has transformed global trade by enhancing connectivity between China and Europe. It has maintained a strong track record for safety, stability and efficiency, making it an indispensable component of the international logistics network.

    Li Chao, deputy director of the Policy Research Office of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, said: “The China-Europe freight train service is a vital carrier of open cooperation, fostering mutual benefit and supporting the Belt and Road Initiative. It provides a new, all-weather, high-capacity, green and low-carbon transport route that has become a valuable international public good.”

    The service is notably less affected by natural environmental factors, offering higher reliability compared to other forms of transportation. With costs just one-fifth of air freight and transit times a quarter of sea transport, the freight train has become a preferred choice for many businesses. In 2023, it accounted for over 7 percent of the total trade between China and Europe.

    Over the past 13 years, the network has expanded rapidly, growing from a handful of routes into a comprehensive service covering most of the Eurasian region. Today, it connects 227 cities in 25 European countries, 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, and is continually expanding. This broadening network has significantly transformed the logistics landscape between China and Europe, offering businesses more efficient options across diverse regions.

    The range of goods transported via the China-Europe freight train is also diversifying. It now handles over 50,000 types of goods across 53 categories, including automobiles, machinery, electronics and epidemic prevention materials, according to China State Railway Group, the service’s operator.

    The rail service has benefited both Chinese and international consumers and businesses. For example, Zhejiang Mundiver Import & Export, a company engaged in trade with Spain, has seen significant improvements in its logistics operations. Since 2014, when the China-Europe freight train began operating from Yiwu, Zhejiang province, the company has been using the service to import goods from Europe.

    Kong Zhijian, the company’s marketing manager, said: “Before the rail service, we relied on sea transport, which took about 45 days and required a secondary transfer at Ningbo Port. Now, goods can be delivered directly to Yiwu from Europe in less than 20 days.”

    The faster transit time has helped streamline their business operations, particularly with products like wine. “This shorter shipping cycle helps us manage cash flow more effectively, which is crucial for our business,” Kong added.

    The impact of the rail service extends beyond China. It has also brought significant economic benefits to cities along the route. For instance, Duisburg Port has become a major logistics hub, attracting over 100 logistics companies and creating more than 20,000 jobs.

    The progress of railways has always been driven by technology and innovation. In this regard, China also made remarkable strides in 2024, with faster trains now on track.

    Next generation

    On Dec 29, China unveiled two CR450 high-speed train prototypes, which are capable of reaching a test speed of 450 km/h and an operational speed of 400 km/h. They will be the fastest high-speed trains in the world once they enter commercial service, surpassing China’s current CR400, which operates at 350 km/h.

    It was one of the most exciting developments in the railway sector in 2024. This leap in speed and comfort reflects China’s ongoing leadership in high-speed rail technology.

    The two prototypes, with their futuristic design, have reduced weight by 10 percent to improve fuel efficiency. To decrease rolling resistance, the development team wrapped the trains’ running gear — such as the wheels, axles and suspension system — partly, marking a breakthrough in railway engineering.

    The interiors of the prototypes are also cutting-edge. In business class, the seats can be adjusted to a meeting mode, allowing them to be arranged face-to-face, transforming the compartment into a conference room at any time.

    In economy class, the seats are ergonomically designed for greater comfort, with curves that better suit the body. In response to passenger smartphone use, small tables in economy class now feature a rack that enables passengers to prop up their phones to watch videos.

    Inside the train, lighting adjusts automatically in response to the brightness outside, enhancing passenger comfort. The luggage storage areas have also been made more spacious, reducing congestion. The interior has been redesigned for greater comfort and convenience, increasing cabin space by 4 percent. Adjustable luggage racks and versatile storage areas can accommodate passengers’ needs, including bicycles, wheelchairs and other large items. These upgrades anticipate potential regulatory changes in passenger transport.

    Sui Fusheng, a researcher at the Institute of Acoustics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted the challenge of balancing weight reduction with noise control. He led a team dedicated to optimizing the noise management for the prototypes.

    “To reduce weight is detrimental to noise control, and increasing speed also exacerbates noise, so we have to overcome these two critical factors to ensure a comfortable passenger experience,” he said.

    “The results have been good; the ride experience is similar to that of the current CR400 running at 350 km/h,” he added.

    To balance noise control and weight reduction, the team developed integrated composite materials that offer both thermal insulation and soundproofing. These innovations not only reduce material costs and complexity but also enhance passenger comfort by effectively managing temperature and noise levels.

    The team’s solutions have laid the groundwork for quieter, more efficient high-speed rail travel, Sui added.

    “China’s high-speed rail system has made a historic leap, evolving from a follower to a global leader. Its high-speed rail technology has now set an international benchmark,” said Li Yongheng, an official from China State Railway Group, referring to the development of the CR450.

    “To further strengthen and expand China’s leadership in high-speed rail technology, and to better support Chinese modernization, our company, together with relevant ministries, organizations, research institutes, universities and enterprises, has formed an innovative team to tackle critical technological challenges,” he added.

    The CR450 represents the culmination of years of innovation in high-speed rail, making it a fitting symbol of China’s railway sector in 2024 — a year marked by groundbreaking achievements, record-breaking passenger and freight volumes, and a continually expanding network that links China to the rest of the world.

    Looking ahead

    These breakthroughs in railway technology are not just abstract concepts — they’re transforming the way people experience travel. On that September morning, Luo Wei and her family were not just passengers on a train — they were part of a story of transformation that is reshaping the future of travel, trade and global connectivity. The ease and efficiency of their journey to Jiuzhaigou were a microcosm of the larger changes sweeping across China.

    As China looks ahead, its railway sector remains a symbol of the country’s ambition to lead the world in technological innovation and sustainable development. With the CR450 on the horizon and a growing railway network connecting regions far and wide, China is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in transportation. And with it, the world will continue to move faster, more efficiently and more sustainably.

    For Luo Wei and countless others, the high-speed rail of 2024 is a journey into tomorrow — one that is already well underway.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T Smart 10G OLT Series Scores Highest Across the Board in GlobalData FTTP Competitive Landscape Assessment Feb 13, 2025

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T Smart 10G OLT Series Scores Highest Across the Board in GlobalData FTTP Competitive Landscape Assessment
    Feb 13, 2025

    [Shenzhen, China, February 13, 2025] GlobalData, a world-renowned consulting firm, released the 2024 Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) Competitive Landscape Assessment, which evaluates and ranks the OLT products of five top global vendors. Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T smart 10G OLT series (MA5800T series) scored the highest across all five dimensions measured: density/scalability, backplane/system throughput capacity, ONT range, deployment flexibility, and customer and market traction. This placed Huawei at No.1 in overall competitiveness and highlighted its position as the leader in the FTTP field.
    Huawei 10G smart OLT leading across all dimensions in GlobalData report

    Specializing in ICT data analysis and consulting, GlobalData focuses on ICT industry research and provides evaluation reports on areas such as market research and forecast and product analyses. In its 2024 FTTP assessment, the MA5800T series has shown outstanding performance in the following five scoring dimensions defined by GlobalData:
    Density/Scalability
    An OLT should have high density and scalability. Huawei’s MA5800T series supports 8-/16-port symmetric/asymmetric triple-mode 50G PON with high-density deployment, meeting the access requirements for a large number of 10G users.
    Backplane/System Throughput Capacity
    An OLT should have sufficient capacity to support upstream and downstream links. The Huawei MA5800T series supports 1 Tbps per slot, leading the industry.
    ONT Range
    It is important for an OLT to support various ONT models during FTTP deployment. The Huawei MA5800T series supports concurrent access of GPON, 10G PON, and 50G PON ONTs, as well as being compatible with GPON and 10G PON user access on the live network, offering strong protection for customers’ live network investments.
    Deployment Flexibility
    An OLT should support the flexible deployment of different PON technologies and nodes of different scales. Huawei’s MA5800T series is compatible with GPON, 10G PON, and 50G PON technologies. Furthermore, it provides an optical power budget up to 32 dB, and enables smooth upgrades without the need to change existing ODNs, thus maximizing return on investment (ROI).
    Customer and Market Traction
    The quantity, quality, and scale of cooperation with operators were all key scoring criteria in the GlobalData FTTP report. The Huawei MA5800T series has been tested and deployed by more than 60 operators, more than any other vendor. In addition, it is the only 50G PON OLT that can currently enter commercial use.
    Huawei’s next-generation OptiXaccess MA5800T smart OLT series is the industry’s first smart OLT platform designed for the 10G era. Featuring a deterministic experience, ultra-large bandwidth, smooth upgrades, and native intelligence, it provides operators and enterprises with the solutions they need to quickly and efficiently deploy premium FTTP networks, and drives the transformation from bandwidth to experience monetization.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T Smart 10G OLT Series Scores Highest Across the Board in GlobalData FTTP Competitive Landscape Assessment

