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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI: Mitsubishi Corporation & Alt Carbon sign agreement to scale carbon removal in South Asia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Partnership agreement to scale carbon removal through a breakthrough Enhanced Rock Weathering tech process.
    • Alt Carbon to generate high-quality, durable Carbon Removal (CDR) credits.

    LONDON, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), and Alt Carbon, a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) company, announced a partnership agreement to scale the removal of carbon dioxide in South Asia. The agreement between the two parties will generate high quality, durable, carbon removal tons that have been created through a breakthrough Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) tech process.

    “Removal of carbon dioxide is critical to meet net-zero emissions by 2050. With Alt Carbon, we have a formidable partner with highly innovative technology in a breakthrough Enhanced Rock Weathering process that locks carbon in the ocean sink. From removing carbon, helping local farmers, and stringent testing measures to generate CDR credits, Alt Carbon is uniquely positioned to capture the ERW market. MC’s commitment to decarbonization is unwavering and reflects our dedication to a sustainable future, as we scale the CDR industry through our collaboration with Alt Carbon in ERW,” said Tadashi Sawamura, GM, Carbon Management Dept., Mitsubishi Corporation.

    Alt Carbon deploys a process called ERW that takes crushed basalt rock and spreads it on large swathes of agricultural land. The rock’s natural reaction with rainwater pulls the CO2 from the air & stores it in the soil, thereby improving crop yields. This dissolved inorganic carbon ultimately reaches the ocean via river networks and remains locked in the ocean for 10,000+ years. 

    ERW is one of the novel techniques for Carbon Removal (CDR) that has been advocated by the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a critical tool for reaching Net Zero by 2050. Alt Carbon is tapping into the increased demand for high quality, durable, traceable, carbon removal projects – and it’s operating in a growing market. Alt Carbon’s in-house MRV, team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and the Darjeeling-Climate Action Lab (D-CAL) make it one of the leading carbon removal companies in the Global South, ideally placed to remove CO2 at a gigaton scale.

    “Having an institution like Mitsubishi Corporation recognise and support our efforts entrenches our belief in the science and technology behind ERW for carbon removal. In 15 months, we have rigorously tested and modelled our operations and technology in the single pursuit of removing carbon dioxide. This is just the first step, but it feels like a giant leap as MC partners with us to make India a hub for carbon removal,” said Co-founder & CEO Shrey Agarwal, Alt Carbon. 

    Alt Carbon is the first Indian headquartered company to receive a prepurchase agreement from Frontier, an Advance Market Commitment to purchase $1+ billion of permanent carbon removal by 2030. As part of this agreement, Alt Carbon received $500,000 for the purchase of high quality, durable carbon removal tons that have been generated through the Enhanced Rock Weathering process. The participating buyers included Stripe, Shopify, Alphabet, Meta and Watershed (on behalf of Match). Alt Carbon also became the first ERW company globally to receive an offtake agreement from the South Pole & Mitsubishi-led NextGen buyer’s coalition.   

    In order to meaningfully undertake climate action, we require gigaton level projects — i.e. projects that have a shot at removing 1 billion tons of CO2 every year. Alt Carbon is targeting reaching up to 500,000 hectares of land in North East India’s tea belt by 2030, as part of the Darjeeling Revival Project, removing upwards of 5 million tonnes of CO2 every year. Beyond that, the company aims to scale up its operations in South Asia to further work towards its goal of removing 1 billion tons of CO2, each and every year. 

    Notes to the editor
    Media images can be found here. For further information please contact the Alt Carbon press office: Adithya Venkatesan on adithya@alt-carbon.com or +91 94811 74420

    About Alt Carbon
    Alt Carbon is a co2 Removal (cdr) company based out of India transforming Darjeeling’s struggling tea industry from being at-risk from the effects of climate change, to becoming pioneers for climate action. Alt Carbon is on a mission to capture vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Its ambitious goal is to remove 5M MT of CO2 by 2030, with the ultimate aim of reaching a billion tons – for good. For more information please visit https://www.alt-carbon.com/ or follow via LinkedIn. 

    Media Contact:

    Name: Adithya Venkatesan

    Company Name: Alt Carbon

    Designation: Head of Brand

    Email Address: adithya@alt-carbon.com

    Website Link: https://www.alt-carbon.com/

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Alt Carbon. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8f7c1b5-2498-42d7-9535-fd8d0fce67fd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Thailand to hold joint maritime exercise

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China and Thailand will hold a joint maritime exercise near Zhanjiang, in south China’s Guangdong Province, from late March to early April, China’s Ministry of National Defense said on Monday.
    The exercise will focus on urban counter-terrorism tactics, joint maritime strike operations, and anti-submarine warfare training, the ministry said on its website.
    This marks the sixth iteration of this series of joint exercises between the two navies — which will deepen practical cooperation and enhance joint operational capabilities, the ministry added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: S. Korea’s court holds 2nd preparatory hearing of President Yoon’s criminal trial

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    South Korea’s court on Monday held the second preparatory hearing of the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol’s criminal trial.

    The second preliminary hearing was held at a courtroom of the Seoul Central District Court around 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) to clarify the main disputes and evidence.

    Yoon was absent from the hearing after attending the first one on Feb. 20. The first formal hearing was scheduled for April 14.

    Finance and foreign ministers will be questioned during the first formal hearing, as witnesses at the request of the prosecution.

    Yoon was released on March 8 as the prosecution decided not to appeal against a court’s release approval.

    The Seoul Central District Court approved the release of the arrested president, accepting Yoon’s request to cancel his detention that was made by his legal team on Feb. 4.

    Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country’s first sitting president to be arrested and prosecuted.

    Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year, but it was revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later.

    A motion to impeach Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 14, and since then the constitutional court has held 11 hearings on Yoon’s impeachment. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rubber-tapping robots designed to alleviate labor shortage

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    In a bid to tackle the chronic labor shortages plaguing its natural rubber industry, China has unveiled a mobile rubber-tapping robot, marking a leap forward in agricultural automation.

    Developed jointly by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) and Beijing-based tech firm Automotive Walking Technology, the self-navigating robot is set to undergo trials in rubber plantations in south China’s Hainan Province during the upcoming tapping season in April.

    In a demonstration video, the robot can be seen approaching a rubber tree, before halting with pinpoint accuracy and then extending its robotic arm to execute a precise cutting motion on the trunk. Within seconds after this cutting motion, the video reveals milky-white latex flowing steadily from the incision made by the robot.

    China’s natural rubber sector, vital for tire manufacturing and as a source of industrial supplies, is currently facing a significant workforce deficit due to its grueling working conditions, nocturnal shifts and high incidence of occupational diseases.

    “The rubber-tapping robots have been developed to address the exodus of rubber tappers, which is the industry’s critical pain point,” said Cao Jianhua, deputy director of the CATAS rubber research institute.

    The robot, equipped with a multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm and caterpillar-track mobility, leverages AI-driven technologies to adapt to complex terrain and perform precision cuts.

    Its navigation system combines laser radar and multi-sensor fusion algorithms, enabling high-precision positioning in dense plantations. Also, visual tech determines tree bark depth and cutting angles, achieving 80 percent manual harvesting efficiency with matching latex quality.

    The rubber-tapping robot can harvest 100 to 120 trees per hour, powered by lithium batteries that provide over 8 hours of continuous operation. Notably, its 20-second rapid battery swap capability ensures uninterrupted workflow in large plantations.

    Once in the mass-production phase, the cost of the rubber-tapping robot will drop below 100,000 yuan (13,820 U.S. dollars), and for a 50-mu (3.33 hectares) rubber garden, robot-based tapping will recoup the purchase cost within about 18 months, Sun Yao, co-founder of Automotive Walking Technology, told Xinhua.

    “We’ve been in discussions with several multinational tire companies and rubber growers throughout Southeast Asia, including in Indonesia and Thailand, and they’re showing strong interest in our product,” said Cao.

