Category: Africa

MIL-OSI USA: ICE Washington, D.C., FBI Richmond arrest illegal Egyptian national during enhanced operation in Virginia

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ABINGDON, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI apprehended an illegally present citizen of Egypt and Turkey when officers and agents arrested Noareleslam Abdelrahman, 27, during an at-large, targeted enforcement action in Abingdon.

“Noareleslam Abdelrahman was illegally present in Virginia in blatant and knowing violation of U.S. immigration laws,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. acting Field Office Director Patrick Divver. “ICE remains dedicated to our mission of ensuring safety and security through the arrest and removal of individuals who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws. We take this mission extremely seriously, and we will continue to arrest and remove alien offenders.”

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Abdelrahman June 23, 2023, after he illegally entered the United States near Yuma, Arizona, and served him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

An immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review in Eloy, Arizona, granted Abdelrahman an immigration bond August 10, 2023. ICE released Abdelrahman from Eloy Federal Correctional Facility after he posted his $8,000 immigration bond.

Abdelrahman violated the terms of his bond by moving from New Jersey to Virginia on an unknown date without notifying EOIR of his move.

ICE served Abdelrahman with a notice of custody determination and canceled his immigration bond after his arrest and he remains in ICE custody.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROWashington.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank to Set up $1 Billion Oil Service Financing Facility in Guyana

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

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, February 21, 2025/APO Group/ —

In a significant announcement at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo being held from, February 18 – 21, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), declared the multilateral Bank’s intention to establish a $1 billion oil service financing facility in Guyana. This initiative aims to enhance local participation in the country’s fast growing oil industry, in alignment with the government’s local content policies. The Bank will deploy the $1 billion facility directly to qualifying corporate clients or through a factoring line via local banks, enabling them to finance invoices from local contractors.

President Oramah highlighted the transformative potential of Guyana’s estimated 12 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. Emphasising the transformative power in proactive resource management, he advised Guyana to aggressively harness and build capital from its oil resources.

He said, “Given the level of oil production in Guyana and its offshore location, I estimate that the oil service sector would amount to 5 to 8 billion US dollars annually. But where will it go? Most of it would be paid to oil service companies abroad, if Guyana does nothing to avoid that. A 50% retention in Guyana would increase Guyana’s GDP by 29% to 47%.” As such, he called for robust local content policies that would enable Guyanese entrepreneurs to become significant players in the oil value chain.

Based on Afreximbank’s rich history of supporting commodity-dependent economies, President Oramah shared insights to complement the ongoing efforts of the Guyanese government. He acknowledged the inherent risks associated with dependency on a single commodity and laid stress on the importance of diversification.

He cautioned, “The commodity market is prone to volatility and cyclicality; hence, the reliance on crude revenues as a primary source of government funding could expose the national economy to volatile commodity markets.” As such, he advised the government to secure long-term off-take contracts with oil service companies, which will enhance market access and price stability.

In the spirit of deepening Afri-Caribbean partnership, President Oramah remarked that skilled oil service companies from Ghana, Egypt, and South Africa, are “ready and willing to support Guyanese… And of course, Afreximbank is there to underwrite the marriage.”

He added that: “These measures are necessary if Guyana and other new entrants in the Caribbean and Africa are to avoid the painful “Dutch Disease. We make these suggestions based on the three long decades of financing oil and gas activities across Africa. We have witnessed oil-dependent economies transform for better or worse through these periods. In all these, the difference reflected the policy choices the leaders made.”

MIL OSI Africa –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 Concludes in Tanzania

Source: United States Navy

During the exercise, which took place from Feb. 10-21, over 1000 participants from 20 partner nations supported Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 as part of a global network of partners to enhance cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations in the Western Indian Ocean.

In Tanzania, 2 national maritime operation centers (MOCs) participated in the exercise to collaborate on real-time scenarios linked to the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training hosted in Tanga, Tanzania. Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 also contained linkages with the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa-led exercise Justified Accord 2025, also taking place in Tanzania, to improve coordination between land- and sea-based operations.

“We value the TPDF’s role as a regional leader in deploying peacekeeping forces, countering violent extremist organizations, and promoting maritime security,” said Andrew Lentz Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. “Through exercises like Cutlass Express, we are building the readiness of our militaries and deepening the bilateral and multilateral relationships required to confront today’s most complex security challenges.”

Cutlass Express focuses on enabling East African partners to expand their capacity and capability to support maritime security operations and combat threats such as piracy, trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The coordination of 10 national MOCs across 8 partner nations sought to improve regional coordination, with this year being the first to feature a U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft to establish communication links during a Cutlass Express. VBSS training in both Tanzania and Mauritius, as well as a week-long rule of law course hosted in Seychelles, allowed partners to share and refine their tactics for interdiction operations while ensuring a legal finish to hold malign actors accountable for illicit at-sea activity.

“Ensuring the free flow of commerce within the region, especially over critical sea lines of communication and the vast expanse of this maritime environment, is vital to the economic stability and security of the region,” said Rear Adm. David E. Ludwa, reserve director of logistics, ordnance and engineering for Navy Reserve U.S. 6th Fleet. “We must work together, deepen our partnerships, and continue to improve the quality of exercises like Cutlass Express to enhance our ability to communicate and synchronize maritime operations to collectively counter the manifold threats we face.”

Participants in this year’s iteration of Cutlass Express spanned 5 continents and included Australia, Belgium, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

Cutlass Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. 6th Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

MIL Security OSI –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Urgent appeal launched as DR Congo crisis fuels mass displacement to Burundi

Source: United Nations 2

21 February 2025 Migrants and Refugees

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has launched a $40.4 million appeal to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its impact on neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi, where thousands are arriving daily in desperate conditions.

As fighting escalates in eastern DRC, more than 40,000 Congolese refugees – primarily women and children – have crossed into Burundi since February, with over 9,000 arrivals recorded in a single day this week.

Many are using makeshift boats to traverse the Rusizi River, a perilous crossing at the border shared by Burundi, DRC and Rwanda.

“The escalating security situation in the DR Congo has been having a serious impact on the Burundi side. Over the past few weeks, we have observed a large number of Congolese who have been crossing into Burundi,” said Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, UNHCR’s Representative in Burundi, at a press briefing in Geneva.

The situation is set to worsen as hostilities move closer to Uvira, a key town near Burundi’s main official border crossing.

A surge in displacement

UNHCR has welcomed the Burundian government’s decision to grant prima facie refugee status to those fleeing the conflict, ensuring immediate protection. However, the unprecedented influx is straining local resources.

“This is the very first time that Burundi is receiving this large number of people in a matter of a few days”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno noted. “The last one was in the early 2000s, so everyone is overwhelmed: the government, but also the humanitarian actors in the country.”

While around 6,000 refugees have entered through Bujumbura’s official border post, the vast majority – more than 36,000 – have arrived via the Rusizi River, often in critical condition after long journeys on foot.

Some have walked for days. “The other day, we had a case of a woman who was transporting her children and not knowing that they were already dead”, Ms. Mukanga-Eno shared.

Dire conditions at reception sites

The government has permitted refugees to shelter temporarily at the Rugombo Stadium in open-air conditions, as well as in schools and churches. However, these sites are overcrowded and dangerously close to the border.

“Unfortunately, the conditions for receptions are very limited,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said. The government has allocated land to create a more sustainable settlement, but for now, people are still in schools and stadiums without adequate shelter, she explained.

UNHCR teams on the ground report severe shortages of food, water and sanitation facilities. Cases of measles have already been detected, prompting an emergency vaccination campaign targeting children under 15.

She said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has put water tanks in place, while the World Food Programme (WFP) “has also been able to deploy some food for us to make sure that we can provide hot meals to the people who are coming.”

Medical services are also stretched, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) running a mobile clinic to treat refugees suffering from malnutrition, disease and trauma.

Many people have endured extreme violence before reaching Burundi, with psychosocial support urgently needed.

Regional displacement

Beyond Burundi, smaller but significant numbers of displaced people have reached other neighbouring countries.

Since January, Uganda has registered over 13,000 arrivals, mostly through the Nyakabande transit centre.

In Tanzania, 53 Congolese refugees sought asylum in Kigoma on 19 February, marking the highest daily arrival figure this year.

UNHCR’s $40.4 million appeal aims to provide life-saving assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in the DR Congo, as well as support a projected influx of 258,000 refugees and returnees across Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

“We were targeting about 58,000 people. We have already received more than 40,000,” Ms. Mukanga-Eno said, calling for urgent support from donors to prevent further suffering.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Capturing paradise: Karston Tannis re-creates island vibes with iPhone 16 Pro Max

Source: Apple

Headline: Capturing paradise: Karston Tannis re-creates island vibes with iPhone 16 Pro Max

February 21, 2025

UPDATE

Capturing paradise: Karston Tannis re‑creates island vibes with iPhone 16 Pro Max

As far back as he can remember, Karston Tannis has always had a camera in his hand. From shooting home videos with a camcorder as a kid, to capturing candids of his BMX community around New York City using disposable cameras in his teens, to jetsetting around the world with iPhone 16 Pro Max, the portrait photographer has always felt compelled by the idea of documenting people in their own environments.

“I love telling stories of people in places,” says Tannis, who specializes in lifestyle, fashion, and travel. “I really live for the adventure, so I love a tool that allows me to seamlessly integrate that into a multitude of environments, whether that be the runways at Fashion Week, hanging off the edge of a helicopter, or even documenting the everyday moments of life.”

For a recent shoot spotlighting fashion designers and their bespoke creations, Tannis showcased the vibrancy of the African diaspora, capturing portraits on iPhone 16 Pro Max with a Caribbean-inspired backdrop.

In the images below, explore how Tannis brought the African diaspora to life — from a custom-built boat on the makeshift shores of Saint Lucia, to a fruit stand inspired by the fishing villages and markets of the Caribbean and Ghana, and the rich-hued fashion designs of Tannis’s subjects — through his lens with iPhone 16 Pro Max.

“Shooting natively with iPhone 16 Pro Max allowed me to get the highest quality and retain the most detail. I wanted to create something that had very controlled lighting. The Caribbean is full of such vibrant colors and textures. I really wanted to transform the space and bring the viewer into this new world. I used a big light source reflected into a silver umbrella to mimic midday sun. This provided a dynamic lighting scenario where there was a lot of contrast with specular highlights, but also a big enough source to avoid harsh shadows. The 16 Pro Max is capable of capturing all of those details quickly.”

“iPhone 16 Pro Max was fully capable of capturing and depicting the rich colors and textures of the set while giving flexibility in post to tweak as desired. This gave me infinite possibilities to dial in a signature look in real time.”

“We started losing a lot of the natural light that was coming in through the window. Because we were shifting different colors and there were a lot of warm elements in the space, some of the images tended to read a little bit cooler. I was experimenting with the Dramatic Photographic Style and adjusting color on the fly. It gave this depth in how some of the tones looked toward the shadow side — I love a little bit of that warm flare it gave.”

“I wanted to push the boundaries of what the phone was capable of straight out of the box. It’s not shot in RAW, I didn’t have too many settings applied to it. I just did very basic editing, adjusting the saturation, contrast, and clarity. I really wanted to allow the phone to capture images as it would, because I want people to see that they’re able to utilize this device in such a beautiful way. The quality of the camera system on iPhone continues to level the playing field for creators in various ways.”

Press Contacts

Renee Felton

Apple

rfelton@apple.com

Apple Media Helpline

media.help@apple.com

MIL OSI Economics –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s fight over VAT raises a key question: who should bear the burden of taxes?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Fabio Andrés Díaz Pabón, Research Fellow, African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR), University of Cape Town

The unprecedented postponement of the tabling of South Africa’s 2025 budget because of disagreement within the coalition government over a two percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT), highlights the country’s dilemma.

The government needs to raise revenue to deliver on its constitutional obligations. But in a context where the global outlook is uncertain and unpredictable, trade-offs are required.

South Africa has a deficit of around 4.3% of GDP, accounting for R377 billion (US$20,479 billion). According to the Unpublished budget review public debt stands at 76.1% of its GDP.

Whereas the public debt as a percentage of GDP is in line with that of similarly sized economies, its debt servicing costs are considerably higher. The country pays around 5% on public debt interest as a share of GDP while developing and upper-middle-income countries pay, on average, 2.2% and 1.8% respectively.

These figures point to why the finance minister wanted to raise more revenue. Treasury’s estimates in the 2025 unpublished Budget Review were that the increase in Vat and other tax adjustments plus factoring in tax foregone due to expanding the basket of zero-rated goods would have brought in an additional R58 billion (US$3.1 billion) for the 2025/26 financial year.

To date, debates around previous years’ budgets have mostly been about expenditure, with very little scrutiny of the revenue side. Not since the 2013 Davis Tax Committee has there been public debate about reforming the tax policy.

Read more: South Africa’s economy needs a shot in the arm, not austerity: 3 key areas where more public spending would get results

Based on our academic research we believe the crucial question around tax reform is: who will bear the burden of the reform? And how taxes connect to the promise of the South African social compact. The social compact since democracy, expressed in the constitution, promises to uphold the rights of all citizens.

Evidence shows that increases in the rate of VAT affect poor households more, particularly women-headed households.

While the government is concerned about financing its budget and being able to raise the resources needed to make the state work, a rethink is needed about who must bear the burden of raising the money.

The cost of food

VAT is a flat tax on consumption of goods and services, usually paid by the end consumer. It affects lower income households more because they spend a greater share of their income on goods such as food, electricity and water.

The uproar over the recent proposed increase is therefore not surprising.

At least 34% of the yearly income of poor households is spent on food and groceries. Almost 50% of South Africans live under the poverty line. This is where the impact will be felt in a number of ways.

Firstly, the net effect of an increase in VAT will mean that mean that already financially stretched households will be paying more for food. This comes on top of food inflation was 8% between 2023 and 2024.

Secondly, meagre increases in social grant payments in the last decade – over 28 million grants are paid out every month – have not kept pace with inflation.

One of the largest grants is the old age pension grant. There are around 3.9 million beneficiaries. It amounts to R2,190 (US$118) a month for those between 65 and 74 years and is the sole source of income for many families.

Between 2023 and 2024 this grant increased by R110 (US$5.45) – a 5.2 % increase, while inflation stood at 4.5%. However, after taking into account inflation, the grant amounts to R2,091 (just over US$107), having the net grant increase (after adjusting for inflation) of meagre R11 (the grant was in 2023 R2.080).

A VAT increase would raise their cost of living for working-class South African households (those earning between R8,000 (US$432) and R22,000 (US$1,188) a month) too. This cohort is already using 67% of their income to cover their debts. Middle class households (earning between R22,000 (US$1,188) and R35,000 (US$1,893) a month) use 69% of their income to cover their debts. A VAT-induced increase in the cost of living may push some to neglect servicing debt to maintain their living standards.

