Category: Asia

MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 5 Australians admit they don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Carson, Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia

Do you wash your hands every time you use the toilet? How about before you handle food? Be honest.

Australia’s Food Safety Information Council has released its latest report card on the country’s hand washing habits. It found 19% of Australians don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet. Close to half (42%) admit they don’t always wash hands before handling food.

So who’s doing well when it comes to hand hygiene, who’s not – and why does it matter?

What did the report find?

The new report surveyed hand washing practices of 1,229 people. Results were consistent with what we’ve learned from similar surveys.

Once again, women do better than men at washing their hands after using the toilet, although only slightly (80% of men say they do every time, versus 83% of women). Just 55% of men wash their hands before touching food, compared to 62% of women.

Age also seemed to make a difference. Under 34 years old, 69% of people washed their hands every time they used the toilet. Over age 65, that jumped to 86%.

Although some of these differences aren’t completely unexpected – such as the gap between men’s and women’s hand washing habits – the reasons remain unclear.

People over 65 were much more likely than younger people to wash their hands after using the toilet.
Mélissa Jeanty/Unsplash

Why don’t people wash their hands?

Public health messaging often focuses on how to wash hands well. But there’s less research that follows up on how widely people actually adopt these practices. And to understand why – if they are skipping the soap and water – those messages might not be getting through effectively.

One study that looked at this question in India asked school children about barriers to hand washing. The vast majority (91%) had low “illness threat perception”. In other words, they simply didn’t perceive a risk of getting sick form not washing their hands after going to the toilet.

Interestingly, the inability to see germs with their own eyes was one of the biggest barriers, cited by 46% of the children. But 72% said they would wash their hands if their friends did.

It’s tempting to speculate these reasons may also apply to other age groups, but we simply haven’t done enough research to know. People’s reasons for hand washing, or not, likely vary across their lifetime and with their circumstances.

What are the risks?

Urine and faeces contain millions of germs, especially faeces, which has more than 100 billion germs per gram.

When you use the toilet and touch surfaces in the bathroom, you will pick up germs. People who skip the hand washing step on the way out take those germs with them when they leave, depositing them on each surface they touch afterwards.

You may not get sick yourself, but you’re increasing the spread of bacteria. This can increase the risk of infection and illness for other people, including those with compromised immune systems such as older people and those undergoing common forms of treatment for cancer.

Hand washing before cooking and eating is also important. The risk here goes both ways. If you have disease-causing germs on your hands (maybe because you didn’t wash them after the toilet) you may transfer them to the food where they can multiply and even produce toxins. People who eat the food may then get sick, often involving vomiting and diarrhoea.

Washing hands before eating and preparing food can stop germs spreading from the food to hands, and vice versa.
CDC/Unsplash

In the other direction, some foods naturally carry germs before cooking – such as salmonella and campylobacter bacteria in raw poultry. If you don’t wash your hands after handling these foods you may transfer them to other surfaces and risk spreading infection.

How should I wash my hands?

Follow these three simple tips for hand washing correctly:
1. wet your hands and rub them together well to build up a good lather with soap for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
2. rinse well under running water to remove the bugs from your hands
3. dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds. Touching surfaces with moist hands encourages bugs to spread from the surface to your hands.
What about hand sanitiser?

If no running water is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. These rapidly inactivate a wide range of germs, rendering them non-infectious. Hand sanitisers are effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses that can cause many common gastrointesintal and respiratory infections.

However if your hands are soiled with organic matter – such as blood, faeces, meat, sand or soil – they won’t be effective. In that case you should clean your hands with soap and water.

The bottom line

Hand washing is a bit like wearing a seat belt — you do that every time you get in a car, not just on the days you “plan” to be involved in an accident. The bottom line is hand washing is a simple, quick intervention that benefits you and those around you — but only if you do it.

Christine Carson 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. 1 in 5 Australians admit they don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet – https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-australians-admit-they-dont-wash-their-hands-every-time-they-use-the-toilet-241481
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2024

MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….

Press release

Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2024

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and by the Executive Director of the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’, Joel Maria Pereira, for the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 91/2022, of December 22, relating to the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’.

Decree-Law No. 91/2022 created the Mission Unit to Combat Stunting with the mission of preparing and implementing the National Plan to Combat Stunting and promoting the coordination of government bodies in combating child malnutrition. However, although the National Plan to Combat Stunting has been completed, the planned measures have not yet been fully implemented.

To ensure the continuity of this work, the Government intends to extend the mandate of the Mission Unit until December 31, 2030, allowing the full implementation of the plan and the fight against the high rate of stunting in Timor-Leste. This amendment also aims to adjust the new ministerial framework resulting from the organic structure of the IX Constitutional Government, whereby the Mission Unit for Combating Stunting will be under the supervision of the Vice-Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs. This draft Decree-Law also aims to ensure effective and efficient coordination between the various government departments and public administration bodies in the execution of the responsibilities related to nutritional security assigned in the Plan.

At the previous meeting of the Council of Ministers, the National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat Stunting was also approved for the period 2024 to 2030, with the aim of reducing the rate of stunting and improving nutritional health in Timor-Leste.

*****

The Council of Ministers endorsed the agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on measures to enhance resilience and livelihoods in the rural sector, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino. This agreement aims to increase the resilience of approximately 46,000 people in rural areas of the Manatuto Municipality.

The main aim of this project is to improve access to water, promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and strengthen the institutional and organizational capacities of rural communities. The initiative, aligned with the priorities of the IX Constitutional Government, includes investments in water infrastructure, the formation of agricultural groups and the development of more diversified and climate-resilient livelihoods. It is also expected that this rural development model to be implemented in Manatuto will be replicated in other municipalities, thus promoting the sustainable development of Timor-Leste.

*****

Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law establishing the Community Revitalization Program, also presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino.

The program aims to promote the economic and social development of rural communities by supporting productive activities in the agriculture, fisheries, livestock, forestry and horticulture sectors, as well as infrastructure and equipment of collective interest. Aligned with the principles of sustainability, social inclusion and community participation, the program provides for the granting of subsidies for community projects, to strengthen local capacities and promote the resilience of communities throughout the country. END

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL Translation OSI

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS to visit Peru and US

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

FS to visit Peru and US
FS to visit Peru and US
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The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Peru this evening (October 18) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting and other related events to be held in Lima, after which he will visit New York, the United States, from October 22 to 24. In addition to attending the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting during his visit to Lima, Peru, Mr Chan will have bilateral meetings with officials of other economies to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. He will also attend a luncheon hosted by the APEC Business Advisory Council and meet with members of business communities from various regions. With a theme of “Sustainable + Digital + Resilient = APEC”, this year’s Finance Ministers’ Meeting will explore topics including global economic and financial outlook, fostering green and sustainable development, providing financial support to tackle climate change, as well as digitalisation of finance and financial inclusion. During his visit to New York, Mr Chan will attend the Global Regulatory Forum organised by Bloomberg and deliver a keynote speech. He will also join a number of breakfast meetings and luncheons to meet and exchange views with members of the political, business and financial communities in the United States, and promote Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities. Mr Chan will also visit local enterprises. Mr Chan will leave New York on October 24 local time and arrive in Hong Kong in the early evening of October 25. During his absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will be the Acting Financial Secretary.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 14:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s High Commissioner to Cyprus: Michael Tatham