    Cao’s team is continuing to refine its technology. Soon, users will be able to monitor the robots directly from their smartphones, get a clear picture of the rubber garden’s status, and use more big data and AI technologies for fully automated management.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Jinhua launches global initiative to expand trade

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A major manufacturing city in east China’s Zhejiang Province has kicked off its 2025 global trade promotion initiative in a bid to boost exports, amid rising trade protectionism and weakening demand in key global markets.

    As the first step of this endeavor, a delegation of 55 companies from the city of Jinhua, home to some 2 million market entities, participated in the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in the United States from March 18 to 20.

    “Participating in exhibitions can help us win new customers and also strengthen relationships with old customers. It also allows us to better understand customer demands and experience,” said Li Xing, general manager of Jinhua Bangte Electric Co., Ltd.

    Li’s company took over 10 types of hardware and electrical accessories to the exhibition to further tap the U.S. market. Ahead of the trade show, he visited clients in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York to gain deeper market insights and explore potential partnerships.

    “As long as we step out overseas, there will be rewards,” said Li. His company, which mainly exports to the United States and Canada, has achieved annual exports of more than 100 million yuan (about 13.93 million U.S. dollars) on average over the past three years.

    Amid rising tariffs on Chinese goods, Li acknowledged the challenges posed by increased costs. He revealed that his company was negotiating with clients to share the burden. He is also working on establishing a U.S.-based trading company to build overseas warehouses to reduce logistics and warehousing costs.

    Zhejiang Seacoast Industrial Co., Ltd., another exhibitor, received positive feedback at the Las Vegas expo regarding its new balcony and courtyard tables and chairs.

    “The United States is an important export destination for China’s hardware and garden products,” said Gao Junting, general manager of Seacoast Industrial. “Through this exhibition, we aim to expand our offline customer base and enter major U.S. supermarkets.”

    Gao noted that rising living costs in the United States are driving consumers to seek affordable yet high-quality products. “This presents an opportunity for us.”

    Beyond the United States, Seacoast Industrial has made significant progress in expanding into Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.

    Currently, about 15 percent of its exports, approximately 5 million U.S. dollars annually, are achieved via online platforms like Amazon in the United States, while over 80 percent goes to clients in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.

    The city of Jinhua is intensifying its global trade efforts. In 2025, the city plans to organize delegations of exporters to participate in seven more trade exhibitions in Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Britain, Morocco and Türkiye.

    These exhibitions will showcase a wide range of products such as hardware tools, gardening products, kitchen and bathroom products, and lighting equipment.

    With the help of new trade models, including cross-border e-commerce, Jinhua reported strong trade growth in 2024, with total exports rising 16.4 percent year on year to 771.9 billion yuan. The number of local companies engaged in international trade surpassed 17,000 in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC Adelaide, interview

    Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

    This transcript has been redacted in accordance with Digital Transformation Agency guidelines.

    Rory McClaren: In a time of growing global uncertainty, my next guest is currently charged with trying to navigate Australia’s international trade relationships. Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism and South Australian Senator Don Farrell. Good morning to you.

    Trade Minister: Good morning, Rory.

    Rory McClaren: Minister, ABC News is reporting today that a lobby group representing the big tech sector in the US Is encouraging the Trump administration to try and put pressure on Australia to change its policies. And the group has attacked the way that social media, streaming services, and artificial intelligence is being regulated. How do you respond to that criticism?

    Trade Minister: Well, every day, Rory, you get reports of things happening in the United States. I don’t panic about them and try and work through all of these issues, in a calm and consistent way. On this particular topic, of course, we are not singling out United States companies. We treat all companies from all countries equally, and that’s how it should be, and that’s how we’ll proceed to deal with these issues. We have been working to try and improve online safety for all Australians and of course, ensure that we’ve got a diverse and sustainable news media sector. So, that’s our objective out of all of this. And we’ll keep working in the interest of Australians on that online safety and that diversification of the media sector.

    Rory McClaren: But is this intervention from this lobby group just another example of how volatile this trade relationship is becoming with the United States?

    Trade Minister: Look, again, I don’t think we should be overreacting to everything that comes out from the United States. We’ve had a very long standing and good relationship with the United States. Sure, things have started to change in the last few weeks and the last few months. But the goodwill that we have towards the Americans and that they have towards us is still on display. I spoke with my counterpart, the United States Trade Representative, on Tuesday morning. We had a very good discussion. He got to explain what their objectives are. And I explained to them just how important we think we are to the American economy. We have an interesting trade relationship with America. We roughly have $100 billion worth of trade. We buy $70 billion worth of product off them and we sell them $30 billion worth of product. So, we say to them, look, why would you impose a tariff on a country where you have a trade surplus? He pointed out to me that there are only a few other countries in the world where the United States has a trade surplus. One is Hong Kong and the other one is the Netherlands. So, as best we can, we are trying to explain to the highest levels of the United States government just how our trading relationship works. And we’ll continue to do that over the days and the weeks ahead. Obviously, there’s going to be some developments next week. The American government is going to announce what it’s going to do across the board on tariffs on that.

    Rory McClaren: Have you received any reassurances from the Trump administration about Australia and how Australia will be impacted?

    Trade Minister: We’re continuing to talk with them, Rory. I think that’s the most appropriate thing I can say at this stage. We want to engage with the Americans. We want to understand what it is that they want out there, out of the relationship. We’ve had 20 years of our free trade agreement. We think it’s been beneficial to both countries. We want that relationship to continue. Obviously, we have a very important relationship, particularly in South Australia with the AUKUS arrangement. We continue to talk to them about that and we have good, strong, friendly relationships with the United States and we want to keep it that way.

    Rory McClaren: Just on that, we’ve had a text with a question for you, Senator Don Farrell. Do we have a free trade agreement with the U.S. and if so, have they broken it? Do these free trade agreements really mean anything?

    Trade Minister: Well, answering that final question, yes, yes, they are important. You might recall three years ago when I first came into this job, we had $20 billion worth of tariffs and impediments imposed on us by the Chinese government. Despite the fact that we had a free trade agreement with the Chinese. Over that three year period, we – one by one – managed to remove all of those tariffs and all of those trade impediments. The last of them, interestingly, was crayfish just before Christmas last year. And already in that first month we’ve sold $33 million worth of crayfish back into the Chinese market. A record amount. But what did we use? We used our free trade agreement to take issues to, for instance, the World Trade Organization. And we were able to, by combination of diplomacy and other remedies, we were able to resolve each and every one of those issues. So, yes, we do have a free trade agreement with the United States and yes, we are able to use those free trade agreements to progress issues if there is a dispute. Now, obviously first point is we’re trying to resolve issues with the United States by discussion. That’s the first starting point. What we might do subsequently to that. Well, let’s, let’s see what happens. But my ambition is to do what we did in the China situation, that is sit down, open the dialogue, start talking, try and understand what their issues are, but also explain to the Americans what our issues are.

    Rory McClaren: Minister, could that also see you travel to the United States ahead of that decision?

    Trade Minister: Well, I’ve been taking video conferences in the post Covid world. That’s a pretty good way to talk to people and to communicate with people. I don’t want to predict just how we’ll conduct those negotiations, but the listeners should be, should rest assured that we’re open to dialogue and we are having dialogue with the Americans as we speak. And we’ll continue to do that because I think that’s the way you resolve issues. That’s how you resolve issues. Between other people. And that’s how you resolve issues between countries. And that’s what I’d like to do.

    Rory McClaren: Don Farrell, Federal Trade Tourism Minister, thank you for your time.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: 14/2025・Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 14 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 24 March 2025


    Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    On 28 February 2025, Trifork initiated a share buyback program in accordance with Regulation No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, (Safe Harbour regulation). The share buyback program runs from 4 March 2025 up to and including no later than 30 June 2025. The buyback program will not be active from 9 to 15 April 2025. For details, please see company announcement no. 7 of 28 February 2025.

    Under the share buyback program, Trifork will purchase shares for up to a total of DKK 14.92 million (approximately EUR 2 million).

    Prior to the launch of the share buyback, Trifork held 256,329 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.3% of the share capital.

    Under the program, the following transactions have been made:

    Date    Number of shares       Average purchase price (DKK)       Transaction value (DKK)
    Total beginning 19,188 80.74 1,549,334
    17 March 2025 2,000 84.74 169,480
    18 March 2025 2,000 87.22 174,440
    19 March 2025 2,200 90.81 199,782
    20 March 2025 2,100 94.39 198,219
    21 March 2025 1,900 94.01 178,619
    Accumulated 29,388 84.04 2,469,874

    Since the share buyback program was started on 4 March 2025, the total number of repurchased shares is 29,388 at a total amount of DKK 2,469,874.

    With the transactions stated above, Trifork holds a total of 285,717 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.4%. The total number of registered shares in Trifork is 19,744,899. Adjusted for treasury shares, the number of outstanding shares is 19,459,182.


    Investor and media contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director & Head of Investor Relations
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


    About Trifork
    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,229 professionals across 73 business units in 16 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN tours the National Museum of Indonesia and meets with Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia

    Source: ASEAN

    Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, together with H.E. Dr. H. Fadli Zon, Minister of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, today toured the exhibitions that showcased the rich cultural heritage and history of Indonesia, at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta. Following the tour, both sides took the opportunity to discuss and exchange views on cultural cooperation including heritage initiatives in ASEAN, and explored new opportunity to strengthen regional cultural cooperation towards advancing ASEAN’s cultural agenda.  

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN tours the National Museum of Indonesia and meets with Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Investing in Melbourne’s booming north

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are building Victoria’s future, backing an upgrade to the Donnybrook Road and Mitchell Street intersection to cut congestion and improve safety in Melbourne’s growing north.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams today announced a $125 million investment to transform the roundabout at Donnybrook Road and Mitchell Street, delivering additional lanes and a fully signalised intersection.

    The project will deliver a new bridge over Kalkallo Creek and significantly improve safety in the area, with barriers set to be installed around the intersection helping to keep motorists and pedestrians safe.

    The new lanes through the intersection will deliver better access onto the Hume Freeway and help motorists travel through the community.

    The upgrade builds on the construction of a dedicated left turn slip lane in 2023, which has since helped to ease traffic congestion and provide easier access to the Hume Freeway.

    The recent improvements have reduced peak time congestion in the area and alleviated the queuing of traffic on Donnybrook Road and Dwyer Street while also improving access to the Hume Freeway for motorists travelling west.

    The project is part of the Albanese and Allan Labor Government’s joint $1.2 billion Road Blitz, with the Australian Government contributing $1 billion and the State Government contributing $200 million.

    The funding follows our recent $7.05 million investment in a business case to uplift services on the Craigieburn, Upfield and Northern Growth Corridor, exploring the full range of infrastructure upgrades required to respond to growth.

    Infrastructure upgrades that will be assessed include track modifications, electrification, signalling and power upgrades, level crossing removals, additional stabling and potential new stations such as Cloverton/Lockerbie, Beveridge and Summer Hill Road.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

    “My Government is building Victoria’s future.

    “We have allocated more than $1 billion to upgrade local roads across Victoria, to help improve safety and congestion, and slash travel time.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “We’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government.

    “This will be transformative project for Melbourne’s north, better connecting these growing suburbs with the city and the region.

    “We are committed to delivering critical projects across Victoria that will help keep people moving, which is why we’re investing in Kalkallo.”

    Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams

    “As Melbourne’s population continues to grow, we are investing in critical projects that will create better journeys for motorists – just like this upgrade.

    “After ten years of neglect from the Federal Liberal Government, it’s great to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and help deliver critical projects that people rely on every day.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell:

    “Our community deserves the infrastructure that will provide safer and faster travel and the Albanese Labor Government is investing in projects that build our future.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Palestine Occupied Territories – Mass displacements in northern West Bank take a dramatic toll on Palestinians, warns MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    JERUSALEM – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that tens of thousands of displaced people in the northern West Bank, Palestine, are without proper shelter, essential services, and access to healthcare. Following the January 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, Israel launched the “Iron Wall” military operation in the occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing thousands and leaving them in an extremely precarious situation. Israel must immediately halt the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and the humanitarian response must be scaled up and reach those in need.

    “This scale of forced displacement and destruction of the camps has not been seen for decades. People are unable to return to their homes as Israeli forces have blocked access to the camps, destroying homes and infrastructure. Camps have become ruins and dust” explains Brice de la Vingne, MSF director of operations. “Israel must stop this, and the humanitarian response needs to be scaled up”.

    Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, Israeli forces have increased the use of extreme physical violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as MSF highlighted in its report “Inflicting harm and denying care”. In total, 930 Palestinians have been killed including 187 children according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Access to healthcare has been severely hindered as confirmed by MSF teams on the ground who have witnessed the systematic pattern of oppression by Israel on health workers and patients. The situation further deteriorated since the ceasefire in Gaza and Israel’s “Iron Wall” operation which has effectively emptied the three main refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams in northern West Bank forcibly displacing over 40,000 Palestinians according to OCHA.

    “The [Israeli] army raided our house and ordered us to evacuate. We weren’t allowed to take anything with us – not even our documents. All we received was the warning: ‘Get out’,” explains Issam, 55, MSF patient who was displaced from Nur Shams camp. “Displacement is suffering, a silent anguish, a deep pain in the heart for everyone. You see the tears in people’s eyes, but we hold them back.”

    The mental health situation is alarming, with many patients suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression due to the violent and unpredictable nature of incursions and displacement. “People don’t know what has happened to their homes and have suffered immense losses, including their sense of purpose,” says Mohammad, 30, an MSF community health educator.

    “Drones were flying over the houses, ordering the residents to get out.  They always destroy things, but nothing like this has ever happened before” according to Abdel, resident of Jenin camp.

    MSF previously offered support in the three camps but had to adapt activities given the security risks and displacement of the populations. MSF teams now operate daily mobile clinics in Tulkarem and Jenin to provide medical care to displaced people. Our teams are treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension which have worsened due to lack of access to medication; respiratory infections, and osteo-muscular disorders among others. MSF teams also distribute hygiene kits and food parcels to support those who were forced to leave their homes without resources or belongings. MSF is providing water to the Khalil Suleiman hospital, the main hospital in Jenin, to mitigate frequent supply shortages due to damage from the military operations.

    MSF continues to respond to the urgent needs, but the scale of displacement and the escalating humanitarian crisis amid the inadequate international response present an immense challenge and needs in the West Bank are only getting worse.

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

    March 21, 2025

    Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

    March 21, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

    An extended board meeting was held at Rospotrebnadzor, dedicated to the results of the agency’s activities in 2024 and tasks for 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova, and Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko took part in the work of the board.

    The meeting was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. She emphasized that Rospotrebnadzor regularly faces new challenges and threats, but coordinated work and accumulated experience allow preventing the import and spread of dangerous infections. Based on the century-long history of its existence, the service is constantly developing. Participation in the state programs “Development of Healthcare”, “Ensuring Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation” and “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”, the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies, the implementation of the “Sanitary Shield of the Country” initiative gave the service the opportunity to reach a new technological level.

    According to Tatyana Golikova, the key area of the service’s work is the country’s biological safety. “Over three years, a network of 54 sequencing centers, 153 PCR centers has been formed, 20 mobile rapid response laboratories and 14 mobile sanitary and quarantine points operate in the regions. Of the 80 biological safety reference centers existing in the country, 46 operate in Rospotrebnadzor institutions,” she noted.

    What was introduced as pilot approaches and innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic has become routine today. “First of all, this is genomic surveillance and population immunological monitoring. Sequencing capacity in the country has increased fivefold since 2021 – up to 10 thousand sequences per week, which makes Russia one of the world leaders in genomic surveillance,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    The second block of tasks of the service is hygiene. The issues of healthy nutrition, clean water, safe environment are becoming increasingly relevant, as they directly affect the health of each person.

    “As part of the national project “Demography” completed in 2024, a large-scale information and communication campaign on healthy eating was conducted with an audience reach of more than 2 billion views. It was possible to achieve a reduction of almost three times the rate of growth of primary obesity incidence in 2019-2024,” said Tatyana Golikova.

    Rospotrebnadzor will continue activities to implement individual healthy nutrition programs within the framework of the federal project “Health for Everyone”, which is part of the national project “Long and Active Life”, which was launched on January 1 of this year.