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T Smart 10G OLT Series Scores Highest Across the Board in GlobalData FTTP Competitive Landscape Assessment

    [Shenzhen, China, February 13, 2025] GlobalData, a world-renowned consulting firm, released the 2024 Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) Competitive Landscape Assessment, which evaluates and ranks the OLT products of five top global vendors. Huawei’s OptiXaccess MA5800T smart 10G OLT series (MA5800T series) scored the highest across all five dimensions measured: density/scalability, backplane/system throughput capacity, ONT range, deployment flexibility, and customer and market traction. This placed Huawei at No.1 in overall competitiveness and highlighted its position as the leader in the FTTP field.
    Huawei 10G smart OLT leading across all dimensions in GlobalData report

    Specializing in ICT data analysis and consulting, GlobalData focuses on ICT industry research and provides evaluation reports on areas such as market research and forecast and product analyses. In its 2024 FTTP assessment, the MA5800T series has shown outstanding performance in the following five scoring dimensions defined by GlobalData:
    Density/Scalability
    An OLT should have high density and scalability. Huawei’s MA5800T series supports 8-/16-port symmetric/asymmetric triple-mode 50G PON with high-density deployment, meeting the access requirements for a large number of 10G users.
    Backplane/System Throughput Capacity
    An OLT should have sufficient capacity to support upstream and downstream links. The Huawei MA5800T series supports 1 Tbps per slot, leading the industry.
    ONT Range
    It is important for an OLT to support various ONT models during FTTP deployment. The Huawei MA5800T series supports concurrent access of GPON, 10G PON, and 50G PON ONTs, as well as being compatible with GPON and 10G PON user access on the live network, offering strong protection for customers’ live network investments.
    Deployment Flexibility
    An OLT should support the flexible deployment of different PON technologies and nodes of different scales. Huawei’s MA5800T series is compatible with GPON, 10G PON, and 50G PON technologies. Furthermore, it provides an optical power budget up to 32 dB, and enables smooth upgrades without the need to change existing ODNs, thus maximizing return on investment (ROI).
    Customer and Market Traction
    The quantity, quality, and scale of cooperation with operators were all key scoring criteria in the GlobalData FTTP report. The Huawei MA5800T series has been tested and deployed by more than 60 operators, more than any other vendor. In addition, it is the only 50G PON OLT that can currently enter commercial use.
    Huawei’s next-generation OptiXaccess MA5800T smart OLT series is the industry’s first smart OLT platform designed for the 10G era. Featuring a deterministic experience, ultra-large bandwidth, smooth upgrades, and native intelligence, it provides operators and enterprises with the solutions they need to quickly and efficiently deploy premium FTTP networks, and drives the transformation from bandwidth to experience monetization.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Oriental fruit fly restrictions lifted – Papatoetoe/Māngere area

    Source: Auckland Council

    Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Auckland’s Papatoetoe and Māngere have been lifted after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly was found in the area.

    Biosecurity New Zealand, part of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced the update today.

    “It’s great to see that restrictions are now lifted. Thank you to our communities, residents and businesses in these areas for their support – from following the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies to safely disposing of fruit in the provided bins,” says Phil Brown Auckland Council Acting General Manager, Environmental Services.

    Six-week intensive operation

    The decision to end the operation follows six weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit.

    With restrictions now lifted, the Biosecurity New Zealand signs and wheelie bins will be removed from the affected area in Papatoetoe over the next few days.

    This also means that all kerbside collections, including food scraps, are back to normal.

    We encourage you to take full advantage of the food scraps collection service and join thousands of Aucklanders who have already helped turn over 30,000 tonnes of food scraps into clean energy.

    Here’s some summer tips to beat the heat and you can also request an additional food scraps bin by contacting us.

    A quick response

    Biosecurity New Zealand quickly placed legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe and Māngere on 4 January 2025 after a single male Oriental fruit fly was identified from a national surveillance trap.

    Since then, no further adult fruit flies, eggs, larvae or pupae have been found. MPI are satisfied that the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations can be closed.

    Restrictions are lifted but stay vigilant. If you think you’ve spotted an Oriental fruit fly, eggs, or larvae/maggots in your fruit, call Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) right away at 0800 80 99 66.

    MPI will continue as normal to check Biosecurity New Zealand’s 7800 fruit fly traps around the country, including some 200 traps in Papatoetoe and Māngere.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Southern Seabirds Trust Seabird Smart Awards

    Source: New Zealand Governor General

    E kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei ra, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora mai tātou katoa.

    I’d like to specifically acknowledge: Mr Bill Mansfield, Chair of the Southern Seabirds Trust; Ms Janice Molloy, Trust Convenor; and Mr Al Brown, chef, restauranteur and food communicator.

    And to all our award recipients and guests here this evening – tēnā koutou katoa.

    It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Government House Auckland for this year’s Seabird Smart Awards – the first of these awards I’ve had the pleasure of hosting as Governor-General. I must firstly note that my husband, Dr Davies, is a great seabird enthusiast – and that he was especially delighted to hear we would be hosting these awards here tonight.

    As a country, New Zealand has a particular affinity for birds – and I’m sure it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that they’re a significant part of our national character. I was proud to learn that Aotearoa has a greater diversity of seabirds breeding on its shores and islands, and feeding in its waters, than any other country in the world. 

    In December last year, Dr Davies and I had the pleasure of visiting the Chatham Islands, and hearing about some of the remarkable seabird life in that beautiful and remote place. We learned about the Chatham Islands tāiko, with its extraordinary burrows, sometimes five metres in length, dug to avoid land-based predators – and the tōrea, with its uniquely-speckled eggs, designed, as they are, to blend in perfectly with those distinctive, grey-speckled sands of Rēkohu.

    Two such beautiful creatures, living in perfect harmony with their natural environment – and both tragically on the verge of extinction. I understand that some ecologists have referred to seabirds as ‘ecosystem engineers’ – with entire islands and coastal ecosystems relying on their presence to survive and thrive, making their loss all the more significant and damaging.

    As both direct and indirect human activity is responsible for this loss of seabird life, we bear a corresponding responsibility to do all we can to reverse this loss and protect these precious creatures. As Governor-General, I am pleased to be able to recognise the work of some of those carrying that mantle of responsibility here this evening.

    It was American writer and naturalist, Aldo Leopold, who said that conservation is ‘a positive exercise of skill and insight, not merely a negative exercise of abstinence and caution.’ Each of this evening’s recipients embodies these words – through the positive actions you’ve taken, the skill and insight you’ve demonstrated, and, in turn, the deep care you’ve shown for New Zealand’s seabird life.

    I also wish to take this opportunity to recognise Bill, as Chair, and Janice, and Convenor and Founder of the Southern Seabirds Trust, as well as all your staff, volunteers, and sponsors – for the powerful work that you do, working alongside the fishing industry in New Zealand and internationally, to foster seabird-safe practices.

    It brings me great pleasure to note that His Majesty King Charles III, as Patron of the Southern Seabirds Trust, and passionate conservationist, has also passed on his heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this evening, and who have been honoured with an award tonight. I understand that a copy of the letter from Buckingham Palace will be available to award recipients, and is also on display for all those in attendance here this evening.

    Inspired by his time on Easter Island, the great Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, wrote The Art of Birds, which includes the following lines I thought fitting for this occasion:

    I’m an incorrigible birder,
    I cannot reform my ways –
    though the birds
    do not invite me
    to the treetops,
    to the ocean
    or the sky,
    to their conversation, their banquet,
    I invite myself,
    to watch them
    without missing a thing…
    And bird by bird I’ve come to know the earth:
    and received those wings in my soul.