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Mr Michael Tatham CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus in succession to Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE

Mr Michael Tatham CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus in succession to Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Tatham will take up his appointment during November 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Michael Harry Tatham

	2023 to 2024	FCDO, Delivery Director European Political Community Summit
	2018 to 2022	Washington DC, Deputy Head of Mission (Chargé d’Affaires, 2019-20)
	2015 to 2017	FCO, Director Eastern Europe and Central Asia
	2011 to 2015	UK Mission to the United Nations, New York, Political Counsellor
	2008 to 2011	Sarajevo, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
	2006 to 2008	FCO, Head of Western Balkans Department
	2002 to 2005	Prague, Deputy Head of Mission
	1999 to 2002	10 Downing Street, Private Secretary (Foreign Affairs) to the Prime Minister
	1997 to 1999	Sofia, Deputy Head of Mission
	1995 to 1996	FCO, Private Secretary to Minister for Europe
	1995	FCO, Head of East Mediterranean Section, Southern European Department
	1993 to 1995	FCO, European Union Department (Internal)
	1989 to 1993	Prague, Third later Second Secretary (Political/Press)
	1987 to 1988	FCO, Namibia Desk Officer, Southern African Department
	1987	Joined FCO

Published 18 October 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: China Medical System：First Ruxolitinib Cream’s Prescriptions for Vitiligo Issued in the Greater Bay Area
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on 18 October, the first batch of prescriptions of ruxolitinib phosphate cream (the “ruxolitinib cream” or the “Product”) for qualified vitiligo patients were issued in the Greater Bay Area, at Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital, and Dongguan Songshan Lake Tungwah Hospital. The Product’s new drug application (NDA) was approved by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) of Macau on 11 April 2024, and subsequently the Product was approved by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration on August 19 through the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, which officially introduced ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age, providing a novel treatment option for patients with relevant indication into designated medical institutions in the Mainland of Greater Bay Area.

In addition, on 24 September, the NDA for vitiligo indication of ruxolitinib cream has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). In accordance with the relevant regulations of the drug real-world data application pilot program in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (the “Pilot Zone”), CMS has conducted a real-world study on ruxolitinib cream in China. The results have shown positive efficacy, which is consistent with the key outcomes of global pivotal clinical studies. All secondary efficacy endpoints showed a trend of benefit consistent with the primary efficacy endpoint, and the treatment effect for vitiligo continued to improve with longer treatment duration. Meanwhile, through the safety monitoring data of the Pilot Zone, no new safety events have been identified. Adverse events mostly had severity levels of grade 1 or 2. No adverse event (AE) leading to discontinuation or withdrawal, and no serious adverse event (SAE) related to the study drug occurred.

If the Product is successfully approved for marketing in Mainland China, it will be the first prescription drug approved by NMPA for repigmentation in vitiligo, bringing this novel treatment hopes for Chinese vitiligo patients.

Furthermore, on 12 August 2023, the Product was approved by Hainan Medical Products Administration for Urgent Clinical Import, and officially became available to applicable patients in the Pilot Zone on August 18, for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12 and above with facial involvement. Benefiting from the Early and Pilot Implementation Policy granted by the state to Hainan Free Trade Port and the Pilot Zone, patients with vitiligo in China can apply for the Product in Boao Super Hospital first and receive treatment from the expert team. As of 30 June 2024, more than 3,200 patients have been treated with ruxolitinib cream in Boao Super Hospital.

CMS has always been patient-oriented and innovation-driven based on clinical needs, continuously striving to improve drug accessibility. Benefited from the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, ruxolitinib cream was approved for use in the Greater Bay Area and completed its first batch of prescriptions, shortening the time difference for Chinese vitiligo patients to use innovative drug and benefiting more domestic patients. Looking forward to the future, the Group will continuously strive to meet the unmet needs of Chinese patients, continuously explore novel drugs with international quality, and efficiently promote products’ clinical development and commercialization, so as to bring more quality pharmaceutical products through differentiated innovation-breakthrough, to safeguard the health and life-quality of patients.

About ruxolitinib cream
Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura), a novel cream formulation of Incyte’s selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the topical treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in patients 12 years of age and older. As of now, it is the first and only treatment for repigmentation approved for use in the United States^[1]. Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is also approved in the U.S. for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable^[2]. In Europe, ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is approved for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age^[3].

On 2 December 2022, the Group through a subsidiary of the Company, a dermatology medical aesthetic company (“CMS Skinhealth”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Incyte for topical formulations of ruxolitinib for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory dermatology diseases. In accordance with the License Agreement, the Group through CMS Skinhealth received an exclusive license to develop, register and commercialize the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and eleven Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam) (the “Territory”) and a non-exclusive license to manufacture the Product in the Territory. The License Agreement commenced on its effective date and has a royalty term of ten years from the date of the commercial sale of the Product in the Territory (the “Royalty Term”). Upon the expiration of the Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be renewed for a period of ten years thereafter (the “Initial Extended Royalty Term”) as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement. Upon the expiration of the Initial Extended Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be extended for a period otherwise agreed by both sides as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement.

Incyte has worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of the Product, marketed in the United States and Europe as Opzelura^®. Opzelura and the Opzelura logo are registered trademarks of Incyte.

About vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, which results from the loss of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million vitiligo patients in China^[4]. Non-segmental vitiligo patients account for approximately 85% of them. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (CI) are used off-label for non-segmental vitiligo, however, these therapies have clinical deficiencies with long-term adverse reactions of long-term treatment or limited efficacy^[5^、^6].

About CMS
CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.

CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.

CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a “bridgehead” for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.

Reference：
1. Drug approval information can be found on the FDA official website, as follows: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-topical-treatment-addressing-repigmentation-vitiligo-patients-aged-12-and-older
2. Drug approval information can be found on the Incyte official website, as follows: https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-us-fda-approval-opzeluratm-ruxolitinib-cream
3. Drug approval information can be found on the EMA official website, as follows: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/opzelura
4. Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N. Vitiligo. Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60763-7
5. Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo (2021 version)
6. Kubelis-López DE, Zapata-Salazar NA, Said-Fernández SL, Sánchez-Domínguez CN, Salinas-Santander MA, Martínez-Rodríguez HG, Vázquez-Martínez OT, Wollina U, Lotti T, Ocampo-Candiani J. Updates and new medical treatments for vitiligo (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):797. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10229. Epub 2021 May 25. PMID: 34093753; PMCID: PMC8170669.
CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.

This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.

Media Contact

Brand: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

Contact: CMS Investor Relations

Email: ir@cms.net.cn

Website: https://web.cms.net.cn/en/home/

Source: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.

The MIL Network –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China saw 30% increase in border crossings in Q3

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Border inspection agencies across China recorded 160 million entries and exits during the third quarter of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.1 percent, according to the National Immigration Administration.
A total of 8.186 million inbound trips were made by foreigners, up 48.8 percent from the same period last year. Of these trips, 4.885 million were made visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 78.6 percent, data from the administration showed.
In July, China issued new visa-free entry and transit policies, granting 144-hour visa-free entry to foreigners visiting the southern island province of Hainan via tour groups registered in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
Additionally, the country’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports in central China’s Henan Province and southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

MIL OSI China News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan suspended

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 18) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1170 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 150.45 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first six months of this year.

     “The CFS has contacted the Japanese authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE discusses Policy Address on-air

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee appeared on a radio phone-in programme this morning to take questions from the public about the 2024 Policy Address.

In an hour-long session, Mr Lee answered questions on topics ranging from the economy to innovation and technology (I&T), land and housing, and more.

Addressing its overall economic situation and future development path, the Chief Executive said that Hong Kong has gone through many changes over time and remains an attractive city. He stressed that the Government is optimistic about the economy and expects overall growth of between 2.5% and 3.5% this year.

“That means the macro-economy is positive but the micro-economy, particularly for some sectors, they may have to think of new ways of doing things, so as to make themselves attractive,” he added.

A major of focus in the Policy Address was backing for the I&T sector, with Mr Lee vowing to develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions as Hong Kong strives to develop as an international I&T centre.

Responding to a question on the topic on-air, he said: “I think I&T has to be the way forward. I think the whole world really has gone in that direction. And I think if we want to remain competitive, and also to remain prosperous, we need to work hard in this area.

“What we are doing now in regard to I&T (is on) many fronts. First of all we need talents because good people, I think, are the key.

“We want to set up more laboratories, so that there will be more possible products to be transformable. And then, we want more money to be put into research. The Government alone cannot be the only source (of money) because we are still only investing about 1.07% of the whole GDP (gross domestic product) of Hong Kong.”

During the programme, Mr Lee also responded to questions on Hong Kong’s housing situation,

He iterated that the Policy Address introduced various measures to assist home buyers, including an adjustment of the maximum loan-to-value ratio for all properties to 70%.

Despite the challenges presented by the limited supply of land, the Chief Executive said that ensuring people’s housing needs are met is the responsibility of the Government.

The Policy Address also included plans to enact legislation to tackle the issue of subdivided units.

Asked about the Government’s approach, Mr Lee said: “It is such a big problem and all the different factors that affect the present occupants are so diverse. So, I will be doing it in a very orderly manner, progressively. And people will be given sufficient notice to know what will happen.

“First of all, we need legislation so people know the standards that will be set for what (will) then become the only available, lawful Basic Housing Units (BHUs) in Hong Kong.

“The market will develop because there is a demand. Once it is regulated, then those who provide these units will know the rules of the game.”

He added that once the new standards have been enforced, the market will set the optimal level of rents for BHUs.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: More measures to support SMEs

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Monetary Authority (HKMA), together with the banking sector, introduced multiple measures today to further support, through financing as well as banking products and services, the continuous development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The HKMA said around 20,000 SMEs have benefitted from the nine measures that it launched with the Banking Sector SME Lending Co-ordination Mechanism in March this year, involving an aggregate credit limit of over $44 billion.

Taking into account the commercial sector’s views, the HKMA and the banking sector will roll out five measures to assist SMEs’ continuous development, upgrade and transformation, as well as enhancing their competitiveness and productivity to cope with various operational challenges.

Firstly, the HKMA has lowered the countercyclical capital buffer ratio from 1% to 0.5%, and will allow banks to early adopt the preferential treatments for SME exposures under the Basel III capital framework.

Such policies will release bank capital, enabling banks to make use of the additional capital to facilitate SMEs’ financing needs.

Secondly, the 16 banks that are active in SME lending have set aside a total of over $370 billion in dedicated funds for SMEs in their loan portfolio. The funds will allow SME customers to access necessary financing to cope with the evolving business environment.

The banks will regularly review and consider scaling up the size of their dedicated funds in response to SMEs’ needs and development.

Thirdly, the HKMA said banks will launch more credit products and services to meet the needs, such as the combination of digital transformation and green transformation, of SMEs. Examples include pre-approved credit limits, unsecured loans, cross-border loans, and loans with flexible repayment periods.

On partial principal repayment options, the HKMA noted that when an orderly exit from the banking sector’s Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme started in July 2023, the mechanism introduced enhanced measures to assist corporates’ gradual return to normal repayment.

As some customers’ partial principal repayment arrangements will expire in early 2025, banks will be accommodative and consider offering more flexible repayment arrangements to these customers.

Subject to prudent risk-management principles, such arrangements may include extending the duration of partial principal repayment, offering more options on the proportion and duration of partial principal repayment, or even offering principal moratorium.

Additionally, banks will allocate adequate resources to process applications and work closely with HKMC Insurance to implement as soon as possible the principal moratorium and other enhanced measures under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS to visit Peru and the US

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart for Peru this evening to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting and other related events in the country’s capital Lima, before heading to New York City in the US.

Under the banner “Sustainable + Digital + Resilient = APEC”, this year’s finance ministers’ meeting will explore the global economic and financial outlook, how to foster green and sustainable development, the provision of financial support to tackle climate change, digitalisation in finance, and financial inclusion. In addition to attending the APEC event, Mr Chan will hold bilateral meetings with officials from other economies to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. He will also attend a lunch hosted by the APEC Business Advisory Council.

During his visit to New York, the Financial Secretary will deliver a keynote speech at the Global Regulatory Forum, organised by Bloomberg.

In addition, Mr Chan will attend a number of breakfast meetings and lunches to promote Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities. He will also visit local enterprises.

Mr Chan will arrive back in Hong Kong on October 25. During his absence, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will be Acting Secretary.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Ambassador of Peru to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Ambassador of Peru to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN Luis Tsuboyama at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed Dr. Kao’s participation in the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to be held in Lima, Peru, on 14 November 2024. Peru is the chair of APEC this year, having previously served as the APEC Chair in 2008 and 2016. The ASEAN Secretariat is one of the official observers of APEC, along with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Ambassador of Peru to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Statistics on Code on Access to Information for first quarter of 2024

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Statistics on Code on Access to Information for first quarter of 2024
Statistics on Code on Access to Information for first quarter of 2024
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The Government received a total of 2 648 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the first quarter of 2024, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (October 18). The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of March 2024 amounted to 124 876. Of these, 7 544 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 6 235 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at March 31, 2024, 613 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments. Among the 110 484 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 107 247 requests (97.1 per cent) were met, either in full (104 313 requests) or in part (2 934 requests), and 3 237 requests (2.9 per cent) were refused. Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. In the first quarter of 2024, the Ombudsman received 14 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 23 complaints, among which two were unsubstantiated, one was partially substantiated and 20 were concluded by inquiries (including seven cases with inadequacies found). As at March 31, 2024, the Ombudsman’s investigations on 11 complaints were ongoing. “The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government,” the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 15:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMA establishes CMU OmniClear Limited

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

HKMA establishes CMU OmniClear Limited
HKMA establishes CMU OmniClear Limited
**************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (October 18) the establishment of CMU OmniClear Limited (CMU OmniClear), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exchange Fund. CMU OmniClear will operate the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) on behalf of the HKMA. Currently, the CMU is operated as a unit of the HKMA. To enable the CMU to pursue a more commercial development path, CMU OmniClear is established to operate the CMU system and pursue new business development initiatives, under a contractual arrangement with the HKMA. CMU OmniClear will have its own governance structure and commercial culture, and is expected to take over CMU operations in January 2025. The HKMA would still be the owner and operator of the CMU system. The legal relationships with CMU participants and other system linkages would remain with the HKMA, and decisions on the policy and strategic development in respect of the CMU’s activities and services would be made by the HKMA. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMU OmniClear, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “The CMU has seen remarkable achievements in recent years, such as supporting Bond Connect activities, facilitating digital bond issuances, recording significant growth in various business areas. The establishment of CMU OmniClear is an important step towards developing CMU into a major international central securities depository in Asia. I believe with more commercialised operations under CMU OmniClear, the CMU’s future development would be further propelled.”

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 15:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: What is Air Quality?

Source: NASA

Clean air is essential for healthy living, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding their guideline limits of air pollution. “Air quality is a measure of how much stuff is in the air, which includes particulates and gaseous pollutants,” said Kristina Pistone, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. Pistone’s research covers both atmospheric and climate areas, with a focus on the effect of atmospheric particles on climate and clouds. “It’s important to understand air quality because it affects your health and how well you can live your life and go about your day,” Pistone said. We sat down with Pistone to learn more about air quality and how it can have a noticeable impact on human health and the environment.

There are six main air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States: particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead. These pollutants come from from natural sources, such as the particulate matter that rises into the atmosphere from fires and desert dust, or from human activity, such as the ozone generated from sunlight reacting to vehicle emissions.

Air quality influences health and quality of life. “Just like we need to ingest water, we need to breathe air,” Pistone said. “We have come to expect clean water because we understand that we need it to live and be healthy, and we should expect the same from our air.”
Poor air quality has been tied to cardiovascular and respiratory effects in humans. Short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), for example, can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing, and long-term exposure increases the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma or respiratory infections. Exposure to ozone can aggravate the lungs and damage the airways. Exposure to PM2.5 (particulates 2.5 micrometers or smaller) causes lung irritation and has been linked to heart and lung diseases.
In addition to its impacts on human health, poor air quality can damage the environment, polluting bodies of water through acidification and eutrophication. These processes kill plants, deplete soil nutrients, and harm animals.

Air quality is similar to the weather; it can change quickly, even within a matter of hours. To measure and report on air quality, the EPA uses the United States Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is calculated by measuring each of the six primary air pollutants on a scale from “Good” to “Hazardous,” to produce a combined AQI numeric value 0-500.
“Usually when we’re talking about air quality, we’re saying that there are things in the atmosphere that we know are not good for humans to be breathing all the time,” Pistone said. “So to have good air quality, you need to be below a certain threshold of pollution.” Localities around the world use different thresholds for “good” air quality, which is often dependent on which pollutants their system measures. In the EPA’s system, an AQI value of 50 or lower is considered good, while 51-100 is considered moderate. An AQI value between 100 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and higher values are unhealthy to everyone; a health alert is issued when the AQI reaches 200. Any value over 300 is considered hazardous, and is frequently associated with particulate pollution from wildfires.

Air quality sensors are a valuable resource for capturing air quality data on a local level.In 2022, the Trace Gas GRoup (TGGR) at NASA Ames Research Center deployed Inexpensive Network Sensor Technology for Exploring Pollution, or INSTEP: a new network of low-cost air quality sensors that measures a variety of pollutants. These sensors are capturing air quality data in certain areas in California, Colorado, and Mongolia, and have proven advantageous for monitoring air quality during California’s fire season.
The 2024 Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) mission integrated sensor data from aircraft, satellites, and ground-based platforms to evaluate air quality over several countries in Asia. The data captured from multiple instruments on these flights, such as the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) from NASA Ames Atmospheric Science Branch, are used to refine air quality models to forecast and assess air quality conditions.
Agency-wide, NASA has a range of Earth-observing satellites and other technology to capture and report air quality data. In 2023, NASA launched the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission, which measures air quality and pollution over North America. NASA’s Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth Observations (LANCE) tool provides air quality forecasters with measurements compiled from a multitude of NASA instruments, within three hours of its observation.

In addition to the EPA’s website, which houses air-quality related sources, the EPA also has a platform called AirNow, which reports the local AQI across the United States and allows users to check air quality levels in their area. Pistone also recommends looking at Purple Air’s real-time map, which displays PM data taken from a crowd-sourced network of low-cost sensors and translates those measurements to estimate AQI. For those concerned about air quality, Pistone recommends checking out https://cleanaircrew.org/ for resources on indoor air quality, breathing safely with wildfire smoke, and even building your own box fan filter.
To learn more about air quality research applications, see NASA’s Applied Sciences Program’s Health & Air Quality program area, which details the use of Earth observations to assess and address air quality concerns at local, regional, and national levels. Additionally, the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) helps connect NASA data and tools with stakeholders to better share and understand the effects of air quality on human health.
Written by Katera Lee, NASA Ames Research Center

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)
DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)
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The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, led a Hong Kong delegation comprising representatives from the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), to attend the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in Cebu, the Philippines. The theme for this year’s Conference was “Shaping the Future of Aviation: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive”. The five-day Conference, with over 320 participants from 44 member states, administrations and international organisations, concluded on a high note today (October 18). Discussion and information papers covering a wide range of subjects, including aviation safety, air navigation, aviation security, aviation and the environment, aviation technologies, as well as regional co-operation, were submitted by aviation authorities and industry organisations to the Conference. During the Conference, Mr Liu moderated the discussion of an agenda item on aviation safety. The discussion covered a wide range of subjects, including safety management, safety culture and promotion, and applications of various artificial intelligence and innovation technologies. The CAD submitted four papers to the Conference in response to the theme topic. Among them, the paper titled “Operationalisation of Autonomous Vehicles at the Hong Kong International Airport: A Regulatory Perspective” shared the successful experience of the application of autonomous vehicle technology to enhance safety and efficiency of airport operations in Hong Kong. The other three papers discussed the opportunities and challenges of applying artificial intelligence across various aspects of aviation, shared the CAD’s experience in utilising advanced technologies to enhance weather-related collaborative decision making in air traffic management, and shared information on the successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023 under the theme “Uniting the Strength of Innovation for Building a Seamless Sky”, jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the CAD and the HKIAA in December 2023. The papers received recognition and support from delegates. This year, the HKIAA set up an exhibition booth during the Conference to showcase its multidisciplinary training opportunities for aviation professionals. The HKIAA also submitted a paper to the Conference to share Hong Kong’s initiatives in addressing the training needs of the Asia Pacific region. During their stay in Cebu, the CAD delegation attended side meetings with representatives from different aviation authorities and industry organisations such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Air Transport Association. Views on matters of mutual interest were shared, and ways to strengthen co-operation were explored with the aim of facilitating aviation developments. ???The CAD will continue to maintain close co-operation with its aviation partners and continue to support the ICAO’s global aviation development initiatives.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 15:30

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Result of the 3-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on October 18, 2024

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Tenor	3-day
Notified Amount (in ₹ crore)	1,25,000
Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore)	54,755
Amount accepted (in ₹ crore)	54,755
Cut off Rate (%)	6.49
Weighted Average Rate (%)	6.49
Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate	NA

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2024-2025/1332

MIL OSI Global Banks –

January 24, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL puts 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the forefront of discussions to connect and empower tomorrow’s world

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

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —

5G emerged as a focal point at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world largest tech and startup event, with visitors getting a glimpse of the possibilities of the wireless technology with AI and its role to powering a hyperconnected future through groundbreaking innovations and insightful discussions.

The ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ event saw a combination of thought-provoking conversations and exhibitors displaying their powerful products and services that will revolutionise the world in the coming years. It comes at a time where GSMA projects a seismic shift in connectivity with 1.4 billion devices set to be linked with 5G by 2025, further fueling a USD $1.1 trillion IoT market within a USD $3.9 trillion mobile economy.

The expertly curated programme brought together some of the most influential voices from global enterprises and organisations including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President, NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei China and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at ITU Switzerland. They were also joined by Roque Lozano, SVP, Network Infrastructure MEA at Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi, President and CEO of NTT Research and SG Chung, Chief AI Global Officer at SK Telecom.

Away from the stage, the showcase featured a diverse range of impressive technologies from leading exhibitors, Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon among them. These industry giants presented cutting-edge solutions, highlighting next-generation 5G applications with their participation underscoring GITEX GLOBAL’s role as a key platform for exploring the future of connectivity and digital transformation.

A glimpse into a 5G-advanced powered AI future

With 5G and AI on a verge to catalyse a paradigm shift in the telecommunications landscape, Khalid Murshed Chief Technology & Information Officer of e&, one of the largest telecommunications operators in the Middle East and North Africa region, explained the transformative impact of network capabilities.

He said: “5G and 5G advanced serve as a platform for everyone to come in to innovate with applications that can drive demand for the network to be enhanced further and further.”

“We have to build a network with the capabilities and then fit in the AI applications and this is what we’re doing hand-in-hand. We’re not just building a network for the sake of technology leadership. It’s a bilateral game by all means and we are building them to enable new cases while today we have live networks and private 5G.”

Another leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei identifies several key technologies as the backbone of its solutions towards facilitating an intelligent future. 5G-Advanced (5G-A) remains vital to supporting rapid and low-latency communication – critical for building advanced applications, in addition to big, unified data, AI, and cloud computing.

AI and 5G fuelling the future of autonomous vehicles

The future of mobility and how autonomous vehicles can benefit from 5G was another highlight. Speaking in a panel, Siyuan Liu, Head of IoT Partnership & Strategy, Greater China, at China Unicom Global, said the company is accelerating its efforts into the AI and vehicle connectivity industries with 5G playing a central role.

She highlighted that 5G is vital for the growth of autonomous vehicles, reshaping society and helping make accurate decisions – all of which can enhance the efficiency of transportation and safety.

Large Language Models (LLMs) are disrupting industries all over the world and the telecommunications sector is no different. Wang Hui, President of Huawei NCE Data Communication Domain, highlighted that AI applications are being leveraged extensively in China’s autonomous vehicles and in AI health services.

Unleashing powerful innovations – superpower agent and all-electric supercar

Thousands of visitors were introduced to the most disruptive products and services powered by 5G in the most anticipated exhibition which attracted the leading tech enterprises and solution providers in telecoms, networks, and infrastructure. Attendees were not short of innovation options with game-changing partnerships and launches unveiled during the event.

e& announced a collaboration with Vodafone Business IoT to use the company’s Global SIM+ eSIM solution to provide in-vehicle connectivity and enhanced digital services for Mercedes-Benz AG drivers in the UAE. The service will be commercially available in the first half of 2025.

The company also displayed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric high-performance supercar, connected through e& UAE 5G SIM cards delivering the ultimate in-driving experience, and launched their new human-digital advisors, combining hologram technology and AI to cater to the diverse cultural nuances of Telecom customers in the UAE.

At Avaya’s stand, visitors saw how the company is creating superpower agents, powered by AI, showcasing new capabilities which can assist individuals to make scalable decisions that help businesses grow.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX Nigeria, all part of its portfolio. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

More information on GITEX GLOBAL, please visit http://www.GITEX.com

MIL OSI Africa –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL hosts Middle East’s largest data centre gathering to propel the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge infrastructure

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

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —

GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world’s largest tech and startup event, hosted the Middle East’s largest data centre gathering on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), showcasing the region’s commitment to becoming a global leader in the rapidly evolving data centre market.

The conference programme underscored the far-reaching implications of AI in data infrastructure, a driving force behind the rapidly expanding billion-dollar global market., while leading enterprises captivated the audience with their innovative solutions, showcasing the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centres.

As businesses increasingly turn to AI, the global data centre market is projected to reach USD $256 billion by the end of this year and will rise to USD $775 billion by 2034.

GITEX GLOBAL serves as a critical platform for industry leaders to engage in discussions that highlight the urgent need for enhanced and scalable data centres, essential for supporting the burgeoning AI-driven demand.

Driving Job Opportunities And Benefiting Society

On “Data Centres Universe”, conversations focused on how hyperscale, edge, and modular data centres can contribute to the growth in the presence of the sector’s biggest names. Major players, including Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo, convened to share their perspectives on the evolving trajectory of the industry, explore potential avenues for accelerated growth, and underscore the critical role of expansion in catalyzing global ambitions for AI-driven innovation.

Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, the MENA region’s largest hyperscale wholesale data centre provider, explained during a panel discussion that more data centres not only boost the market’s growth but also build capacity, supporting talent development, and fostering employment to meet the increasing demand.

He said: “A lot of people think that data centres are not a job creation machine. However, data centres are vital for economies and have different roles involved. If you look at all the hyperscales, their data centres are having a huge impact on the economy as people can secure jobs which are vital for the day-to-day operations.”

As the conversation shifted toward the future of data centres, industry experts emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in their development as the industry’s advancements enable the next-generation of tech solutions and services.

Marc Marazzi, Vice President of Legrand Data Center Solutions, shared his perspective on the need for careful planning and environmental responsibility in this rapidly expanding market. He believes the industry will go from strength to strength but organisations must exercise caution in their decision-making when building data centres taking into account long-term considerations of how the world will evolve over the next decade.

He said: “It’s great to see many taking the green initiative very seriously and looking at the way they are building and cooling data centres. Today, they are bigger than ever before and being built faster but we must not lose sight of the importance of how we manufacture, what we are installing and how they are managed. Data Centres are built with 15 years in mind and we have to think what they would look like in a specific time and get it right from the beginning.”

What Next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?

As GITEX GLOBAL comes to a close on Friday, ‘Futuristic Friday’ promises to feature groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech, all poised to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the tech landscape.

Taking place from 14-18 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX GLOBAL is recognized as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event. This year presents a record-breaking 44^th edition – welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

More information is available at: http://www.GITEX.com

MIL OSI Africa –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Legislative amendments enabling submission and processing of applications for Hong Kong identity cards by automated means gazetted

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The subsidiary legislation under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (ROP Ordinance) (Cap. 177), namely the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Regulation 2024, was gazetted today (October 18).

     Corresponding to the above amendments, amendments to the Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) Order (Cap. 553B), viz. the Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024, was also gazetted today.

     The above legislative proposals aim to enable the submission and processing of applications for Hong Kong identity cards (HKICs) by automated means via the Personal Documentation Submission Kiosks (PDSKs) of the Immigration Department (ImmD). Eligible applicants can complete the streamlined application procedures at the PDSKs in a self-service manner without the need to meet a Registration Officer in person. The proposed amendment regulation and order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 23 for negative vetting.

     A spokesman for the ImmD said, “The first batch of PDSKs is now set up at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. It is anticipated that the PDSKs’ function in handling HKICs applications will be introduced by the end of this year, once the amendments to the related subsidiary legislations have passed through the scrutiny period. Eligible applicants will be able to submit HKICs applications in a self-service manner, which will be more convenient and time-efficient. Regardless of the means used to submit applications, the eligibility criteria for HKICs applications remain unchanged.”

     The service arrangements and details regarding HKICs applications via PDSKs will be announced in due course prior to its introduction at the end of this year.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody
Correctional officers stop fight between persons in custody
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Correctional officers at Stanley Prison stopped a fight between two persons in custody today (October 18). At 10.44am today, two male persons in custody aged 29 and 33 engaged in a fight inside a workshop. Officers immediately stopped the fight and called for reinforcement. During the incident, one of the persons in custody sustained injuries to his ear, neck, shoulder and arms. He was referred to a public hospital for further treatment after being examined and treated by the institution Medical Officer. The other person in custody sustained an injury to his arm. He did not need to be sent to a public hospital after receiving medical examination and treatment from the institution Medical Officer. The case has been reported to the Police for investigation. The two persons in custody were sentenced to imprisonment for the offences of trafficking in a dangerous drug and theft in May 2021 and September 2023, respectively.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 16:45

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Indian National Is Sentenced To Prison For $20 Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Cryptocurrency Exchange Websites

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A citizen of the Republic of India was sentenced to prison today for stealing more than $20 million from hundreds of victims through the use of fake or “spoofed” websites mimicking the cryptocurrency exchange website Coinbase, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Chirag Tomar, 31, to serve 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from as early as June 2021, Tomar and his co-conspirators engaged in a spoofing scheme to steal millions in cryptocurrency from hundreds of victims located worldwide and in the United States, including in the Western District of North Carolina. Spoofing, as it pertains to cybercrime, is when a malicious cyber actor disguises an email address, sender name, or website URL to convince victims they are interacting with a trusted source. Court documents show that Tomar and his co-conspirators executed the fraud by spoofing Coinbase, one of the largest virtual currency exchanges in the world, that allows customers to buy, sell or trade cryptocurrencies.

Coinbase operated a “Pro” version of its exchange, which was found at the URL “Pro.Coinbase.Com.” According to court documents, Tomar and his co-conspirators spoofed the Coinbase Pro website by using a similar fake URL, CoinbasePro.Com, and created a fraudulent website to mimic the authentic website. Once victims entered their login credentials into the fake website, an authentication process was triggered. In some instances, victims were tricked into providing their login and authentication information of the real Coinbase website to fraudsters. Other times, victims were tricked into allowing fake Coinbase representatives to execute remote desktop software, which enabled fraudsters to gain control of victims’ computers and access their legitimate Coinbase accounts. The fraudsters also impersonated Coinbase customer service representatives and tricked the users into providing their two-factor authentication codes to the fraudsters over the phone. Once the fraudsters gained access to the victims’ Coinbase accounts, the fraudsters quickly transferred the victims’ Coinbase cryptocurrency holdings to cryptocurrency wallets under the fraudsters’ control.

Court documents show that, in February 2022, a victim located in the Western District of North Carolina attempted to log into his Coinbase account through the fraudulent website. The spoof website immediately notified the victim that his account was locked and prompted the victim to use a number provided to call a fake Coinbase representative. The fake representative tricked the victim into providing his two-factor authentication information, ultimately gaining access into the victim’s real Coinbase account. Using the information, fraudsters stole cryptocurrency from the victim’s Coinbase wallet worth over $240,000.

According to court records, Tomar used the victims’ stolen log-in credentials to access the victim accounts and transfer the victims’ cryptocurrency holdings to wallets controlled by Tomar. After Tomar received the stolen cryptocurrency, he would convert it to other forms of cryptocurrency and move the funds amongst many wallets controlled by Tomar. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency was converted into cash which was then distributed to Tomar and his co-conspirators.

Tomar used the victims’ funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle, including to purchase Audemars Piguet and other expensive watches, to buy luxury vehicles like Lamborghinis and Porsches, and to make trips to Dubai, Thailand and elsewhere.

On December 20, 2023, Tomar was arrested at the Atlanta airport upon entering the United States. On May 20, 2024, Tomar pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Tomar remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

U.S. Attorney King commended the U.S. Secret Service for their investigation of the case and thanked the FBI in Nashville for their invaluable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Life-long love of nature leads EIT student to important local environmental research | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

16 mins ago

Ryan Bauckham is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

A life-long love of exploring the outdoors has been the incentive for an EIT student to pursue a career in environmental research in Hawke’s Bay.

Ryan Bauckham, 35, is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

He has currently been researching Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) in a significant forest stand called Puahanui found near Gwavas , Tikokino.

“It’s actually the largest stand of remnant podocarp forest in Hawke’s Bay and I’ve recorded just over 200 species of Lepidoptera there.”

“ Most people aren’t aware there are so many moths. They are generally thought of as nondescript brown insects, that you don’t really pay that much attention to, unless they are coming to the outdoor lights at night. But when you look at moths closer, there’s a stunning diversity, all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes. I just find them really quite endearing and beautiful.”

Ryan’s study means he spends a lot of time out in nature and for him it is more than just a job, but a passion.

After leaving Karamu High School , Ryan became a postie with New Zealand Post, which he did for ten years. However, he always felt he wanted more.

“It’s been a lifelong interest of mine, and I’ve been heading out regularly to the mountains since I was a teenager. And birds have been my main interest in life for as long as I can remember.”

After leaving NZ Post, Ryan ended up living for five years in a camper van.

“While I was at NZ Post, I was able to travel around the country thanks to the flexibility of work. And after that, I was able to travel more. I spent the winters overseas, mostly in Southeast Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands.”

The turning point for Ryan was on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo in 2019 when he realised that he wanted more than “groundhog day”.

He returned to New Zealand, but life changed even more with COVID-19 and his young son Yahya coming into his fulltime care in 2021.

It was an advertisement for the Diploma in Environment Management (Level 5) that attracted Ryan’s attention and he decided to go for it.

“It was really scary, actually, to give up work. But I thought that I’m not getting any younger, so I decided to make a change.”

He says that he found going back to studying fulfilling, but soon found his interest moving from birds to insects.

“I spent a lot of time that summer recording moths and learning their taxonomy. I was already reading a lot of research papers, but then going back to study and having to do that as a task, it felt really fulfilling.”

Ryan faced a few challenges in his studies, the first being learning to use computers as he had not grown up with one, as well as dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns and Cyclone Gabrielle.

However, that is all in the past and Ryan is focused on his research, which recently received a funding boost from Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay. Ryan and his supervisor, Dr Amelia McQueen, were one of thirteen groups that received support from the Environmental Enhancement Contestable Fund, which is funded by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

It will play a role in enabling Ryan to continue his research.

“Lepidoptera also play real crucial roles in the ecosystem. They’re pollinators, decomposers and they are prey for larger organisms.”

Ryan says that even though there are about 2,000 species in New Zealand, the life histories of many of them are “poorly understood”.

“We don’t know their host plants or even what the larvae look like. They’re often just being described from the adult specimens. What I’m trying to do is make a comprehensive species list for the region, just simply because historically moths have been understudied.”

The site on private land drew Ryan because it had been deer-fenced in 2020 which allowed the understorey of the forest to regenerate.

“When I visited there, it just felt the right place, simply because it is the largest forest remnant in Hawke’s Bay. And at one time, the whole region would have been covered in forests like that.”

“And there’s a lot of species there that are relics, really, really relics of another age, and you wouldn’t find them outside of that environment, in the pastoral land or like an exotic forest or a newly planted one. Fortunately the landowners are really conservation focused people.”

EIT Environmental Management Lecturer Dr Amelia McQueen agrees: “Puahanui bush is a really special place to study flora and fauna and we are lucky there are places like this still around in Hawke’s Bay.”

“ Ryan’s study is amazing, over 200 moths and some of the observations are new for the North Island or one of a very few observations of these moths actually recorded for New Zealand. Ryan’s Lepidoptera identification skills and determination, especially doing observations on very cold nights in winter, has made his work particularly important. . . and there is more to come!”

As for the future, Ryan does not discount continuing his studies, but there is no doubt that he has found his calling.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: Timor-Leste welcomes the Statement by the Chair of the 44th and 45th ASEAN and Related Summits

MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

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Press release

Timor-Leste welcomes the Statement by the Chair of the 44th and 45th ASEAN and Related Summits

Timor-Leste congratulates ASEAN and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the successful conclusion of the 44th and 45th ASEAN and Related Summits from 9 to 11 October 2024. We also express our gratitude to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for its leadership throughout the year.

We welcome the decision to support the implementation of the “Objective and Criteria-Based Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership in ASEAN”. Timor-Leste appreciates the positive momentum towards our ASEAN membership journey and extends its sincere gratitude to ASEAN for recognizing our continued efforts. We also express our appreciation to Member States for their continued support and commitment to this important process.

As a sign of progress, Timor-Leste hopes to meet the Roadmap criteria for full ASEAN membership. Intensive preparations are underway to secure accession to ASEAN agreements and legal instruments under the three pillars, as stipulated in the Roadmap.

Timor-Leste has taken several important steps towards ASEAN membership, including advocacy campaigns and national-level dialogues to raise awareness of ASEAN, participation in capacity-building and leadership programmes, and strengthening bilateral relations with all ASEAN Member States. Timor-Leste also has an expanded technical work programme aimed at introducing ASEAN legal frameworks into national policy development, ensuring alignment and integration of government policies and regulatory frameworks with ASEAN standards.

The Timorese Government’s top-level leadership has been driving the accession process forward. Timor-Leste’s Council of Ministers adopted a resolution to establish an inter-ministerial technical working group on ASEAN accession, which catalyzed a dynamic whole-of-government work plan. Most recently, the 9th Constitutional Government appointed a Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs to accelerate accession work and oversee the Directorate-General for ASEAN Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, which coordinates and leads the accession process.

Timor-Leste remains committed to this process and will continue to cooperate with ASEAN and dialogue partners on our journey towards full membership.

Finally, the Government of Timor-Leste also welcomes the Malaysian Presidency in 2025 and looks forward to working closely with the President on matters of regional cooperation, including Timor-Leste’s accession. ENDS

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL Translation OSI

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST to attend Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 in Beijing

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

SFST to attend Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 in Beijing
SFST to attend Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 in Beijing
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The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, will depart for Beijing tomorrow (October 19) to attend the Annual Conference of the Financial Street Forum 2024. This year’s annual conference, themed “Trust and Confidence – Work Together to Promote Financial Openness, Cooperate for Shared Economic Stability and Growth”, will be held in Beijing from October 18 to 20. More than 500 guests from over 30 countries and regions worldwide will attend the annual conference to exchange views on current economic and financial hot topics. Mr Hui will deliver a keynote speech at the main forum tomorrow on empowering industries through financial support to drive high-quality development. The Financial Street Forum was founded in 2012. The Annual Conference of the Financial Street Forum has been enhanced as a national, global and professional forum since 2020. This year’s annual conference is jointly hosted by the Beijing Municipal People’s Government, the People’s Bank of China, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua News Agency and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong on October 20. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will act as the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 18:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSSA caseload for September 2024

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

CSSA caseload for September 2024
CSSA caseload for September 2024
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The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in September showed a drop of 758 cases, representing a decrease of 0.4 per cent compared with that of August, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (October 18). The total CSSA caseload at the end of September stood at 197 013 (see attached table), with a total of 264 829 recipients. Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 2.9 per cent to 1 425 cases. Single parent cases decreased by 1.4 per cent to 19 549 cases. Unemployment cases declined by 0.7 per cent to 16 459 cases. Permanent disability cases dropped by 0.4 per cent to 16 936 cases. Ill-health cases dropped by 0.3 per cent to 27 974 cases. Old age cases slightly decreased by 0.1 per cent to 110 777 cases.

Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 17:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK and media partner South China Morning Post take deep dive into Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem at InnoTech Forum 2024 (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) along with media partner South China Morning Post, the InnoTech Forum 2024 took place today (October 18) at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel and was attended by over 200 guests. Through keynote addresses, in-depth panel discussions and presentations, the full-day forum provided audience members with an engaging discussion on the development of Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, long-term strategic plans and the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and new energy technologies in reshaping the city and the economy.

     During his keynote address at the forum, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “AI remains a key driver of I&T and business development. The Government has invested billions of dollars in cultivating an all-round AI ecosystem here in Hong Kong. Cyberport will soon put into operation its AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) to support the strong computing demand from universities, research institutes and the industry. To support the commissioning of the AISC, the Government has allocated $3 billion to launch a three-year AI Subsidy Scheme. The Policy Address announced that the Government will pilot the use of a generative AI document processing copilot application, developed on the basis of a locally trained large language model, within the Government. In fact, a number of the hundred digital government and smart city initiatives that the Government presses ahead for rollout this year and next will make use of AI technology. Hong Kong stands on the cusp of making ground-breaking strides by capitalising on the vast potential of AI and other cutting-edge technologies. We are partners in this journey to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said, “In pursuit of carbon neutrality, green transformation is becoming a global trend and this will continue in the coming decades, triggering tremendous demands for green energy and various low-carbon technologies. Hydrogen is a secondary carrier of energy and is highly energy-efficient with less polluting potential. The Government published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June this year. The Strategy puts forward four major strategies, namely improving legislations, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence, with a view to getting the laws, standards and the basic infrastructure ready so as to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in a prudent and orderly manner. By leveraging our advantage as an international hub, backed by our motherland and with innovation and devotion of the city, we can position Hong Kong as a key driver of hydrogen economy, towards carbon neutrality as well as a sustainable and prosperous future.”

     The discussion at the forum explored the importance of AI and new energy in integrating sustainability and resilience into modern cities, with panel discussions on the following topics:

developing the AI ecosystem for long-term success with a focus on recent advancements in Hong Kong, including the development of cutting-edge infrastructure, talent cultivation, commercialisation of research, and financial incentives, and how a robust and sustainable AI ecosystem can benefit Hong Kong;
real-life applications of AI in Hong Kong and beyond highlighting the latest trends and developments of AI innovations and how the city’s connected innovation system supports their growth on a global scale;
How hydrogen is emerging as a core new energy priority, in line with the Hong Kong Government’s recently published hydrogen development strategy; and
imagining Hong Kong’s future with innovative energy projects and how the city will evolve as these technologies mature and scale.

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “This Forum has fostered meaningful dialogue, inspired new ideas and catalysed further collaboration between the Government, industry, academia and relevant stakeholders. As indicated in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” a couple of days ago, the Government has always spearheaded and enhanced the development of Hong Kong’s I&T industries and will continue to do so. Working together, we believe Hong Kong can remain at the forefront of innovation, harnessing the power of both AI and energy technologies to build a prosperous and sustainable future.”

The Head of Innovation and Technology at InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, said, “AI is one of the strategic pillars in our Government’s agenda to drive digital economy. To accelerate its development, the Government is establishing the AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) and has set aside $3 billion to support the use of AISC financially. On the hydrogen front, legislation and standards shall be optimised to align with technology and market development, as well as enabling the trial of different hydrogen-related projects. All these will further propel Hong Kong to be a top-notch international innovation and technology hub, as well as a ‘living lab’ for technology to be adopted in other markets.”

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Welfare cases dip 0.4%

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance caseload dropped by 758 cases to 197,013 in September, down 0.4% from August, the Social Welfare Department announced today.

The total number of recipients was 264,829.

Low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 2.9% to 1,425. Single parent cases fell 1.4% to 19,549, while unemployment cases dipped 0.7% to 16,459.

Permanent disability cases dropped 0.4% to 16,936, while ill-health cases dipped 0.3% to 27,974 cases. Old age cases registered a 0.1% decrease to 110,777 cases.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: College of Surgeons announces historic governance overhaul to strengthen future leadership

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is set to implement one of the most significant governance overhauls in its near 100-year history.

After receiving overwhelming support from its membership, with 82.6 per cent of votes in favour, the College has an updated Constitution to strengthen financial and risk management as it navigates the complexities of the modern governance environment.

Since its founding in 1927, the College has played a pivotal role in shaping surgical standards, education, and professionalism in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. While it continues to be at the forefront of surgical leadership, it became increasingly clear in recent years that the structure of the College was no longer fit-for-purpose.

The constitutional update, which was the result of an extensive period of consultation with RACS Fellows, surgical specialty societies and other interested parties, provides for the establishment of a skills-based, professional-led governance Board. The Board will take on fiduciary responsibilities such as finance, audit, and risk management, leaving the RACS Council to carry out the core College business.

The new governance model represents a unified vision for a stronger, more resilient College—one that is well-positioned to lead the way in surgical care and education for years to come.

“The passing of these constitutional updates is a testament to the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when stakeholders from across our network come together for a common purpose,” said Professor Owen Ung, RACS vice president and chair of the College’s Governance Committee.

“It is heartening to see the unity of feeling that a strong College benefits everyone involved—our members, our patients, and the wider healthcare community.”

As the College prepares to implement these changes, RACS president Associate Professor Kerin Fielding said there is a renewed sense of optimism and momentum.

“We are entering a new era for our College. With these updates, we are well-positioned to embrace future challenges and opportunities, ensuring that we continue to lead with excellence in surgical care, education, and advocacy.”

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 8000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. http://www.surgeons.org

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Idemitsu Kosan to boost investment in SW China

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

This aerial photo taken on July 14, 2023 shows the night view in Chengdu of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Idemitsu Kosan, a Fortune Global 500 company, has announced an investment increase in the southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chengdu, aiming to establish its Chinese headquarters there, local authorities said on Thursday.

Idemitsu Kosan and Xi’an Manareco New Materials Co., Ltd., have reached cooperation agreement and two sides intended to increase investment and expand production of the former’s manufacturing base in the Chengdu high-tech zone.

The new development aims to transform the electronic material manufacturing base into a Chinese headquarters that integrates research and development, manufacturing, sales and other functions, and contribute to the development of local new display sector.

Founded in 1911, Idemitsu Kosan is one of the largest petrochemical enterprises in Japan. As one of the earlier Japanese companies to enter the Chinese market, Idemitsu Kosan’s investments in the Chinese mainland cover various fields including energy, chemicals, lubricants, high-performance materials and electronic materials.

In May 2018, Idemitsu Kosan invested 240 million yuan (about 33.7 million U.S. dollars) in Chengdu to build its electronic material manufacturing base. This project is Idemitsu Kosan’s first OLED emissive material manufacturing plant in China.

MIL OSI China News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Shanghai boasts 998 regional headquarters of multinationals

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

This panoramic aerial photo taken on Jan. 10, 2023 shows a view of Lujiazui area in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shanghai, China’s financial hub and a popular foreign investment destination, is home to 998 regional headquarters of multinational companies at present, said the Shanghai Foreign Investment Association.

Shanghai has over 75,000 foreign-invested enterprises, with the cumulative actual use of foreign capital reaching 350 billion U.S. dollars.

Among them, 258 enterprises made it onto Shanghai’s top 100 rankings across four key categories in 2023, namely operating revenue, total imports and exports, tax contributions and job creation, according to the association’s announcement of the city’s top foreign-invested enterprises.

In terms of the origin of investors, companies from the United States ranked first, with a total of 83 enterprises represented in the rankings, followed by 32 Japanese firms and 28 German companies. In 2023, Tesla Shanghai Co., Ltd. was the only enterprise to rank in the top 10 for all four categories, said the association.

The municipal government of Shanghai issues certification to foreign companies’ regional headquarters as official recognition. In July, the certification was given to 30 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 15 foreign-funded research and development centers.

Nearly half of them are from key industries prioritized by the city, such as electronic information, life sciences, advanced equipment, and consumption, including British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, French exhibition company GL events and global mining leader Anglo American.

“Shanghai is one of the most attractive destinations for foreign investment globally,” said Liu Ping, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, describing the foreign-invested enterprises gathered in Shanghai as a key engine driving the city’s industrial upgrades and a major force in promoting technological innovation.

Official data indicates that foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai contribute significantly to the city’s economy, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the city’s total imports and exports, 40 percent of its industrial output, one-third of its tax revenue, one-quarter of its GDP and one-fifth of its employment.

MIL OSI China News –

January 24, 2025

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