    An important area of activity is quality control and food safety. The Service has conducted more than 1 million studies of food products for vitamin and macro- and micronutrient content and surveyed more than 675 thousand students in more than 15 thousand schools. A large-scale in-depth assessment of the actual nutrition of schoolchildren made it possible to identify problems in each region and develop recommendations for each of them on the consumption of food products that meet the requirements of healthy nutrition.

    The product traceability system is gradually expanding the list of products for assessing their compliance with mandatory requirements through the Honest Sign application. In September 2024, the procedure for licensing disinfection activities came into force. A lot of work has been done to change the methodological framework, and amendments to the sanitary rules have been prepared.

    The third important block of the service’s work is consumer rights protection.

    At the end of last year, amendments to the legislation aimed at protecting citizens from the imposition of goods or services on them were adopted in the first reading. “We expect that the proposed amendments will strengthen control in this area and, as a result, will increase the effectiveness of protecting the rights of consumers, as well as bona fide entrepreneurs who avoid such tricks in their activities,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

    In addition, in December of last year, amendments were made to the Code of Administrative Offences, which increased the amount of administrative fines for failure by entrepreneurs to submit notification of the commencement of activities and increased the statute of limitations for bringing to administrative responsibility from three to six months.

    An equally important block is science. The service has a unique scientific base, its infrastructure is constantly being modernized.

    Breakthrough research for biological safety is carried out by Rospotrebnadzor scientific institutions, including within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies. The latest candidate vaccines against especially dangerous infections have been developed. Plague and tularemia vaccines are already undergoing preclinical trials.

    “49 new rapid tests for diagnosing infections have been created, and the range should be expanded to effectively identify biological threats. The indisputable merit of the service’s scientific organizations is technological independence in the development and production of diagnostic test systems. Today, 100% import substitution of test system production has been ensured, with the release of up to 1 million kits per year,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    The work of the World-Class Genomic Research Center based at the service’s scientific institutions will continue in 2025–2030.

    An equally important block of tasks is international cooperation. The Service monitors and controls infections at near and far approaches. Today, the Service interacts with 30 countries, constantly works in joint centers in Southeast Asia and Latin America. 41 mobile laboratories have been transferred to 16 countries to ensure biological safety. In 2024, the warning and response system in the single epidemiological space of the CIS was strengthened. Fulfilling the initiative of the President of Russia, announced at the Russia-Africa summit in 2023, the geography of the presence of Rospotrebnadzor specialists in Africa has been expanded to 15 countries.

    Tatyana Golikova thanked her colleagues for their success in defending Russia’s position at the WHO and preventing changes to international health regulations.

    All achievements are impossible without the main thing – professional staff. Today, the service employs about 15 thousand young specialists under 35 years of age – this is almost a quarter of all employees. Tatyana Golikova thanked the employees of Rospotrebnadzor for their work and wished them new successes.

    In his speech, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko spoke about the joint work of Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Health, aimed at reducing the total duration of temporary disability among unemployed citizens. By 2030, it is planned to reduce this figure by 15%.

    In turn, the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova announced the results of the department’s activities in 2024 and tasks for 2025. Thus, the unified information system of Rospotrebnadzor allows informing the population and authorities about the quality of drinking water and air within the framework of the Clean Water and Clean Air projects. The interactive water quality control map, which has been in operation since 2022, contains more than 19 million research results.

    An alternative method for determining the contamination of drinking water and reservoirs has been introduced – the “toxicity index”. Methods have been developed for determining eight antibiotics in drinking water.

    Anna Popova emphasized that Rospotrebnadzor actively protects consumer rights in court, which ensures a high level of legal protection in the consumer market. In 2024, 94–98% of claims were made in favor of consumers, the amount of awarded payments amounted to 4.2 billion rubles.

    As part of the federal project “Sanitary Shield of the Country”, a unique fleet of mobile laboratories has been created, which allows for a prompt response to risks: anywhere in the country within 24 hours and in the world – within 48 hours. Since 2023, the AIS “Perimeter” has been operating at 241 checkpoints to assess epidemiological risks in real time. Remote thermometry and testing at the border have also been introduced, and mobile sanitary and quarantine complexes with laboratory support have been installed in 14 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

    Territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor and hygiene and epidemiology centers operate in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Zaporizhia Oblast and Kherson Oblast. Since the summer of 2022, mobile complexes of anti-epidemic teams have been operating in the regions. Mobile laboratories for rapid response have been delivered to four entities, the work of which is integrated into the Rospotrebnadzor network, ensuring readiness to detect infectious diseases.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police pleased with Fringe revellers

    Source: New South Wales – News

    South Australia Police (SAPOL) has reviewed the behaviour of 2025 Fringe Festival attendees and is pleased overall – despite the removal of 50 people from the area.

    Operation Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025 was held from 21 February to 23 March and saw the deployment of foot and bicycle patrols, along with police horses, dogs and Public Transport Safety Branch members to focus on behaviour, liquor licensing compliance, and public safety.

    The ‘Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025’ Declared Public Precinct (DPP) was also in place for a 12-hour period from 6pm to 6am every night during the Fringe period, in addition to the city-west DPP already in place.

    “The event appears to have been extremely well attended, and I am pleased, as the Police Commander, to report that despite a few minor behavioural matters, most people in attendance were extremely well behaved,” Superintendent Scott Denny said.

    “A combination of additional police, the Declared Public Precinct, the extremely well organised event and great behaviour by the public saw a very successful and entertaining Fringe event yet again.

    “Police reported that the interactions with the public were friendly which again highlights how wonderful this event is. Pleasingly there were no significant incidents of note.”

    Fringe DPP results included:

    • Number of people removed from Fringe DPP- 50
    • Number of people issued with Licensed Premises Barring Orders within DPP- 0
    • Number of expiation notices issued for Offensive/Disorderly in Fringe DPP- 8
    • Number of people searched with a metal detector in the Fringe DPP- 83
    • Number of weapons located from a metal detector search in Fringe DPP- 0
    • Number of people arrested for breaching of Fringe DPP- 1
    • Number of people arrested/reported in Fringe DPP- 6

    Anecdotally, police reported large numbers of the public in the CBD each night, swelling extensively in the East End on Friday and Saturday nights being the peak times for the demand of police resources. Festival organisers announced the sale of one million tickets for the 2025 event.

    “Thank you to all involved in keeping festival goers safe for another year,” Superintendent Denny added.

    “It’s great to see the city come alive with many locals and visitors, and we look forward to being part of next year’s event.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ADB’s Partnership with Canada

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    • ADB and Canada have been working together for nearly six decades to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific.

    Article | 24 March 2025

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    •  A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds.
    •  Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy’s investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development.
    •  ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific.

    For nearly six decades, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Canada have collaborated to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific. From advancing gender equality to addressing the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and poverty and inequality, the partnership has played an important role in the region’s sustainable development.

    A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds. Canada-based private entities have also committed $383 million to nonsovereign operations.

    In 2023, Canada’s cofinancing commitments amounted to $6.9 million. In the same year, ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program supported five Canadian exports and/or imports valued at $2.1 million.

    Advancing shared priorities

    Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in November 2022, identifies Asia and the Pacific as a region of immense opportunity. With an investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years, the strategy signals Canada’s commitment to the region. It focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development. It also aligns efforts with global initiatives such as the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment.

    Collaborating with FinDev Canada

    ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific. They will jointly support private sector growth and investments in emerging and developing markets that advance women’s economic empowerment, climate action, and local market development.

    Driving results through trust funds

    ADB’s trust funds are essential to mobilize private financing and accelerate private sector participation in development. Canada has supported 6 ADB-managed trust funds, including:

    Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility. Enhancing infrastructure development with $63.3 million in collective contributions alongside Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. It supports the preparation and structuring of infrastructure projects, with private sector participation, and bringing them to the global market.

    Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Supporting private sector projects in the region focused on climate and nature-based solutions, with $255 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Catalyzing private investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Asia and the Pacific. It is ADB’s first concessional debt cofinancing facility focused on private sector climate actions, with $77.3 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II. Supporting private sector participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation in low- and lower-middle-income countries and upper-middle-income small island developing states, with $149.5 million in commitments.

    Stories of ADB-Canada partnerships

    Bangladesh: Keeping the Kids in Primary School. Bangladesh’s Primary Education Development Program, cofinanced by ADB and Canada, and other partners, introduced innovative approaches that changed the face of basic education in the country, such as the adoption of multimedia, teacher training, and reward schemes to encourage kids to stay in school.

    Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Southeast Asia’s Biggest Wind Power Plant. The Monsoon Wind Power Company is building a wind power plant in the Lao PDR. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are cofinancing what is poised to become the largest wind power facility in Southeast Asia.

    Maldives: Boosting Small Businesses and the Blue Economy. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are providing the Bank of Maldives with a financing package to boost small businesses and investments in sustainable blue economy projects.

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    • ADB funds and products

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s manufacturing hub launches global initiative to expand trade

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A major manufacturing city in east China’s Zhejiang Province has kicked off its 2025 global trade promotion initiative in a bid to boost exports, amid rising trade protectionism and weakening demand in key global markets.

    As the first step of this endeavor, a delegation of 55 companies from the city of Jinhua, home to some 2 million market entities, participated in the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas in the United States from March 18 to 20.

    “Participating in exhibitions can help us win new customers and also strengthen relationships with old customers. It also allows us to better understand customer demands and experience,” said Li Xing, general manager of Jinhua Bangte Electric Co., Ltd.

    Li’s company took over 10 types of hardware and electrical accessories to the exhibition to further tap the U.S. market. Ahead of the trade show, he visited clients in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York to gain deeper market insights and explore potential partnerships.

    “As long as we step out overseas, there will be rewards,” said Li. His company, which mainly exports to the United States and Canada, has achieved annual exports of more than 100 million yuan (about 13.93 million U.S. dollars) on average over the past three years.

    Amid rising tariffs on Chinese goods, Li acknowledged the challenges posed by increased costs. He revealed that his company was negotiating with clients to share the burden. He is also working on establishing a U.S.-based trading company to build overseas warehouses to reduce logistics and warehousing costs.

    Zhejiang Seacoast Industrial Co., Ltd., another exhibitor, received positive feedback at the Las Vegas expo regarding its new balcony and courtyard tables and chairs.

    “The United States is an important export destination for China’s hardware and garden products,” said Gao Junting, general manager of Seacoast Industrial. “Through this exhibition, we aim to expand our offline customer base and enter major U.S. supermarkets.”

    Gao noted that rising living costs in the United States are driving consumers to seek affordable yet high-quality products. “This presents an opportunity for us.”

    Beyond the United States, Seacoast Industrial has made significant progress in expanding into Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.

    Currently, about 15 percent of its exports, approximately 5 million U.S. dollars annually, are achieved via online platforms like Amazon in the United States, while over 80 percent goes to clients in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.

    The city of Jinhua is intensifying its global trade efforts. In 2025, the city plans to organize delegations of exporters to participate in seven more trade exhibitions in Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Britain, Morocco and Türkiye.

    These exhibitions will showcase a wide range of products such as hardware tools, gardening products, kitchen and bathroom products, and lighting equipment.

    With the help of new trade models, including cross-border e-commerce, Jinhua reported strong trade growth in 2024, with total exports rising 16.4 percent year on year to 771.9 billion yuan. The number of local companies engaged in international trade surpassed 17,000 in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Judiciary launches LinkedIn page

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Judiciary launches LinkedIn page 
    The Judiciary officially launched its LinkedIn page today (March 24) to foster professional understanding and enhance transparency in its work, both locally and internationally.
     
    Through this platform, the Judiciary will share updates on significant court judgments, major professional exchanges with other jurisdictions, key events, and important initiatives.
     
    Please visit and follow the Judiciary’s LinkedIn page (www.Linkedin.com/company/hk-judiciaryIssued at HKT 13:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Hack the Future” Hackathon at IIT Gandhinagar organized by NSO, India successfully concluded

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 8:52AM by PIB Delhi

    NSO. India in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), successfully concluded its 36-hour hackathon titled “Hack the Future” today at the IITGN campus.

    The event witnessed participation from 18 teams representing prestigious academic institutions across India which included IITs, NITs, IIITs etc. Participants tackled three innovative challenges presented to them with guidance given by mentors from the Ministry and the institute. A five jury members comprising experts from industry, academia, and the Ministry evaluated the final solutions.

    The valedictory session was graced by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI & Head NSO; Shri P.R. Meshram, Director General, NSO India and Dr. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar.

    In his address, Shri P.R. Meshram congratulated all participants and highlighted that the hackathon represents an extension of the Ministry’s ongoing modernization initiatives. Dr. Moona encouraged participants to continue their work in data science and statistics beyond the hackathon, leveraging the extensive datasets made available by MoSPI. He also commended the Ministry for its innovative initiatives.

    Dr. Garg expressed satisfaction with the nationwide participation and congratulated all finalist teams. He encouraged participants to continue working in this field to contribute to nation-building efforts.

    Prizes were awarded to the top three solutions across three categories. Plaksha University, Chandigarh claimed the top spot in two categories, while Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology won in the remaining category. The second-place winners were IIT Jammu, VIT Vellore, and NIT Goa in their respective categories, while NMIMS Mumbai, IIIT Vadodara, and IIT Kharagpur secured third place in their respective categories.

    The event concluded with a collective commitment to continue fostering innovation through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

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    Samrat/Allen

    (Release ID: 2114242) Visitor Counter : 92

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Flower Show’s flower distribution activity concludes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Flower Show’s flower distribution activity concludes 
    Please broadcast the following at suitable intervals:
     
         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 24) that due to an overwhelming response from the public, the Hong Kong Flower Show’s flower distribution activity on Green Recycling Day has concluded. Members of the public are advised not to proceed to Victoria Park for the collection of flowers.
    Issued at HKT 11:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Small-scale Test Survey of 2026 Population Census

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Small-scale Test Survey of 2026 Population Census 
         Hong Kong will conduct population census in 2026. The purpose is to obtain up-to-date benchmark information on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population of Hong Kong and on its geographical distribution. Such information is important to the Government for planning and policy formulation, and the private sector and academia for business and research purposes respectively.
     
         A sample of some 9 000 quarters located in the Eastern District, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan has been selected by the C&SD for the Small-scale Test Survey. Households in the selected quarters will be required to provide information on demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The C&SD will also invite households to provide opinions on the questionnaire design and the census operation.
     
         Households selected for this Survey will receive a notification letter issued by the C&SD. They can follow the information provided in the notification letters to complete the questionnaires through the “Online Questionnaire System”, or call the Census Hotline 18 2026 to conduct telephone interviews. Census officers of this Department will also visit households not yet responded to conduct face-to-face interviews.
     
         The C&SD reminded households that if they have not provided the C&SD with their contact information, the C&SD will not initiate call, send email or SMS to them. Each census officer will wear a vest uniform and carry a Government Identity Card / Enumerator Identity Card and a Certificate of Identity issued by the C&SD for verification. Households can call 18 2026 to check the identity of census officer.
     
         This Survey is conducted under Part IIIA of the Census and Statistics Ordinance (Chapter 316). Information collected regarding individual persons and households will be kept in strict confidence.
     
         For enquiries about the Survey, please call 18 2026.
    Issued at HKT 10:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Former registered minor works contractor, its authorised signatory, contractor, its sub-contractor and worker fined over $130,000 in total for contravention of Buildings Ordinance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    A former registered minor works contractor (RMWC), its authorised signatory (AS), a contractor, its subcontractor and a worker were fined $137,000 in total at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on March 5, for contravention of the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO).  

    The case involved a fatal incident at a composite building at Cheung Wong Road, Mong Kok, when carrying out the removal works of an unauthorised flat roof structure in February 2023. The removal works, being a minor works item, were required to be carried out by a prescribed registered contractor (PRC) in accordance with the simplified requirements of the Minor Works Control System (MWCS). During the removal works, a flat steel bar fell onto the street and struck a pedestrian, who was subsequently certified dead.  

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SED to attend International Summit on the Teaching Profession and Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SED to attend International Summit on the Teaching Profession and Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition 
         On March 25 (Reykjavík time), Dr Choi will lead a delegation of Hong Kong principals and education experts to attend the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2025 in Reykjavík, Iceland, to discuss the latest trends in global education development with education ministers from around the world. She will also visit local schools and meet education experts there.
     
         On March 27 (Delhi time), she will depart for Delhi, India, and lead a delegation of representatives of the University Grants Committee (UGC) and UGC-funded universities to attend the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2025 Conference and Exhibition, during which she will deliver a speech on “Study in Hong Kong”. The Secretary-General of the UGC, Professor James Tang, will join part of the visit.
     
         Dr Choi will conclude her visit on March 28 (Delhi time) and return to Hong Kong. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.
    Issued at HKT 11:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Leading Mainland supply chain and logistics service provider JD Logistics leverages Hong Kong’s status as multinational supply chain management centre to expand Hong Kong operation (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Leading Mainland supply chain and logistics service provider JD Logistics leverages Hong Kong’s status as multinational supply chain management centre to expand Hong Kong operation  
    Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Charles Ng said, “The expansion of JD Logistics in Hong Kong reinforces the city’s status as an international supply chain management centre. We look forward to closer collaboration with them to enhance supply chain efficiency and inject new momentum into Hong Kong’s economic growth and innovation development.”
     
    Since its service upgrade in Hong Kong, JD Logistics has opened four operations centres in Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin, and Yuen Long. To increase coverage on Hong Kong Island, a fifth operations centre has been established in Chai Wan, with an area of over 10 000 sq ft. Equipped with automated sorting equipment, the efficiency of the operations centre is expected to double.
     
         The Director of Public Affairs at JD Logistics, Mr Lin Ruibin, said, “The opening of our new operations centre in Hong Kong is not only a commitment to the local market but also an essential step in enhancing supply chain efficiency. The centre is equipped with advanced logistics technologies and automation equipment to ensure rapid delivery and precise management of goods.”
     
    He continued, “Last year, daily package deliveries increased 24-fold in Hong Kong and 14-fold in Macao, while the volume of cross-border packages between Mainland China and Hong Kong grew by 16 times, resulting in double-digit growth overall in our express delivery volume. This reflects the enormous business opportunities in the local market. With the rapid development of e-commerce, JD Logistics will further enhance its operational capacity in Hong Kong to provide customers both locally and across Asia with more convenient logistics solutions.”

         He added, “JD Logistics has been strategically positioned in Hong Kong for years, recognising Hong Kong’s strong purchasing power and its importance as a key node in the Greater Bay Area. Since starting operations in Hong Kong a year ago, we have hired over 450 local employees and will continue to recruit more to meet business needs in the future.”
     
    For more information about JD Logistics, please visit www.jdl.com/en
    To get a copy of the photo, please visit     www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720324566538Issued at HKT 10:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister condoles demise of Pasala Krishna Bharathi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 MAR 2025 11:55PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Pasala Krishna Bharathi, a devoted Gandhian who dedicated her life to nation-building through Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals.

    In a heartfelt message on X, the Prime Minister stated;

    “Pained by the passing away of Pasala Krishna Bharathi Ji. She was devoted to Gandhian values and dedicated her life towards nation-building through Bapu’s ideals. She wonderfully carried forward the legacy of her parents, who were active during our freedom struggle. I recall meeting her during the programme held in Bhimavaram. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti: PM @narendramodi”

     

     

    “పసల కృష్ణ భారతి గారి మరణం ఎంతో బాధించింది . గాంధీజీ ఆదర్శాలకు తన  జీవితాన్ని అంకితం  చేసిన ఆమె బాపూజీ విలువలతో దేశాభివృద్ధికి కృషి చేశారు . మన దేశ స్వాతంత్ర్య పోరాటంలో పాల్గొన్న  తన తల్లితండ్రుల వారసత్వాన్ని ఆమె  ఎంతో గొప్పగా కొనసాగించారు . భీమవరం లో జరిగిన కార్యక్రమంలో ఆమెను కలవడం నాకు గుర్తుంది .ఆమె కుటుంబానికీ , అభిమానులకూ నా సంతాపం . ఓం శాంతి : ప్రధాన మంత్రి @narendramodi”

     

     

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    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2114239) Visitor Counter : 41

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE to attend Boao Forum annual conference in Hainan

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CE to attend Boao Forum annual conference in Hainan 
    The theme of this year’s conference is “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future”. Mr Lee will attend the opening plenary of the annual conference and deliver a speech at the Global Free Trade Port Development Forum. Additionally, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will attend and speak at the “Enhancing Digital Capacity Building & Bridging Digital Divide” Forum.
     
    During his visit to Hainan, Mr Lee will also witness the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the People’s Government of Hainan Province. The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, will join relevant parts of the visit.
     
    Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on March 27. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
    Issued at HKT 9:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on March 24, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 1,50,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 66,215
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 66,215
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.26
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.26
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2443

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Politics – RMA reforms will help drive economic development, says EMA

    Source: EMA

    The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) strongly supports the government’s direction of travel around the two new acts for reforming New Zealand’s resource management laws.
    The current Resource Management Act (RMA) is highly complex and frustrating, says EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald.
    “It has been too difficult to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs,” he says.
    “The proposed changes will allow for more efficient development while respecting environmental protections and property rights.”
    Simplification and standardisation of our resource management systems is desperately needed.
    A streamlined and consistent approach is vital for encouraging economic growth and facilitating much-needed infrastructure development across the country, says McDonald.
    “It’s frustrating for many of our members to find themselves needing new consents to expand existing facilities, such as sawmills, when they already have permission for such activities.
    “The new system should eliminate these unnecessary hurdles, and we strongly support the government’s efforts to ensure that land use is enabled unless there are significant impacts on others or the environment.”
    Spatial planning is critical to ensuring we have sufficient land available for future urban development and the commitment to regional spatial plans allows local decision-making and guides the direction of development while ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place.
    Businesses in New Zealand know protecting the environment is a point of difference for the country, so we look forward to the government providing clear guidelines on environmental limits, says McDonald.
    “The EMA has worked closely with BusinessNZ, Infrastructure New Zealand and the Property Council over the past seven years to help shape these reforms.
    “Our members have played a strong role in guiding this process, and we will continue to work with them, our partners and the government to ensure these reforms are implemented successfully before the next election.
    “We are confident that these new laws will be the foundation for better planning, improved economic outcomes, and enhanced environmental stewardship.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why isn’t there an opposition leader to unite Democrats in the US?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Garrett, Research Associate, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    In just two months back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump has tested the limits of the US Constitution, from overhauling immigration to drastically reducing the federal workforce and dismantling government agencies.

    With Republicans now in control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, Congress has so far shown little sign it will stand in Trump’s way.

    The judiciary is the other branch of government that can check the power of the president. However, the Trump administration has appeared increasingly willing to simply ignore decisions handed down by judges.

    There has also been a notable lack of unified opposition from the Democratic Party.

    Congressional Democrats are demoralised and deeply divided over how to respond to Trump. They face criticism, too, over their apparent lack of strategy.

    This has led some to ask why the United States lacks a formal political opposition leader.

    How opposition leaders operate in other countries

    In the American political system, the loser of the presidential election doesn’t retain a position as leader of the party in opposition. Instead, they tend to disappear from view.

    Kamala Harris is considering a run for governor of California — and could well attempt another run for president in 2028 or beyond. But she hasn’t remained a vocal counterpoint to Trump since he took office.

    By contrast, in countries with Westminster-style parliamentary systems, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and India, the main party not in power selects an opposition leader from among their ranks. In most countries, this position is defined by convention, not law.

    The opposition leader in many countries serves as the main face — and voice — of the party not in power. They work to keep the government accountable and are seen as the leader of an alternative government-in-waiting.

    What it takes to lead the opposition in the US

    During Trump’s first term, the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was widely recognised as the de facto Democratic opposition leader.

    A skilled negotiator, Pelosi was largely able to unite the Democrats behind her to lead the opposition to Trump’s legislative agenda — famously ripping up a copy of Trump’s State of the Union address on the House podium in 2020.

    As Senate majority and minority leader, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell successfully blocked swathes of legislation during Barack Obama’s presidency. He even thwarted a US Supreme Court nomination.

    In the 1980s, then-Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill led the Democratic opposition to Republican President Ronald Reagan’s domestic agenda, without resorting to obstructionism.

    However, for an opposition figure to have this level of influence, they usually need decades of experience, political skill, and a party in control of the House or Senate.

    The Democrats no longer have a majority in either chamber and are no longer led by Pelosi. Hakeem Jeffries has been the House minority leader since 2023, but without the speaker’s gavel or control of any committees, he has limited influence.

    Party discipline is typically far more unwieldy in the United States compared to other countries. In Australia, for instance, crossing the floor to vote against your own party is very rare.

    Unruly party caucuses make it significantly more difficult for a single party figurehead to emerge unless they command near-universal party loyalty and respect among their members in both chambers.

    Will Democratic cracks shatter the party?

    The Democratic caucus, already strained by Joe Biden’s late withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, is now even more fractured.

    The Democrats continue to grapple with their resounding defeat in November, which saw the party lose ground with almost every demographic across the country. Polling shows public support for the Democrats has slumped to unprecedented lows, with just over a quarter of voters holding a positive view of the party.

    Most dramatically, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defied fellow Democrats (including Jeffries) by voting in favour of a resolution in recent weeks to avoid a government shutdown. His decision sparked an uproar from his party colleagues.

    Visual images of the party’s disarray were also on clear display during Trump’s joint address to Congress earlier this month. While some representatives protested loudly, others followed leadership instruction to remain silent.

    Democrats were in near lock-step on almost all issues during Trump’s first term, as well as Biden’s presidency. Now, some are calling on Schumer to step aside as minority leader — and for the Democrats to coalesce behind a younger, more outspoken leader such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

    Where next for the party?

    In the fractious debates now consuming the party, some see parallels with the emergence of the Tea Party movement within the Republican Party during Barack Obama’s first term in office.

    The current Democratic division could result in the emergence of a stronger dissident faction within the party. And this could push a harder line in opposition to Trump, no longer toeing the line from party leadership.

    Yet, while the political outlook for Democrats may appear bleak, electoral turnarounds can happen quickly in the United States.

    Few expected a demoralised Democratic party to turn John Kerry’s heavy defeat to George W Bush in 2004 into a generational victory just four years later. Similarly, after Obama decisively won reelection against Mitt Romney in 2012, few Republicans could have predicted they’d soon be back in power with Trump.

    But, as was the case 20 years ago, the soul-searching process will be painful for the Democrats. Whether it’s Ocasio-Cortez or another figure, the 2026 midterm elections are likely to be the best opportunity for a new central leader to emerge on the national stage.

    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. Why isn’t there an opposition leader to unite Democrats in the US? – https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-there-an-opposition-leader-to-unite-democrats-in-the-us-252384

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Mystery solved: our tests reveal the tiny algae killing fish and harming surfers on SA beaches

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Murray, Professor; Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney

    Anthony Rowland

    Confronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches – and disturbing reports of “more than 100” surfers and beachgoers suffering flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray – attracted international concern last week.

    Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. Today we can reveal the culprit was a tiny – but harmful – type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi.

    The SA government sent us water samples from Waitpinga Beach, Petrel Cove Beach, Encounter Bay Boat Ramp and Parsons Headland on Tuesday. We studied the water under the microscope and extracted DNA for genetic analysis.

    Our results revealed high numbers of the tiny harmful algal species – each just 20 microns in diameter (where one micron is one thousandth of a millimetre). While relatively common in Australian coastal waters, blooms of K. mikimotoi occur only sporadically. But similar harmful algal blooms and fish kills due to K. mikimotoi have happened in the past, such as the 2014 bloom in Coffin Bay, SA. And this latest one won’t be the last.

    Sick surfers and dead marine life from strange sea foam (ABC News)

    Harmful algal blooms

    Single-celled, microbial algae occur naturally in seawater all over the world.

    They are also called phytoplankton, because they float in the water column and photosynthesise like plants. “Phyto” comes from the Greek word for plant and “plankton” comes from the Greek word for wanderer, which relates to their floating movement with ocean currents and tides.

    Like plants on land, the microalgae or phytoplankton in the ocean capture sunlight and produce up to half the oxygen in our atmosphere. There are more than 100,000 different species of microalgae. Every litre of seawater will normally contain a mixed group of these different microalgae species.

    But under certain conditions, just a single species of microalgae can accumulate in one area and dominate over the others. If we are unlucky, the dominant species may be one that produces a toxin or has a harmful effect.

    This so-called “harmful algal bloom” can cause problems for people and for marine life such as fish, invertebrates such as crabs, and even marine mammals such as whales and seals.

    There are hundreds of different species of harmful algae. Each produces its own type of toxin with a particular toxic effect.

    Most of these toxic chemical compounds produced by harmful algae are quite well known, including neurotoxins that affect the brain. But others are more complicated, and the mechanisms of toxicity are poorly understood. This can make it more difficult to understand the factors leading to the deaths of fish and other marine life. Unfortunately, the toxins from K. mikimotoi fall into this latter category.

    Introducing Karenia mikimotoi

    Karenia mikimotoi under the microscope.
    Shauna Murray

    The species responsible for recent events in SA beaches, K. mikimotoi, causes harmful algal blooms in Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. These blooms all caused fish deaths, and some also caused breathing difficulties among local beachgoers.

    The most drastic of these K. mikimotoi blooms have occurred in China over the past two decades. In 2012, more than 300 square kilometres of abalone farms were affected, causing about A$525 million in lost production.

    Explaining the toxic effects

    Microalgae can damage the gills of fish and shellfish, preventing them from breathing. This is the main cause of death. But some studies have also found damage to the gastrointestinal tracts and livers of fish.

    Tests using fish gill cells clearly show the dramatic toxic effect of K. mikimotoi. When the fish gill cells were exposed to intact K. mikimotoi cells, after 3.5 hours more than 80% of the fish cells had died.

    Fortunately, the toxin does not persist in the environment after the K. mikimotoi cells are dead. So once the bloom is over, the marine environment can recover relatively quickly.

    Its toxicity is partly due to the algae’s production of “reactive oxygen species”, reactive forms of oxygen molecules which can cause the deaths of cells in high doses. K. mikimotoi cells may also produce lipid (fat) molecules that cause some toxic effects.

    Finally, a very dense bloom of microalgae can sometimes reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water column, which means there is less oxygen for other marine life.

    The human health effects are not very well known but probably relate to the reactive oxygen species being an irritant.

    K. mikimitoi cells can also produce “mucilage”, a type of thick, gluey substance made of complex sugars, which can accumulate bacteria inside it. This can cause “sea foam”, which was evident on beaches last week.

    South Australia’s marine emblem, the leafy seadragon, washed up dead on the beach.
    Anthony Rowland

    Unanswered questions remain

    A question for many people is whether increasing water temperatures make blooms of K. mikimotoi more likely.

    Another concern is whether nutrient runoff from farms, cities and aquaculture could cause more harmful algal blooms.

    Unfortunately, for Australia at least, the answer to these questions is we don’t know yet. While we know some harmful algal blooms do increase when nutrient runoff is higher, others actually prefer fewer nutrients or colder temperatures.

    We do know warmer water species seem to be moving further south along the Australian coastline, changing phytoplankton species abundance and distribution.

    While some microalgal blooms can cause bioluminescence that is beautiful to watch, others such as K. mikimotoi can cause skin and respiratory irritations.

    If you notice discoloured water, fish deaths or excessive sea foam along the coast or in an estuary, avoid fishing or swimming in the area and notify local primary industry or environmental authorities in your state.

    Shauna Murray receives funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the New South Wales Recreational Fisheries Trust, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program. She is President of the Austalasian Society of Phycology and Aquatic Botany and past chair of the NSW Shellfish Committee.

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

    – ref. Mystery solved: our tests reveal the tiny algae killing fish and harming surfers on SA beaches – https://theconversation.com/mystery-solved-our-tests-reveal-the-tiny-algae-killing-fish-and-harming-surfers-on-sa-beaches-252810

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Synchronised bleaching: Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching in unison for the first time

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Biology, Curtin University

    Ningaloo Reef from the air. Violeta Brosig/Shutterstock

    This summer, an intense marine heatwave struck off northwestern Australia, driving sea surface temperatures up to 4°C above the summer average. The large mass of warm water has slowly moved south from the Kimberley region and through the Pilbara, leaving a wave of underwater destruction behind. Now Ningaloo Reef is bleaching in earnest.

    The Great Barrier Reef is bleaching too in the waters from Cape York down to Townsville.

    This appears to be the first time these two World Heritage-listed reefs have bleached in unison. Bleaching may also hit the World Heritage reef at Shark Bay in Western Australia.

    How bad is it? I have just returned from Ningaloo Reef, where I saw widespread bleaching and the first signs of coral mortality. Up to 90% of the coral found in shallow areas of the northern lagoon had bleached. Bleaching doesn’t automatically mean death, but it severely weakens the coral and jeopardises survival.

    At Ningaloo and further south, the heatwave is still unfolding. In coming months, we can expect to see some coral mortality, while other corals will survive the bleaching in poor health only to succumb to disease or other threats such as Drupella (coral-eating snails). Other corals may survive but struggle to reproduce, but some particularly hardy corals with the right combination of genes for surviving this event are expected to live on.

    Why is this happening? No surprises here: our greenhouse gas emissions trap more heat in the atmosphere. Over 90% of the heat pours into the oceans, pushing surface and deep water temperatures higher for longer periods of time.

    How bad has the heat been?

    Coral can tolerate brief periods of higher temperatures. But in response to prolonged heat stress, coral polyps expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae algae. They appear to do this to avoid further tissue damage from toxic reactive oxygen molecules which build up as the coral begins to stress. But these microalgae supply sugary food to the coral polyps in exchange for a home. Without these nutrients, the coral can starve.

    Heat stress is tracked using a measure called “degree heating weeks” (DHW) – essentially, how much above-average heat has built up in an area over the previous three months. Bleaching can begin at four DWH, while eight DHW can kill some corals.

    At Ningaloo, the heat has been off the charts – levels of up to 16 DHW have been recorded, the highest on record for this location.

    On the Great Barrier Reef, bleaching is underway in the northernmost section. This is the sixth bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef this decade. Early data suggests there is severe heat in places, ranging from six to 13 DHW in intensity and alerts remain for more heat and bleaching to come.

    Bleaching is usually worst for corals growing in shallow water, such as the calm lagoons created by fringing or barrier reefs. Lagoons often have clear waters with high light penetration and limited flushing of water.

    Ningaloo in hot water

    Over ten days, we recorded the health and type of every coral we saw at 21 sites along Ningaloo Reef, from Coral Bay to the northern tip of North West Cape and into Exmouth Gulf.

    The worst affected area that we observed was a 30 km stretch at the northern end of the North West Cape, the peninsula along which Ningaloo Reef runs. Here, we saw mass bleaching – up to 90% of corals partly or fully bleaching and some corals were already dying.

    Fast-growing corals from the Acroporid and Pocilloporid families were hard hit, as often seen in other bleaching events. But we also saw slower-growing and normally hardy corals bleaching, such Lobophyllia, Favites and Goniastrea.

    Even the massive Porites corals in the lagoons were suffering. These giant boulder-like corals are the old growth and sentinels of the reef. Many of these ordinarily resilient corals are hundreds of years old and have survived past smaller bleaching events. But this time, they too are severely suffering.

    Not even ocean-facing corals exposed to more water flow were safe. We found 30 to 50% of the corals on the reef slope were bleached to some degree. Coral diseases such as white band disease were already affecting many flat plate corals. These diseases often follow marine heatwaves, as they take advantage of coral’s weakened immune systems and the disruption of the symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and their algae.

    The timing is especially bad for Ningaloo’s corals, which usually spawn around five days after the March full moon, which fell on March 19 this year. By contrast, corals on the Great Barrier Reef tend to spawn between October and December.

    For the reef to recover quickly, it needs yearly influxes of new coral recruits. But if corals are struggling to survive, there is a risk they will not be fit enough to reproduce. Corals take three to six years to become reproductively viable and if bleaching impedes reproduction, it could greatly reduce the number of larvae available to replenish the reef. In addition to that, if immature corals bleach and die, there’s a risk several generations of corals could be lost before reaching maturity.

    Fortunately we did observe healthy and reproductive corals along the outer rim of the lagoon at Coral Bay, and locals have recently reported seeing spawning near Coral Bay. This suggests some coral were indeed healthy enough to spawn.

    What will happen next?

    As the southern hemisphere heads towards winter, the oceans will begin to cool off. That doesn’t mean the threat is over – oceans are only getting hotter.

    If we continue on our current path, simultaneous east and west coast bleaching events could become the new normal – and that would be devastating for our reefs, marine biodiversity, the blue economy and the wellbeing of Australians.

    Zoe Richards receives funding from the Minderoo Foundation. This work was undertaken by the Coral Conservation and Research Group at Curtin University in partnership with the Minderoo Exmouth Research Laboratory.

    – ref. Synchronised bleaching: Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching in unison for the first time – https://theconversation.com/synchronised-bleaching-ningaloo-and-the-great-barrier-reef-are-bleaching-in-unison-for-the-first-time-252906

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Singapore mobile services to hit $2 billion in 2029 with 5G driving revenue stability, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    The growing adoption of 5G services in Singapore is set to drive revenue stability and innovation in the telecom sector, counteracting the decline in mobile voice service revenue. By the end of 2029, the country’s total mobile service revenue is expected to reach $2.0 billion, maintaining a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.8% from 2024 to 2029, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Singapore Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q4-2024) reveals that mobile voice service revenue will decline at a 5.4% CAGR over the forecast period due to the widespread consumer shift towards over-the-top- based (OTT) communication platforms and the subsequent decline in voice service average revenue per user (ARPU) levels.

    Mobile data service revenue, on the other hand, will increase at a healthy CAGR of 5.2% between 2024 and 2029, driven by the growing consumption of mobile data services and projected rise in higher-ARPU yielding-5G subscriptions as 5G services become more widely available across the country.

    Kantipudi Pradeepthi, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, says: “4G will remain the leading mobile technology, in terms of subscriptions, until 2024. 5G service will see its subscriptions surpass 4G subscriptions in 2025 and is expected to account for an impressive 90% share of the total mobile subscriptions by the end of 2029. This growth in 5G subscriptions will be primarily driven by the rising demand for highspeed data services, ongoing 5G network expansions by MNOs, and a subsequent increase in availability of 5G services across the nation.”

    Singtel will continue to dominate the mobile services market in terms of subscriptions through 2029, given its strong position in both the prepaid and postpaid segments and its focus on 5G network developments and expansion across the country. In February 2025, Singtel upgraded its 5G offering to 5G+ service with the deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum, enabling stronger signals (up to 40%) in high-rise indoor and underground locations, wider coverage, including in remote areas and improved connectivity for both consumers and enterprises.

    Pradeepthi concludes: “Singapore’s telecom market is undergoing a pivotal transformation, with 5G adoption serving as the key driver of future growth. The shift towards data-centric services, coupled with strong infrastructure investments by major players like Singtel, will not only sustain market stability but also pave the way for innovation in IoT, M2M services, and advanced connectivity solutions, positioning Singapore as a regional telecom leader.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man in custody following threats made, Sydenham

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Superintendent Lane Todd, Canterbury Metro Area Commander:

    One man has been taken into custody without incident in Sydenham after making threats earlier this afternoon.

    The address will now be cleared as a precaution to ensure there is no ongoing risk to the public before cordons are stood down.

    Police would like to thank the Sydenham community for their patience and understanding as we worked through the afternoon to resolve this safely for all.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –