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  • MIL-OSI Global: Lebanon peace deal: Israel-Hezbollah agreement needs to be guaranteed by the Lebanese armed forces

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Vanessa Newby, Assistant Professor, Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

    After a month of heavy bombardment, and despite continuing its military campaign and clearing border villages in south Lebanon, Israel is reportedly indirectly negotiating a peace deal with Hezbollah leaders. The terms of a ceasefire require the full implementation of UN resolution 1701, with a presence of around 10,000 Lebanese armed forces (LAF) soldiers stationed along the “blue line” which divides Israel from Lebanon and the Golan Heights. But making 1701 work has always proved a challenge.

    There can be no doubt that since its inception in 2006, resolution 1701 has never been fully implemented in south Lebanon. Adopted unanimously in 2006, the purpose of the resolution was to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the UN security council calling for a permanent ceasefire.

    A key objective of 1701 is to ensure the area south of the Litani River in south Lebanon is free from any weapons other than those of the Lebanese state and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil)

    It is on this issue that Unifil has received the most opprobrium. International observers and politicians have criticised Unifil’s inability to locate and remove Hezbollah’s weapons. The IDF blames Unifil for failing to prevent the rearmament of Hezbollah and for allegedly not doing enough to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel.

    Conversely, in Lebanon, Hezbollah supporters rebuke Unifil for failing to prevent six IDF invasions over half a century. This, they argue, makes Hezbollah’s presence on the blue line essential.

    But the question of why resolution 1701 was not fully implemented is not a simple one. Multiple actors are involved, of which one key player is the LAF. A large part of fulfilling resolution 1701 means ensuring that LAF are deployed in southern Lebanon as the only legitimate provider of force representing the Lebanese government. Understanding their role and the constraints they face is an important part of the puzzle.

    Prior to the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975, south Lebanon was sparsely populated and regarded as strategically unimportant. When civil war broke out, political and operational factors meant the LAF could not deploy to the south.

    These factors included the defection of LAF officers to sectarian militia and a lack of sufficient resources. The influence of neighbouring Syria and the heavy presence of militia groups, plus the occupation of the “zone of security” in south Lebanon by the IDF and its proxy militia the South Lebanon Army complicated matters.

    After the 2006 war, LAF became an important official party to resolution 1701 and Unifil worked closely with them to fulfil three main objectives: first, to assist with their re-introduction into the area of operations; second, to improve their operational capabilities; and third, to seek international funding for the LAF to improve their technical capabilities.

    Hunting for Hezbollah

    Unifil is mandated to assist LAF in taking steps towards the establishment of an area free from armed personnel between the blue line and the Litani River.

    Map of sourthern Lebanon showing the blue line which covers the Lebanese-Israeli border and extends to cover the Lebanese-Golan Heights border.
    Striving2767, CC BY-NC-SA

    Until recently LAF and Unifil often conducted joint patrols to search for unexploded ordinance and unauthorised weapons. If Unifil independently discovered an illegal weapons cache, it would notify the LAF, which handled the weapons’ recovery.

    This approach helped Unifil sidestep confrontations with the local population, on whose support they depend to patrol safely and execute the mandate. But while this policy was supportive of the goals of 1701, ultimately it proved ineffective.

    There were a number of reasons for this. First, the LAF faces legal restrictions on entering private property. If it suspects illegal weapons are stored on private land, the LAF needs a court order to enter the property. This takes time, which gives the owner of the property the opportunity to remove the weapons. To fully implement 1701, this legal barrier would need to be removed.

    The LAF also has to walk a political tightrope between different political factions in Beirut, and is also sensitive to the need for local support in the south. While LAF is undoubtedly popular in Lebanon, many in the south are Shia Muslims with strong loyalties to Hezbollah and the Amal movement (a Shia militia which now operates as a political party in Lebanon). These groups offer both a degree of security and material help in the form of social services.

    While conducting field research in southern Lebanon from 2012 to 2018, I discovered that civilians in the region understand that it is difficult for LAF to hunt aggressively for weapons. This is because they need to retain a working relationship with Hezbollah which – with its allies – constitutes the political majority in Beirut. Ridding south Lebanon of Hezbollah weapons will require political cover from Beirut.

    Another problem the LAF has faced is getting hold of modern weaponry due to Israeli opposition, despite the LAF enjoying strong international support. Israel’s “qualitative military edge” strategy, supported by the US, means that it campaigns internationally against any of its border states obtaining weapons deemed to pose a threat to its security. This has on occasion prevented LAF from accepting essential defensive equipment, such as armoured vehicles and air defence systems, from its European friends.

    Preventing LAF from getting defensive equipment contradicts the EU and US stated goal of strengthening LAF. It also supports Hezbollah’s claim that it can only hand over national security to LAF when it is properly equipped to defend Lebanon. A civilian I interviewed in south Lebanon in 2013 summed up the paradox: “We would prefer that the international community made a decision to allow the military to be armed properly, and then we don’t need the resistance.”

    Ultimately the political and legal tightrope the LAF walks in Lebanon is deeply implicated in why resolution 1701 has never been fully implemented. Neither a national army nor a peacekeeping force are capable of enforcing a Hezbollah withdrawal in the absence of political and legal agreement in Beirut, or local support in south Lebanon.

    Any calls for the full implementation of 1701 will require the unqualified support of all parties to 1701. This is not just those involved in the conflict – Israel, Hezbollah and the Lebanese government – but also various international stakeholders including the US, EU and all countries with UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. It will be a delicate balance.

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

    – ref. Lebanon peace deal: Israel-Hezbollah agreement needs to be guaranteed by the Lebanese armed forces – https://theconversation.com/lebanon-peace-deal-israel-hezbollah-agreement-needs-to-be-guaranteed-by-the-lebanese-armed-forces-241930

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director of Health views arrangements for Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Edwin Tsui, visited Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Tai Hon Fan Nursery School this morning (November 4) to view the implementation of the school outreach seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) service and appealed to parents to arrange early SIV for their children with a view to having better protection in the coming influenza season in winter.     It is the first time for the school to choose to provide both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (i.e. nasal vaccines) (LAIV) as the hybrid mode. Forty-two pupils received SIV during the vaccination activity. The DH procured and delivered the vaccines in advance, while a Public-Private-Partnership Team visited the school today to provide vaccination to the schoolchildren.     “To boost the SIV coverage rate among schoolchildren, modified arrangements have been made under the SIV School Outreach Programme (SIVSOP) this year. Kindergartens and child care centres can choose to provide both IIV and LAIV at the same or different outreach vaccination activities. We are delighted with the smooth outreach vaccination service under the new arrangements. According to local experience, school outreach can double the rate of receiving SIV, effectively strengthening the immunity barrier of schoolchildren. We look forward to continuous and full support from schools and parents, as home-school co-operation has been of vital importance in enhancing vaccination coverage,” Dr Lam said.     Dr Tsui added that SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as greatly reducing hospitalisation and death. For schoolchildren, it can also reduce absenteeism and is beneficial for their personal health and learning. As the weather becomes cool, and with reference to previous surveillance data, the CHP expects that activity of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza may increase at the end of the year, and more school outbreaks will be reported. The CHP has noticed that some schools still have not arranged SIV outreach activities. We strongly urge schools that have yet to enrol in the SIV outreach programme to arrange SIV outreach activities as soon as possible to protect students and reduce the chance of influenza outbreaks in schools. For eligible children not receiving SIV through school outreach activities, parents should arrange vaccination for their children at clinics of private doctors enrolled in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme.     Dr Lam stressed that all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal and family protection. As of October 27, the vaccination coverage rate for children aged 6 months to under 2 years was at a low level of about 8.4 per cent. To strengthen vaccination services and boost the SIV coverage rate among children aged 6 months to under 2 years, the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) are open to all children aged 6 months to under 2 years for SIV this year. Children aged 6 months to under 2 years can receive SIV services at any MCHCs when they are attending appointments. Parents may also book an appointment for their children to receive vaccinations at designated MCHCs via the online booking system: booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/sivfhs/index.jsp. Parents are advised to arrange SIV for their children as early as possible to protect health of their children. In addition, co-infection of COVID-19 and influenza is possible, and high-risk individuals should receive booster COVID-19 vaccine at appropriate times.     Under the SIVSOP, secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens, and child care centres can arrange outreach vaccination teams to provide free SIVs to schoolchildren. The DH will provide vaccines to participating schools and subsidy of $105 per dose to doctors.           In addition, schools can also invite doctors to arrange outreach services for injectable IIV and/or nasal LAIV on their campuses under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme School Outreach. Participating schools can select a doctor and make arrangements for the outreach activity, including the type of vaccine provided. The Government will provide a subsidy of $260 per dose to the doctor. In addition to schoolchildren, other individuals such as school staff and students’ parents can also receive SIVs during the outreach vaccination activity.     At present, around 890 kindergartens and child care centres (81 per cent), 620 primary schools (93 per cent) and 410 secondary schools (80 per cent) have joined the SIV School Outreach Programmes. As of October 27, 2024, around 640 schools have completed the first dose vaccination, and more than 145 400 students have received SIV under School Outreach Programmes.           “The DH has always maintained close liaison with our partners. Through concerted efforts from the education sector, healthcare sector, parents and other stakeholders, a total of about 204 100 doses of SIV have been administered for children aged 6 months to 18 years under various SIV programmes, accounting for 22.3 per cent of overall vaccination coverage rate. We urge early childhood educators to join hands in appealing the parents to arrange for their children to participate in SIV, and at the same time to play their part in educating parents on the importance of vaccination to encourage more young school children to get vaccinated. With increased vaccination coverage, the protection for children could be strengthened,” Dr Lam said.     As of October 27, about 331 800 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered via the Government Vaccination Programme and 496 600 doses via the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. Together with 126 900 doses via the SIVSOP, a total of 955 300 doses of SIV have been administered through various programmes.     For the latest information, please refer to the CHP’s influenza page and Vaccination Schemes page.     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Jambusar People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Dist. Bharuch, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 28, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) on The Jambusar People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Bharuch, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs) by Co-operative Banks’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under section 25 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank failed to submit data to any of the CICs.

    This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1424

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on The Rander People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Surat, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 28, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.50 lakh (Rupees One Lakh Fifty Thousand only) on The Rander People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Surat, Gujarat (the bank) for contravention of provisions of section 26A read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) and non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI, conferred under the provisions of section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the BR Act.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of contravention of statutory provision / non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said provisions of BR Act and RBI directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had not:

    1. transferred eligible amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed period;

    2. carried out risk-based updation of KYC of its customers; and

    3. put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts at least once in six months.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1425

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Türkiye: Proposed ‘agents of influence’ law is attack on civil society and must be rejected   

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Türkiye’s parliament must reject the draft amendment to the country’s ‘espionage’ laws which, if passed, would significantly threaten the ability of civil society organizations to operate freely within the country, said more than 80 organizations ahead of an expected vote in parliament. Scores of other organizations issued similar statements, calling on the legislators to reject the proposal.  

    If passed, this law would represent a significant threat to the ability of civil society to operate freely within the country 

    If approved, the new article – publicly referred to as the “agents of influence” law – would amend the penal code and criminalize unspecified “acts” that are “in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization against the security or domestic or foreign political interests of the State in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization.”

    “If passed, this law would represent a significant threat to the ability of civil society to operate freely within the country,” the civil society organizations said in a joint statement.

    The signatories point at the fact that the draft law fails the test of legal certainty and foreseeability, a fundamental tenet of law – meaning that articles of law must be understandable and predictable by the relevant people; individuals must be able to foresee which acts or omissions will make them criminally liable and what punishment will be applied for the act or omission committed.

    The proposed legislative package, passed by the Parliamentary Justice Commission on 23 October, is expected to be voted on by members of the Turkish Parliament in the coming days. 

    The draft law threatens to criminalize legitimate activities such as the documentation of human rights violations by state or non-state actors, imposing heavy penalties including lengthy prison terms for anyone found to have breached the same. If these so-called offenses are committed during “wartime” or in relation to the “state’s preparation for or war activities or military operations”, the penalty could be between eight to 12 years imprisonment.  

    If the provision is adopted, the rights to freedom of expression of all, including seeking and receiving information, would be also at risk of being violated

    “We are also concerned that the proposed law fails to set out clear criteria for what specific acts constitute a criminal offence without adequate safeguards or effective remedies against potential abuses of the law,” said the organizations. 

    “Arbitrary interpretation of broadly worded, vague laws are used to target and prosecute human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and many other civil society organizations in Türkiye. If the provision is adopted, the rights to freedom of expression of all, including seeking and receiving information, would be also at risk of being violated. It would create a chilling effect on important human rights work, and potentially impede their activities.” 

    Background 

    The legislative package proposes to add a new penalty, Article 339/A “Committing offenses against the security or political interests of the state” under the seventh section, “Crimes Against State Secrets and Espionage,” of the Turkish Penal Code (Law No. 5237).  

    Terminology in the proposed article is vulnerable to abuse. For example, “strategic interests,” “instructions,” “organization,” and “domestic or foreign political interests of the State” are overly broad and vague. Ill-defined or overly broad laws can be susceptible to arbitrary application and abuse, thus risk being instrumentalized to target people that the state authorities consider dissenting or criminalize the legitimate activities of civil society organizations, such as those documenting human rights violations in the country.  

    The proposed article is in violation of international human rights law and standards as well as Türkiye’s Constitution and national laws as it threatens freedom of expression and violates the principle of legality which includes the principle of foreseeability, a fundamental concept of criminal law. 

    As well as the signatories to this statement, numerous other organizations have published their own statements including the Association of Civil Society Development Center (see here), the Women’s Platform for Equality (see here), the Third Sector Foundation of Turkiye (see here), the International Press Institute (see here), the Committee to Protect Journalists (see here), Human Rights Watch (see  here), journalism organisations, trade unions and others (see here).

    For more information, please contact [email protected] in London or [email protected] in Istanbul  

    The number of signatories to the joint statement is increasingly daily. A copy of the statement is being sent to all Turkish MPs.

    SIGNATORIES
    1. About Life Foundation (YADA) 
    2. AG-DA Gender Equality Solidarity Network 
    3. Ali İsmail Korkmaz Foundation 
    4. Altyazı Cinema Association 
    5. Amnesty International Türkiye 
    6. Ankara Initiative for Freedom of Thought 
    7. Ankara Solidarity Academy 
    8. Another School is Possible Association 
    9. Association for Monitoring Equal Rights 
    10. Batman Bar Association 
    11. Bodrum Women’s Solidarity Association 
    12. Center for Spatial Justice 
    13. Citizen’s Initiative 
    14. Citizens’ Assembly 
    15. DEMOS Research Association 
    16. Dersim Bar Association 
    17. Diyarbakır Bar Association 
    18. Families of LGBTs in İstanbul 
    19. Free Colors Association 
    20. GALADER-Ankara Rainbow Families Association 
    21. Green Thought Association 
    22. Hakkari Bar Association 
    23. Human Rights Agenda Association 
    24. Human Rights Association 
    25. Human Rights Association Ankara Branch LGBTI+ Commission 
    26. Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch 
    27. Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye 
    28. Izmir Women’s Solidarity Association 
    29. Kaos GL Association 
    30. Katre Women’s Counceling and Solidarity Association 
    31. Kirkayak Culture – Migration and Cultural Studies Center 
    32. Kuşadası Caferli Beautification and Solidarity Association 
    33. Lambdaistanbul LGBT Solidarity Association 
    34. Lawyers for Freedom Association 
    35. Leader Women Association 
    36. Life Memory Freedom Association 
    37. Mardin Bar Association 
    38. Marmaris Public Assembly 
    39. May 17 Association 
    40. Media and Law Studies Association 
    41. Merdiven Social Initiative and Development Association 
    42. Migration Monitoring Association 
    43. Muamma LGBTI+ Education Research and Solidarity Association 
    44. Muğla Environment Platform 
    45. Murat Çekiç Association 
    46. Muş Bar Association 
    47. Natural Life Association 
    48. Nonviolence Education and Research Center 
    49. P24 Independent Journalism Platform 
    50. Press, Publishing, Communication, and Postal Workers’ Union 
    51. Pride Istanbul 
    52. Progressive Journalists Association 
    53. Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association 
    54. Rights Initiative Association 
    55. Romani Godi – Association for Roma Memory Studies 
    56. Rosa Women’s Association 
    57. SES Equality and Solidarity Association 
    58. Siirt Bar Association 
    59. Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association 
    60. Support for Improvement in Social and Economic Living Association 
    61. Şanlıurfa Bar Association 
    62. Şırnak Bar Association 
    63. Tarlabaşı Community Support Association 
    64. The Civil Society in the Penal System Association 
    65. The Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions 
    66. Trans Pride Istanbul 
    67. Truth Justice Memory Center 
    68. Turkish Handicap Association 
    69. Türkiye Human Rights Litigation Support Project 
    70. Türkiye Journalists’ Union 
    71. Türkiye Press, Publishing, and Printing Employees’ Union 
    72. University Queer Studies and LGBTI+ Solidarity Association 
    73. Van Bar Association 
    74. Velvele 
    75. Women for Women’s Human Rights Association 
    76. Women’s Culture, Arts, and Literature Association 
    77. Women’s Solidarity Foundation 
    78. Women’s Time Association 
    79. Young Thought Institute 
    80. Youth Organizations Forum 
    81. Yuva Association  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Mehmadabad Urban People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mehmadabad, Dist. Kheda, Gujarat

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 28, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹60,000/- (Rupees Sixty Thousand only) on Mehmadabad Urban People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mehmadabad, Dist. Kheda, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Membership of Credit Information Companies (CICs) by Co-operative Banks’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred in RBI under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and section 25 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

    The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had failed to:

    1. submit data to three CICs and submitted incomplete data to one CIC; and

    2. carry out periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts at least once in six months.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1426

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public alerted to false claim

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Department of Health today alerted the public to a false claim from an unknown organisation alleging that it is assisting in the Government’s admission of qualified non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong.

    The department stressed that it has not authorised any organisation to assist with recruiting non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong, adding that the claim is false and suspected of being misleading.

    The organisation claimed that it was assisting the Government to admit qualified non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong as introduced under the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2024.

    In addition, the organisation untruthfully alleged that there was a specific quota set on the number of dentists, as well as on the number of years of experience and target age range.

    The department emphasised that applications for its recruitment of non-locally trained dentists already closed on September 23 this year, and it is going through the established recruitment procedures.

    Members of the public are urged not to fall for any claim of assisting the Government to recruit non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong, and they should not provide personal information to any suspicious people. Anyone who has fallen for such fraud should contact Police.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s import expo attracts record-breaking participating countries, exhibitors

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

    SHANGHAI, Nov. 4 — On Tuesday morning, the Chinese commercial hub of Shanghai will once again assume its role as the host for the newest edition of the globe’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports.

    Now, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) stands as a telling example of China’s steadfast opening up and an unmissable opportunity for foreign enterprises to tap into the Chinese market.

    Despite challenges and uncertainties in the global economic landscape, over the past seven years, CIIE has steadily grown.

    The first six editions of CIIE have generated a total intended transaction amount exceeding 420 billion U.S. dollars. Additionally, over 1,130 foreign enterprises and investment promotion organizations have conducted targeted connections across the country.

    This year, the business exhibition will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), covering more than 360,000 square meters — equivalent to 50 standard soccer fields — and hosting 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions.

    Both the number of participating countries and exhibitors have surpassed previous records.

    Notably, 297 exhibitors from Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders will attend, marking a historic high. Among all participants, 186 enterprises and institutions have achieved full attendance across all seven editions of the expo.

    Besides, this year’s event is also commanding the attention of global journalism. More than 400 media outlets are participating in the coverage of this event, including 220 foreign media organizations.

    China’s vast market has become one of the most attractive destinations for global players, with the CIIE serving as the “golden gateway” to this opportunity.

    For the CIIE frequenter of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido, the event serves as a second-to-none magnet.

    “Over the past years of participating in CIIE, we have seen firsthand just how influential the expo can be for our business,” said Toshinobu Umetsu, president and CEO of Shiseido China.

    According to the company, visitors will be able to see over 30 new product debuts from 12 different brands in their portfolio.

    Umetsu described the expo as a boon for their growth in China’s thriving market, noting that many new skincare technologies, brands, and products have gained substantial attention and recognition from consumers after being featured at CIIE.

    “CIIE successfully transformed our ‘exhibits’ to ‘products,’” Umetsu added.

    Seizing the opportunity, new participants are eager to try their luck. Among the trendsetters is Canadian sportswear magnate Lululemon.

    “A digital innovation here is leading the world, quite frankly, in terms of adoption and opportunities,” said Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon during an interview with Xinhua.

    Impressed by the market’s speed, agility and resilience, McDonald said the opportunity to move fast and accomplish big initiatives in the market is incredibly exciting, seeing CIIE as a precious opportunity to bring awareness to the brand.

    “In the dynamic and healthy market, we are learning not just how we drive and see success here,” he said, adding that what Lululemon learned from the Chinese mainland consumers and innovation can help their business in other markets as well.

    After years of development, the CIIE has become a symbol of China’s new development pattern, a platform for high-level opening-up, and an international public good shared by the world.

    At its third plenum, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China renewed the country’s commitment to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world and continuing to promote reform through opening up.

    Serving as another fine example, China removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector on Nov. 1, a landmark move made by the world’s second-largest economy as it opens its doors wider.

    “Reflecting on the past six editions of the CIIE, ‘high-level opening up’ has been a consistent theme. The expo has continually showcased an image of an ‘open China’ that shares opportunities and future with the world,” said Wu Zhengping, deputy director general of the CIIE Bureau.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN/ANGELUS – All Saints Day: “How much hidden saintliness there is in the Church!”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    VATICAN/ANGELUS – All Saints Day: “How much hidden saintliness there is in the Church!”Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Beatitudes are “the Christian’s identity card” and “the way to holiness”. This was stated by Pope Francis during the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of All Saints Day.Referring to the Gospel of the day, the Pope recalled that holiness is both “a gift from God” and “our response to God”.“It is a gift from God because, as Saint Paul says, it is He who sanctifies. With His grace, He heals us and frees us from all that prevents us from loving as He loves us, as Blessed Carlo Acutis used to say, there may always be ‘less of me to make room for God’”, stressed the Bishop of Rome, adding that God “offers us His holiness, but He does not impose it. He leaves us the freedom to engage in his plans”.All this, Pope Francis continued, “we see all of this in the life of the saints, even in our time”. In this context, the Pope recalled Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Oscar Romero: “We we can make a list of many saints, many of them: those we venerate on the altars and others, that I like to call the saints “next door”, the everyday ones, hidden, who go forward in their daily Christian life”.“How much hidden saintliness there is in the Church!” said the Pope. “We recognize so many brothers and sisters formed by the Beatitudes: poor, meek, merciful, hungry and thirsty for justice, workers for peace. They are people “filled with God”, incapable of remaining indifferent to the needs of their neighbour; they are witnesses of shining paths, possible for us too”.After the Angelus, the Pope’s thoughts turned to the Holy Land and he warned: “War is always a defeat, always! And it is ignoble, because it is the triumph of the lie, of falsehood.” He recalled the suffering of the innocent: “I think of the 153 women and children massacred in Gaza in recent days,” said the Pope, who described the war not only as a triumph of lies, but also of falsehood, because “they seek the greatest self-interest and the greatest damage to the enemy, trampling on human lives, the environment, the infrastructure, everything; and all of this is disguised with lies,” said the Pope. He again called for prayer: “Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, let us pray for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and for all the peoples who are suffering because of war.” Pope Francis also expressed his “closeness to the people of Chad, in particular the families of the victims of the grave terrorist attack a few days ago, as well as those who have been affected by floods. And in the face of these environmental disasters, let us pray for the populations of the Iberian Peninsula, especially the Valencian community: for the deceased and their loved ones, and for all the damaged families. May the Lord sustain those who are suffering, and those who are bringing relief”.Finally, thinking of tomorrow, Saturday 2 November, the day on which the deceased are commemorated, Pope Francis recalled: “Those who can, go in these days to pray at the tomb of your own loved ones. Let us not forget: the Eucharist is the greatest and most effective prayer for the soul of the departed”. (FB) (Agenzia Fides, 1/11/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI China: China leverages fiscal toolbox to consolidate economic growth

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

    BEIJING, Nov. 4 — China has appropriately enhanced the intensity of the proactive fiscal policy so far this year, utilizing a combination of policy tools, including ultra-long special treasury bonds and tax and fee reductions to promote its sustained economic recovery.

    The country has leveraged the multiplier effect of government spending to support development in key areas.

    Some 700 billion yuan (about 98.31 billion U.S. dollars) in the central government budget has been earmarked for investment this year, with the focus on supporting scientific and technological innovation, new infrastructure and carbon reduction, and improving people’s livelihoods, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

    The special-purpose bonds for local governments to be issued this year stand at a record 3.9 trillion yuan. In the first three quarters, the MOF said that 3.6 trillion yuan of bonds had been issued to support over 30,000 projects.

    Some 700 billion yuan of funds raised via the ultra-long special treasury bonds have been allocated to support the implementation of major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas.

    To promote steady consumption growth, China introduced a large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in program in March this year and stepped up policy support in July with a fund injection of 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    Since its launch, the trade-in program for automobiles and home appliances has achieved positive results. It is set to help further spur consumer spending and consolidate the country’s ongoing economic recovery, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

    As of Oct. 24, the MOC had received 1.57 million applications for scrappage incentives and 1.26 million applications for automobile replacement subsidies.

    The trade-in policy has revitalized consumer demand, propelled the development of new quality productive forces, promoted the green transformation of relevant industries, and injected strong impetus into consolidating the upward economic trajectory, said Li Gang, an official with the MOC.

    China has also optimized preferential tax and fee policies to boost the vitality of market entities.

    In the first eight months of the year, tax and fee cuts and tax rebates in support of scientific and technological innovation and the development of the manufacturing industry exceeded 1.8 trillion yuan, according to MOF.

    Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an told a press conference last month that China will introduce a package of targeted incremental fiscal policy measures in the near future to boost the economy.

    The package includes increasing the debt ceiling on a relatively large scale in a lump sum to replace existing hidden debts of local governments and help defuse their debt risks.

    Calling it “the strongest debt alleviation measure introduced in recent years,” Lan said the move is “undoubtedly a timely policy rain.”

    “It will greatly reduce the pressure on local governments to dissolve debts, free up more resources for economic development, and boost the confidence of business entities,” the minister said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/AZERBAIJAN – COP29 in Baku and major international meetings for economic and geopolitical issues

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Cosimo GrazianiBaku (Agenzia Fides) – From 11 to 22 November the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place, in its 29th edition. This year the conference will take place in Baku (Azerbaijan), a country whose economy and development are based on the exploitation of hydrocarbons.It is not the first time that the COP has been organized by an oil or gas producer: last year it was the turn of the United Arab Emirates, and in 2012 it was Qatar. But this and other aspects of the host country, combined with the current political situation around the world, make this year’s conference a particularly important event, not only in terms of environmental issues.The COP29 discussions will focus on revising the collective objectives in terms of their financing. The aim is to formulate new economic targets to help developing countries adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change. The starting point is the commitment made by developed countries, historically responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions, had made way back in 2009, that is, to allocate 100 billion dollars per year. In the current situation, that annual figure is no longer sufficient and will necessarily have to be raised.It remains to be seen whether it will be objectively achieved, since the previously set threshold of $100 billion per year has never been reached.Another important topic on the agenda is the revision of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which regulates emissions trading between states.In terms of organizing the Conference, Azerbaijan has been coordinating in recent years with the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, the next organizer of the COP, in order to link the agenda as much as possible with the past and the future.As part of this year’s activities, Azerbaijani organizers have launched a number of environmental initiatives in parallel with the negotiations surrounding the event. These include the creation of a platform for dialogue between private individuals, government bodies and non-governmental organizations to help developing countries prepare and submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), which all countries must submit from this year onwards, to document the measures they have taken to combat climate change.However, there is a serious risk that environmental issues will be pushed into the background and overshadowed by issues affecting the host country itself.Two issues in particular are at the heart of the criticism levelled at Baku in the run-up to the conference: the weight of hydrocarbons in the national economy and the profile of the political regime.The state-owned Azerbaijani hydrocarbon company Socar will increase gas production in the coming years to fulfill contracts with European countries, for which Azerbaijan is the country that has replaced Russia in supplying energy sources. It is therefore questionable to what extent the country can really contribute to an effective climate agreement and whether critical voices can really be heard at the conference. The COP29 regulations, meanwhile, contain a provision in Article 16 requiring compliance with the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which may be intended to silence critical voices. The Azerbaijani government, meanwhile, responded to such interpretations by stressing that foreign interference in the proceedings of the conference would not be accepted. However, the participation of representatives of non-governmental organizations is a cornerstone of the conference negotiations, and restricting their presence could affect the decision-making process and the final outcome.Even more important is the possible entanglement of the COP with sensitive foreign policy issues. For months, Baku has been sending the message that it is seeking a “peace COP” in clear connection with the crisis between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even if the explicit references so far concern crises in Europe and the Middle East. (Agenzia Fides, 4/11/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Indian edition of the encyclical ‘Dilexit nos’ presented, which inspires compassion

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – The Indian edition of Pope Francis’ new encyclical “Dilexit Nos”, published on October 24, aims to bring the message of Christ closer to Catholics in India and “enrich the spiritual journey of the faithful thanks to the focus on the universal and intimate nature of divine love”, said the General Secretariat of the Indian Bishops’ Conference during the presentation of the encyclical, which has already been translated and published by the in-house publishing house, so that the Indian faithful “can appreciate its spiritual benefits and can be inspired with joy in their lives”.At the presentation, which took place yesterday, November 3, in New Delhi, the Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, also reminded the faithful of the 350th anniversary of the apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, an event still celebrated by the Catholic Church today as a testimony to Christ’s perennial love for humanity. “The encyclical,” he stressed, “invites the baptized to immerse themselves in the heart of Christ, which Pope Francis describes as the incarnation of the tangible and transforming nature of God’s love, a love deeply rooted in the realities of daily life, both in moments of hardship and struggle and in those of silent contemplation.” Indian Christians, he hoped, “can draw inspiration from the heart of Christ.” The Archbishop also underlined the special importance of the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical for India: this message touches “the diverse social and cultural landscape of the country and nourishes a spirituality marked by mercy and compassion,” he said.An example of a person who has witnessed the merciful love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout her life in India is Sister Marienie of the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel (founded in India in 1870), who died of cancer in Kerala last October 21 at the age of 58. The nun, who was very devoted to the Sacred Heart, had become the ‘Amma’ (mother) of hundreds of mostly Muslim women in the Malappuram district of Kerala and dedicated herself to their social development, education, professional, human and spiritual support. The nun had been in charge of the ‘Fatimagiri Social Service Centre’ since 2010. She helped the women in the villages in their daily lives, both in emergency situations (after floods or natural disasters) and with regular educational programs that significantly improved the lives of women and their families. The Bishop of Calicut, Varghese Chakkalackal, remembered her as “a consecrated woman who, filled with the love that emanates from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, touched people with her love and brought compassion and healing to everyone she served”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 4/11/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference: “The explosion of crimes in Nigeria is related to the spread of drugs among young people”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Our young people are excessive consumers of hard drugs and do all kinds of unimaginable things. They arm themselves, steal and kidnap fellow citizens. How can we explain that today people are being killed senselessly, as if human life were not precious and inalienable?”, said Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). According to the archbishop, the “explosion of crime in Nigeria is linked to the spread of drugs among young people”, pointing to the consumption of hard drugs as a key factor in criminal acts that seriously endanger peaceful coexistence in the country.The prelate recalled the Biafra conflict, expressing his concern: “It seems that we are suffering more than during the 30-month war between Nigeria and Biafra, caused by the sheer greed of our leaders,” referring to the civil war that took place between 1967 and 1970. Msgr. Ugorji also questioned the origin of the violence, stating that “if these horrible things had not been caused by the use of hard drugs, what would we have attributed these actions to?”. He also stressed that “the perpetrators of these crimes come from our communities. They do not come from nowhere. They are not really unknown gunmen, as they are often described.”According to the 2018 UNODC report ‘Drug use in Nigeria’, which was the first large-scale national survey on drug use in Nigeria, one in seven people (aged 15 to 64) has used drugs in the past year. In addition, one in five people who have used drugs in the past year suffer from drug-related disorders.Also, according to the UNODC, drug use is behind many crimes such as theft, burglary, prostitution and shoplifting. There are also crimes directly related to drug trafficking. Gangs and criminal networks involved in drug trafficking resort to bribery, intimidation and murder to protect their business. Violence associated with drug trafficking further increases the crime rate, helping to perpetuate lawlessness and insecurity.The spread of drugs among young people is also encouraged by videos of local rappers praising their use.Despite the measures taken by the Nigerian authorities to combat the phenomenon, in 2021 the number of Nigerians who are regular drug users was at least 14 million according to the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Among the most popular substances, especially among young people, are cannabis, cocaine, heroin, diazepam, tramadol, amphetamines and codeine.In Nigeria, a bill is being considered to sentence drug traffickers to the death penalty, which is provoking strong reactions from lawyers and human rights defenders, who consider it unnecessary and inhumane (the current law provides for up to life imprisonment for the most serious cases of drug trafficking). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 4/11/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by Sweden at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Thank you Chair,

    We align ourselves with the statement made by the European Union.

    As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, the need to reaffirm the vital rules and principles enshrined in these conventions and their continued relevance is, sadly, more acute than ever. 

    The ICRC’s Challenges report paints a partly gloomy picture. It reminds us of the need to continuously reaffirm our support for international humanitarian law and the central imperative of protecting civilians, who too often have to pay the highest price in situations of war. 

    As also pointed out in the Challenges report, new technologies present both opportunities and risks. IHL is as relevant here as in other areas. International law, including international humanitarian law, applies in cyberspace, as it does elsewhere. 

    Lack of respect for International Humanitarian Law – increasingly as a deliberate strategy of war – continues to be the single most important challenge for protecting people in armed conflict. Respect for these rules must be improved. Accountability is key to ensure compliance, but also to prevent and deter future violations. The work to strengthen the compliance and implementation of International Humanitarian Law therefore requires effective measures to ensure accountability.

    To ensure the effective protection of all civilians under IHL we must acknowledge that different groups are affected in different ways. All persons, including women and men, girls and boys, experience armed conflicts differently. Sweden welcomes that the resolutions include clear gender perspectives. Recognizing the distinct needs, vulnerabilities and capacities is essential for both a fair and effective implementation of international humanitarian law and for delivering humanitarian assistance to those in greatest need. This includes investing in women’s leadership in emergency response.

    We must also acknowledge the importance of integrating a climate perspective, not least in our work with disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action.

    We support the mandate of the ICRC and express our gratitude for their invaluable work., Serving as the guardian of International Humanitarian Law and acting as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC continues to play a pivotal role in current conflicts. We also commend the IFRC, and the national societies for their essential and locally led efforts in prevention, protection, and humanitarian assistance.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Paddington gets a British passport – but the Home Office treats real refugees very differently

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katie Tonkiss, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Policy, Aston University

    Chris Dorney/Shutterstock

    To say that Paddington Bear is a beloved British icon would be something of an understatement. The Peruvian bear, who arrived at Paddington station with nothing but his suitcase, a love of marmalade sandwiches and a luggage tag reading “please look after this bear”, was created by Michael Bond in the 1958 classic A Bear Called Paddington.

    Bond went on to write 29 Paddington books, and the bear has appeared in TV adaptations for nearly 50 years. The 2014 Paddington film was launched to much acclaim, leading to a sequel in 2017. Paddington even appeared with Queen Elizabeth II during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, cementing his status as a quintessential symbol of British identity.

    In the third film, premiering November 8, Paddington will visit Peru in search of his dear Aunt Lucy. As part of the marketing campaign for the new film, the UK Home Office has granted Paddington his own British passport.

    What can Paddington Bear’s citizenship journey teach our leaders?

    Join The Conversation UK and migration experts in London on November 16 for a screening of Paddington Peru and a discussion on migration, citizenship and belonging.

    Click here for more information and tickets.

    “We wrote to the Home Office asking if we could get a replica, and they actually issued Paddington with an official passport,” one of the film’s producers said. “You wouldn’t think the Home Office would have a sense of humour, but under official observations, they’ve listed him as Bear.”

    Arriving from Peru in need of help, Paddington is often afforded the status of refugee-in-chief – even immortalised in Banksy artwork. Bond was inspired by Jewish refugees arriving in the UK from Europe during the second world war when he created the character.

    In being granted British citizenship, Paddington has fared far better than most people arriving in the UK in need of help. Under the current system, asylum seekers must navigate a complex process, often over many years, in which they are disbelieved, excluded and stigmatised. A third of all people seeking asylum in the UK are refused at their initial application.

    Should they manage to be granted refugee status, after five years they may apply for indefinite leave to remain. Should that be granted, after another year they may apply for citizenship status. For this to be granted, the applicant must be able to prove language skills, have passed the “life in the UK” test and be shown to be of “good character”.

    Giving Paddington a passport is an unsettling display of double standards from the same Home Office that has overseen the hostile environment and other harsh asylum policies. The Home Office has made conditions in the UK as difficult as possible for people settling from overseas and has subjected people arriving in the UK to seek asylum – much like Paddington – to delays, detention, destitution and deportation.

    In its treatment of the Windrush generation, the Home Office has deported people who have legally lived and worked all their lives in the UK – and has failed to compensate victims. For the Home Office then to issue a passport to a fictional character as a publicity stunt is, to put it mildly, problematic.



    Read more:
    Through its immigration policies, the UK government decides whose families are ‘legitimate’

    The ‘deserving’ migrant

    At the same time, the whole episode is a very clear reflection of how access to British citizenship really works. Access to British citizenship for people arriving in need of safety depends on proving yourself to be deserving of refugee status, and then of citizenship status.

    Research has shown that people tend to see child refugees (like those who inspired Bond to create Paddington) as the most deserving of help. Paddington has also shown himself to integrate into the British way of life, sipping tea and eating marmalade sandwiches in a cosy duffel coat and wellies.

    This supposedly deserving refugee contrasts against those seen as undeserving – most often men of colour who are seen as “invading” in “swarms”. Until recently, anyone who arrived in the UK on a boat (as Paddington did) to claim asylum would be at risk of being sent to Rwanda to have their claims processed. Keir Starmer has indicated his openness to similar offshoring deals.

    The stunt also highlights how valuable a commodity British citizenship has become. While people from the Windrush generation and their descendants worked and paid taxes in the UK all their lives, only to be told that they weren’t really British, citizenship is far easier to acquire for those on investor visas, which require a £2 million investment in the UK.

    The citizenship acquisition process itself is also expensive, costing upwards of £5,000 per application. While most refugees will struggle to get British citizenship, for Paddington it came relatively easily as an investment in the UK film industry.

    I won’t begrudge Paddington his passport. He’s waited long enough for the security and stability of a status denied to so many non-citizens around the world. However, this stunt has highlighted both the double standards of a hostile Home Office attempting to create the illusion of benevolence, and the realities of a citizenship acquisition process which continually fails the vulnerable.

    Katie Tonkiss receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Paddington gets a British passport – but the Home Office treats real refugees very differently – https://theconversation.com/paddington-gets-a-british-passport-but-the-home-office-treats-real-refugees-very-differently-241988

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Lite Hits 6 Million Users in Days, Now The Largest Telegram Wallet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, has launched Bitget Wallet Lite, a multi-chain wallet integrated into Telegram, offering users a seamless, secure way to purchase, manage, and transfer crypto assets directly within the messaging app. Since its soft launch on October 28th, Bitget Wallet Lite has attracted over 6 million users, becoming one of the fastest-growing Web3 wallets on Telegram.

    Supporting over 100 blockchains, including Solana, TRON, TON, and EVM chains, Bitget Wallet Lite enables rapid cross-chain transactions for streamlined asset management. Users can purchase BTC, ETH, USDT, and hundreds of other cryptos with over 40 fiat currencies directly in the wallet. With a one-click setup — no recovery phrases needed — the wallet seamlessly connects to users’ Telegram accounts for easy access across devices. Users can effortlessly send and receive crypto among their Telegram contacts, view their transaction history for transparent asset tracking, and interact with DApps directly from the wallet, unlocking new opportunities to explore and earn within the decentralized ecosystem.

    Bitget Wallet Lite is a non-custodial wallet that prioritizes security and user control, giving users full ownership over their assets. The wallet combines multiple layers of encryption with Telegram’s security infrastructure, ensuring that no third parties can access a user’s recovery phrases without authorization. This approach securely stores mnemonic phrases in the cloud, integrating Telegram’s safeguards with advanced encryption methods.

    “Our early success with Bitget Wallet Lite is a result of a comprehensive strategy to engage Telegram communities directly,” shared Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “Through an early-user rewards campaign on Telegram, we created urgency for users to experience the best opportunities Bitget Wallet Lite offers. Collaborations with popular mini-apps like Tomarket also expanded our reach, while our referral program fostered rapid, community-driven growth by rewarding users for sharing the experience with others. Together, these initiatives have built substantial momentum for Bitget Wallet Lite.”

    Currently in its early version, Bitget Wallet Lite plans to introduce features such as token swaps, wallet imports, and unique rewards like airdrops, red envelopes, and mystery boxes. Bitget Wallet Lite has also partnered with Morph, a fully permissionless EVM Layer 2, marking its first major ecosystem collaboration. This partnership allows all Morph projects to integrate with the wallet, offering developers essential resources to launch and scale for the mass market.

    As multi-chain DApp features improve, Bitget Wallet Lite will fully replicate the ecosystem of the Bitget Wallet app, allowing users to connect to tens of thousands of DApps and integrate seamlessly with Telegram Mini-Apps through the OmniConnect protocol. The upgraded OmniConnect SDK version 2.0 offers a secure and intuitive multi-chain integration that creates opportunities for developers to incorporate wallets into mini-apps, facilitating encrypted transactions while generating new revenue streams, enabling them to focus on building high-quality applications.

    With over 40 million users, Bitget Wallet is the most downloaded Web3 wallet, dedicated to driving Web3 adoption. The launch of Bitget Wallet Lite is a key step toward comprehensive coverage, allowing one billion Telegram users to engage with the multi-chain ecosystem and easing their transition from Web2 to Web3. This year, Bitget Wallet’s integration with Telegram and the TON ecosystem has spurred substantial growth and innovation, including enhanced login methods for MPC keyless wallets via Telegram, extending MPC technology to the TON mainnet, and introducing Telegram trading bots for instant trades and the OmniConnect SDK for seamless connections between Telegram mini-apps and over 500 blockchains.

    Looking ahead, Bitget Wallet plans to launch a Telegram mini-app support program, including an ecosystem fund with technology and marketing support to empower developers in enhancing the overall Web3 user experience. Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, stated, “Our goal is to onboard the next billion users into Web3. Bitget Wallet Lite simplifies crypto management within Telegram and reflects our commitment to continuous innovation that empowers financial freedom for everyone.”

    Experience Bitget Wallet Lite: https://t.me/BitgetWallet_TGBot

    About Bitget Wallet

    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 40 million users, it offers comprehensive on-chain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser, and an NFT marketplace. Designed for everyone from beginners to advanced traders, it supports mnemonic, MPC, and AA wallet options. With connections to over 100 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and 500,000+ tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300 million protection fund for your digital assets.

    Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start your Web3 journey.

    For more information, visit: Twitter | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f13c7ca-002d-4e36-b839-0b11c94fcd0a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning approval paves way for new Wolverhampton city centre leisure hub anchored by Superbowl UK

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    It will enable an estimated £500,000 of landlord works to be completed by Catella APAM’s sustainable retrofit and principal contracting business, Vantage, on the 17,000 sq. ft. space across multiple units.

    Superbowl UK, renowned for its premier entertainment and leisure experiences, will establish a new mixed use concept venue, featuring 12 bowling lanes, Crazy Club Soft Play area, interactive darts, a bar and diner, and SEGA Prize Zone Arcade, which will open in early 2025.

    Superbowl UK’s new mixed use concept creates a vibrant leisure hub on Victoria Arcade and Victoria Street, building on the council’s recent transformation works to pedestrianise Victoria Street.

    Superbowl UK’s exciting plans to bring this empty retail space back to life align to the council’s vision for the city centre – based on better connectivity, more homes, jobs, skills and learning opportunities and investment in the visitor economy – and demonstrates how town and city centre retail can be adapted to create a more vibrant city centre.

    The benefits of this approach are already showing with independent tourism STEAM data highlighting an increase of visitors to the city from 9.8 million to over 10 million last year.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “This is exactly the type of new development our extensive works on Victoria Street were designed to attract and it will be great to see works starting on site soon now that planning approval has been granted.

    “The scheme provides a major boost to the city centre’s leisure offer for residents and visitors, creates jobs for local people, increases footfall and dwell time to support current and emerging businesses, and complements plans coming forward for major regeneration around the Market Square area in partnership with the ECF.

    “The Superbowl UK investment, will ensure the currently vacant retail space will be occupied, boosting the local economy, and creating 30 new job opportunities for residents, including management positions and guest experience hosts.

    “The development will also serve as a catalyst for further investment, and the council continues to work with Catella APAM on attracting other new leisure and food and beverage occupiers, to capitalise on their confidence in the city.”

    Harry Wilce, Asset Manager at Catella APAM, said: “We are delighted to welcome Superbowl UK to the Mander Centre as the main anchor for our leisure offer to improve the customer offer at the centre and extend the operating hours, generating significant increase in footfall for the city centre.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The true class divide in British politics is not which party people choose, but whether they vote at all

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Oliver Heath, Professor of Politics, Royal Holloway University of London

    Traditionally, Britain was regarded as the class society. And class was pre-eminent among the factors used to explain political party allegiance. In broad terms, working-class voters chose Labour, the party set up to represent them. Middle-class voters chose the Conservatives, the party that represented homeowners and business owners.

    Since the 1960s, there has been a decline in class-based voting. Our social background is no longer such a good predictor of our party.

    That may be because there are more parties to choose from, or because the big two have changed their offering to appeal to a wider audience, but it’s also about class-based abstention. In the 1960s, most working-class people voted in elections, and when they did so they tended to vote for Labour. Now, many more working-class people do not vote at all. And when they do, they are less drawn to any party in particular.

    Class differences with respect to turnout have thus become greater than class differences with respect to vote choice. Or put another way, class is now more important as a participatory divide than it is as a partisan divide.

    According to the long-running British Election Study (BES), the difference in reported turnout between people with working-class occupations and middle-class occupations was less than 5 percentage points in 1964. In 2024, it was 16 percentage points.

    Put into context, the difference in reported turnout between the under-30s and the over-60s in 2024 was 20 percentage points. This age gap is the subject of great concern and much discussion. We worry a lot about why young people are not voting. Numerous initiatives have been launched to try and get young people more involved in politics. Yet the class gap, of a very similar magnitude, has received almost no attention at all.

    BES data over the years shows us that the working class has generally been somewhat less likely to vote than the middle class. But from 1964 to 2001, the difference in turnout rates was fairly modest. Turnout bumped along, up and down, but the relative difference did not change much, and turnout among both groups tended to increase and decrease in tandem.

    However, since 2001, the turnout patterns between the two classes have sharply diverged. In the election of 2001, overall turnout was the lowest since 2018 at just 59.4%. The middle-class vote bounced back after that nadir but the working-class vote did not, remaining instead at historically low levels. Before 2001, the average class gap in turnout was 6 percentage points. So today’s 16 percentage-point gap is nearly three times greater than the pre-2001 level.

    The widening class gap in turnout, 1964-2024:

    The chart below shows how the size of this class gap on turnout compares with the size of the class gap on support for Labour, the party which was originally founded to represent working-class interests.

    In 1964, among people with working-class occupations, 11% did not vote, 55% voted for Labour, and the remaining 34% voted for the Conservatives or another party. Among people with middle-class occupations, 7% did not vote, just 18% voted for Labour, and the remaining 75% voted for the Conservatives or another party. The class gap on turnout was therefore just 5 percentage points, compared with the class gap on Labour support of 37 percentage points.

    The class gap in turnout has overtaken the class gap in support for Labour, 1964-2024:

    Over time, Labour has become a less distinctively working-class party. This has particularly been the case since the New Labour period, when Tony Blair famously rebranded the party to project a more middle-class image.

    The result has been that the size of the class gap on Labour support has declined, while the size of the class gap on turnout has increased – to the point in the early 2000s where class differences on turnout overtook class differences on support for Labour.

    These findings have important implications. There is a widespread belief that class has become less important in British politics, and so does not merit as much attention as it once did. This belief is false.

    While it is certainly true that class divisions are not as evident as they once were in terms of structuring vote choice, this is because class has been pushed outside the political system. Whereas previously the middle class and working class were divided on who to vote for, now they are divided on whether to bother voting at all.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The true class divide in British politics is not which party people choose, but whether they vote at all – https://theconversation.com/the-true-class-divide-in-british-politics-is-not-which-party-people-choose-but-whether-they-vote-at-all-240645

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government incentive for second-hand electric business vans closed04 November 2024 An incentive to encourage local businesses to switch to second-hand electric vans has seen all 25 available incentives successfully applied for in just six weeks. When the scheme launched on 16 September,… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    04 November 2024

    An incentive to encourage local businesses to switch to second-hand electric vans has seen all 25 available incentives successfully applied for in just six weeks. 

    When the scheme launched on 16 September, local businesses had an opportunity to apply for funding towards the purchase of a second-hand electric van on a first-come, first served basis, as part of the Government of Jersey’s incentive to reduce the Island’s transport emissions. 

    The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, said: “I’m pleased to see such an immediate and positive response from local businesses to the second-hand electric van incentive. This shows a real desire from businesses to switch to electric and support Jersey’s decarbonisation efforts. 

    “Business transport vehicles are responsible for a significant proportion of our transport emissions, so by making the switch to electric, businesses are supporting with the Island’s transition towards a more sustainable transport future.” 

    A separate Electric Vehicle Purchase Incentive (EVPI) continues to be available to both individuals and businesses; at a value of up to £3,500 towards the cost of an electric car or van, or up to £300 towards the cost of an electric moped or motorcycle. 

    Due to the successful uptake of this to date, it is likely to close by the end of 2024. For more information about the Electric Vehicle Purchase Incentive, visit: gov.je/GoElectric​.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nigel Farage, AI and the revolt of the squeezed middle: class politics is about to get messier than ever

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura Hood, Host, Know Your Place podcast, The Conversation

    The neglect of working-class voters in the past few decades has had profound consequences for British political life. Disillusioned with the two main parties, many have turned to Nigel Farage’s Reform and others are simply not voting at all.

    With the next election likely to be a tight race in many key constituencies, something must be done to win these voters back.

    But as we find out in the fifth and final part of Know Your Place: what happened to class in British politics, a podcast series from The Conversation Documentaries, the relationship between class and voting could be about to become even more complicated. So it’s difficult for any party to know how to put an electoral coalition together.

    Paula Surridge, professor of political sociology at the University of Bristol, has identified what she calls cross-pressured voters as a key demographic in post-Brexit British politics. These are people who are probably economically left wing – they want better public services and wealth redistribution – but who are more right wing on social issues such as immigration and crime and punishment.

    In a system like we have in Britain, where we’ve got first past the post and two big parties to choose from, that creates lots of swing voters who, when economics is their priority as we saw in 2024, they might lean more to Labour. When immigration or Brexit or something along that dimension is their priority, they might lean towards the Conservatives or a party like Reform.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    Appealing to such voters is therefore a real challenge. And while the perception is that they’ve flocked to Farage, Surridge says that’s not the full picture at all.

    Many working-class voters were prioritising economic issues, public services. They don’t, on the whole, vote Reform for that reason. The voters for whom immigration was absolutely their most important issue, which are a much smaller group, they were very likely to vote Reform.

    Reform came second in 98 constituencies – 89 of which ended up going to Labour. A lot of those constituencies were won on wafer-thin majorities, and they should be considered highly at risk in the next election. So working out how to appeal to cross-pressured voters is key.

    The bigger challenge, however, is winning voters back from the sofa. The truth is that there is a more salient class divide in Britain: who actually votes at all.

    According to Oliver Heath, professor of politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, who has tracked the history of turnout and class over the past 20 years, working-class voters are staying away from the ballot box. The first real signs of this were in 2001, when Tony Blair won a second term with a turnout of 59%, one of the lowest in British history.

    2001 was when turnout fell off a cliff … and it dropped across all segments of society. But since then, turnout has rebounded quite a large extent amongst middle-class voters, but stayed very low amongst working class voters.



    Read more:
    The true class divide in British politics is not which party people choose, but whether they vote at all

    For decades working-class communities were assumed to vote Labour, and so Labour gave them relatively little political attention. Now, the tables have turned and its Labour constituencies in the Red Wall that are some of the most competitive in the country. But it won’t be easy for Labour to bring these voters back on side, says Heath.

    Even after the great implosion of the Conservatives, the votes haven’t gone back to Labour. So, it’s hard to rebuild those connections once they’ve come undone.

    Meanwhile, Rosie Campbell, professor of politics at King’s College London, warns that we can’t presume to know what middle-class voters will do either.

    The backlash of the middle class in some areas against the Conservatives in what you would expect to be traditional Conservative heartlands is really interesting. And I think what it’s showing is that social change and demographic change are shifting our political landscape.

    Pay attention to the middle-class vote in the next election.
    Shutterstock/William Barton

    All this means that British politics is more fractured than ever, according to John Curtice, senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research.

    It looks as though our politics isn’t two-party politics now, and it’s never looked less like two-party politics at any stage since 1945 … therefore there are many potential options as to how things might play out.

    One of those options is a radical disruption to the class system itself, potentially triggered by artificial intelligence. A question that Curtice is asking himself:

    Will class inequality still be articulated through the difference between people in working-class jobs and those in middle-class jobs, or those people who are very much at the creative end of middle-class jobs, who AI are probably not going to be able to replace, and those who are not quite in the same position?

    In other words, AI has the potential to split the middle class and redefine the entire occupational structure of the UK. What will that do to our political preferences? It’s all to play for.

    For more analysis on what else could shape the way class and politics interact in the future, listen to the full episode of Know Your Place: what happened to class in British politics on The Conversation Documentaries.

    A transcript is available on Apple Podcasts.

    Know Your Place: what happened to class in British politics is produced and mixed by Anouk Millet for The Conversation. It’s supported by the National Centre for Social Research.

    Newsclips in the episode from Guardian News, BBC News, Nigel Farage, David Boothroyd, CBS News and theipaper.

    Listen to The Conversation Documentaries via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Rosie Campbell receives funding from the ESRC, the UKRI andThe Leverhulme Trust. John Curtice receives funding from UKRI-ESRC. Vladimir Bortun, Geoffrey Evans, Paula Surridge and Oliver Heath do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Nigel Farage, AI and the revolt of the squeezed middle: class politics is about to get messier than ever – https://theconversation.com/nigel-farage-ai-and-the-revolt-of-the-squeezed-middle-class-politics-is-about-to-get-messier-than-ever-242628

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derry community organisations honoured at 2024 Pride of Place Awards

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Derry community organisations honoured at 2024 Pride of Place Awards

    4 November 2024

    Eglinton’s Aspace2 and DEEDS (Dementia Engaged and Empowered Derry and Strabane) in Creggan were celebrating at the weekend as they received national recognition for their key role in the community.
    Both organisations received runners up awards at the prestigious IPB Pride of Placer Awards which were announced in the Hillgrove Hotel in County Monaghan on Saturday night.  

    Aspace2, who support adults with additional needs in learning additional skills to allow them to fulfil their potential, received the runners up award in the Community Wellbeing Initiative category of the Main Competition.
    DEEDS, a community based model of support for people living with dementia, their carers and families, finished runners up in the Community Wellbeing Initiative city category.
    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, represented the Council area at the awards where she was joined by representatives of both organisations.
    “I am so proud to see these two brilliant local initiatives recognised on the national stage,” she said.
    “These awards rightly celebrate and recognise the selfless efforts of people to make their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise and these two projects embody that spirit.

    “I appreciated the opportunity to spend the evening with their teams and acknowledge the key work they do to give people with additional needs the support and guidance they need to get the most out of life.”
    The DEEDS Project has grown immensely over the last ten years thanks to the support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
    From one single memory group based in Creggan it has expanded into an organisation that boasts six social groups, two activity groups, a choir, carers education, carers drop in, intergenerational work, connection to the community, large scale Dementia friendly events and trips, and a suite of training and education courses.
    More recently it launched a pre-diagnosis programme in partnership with the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
    DEEDS offer members a chance to meet other people in a friendly and relaxed environment and in a weekly social group in their own community or join an activity group where they can take part in different activities, learn new skills or practice old ones.
    Aspace2 is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and Aspace2 Multisensory Centre is a registered charity located in the rural community of Campsie.
    The building at Aspace2 has been customised to an extremely high standard to meet the accessibility needs of all attending the centre.
    The vision of Aspace2 is to provide a service that supports adults with additional needs to learn the skills necessary to live an independent, purposeful lifestyle and grow to make informed, fulfilling life choices in an age appropriate, respectful, and inclusive manner. 
    Training is user-led, trainees’ individual pathways are chosen to reflect their future learning and or employability choices.
    Employability Training is offered in the catering school and factory floor coffee shop, retail training is offered in the Artspace shop and creative opportunities are provided in the art rooms and upcycling studio.
    Aspace2 strives to nurture the potential of people with a disability to thrive in a socially inclusive society.
    For further details of all the nominees for the Pride of Place Awards and to watch the awards back visit the Pride of Place Awards at prideofplace.ie

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: The main topics of the Moscow Exchange Corporate Governance Forum were information disclosure, challenges for businesses when going public, and the role of the Corporate Governance Code

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    On October 31, 2024, a corporate governance forum was held in Moscow, organized by the Moscow Exchange.

    The forum brought together more than 500 participants and guests of the event, who represented over 300 companies.

    The panel discussions featured representatives of the Bank of Russia, the Ministry of Finance, the Moscow Exchange, major Russian issuers, investors, professional communities, as well as corporate secretaries and recognized experts in this field.

    The leitmotif of the forum was the challenges that the corporate governance system of companies has to face in the process of their IPO and in their further activities. The participants of the discussions considered the importance of corporate governance, including the role of information disclosure for the formation and development of capital markets in modern conditions. The speakers touched upon the topics of improving this system as a key element in increasing trust in financial markets, as well as ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of shareholders.

    Particular attention was paid to the significance of the Corporate Governance Code adopted ten years ago and its impact on strengthening the system of relationships between management, the board of directors, shareholders of the company and other stakeholders. The forum participants discussed how this document contributes to increasing the transparency and efficiency of public companies, whether it should be amended and what prospects await its development in the future.

    Elena Kuritsyna, Senior Managing Director for Issuer and Government Relations at Moscow Exchange:

    “I am glad that the forum has become a space for constructive and open dialogue between representatives of government agencies, the regulator, business and the expert community. I am confident that its results will be used both for sharing experiences and developing effective solutions for interaction between issuers and investors, and for further improvement of legislation and corporate governance practices. I would like to thank all participants and guests of the forum for their active participation and contribution to the discussion of the most important issues of corporate governance development in Russia.”

    At the end of the forum, a ceremonial ceremony took place award ceremony winners of the XXVII annual annual report competition.

    Moscow Exchange Group operates the largest multifunctional exchange platform in Russia for trading shares, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Group includes a central depository and a clearing center that acts as a central counterparty in the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to provide its clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74508

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Henderson IPO on Moscow Exchange Celebrates One Year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    November 2, 2024 marks exactly one year since the start of trading in shares of PJSC Henderson Fashion Group (NNFG) on the Moscow Exchange. The company became the first representative of fashion retail on the Russian stock market.

    Henderson is the largest federal chain of men’s fashion stores in Russia, offering clothing, footwear, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics in the premium and affordable luxury segments.

    The company’s market capitalization is 22.37 billion rubles, the share of shares in free circulation (free-float) is 12.17%. The shareholder base has doubled since the IPO and now has more than 80 thousand shareholders.

    Henderson shares are included in the second-level quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and are included in the settlement bases Moscow Exchange Broad Market Index And Moscow Exchange IPO Index.

    In 2024, Henderson was ranked third in Moscow Exchange Annual Reports Competition in the Retail Investors’ Choice category, demonstrating an example of openness and professionalism in information disclosure and corporate governance.

    Congratulations to the company on the first anniversary of listing on the Moscow Exchange!

    The HENDERSON fashion house is the largest federal retailer of men’s fashion in Russia and offers men elegant and stylish collections for work and leisure in the premium and affordable luxury segments. Today, HENDERSON manages 160 of its own fashion stores located in 64 cities in Russia – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, from Murmansk to Grozny, and is also present on the largest marketplaces in the country. Since autumn 2022, the brand has entered the international market, opening three stores in Armenia under the international franchising system.

    Moscow Exchange is the largest Russian exchange, the only multifunctional platform in Russia for trading shares, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Moscow Exchange Group includes a central depository, as well as a clearing center that performs the functions of a central counterparty in the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to provide clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74509

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 02.11.2024, 10-11 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A1020L5 (Samara Region 15) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    02.11.2024

    10:11

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 02.11.2024, 10-11 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 89.53) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 705.9 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 8.75%) of the security RU000A1020L5 (Samara Region 15) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74510

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 02.11.2024, 10-15 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A105G81 (DOM 1P-13R) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    02.11.2024

    10:15

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 02.11.2024, 10-15 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 101.7) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1104.68 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 11.25%) of the security RU000A105G81 (DOM 1P-13R) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74512

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. exports of ethane and ethane-based petrochemicals rose 135% from 2014 to 2023

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-depth analysis

    November 4, 2024

    Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly; and the U.S. Census Bureau
    Note: Ethylene derivatives include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other polymers of ethylene not elsewhere specified or included.

    U.S. exports of ethane and ethane-based petrochemicals reached an all-time high of 21.6 million metric tons (MMmt) in 2023, up 135% since the United States began exporting ethane in 2014 and 17% more than in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The rapid expansion of U.S. ethane and ethane-based petrochemical exports has been fueled by the growth in domestic ethane production, which has increased with the country’s natural gas production and the buildout of export and production infrastructure.

    Ethane is a natural gas liquid that’s primarily extracted from raw natural gas during processing. It’s mainly used as a feedstock for ethylene production, one of the most important building blocks in the petrochemical industry. Ethylene is a gas used to produce a wide range of products, including plastics, resins, and synthetic rubber.

    All elements of the ethane value chain are produced in, consumed in, and exported from the United States, including ethane, ethylene, polyethylene, and other ethylene derivatives. We publish data on U.S. ethane production, exports, and product supplied (deliveries to domestic consumers); the U.S. Census Bureau publishes export data for ethane and ethane-derived products.

    The volume of exports of U.S. ethane, ethylene, and various ethylene derivatives is affected by:

    • U.S. demand
    • U.S. production capacity and production costs
    • Importing countries’ downstream processing capacity
    • Availability of infrastructure necessary to move these products, which in some cases may require special handling such as cryogenic refrigeration

    U.S. ethane exports

    The United States started exporting ethane in 2014 via pipeline to petrochemical plants in Canada. In 2016, the United States began exporting ethane to countries in Europe from marine export terminals. U.S. ethane export capacity has increased since 2016 with the completion of two new pipelines and three more marine export terminals—Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania; Morgan’s Point, Texas; and Nederland, Texas. In addition, the number of destination countries continued to grow along with the fleet of specially built tankers.

    Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

    U.S. ethane exports increased to a record high of 3.0 MMmt in 2023, up 12% from 2022. In 2023, U.S. ethane was mostly exported to China, which accounted for 45% (1.4 MMmt) of U.S. ethane exports, followed by India (16%), Canada (14%), Norway (9%), and the United Kingdom (7%).

    U.S. ethane exports to China increased fastest between 2022 and 2023, rising 35% last year. China’s Satellite Petrochemical has begun ethylene production at two new ethane crackers since 2021, which has increased domestic ethane demand in China. Ethane exports to Norway rose the second fastest, rising 32% to 288,000 metric tons in 2023. Other importers of U.S. ethane include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Sweden.

    Data source: Bloomberg L.P.
    Note: Ethylene feedstock margins account for coproduct credits, which mainly include propylene, butadiene, benzene, and xylene. Ethane feedstock advantage represents the relative profitability of ethane over naphtha.

    Ethane’s high ethylene yields and cost advantages over naphtha in ethylene production have driven export volumes of ethane higher since 2014. Most petrochemical crackers have some flexibility in switching between ethane and naphtha as a feedstock, depending on the relative profitability of each feedstock. In the United States, cracking ethane to produce ethylene has historically generated higher profit margins compared with the margins from cracking naphtha, the most common feedstock in Western Europe and East Asia. Global petrochemical manufacturers looking to secure low-cost ethane feedstock to produce ethylene are developing new petrochemical crackers and associated infrastructure.

    U.S. ethylene exports

    Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

    In the United States, ethane is heated in a steam cracker to break (crack) the ethane molecule to produce ethylene. Ethylene, like ethane, is exported in specialized tankers after being cryogenically cooled. The United States has two ethylene export terminals—Galena Park and Morgan’s Point—both located in Texas on the Houston Ship Channel.

    Ethylene export volumes fell 9% from 2022 to 2023 to 1.1 MMmt. In 2023, 36 nations imported U.S. ethylene. China was the largest importer of ethylene from the United States in 2023, accounting for 38% (419,000 metric tons) of all exports. Belgium (19%), Indonesia (16%), Taiwan (6%), and France (5%) rounded out the top five.

    As with ethane exports, China was also the fastest-growing destination for ethylene exports. In general, ethylene exports to Asia grew 77% from 2022 to 2023, while exports to Europe fell by more than 50% during the same period amid a weak macroeconomic environment.

    U.S. ethylene prices remain at a discount to international prices on average, providing U.S. ethylene producers with a long-term cost advantage and resulting in expanded manufacturing capacity along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

    U.S. ethylene-derivative exports

    After ethylene is processed by a polymerization reactor or another production unit, petrochemical manufacturers can develop intermediate products such as:

    • Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): a thermoplastic used for more flexible plastic products such as dispensing bottles, plastic bags, and trays
    • High-density polyethylene (HDPE): a thermoplastic used for more rigid plastic products such as piping, water gallon jugs, cutting boards, and motor oil jugs
    • Ethylene alpha olefins: used for products such as flexible packaging, molding, and car applications

    The United States exported ethylene derivatives to over 100 nations in 2023. Unlike ethane and ethylene, which require cryogenic cooling to turn them from a gas to a liquid, ethylene derivatives do not require special handling and can be exported or imported through any port or overland route capable of handling containerized traffic.

    Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

    Total U.S. ethylene-derivative exports grew 20% to 16.9 MMmt from 2022 to 2023, led by a 69% increase (2.2 MMmt) in exports to Asia. U.S. exports to Canada fell by 10% to 1.5 MMmt; exports to Mexico grew 3% to 2.4 MMmt in 2023. Until 2017, North American destinations, particularly Canada and Mexico, accounted for the largest share of U.S. polyethylene and other ethylene-derivative exports.

    Canada and Mexico do not impose tariffs on exports of U.S. ethane-derived chemicals because of reciprocal free-trade agreements. These countries also benefit from proximity and being able to import these products over land at lower cost compared with waterborne imports. However, exports to overseas destinations have also grown since 2017, with the exception of 2021 when the global pandemic led to lower demand.

    Principal contributors: Jordan Young, Josh Eiermann

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 02.11.2024, 10-16 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A1020L5 (Samara Region 15) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    02.11.2024

    10:16

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 02.11.2024, 10-16 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 91.02) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 717.26 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 10.5%) of the security RU000A1020L5 (Samara Region 15) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74513

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 02.11.2024, 11-54 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A109SK6 (MTS 1P-27) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    02.11.2024

    11:54

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 02.11.2024, 11-54 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 107.73) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1131.0 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 11.25%) of the RU000A109SK6 security (MTS 1P-27) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74516

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: authID Signs $10 Million Agreement to Deliver Next Generation Authentication Security in India

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — authID Inc. (Nasdaq: AUID), a leading provider of biometric identity verification and authentication solutions, today announced a $10 million, multi-year agreement with a next-generation AI company specializing in custom solutions for global multi-national companies to enable authentication for a range of industries in India.

    The agreement represents a $10 million commitment over a three-year period, with a minimum of $3.33 million each year for licensing authID’s identity platform services.

    authID will deliver unprecedented biometric authentication accuracy and a frictionless user experience to a variety of the partner’s customers across the banking, financial services, emergency services, and transportation industries among others, powering use cases for onboarding, daily login, account recovery, and high-value transactions.

    authID will augment the partner’s existing solutions with their privacy-preserving next generation biometric identity verification and authentication, while complying with Indian privacy laws safeguarding user identities and other data. The Indian market’s sizable institutional and end-user base will highlight authID’s ability to not only deliver a best-in-class user experience but also demonstrate its 1:1B biometric identity verification accuracy.  With over 1.4B citizens to authenticate in the Indian market, only authID’s accuracy can deliver the level of assurance and scale needed by every institution to always “know who’s behind the device” for each transaction.

    “This partnership further demonstrates authID’s thought leadership and technical standing in the global markets, and we are incredibly excited to enter the Indian market where, over the next 10 years, the biometric authentication industry could see exponential growth in transaction volumes as the demand for secure, efficient digital identification continues to rise,” said Rhon Daguro, CEO of authID. “authID’s biometric identity platform delivers speed and accuracy while processing captured biometrics, and identifying users as legitimate or fraudulent, all within a market-leading 700 milliseconds. We look forward to working closely with our new partner to deliver the confidence that user onboarding and authentication are accurate and completed in record time.”

    About authID

    authID (Nasdaq: AUID) ensures enterprises “Know Who’s Behind the DeviceTM” for every customer or employee login and transaction through its easy-to-integrate, patented, biometric identity platform. authID quickly and accurately verifies a user’s identity and eliminates any assumption of ‘who’ is behind a device to prevent cybercriminals from compromising account openings or taking over accounts. Combining secure digital onboarding, and biometric authentication and account recovery, with a fast, accurate, user-friendly experience, authID delivers biometric identity processing in 700ms. Binding a biometric root of trust for each user to their account, authID stops fraud at onboarding, detects and stops deepfakes, eliminates password risks and costs, and provides the fastest, frictionless, and the more accurate user identity experience while preserving privacy demanded by today’s digital ecosystem. Contact us to discover how authID can help your organization secure your workforce or consumer applications against identity fraud, cyberattacks and account takeover.

    Investor Relations Contacts

    Gateway Group, Inc. 
    Cody Slach and Alex Thompson
    1-949-574-3860
    AUID@gateway-grp.com
    Investor-Relations@authid.ai  

    Media Contacts

    Walter Fowler
    1-631-334-3864
    wfowler@nexttechcomms.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This Press Release includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical facts included herein, including, without limitation, those regarding the future business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations of both authID Inc. and its customers and business partners, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions regarding authID’s present and future business strategies, and the environment in which authID expects to operate in the future, which assumptions may or may not be fulfilled in practice. Actual results may vary materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risk factors, including the successful implementation and ramp of the services to be provided under the new technology partner agreement and their adoption by the partner’s customers and their respective users; changes in laws, regulations and practices; changes in domestic and international economic and political conditions, the as yet uncertain impact of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, inflationary pressures, changes in interest rates, and others. See the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2023 filed at www.sec.gov and other documents filed with the SEC for other risk factors which investors should consider. These forward-looking statements speak only as to the date of this release and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. authID expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any changes in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Zhibao Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ZBAO)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research, an equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has released Update Note on Zhibao Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ZBAO). The update note includes information on the Zhibao Technology Inc.’s management commentary, recent developments, outlook, and risks.

    The update note is available below.

    Zhibao Technology Update Note November 2024

    Highlights from the note include:                                              

    • Expansion Initiatives Amid Revenue Decline and Increased Operational Costs – For the six months ended December 31, 2023, Zhibao Technology Inc. reported an approximately 8% decrease in total revenue to RMB 84.3 million from RMB 91.8 million in the same period of 2022. This decline was largely due to reduced renewals of specific accounts and the abrupt closure of business by a reinsurance partner in the high-end medical sector. Insurance brokerage and managing general underwriting (MGU) services revenues decreased by RMB 5.7 million and RMB 1.8 million, respectively. Despite these challenges, the company demonstrated growth initiatives by launching customized household insurance in seven cities and providing sports insurance coverage for over 100,000 instances across thousands of sports scenarios. The cost of revenues decreased to RMB 54.2 million, while total operating expenses increased to RMB 38.44 million. Selling and marketing expenses rose to RMB 21.0 million due to increased advertising and sales payrolls. Research and development expenses increased to RMB 7.3 million, driven by an increase in headcount. General and administrative expenses saw a modest rise to RMB 10.2 million, partly due to the adoption of new credit loss assessment standards. Consequently, Zhibao Technology reported a loss from operations of RMB 8.4 million, as the company continued to invest in strategic growth initiatives. The company ended H1 FY2024 with cash and cash equivalents of approximately RMB 5.5 million.
    • Positive Operational Indicators and Industry Tailwinds – As of December 31, 2023, Zhibao Technology Inc. achieved significant growth, reaching over 10 million end customer users and partnering with 118 insurance and reinsurance companies domestically and internationally. Zhibao Technology Inc.’s development of B Channels exhibited significant growth. By December 31, 2023, the company increased the number of B channels it works with from approximately 1,000 to nearly 1,500. These B channels span diverse market segments and are a crucial component in expanding Zhibao’s 2B2C embedded digital insurance model. Despite a slight decrease in business volume and half-yearly net loss due to reduced renewals and a reinsurance partner’s business closure, the company launched customized household insurance in seven cities, including major hubs like Guangzhou and Nanjing, and provided sports insurance coverage for over 100,000 instances across thousands of sports scenarios. Strengthening its high-end medical insurance market presence, Zhibao secured an agreement with PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited to provide managing general underwriting services to all PICC Group Subsidiaries. Furthermore, the “Project Amoeba” reorganization, completed in May 2024, enhanced operational efficiency by transforming mid- and back-office teams into quasi-profit centers, aligning costs with revenue, and encouraging service improvements. Actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) since April 2024, Zhibao aims to potentially integrate companies with complementary 2B2C models to potentially create the largest insurance brokerage platform in China. The company is also poised to potentially benefit from industry tailwinds, including the rapid digitalization of insurance services and growing consumer demand for customized insurance solutions, which are expected to further accelerate growth.
    • Valuation – Zhibao Technology Inc. reported a modest financial performance in the first half of FY2024, influenced by a reduction in renewals of specific accounts and the closure of business by a key reinsurance partner. Despite these temporary challenges, management’s strategic initiatives indicate strong potential for long-term growth and sustained profitability. While the immediate outlook presents certain hurdles, these efforts, combined with favorable industry tailwinds, could enable Zhibao to recover and potentially enhance its market position in the future. After updating our valuation model to reflect revised estimates and a re-assessment of comparable company analysis, we reiterate our valuation of $7.05 per share for Zhibao Technology Inc., contingent on successful execution by the company.

    About Zhibao Technology Inc.  

    Zhibao Technology Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides digital insurance brokerage services in China, and has pioneered the 2B2C (“to-business-to-customer”) embedded digital insurance brokerage model, establishing itself as a first mover in this innovative market segment. It also offers Managing General Underwriter (MGU) services; and offline insurance brokerage consulting services. The company was founded in 2015 and is operationally based in Shanghai, China.

    About Diamond Equity Research

    Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

    For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

    Disclosures:

    Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Zhibao Technology Inc. for producing research materials regarding Zhibao Technology Inc. and its securities. This compensation is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security. However, the views in the report reflect those of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for respective research engagement term As of 11/04/24, the issuer had paid us $35,000 ($34,980 after bank fees) consisting of  $22,500 ($22,480 after bank fees) for the initiation report and a minimum of one update note (as part of $35,000 annual contract in two six-month consecutive upfront installment payments for the first year of coverage), which commenced on 04/10/24 with the second installment of $12,500 paid on 10/10/24 for a minimum of two additional update notes. Diamond Equity Research LLC may also be compensated for non-research-related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, issuing press releases, and providing other additional services. The non-research-related service cost is dependent on the company but usually does not exceed $5,000. The issuer has not paid us for non-research-related services as of 11/04/2024. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. This report does not explicitly or implicitly affirm that the information contained within this document is accurate and/or comprehensive, and as such should not be relied on in such a capacity. All information contained within this report is subject to change without any formal or other notice provided. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete potential loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for Zhibao Technology Inc. Please review update note attached for full disclosure page.

    Contact:

    Diamond Equity Research
    research@diamondequityresearch.com

     [HD1]Link pdf here

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