If middle and working class households defaulted in large numbers on their debt obligations, a vicious cycle might unfold.

Firstly, banks and financial institutions might face significant losses due to unpaid loans. This could trigger an economic recession as consumption could fall, leading to lower revenue collection. This could increase government debt as the state might need to bail out banks or get loans to cover the revenue shortfall. The result would be a credit downgrade which might make it more expensive to borrow money on international markets.

In a country with such a limited and vulnerable tax base (in 2024, only 7.4 million people of 63 million paid income tax) these risks should not be taken lightly.

Poor households spend 34% of their income on food. Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images

Wealthy South Africans

Wealthy South Africans will not be as badly affected by an increase in VAT. Their consumption as a share of their incomes is less. Yet they remain central to the government’s dilemma about raising money from taxes. That’s because taxing wealthier South Africans will result in a push-back, and in some cases put a strain on struggling companies and industries that are central for job creation.

However, the most likely reason a VAT increase was chosen as opposed to a higher income tax for high income earners, taxes on capital gains, or taxes on wealth is that the government knows the wealthy elites (including those in government) will oppose increases taxes targeted at them. They are more organised and have more leverage over the government than vulnerable households.

What next?

The government needs to spend money properly and meet its constitutional obligations. And corruption must be reduced.

What the standoff over the VAT increase has highlighted is that, if South Africa aims to be a society where everyone actually counts, it should place the well-being of all its citizens at the forefront. This should be the principle that informs the process of raising the resources needed to drive future.

– South Africa’s fight over VAT raises a key question: who should bear the burden of taxes?
– https://theconversation.com/south-africas-fight-over-vat-raises-a-key-question-who-should-bear-the-burden-of-taxes-250412

MIL OSI Africa –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s fight over VAT raises a key question: who should bear the burden of taxes?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Fabio Andrés Díaz Pabón, Research Fellow, African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR), University of Cape Town

The unprecedented postponement of the tabling of South Africa’s 2025 budget because of disagreement within the coalition government over a two percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT), highlights the country’s dilemma.

The government needs to raise revenue to deliver on its constitutional obligations. But in a context where the global outlook is uncertain and unpredictable, trade-offs are required.

South Africa has a deficit of around 4.3% of GDP, accounting for R377 billion (US$20,479 billion). According to the Unpublished budget review public debt stands at 76.1% of its GDP.

Whereas the public debt as a percentage of GDP is in line with that of similarly sized economies, its debt servicing costs are considerably higher. The country pays around 5% on public debt interest as a share of GDP while developing and upper-middle-income countries pay, on average, 2.2% and 1.8% respectively.

These figures point to why the finance minister wanted to raise more revenue. Treasury’s estimates in the 2025 unpublished Budget Review were that the increase in Vat and other tax adjustments plus factoring in tax foregone due to expanding the basket of zero-rated goods would have brought in an additional R58 billion (US$3.1 billion) for the 2025/26 financial year.

To date, debates around previous years’ budgets have mostly been about expenditure, with very little scrutiny of the revenue side. Not since the 2013 Davis Tax Committee has there been public debate about reforming the tax policy.

Read more:
South Africa’s economy needs a shot in the arm, not austerity: 3 key areas where more public spending would get results

Based on our academic research we believe the crucial question around tax reform is: who will bear the burden of the reform? And how taxes connect to the promise of the South African social compact. The social compact since democracy, expressed in the constitution, promises to uphold the rights of all citizens.

Evidence shows that increases in the rate of VAT affect poor households more, particularly women-headed households.

While the government is concerned about financing its budget and being able to raise the resources needed to make the state work, a rethink is needed about who must bear the burden of raising the money.

The cost of food

VAT is a flat tax on consumption of goods and services, usually paid by the end consumer. It affects lower income households more because they spend a greater share of their income on goods such as food, electricity and water.

The uproar over the recent proposed increase is therefore not surprising.

At least 34% of the yearly income of poor households is spent on food and groceries. Almost 50% of South Africans live under the poverty line. This is where the impact will be felt in a number of ways.

Firstly, the net effect of an increase in VAT will mean that mean that already financially stretched households will be paying more for food. This comes on top of
food inflation was 8% between 2023 and 2024.

Secondly, meagre increases in social grant payments in the last decade – over 28 million grants are paid out every month – have not kept pace with inflation.

One of the largest grants is the old age pension grant. There are around 3.9 million beneficiaries. It amounts to R2,190 (US$118) a month for those between 65 and 74 years and is the sole source of income for many families.

Between 2023 and 2024 this grant increased by R110 (US$5.45) – a 5.2 % increase, while inflation stood at 4.5%. However, after taking into account inflation, the grant amounts to R2,091 (just over US$107), having the net grant increase (after adjusting for inflation) of meagre R11 (the grant was in 2023 R2.080).

A VAT increase would raise their cost of living for working-class South African households (those earning between R8,000 (US$432) and R22,000 (US$1,188) a month) too. This cohort is already using 67% of their income to cover their debts. Middle class households (earning between R22,000 (US$1,188) and R35,000 (US$1,893) a month) use 69% of their income to cover their debts. A VAT-induced increase in the cost of living may push some to neglect servicing debt to maintain their living standards.

If middle and working class households defaulted in large numbers on their debt obligations, a vicious cycle might unfold.

Firstly, banks and financial institutions might face significant losses due to unpaid loans. This could trigger an economic recession as consumption could fall, leading to lower revenue collection. This could increase government debt as the state might need to bail out banks or get loans to cover the revenue shortfall. The result would be a credit downgrade which might make it more expensive to borrow money on international markets.

In a country with such a limited and vulnerable tax base (in 2024, only 7.4 million people of 63 million paid income tax) these risks should not be taken lightly.

Wealthy South Africans

Wealthy South Africans will not be as badly affected by an increase in VAT. Their consumption as a share of their incomes is less. Yet they remain central to the government’s dilemma about raising money from taxes. That’s because taxing wealthier South Africans will result in a push-back, and in some cases put a strain on struggling companies and industries that are central for job creation.

However, the most likely reason a VAT increase was chosen as opposed to a higher income tax for high income earners, taxes on capital gains, or taxes on wealth is that the government knows the wealthy elites (including those in government) will oppose increases taxes targeted at them. They are more organised and have more leverage over the government than vulnerable households.

What next?

The government needs to spend money properly and meet its constitutional obligations. And corruption must be reduced.

What the standoff over the VAT increase has highlighted is that, if South Africa aims to be a society where everyone actually counts, it should place the well-being of all its citizens at the forefront. This should be the principle that informs the process of raising the resources needed to drive future.

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. South Africa’s fight over VAT raises a key question: who should bear the burden of taxes? – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-fight-over-vat-raises-a-key-question-who-should-bear-the-burden-of-taxes-250412

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Service Providers to Promote Innovative Oilfield Solutions at Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025

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

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), February 21, 2025/APO Group/ —

Service and technology providers are playing a growing role in Africa’s oil and gas industry, delivering cutting-edge solutions that improve efficiency, foster innovation and support sustainability across a range of projects in the sector. These companies are key to advancing exploration and increasing production capacity and will showcase their strategies and upcoming projects at the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) this March.

Taking place in Brazzaville from March 24-26, CEIF 2025 is set to showcase the Republic of Congo’s energy ambitions, including the country’s strategies to increase oil production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2027 and the introduction of its Gas Master Plan. With service companies like Accenture and NOV taking part in an in-depth roundtable session at CEIF 2025, the country is well-positioned to showcase an improved enabling environment that welcomes local and international companies.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

Houston-based NOV is advancing Congo’s oil and gas capabilities through cutting-edge technologies and services that enhance operational efficiency and support sustainable energy development. The company is involved in several strategic initiatives across key African markets, including contributions to offshore exploration and production. NOV, which will be represented at CEIF 2025 by Vice President of Global Accounts Arthur Ename, is also deeply committed to local content and workforce development, focusing on translating its expertise to support the growth of industries throughout the continent while creating jobs, transferring knowledge and empowering communities.

Meanwhile, professional services and consulting company Accenture boasts wide industry experience in oil and gas, utilities, chemicals and processing, rail transportation and technology and covers clients operating in upstream, midstream, downstream and oilfield services. As such, Accenture Executive and Associate Director Nosayaba Evboumwan will part in the CEMAC Energy Dialogue in-depth roundtable session at this year’s CEIF 2025.

“The participation of NOV and Accenture at CEIF 2025 highlights the vital role service companies play in enhancing Congo’s oil and gas sector. Their expertise in technology, innovation and workforce development is crucial to driving sustainable growth and industry transformation,” states Energy Capital & Power Events and Project Director Sandra Jeque.

MIL OSI Africa –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Team Concludes Site and External Events Design Review for Ghana’s First Nuclear Power Plant

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An IAEA team of experts visited the candidate site of Ghana’s first nuclear power plant during a Site and External Events Design Review Service mission. (Photo: Nuclear Power Ghana)

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded an eight-day safety review of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). Ghana is pursuing the introduction of nuclear power to increase its low carbon power production to meet energy demand, tackle climate change and increase energy security and diversity.

The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission, which took place between 14 to 21 February, reviewed Ghana’s adherence to IAEA guidance on site selection. The SEED mission was the first of its kind to Ghana.

Ghana has successfully completed the site selection process and identified the candidate site and an alternative site for its first NPP. The next stage following site selection is the characterization stage of the site evaluation process.

The SEED mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Ghana and hosted by Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), under the purview of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.

The team comprised four experts from Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as one IAEA staff. They reviewed the site selection report, together with the siting process, siting criteria, data collection process and application of the management system for siting activities. The team also visited and observed the candidate site in the Western Region and the alternative site in the Central Region. In addition to the SEED review mission, the IAEA provided a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support site evaluation. During the workshop, external experts and participants engaged in discussions that will contribute to future progress in the site evaluation process.

“We confirmed that both the implementing organization and the management system are well-designed with the support of the government and that the Site Approval Report has been systematically and thoroughly prepared. Ghana followed the IAEA safety standards while performing the site selection process,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.

The team provided recommendations to improve the quality and optimize the site selection process, aiming to select the most favourable site. This optimization seeks to minimize the potential of the selected site being found to be unsuitable during the site characterization stage. The factors for consideration include the susceptibility to earthquakes, flooding and extreme weather events, as well as the feasibility of the emergency plan.

As a good practice, the team noted that within NPG, leadership and management for safety have been functioning well since the beginning of the siting process.

“We acknowledge with deep appreciation the IAEA SEED mission’s technical assistance in assessing our site selection. This mission is of great importance to our nuclear power programme, as it ensures that our decisions are guided by international best practices for safe and secure development of nuclear power infrastructure. The relevance of the mission extends beyond technical assessment, reinforcing our commitment to transparency, regulatory preparedness and sustainable nuclear energy development” said Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of NPG.

NPG will continue to receive ongoing technical assistance from the IAEA, while advancing the site approval process in accordance with the IAEA Specific Safety Guide on Site Survey and Site Selection for Nuclear Installations.

The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of Ghana within three months.

About Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) missions

SEED missions are expert review missions that assist countries going through different stages in the development of a nuclear power programme. The service offers a choice of modules in which to focus the review, such as site selection, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into consideration site specific external and internal hazards.

In the case of site selection review, SEED missions assess the appropriate consideration of the safety issues in the site selection process.

MIL Security OSI –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Bishop of Uvira robbed

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishop of Uvira was robbed yesterday, February 20, according to a statement issued by the diocese of the city in South Kivu currently being conquered by the M23.”Together with Bishop Sébastien Joseph Muyengo Mulombe of Uvira, we, Fathers Ricardo Mukuninwa and Bernard Kalolero, narrowly escaped death this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the episcopal residence in Uvira,” reads the statement signed by Father Ricardo. “Three FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) soldiers in uniform, speaking Tshiluba, entered the diocese headquarters and first threatened the security guard, Mr. Mwamba, and the cook, Mr. Jean. I went out to ask the soldiers about the situation, but they pointed their guns at all of us and threw us to the ground along with the bishop. They robbed us, taking money, phones and other belongings. They then locked us in our rooms and threatened to kill us at the slightest gesture so that they could search the whole house,” the statement said.“Thank God, they left and we are still alive. The Missionary Sisters of Jesus Emmanuel came to our house without knowing what happened and this is the only way we can communicate the incident. We are currently unreachable on our mobile phones,” the statement addressed to the faithful concluded.Tshiluba is a language spoken in West Kasai and East Kasai, two provinces in the central western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This suggests that the robbery of the Bishop of Uvira in the east of the DRC was carried out by soldiers of the regular army from these provinces. This is not an isolated case. There are reports of looting by soldiers in Uvira, where the M23 is now at the gates, as well as in towns previously captured by the pro-Rwandan guerrilla group. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Rwandan soldiers and M23 militiamen disguised as Congolese soldiers

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “The riots that precede the capture of the cities by the M23 are a constant”, explains a local source in Bukavu to Fides, referring to what happened to Bishop Sébastien Joseph Muyengo Mulombe of Uvira, who was robbed yesterday, February 20, along with two of his collaborators (see Fides, 21/2/2025) by alleged soldiers of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo).The Fides source points out that the uniform worn does not always correspond to the actual affiliation to the regular army. “In Kamanyola, according to the testimonies we collected, a large group of soldiers in FARDC uniforms had arrived. When some M23 commanders arrived, these soldiers took off their Congolese army uniforms and it became apparent that they were wearing M23 uniforms or even uniforms of the Rwandan army (Rwanda Defense Force-RDF).”The M23 has now entered the city,” said the source on the situation in Uvira, “their trucks were seen.” The conflict involves the forced recruitment of children and young people. “We have received news that an armed group, which we do not know which it is, has entered a school in Uvira to kidnap students and then recruit them into their ranks,” reports the source. Meanwhile, in Uvira, during the advance of the pro-Rwandan forces, riots and incidents broke out between the fleeing FARDC soldiers and the “Wazalendo” self-defense groups, which left dead and injured (see Fides, 20/2/2025). “The latter,” says our source, “wanted to force the fleeing FARDC soldiers to stay and fight with them, or at least to give up their weapons. This led to firefights with those who refused to give up their weapons. Here too, there is a suspicion that these are militiamen wearing M23 or RDF uniforms under the uniform of the Congolese army.””So the advance continues and Burundi is on high alert because Uvira is on its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. If nothing is done at the international level, the Rwandan forces and their local allies will continue to advance because the Congolese civil and military institutions are too weak and infiltrated by their opponents or at least incompetent,” reports the Fides source.”Finally, the civilian population is tired of this war, and perhaps they are not so hostile to a change,” says the source. In fact, the M23 presents itself as a stabilizing force in the territories it conquers. The source warns: “We are still in the phase of friendly behavior; but we have seen in previous wars the true behavior of these forces, which, although they had different names, are essentially the same.””I remember the Lenten letter of the then Archbishop of Bukavu, Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko, in 1999, in which he addressed the suffering faithful, telling them that God is not far away, because Jesus Christ is this suffering people, he is in the heart of the people who are experiencing cruel pain. A people who are being deceived today, because this war is accompanied by a great deception,” concludes the source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Beheaded bodies of 70 people found in a Protestant church

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – More than 70 bodies, including women, children and the elderly, were discovered on February 14 in a church of the Evangelical and Baptist Center of Congo and Africa (CEBCEA) in Kasanga, near the village of Maiba, in the Lubero area, in the province of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.According to reports by Radio Okapi, local civil society believes that these are the bodies of missing people kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on February 12. The bodies of the people, beheaded with machetes, were found with their hands tied behind their backs.It is suspected that Islamists of the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces), a group originally from Uganda that has been active for decades in the east of the DRC, especially in North Kivu, committed the massacre. In 2019, the ADF joined the Islamic State (for the birth and development of the militia, see Fides, 24/6/2023), which further strengthens its “jihadist” profile.The Ugandan army has increased its presence in the Congolese provinces of Ituri and North Kivu in recent days, officially to act against the ADF, but perhaps also to control (or support?) the offensive of the M23 and the Rwandan army in the Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Railroad employee pays to settle False Claims Act liability

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old federal railroad employee has agreed to pay $24,000 to resolve potential violations related to his submission of unemployment benefit claims under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Between April 20, 2020, and Aug. 27, 2021, Chad Gillingwater, Katy, allegedly falsely claimed federal unemployment benefits.

Gillingwater was not entitled to those funds because he was already receiving state unemployment benefits and/or paid leave from his employer at the same time. Gillingwater also received additional benefits under The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which extended unemployment insurance benefits for railroad workers sidelined during COVID-19.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Railroad Retirement Board – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Michelle Luong handled the matter.

MIL Security OSI –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: YouTube was born from a failed dating site – 20 years on, the world’s biggest video platform faces new challenges

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Evelyn Polacek Kery, PhD Researcher in Social Work & Social Care, School of Education & Social Work, University of Sussex

When three former PayPal employees, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim, registered the domain www.youtube.com 20 years ago, they wanted to create an online dating site based around videos of users. In 2016, Chen told the SXSW conference: “We thought dating would be the obvious choice.”

But despite offering to pay users to upload videos of themselves, nobody came forward. When their concept failed, they hatched a new idea for the same domain: “OK, forget the dating aspect, let’s just open it up to any video,” said Chen.

What followed was revolutionary. Having started as a small project, YouTube rapidly grew into one of the most influential platforms in media history, reshaping journalism, media, entertainment and social interactions.

Its first-ever video, “Me at the Zoo” – featuring Karim casually describing the elephants at San Diego Zoo – set the tone for democratised content creation, and also the type of content that would become so significant for YouTube: vlogging – where people communicate their own blog-style entries on video, often delivered direct to camera.

The simplicity of uploading and sharing any type of video, combined with the potential of online content going viral, made the platform an instant hit.

In October 2006, just over a year after the video platform’s launch, Google acquired YouTube for US$1.65 billion (£1.3 billion) – a move that proved one of the most significant tech acquisitions in history. The platform embarked on monetising its growing library of content via online advertising, not only generating huge profits for Google but also providing content creators with a share.

The increasing profits prompted content creators to deliver better content.

Whereas traditional media outlets such as television controlled video production and distribution, YouTube suddenly allowed anyone with a camera to share their voice. This shift led to the rise of independent creators, from beauty vloggers and gamers to educators and activists.

And so the platform has given birth to an entirely new profession: the YouTuber. Early pioneers built massive audiences, inspiring a new wave of content creators who could earn a living through ad revenue, sponsorships and crowdfunding.

In the UK in 2010, for example, a group of young content creators nicknamed “Brit Crew” became popular on YouTube. They were relatable, fun to watch, and uploaded videos regularly.

Today, the highest-paid YouTuber worldwide, according to Forbes magazine, is MrBeast, with more than 360 million subscribers and 10 billion views. In reality, MrBeast is Jimmy Donaldson, a content creator and businessman from Greenville, North Carolina. But the views his videos attract are still nowhere near the most-watched YouTube video of all time, “Baby Shark”, with 15 billion views.

Baby Shark: the YouTube video with most views to date.

Donaldson has often talked about understanding YouTube metrics and its algorithm as a key component to his success. He particularly pays attention to a measure known as “retention rate”, noting where viewers stop watching to improve his future videos. He says the algorithm prioritises things that are difficult to accomplish, such as getting high retention rates on a long video, over simply getting a large number of views.

MrBeast is emblematic of the rise of influencers on YouTube: content creators with lots of followers who look to them for inspiration and lifestyle tips. Established companies and brands have sought to develop partnerships with key influencers in order to promote products and services to their often huge global audiences.

Overall, detailed audience numbers for YouTube are difficult to come by. However, Statista reports that the platform now has more than 2.5 billion active monthly users.

Citizen journalism

YouTube also plays a critical role in modern journalism. The platform, along with others such as Facebook and Twitter-X, has allowed citizen journalists to document events in real time, from protests and social movements to natural disasters and political uprisings – especially since YouTube introduced live streaming in 2011.

During major global events such as the Arab Spring and Black Lives Matter protests, influential coverage emerged from people capturing and sharing their footage on YouTube. This shift has challenged traditional news media, which now often relies on user-generated content as a key source of reporting.

Similarly, some major world events are streamed live on YouTube, from election coverage to the Olympics to the Glastonbury music festival. There has also been growth in the popularity of video podcasts on the platform – one of the most popular, the Joe Rogan Experience, attracts millions of views per episode.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories

Despite its success, YouTube has faced significant challenges. The rapid spread of hate speech, misinformation and conspiracy theories has led the platform to implement stricter content moderation policies. In recent years, YouTube says there has been a substantial drop in the number of videos that violate its policies as a result, although some experts say these numbers can be interpreted in different ways.

YouTube also continues to face controversies over its data collection, and how its algorithms reinforce conspiracy “rabbit holes”.

Regulation has become a pressing concern. Governments worldwide are scrutinising YouTube for its role in spreading harmful content. Many countries are discussing how to better protect children online: in the UK, YouTube is the most popular website or app among younger users, used by nearly nine in ten children aged 3-17. (Officially, YouTube does not allow children below the age of 13 to use the platform without supervision, but there are clearly many ways around this for younger users.)

There is a also drive among regulators to ensure fair competition in the digital marketplace, given YouTube’s dominant position.

As YouTube enters its third decade, AI could become a powerful tool for creators – from speeding up the process of adding effects to videos, to creating video content from scratch. YouTube will also face continued competition from short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

In my opinion, the growing demand for high-quality, authentic content will shape YouTube’s future. The platform needs to focus on protecting and empowering its creators and their diversity, while nurturing its existing community.

One thing is clear: YouTube has transformed the way we both consume and create media. From its humble beginnings to becoming a cultural phenomenon, YouTube’s 20-year journey is a testament to the power of digital platforms and social media in shaping modern society. Whether it continues growing or evolves into something entirely new, its impact on global culture is undeniable.

Evelyn Polacek Kery works for the Guardian and is a judge at the Press Awards 2025.

– ref. YouTube was born from a failed dating site – 20 years on, the world’s biggest video platform faces new challenges – https://theconversation.com/youtube-was-born-from-a-failed-dating-site-20-years-on-the-worlds-biggest-video-platform-faces-new-challenges-250164

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: From ancient emperors to modern presidents, leaders have used libraries to cement their legacies

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Myrsini Mamoli, Lecturer of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology

The Library of Celsus was a famous landmark in its time – and today. Myrsini Mamoli

Here in Atlanta, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum has been part of my daily life for years. Parks and trails surrounding the center connect my neighborhood to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park downtown and everything in between.

At the end of December 2024, thousands of people walked to the library to pay their respects to the former president as he lay in repose. The cold, snow and darkness of the evening were a stark contrast to the warmth of the volunteers who welcomed us in. Our visit spiraled through galleries exhibiting records of Carter’s life, achievements and lifelong work promoting democracy around the world.

U.S. presidents have been building libraries for more than 100 years, starting with Rutherford B. Hayes. But the urge to shape one’s legacy by building a library runs much deeper. As a scholar of libraries in the Greek and Roman world, I was struck by the similarities between presidential and ancient libraries – some of which were explicitly designed to honor deceased sponsors and played a significant role in their cities.

Trajan’s library

The Ulpian Library, a great library in the center of Rome, was founded by Emperor Trajan, who ruled around the turn of the second century C.E. Referenced often by ancient authors, it could have been the first such memorial library.

Trajan’s Column now stands at the center of Rome.
AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito

Today, someone visiting Rome can visit Trajan’s Column, a roughly 100-foot monument to his military and engineering achievements after conquering Dacia, part of present-day Romania. A frieze spirals from bottom to top of the column, depicting his exploits. The monument now stands on its own. Originally, however, it was nestled in a courtyard between two halls of the Ulpian Library complex.

Most of what scholars know about the library’s architecture comes from remains of the west hall, an elongated room almost 80 feet long, whose walls were lined with rectangular niches and framed by a colonnade. The niches were lined with marble and appear to have had doors; this is where the books would have been placed. Writers from the first few centuries C.E. describe the library having archival documents about the emperor and the empire, including books made of linen and books bound with ivory.

Trajan dedicated the column in 113 C.E. but died four years later, before the library was complete. Hadrian, his adoptive son and successor, oversaw the shipment of Trajan’s cremated remains back to Rome, where they were placed in Trajan’s Column. Hadrian completed the surrounding library complex in 128 C.E. and dedicated it with two identical funerary inscriptions to his adopted parents, Trajan and Plotina. Scholars Roberto Egidi and Silvia Orlandi have argued that Trajan’s remains could later have been transferred from the column into the library hall.

Memorial model

Either way, I would argue that Trajan’s decision to have his remains included in the library complex, instead of in an imperial mausoleum, established a model adopted by other officials at a smaller scale. In the eastern side of the Roman empire – what is now Turkey – at least two other library-mausoleum buildings have been identified.

One is the library at Nysa on the Maeander, a Hellenistic city named for the nearby river. Under the floor of its entry porch is a sarcophagus with the remains of a man and a woman, possibly the dedicators, that dates to the second century C.E., the time of Hadrian’s reign.

The ruins of the library at Nysa on the Maeander.
Myrsini Mamoli

Another is the Library of Celsus, the most recognizable ancient library today, found in the ancient city of Ephesus. Named after a regional Roman consul and proconsul during the reign of Trajan, the building was founded by Celsus’ son, designed as both a place of learning and a mausoleum.

The library’s ornate, sculpted facade contained life-size female statues, making it an immediately recognizable landmark. Inscriptions identify the statues as the personifications of Celsus’ character, elevating him into a role model: virtue, intelligence, knowledge and wisdom.

Upon entering the room, the funerary character of the library became quite literal. The hall was designed like the Ulpian Library, but a door gave access to a crypt underneath. This held the marble sarcophagus with the remains of Celsus, the patron of the library. The sarcophagus itself was visible from the hall, if one stood in front of the central apse and looked down through two slits in the podium.

An endowment covered the library’s operational expenses in ancient times, as well as annual commemorations on Celsus’ birthday, including the wreathing of the busts and statues and the purchasing of additional books.

The life-size statues on the facade of the Library of Celsus.
Myrsini Mamoli

Power and knowledge

These two provincial libraries highlight how sponsors hoped to be associated with the virtues a library fosters. Books represent knowledge, and by dedicating a library, one asserted his possession of it. Providing access to learning was an instrument of power on its own.

Beyond the handful of memorial libraries, many other ancient Roman public libraries were great cultural centers, including the Forum of Peace in Rome, dedicated by Emperor Vespasian; the Library of Hadrian in Athens; and the Gymnasium in Side, a city in present-day Turkey.

The most magnificent libraries combined access to manuscripts and artworks with spaces for meetings and lectures. Several had great leisure areas, including landscaped sculptural gardens with elaborate water features and colonnaded walkways. Literary sources and material evidence testify to the treasures that were held there: busts of philosophers, poets and other accomplished literary figures; statues of gods, heroes and emperors; treasures confiscated as spoils of war and exhibited in Rome.

A model of how Hadrian’s Library may have looked, complete with a landscaped courtyard.
Joris/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Like the Ulpian Library itself, they continued the long tradition of Hellenistic public libraries, established by the most famous library of antiquity: the Library of Alexandria. Founded and lavishly endowed by the Hellenistic kings of Egypt, the Ptolemies, the building was meant to portray the king as a patron of intellectual activities and a powerful ruler, collecting knowledge from conquered civilizations.

In ancient Greece and Rome, anybody who could read had access to public libraries. Rules of use varied: For example, literary sources imply that the Ulpian Library in Rome was a borrowing library, whereas an inscription from the Library of Pantainos in Athens explicitly forbid any book to be taken out.

But these buildings were also meant to shape their sponsors’ legacies, portraying them as benevolent and learned. Presidential libraries in the United States today follow the same principle: They become monuments to the former presidents, while giving back to their local communities.

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

– ref. From ancient emperors to modern presidents, leaders have used libraries to cement their legacies – https://theconversation.com/from-ancient-emperors-to-modern-presidents-leaders-have-used-libraries-to-cement-their-legacies-248423

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 February 2025 Departmental update World Health Day 2025 to spotlight women and babies’ survival, urging solidarity at a critical moment for global health
Source: World Health Organisation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced the theme of World Health Day 2025, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, which will focus on improving maternal and newborn health and survival.

World Health Day is marked around the world on 7^th April, the anniversary of WHO’s founding in 1948. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

“The focus of this campaign comes at a crucial moment, aiming to help countries regain lost progress while showcasing new research and evidence that will enhance the health of women and babies globally,” said Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO. “As rollbacks to humanitarian assistance jeopardize a critical lifeline for millions, it will also be an opportunity to step up support and collaboration for global health – and deliver hope to those in urgent need of lifesaving care.”

Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive

According to the most recent estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year; over 2 million babies die in their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn. This is roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds – losses which bring tremendous sadness and heartache to millions of families around the world.

While maternal and newborn deaths occur in all regions, the vast majority are in the poorest countries and those facing conflict and other crises. When health care facilities close, facilities are attacked, access routes denied or supplies disrupted, pregnant women and babies – who need regular access to health services – face severe, often life-threatening risks.

Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet the United Nations’ global targets for improving maternal survival by 2030; 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths. Current funding constraints could further jeopardize progress, as many programmes providing critical health services have stalled alongside important medical research focused on pregnant and breastfeeding women and children.

This year’s campaign, which will run until 2026, will urge governments, donors and the health community to invest in proven, high-impact interventions, as part of efforts to improve overall quality of care. These include pregnancy related services to detect complications and lifesaving emergency obstetrics – noting that the vast majority of maternal and newborn deaths happen during or shortly after birth – as well as special care for small and preterm babies. Complications relating to prematurity are now the leading cause of death of children under-5 worldwide.

WHO will also highlight the evolving need for health systems to address the many underlying health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These include not only direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, malnutrition (including under and overnutrition as well as nutritional deficiencies), and an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases.

Listening to women and supporting families

Moving beyond actions to save lives, the campaign will urge increased global attention to women’s longer-term health and well-being. This includes advocating for laws and policies that safeguard their health and rights, such as paid maternity leave and other critical employment protections, and access to vital family planning services.

“It is not sufficient that women survive childbirth, they must also be able to enjoy their lives in good health,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. “Women and girls everywhere need access to health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs, while ensuring they can plan their fertility, take charge of their futures, and protect their health.”

Efforts are also needed to address the particular risks of climate change for pregnant women and newborns, as evidence shows an association between higher temperatures and preterm births, stillbirth, hypertension and gestational diabetes, as well as infant mortality.

An investment, not a cost

In low- and middle-income countries, every US$1 invested in maternal and newborn health is estimated to yield around US$9 to 20 in return. Evidence shows that spending on maternal and newborn health leads to economic development and happier, healthier societies.

Around the world, WHO is supporting essential maternal and newborn health programmes including through:
- Intensive support to 55 countries through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere initiative, which is working to expand access to lifesaving emergency obstetric and newborn care units, family planning and other critical services;
- Guidance relating to diverse aspects of maternal and newborn health through pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. New recommendations will be published later this year to help clinicians manage postpartum haemorrhage, one of the world’s leading causes of maternal deaths, and noncommunicable diseases in pregnancy;
- Research to improve clinical care options for pregnant women and newborns, including during epidemics when it is critical to ensure high-risk populations are not left behind;
- Ensuring maternity and newborn care during humanitarian emergencies, like mobile clinics and health posts in Syria and Sudan, where millions of women and babies would otherwise miss out on lifesaving medical screenings, vaccinations and treatments.
- Support for health workers providing essential care to pregnant women and babies, such as efforts to strengthen the vital role of midwives within health systems through training, accreditation and related guidance.
Get involved

Here’s what you can do to support the campaign
- Spread awareness: share information about the campaign using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll;
- Participate: attend our global events to learn more about what it will take to end maternal and newborn mortality; organize your own local activities;
- Donate: contribute to the WHO Foundation, which supports WHO’s work to protect mothers and babies in countries around the world;
- Share personal experiences: Across its platforms, WHO will be launching new content to help women share birth stories and lived experiences from around the world, and to thank those who provide quality care.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s intervention in Employment Working Group (EWG) in First G20 Employment Working Group Meeting under South African Presidency

Source: Government of India (2)

India’s intervention in Employment Working Group (EWG) in First G20 Employment Working Group Meeting under South African Presidency
Secretary (L&E) outlines India’s achievement in leveraging technology and presented case studies on NCS and e-Shram portal as global best practices

Bilateral held with ILO & OECD to expedite the feasibility study on International reference Classification of Occupations and Skills

Bilateral held with Germany on collaboration in the field of AI and its impact on Jobs, OSH related knowledge exchange and strengthening labour administration under Joint Declaration of Intent

Bilateral held with Netherlands on living wages and its alignment with India’s Multidimensional Poverty index

Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 4:22PM by PIB Delhi

The first G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting under South African Presidency concluded today on 21^st Feb, 2025 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The EWG priorities (i) Inclusive Growth & Youth Empowerment and (ii) Social Security & Digitalisation for an Inclusive Future of Work, as was discussed in the working sessions of EWG meeting.

During the four-days, delegates of G20 Members and invited states made interventions and presentations on key focus areas of the G20 Labour & Employment track. Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary (Labour & Employment) led the Indian delegation and made interventions from Indian side on both the priorities. Secretary took an evidence-based approach on increased social security coverage in India, rising workforce in employment, as well as presented case studies on NCS and eShram to emphasize harnessing of technology by India for labour welfare.

Secretary Labour highlighted India’s transformative use of technology to (i) onboard workers in unorganised sector and build a national database on EShram, and further utilise the portal for building access of workers to various social security schemes; (ii) Use of National Career Service (NCS) Portal to bridge the supply-demand in labour market through convergence of various stakeholders- employers, job-seekers, counselling and skilling services, etc. Case studies were presented on both EShram and NCS, both of which drew much interest of delegates of G20 member states on India’s strides in harnessing technology for the labour market.

Case Study 1: eShram Portal

India presented the eShram Portal as a case study, showcasing its role as a comprehensive national database for unorganized and platform workers, for ensuring seamless access to social security benefits as a ‘one-stop-solution.’ Available in 22 languages and powered by Bhashini, the portal assigns a Universal Account Number (UAN) to each worker, enhancing transparency and accountability. Further, the platform workers’ module, launched on December 12, 2024, enables aggregators to onboard workers and share engagement details, facilitating intelligent mapping to their employers. This initiative strengthens last-mile delivery of social security benefits, empowering millions in the informal sector and exemplifying India’s commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive welfare.

Case Study 2: National Career Service (NCS) Portal

India’s effort on leveraging technology to bridge the Jobs-Skills gap was presented through case study on NCS Portal. The Portal had mobilized over 440 million vacancies and registered 4 million employers, bridging the gap between job seekers and employers. NCS is also integrated with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). Upskilling initiatives in green jobs, AI, and the platform economy were prioritized to meet future workforce demands. The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 recognized India’s strength in ‘ready-to-recruit’ markets for digital, AI and green jobs.

Bilateral with ILO, OECD

Follow-up on India’s G20 2023 Presidency with respect to developing an international framework for mutual recognition of skills and qualifications has been prioritised by the delegation. Accordingly, on the side-lines of 1^st G20 EWG meeting, India held bilateral discussions with ILO, OECD and Germany regarding skill gap mapping feasibility study, its work plan and time-lines.

Secretary briefed on the latest updates regarding funding, status of agreement with ILO to complete the study, and collaboration with concerned stakeholders. It was agreed that feasibility study will focus on three key sectors: IT, Green Jobs, and Care-related roles.

Given India’s demographic dividend, and the projection of India to increasingly meet incremental global workforce requirements over the next decade, this study assumes great significance for facilitation of international mobility of qualified Indians.

Bilateral with Netherlands

A bilateral discussion was held with the Netherlands, focusing on India’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and its alignment with global efforts to address poverty through the concept of ‘Living Wages,’ thus improving living standards. Collaboration with the Netherlands and the ILO was highlighted as critical to advancing living wages, with proposals for exchange of best practices and technical discussion on estimation of living wages. India reiterated its dedication to collaborating with international partners to advance decent work, sustainable wage systems, and enhanced livelihoods for workers.

Bilateral with Germany

During bilateral discussion with Germany, the importance of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) entered by India with Germany in the month of October 2024 was highlighted. The JDoI is important for enhancing cooperation in work in global supply chains, human-centric AI and its impact on Jobs, developing Gig economy, a global skills referencing framework, etc. India reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with Germany, fostering innovative projects and a shared vision for an inclusive and equitable future of work.

*****

Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2105272) Visitor Counter : 148

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 (Amendment) Regulation 2025 gazetted

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹The Government today (February 21) gazetted the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (the Amendment Regulation), which came into operation today.

     “The Amendment Regulation amends the United Nations Sanctions (Central African Republic) Regulation 2020 to give effect to certain decisions relating to sanctions in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2745 in respect of the Central African Republic,” a Government spokesman said.

     The amendments renew the travel ban and financial sanctions, and amend the time-limited arms-related sanctions measures.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along been implementing fully the sanctions imposed by the UNSC. The Amendment Regulation aims to give effect to the instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for fulfilling the international obligations of the People’s Republic of China as a Member State of the United Nations.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Minimum Wage Commission appointments announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government announced today (February 21) the appointments to the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC) for a two-year term with effect from March 1, 2025, pursuant to section 11(3) of the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Cap. 608) (MWO). The appointments were gazetted on the same day.

The Chief Executive (CE) has reappointed Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze as the chairperson of the MWC and appointed its 12 members from the labour sector, the business sector, academia and the Government. The chairperson and the nine non-official members are appointed on an ad personam basis.

Among the non-official members, the three reappointed serving members are Professor Joyce Ma Lai-chong, Ms Ng Wai-yee and Professor Tang Hei-wai, while the six new members are Mr Calvin Chan Ka-wai, Mr Allen Cheng Siu-kai, Professor Fong Yuk-fai, Mr Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen, Mr Lam Chi-ting and Dr Ricky Szeto Wing-fu.

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, welcomed the appointments. He said, “The MWC assumes the important mission of reviewing and recommending the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) rate. The MWC for the new term, under Ms Wong’s leadership, will assist the Government in implementing the new annual review mechanism for the SMW. I am confident that with the wealth of knowledge and abundant experience in various fields possessed by the chairperson and members of the MWC, it will continue to discharge its statutory function effectively.”

Mr Sun also thanked the six outgoing members, Mr Chan Wing-on, Mr Lau Chin-shek, Ms Juan Leung Chung-yan, Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi, Dr Malina Ngai Man-lin and Mrs Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying, for their excellent support and sterling contributions to the MWC.

Established under the MWO, the main function of the MWC is to report to the CE in Council its recommendations about the SMW rate. In performing its function, the MWC is required to maintain an appropriate balance between the objectives of forestalling excessively low wages and minimising the loss of low-paid jobs, and give due regard to sustaining Hong Kong’s economic growth and competitiveness.

The membership of the MWC for the next term is as follows:

Chairperson
—————
Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze

Non-official Members (Note)
—————————
Mr Calvin Chan Ka-wai (new member)
Mr Allen Cheng Siu-kai (new member)
Professor Fong Yuk-fai (new member)
Mr Wilson Kwong Wing-tsuen (new member)
Mr Lam Chi-ting (new member)
Professor Joyce Ma Lai-chong
Ms Ng Wai-yee
Dr Ricky Szeto Wing-fu (new member)
Professor Tang Hei-wai

Official Members
—————————————-
Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare
Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Government Economist

Note: Non-official members are listed in the alphabetical order of their surnames.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The death of three minors at the Bulgarian border – E-000665/2025
Source: European Parliament

Question for written answer E-000665/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE), Maria Ohisalo (Verts/ALE), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE), Catarina Martins (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Irene Montero (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE), Damien Carême (The Left), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE), Brando Benifei (S&D), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D), Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left), Francisco Assis (S&D), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Thijs Reuten (S&D), Leire Pajín (S&D), Hana Jalloul Muro (S&D)

According to a recent report[1], Bulgarian border police failed to assist three unaccompanied Egyptian minors in distress, despite repeated alerts from human rights defenders. Attempts to rescue them were blocked by the Bulgarian authorities, resulting in the minors’ deaths.

For years, human rights monitors, journalists and Frontex officers have documented systematic violations by the Bulgarian border authorities. Attacks on defenders of migrants’ rights have escalated, with Bulgarian authorities shifting responsibility for these deaths onto them. These abuses coincide with Bulgaria’s full accession to the Schengen area and significant EU funding for migration management.

This raises serious concerns under Article 2 (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU.
- 1.What steps will the Commission take to investigate Bulgaria’s responsibility for these deaths, ensure accountability (under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union), and prevent further abuses in the context of its Schengen accession?
- 2.How will the Commission ensure that EU funds for Bulgarian border management are not used to support pushbacks, obstruct humanitarian aid or contribute to human rights violations?
- 3.What measures will the Commission implement to protect human rights defenders from criminalisation under the EU Facilitation Directive and ensure they can operate without interference?
Submitted: 12.2.2025
- [1] https://bloodyborders.org/reports/frozen-lives-an-investigation-into-how-bulgarian-authorities-put-the-lives-of-people-on-the-move-at-risk-of-death/.
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: African Development Bank and World Food Programme support Nigerian Government in tackling acute hunger in Northeastern Nigeria

Source: World Food Programme

BORNO – In the wake of the devastating floods that hit Borno State in September 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has contributed US$ 1 million from its Special Relief Fund to support emergency food response for flood-affected communities in Northeastern Nigeria.

The support comes at a critical time, when humanitarian funding is in short supply and the country faces alarmingly high rates of food insecurity exacerbated by conflict, floods and rising poverty. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will use this contribution, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, to provide emergency food assistance to 120,000 women, men, and children. Each household will receive 35kg worth of staple food supply.

““AfDB’s support is timely and comes as a lifeline for those struggling to feed themselves amidst rising food prices and economic turmoil,” said David Stevenson, WFP’s Country Director in Nigeria. Communities which, after years of conflict and violence, started rebuilding their lives were struck by the floods and once again displaced, meaning more and more people cannot support themselves and their families.”

The recent floods of September 2024 exacerbated years of prior displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship, resulting in disastrous consequences, that have pushed hunger levels even higher. According to the November 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, conducted across 26 states and the federal capital, it is projected that 33 million people in Nigeria will face food insecurity by August 2025.

“I hope that this additional funding will mitigate the suffering of vulnerable people on the brink of acute hunger, at a time when more Nigerians than ever before are in need of humanitarian assistance”, said Abdul Kamara, African Development Bank Director General in Nigeria. “I commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and WFP for the continuous efforts to operate in such a challenging environment to improve the lives of Nigerian families.”

This new contribution complements AfDB’s ongoing effort to restructure activities of the Programme for Integrated Agricultural Development, Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) and the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Program to avail critically needed services in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

As part of the government’s Borno State Development Plan, WFP and partners deliver food and specialised nutrition assistance to 1 million people in Borno state each month. WFP also trains and mentors health facility staff to conduct screenings and manage acute malnutrition among women and children whilst promoting appropriate maternal, infant, and young child nutrition practices. The Government of Nigeria is a firm supporter of WFP’s humanitarian food systems solutions in Borno state.

# # #

About AfDB

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.

For more information: www.afdb.org

About WFP

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

Follow us on X, via @wfp_media, @AfDB_Group, @AfDB_RDNG

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s finance minister wanted to raise VAT: the pros and cons of a tricky tax

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Robert Donaldson, Senior Research Associate, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town

South Africa’s finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, cancelled the unveiling of the country’s 2025 budget as it was due to be released. The move is unprecedented in the country’s history.

The reason for the abrupt cancellation was the failure of the minister to get cabinet approval for the proposal to raise value added tax (VAT) from 15% to 17%. VAT is the second biggest contributor to tax collection after personal income tax, followed by corporate taxes.

The strongest opposition to the idea came from parties that have joined the African National Congress in a government of national unity which was formed after the ruling party lost its majority in polls in June 2024.

To understand the finance minister’s efforts to raise VAT it’s helpful to revisit the revenue proposals of a year ago.

In the 2024 budget, all the additional revenue was to come from a “stealth tax” on personal income. Because personal income tax is levied at increasing rates as income rises, the tax burden rises as wages go up if tax thresholds are not adjusted for inflation.

In the Treasury’s estimates, R16.3 billion (US$889 million) was raised in 2024/25 by not making inflation-related adjustments to the personal income tax brackets and rebates. This meant that another 200,000 income-earners became taxpayers, and everyone’s effective tax rate was raised.

This has been a long-standing trend. Over the past decade, the tax threshold (for individuals under the age of 65) has declined from R115,000 (in today’s prices) to R95,750, bringing about 850,000 more people into the tax net.

Above the threshold, tax rates were raised by one percentage point in 2015 and the 45% rate was introduced in 2017.

As a strategy for raising personal income tax, the results have been impressive. Personal income tax has increased from 8% of GDP in 2014 to nearly 10%. In the nine months to December 2024, personal income tax increased by over 13% compared with the same period in 2023. Even after taking account of the revenue windfall from retirement fund withdrawals following recent reforms, this signals a substantial erosion of households’ disposable income.

But that is precisely the problem. Taxes collected on goods and services (mainly VAT and excise duties) increased by just 0.4% last year by comparison with 2023. Revenue from corporate income tax declined. The implication is clear: higher taxes on personal income are at least partially offset by reduced consumption and declines in revenue from other sources.

So the Treasury has taken the view, this year, that there should be relief given in the personal income tax and that additional revenue will have to come from taxes on consumption.

There are good reasons for this: personal income tax has contributed a rising share of the overall tax burden over the past decade, while households also face rising costs of electricity, housing and services. However, raising VAT also has its downsides: it generates revenue by raising prices relative to the costs of production, and effectively also reduces households’ spending power.

The Treasury’s estimate is that an increase in VAT from 15% to 17% would raise an additional R60 billion (US$3.3 billion) in revenue. To offset the impact on low-income households, the schedule of basic foods that don’t attract VAT will be extended beyond the present list of 21 items to include various specified meat cuts and tinned and bottled vegetables. In addition, above-inflation adjustments to social grants are proposed.

The main argument against increasing the VAT rate is that it is regressive – it has a greater impact on lower-income households than on the rich. But a two percentage point VAT increase would also be a substantial shock to overall consumption spending. It would temporarily raise inflation and it would have a negative impact on business income and profitability.

The arguments for a higher VAT rate, rather than other tax increases, are in part about its broad base and comparative ease of collection.

There are nonetheless valid concerns from an administrative perspective. The Treasury argues that other countries have higher VAT rates than South Africa (Morocco, Turkey, Brazil and India, for example). But this is not in itself protection against the potential impact of a higher tax rate on non-compliance and tax fraud.

The upsides

There may be deeper economic considerations behind the Treasury’s tax proposal.

The most compelling arguments for VAT as a revenue source are in its basic design structure: what is taxed and what is not. There are two key features. The first is that it taxes imports and zero-rates exports. The second is that the VAT base excludes investment.

The import VAT is sometimes seen as an unfair form of trade protection. But it simply levels the consumption tax across foreign and domestic-produced goods. And it’s simpler than excise and sales taxes.

The important consideration for domestic production is that by comparison with alternative taxes on income, the VAT encourages exports.

The exclusion of investment from the VAT base caused some controversy when the tax was introduced in 1990. Some argued that this would bias economic development in favour of capital and against labour. But investment and employment are complements. To achieve higher rates of employment, South Africa needs far greater levels of investment. Since 2013, investment has fallen as a percentage of GDP from 19% to less than 15%: nowhere enough to generate growth sufficient to bring down South Africa’s unemployment rate.

Because the VAT base is consumption, not investment, it supports expansion of the economy’s productive capacity.

Managing the fallout

But this doesn’t change the short-term impact on the cost of living that would result from a VAT rise. A higher tax burden will reduce demand and inhibit growth at first, before potentially contributing to fiscal stability and lower interest rates.

If the tax increase is to be avoided, then the spotlight will have to fall on the expenditure side of the budget. This is a far harder discussion than tax policy – there are a thousand options to consider, and there are vested interests wherever you look.

If Godongwana’s VAT rate increase is to be rejected, tough choices on the alternatives will have to be confronted.

Andrew Robert Donaldson is a former National Treasury official.

– ref. South Africa’s finance minister wanted to raise VAT: the pros and cons of a tricky tax – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-finance-minister-wanted-to-raise-vat-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-tricky-tax-250460

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s finance minister wanted to raise VAT: the pros and cons of a tricky tax

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Robert Donaldson, Senior Research Associate, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town

South Africa’s finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, cancelled the unveiling of the country’s 2025 budget as it was due to be released. The move is unprecedented in the country’s history.

The reason for the abrupt cancellation was the failure of the minister to get cabinet approval for the proposal to raise value added tax (VAT) from 15% to 17%. VAT is the second biggest contributor to tax collection after personal income tax, followed by corporate taxes.

The strongest opposition to the idea came from parties that have joined the African National Congress in a government of national unity which was formed after the ruling party lost its majority in polls in June 2024.

To understand the finance minister’s efforts to raise VAT it’s helpful to revisit the revenue proposals of a year ago.

In the 2024 budget, all the additional revenue was to come from a “stealth tax” on personal income. Because personal income tax is levied at increasing rates as income rises, the tax burden rises as wages go up if tax thresholds are not adjusted for inflation.

In the Treasury’s estimates, R16.3 billion (US$889 million) was raised in 2024/25 by not making inflation-related adjustments to the personal income tax brackets and rebates. This meant that another 200,000 income-earners became taxpayers, and everyone’s effective tax rate was raised.

This has been a long-standing trend. Over the past decade, the tax threshold (for individuals under the age of 65) has declined from R115,000 (in today’s prices) to R95,750, bringing about 850,000 more people into the tax net.

Above the threshold, tax rates were raised by one percentage point in 2015 and the 45% rate was introduced in 2017.

As a strategy for raising personal income tax, the results have been impressive. Personal income tax has increased from 8% of GDP in 2014 to nearly 10%. In the nine months to December 2024, personal income tax increased by over 13% compared with the same period in 2023. Even after taking account of the revenue windfall from retirement fund withdrawals following recent reforms, this signals a substantial erosion of households’ disposable income.

But that is precisely the problem. Taxes collected on goods and services (mainly VAT and excise duties) increased by just 0.4% last year by comparison with 2023. Revenue from corporate income tax declined. The implication is clear: higher taxes on personal income are at least partially offset by reduced consumption and declines in revenue from other sources.

So the Treasury has taken the view, this year, that there should be relief given in the personal income tax and that additional revenue will have to come from taxes on consumption.

There are good reasons for this: personal income tax has contributed a rising share of the overall tax burden over the past decade, while households also face rising costs of electricity, housing and services. However, raising VAT also has its downsides: it generates revenue by raising prices relative to the costs of production, and effectively also reduces households’ spending power.

The Treasury’s estimate is that an increase in VAT from 15% to 17% would raise an additional R60 billion (US$3.3 billion) in revenue. To offset the impact on low-income households, the schedule of basic foods that don’t attract VAT will be extended beyond the present list of 21 items to include various specified meat cuts and tinned and bottled vegetables. In addition, above-inflation adjustments to social grants are proposed.

The main argument against increasing the VAT rate is that it is regressive – it has a greater impact on lower-income households than on the rich. But a two percentage point VAT increase would also be a substantial shock to overall consumption spending. It would temporarily raise inflation and it would have a negative impact on business income and profitability.

The arguments for a higher VAT rate, rather than other tax increases, are in part about its broad base and comparative ease of collection.

There are nonetheless valid concerns from an administrative perspective. The Treasury argues that other countries have higher VAT rates than South Africa (Morocco, Turkey, Brazil and India, for example). But this is not in itself protection against the potential impact of a higher tax rate on non-compliance and tax fraud.

The upsides

There may be deeper economic considerations behind the Treasury’s tax proposal.

The most compelling arguments for VAT as a revenue source are in its basic design structure: what is taxed and what is not. There are two key features. The first is that it taxes imports and zero-rates exports. The second is that the VAT base excludes investment.

The import VAT is sometimes seen as an unfair form of trade protection. But it simply levels the consumption tax across foreign and domestic-produced goods. And it’s simpler than excise and sales taxes.

The important consideration for domestic production is that by comparison with alternative taxes on income, the VAT encourages exports.

The exclusion of investment from the VAT base caused some controversy when the tax was introduced in 1990. Some argued that this would bias economic development in favour of capital and against labour. But investment and employment are complements. To achieve higher rates of employment, South Africa needs far greater levels of investment. Since 2013, investment has fallen as a percentage of GDP from 19% to less than 15%: nowhere enough to generate growth sufficient to bring down South Africa’s unemployment rate.

Because the VAT base is consumption, not investment, it supports expansion of the economy’s productive capacity.

Managing the fallout

But this doesn’t change the short-term impact on the cost of living that would result from a VAT rise. A higher tax burden will reduce demand and inhibit growth at first, before potentially contributing to fiscal stability and lower interest rates.

If the tax increase is to be avoided, then the spotlight will have to fall on the expenditure side of the budget. This is a far harder discussion than tax policy – there are a thousand options to consider, and there are vested interests wherever you look.

If Godongwana’s VAT rate increase is to be rejected, tough choices on the alternatives will have to be confronted.

– South Africa’s finance minister wanted to raise VAT: the pros and cons of a tricky tax
– https://theconversation.com/south-africas-finance-minister-wanted-to-raise-vat-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-tricky-tax-250460

MIL OSI Africa –

February 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu presents quarterly Crime Statistics

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu presents quarterly Crime Statistics

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

MIL OSI Video –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Global Geopolitical Situation: Foreign Secretary’s speech at the G20 in South Africa
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

Speech

The Global Geopolitical Situation: Foreign Secretary’s speech at the G20 in South Africa

Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s intervention on Discussions on the Global Geopolitical Situation at the G20 Foreign Ministerial Meeting in South Africa.
Thank you very much Ronald [Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa] and let me say, my dear brother, what a joy is to see the G20 in Africa at long last. And we thank Brazil for its stewardship last year.

The challenges that we face are truly global. We will not begin to tackle them unless we harness the potential of this continent, bursting with growth and opportunities and with so many young people, talented young people at its heart.

The starkest challenge we face is escalating conflict, both between and within nations, driving vicious cycles of grievance, displacement and low growth.

Your presidency, Ronald, calls for solidarity, and solidarity starts by recognising and naming the victims of war and injustice:

innocent Ukrainians enduring bombardment night after night from Odessa to Zaphorizhya

the hostages still cruelly held underground by Hamas, 16 months on from the trauma of October the 7th

the Palestinian civilians driven from their homes in Gaza and the West Bank

the Sudanese refugees flee their burning villages to escape across the border to Chad, the overwhelming majority of them, women and children having endured the most unimaginable and indiscriminate violence

As I said when I visited Chad, there can be no geopolitical stability, whilst there remains a hierarchy of conflicts, with those on this continent finding themselves at the bottom of the global pile.

And that’s why, since starting this job, I’ve made a reset with the so called Global South, a central plank of the UK foreign policy, and it’s why I doubled British aid for Sudan, and I prepared a conference in London to push for a political process which will end the fighting and protect civilians.

And that’s why I’ve called out the Rwandan Defence Force operations in the eastern DRC as a blatant breach of the UN Charter which risks spiralling into a regional conflict, and that’s why I will again make clear to President Kagame, that further breaches of DRC’s sovereignty will have consequences.

Because at the heart of my government’s approach to foreign policy lies the belief that regional and geopolitical stability can only be delivered through respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

And as my Canadian, Australian, Japanese colleagues have said, respect for international law must underwrite a free and open Indo Pacific, just as it must underwrite the Euro Atlantic, with the security of those 2 regions ever more closely linked.

And as we turn to the Middle East, the ceasefire in Gaza is painfully fragile, I’m grateful that so many of us here today are working together to ensure that it holds we must continue to work together tirelessly to secure the release of the remaining hostages, to bolster the Palestinian Authority, and to boost aid into Gaza and to develop a long term plan for governance and security on the strip so that we can advance towards, a two-state solution, which remains the only long-term viable pathway to peace.

And finally, in Ukraine, the only just and lasting peace will be a peace that is consistent with the UN Charter, and we want that as soon as possible.

You know, mature countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, and Europeans have had much to learn over the generations and the centuries.

But I’m afraid to say that Russia has learned nothing. I listened carefully to Minister Lavrov intervention just now he’s, of course, left his seat, hoping to hear some readiness to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.

I was hoping to hear some sympathy for the innocent victims of the aggression. I was hoping to hear some readiness to seek a durable peace.

What I heard was the logic of imperialism dressed up as a realpolitik, and I say to you all, we should not be surprised, but neither should we be fooled.

We are at a crucial juncture in this conflict, and Russia faces a test. If Putin is serious about a lasting peace, it means finding a way forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and the UN Charter which provides credible security guarantees, and which rejects Tsarist imperialism, and Britain is ready to listen.

But we expect to hear more than the Russian gentleman’s tired fabrications.

Updates to this page

Published 20 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank Partners with Interpol to Combat Financial Crime and Strengthen Anti-Corruption Efforts in Africa
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, February 21, 2025/APO Group/ —

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has taken a significant step forward in its fight against corruption and financial crime by signing a Letter of Intent with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) today. The Bank Group is the first multilateral development bank to establish such a collaboration with Interpol.

The Letter of Intent was signed on Wednesday by African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, who visited the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan.

The partnership will enhance collaboration between the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (https://apo-opa.co/3QrB4ku) and Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. It will focus on sharing expertise, enhancing investigative capabilities, and developing preventive measures against emerging financial crime threats, including cybercrime, anti-corruption measures, and counter-terrorism financing.

This initiative comes as Africa faces significant challenges of illicit financial flows, estimated at nearly $90 billion annually—a loss of resources that could otherwise be invested in critical development needs including water, sanitation, health, food, and energy infrastructure.

As an institution that deploys approximately $10 billion annually in development financing, with the majority going to government projects, the African Development Bank Group brings crucial insight into regional financial flows and development challenges, Adesina said.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to protecting development resources and ensuring they reach their intended beneficiaries,” said Adesina. “As the world’s most transparent financial institution for two consecutive editions (https://apo-opa.co/41o3TVt) [according to Publish What You Fund’s assessment of sovereign portfolios], we maintain zero tolerance for corruption and terrorism financing. By joining forces with Interpol, we are strengthening our capacity to help African countries build robust systems against money laundering and financial crime.”

Rapid advancements in digital technology have also led to an increase in internet-enabled financial crimes. According to Interpol’s 2024 Global Financial Fraud Assessment, business email compromise, romance baiting, phishing, and other online frauds pose growing threats to Africa’s digitalized economy.

Secretary General Urquiza, who was elected to his position in November 2024, said, “Corruption and financial crime are among the biggest obstacles to economic and social development in Africa and around the world. The evolving nature of financial crime, particularly in the digital environment, requires strong partnerships between law enforcement and financial institutions. Interpol’s closer relationship with the African Development Bank Group will help law enforcement agencies and financial institutions across Africa tackle increasingly sophisticated financial crime threats.”

Adesina said the Bank will continue to tackle these challenges by:
- Building capacity and supporting African countries in strengthening transparent and accountable governance and strong institutions capable of driving inclusive and sustainable growth and resilient economies.
- Strengthening Know Your Customer and Due Diligence systems to prevent and to fight fraud and corruption.
- Ensure that the Bank’s resources are used for their intended purposes in a transparent and accountable manner, a practice that has led to the Bank being recognized for two consecutive editions as the most transparent multilateral development bank in the world by Publish What You Fund.
The high-level Interpol delegation that accompanied Secretary General Urquiza included Mr. Silvino Schlickmann, Director of Governance and Ms. Paule Ouedraogo, Head of Interpol’s Regional Bureau.

The African Development Bank Group was represented by members of President Adesina’s senior management team including the director of the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption, Ms. Paula da Costa.

MIL OSI Africa –
February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Angry Likho: Old beasts in a new forest
Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

Headline: Angry Likho: Old beasts in a new forest

Angry Likho (referred to as Sticky Werewolf by some vendors) is an APT group we’ve been monitoring since 2023. It bears a strong resemblance to Awaken Likho, which we’ve analyzed before, so we classified it within the Likho malicious activity cluster. However, Angry Likho’s attacks tend to be targeted, with a more compact infrastructure, a limited range of implants, and a focus on employees of large organizations, including government agencies and their contractors. Given that the bait files are written in fluent Russian, we infer that the attackers are likely native Russian speakers.

We’ve identified hundreds of victims of this attack in Russia, several in Belarus, and additional incidents in other countries. We believe that the attackers are primarily targeting organizations in Russia and Belarus, while the other victims were incidental—perhaps researchers using sandbox environments or exit nodes of Tor and VPN networks.

At the beginning of 2024, several cybersecurity vendors published reports on Angry Likho. However, in June, we detected new attacks from this group, and in January 2025, we identified malicious payloads confirming their continued activity at the moment of our research.

Technical details

Initial attack vector

The initial attack vector used by Angry Likho consists of standardized spear-phishing emails with various attachments. Below is an example of such an email containing a malicious RAR archive.

Contents of spear-phishing email inviting the victim to join a videoconference

The archive includes two malicious LNK files and a legitimate bait file.

Bait document from spear-phishing email inviting the victim to join a videoconference

The content of this document is almost identical to the body of the phishing email.

This example illustrates how the attackers gain access to victims’ systems. All these emails (and others like them in our collection) date back to April 2024. We observed no further activity from this group until we discovered an unusual implant, described below. Based on our telemetry, the attackers operate periodically, pausing their activities for a while before resuming with slightly modified techniques.

Previously unknown Angry Likho implant

In June 2024, we discovered a very interesting implant associated with this APT. The implant was distributed under the name FrameworkSurvivor.exe from the following URL:

hxxps://testdomain123123[.]shop/FrameworkSurvivor.exe

This implant was created using the legitimate open-source installer, Nullsoft Scriptable Install System, and functions as a self-extracting archive (SFX). We’ve previously observed this technique in multiple Awaken Likho campaigns.

Below are the contents of the archive, opened using the 7-Zip archiver.

Contents of the malicious SFX archive

The archive contains a single folder, $INTERNET_CACHE, filled with many files without extensions.

To understand how the SFX archive infects a system when launched, we had to find and analyze its installation script. The latest versions of 7-Zip do not allow extraction of this script, but it can be retrieved using older versions. We used 7-Zip version 15.05 (the last version supporting extraction of the installation script):

Contents of the malicious SFX archive opened in 7-Zip version 15.05

The installation script was named [NSIS].nsi, and was partially obfuscated.

Obfuscated contents of the installation script

After deobfuscation, we were able to determine its primary purpose:

Deobfuscated installation script from the malicious SFX implant

The script searches for the folder on the victim’s system using the $INTERNET_CACHE macro, extracts all the files from the archive into it, renames the file “Helping” to “Helping.cmd”, and executes it.

Helping.cmd command file

Below are the contents of the Helping.cmd file:

Contents of the Helping.cmd file

This file is heavily obfuscated, with several meaningless junk lines inserted between each actual script command. Once deobfuscated, the script’s logic becomes clear. Below is the code, with some lines modified for readability:

Deobfuscated Helping.cmd

The Helping.cmd script launches a legitimate AutoIt interpreter (Child.pif) with the file i.a3x as a parameter. The i.a3x file contains a compiled AU3 script. With that in mind, we can assume that this script implements the core logic of the malicious implant.

AU3 script

To recover the original AU3 file used when creating the i.a3x file, we created a dummy executable with a basic AutoIt script, swapped its content with i.a3x, and used a specialized tool to extract the original AU3 script.
We ended up with the original AU3 file:

Restored AU3 script

The script is heavily obfuscated, with all strings encrypted. After deobfuscating and decrypting the code, we analyzed it. The script begins with a few verification procedures:

The AU3 script checks the environment

The script checks for artifacts associated with emulators and research environments of security vendors. If a match is found, it either terminates or executes with a 10,000 ms delay to evade detection.

Interestingly, we’ve seen similar checks in the Awaken Likho implants. This suggests that the attackers behind these two campaigns share the same technology or are the same group using different tools for different targets and tasks.

The script next sets an error-handling mode by calling SetErrorMode() from the kernel32.dll with the flags SEM_NOALIGNMENTFAULTEXCEPT, SEM_NOGPFAULTERRORBOX, and SEM_NOOPENFILEERRORBOX, thus hiding system error messages and reports. If this call fails, the script terminates.

Afterward, the script deletes itself from disk by calling FileDelete(“i”) and generates a large text block, as shown below.

Code for generating “shellcode”

This block is presumably shellcode that will be loaded into memory and executed. However, it is also packed and encrypted. Once unpacked and decrypted, the AU3 script attempts to inject the malicious payload into the legitimate AutoIt process.

Final activity of the AU3 script

Main payload

To obtain the shellcode, we saved a dump of the decrypted and unpacked payload once the AU3 malicious script had fully processed it. After removing unnecessary bytes from the dump, we recovered the original payload of the attack. It turned out to be not shellcode but a full-fledged MZ PE executable file.

The decrypted and unpacked payload—an MZ PE file

Our products detect this payload with the following verdicts:
- HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.Agent.pef
- HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic
We examined this payload and concluded that it is the Lumma Trojan stealer (Trojan-PSW.Win32.Lumma).

The Lumma stealer gathers system and installed software information from the compromised devices, as well as sensitive data such as cookies, usernames, passwords, banking card numbers, and connection logs. It also steals data from 11 browsers, including Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Kometa, Vivaldi, Brave, Opera Stable, Opera GX Stable, Opera Neon, Mozilla Firefox and Waterfox, as well as cryptocurrency wallets such as Binance and Ethereum. Additionally, it exfiltrates data from cryptowallet browser extensions (MetaMask) and authenticators (Authenticator), along with information from applications such as the remote access software AnyDesk and the password manager KeePass.

Command servers

This sample contains encoded and encrypted addresses of command servers. Using a simple decryption procedure in the executable file code, we restored the original domain names used as command servers.
- averageorganicfallfaw[.]shop
- distincttangyflippan[.]shop
- macabrecondfucews[.]shop
- greentastellesqwm[.]shop
- stickyyummyskiwffe[.]shop
- sturdyregularrmsnhw[.]shop
- lamentablegapingkwaq[.]shop
- Innerverdanytiresw[.]shop
- standingcomperewhitwo[.]shop
By identifying the command server names from this malware variant, we were able to identify other related samples. As a result, we discovered over 60 malicious implants. Some of them had the same payload, and we managed to find additional attacker-controlled command servers (the addresses listed below were used in the identified samples alongside the original command servers):
- uniedpureevenywjk[.]shop
- spotlessimminentys[.]shop
- specialadventurousw[.]shop
- stronggemateraislw[.]shop
- willingyhollowsk[.]shop
- handsomelydicrwop[.]shop
- softcallousdmykw[.]shop
We’re convinced that the main objectives of this APT group are to steal sensitive data using stealers and establish full control over infected machines via malicious remote administration utilities.

New activity

We’ve been tracking the attacks of this campaign since June 2024. However, in January 2025, the attackers showed a new surge in activity, as reported by our colleagues from F6 (previously known as F.A.C.C.T.). We analyzed the indicators of compromise they published and identified signs of a potential new wave of attacks, likely in preparation since at least January 16, 2025:

Files found in Angry Likho’s payload repositories

We managed to download malicious files hosted in repositories seen in the January Angry Likho attack while they were still accessible. Analysis of the files test.jpg and test2.jpg revealed that they contained the same .NET-based payload, encoded using Base64. Last year, we documented Angry Likho attacks that used image files containing malicious code. Moreover, the filenames match those of the samples we recently discovered.

This further confirms that the Angry Likho group, responsible for these attacks, remains an active threat. We are continuing to monitor this threat and providing up-to-date cyber intelligence data about it and the TTPs used by the group.

Victims

At the time of our investigation, our telemetry data showed hundreds of victims in Russia and several in Belarus. Most of the SFX archives had filenames and bait documents in Russian, thematically linked to government institutions in Russia. These institutions and their contractors are the primary targets of this campaign.

Attribution

We attribute this campaign to the APT group Angry Likho with a high degree of confidence. It shares certain similarities with findings from our colleagues at BI.ZONE and F6, as well as previous attacks by the group:
1. The same initial implant structure (an archive with similar contents, sent in an email).
2. Similar bait documents with the same naming patterns and themes, mostly written in Russian.
3. Command files and AutoIt scripts used to install the implant are obfuscated similarly. Newer versions contain more sophisticated installation scripts, with extra layers of obfuscation to complicate analysis.
4. The implant described in this report contains a known payload—the Lumma stealer (Trojan-PSW.Win32.Lumma). We have not previously seen this tool used in Angry Likho campaigns, but earlier attacks showed similar data exfiltration tactics, suggesting the group is still targeting cryptowallet files and user credentials.
Conclusion

We are continuing to monitor the activity of the Angry Likho APT, which targets Russian organizations. The group’s latest attacks use the Lumma stealer, which collects a vast amount of data from infected devices, including browser-stored banking details and cryptowallet files. As before, the complex infection chain was contained in a self-extracting archive distributed via email. We believe that the attackers crafted spear-phishing emails tailored to specific users, attaching bait files designed to attract their interest. Additionally, we identified more malicious samples linked to this campaign based on common command servers and repositories.
Let’s sum up by highlighting the notable features of this campaign and other similar ones:
1. The attack techniques remain relatively consistent over time, with only minor modifications. Despite this, the attackers are successfully achieving their objectives.
2. The attackers occasionally pause their activity, only to return with a new wave of attacks after a certain period.
3. The group relies on readily available malicious utilities obtained from darknet forums, rather than developing its own tools. The only work they do themselves is writing mechanisms of malware delivery to the victim’s device and crafting targeted phishing emails.
To protect against such attacks, organizations need a comprehensive security solution that provides proactive threat hunting, 24/7 monitoring, and incident detection. Our product line for businesses helps identify and prevent attacks of any complexity at an early stage. The campaigns in this article rely on phishing emails as the initial attack vector, highlighting the importance of regular employee training and awareness programs for corporate security.

Indicators of compromise

File hashes

Implants

f8df6cf748cc3cf7c05ab18e798b3e91
ef8c77dc451f6c783d2c4ddb726de111
de26f488328ea0436199c5f728ecd82a
d4b75a8318befdb1474328a92f0fc79d
ba40c097e9d06130f366b86deb4a8124
b0844bb9a6b026569f9baf26a40c36f3
89052678dc147a01f3db76febf8441e4
842f8064a81eb5fc8828580a08d9b044
7c527c6607cc1bfa55ac0203bf395939
75fd9018433f5cbd2a4422d1f09b224e
729c24cc6a49fb635601eb88824aa276
69f6dcdb3d87392f300e9052de99d7ce
5e17d1a077f86f7ae4895a312176eba6
373ebf513d0838e1b8c3ce2028c3e673
351260c2873645e314a889170c7a7750
23ce22596f1c7d6db171753c1d2612fe
0c03efd969f6d9e6517c300f8fd92921
277acb857f1587221fc752f19be27187

Payload

faa47ecbcc846bf182e4ecf3f190a9f4
d8c6199b414bdf298b6a774e60515ba5
9d3337f0e95ece531909e4c8d9f1cc55
6bd84dfb987f9c40098d12e3959994bc
6396908315d9147de3dff98ab1ee4cbe
1e210fcc47eda459998c9a74c30f394e
fe0438938eef75e090a38d8b17687357

Bait files

e0f8d7ec2be638fbf3ddf8077e775b2d
cdd4cfac3ffe891eac5fb913076c4c40
b57b13e9883bbee7712e52616883d437
a3f4e422aecd0547692d172000e4b9b9
9871272af8b06b484f0529c10350a910
97b19d9709ed3b849d7628e2c31cdfc4
8e960334c786280e962db6475e0473ab
76e7cbab1955faa81ba0dda824ebb31d
7140dbd0ca6ef09c74188a41389b0799
5c3394e37c3d1208e499abe56e4ec7eb
47765d12f259325af8acda48b1cbad48
3e6cf927c0115f76ccf507d2f5913e02
32da6c4a44973a5847c4a969950fa4c4

Malicious domains

testdomain123123[.]shop
averageorganicfallfaw[.]shop
distincttangyflippan[.]shop
macabrecondfucews[.]shop
greentastellesqwm[.]shop
stickyyummyskiwffe[.]shop
sturdyregularrmsnhw[.]shop
lamentablegapingkwaq[.]shop
innerverdanytiresw[.]shop
standingcomperewhitwo[.]shop
uniedpureevenywjk[.]shop
spotlessimminentys[.]shop
specialadventurousw[.]shop
stronggemateraislw[.]shop
willingyhollowsk[.]shop
handsomelydicrwop[.]shop
softcallousdmykw[.]shop
MIL OSI Economics –
February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development Feb 21, 2025

Source: Huawei

Headline: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development
Feb 21, 2025

[Algiers, Algeria, February 21, 2025] Algeria Telecom and Huawei jointly announced the official launch of the national 400G WDM project, building an all-optical premium transmission foundation covering the whole country, helping Algeria accelerate the development of its national digital economy.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei team up to deliver a national backbone network

As the largest telecommunications operator in Algeria, Algeria Telecom has always been committed to promoting the national digital transformation. This cooperation with Huawei aims to enhance the level of Algeria’s network infrastructure by introducing the most advanced 400G ultra-high-speed optical network technology to provide stronger support for the development of the digital economy. Additionally, this network is future-oriented, laying an ultra-high-speed, low latency and sustainable foundation towards intelligence era.
Huawei, as a leading global provider of information and communication technology solutions and smart devices, has rich experience and technical accumulation in the field of optical communication. The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network solution provided by Huawei for Algeria Telecom will have the characteristics of large bandwidth, high reliability, and low latency, which can meet the growing digital business needs in Algeria.
More specifically, the implementation of this project will help Algeria achieve the following goals:
Improve network speed and capacity: The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network will provide higher bandwidth and transmission speed than the existing network, enabling Algeria to better cope with the increasing data traffic demand.
Promote the development of the digital economy: The ultra-high-speed optical network will provide a solid foundation for the development of Algeria’s digital economy and promote the vigorous development of emerging industries such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and big data.
Improve people’s livelihood services: A high-speed and stable network will provide better Internet experience for the Algerian people and promote the improvement of digital service levels in fields such as education, medical care, and government affairs.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei will cooperate closely to jointly promote all-optical network development. Both sides will give full play to their respective advantages to ensure the smooth delivery and stable operation of the network. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Algeria will embrace a more digital and intelligent future.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development

Source: Huawei

Headline: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development

[Algiers, Algeria, February 21, 2025] Algeria Telecom and Huawei jointly announced the official launch of the national 400G WDM project, building an all-optical premium transmission foundation covering the whole country, helping Algeria accelerate the development of its national digital economy.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei team up to deliver a national backbone network

As the largest telecommunications operator in Algeria, Algeria Telecom has always been committed to promoting the national digital transformation. This cooperation with Huawei aims to enhance the level of Algeria’s network infrastructure by introducing the most advanced 400G ultra-high-speed optical network technology to provide stronger support for the development of the digital economy. Additionally, this network is future-oriented, laying an ultra-high-speed, low latency and sustainable foundation towards intelligence era.
Huawei, as a leading global provider of information and communication technology solutions and smart devices, has rich experience and technical accumulation in the field of optical communication. The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network solution provided by Huawei for Algeria Telecom will have the characteristics of large bandwidth, high reliability, and low latency, which can meet the growing digital business needs in Algeria.
More specifically, the implementation of this project will help Algeria achieve the following goals:
Improve network speed and capacity: The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network will provide higher bandwidth and transmission speed than the existing network, enabling Algeria to better cope with the increasing data traffic demand.
Promote the development of the digital economy: The ultra-high-speed optical network will provide a solid foundation for the development of Algeria’s digital economy and promote the vigorous development of emerging industries such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and big data.
Improve people’s livelihood services: A high-speed and stable network will provide better Internet experience for the Algerian people and promote the improvement of digital service levels in fields such as education, medical care, and government affairs.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei will cooperate closely to jointly promote all-optical network development. Both sides will give full play to their respective advantages to ensure the smooth delivery and stable operation of the network. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Algeria will embrace a more digital and intelligent future.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Abe Akie, wife of late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Details
2025-02-20
President Lai attends opening of 2025 Halifax Taipei forum
On the afternoon of February 20, President Lai Ching-te attended the opening of the 2025 Halifax Taipei forum. In remarks, President Lai thanked the Halifax International Security Forum for their strong support for Taiwan, and for having chosen Taiwan as the first location outside North America to hold a forum. Noting that we face a complex global landscape, the president called on the international community to take action. He said that as authoritarianism consolidates, democratic nations must also come closer in solidarity, and called on the international community to create non-red global supply chains, as well as unite to usher in peace. President Lai emphasized that Taiwan will work toward maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and collaborate with democratic partners to form a global alliance for the AI chip industry and together greet a bright, new era. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I want to give a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests here at the very first Halifax Taipei forum. The Halifax International Security Forum, held every year in Canada, has been an important gathering for freedom-loving nations worldwide. I would like to thank Halifax and President [Peter] Van Praagh for their strong support for Taiwan. Every year since 2018, Taiwan has been invited to participate in the forum. Last year, former President Tsai Ing-wen was invited to speak, and this year, Halifax has chosen Taiwan as the first location outside North America to hold a forum. As President Van Praagh has said, “While the security challenges ahead are too big for any single country to solve alone, there is no challenge that can’t be met when the world’s democracies work together.” Today, we have world leaders and experts who traveled from afar to be here, showing that they value and support Taiwan. It demonstrates solidarity among democracies and the determination to take on challenges as one. I would like to express my gratitude and admiration to all of you for serving as defenders of freedom. At this very moment, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing. Authoritarian regimes including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran continue to consolidate. China is hurting economies around the world through its dumping practices. We face grave challenges to global economic order, democracy, freedom, peace, and stability. Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain, directly facing an authoritarian threat. But we will not be intimidated. We will stand firm and safeguard our national sovereignty, maintain our free and democratic way of life, and uphold peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan cherishes peace, but we also have no delusions about peace. We will uphold the spirit of peace through strength, using concrete actions to build a stronger Taiwan and bolster the free and democratic community. I sincerely thank the international community for continuing to attach importance to the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Recently, US President Donald Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru issued a joint leaders’ statement expressing their firm support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and for Taiwan’s participation in international affairs. As we face a complex global landscape, I call on the international community to take the following actions: First, as authoritarianism consolidates, democratic nations must also come closer in solidarity. Just a few days ago, the top diplomats of the US, Japan, and South Korea held talks, underlining the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They also conveyed their stance against “any effort to destabilize democratic institutions, economic independence, and global security.” On these issues, Taiwan will also continue to contribute its utmost. I recently announced that we will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. Soon after I assumed office last year, I formed the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee at the Presidential Office. This committee aims to combine the strengths of government and civil society to enhance our resilience in national defense, economic livelihoods, disaster prevention, and democracy. We will also deepen our strategic partnerships in the democratic community to mutually increase defense resilience, demonstrate deterrence, and achieve our goal of peace throughout the world. Second, let’s create non-red global supply chains. For the democratic community to deter the expansion of authoritarianism, it must have strong technological capabilities. These can serve as the backbone of national defense, promote industrial development, and enhance economic resilience. So, in addressing China’s red supply chain and the impact of its dumping, Taiwan is willing and able to work with global democracies to maintain the technological strengths among our partners and build resilient non-red supply chains. As a major semiconductor manufacturing nation, Taiwan will introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. We will collaborate with our democratic partners to form a global alliance for the AI chip industry and establish democratic supply chains for industries connected to high-end chips. The achievements of today’s semiconductor industry in Taiwan can be attributed to our collective efforts. Government, industry, academia, and research institutions had to overcome various challenges over the last 50 years for us to secure this position. We hope Taiwan can serve as a base for linking the capabilities of our democratic partners so that each can play a suitable role in the semiconductor industry chain and develop its own strengths, deepening our mutually beneficial cooperation in technology. This benefits all of us. Moreover, it allows us to further enhance deterrence and maintain global security. Third, let’s unite to usher in peace. China has not stopped intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily. Last year, China launched several large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. Its escalation of gray-zone aggression now poses a grave threat to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will maintain the status quo. We will not seek conflict. Rather, we are willing to engage in dialogue with China, under the principles of parity and dignity, and work toward maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. As the agenda of this forum suggests, democracy and freedom create more than just opportunities; they also bring resilience, justice, partnerships, and security. Taiwan will continue working alongside its democratic partners to greet a bright, new era. Once again, a warm welcome to all of you. I wish this forum every success. Thank you. Also in attendance at the event were Mrs. Abe Akie, wife of the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan, and Halifax International Security Forum President Van Praagh.

Details
2025-02-20
President Lai meets British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group delegation
On the morning of February 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). In remarks, President Lai thanked the delegation members, the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and the UK government for continuing to demonstrate support for Taiwan through a variety of means. He also stated that Taiwan-UK relations have advanced significantly in recent years, noting that the Taiwan-UK Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) is the first institutionalized economic and trade framework signed between Taiwan and any European country. The president said he looks forward to continuing to deepen Taiwan-UK relations and jointly maintaining regional and global peace and stability, and indicated that together, we can create win-win developments for both Taiwan and the UK and Taiwan and European nations. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: This is the first UK parliamentary delegation of the current session to visit Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to you all. APPG Chair Sarah Champion visited Taiwan last May to attend the inauguration ceremony of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. In July, she also attended the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), which was held in Taipei. I am delighted that we are meeting once again. Taiwan-UK relations have advanced significantly in recent years. I would especially like to thank our distinguished guests, as well as the UK Parliament and government, for continuing to demonstrate support for Taiwan through a variety of means. For example, the House of Commons held a debate on Taiwan’s international status last November. After the debate, a motion was unanimously passed affirming that United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. Responding to the motion, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West stated that the UK opposes any attempt to broaden the interpretation of the resolution to rewrite history. This highlighted concrete progress in Taiwan-UK bilateral relations. I would also like to thank the UK Parliament and government for openly opposing on multiple occasions any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and for emphasizing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and transatlantic regions is closely intertwined. We look forward to continuing to deepen Taiwan-UK relations and jointly maintaining regional and global peace and stability. Together, we can create win-win developments for both Taiwan and the UK and Taiwan and European nations. For example, the Taiwan-UK ETP is the first institutionalized economic and trade framework signed between Taiwan and any European country. We hope to swiftly conclude negotiations on signing sub-arrangements on investment, digital trade, and energy and net-zero transition. This will facilitate even more exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. We also hope that the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Together, we can build even more resilient global supply chains and further contribute to global prosperity and development. I believe that this visit adds to a strong and solid foundation for future Taiwan-UK cooperation. Thank you once again for backing Taiwan. I wish you a fruitful and successful visit. Chair Champion then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for his warm welcome and for the hospitality he has shown to her and the delegation, and thanking Taiwan’s excellent team of officials for their care and attention. Chair Champion expressed that she thinks the IPAC conference held in Taiwan at the end of July last year was very significant, with legislators from 23 countries coming to show support for Taiwan, adding that that is something they have built on since the conference. She stated that she is also very proud that the UK Parliament supported the motion which made very clear that UNGA Resolution 2758 is specific to China and only to China, expressing that it was important and powerful that they recognize that. The chair went on to say that after the UK’s general election, more than half of the members of parliament are now new. She said she is very proud that there are new MPs as part of the delegation, and that she hopes it gives President Lai reassurance that their commitment to Taiwan is still there. Chair Champion emphasized that the all-party group is important because it is indeed all-party, and that they work together for their common interests, stating that the common interest for the UK and for the world is to maintain Taiwan’s sovereignty. She also noted that the United States has now come out very much in support of Taiwan, which she said she hopes encourages other countries around the world to do the same. Chair Champion said that the UK will be going into the 27th trade negotiation with Taiwan, and that they hope the partnership that develops is very fruitful. The chair closed by saying that it is wonderful for the delegation to be meeting President Lai, as well as legislators and ministers, and to be understanding more about the culture of Taiwan so that they can build a deeper, longer-lasting friendship. The delegation also included Lord Purvis of Tweed of the House of Lords and Members of Parliament Ben Spencer, Helena Dollimore, Noah Law, and David Reed. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Political and Communications Director at the British Office in Taipei Natasha Harrington.

Details
2025-02-20
President Lai meets former United States Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger
On the morning of February 17, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by former United States Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger. In remarks, President Lai thanked the delegation for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through their visit. The president pointed out that increased cooperation between authoritarian regimes is posing risks and challenges to the geopolitical landscape and regional security. He emphasized that only by bolstering our defense capabilities can we demonstrate effective deterrence and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and around the world. The president stated that moving forward, Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities. He also expressed hope of strengthening the Taiwan-US partnership and jointly building secure and resilient non-red supply chains so as to ensure that Taiwan, the US, and democratic partners around the world maintain a technological lead. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to welcome our good friends Mr. Pottinger and retired US Rear Admiral Mr. Mark Montgomery to Taiwan once again. Last June, Mr. Pottinger and Mr. Ivan Kanapathy came to Taiwan to launch their new book The Boiling Moat. During that visit, they also visited the Presidential Office. We held an extensive exchange of views on Taiwan-US relations and regional affairs right here in the Taiwan Heritage Room. Now, as we meet again eight months later, I am pleased to learn that Mr. Kanapathy is now serving on the White House National Security Council. The Mandarin translation of The Boiling Moat is also due to be released in Taiwan very soon. This book offers insightful observations from US experts regarding US-China-Taiwan relations and valuable advice for the strengthening of Taiwan’s national defense, security, and overall resilience. I am sure that Taiwanese readers will benefit greatly from it. I understand that this is Mr. Montgomery’s fourth visit to Taiwan and that he has long paid close attention to Taiwan-related issues. I look forward to an in-depth discussion with our two friends on the future direction of Taiwan-US relations and cooperation. Increased cooperation between authoritarian regimes is posing risks and challenges to the geopolitical landscape and regional security. One notion we all share is peace through strength. That is, only by bolstering our defense capabilities and fortifying our defenses can we demonstrate effective deterrence and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and around the world. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities. We also hope to strengthen the Taiwan-US partnership in such fields as security, trade and the economy, and energy. In addition, we will advance cooperation in critical and innovative technologies and jointly build secure and resilient non-red supply chains. This will ensure that Taiwan, the US, and democratic partners around the world maintain a technological lead. We believe that closer Taiwan-US exchanges and cooperation not only benefit national security and development but also align with the common economic interests of Taiwan and the US. I want to thank Mr. Pottinger and Mr. Montgomery once again for visiting and for continuing to advance Taiwan-US exchanges, demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. Let us continue to work together to deepen Taiwan-US relations. I wish you a smooth and fruitful visit. Mr. Pottinger then delivered remarks, first congratulating President Lai on his one-year election anniversary and on the state of the economy, which, he added, is doing quite well. Mentioning President Lai’s recent statement pledging to increase Taiwan’s defense budget to above 3 percent of GDP, Mr. Pottinger said he thinks that the benchmark is equal to what the US spends on its defense and that it is a good starting point for both countries to build deterrence. Echoing the president’s earlier remarks, Mr. Pottinger said that peace through strength is the right path for the US and for Taiwan right now at a moment when autocratic, aggressive governments are on the march. He then paraphrased the words of former US President George Washington in his first inaugural address, saying that the best way to keep the peace is to be prepared at all times for war, which captures the meaning of peace through strength. In closing, he said he looks forward to exchanging views with President Lai.

Details
2025-02-20
President Lai meets Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla of the Kingdom of Eswatini
On the afternoon of February 11, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla of the Kingdom of Eswatini. In remarks, President Lai thanked Eswatini for continuing to support Taiwan’s international participation at international venues. The president stated that Taiwan and Eswatini work closely in such areas as agriculture, the economy and trade, education, and healthcare, and expressed hope that the two countries will continue to support each other on the international stage and strive together for the well-being of both peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome our distinguished guests to the Presidential Office. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla previously visited Taiwan while serving as minister of foreign affairs. This is her first time leading a delegation here as deputy prime minister. I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla has earned a high degree of recognition and trust from His Majesty King Mswati III. She was not only Eswatini’s first woman foreign minister, but is also the second woman to have held her current key position. She shows an active interest in people’s welfare, and has a reputation for being deeply devoted to her compatriots. I have great admiration for this. I am truly delighted to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Dladla today. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude to His Majesty the King for leading a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao last year. This demonstrated the close diplomatic ties between our countries. I also want to thank Eswatini for continuing to support Taiwan’s international participation at international venues. I would ask that when Deputy Prime Minister Dladla returns to Eswatini, she conveys Taiwan’s greetings and gratitude to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala. Diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini have endured for over half a century. Our two nations have continued to work closely in such areas as agriculture, the economy and trade, education, and healthcare. Our largest collaboration to date has been assisting Eswatini in the construction of a strategic oil reserve facility. We will continue to push forward with this project, and look forward to achieving even greater results in all areas. I understand that Deputy Prime Minister Dladla is very concerned about issues regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment. During her term as foreign minister, she facilitated bilateral cooperation in those areas. Now, as deputy prime minister, she is actively attending to the disadvantaged and advancing social welfare. These policies are very much in line with the priorities of my administration. I look forward to strengthening cooperation with Deputy Prime Minister Dladla for the benefit of both our societies. Taiwan and Eswatini are peace-loving nations. Faced with a constantly changing international landscape and the growing threat posed by authoritarianism, we hope that our two countries will continue to support each other on the international stage and strive together for the well-being of both our peoples. In closing, I wish Deputy Prime Minister Dladla and our distinguished guests a pleasant and successful visit. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla then delivered remarks, first greeting President Lai on behalf of the King, the Queen Mother, and the people of Eswatini, and extending gratitude for the warm reception afforded to her and her delegation, which underscores the strong bonds of friendship between our two nations. The deputy prime minister stated that, in reflecting on the fruits of our partnership, the evidence of Taiwan’s commitment to Eswatini is all around us. The strategic oil reserve project launching in April, she indicated, will redefine Eswatini’s energy security, and the Central Bank complex and electrification project stand as monuments of Taiwan’s vision for Eswatini’s progress and indicate that our partnerships are very strong. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla pointed out that education is the foundation of any nation’s progress, and that Taiwan’s contribution to Eswatini’s education sector cannot be overstated. Through Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship programs, she said, Eswatini has sent numerous students to Taiwan, where they’ve received world-class education in various disciplines, including engineering, business, and medicine. In turn, she said, these graduates are now contributing to the development of Eswatini. The deputy prime minister stated that Taiwan has also strengthened Eswatini’s industrial and technological sectors, with collaborations and partnerships that create new opportunities for employment and innovation, and that Taiwan’s technical and medical assistance has strengthened Eswatini’s healthcare systems and uplifted the expertise of its professionals. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla also congratulated President Lai once again on his presidency, which she stated will lead Taiwan to new heights, adding that His Majesty coming to Taiwan personally for the inauguration was a resounding declaration of Eswatini’s enduring support for Taiwan’s sovereignty, stability, and rightful place on the world stage. She emphasized that Eswatini stands with Taiwan always and unwaveringly. In conclusion, the deputy prime minister stated that Eswatini fully agrees with Taiwan that we must all safeguard our national sovereignty and protect the lives and property of our people. She said that our common enemy will always be poverty and natural disasters, but against all odds, we will stand united, and we shall remain united and be one. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Eswatini Ambassador Promise Sithembiso Msibi.

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2025-02-20
Presidential Office thanks US and Japan for joint leaders’ statement
On February 7 (US EST), President Donald Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru of Japan issued a joint leaders’ statement reiterating “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community.” In the statement, the two leaders also “encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion” and “expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.” Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) on February 8 expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the Presidential Office to the leaders of both countries for taking concrete action to demonstrate their firm support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and for Taiwan’s international participation. Spokesperson Kuo pointed out that there is already a strong international consensus on the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, is capable and willing to work together with the international community and will continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities as it deepens its trilateral security partnership with the US and Japan and works alongside like-minded countries to uphold the rules-based international order. The spokesperson said that Taiwan will work toward ensuring a free and open Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region, as well as global peace, stability, and prosperity, as it continues to act as a force for good in the world.

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2025-02-14
President Lai holds press conference following high-level national security meeting
On the morning of February 14, President Lai Ching-te convened the first high-level national security meeting of the year, following which he held a press conference. In remarks, President Lai announced that in this new year, the government will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. He stated that the government will also continue to reform national defense, reform our legal framework for national security, and advance our economic and trade strategy of being rooted in Taiwan while expanding globally. The president also proposed clear-cut national strategies for Taiwan-US relations, semiconductor industry development, and cross-strait relations. President Lai indicated that he instructed the national security and administrative teams to take swift action and deliver results, working within a stable strategic framework and according to the various policies and approaches outlined. He also instructed them to keep a close watch on changes in the international situation, seize opportunities whenever they arise, and address the concerns and hope of the citizens with concrete actions. He expressed hope that as long as citizens remain steadfast in their convictions, are willing to work hand in hand, stand firm amidst uncertainty, and look for ways to win within changing circumstances, Taiwan is certain to prevail in the test of time yet again. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to convey my condolences for the tragic incident which occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, which resulted in numerous casualties. I have instructed Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to lead the relevant central government agencies in assisting Taichung’s municipal government with actively resolving various issues regarding the incident. It is my hope that these issues can be resolved efficiently. Earlier today, I convened this year’s first high-level national security meeting. I will now report on the discussions from the meeting to all citizens. 2025 is a year full of challenges, but also a year full of hope. In today’s global landscape, the democratic world faces common threats posed by the convergence of authoritarian regimes, while dumping and unfair competition from China undermine the global economic order. A new United States administration was formed at the beginning of the year, adopting all-new strategies and policies to address challenges both domestic and from overseas. Every nation worldwide, including ours, is facing a new phase of changes and challenges. In face of such changes, ensuring national security, ensuring Taiwan’s indispensability in global supply chains, and ensuring that our nation continues to make progress amidst challenges are our top priorities this year. They are also why we convened a high-level national security meeting today. At the meeting, the national security team, the administrative team led by Premier Cho, and I held an in-depth discussion based on the overall state of affairs at home and abroad and the strategies the teams had prepared in response. We summed up the following points as an overall strategy for the next stage of advancing national security and development. First, for overall national security, so that we can ensure the freedom, democracy, and human rights of the Taiwanese people, as well as the progress and development of the nation as we face various threats from authoritarian regimes, Taiwan must resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, strengthen self-sufficiency in national defense, and consolidate national defense. Taiwan must enhance economic resilience, maintain economic autonomy, and stand firm with other democracies as we deepen our strategic partnerships with like-minded countries. As I have said, “As authoritarianism consolidates, democratic nations must come closer in solidarity!” And so, in this new year, we will focus on the following three priorities: First, to demonstrate our resolve for national defense, we will continue to reform national defense, implement whole-of-society defense resilience, and prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. Second, to counter the threats to our national security from China’s united front tactics, attempts at infiltration, and cognitive warfare, we will continue with the reform of our legal framework for national security and expand the national security framework to boost societal resilience and foster unity within. Third, to seize opportunities in the restructuring of global supply chains and realignment of the economic order, we will continue advancing our economic and trade strategy of being rooted in Taiwan while expanding globally, strengthening protections for high-tech, and collaborating with our friends and allies to build supply chains for global democracies. Everyone shares concern regarding Taiwan-US relations, semiconductor industry development, and cross-strait relations. For these issues, I am proposing clear-cut national strategies. First, I will touch on Taiwan-US relations. Taiwan and the US have shared ideals and values, and are staunch partners within the democratic, free community. We are very grateful to President Donald Trump’s administration for their continued support for Taiwan after taking office. We are especially grateful for the US and Japan’s joint leaders’ statement reiterating “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community,” as well as their high level of concern regarding China’s threat to regional security. In fact, the Democratic Progressive Party government has worked very closely with President Trump ever since his first term in office, and has remained an international partner. The procurement of numerous key advanced arms, freedom of navigation critical for security and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and many assisted breakthroughs in international diplomacy were made possible during this time. Positioned in the first island chain and on the democratic world’s frontline countering authoritarianism, Taiwan is willing and will continue to work with the US at all levels as we pursue regional stability and prosperity, helping realize our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Although changes in policy may occur these next few years, the mutual trust and close cooperation between Taiwan and Washington will steadfastly endure. On that, our citizens can rest assured. In accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, the US announced a total of 48 military sales to Taiwan over the past eight years amounting to US$26.265 billion. During President Trump’s first term, 22 sales were announced totaling US$18.763 billion. This greatly supported Taiwan’s defensive capabilities. On the foundation of our close cooperation with the past eight years’ two US administrations, Taiwan will continue to demonstrate our determination for self-defense, accelerate the bolstering of our national defense, and keep enhancing the depth and breadth of Taiwan-US security cooperation, along with all manner of institutional cooperation. In terms of bilateral economic cooperation, Taiwan has always been one of the US’s most reliable trade partners, as well as one of the most important cooperative partners of US companies in the global semiconductor industry. In the past few years, Taiwan has greatly increased both direct and indirect investment in the US. By 2024, investment surpassed US$100 billion, creating nearly 400,000 job opportunities. In 2023 and 2024, investment in the US accounted for over 40 percent of Taiwan’s overall foreign investment, far surpassing our investment in China. In fact, in 2023 and 2024, Taiwanese investment in China fell to 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The US is now Taiwan’s biggest investment target. Our government is now launching relevant plans in accordance with national development needs and the need to establish secure supply systems, and the Executive Yuan is taking comprehensive inventory of opportunities for Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation. Moving forward, close bilateral cooperation will allow us to expand US investment and procurement, facilitating balanced trade. Our government will also strengthen guidance and support for Taiwanese enterprises on increasing US investment, and promote the global expansion and growth of Taiwan’s industries. We will also boost Taiwan-US cooperation in tech development and manufacturing for AI and advanced semiconductors, and work together to maintain order in the semiconductor market, shaping a new era for our strategic economic partnership. Second, the development of our semiconductor industry. I want to emphasize that Taiwan, as one of the world’s most capable semiconductor manufacturing nations, is both willing and able to address new situations. With respect to President Trump’s concerns about our semiconductor industry, the government will act prudently, strengthen communications between Taiwan and the US, and promote greater mutual understanding. We will pay attention to the challenges arising from the situation and assist businesses in navigating them. In addition, we will introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. We are willing to collaborate with the US and our other democratic partners to develop more resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chains. Leveraging our strengths in cutting-edge semiconductors, we will form a global alliance for the AI chip industry and establish democratic supply chains for industries connected to high-end chips. Through international cooperation, we will open up an entirely new era of growth in the semiconductor industry. As we face the various new policies of the Trump administration, we will continue to uphold a spirit of mutual benefit, and we will continue to communicate and negotiate closely with the US government. This will help the new administration’s team to better understand how Taiwan is an indispensable partner in the process of rebuilding American manufacturing and consolidating its leadership in high-tech, and that Taiwan-US cooperation will benefit us both. Third, cross-strait relations. Regarding the regional and cross-strait situation, Taiwan-US relations, US-China relations, and interactions among Taiwan, the US, and China are a focus of global attention. As a member of the international democratic community and a responsible member of the region, Taiwan hopes to see Taiwan-US relations continue to strengthen and, alongside US-China relations, form a virtuous cycle rather than a zero-sum game where one side’s gain is another side’s loss. In facing China, Taiwan will always be a responsible actor. We will neither yield nor provoke. We will remain resilient and composed, maintaining our consistent position on cross-strait relations: Our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty and protect our free and democratic way of life remains unchanged. Our efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as our willingness to work alongside China in the pursuit of peace and mutual prosperity across the strait, remain unchanged. Our commitment to promoting healthy and orderly exchanges across the strait, choosing dialogue over confrontation, and advancing well-being for the peoples on both sides of the strait, under the principles of parity and dignity, remains unchanged. Regarding the matters I reported to the public today, I have instructed our national security and administrative teams to take swift action and deliver results, working within a stable strategic framework and according to the various policies and approaches I just outlined. I have also instructed them to keep a close watch on changes in the international situation, seize opportunities whenever they arise, and address the concerns and hope of the citizens with concrete actions. My fellow citizens, over the past several years, Taiwan has weathered a global pandemic and faced global challenges, both political and economic, arising from the US-China trade war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Through it all, Taiwan has persevered; we have continued to develop our economy, bolster our national strength, and raise our international profile while garnering more support – all unprecedented achievements. This is all because Taiwan’s fate has never been decided by the external environment, but by the unity of the Taiwanese people and the resolve to never give up. A one-of-a-kind global situation is creating new strategic opportunities for our one-of-a-kind Taiwanese people, bringing new hope. Taiwan’s foundation is solid; its strength is great. So as long as everyone remains steadfast in their convictions, is willing to work hand in hand, stands firm amidst uncertainty, and looks for ways to win within changing circumstances, Taiwan is certain to prevail in the test of our time yet again, for I am confident that there are no difficulties that Taiwan cannot overcome. Thank you.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 21, 2025