    My sincerest thanks and congratulations once again to all of this evening’s recipients – and to all those here tonight who contribute so significantly to the wellbeing of New Zealand’s rare, diverse, and truly precious seabird life.

    Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Speech – Address at Parliament House

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    The Albanese government is committed to putting Australian consumers at the heart of the telecommunications industry.

    We want to ensure that all Australians have access to reliable, high-quality and affordable telecommunications services, supported by a strong regulatory and consumer safeguards framework.

    That is why this government has been actively reviewing the telecommunications consumer protection framework and making appropriate changes. 

    This includes implementing new rules to better support consumers who are experiencing financial hardship and, more recently, directing the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, to make new rules to support people who are experiencing domestic, sexual and family violence.

    The Albanese government understands how critical telco services are for everyone, including those facing vulnerable circumstances, people living in our regions, First Nations Australians and those who rely upon connectivity to support their families and provide services to their communities.

    Accordingly, we want to ensure that the telco industry is working for Australians, that they have the best consumer safeguards in place to protect their interests, and that there is a strong, clear recourse if telcos do the wrong thing.

    Nobody wants an industry that sees penalties as the ‘cost of doing business’.

    We’ve listened to wideranging feedback from industry, regulators, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and consumer advocates to develop these reforms.

    The Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill will improve compliance and enforcement of telecommunications consumer safeguards and constitute a comprehensive package of reforms to those arrangements. 

    They will help to ensure that the ACMA is an empowered and effective regulator and that appropriate incentive structures are in place to drive better behaviour by telcos.

    The bill improves compliance and enforcement of consumer safeguards in several important ways. 

    Schedule 1 will establish a carriage service provider registration scheme. 

    The scheme will increase visibility of carriage service providers and enable the ACMA to stop providers who pose unacceptable risk to consumers or cause significant consumer harm from operating in the market. 

    Increased visibility of the market will provide improved pathways for the ACMA (and other government agencies) to educate carriage service providers on their regulatory obligations, streamline complaints and compliance processes and create better overall market accountability. 

    Empowering the ACMA to stop providers operating in the market will provide a deterrent for significant noncompliance and increase trust by consumers in registered providers—including new or smaller ones. 

    Schedule 2 of the bill will make industry codes directly enforceable. 

    This allows the ACMA to take immediate and appropriate action to address consumer harm and will incentivise industry compliance.

    Currently, the ACMA cannot take direct enforcement action against breaches of industry codes, no matter how significant, without first issuing a direction to comply, and the ACMA can only take further action if noncompliance continues.

    The proposed changes remove this two-step enforcement process so that the ACMA can act quickly and appropriately to address consumer harm arising from code breaches and hold telcos to account.

    Schedule 3 will increase the maximum general civil penalty for breaches of industry codes and industry standards from $250,000 to 30,300 penalty units, which is currently $9.9 million. 

    This aligns with penalties currently available for breaches of service provider determinations, meaning the penalty amount for these three types of regulatory instruments will be aligned. 

    The schedule will also modernise the penalty framework for these instruments to allow penalties based on the value of the benefit obtained from the conduct or the turnover of the relevant telco—allowing for greater penalties in certain circumstances. 

    Overall, this penalty framework better aligns with those in other relevant sectors like energy and banking, and under the Australian consumer law.

    Schedule 4 of the bill expands and clarifies the authority of the Minister for Communications to increase any infringement notice penalty the ACMA can issue for breaches of telecommunications rules. 

    Taken together, the reforms in the bill strengthen consumer protections and enhance compliance and enforcement of telecommunications consumer safeguards, for the benefit of the whole community.

    They reflect the Albanese government’s commitment to making sure Australians are appropriately protected and supported in their interactions with telecommunications service providers.

    Importantly, these reforms have received strong support from stakeholders, including the:

    • Australian Communication Consumer Action Network;

    • Consumer Action Law Centre;

    • Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman;

    • Australian Communications and Media Authority; and

    • Communications Alliance.

    This comprehensive support, from consumer groups, regulators and industry alike, demonstrates the importance of these commonsense reforms and is representative of close engagement with these key stakeholders over the past year in particular.

    I thank them for their ongoing engagement and support and acknowledge the important work they do.

    Noting this level of strong support for these reforms, and the important outcomes they enable for Australian telco consumers, I encourage all representatives in this place to give it their support as well.

    I commend the bill to the House. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Gun and Drug Charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Niesha Goodwin, age 37, of Albany, pled guilty today to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. Goodwin also pled guilty to firearm and drug distribution charges for a firearm and cocaine base recovered during a search of her residence.

    The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

    Goodwin admitted that from about July 2020 through March 2021, she fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits worth more than $150,000 by submitting applications for benefits in the names of five other people, including by using stolen personal identifying information. Goodwin agreed to pay $151,783 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor.

    Goodwin also admitted to possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) with the intent to distribute in November 2022. As a result of her prior conviction for robbery, Goodwin could not lawfully possess the pistol.  Goodwin has agreed to forfeit the firearm and to abandon seven rounds of ammunition that were found in the firearm.

    Goodwin faces at least 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.75 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years when she is sentenced on June 12, 2025 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.

    The case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath Concludes Tenure as Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Southern District of California

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced that U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath’s tenure as the chief federal law enforcement official for San Diego and Imperial counties ended today, February 12, 2025.

    As a Presidential appointee, Ms. McGrath was informed of her termination in a communication from the White House, at the direction of the President of the United States. The White House also thanked Ms. McGrath for her service to the nation.

    “It has been an honor to serve as U.S. Attorney, working alongside an exceptional team in this office and forging strong partnerships with our law enforcement agencies and communities in pursuit of justice,” Ms. McGrath said. “As I step down from a decades-long career in public service, I remain inspired by dedicated public servants across this district and am proud of all we achieved together.”

    Ms. McGrath was confirmed by the U.S. Senate after nomination by President Biden. She was sworn in as the district’s top federal law enforcement official on October 5, 2023. She oversaw one of the nation’s busiest United States Attorney’s Offices, which has a staff of about 300 and serves approximately 3.5 million residents in San Diego and Imperial counties.

    During her tenure, Ms. McGrath prioritized protecting the community from the deadly scourge of fentanyl; investigating and prosecuting scammers targeting vulnerable populations; getting firearms out of the hands of felons and violent offenders; bringing cases to root out corruption and enforce civil rights; and using the legal tools available to safeguard the environment. The office also successfully prosecuted cases involving Mexican drug cartels and drug trafficking — leading the nation in the number of drug trafficking cases prosecuted — as well as firearms trafficking and violent crime; complex financial frauds; national security and cybersecurity; and human smuggling and trafficking.

    Some key accomplishments of the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Ms. McGrath’s leadership:

    • Became first in the nation to charge defendants for smuggling potent greenhouse gases across the U.S.-Mexico border, in violation of U.S. environmental laws.
    • Secured sentences of six consecutive life terms and 45 years, respectively, for brothers convicted of murdering their American half-sister, her three children, and her partner in Tijuana.
    • Reinforced the region’s Elder Justice Task Force in partnership with the FBI and San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, recovering approximately $4.5 million stolen from elderly victims through sophisticated scams.
    • Charged 40 individuals with stealing public-assistance benefits from low-income families, as part of an ongoing effort targeting thieves who exploit the government’s electronic payment system.
    • Negotiated a $130,131,645 forfeiture settlement with Wynn Las Vegas for criminal conspiracy involving unlicensed money transmitting businesses worldwide. Achieved what is believed to be the largest forfeiture by a casino based on admissions of criminal wrongdoing.
    • Secured conviction at trial against a defendant on 25 counts of securities fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in connection with a $35 million investment and COVID-relief fraud scheme. Highlighted victim impact during the trial, including the defendant’s immigrant uncle who’d been swindled out of $4.5 million and many other victims who collectively lost millions of dollars.
    • Facilitated the extradition of Michael Pratt, the alleged mastermind behind the GirlsDoPorn commercial sex trafficking ring, following his arrest in Spain after more than three years as an international fugitive.

    Ms. McGrath also oversaw key civil cases, including successful defensive litigation on behalf of the United States, and led efforts to recover millions of dollars from individuals and companies involved in fraud and civil rights violations.

    Since Ms. McGrath took the helm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has obtained settlements and recoveries in excess of $41 million. This includes cases brought under the False Claims Act across a broad spectrum of program areas including health care, defense procurement, and the Paycheck Protection Program enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These substantial recoveries also involved matters investigated under the Controlled Substances Act in response to the opioid epidemic, including those against a large-scale pharmacy and other DEA registrants for failing to meet their obligations to properly handle and dispense opioids and other dangerous controlled substances.   

    Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, career prosecutor and current First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Andrew R. Haden, has taken over as the Acting United States Attorney, effective today.

    For more information about Ms. McGrath, please see Tara McGrath Sworn In

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 12, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,77,339.01 6.27 5.15-6.60
         I. Call Money 13,411.47 6.29 5.15-6.40
         II. Triparty Repo 4,03,454.35 6.26 6.20-6.51
         III. Market Repo 1,58,648.59 6.30 5.75-6.60
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,824.60 6.44 6.40-6.49
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 249.11 6.26 5.75-6.40
         II. Term Money@@ 272.00 – 6.40-7.00
         III. Triparty Repo 465.70 6.27 6.25-6.35
         IV. Market Repo 1,331.46 6.35 6.35-6.35
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Wed, 12/02/2025 1 Thu, 13/02/2025 1,93,865.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 12/02/2025 1 Thu, 13/02/2025 2,561.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 12/02/2025 1 Thu, 13/02/2025 48,110.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       1,48,316.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,756.81  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     58,766.81  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     2,07,082.81  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 12, 2025 9,14,470.49  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 21, 2025 9,12,240.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 12, 2025 1,23,688.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 24, 2025 -34,103.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2140

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers video remarks at the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered a video message at the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 13 February 2025. Dr. Kao encouraged women entrepreneurs to embrace innovation, digitalisation and sustainable business practices in their entrepreneurial journey.  Dr. Kao welcomed the sustained partnership between the ASEAN-Japan Centre and the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He added they have been key drivers in facilitating MSMEs’ integration into the ASEAN Economic Community, especially in ensuring women’s participation in economic activities. The ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit contributes to the ASEAN-Japan Economic Co-Creation Vision and aligns with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship this year, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers video remarks at the ASEAN-Japan Young Women Entrepreneurs’ Summit appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Green light for Lake Victoria Wind Farm

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 13 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Lands and Property

    The Minns Labor Government and wind farm developer WestWind Energy Pty Ltd have signed a lease agreement to help facilitate a wind farm with up to 201 turbines on Crown land in south-west NSW. 

    WestWind Energy is aiming to construct the wind farm over a 2-3 year period from 2029 to 2032, subject to planning approvals and community consultation.  

    The project has an estimated capital expenditure of $3.8 billion and will have an installed capacity of up to about 1,000 megawatts with an annual energy production of approximately 3,400 gigawatt-hours, capable of powering up to 700,000 homes.

    The project will also include up to three battery energy storage systems with a total of 1500 megawatt hours storage to provide a more secure and consistent supply of electricity.

    The proposed Lake Victoria Wind Farm, could support up to 375 jobs during construction and up to 70 ongoing jobs once completed to maintain the infrastructure and manage ongoing operations of the facility. 

    Crown Lands has negotiated the agreement for a special purpose lease which would provide WestWind Energy with an initial 25-year lease with two 7-year options to extend the lease a further 14 years.

    The lease agreement allows WestWind Energy to progress planning for its proposed Lake Victoria Wind Farm, would be located about 30 kilometres north-west of Wentworth near the Victorian border. 

    The project is listed on the NSW Planning website to be assessed as a State Significant Development once a development application is lodged.  

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “The Lake Victoria Wind Farm proposal has the potential to deliver major economic investment, well paid regional jobs and more green energy for NSW.

    “The Lake Victoria Wind Farm is a significant clean energy initiative that can play a vital role in powering our economy for generations to come.

    “The rental income will be reinvested into the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund to provide grants to maintain and improve Crown reserves across the state, such as regional showgrounds, war memorials and community sporting grounds.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Parliament passes world-leading scams prevention framework

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government has legislated the world’s toughest anti-scam laws to make Australia the hardest target for scammers. 

    Australians will be safer online and their money more secure as a result of the new laws. 

    The laws establish the Scams Prevention Framework, focused on stopping scams from reaching Australians. 

    The Framework requires designated entities to prevent, detect, disrupt, respond and report scams and attempted scams. 

    Initially, the Government will designate banks, telcos, and social media companies under the Framework. These businesses will be subject to comprehensive and enforceable sector-specific rules for what they must do to protect Australians.

    For example, the rules may include:

    • Social media companies being required to verify advertisers on their platforms – a critical step to ridding their pages of fake scam ads
    • Banks being required to confirm the identity of payees – so people know exactly where their money is going  
    • Telecommunications companies being required to detect and disrupt scam numbers sending texts and calls to innocent Australians.

    Businesses will have substantial incentive to have ironclad scams defences, with fines of up to $50 million applied on those who fail to meet their obligations. 

    Victims will have clear pathways to compensation if the business fails to meet robust standards.

    The Government has invested over $180 million to fight scams including establishing the National Anti-Scams Centre and funding ASIC to bust fake investment websites that promote scams. 

    Australians should never have to fight criminal scammers on their own. Labor made fighting scams an issue for government, as well as businesses. 

    This is landmark legislation that will set Australia up for a stronger and safer future where people’s money is safer online. 

    Quotes attributable to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, the Hon Stephen Jones MP: 

    “Our laws give Australia the strongest defences against scammers and put us ahead of the world in scams prevention and protection.

    “This is a promise we made ahead of the 2022 election and will make a genuine difference in the lives of every Australian.

    “These new laws will keep Australia one step ahead of criminal scammers.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

    “Cracking down on criminals trying to rip off hardworking Australians is a priority for this Government.

    “The Scams Prevention Framework will help further strengthen scam defences, and I encourage the telecommunications sector and social media platforms to work with the regulators to develop the enforceable industry codes that will provide Australian consumers the best protection from the scourge of scams.

    “We will continue to protect hard-working Australians from increasingly sophisticated and organised scammers.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: State Memorial for David Polson AM

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: State Memorial for David Polson AM

    Published: 13 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier

    The NSW Government is today announcing that the family of David Polson AM has the accepted the offer of a State Memorial Service.

    Mr Polson, who passed away on 10 February 2025, made significant contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community over his lifetime.

    His family accepted the NSW Government’s offer of a State Memorial, following his death at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital on Monday, aged 70.

    The State Memorial will be held on the morning of Wednesday, 12 March.

    As one of the first 400 men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Australia in the 1980s at the age of 29, Mr Polson was a long-term survivor, with his commitment to advocacy supported by the 28 HIV drug trials he volunteered for over almost four decades.

    In 2021, he was recognised as a Community Champion by the National Association of People Living with HIV, Gilead Sciences and Positive Life NSW for his services to HIV education and awareness.

    In 2023, he was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for ‘significant service to community health through HIV education and advocacy’.

    He was the Emeritus Founding Chair of Qtopia Sydney, Sydney’s first Queer Museum that opened in Darlinghurst in 2024.

    More details on the March 12 State Memorial will be available in the coming weeks at NSW Government State Services.

    Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:

    “David Polson was a ‘trailblazer’ for bravely continually challenging the HIV stigma.

    “His experience and advocacy contributed to life saving medications and significant advancements with a far-reaching international impact for those living with HIV.

    “I have been honoured to work with David over a number of years as he continued to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community including later in his life and know that his legacy will live on in the community for generations.”

    Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Penny Sharpe said:

    “There are people alive today because of the courage and bravery of David Polson.

    “It is a fitting tribute that he has a state memorial to acknowledge his work and share the story of LGBTQIA+ activism in NSW and David’s role in it.

    “David Polson was a genuine hero of the community whose life profoundly helped others.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meet the City’s Search for a Star winners

    Source: Government of Western Australia

    Seven talented local singers will take the stage to perform with a live orchestra in front of thousands thanks to the Search for a Star competition.

    The seven winners were carefully selected following multiple auditions and will all perform at the City’s blockbuster Symphony Under the Stars event at Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex on 22 February.

    The winners range in age as well as musical experience, with each of the local talents being either residents or students within the City.

    The unique experience to perform with a 70-piece orchestra will be matched by the impressive crowds, with the event drawing 12,000 people last time it was held at Kingsway.

    Sofia Gale
    Performing Skyfall by Adele

    At just 16 years old, Sofia’s musical experience is impressive, having already performed in front of nearly 12,000 people at RAC Arena.

    A student of the Gail Meade Performing Arts Centre in Wangara for over 12 years, Sofia has a mix of singing, songwriting and theatre experience.

    “I’ve always been a theatre kid at heart,” she said. “But, around 11 or 12, I found a love for songwriting – not only was it therapeutic, but it was a release for me.”

    Sofia has released four singles to date, with one of her tracks winning a West Australian Music song of the year award, with her music drawing comparisons to Birdy and Olivia Rodrigo.

    Sofia will now further her career accomplishments by performing alongside a live orchestra for the first time.

    “What a phenomenal opportunity it is, to give local performers and local singers the chance to perform with such an orchestra,” she said.

    “We’ve already started rehearsals now and even when I’m not rehearsing with them, I’m just listening to them play so beautifully. I feel so honoured to be a part of this.”

    Meagen Reyes
    Performing I Will Always Love You & I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston

    Coming from a family of musicians, Meagen will be living out a dream on behalf of her parents and siblings when she takes the stage.

    The youngest of five children, the 28-year-old started her musical career as just two years old, joining her family band.

    “All of my siblings were taught how to sing by my mum, my dad knows how to sing as well and plays the guitar,” she said.

    “At the age of around two or three I was already singing on stage, not knowing how to read but memorising songs just by listening to them.”

    Meagen said she jumped at the opportunity to enter the competition and play with a live orchestra.

    “I was chosen as one of the winners and that was such a relief, because I really wanted to sing with the orchestra, as a singer it’s such a different experience,” she said.

    “I’ve sung for live bands and with backing tracks, but a live orchestra is so different because it’s a full ensemble. They’re relying on you to sing it correctly.”

    Meagen said the competition was a great opportunity to springboard the singing careers of younger artists, but also provided a rare opportunity for more experienced local artists.

    “Having an event like Search for a Star Wanneroo is such a good opportunity for talents everywhere in Perth, not just young talents but even people like me being nearly 30,” she said.

    “It’s great that I still have the chance to do things like this within the City.”

    Krystal Biddulph
    Performing Fix You by Coldplay

    An experienced dancer, performing since age three, Krystal has put one of her passions to the side after 15 years to pursue a career in singing.

    The talented singer has a gained a growing following thanks to nearly three years busking around the Perth CBD which she continues to do.

    “I’m very excited about Symphony Under the Stars, obviously, there would have been a lot of amazing applicants,” she said.

    Krystal is no stranger to playing in front of a big crowd, having performed at RAC Arena in front of 14,000 during a Wildcats game last year as well as featuring on Australian Idol.

    “I’m most excited for singing in front of an orchestra, it’s something that I’ve never done before but something I want to do,” the 18-year-old said.

    “Everything sounds better with an orchestra, even rehearsing with them I have the best time, it just makes me even more excited to get on stage and perform in front of people with them.”

    Caoimhe Power
    Performing Stop by Spice Girls & Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

    Caoimhe’s singing journey started in Scotland at age nine before moving to WA with her family, immediately joining her high school music program.

    The Banksia Grove resident said she was stunned when she learned she was one of the winners.

    “When I got the email about being one of the winners I was in complete shock, I was so happy, so excited and so grateful, because I knew there were so many amazing competitors,” she said.

    “I felt so honoured that I was one of the winners picked to be able to sing and do what I love – it was honestly amazing.”

    At the age of just 16, Caoimhe will take the stage along with four other winners in a group performance, as well as a duo with last year’s Search for a Star winner Kade De Luca.  

    “I’m so excited to be able to perform in front of so many people,” she said.

    “It is just so crazy that I was chosen to sing with a 70-piece orchestra.

    “It’s amazing that we get to take part in this huge opportunity right at our doorstep and I think it’s great that we get to perform with people similar to our age and with the same love for music.”

    Tegan Mumba
    Performing Stop by Spice Girls

    Tegan has been singing since the age of four and notably performed at the RAC Arena in 2019 for Grease the Musical aged just 10.

    The 16-year-old said she is looking forward to recreating the thrill on stage alongside the Joondalup Symphony Orchestra.

    “When I found out I was a winner I was so excited, I called my dance teacher right away and told my mum,” the Yanchep local said.

    “I’m super excited to perform in front of all these people. Knowing that my singing could make someone’s day makes me even more excited.

    “I think the competition is a great opportunity for so many kids to be able to get their names out there. People will have all their eyes on us and I think it’s great for many aspiring teens.”

    Jade Alexander
    Performing Stop by Spice Girls

    Jade is a recent addition to the City, having immigrated from South Africa just a year ago.

    With extensive musical experience in her homeland often entering singing competitions, Jade had no hesitation in applying for the City’s Search for a Star. 

    “In South Africa I entered a lot of singing competitions and then when we moved here, I got the opportunity to do some gigs,” the 16-year-old said.

    “My mum found this competition and she saw how big of an opportunity it was to enter, and we grabbed it with both hands.

    “I’m so excited and I still can’t believe it. It’s one of my bucket list items to perform with an orchestra, so being able to do it is surreal.

    “We’ve done two rehearsals with the orchestra. It’s so cool to be able to hear the instruments live and the whole orchestra really creates an atmosphere.”

    Emily Mackenzie
    Performing Stop by Spice Girls

    Emily is a multi-talented local artist who started her performing arts journey at age eight when she started doing theatre shows.

    That path led her to performing in The Boy from Oz at Crown Theatre, with her first theatre appearance happening at age eight.

    The 18-year-old Hocking local also plays piano and guitar and said she holds a real appreciation for the talented Joondalup Symphony Orchestra.

    “I’m pretty excited to go in front of such a big audience,” she said.

    “I think it’s just a really great opportunity to get more experience to do more shows like this in the future. 

    “I haven’t performed with an orchestra before, but I love live music. The live orchestra feels more alive, rather than just a speaker and to have so many people making the music is a pretty cool thing.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tasmania Police releases annual complaints data

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Tasmania Police releases annual complaints data

    Thursday, 13 February 2025 – 2:17 pm.

    In line with our commitment to accountability, Tasmania Police has today published its annual report on complaints against police.The Professional Standards Complaints and Outcomes 2024 report details the type of complaint, findings and outcomes of Level 2 and 3 complaints made against police in 2024.In 2024, a total of 194 complaints from members of the public were received, a decrease from 325 in 2023.A total of 166 internally raised matters were received in 2024, compared with 94 in 2023.“Tasmania Police already reports annually through the Report on Government Services in terms of complaints against police. Last week we saw Productivity Commission data that reported Tasmania Police to be the most likely to be regarded as professional, to treat people fairly and equally, and be honest, than any other jurisdiction,” Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said.“Looking at the Professional Standards figures for 2024, I recognise from the thousands of interactions that we have with the community each year, the figure of 194 complaints is comparatively low. But it is vital that all complaints are appropriately responded to, investigated, action taken if required and that we publicly report on these important matters.“The Tasmanian community has high expectations of its policing service, and we are entrusted with significant powers to perform our duties to keep people safe.“When a complaint is made, either by a member of the community or raised internally by another police officer, the community must have confidence that these matters are investigated appropriately and outcomes are publicly available,” said Deputy Commissioner Higgins.“The number of internally raised matters reflects the importance of holding ourselves and our colleagues accountable for behaving in line with our values – Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Support. We’ll continue to build this culture amongst all officers, just as we will continue to welcome feedback from the community we serve.“The Tasmania Police Professional Standards Command investigates internal and external complaints of criminal conduct and breaches of the Code of Conduct, with independent oversight of investigations by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Integrity Commission and the Ombudsman as appropriate, in addition to reporting to the Office of the Independent Regulator.“Tasmania Police strives for excellence in serving the community. Ongoing reflection and improvement and is important, and in many cases, the response to a complaint or feedback will include an opportunity for professional development or learning through verbal guidance to staff.”Members of the community can provide feedback or compliments on Tasmania Police’s performance at any time via the Tasmania Police website. Go to https://www.police.tas.gov.au/about-us/compliments-and-complaints/The Professional Standards report is available here: https://www.police.tas.gov.au/information-disclosure/

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia and Cellcard upgrade residential fiber broadband network in Cambodia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Nokia and Cellcard upgrade residential fiber broadband network in Cambodia

    • Cellcard deploys Nokia’s next-generation XGS-PON solution, providing multi-gigabit broadband access to homes and businesses across Cambodia.
    • Cellcard uses Nokia’s Lightspan and Altiplano solutions to automate and increase the performance of its residential fiber broadband network.  
    • The upgraded network will enable Cellcard to provide enhanced broadband services and support new high-speed, low-latency applications such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

    13 February 2025
    Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Nokia today announced that CAMGSM PLC, commercially known as Cellcard, will migrate its fiber network from GPON to XGS-PON using Nokia’s Lightspan and Altiplano broadband solutions. The modernized network will improve end-user experiences and provide up to 10Gb/s internet speeds to customers. It will also help Cellcard increase competitive advantage and enhance the reliability, flexibility, and scale of its fiber network to better support evolving customer demands.

    Under the agreement, Cellcard will deploy Nokia’s Lightspan Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and its Altiplano Access Controller in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and other major cities across the region. Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller provides a cloud-native platform with a complete suite of network management and SDN control functions that will enable Cellcard to better visualize, automate and optimize the broadband access services it offers. Using Nokia’s Lightspan access nodes, Cellcard will also be able to establish a future-ready network that can seamlessly evolve to 25G PON and immediately address the growing demand for more capacity.

    Asitha De Costa, ICT Division CIO at Cellcard, said: “We are dedicated to delivering a best-in-class network experience to our customers, especially as data consumption continues to rise and individuals rely more on digital infrastructure for their professional and personal activities. We are delighted to collaborate with Nokia for the first time in our fiber networks domain to enhance the residential broadband experience of our subscribers. The new network will enable our users to enjoy high-bandwidth-consuming applications like gaming while enhancing network efficiency through automation.”

    Ajay Sharma, Head of South-East Asia North Sales, Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “We remain committed to helping service providers across the world transition to XGS-PON and automation to better support the growing demand for 10Gb/s services and need for improved network utilization and operational efficiencies. Our field-proven Lightspan and Altiplano solutions will help Cellcard modernize its fiber broadband network and enable them to reduce its power expenditure and lower its carbon emissions. This significant project reinforces our longstanding partnership with Cellcard.”

    Resources and additional information
    Product page: Altiplano Access Controller
    Product page: Lightspan FX fiber access nodes

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Communications, Asia Pacific
    Email: cordia.so@nokia.com

    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Q&A: Transforming ADB’s Gender Mainstreaming Approaches

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Article | 13 February 2025

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    •  ADB’s exceptional performance on corporate gender targets provides an opportunity to raise its ambition in deepening the bank’s impact on gender equality in Asia and the Pacific.
    •  With the gender updates to its corporate results framework, ADB is ensuring that its public and private sector operations focus on closing gender gaps and supporting women’s empowerment.
    •  ADB’s updated gender mainstreaming approach brings a stronger focus on addressing challenges within developing member countries, with ADB prioritizing transformative gender actions aligned with SDG 5.

    Since 1 January 2025, ADB started to apply an updated approach to its corporate gender targets and project gender categorization system. This is part of the bank’s recently approved Corporate Results Framework (CRF) 2025-2030. Given that ADB has significantly surpassed Strategy 2030’s gender mainstreaming targets, the bank is raising its ambition to further accelerate progress and promote more transformative approaches to gender equality. This is aligned with ADB’s thematic evaluation on gender which highlighted the need to revise its gender mainstreaming categorization system and its application.

    Samantha Hung, Director, Gender Equality Division, ADB

    Why is ADB updating its gender mainstreaming approaches?

    ADB significantly surpassed the corporate gender mainstreaming targets set in 2019 under Strategy 2030. These changes are intended to further strengthen ADB’s efforts to proactively design projects that advance progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment. It also aims to promote gender transformative approaches in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).

    In addition, ADB is enhancing its efforts to address evolving and emerging gender challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the resulting socioeconomic instability and polycrises, has intensified gender inequalities. Women have faced disproportionate job losses, increased rates of gender-based violence, and a greater burden of unpaid care work within households.

    What are the key changes in ADB’s corporate gender targets and project gender categorization system?

    In ADB’s new corporate results framework, key gender updates include the following:

    • Updated definition of a gender performance indicator that contributes towards a project gender mainstreaming category. Under the previous project gender mainstreaming categorization system, a gender performance indicator includes a wide range of direct and indirect gender equality measures. Starting in 2025, ADB is streamlining its definition of a gender performance indicator considering only those that directly contribute to closing gender gaps and inequalities and/or support women’s empowerment. This goes beyond indicators that focus on participation and inclusion (e.g. participation of women and girls in training workshops) and universal infrastructure designs (e.g. street lighting, sidewalks). The indicator should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), with explicitly stated quantitative baselines and targets.
    • Renaming of gender mainstreaming categories. Depending on the gender performance indicators included in the project design and monitoring framework, ADB assigns its projects into one of four categories, namely Gender Equity Theme (GEN), Effective Gender Mainstreaming (EGM), Some Gender Elements (SGE), and No Gender Elements (NGE). Starting in 2025, ADB is renaming GEN to Gender Equality Objective. This transition from “gender equity” to “gender equality” shifts the emphasis from the process of reducing gender disparities to ADB’s primary objective of achieving equal outcomes for all. NGE is also now renamed to Indirect Gender Benefits (IGB). While there are no gender performance indicators in an IGB project, this shift reflects how all ADB projects and programs address gender equality concerns, albeit indirectly or as part of safeguarding measures. There are no changes to the EGM and SGE categories.
    • New corporate target of 60% of committed operations classified as GEN or EGM. Considering the updated definition of gender performance indicator, ADB aims for 60% of its operations to be classified as GEN or EGM by 2030. This target aims to be both ambitious and realistic as ADB adjusts to the revised criteria. The target is also 5 percentage points higher than the original forecasted target of 55% originally set in 2019 under the previous CRF.

    What is the importance of these updates to ADB projects and partners?

    This approach raises ADB’s ambitions for gender equality in its public and private sector operations, guiding the bank to focus on more meaningful and transformative project designs. While addressing gendered challenges in developing member countries, this initiative also enhances the bank’s capacity to deliver impactful results, contribute to the achievement of SDG 5 in the region, and support partners to deliver greater gender outcomes.

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    Subjects
    • Gender Equality

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colonie Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Benz Coleman, age 34, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

    United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.

    As part of his guilty plea, Coleman admitted that on January 31, 2024, he possessed over 3,000 fentanyl pills and over 13 grams of cocaine, all with the intent to distribute the drugs.  Coleman further admitted that between November 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024, he sold over 2,400 fentanyl pills. 

    Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release to begin after Coleman is released from prison. 

    DEA and the Colonie Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Schenectady Man Sentenced for Distributing Drugs in Exchange for Food Stamps

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Alaidrus, age 24, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison following his guilty pleas to distributing controlled substances and food stamp fraud.

    The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General Northeast Region (USDA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.

    Alaidrus admitted that on multiple occasions, he exchanged fentanyl for food stamps in the Schenectady deli his family owned and operated.  Alaidrus also unlawfully provided cash in exchange for food stamps, and redeemed food stamps for other prohibited items such as Xanax, alcohol, and tobacco.  Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered Alaidrus to pay $316,975 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service and imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release.

    USDA-OIG, HSI, New York State Police, and the Schenectady Sheriff and Police investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT welcomes reforms to respect fishers

    Source: ACT Party

    Welcoming the Oceans and Fisheries Minister’s announcement of reforms to the Fisheries Act, ACT Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Mark Cameron says:

    “Access to healthy fisheries is practically a Kiwi birthright. Our fishers understand this, and they know their livelihoods depend on sustainable practices.

    “Sadly, the fishing sector has been overregulated and stigmatised by landlubbing activists with no idea of practical realities at sea. The anti-fisher agenda was exemplified by Labour’s Fisheries Amendment Bill, which only ACT opposed.

    “Now, fishers have real hope of relief from unnecessary red tape. The new Government has a chance to secure the future of our fisheries while respecting the men and women who work at sea.

    “The focus on improving privacy protections for our fishers is particularly commendable. The use of onboard cameras has helped our understanding of fish stocks and bycatch, but the use of footage must respect privacy and be sensitive to the realities of work at sea.

    “The approach to dealing with discards under the Quota Management System is welcome. The previous penalty regimes were impractical for many in the coastal and commercial fishing fleets, especially considering technological advancements and efforts made to minimise bycatch. We need a more practical application of the law that encourages investment and innovation within the industry.

    “I encourage all fishers to engage with this consultation process. It’s about securing provincial livelihoods and our nation’s economic future. Let’s ensure these reforms truly support the backbone of our seafood industry, providing the certainty and support needed for future growth.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Growing the economy means shrinking the Government

    Source: ACT Party

    “The Government’s Going for Growth agenda shows New Zealand has turned the corner. Governments ignored economic growth, taking wealth for granted and wasting billions until we started feeling poor,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

    “This Government’s focus on growth is team effort. ACT’s impact can be seen in a number of priority areas.

    “To develop talent, we’ve implemented the attendance action plan, opened the first charter schools, and changed the Accredited Employer Work Visa. We’re removing red tape in Early Childhood Education and continuing reforms to get job seekers into work.

    “For competitive business settings, we’ve repealed so-called ‘Fair Pay Agreements’, extended 90-Day Trials to all businesses, and revoked difficult requirements for accessing credit. We’re leading an inquiry into rural banking practices, reforming health and safety laws, reforming the Holidays Act and Employment Relations Act, conducting sector reviews for regulation of Agricultural and Horticultural Products, and Hairdressing and Barbering, improving Government Procurement Rules, and progressing the Regulatory Standards Bill.

    “To promote global trade and investment, we’re reforming the Overseas Investment Act and have launched a new Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List.

    “For innovation, technology and science, we’re liberalising genetic engineering laws.

    “To deliver infrastructure for growth, we’re reforming and replacing the Resource Management Act and have established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited. We’re developing the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan, and finalising the first Regional Deal between central and local government.

    The big challenge

    “The big challenge for growth is shrinking the Government part of the economy. There are only two halves to any economy, the public and the private sector, and it’s the private sector that provides the growth.

    “Every dollar taxed to fund the public sector is a dollar a consumer can’t spend, or a business can’t reinvest in new jobs. Business is about taking risk, every percentage point taken in tax makes it less rewarding when the risks work out. Rational people invest less when taxes are higher.

    “In that sense, the Government still has a big hill to climb, and it’s the mountain of waste left by the last Government. Pre-COVID, government spending amounted to 28 per cent of the economy, now it is 34. The Government must be relentless in reducing its spending.

    “It is not only taxing and spending that holds people back, but regulating. Every compliance fee, every delay waiting for Government permission is a cost put on business. Like taxes, regulations drain the energy from business.

    “That’s why it’s essential that the Government cuts red tape at every opportunity. We must run the ruler over rules that don’t make sense, then delete them. The commitment to passing the Regulatory Standards Bill is a landmark shift in the battle against red tape in favour of wealth and innovation.

    “I’m proud of ACT’s contributions to this Government, especially the many contributions in this plan. For the first time in decades, we have a Government where it’s understood that Government activity and private activity compete for time and money. To grow the economy, we must shrink the Government.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Wanted: Young tradie to take ACT MP’s seat in Youth Parliament

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT MP Cameron Luxton – Parliament’s only LBP builder – is on a mission to find a young tradie to take his seat in this year’s Youth Parliament.

    “Tradies and practical people are underrepresented in politics, and that includes Youth Parliament,” says Mr Luxton.

    “If you’re on the path to university, good luck, but you’re not what I’m looking for. We’ve got enough academics and lawyers in politics already.

    “I’m looking for a young person who’s already in work, paying tax and offering practical skills to the world in exchange for an honest wage.

    “Whether you’ve left school early to take up an apprenticeship, or you’re working at a building site on the weekend, I hope you’ll send me a letter of introduction at [email protected].”

    Youth Parliament is held every three years and is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn about democracy and have their voices heard.

    Young people aged 16 to 18 years (as at Friday 28 February 2025) are eligible to apply.

    The programme will run from 28 April to 29 August, with the two-day event taking place on 1 and 2 July at Parliament in Wellington.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ banks should follow Macquarie’s lead, ditch the climate cabal

    Source: ACT Party

    ACT Rural Communities spokesperson Mark Cameron is renewing calls for Kiwi banks to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance in the wake of the withdrawal of Australia’s Macquarie Group.

    “First it was the big American banks, then Canada’s banks, and now Macquarie Group is the first of the big Australian banks to pull out of the alliance, with pressure mounting on other Aussie banks to do the same.

    “The Net Zero Banking Alliance was set up to change lending practices for the sake of climate goals. But there’s been a political sea change and the appetite for woke banking has disappeared. If the banks think punishing farmers and miners is necessary to satisfy a political agenda, they’re mistaken, and it’s time that message got through.

    “If there was previously a commercial advantage for banks to join the alliance, that advantage is fading fast as one bank after another gets out. The longer New Zealand’s banks and their parent companies remain in the UN’s cabal of banking wokery, the more out of touch they look.

    “As part of the inquiry into banking practices I’m leading alongside Cameron Brewer, we’ve called the four biggest banks back to answer more questions. The inquiry has unearthed deep concerns, especially from rural communities, over the debanking of legitimate sectors and a perceived unequal playing field between town and country.

    “I will be asking what is driving banks to act in this way. It would be concerning if the actions of the government through international agreements or through the way we regulate at home is encouraging banks to move beyond commercial incentives and punish rural communities.

    “ACT continues to question the role of regulation in anti-farmer, anti-miner banking practices. The Financial Markets Authority imposes emissions reporting requirements on banks. We warned in 2021 that these rules would impact loans on farmers, and we still have that concern.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Wānaka McDonald’s saga exposes bureaucratic barriers

    Source: ACT Party

    Responding to news that the resource consent for a McDonald’s in Wānaka has been declined, ACT Environment spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

    “A legitimate business has been blocked from investing, hiring locals, and selling products to willing buyers. This is an economic own-goal for Wānaka, and it shows how our planning regime stifles development.

    “McDonald’s spent a year of time and resource fighting bureaucracy and bureaucratic NIMBYism while offering to make major compromises. We’re meant to be going for growth, but you have to wonder why anyone wanting to build or expand a business would even bother when this is the potential outcome.

    “Clearly there was demand for a McDonald’s, but would-be customers now miss out because noisy opponents were able to weaponise a planning regime that is hostile to development.

    “We’ve all got opinions on McDonald’s, but no-one is forced to buy a Big Mac. As far as the law is concerned, what ought to matter is that the building is sturdy, the food is safe, and the property rights of neighbours aren’t impacted. The opinions of lobby groups, busybodies, and would-be competitors shouldn’t come into it.

    “My colleague Simon Court is working to replace the Resource Management Act with a system that respects property rights. That means letting people build, and letting people enjoy the products and services of their choice. This can’t come soon enough.

    “This saga also highlights a failure in the culture of our health authorities. The National Public Health Service spent precious resources opposing this restaurant. That’s not democracy, it’s wasteful bureaucratic interference.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech for the opening of Wakefield Hospital

    Source: New Zealand Government

    AcknowledgementsGood afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here.It’s a pleasure to join you here today to officially open this beautiful facility at Wakefield Hospital.I’d like to acknowledge the Evolution Healthcare leadership team, and their esteemed guests here today including investors, and mana whenua.I’d also like to acknowledge: 

    Evolution Board Chair, Scott Pickering
    Group CEO, Simon Keating
    Chief Executive of Hospitals & Day Surgeries, Michael Quirke
    General Manager, Carole Kaffes
    Health New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive, Robyn Shearer
    Deputy Commissioner of Health New Zealand, Ken Whelan
    And the Kapa Haka group from South Wellington Intermediate School

    And finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge the staff and clinicians providing exceptional care to patients here at Wakefield and other providers across the Wellington region. 
    Health TargetsAs you’re all aware, improving our health system is one of this Government’s top priorities.Last year we announced an ambitious new direction for health, reinvigorating five health targets to ensure that all New Zealanders can access timely, quality healthcare.We all know that you cannot manage what you do not measure.It is only with clear, measurable targets that we can understand and improve the performance of the health system. Targets focus resources, attention, and accountability.Targets save lives.The five health targets are tightly focused on things that really matter: faster cancer treatment, increased childhood immunisation, shorter stays in EDs and shorter wait times for assessments and treatment.Achieving these targets will require a back-to-basics approach in our public system to make sure our hospitals and community health services work smoothly and efficiently as a system, enabling our greatest asset – our frontline health workers – to provide the best possible care.The health system continues to be under significant pressure, and there is always a demand for more money. I am proud of the record investment this Government has made in health, but we need to also ensure we get value for money.  Role of Private Hospital SectorMeeting those targets will require working in a more collaborative way, especially when it comes to reducing waitlists for elective treatment.When we left office in 2017, 97.3 percent of New Zealanders were getting elective surgeries within four months. When Labour left office, it had dropped to 62.1 percent. It will take time to turn this around, but it is a top priority of mine.Partnering with the private health sector is a key part of our plans to deliver for Kiwis. Aside from ensuring our public systems are working as efficiently as possible, we also need to consider how we can make best use of the capacity and expertise the private health sector can offer.Wakefield Hospital is a strong provider for the people in the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley districts, as well as supporting referrals from out of the region with people travelling from as far afield as Waikato and the South Island.In the 23/24 financial year, Wakefield Hospital treated 450 patients on behalf of Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, and along with Bowen and Royston hospitals, meant Evolution Healthcare was the largest private provider for outsourcing in the Central Region.It is great to be here to celebrated the redevelopment of this hospital today and to congratulate everyone who has worked to deliver this project. The new Wakefield development includes seven new operating theatres, specialist cardiology and surgical treatment capacity, a 37-bed inpatient ward with capacity to expand an additional 32 inpatient beds. All this will increase the opportunities to deliver more for the Wellington Region and to grow opportunities to work closely with Wellington Hospital to provide more services and improve patient outcomes.Looking forward, the goal must be to create a mutually beneficial partnership that supports the health system and provides greater certainty for the private health sector.A key part of the strategy is a nationally supported approach to planning and outsourcing, and longer-term contracts and agreements which will help ensure patients get the treatment they need in a timely manner. By standardising referral arrangements and focusing on jointly managing waitlists by using all available capacity more effectively, Health New Zealand can prevent unnecessary delays and ensure that patients are referred to the right provider at the right time.As Minister of Health, my focus is and always will be on improving patient outcomes. Patients will be my number one priority, ensuring they get the timely and quality care they need and deserve. ConclusionI want to again thank you for the opportunity to join you here this afternoon, and for your ongoing dedication and investment into caring for New Zealanders. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of delivering this project, and to those who will be ensuring it delivers timely and quality care for patients in the Wellington Region. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK backs supply chain drive

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    With the Government committed to establishing Hong Kong as a multinational supply chain management centre, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) believes that the city’s unique advantages can attract more businesses to establish multinational supply chain management centres here.

    Supply chain management encompasses the administration of all processes from the procurement of raw materials and the production of goods to their delivery to customers.

    “Currently and globally, all the enterprises are undergoing major transformation of diversifying their sourcing bases, diversifying their end market, so there is cause for elevating their supply chain management to a multinational level,” stated Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Arnold Lau.

    “For companies who want to set up these supply chain management centres in Hong Kong, their physical goods do not necessarily need to go through Hong Kong.”

    As an international financial, shipping and trade hub, Hong Kong has a strong trade foundation supported by comprehensive infrastructure. Mr Lau stressed that the city’s robust financial system and deep market offer various financing options for enterprises. Additionally, its large talent pool and advantageous geographical location are also attractive to businesses seeking to establish multinational supply chain management centres.

    Sany Group, a Mainland engineering machinery company ranked among the top 500 firms on the Forbes Global 2000 list, has established a settlement platform in Hong Kong for its global import and export orders, taking full advantage of the city’s world-class financial and professional services.

    Sany Hong Kong Group Board Member and General Manager Jacky Chen reflected on the city’s advantages, saying: “Hong Kong’s advanced banking system and capital market offer enterprises diverse services, including international settlement, cross-boundary financing, and risk management. In light of exchange rate fluctuations, these advantages offered by Hong Kong are particularly dominant.”

    He added: “We chose to set up a settlement platform here for three reasons: a well-structured taxation system, relatively low financing costs, and the absence of foreign exchange controls on funds.”

    For its part, China Brilliant Group, a Mainland supply chain service provider, acquired and rented warehouses in Hong Kong a decade ago to leverage the city’s cross-boundary logistics network and geographical advantages, with a view to enhancing the group’s international trade efficiency.

    Vice President Wayne Yu stated that Hong Kong’s first-rate ports and airport, its overall transportation efficiency and its excellent logistics infrastructure combine to significantly reduce cargo shipping times and logistics costs.

    He added: “Hong Kong boasts a long-standing foundation in foreign trade, high-quality professional services, airport and other infrastructure, as well as reliable trade financing channels, making it an ideal location for establishing a multinational supply chain management centre.”

    InvestHK has 34 global offices, including five in the Mainland, offering free support services to local companies interested in establishing, or expanding, operations in Hong Kong.

    InvestHK and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council are stepping up collaborative efforts to help businesses make the most of Hong Kong as a platform. InvestHK is striving to attract more Mainland enterprises to establish international or regional headquarters in Hong Kong and provides one-stop, diversified professional advisory services to assist them in doing so.

    Complementing these efforts, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council assists such firms to go global, partly through organising exhibitions and trade fairs.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: BIP ensures continuous services during Lunar New Year with four key support measures.

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    To support businesses during the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday (January 25 – February 2), the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will continue providing four essential services: import/export certification, emergency rescue assistance, security patrols, and sanitation services. These measures are designed to create a smooth and supportive operating environment, help businesses seize international opportunities, and ensure a worry-free holiday for all enterprises in the industrial parks.
    Recognizing the technology industry’s need for uninterrupted import and export operations, the BIP will arrange for dedicated staff to process export/import permit applications during the holiday period. Enterprises are encouraged to apply in advance, and the BIP will coordinate with customs to facilitate smooth clearance procedures, ensuring trade operations remain seamless throughout the year.
    To maintain park cleanliness, industrial parks with sanitation teams-including Nanzih, Cianjhen, Linkuang Technology Industrial Parks, and Kaohsiung Software Park-will provide garbage collection services on January 27 (Lunar New Year’s Eve) and January 31 (the third day of the Lunar New Year) from 8:00 AM, following designated collection routes. Taichung Tanzi Technology Industrial Park will offer garbage collection services on January 28 (Lunar New Year’s Eve) and January 31 (the third day of the Lunar New Year).
    Additionally, throughout the holiday period, all industrial park service centers will continue to operate 24/7, with the BIP’s Emergency Response Center on standby to strengthen security, rescue, and patrol efforts. If enterprises or individuals notice any safety hazards or suspicious activities, they can contact their respective service center or reach the BIP Emergency Response Center at (07) 361-2054. BIP personnel will remain fully dedicated to ensuring a safe and stable business environment.
    The BIP extends our warmest wishes for a prosperous and successful Year of the Snake to all enterprises in the industrial parks.

    Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Acting Director-General, BIP)
    Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
    Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

    Contact Person: Liao, Xuan-Min (Management Guidance and Consulting Section of Investment Services Division)
    Contact Number: 886-7-361-1212 ext 323
    Email: mina18@bip.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –