NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

    Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 28 hosted a summit at his office for visiting Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on raising bilateral cooperation and analyzing regional and international situations.

    Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as bio and pharmaceuticals, national security and the defense industry.

    Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 25 hosted summit talks in Seoul with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was on an official visit to Korea, and adopted a joint statement on their newly formed strategic partnership.

    Both leaders welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year and agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude the deal next year. They also pledged to raise cooperation in infrastructure and supply chains for core minerals.

    Korea-Peru summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 held a bilateral summit at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, and agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure.
    The two countries concluded memorandums of understanding on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visits to Peru, Brazil for APEC, G20

    Korea-ASEAN summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 attended the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where he and ASEAN leaders agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and launch joint projects in a range of sectors.

    They also agreed to stimulate trade and investment through a bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating a “conducive and favourable environment” for ASEAN and Korean business such as the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Business Council.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Japan summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos, their first talks since the prime minister assumed office on Sept. 1. 

    Both leaders agreed on the growing need to raise bilateral cooperation in regional and global issues and expand the horizons for such collaboration on the global stage.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Philippines summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to the Philippines, on Oct. 7 agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to form a bilateral strategic partnership at their summit held at the presidential Malacanang Palace in Manila.

    Both leaders also adopted a joint declaration on higher cooperation in all sectors including national security and economy like nuclear power plants. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Czechia summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 19 discussed with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague cooperation in strategic sectors including nuclear power plants. Both leaders also shared opinions on developing their bilateral strategic partnership.

    Korea-New Zealand summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sept. 4 at their bilateral summit adopted a joint statement on stronger bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, human exchange, national security and international cooperation.

    Both leaders also agreed to elevate their Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Korea-Germany summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said he hopes to work more closely with Germany on global issues such as support for Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and the climate crisis. He also hailed Germany’s application to join the United Nations Command. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    Korea-Japan summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said, “The recent signing by Russia and North Korea of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and their accelerated closeness in military and economic ties are raising serious concern over global security as well as that of East Asia.”

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

    Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 28 hosted a summit at his office for visiting Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on raising bilateral cooperation and analyzing regional and international situations.

    Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as bio and pharmaceuticals, national security and the defense industry.

    Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 25 hosted summit talks in Seoul with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was on an official visit to Korea, and adopted a joint statement on their newly formed strategic partnership.

    Both leaders welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year and agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude the deal next year. They also pledged to raise cooperation in infrastructure and supply chains for core minerals.

    Korea-Peru summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 held a bilateral summit at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, and agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure.
    The two countries concluded memorandums of understanding on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visits to Peru, Brazil for APEC, G20

    Korea-ASEAN summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 attended the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where he and ASEAN leaders agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and launch joint projects in a range of sectors.

    They also agreed to stimulate trade and investment through a bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating a “conducive and favourable environment” for ASEAN and Korean business such as the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Business Council.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Japan summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos, their first talks since the prime minister assumed office on Sept. 1. 

    Both leaders agreed on the growing need to raise bilateral cooperation in regional and global issues and expand the horizons for such collaboration on the global stage.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Philippines summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to the Philippines, on Oct. 7 agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to form a bilateral strategic partnership at their summit held at the presidential Malacanang Palace in Manila.

    Both leaders also adopted a joint declaration on higher cooperation in all sectors including national security and economy like nuclear power plants. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Czechia summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 19 discussed with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague cooperation in strategic sectors including nuclear power plants. Both leaders also shared opinions on developing their bilateral strategic partnership.

    Korea-New Zealand summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sept. 4 at their bilateral summit adopted a joint statement on stronger bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, human exchange, national security and international cooperation.

    Both leaders also agreed to elevate their Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Korea-Germany summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said he hopes to work more closely with Germany on global issues such as support for Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and the climate crisis. He also hailed Germany’s application to join the United Nations Command. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    Korea-Japan summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said, “The recent signing by Russia and North Korea of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and their accelerated closeness in military and economic ties are raising serious concern over global security as well as that of East Asia.”

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PAKISTAN – Jubilee Year: in the diocese of Multan there is hope for education

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 18 February 2025 jubilee  

    Multan Diocese – Catholcs Pakistan

    Multan (Agenzia Fides) – Among the Catholic population of southern Punjab, in the diocese of Multan, the hope that is nurtured in the Jubilee Year is to have concrete educational opportunities, says Father Jamshed Gill (OP), for many years director of the Pastoral Institute of Multan and now General Councilor for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Dominican Order, to Fides. In one of the largest cities in Pakistan, with more than 1.2 million inhabitants, about half of the more than 80,000 Catholics are destitute and live in the countryside or are among the “poor” who live in the slums on the outskirts of the city. In January, the Catholic community celebrated the solemn inauguration of the Holy Year in the Cathedral of Multan: “It is a Jubilee Year of personal renewal and faith,” said Bishop Yousef Sohan. The presence of many young people and students from the diocese’s schools at the celebration drew particular attention to education. “To restore hope to people and thus opportunities for development and growth, the first step is to work in the field of education,” explained Father Gill, recalling that “the diocese is doing its best to support Catholic schools in the city and in rural villages, but the lack of resources limits the possibilities,” he noted. The Dominicans run a school and a boarding school in Bahawalpur, which is part of the diocese. “But many families cannot afford the fees, even though they are low, so the children are not sent to school,” he reports. There are also boarding schools that charge higher fees, which is why in this case “only middle-class families, almost exclusively Muslims, benefit from these schools.” The disadvantaged are therefore “precisely the poorest Christian families, unable to break out of the vicious circle of economic and also educational poverty,” the religious observes. The pastoral plan of the diocese, launched by the new bishop, states that he will give priority to the education of Catholics. Bishop Sohan, who took office two years ago, wants to strengthen the school sector by opening more schools and supporting and improving existing ones. The diocese directly runs 27 schools that provide education to thousands of children and young people in urban and rural areas. “In the Jubilee Year, special attention will be paid to this commitment: to make hope a reality in people’s lives, the whole community can try to do more in this area and the faithful, the poorest and most marginalized, will welcome it and recognize it as a gift from the Lord,” he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2024)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Launch of the RBIDATA Mobile App by RBI

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today, the Reserve Bank of India launched RBIDATA, a Mobile App, that offers macroeconomic and financial statistics relating to the Indian economy in a user-friendly and visually engaging format.

    The key features of the app include:

    • Access to over 11,000 different series of economic data to give a comprehensive view of the Indian economy.

    • Users can view time series data in graphs/charts and download data for analysis.

    • The app includes details such as data source, unit of measurement, frequency, recent updates. Additional notes are also provided to help users understand the graphs/charts better.

    • The ‘Popular Reports’ section features a series of frequently viewed reports.

    • ‘Search’ option allows users to access data directly from home screen, without the need to navigate various sections or publications.

    • The ‘Banking Outlet’ section helps users find banking facilities within 20 km of their location.

    • Users can access data about SAARC countries through the ‘SAARC Finance’ link in the app.

    This app offers quick access to the Database on the Indian Economy (DBIE – https://data.rbi.org.in) portal and aims to serve the researchers, students, and the general public. It is available for both iOS and Android users (version 12 and above). The app also lets users provide feedback to improve its functionality.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2193

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Construction on the New La Ronge Long Term Care Home Reaches Halfway Mark

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on February 18, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan announced today that construction on the new La Ronge Long-Term Care Home has reached 50 per cent completion. 

    Construction activities currently underway include completion of building envelope including glazing, interior partition walls, masonry brick installation, electrical and mechanical rough-ins, roof insulation and membrane and interior steel wall layout.

    “It is wonderful to see the progress being made on the new long-term care home in La Ronge,” Minister Responsible for Seniors Lori Carr said. “When complete, the new space will ensure seniors and other residents of the north can receive long-term care that meets their needs closer to home and their families.”

    The new three-story facility will consist of 80 private rooms with bathrooms, increasing capacity by 64 beds from the current space in the health centre. The home will also feature shared living areas, family rooms, a commercial kitchen and cafeteria, a serenity room and traditional healing space. 

    “We are very pleased to announce this project reaching 50 per cent completion,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said. “This progress further highlights our commitment to create critical infrastructure that supports the needs of families in northern Saskatchewan. Together, we are building stronger communities that will serve generations to come.”

    The new long-term care home will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). 

    “We are thrilled to see the continued momentum of this new long-term care home project,” said Andrew McLetchie, Vice President, Integrated Northern Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority. “The SHA is committed to safe, quality care as close to home as possible. With significantly more capacity and amenities than the current facility, this new home will deliver on that commitment to residents of the La Ronge area.”

    The Government has committed approximately $100 million to the project. The La Ronge and Area Long-Term Care Funding Committee is working to raise funds to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment. 

    “The La Ronge and Area Long-Term Care Fundraising Committee is proud to partner with the SHA to ensure the new facility is fully equipped to meet residents’ needs,” Fundraising Coordinator Jacob Page said. “Through community support, we are raising funds for the furniture, fixtures, and equipment that will make this space welcoming, functional, and culturally inclusive for those who will call it home.”

    Ledcor Construction Limited (Ledcor) began construction on the facility in July 2023 and it is expected to be substantially completed by early 2027.

    “Ledcor is proud to be working on the new La Ronge Long Term Care facility,” Regional Manager Laird Ritchie said. “This project is an opportunity to enhance the community by creating an inspiring and functional space that will benefit future generations. We are thrilled to have reached the 50 per cent completion milestone and look forward to continuing to apply our expertise to ensure the project’s successful completion and lasting impact. The project team has actively engaged with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), the local band, and the town during the recruitment process. Our commitment to using local trades and suppliers has been warmly welcomed.”

    Once residents can be moved into the new home, the current LTC space in the health centre will be renovated to improve program areas including therapies and add an adult day program and new hemodialysis unit. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Quantum effects make distant objects move together: new research finds this may happen with ripples in space

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Partha Nandi, Postdoc Fellow, Stellenbosch University

    Galaxies, planets, black holes: to most people, everything about our Universe sounds and feels enormous. But while it’s true that much of what happens millions of light years away is large, there are also processes happening at the quantum end of the scale. That’s the branch of science which explains how nature works at very small scales – smaller than atoms. At this level, things behave in surprising ways.

    Theoretical physicists Partha Nandi and Bibhas Ranjan Majhi explored the possibility that gravitational waves – ripples in space caused by massive objects moving or colliding – might exhibit quantum properties. They shared their findings with The Conversation Africa.

    What are gravitational waves?

    Simply put, they’re like tiny ripples in space, similar to the waves you see when you splash water. They occur when really heavy things in space, like stars or black holes, move around or crash into each other. These ripples then travel across space and carry energy.

    They’re also far more than that: they are a method of communication. They carry information about massive cosmic events, helping scientists to “listen” to space in a way that wasn’t possible before their existence was confirmed.

    In 1916 the legendary theoretical physicist Albert Einstein published a groundbreaking paper that laid out his theory of general relativity. He described gravity not as a force, but as the bending of space and time caused by massive objects. This bending affects how objects move, just like a heavy ball placed on a stretched rubber sheet makes smaller objects roll toward it.

    Einstein accurately predicted the motion of planets, black holes, and even how light bends around massive objects – and the existence of gravitational waves rippling in space-time when those massive objects move or collide.

    Read more: Curious Kids: what are gravitational waves?

    It took nearly 100 years for Einstein’s hypothesis about gravitational waves to be confirmed. That’s when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the US detected these waves for the first time. It took such a long time because despite how huge they sound, gravitational waves are minute: they stretch or squeeze space by a factor 1,000 times smaller than the size of an atom. Special tools were needed to spot them and LIGO’s cutting-edge technology was up to the task.

    You argue that some gravitational waves are quantum in nature. What does that mean?

    “Quantum” is the branch of science that explains how nature works at very small scales – smaller than atoms. At this level, things behave in surprising ways.

    For instance, tiny particles can behave like waves. They can also exist in more than one state at the same time, which is called superposition. Additionally, they can be mysteriously linked so that a change in one instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. This is called entanglement.

    Read more: Quantum entanglement: what it is, and why physicists want to harness it

    Photons are a good example. These are particles of light, and scientists have proved that they behave in these “quantum” ways, such as being able to exist in superposition or becoming entangled with each other.

    Entanglement is a kind of connection but it’s much deeper than a simple link. When two objects are entangled, they share something called a quantum state. This describes everything about a particle or system. It’s like a blueprint, but instead of fixed details, it gives the chance of finding the particle under different conditions, such as its position or speed.

    When two objects share a quantum state, their behaviour becomes mysteriously linked. If you measure one object, the state of the other will immediately adjust to match, no matter how far apart they are. This is what makes entanglement so special and unlike anything we see in the everyday world.

    What did your research reveal?

    We hypothesised that gravitational waves could have both classical and quantum properties. The ones detected by LIGO so far follow classical behaviour, matching Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

    But the current LIGO detectors aren’t sensitive enough to detect quantum effects, and there’s been no way to know whether our hypothesis is correct. So we modelled a detector similar to the latest generation of LIGO, which has mirrors attached to arms that can move and vibrate.

    Classical gravitational waves cause the mirrors to move in specific ways, but in our study quantum gravitational waves – tiny ripples caused by particles called “gravitons” – affected the mirrors differently. They can make the mirrors’ oscillation modes become entangled: parts of the motion move together in ways that classical waves cannot create.

    To visualise this, imagine two wind chimes far apart, swaying in sync because of an invisible breeze. Here, the quantum gravitational waves are like that breeze. They make distant objects move together in a way that classical gravitational waves cannot.

    This suggests that at very small scales, gravitational waves may show quantum features, like entanglement, which can’t be explained classically. We’re not suggesting that all gravitational waves are quantum. However, this does not imply that all gravitational waves are quantum in nature. Instead, those originating from the early universe, approximately 13.8 billion years ago, may carry quantum signatures. These types of gravitational waves may encode information about the early universe, especially around the time of the Big Bang, and how they may have changed over time.

    Why is this an important finding?

    Confirming the quantum nature of gravitational waves bridges Einstein’s relativity with quantum mechanics, solving a puzzle that has challenged physics for decades: the difficulty of reconciling the principles of general relativity, which describes gravity on a large scale, with the laws of quantum mechanics, which govern the behaviour of particles at the smallest scales.

    This breakthrough could revolutionise our understanding of the universe. The quantum nature of gravitational waves could help advanced sensors detect faint cosmic signals and provide insights into the universe’s origins, black hole behaviour, and the fabric of reality. While LIGO has already made great progress in measuring gravitational waves, exploring their quantum side opens up a new field of physics.

    Read more: Gravitational waves: will the global south provide the next pulse of gravity research?

    It’s important to note that more research will be needed to test and replicate our findings in different experimental settings. We’re far from the only people studying these phenomena and we hope our findings will strengthen the efforts of South African institutions such as the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) and the Astrophysics Research Group at Stellenbosch University which contribute to gravitational wave astrophysics through data analysis, collaboration and theoretical work.

    Advances in technology will also play a key role in expanding quantum gravitational wave research opportunities. The LIGO-India observatory, due to become operational by 2030, will be one such possible experimental setting.

    – Quantum effects make distant objects move together: new research finds this may happen with ripples in space
    – https://theconversation.com/quantum-effects-make-distant-objects-move-together-new-research-finds-this-may-happen-with-ripples-in-space-245050

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

    Source: United Nations 4

    Economic Development

    The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday. 

    The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels.

    Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea prices are 15 per cent above long-term levels.

    Together, these commodities are responsible for over half of the projected increase in global food import expenditures, which FAO economists anticipate will rise by nearly 23 per cent in 2024.

    National disparities

    While high-income countries, which make up two-thirds of the global food import bill, will see a 4.4 per cent increase, import expenditures for middle and low-income countries are expected to decline.

    Lower-income countries may find some relief in reduced cereal and oilseed costs, although their per capita food intake for wheat and coarse grains is projected to decline, contrasting with an anticipated 1.5 per cent increase in rice consumption.

    FAO emphasises the crucial role food exports play in supporting many economies.

    For instance, coffee export earnings cover nearly 40 per cent of food import costs in Burundi and Ethiopia, while Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports entirely offset its food import bill. Similarly, tea exports account for more than half of Sri Lanka’s import costs.

    Mixed forecast

    FAO’s forecasts reveal a mixed picture for global food production and trade.

    Wheat and coarse grain output is expected to decrease but remain above consumption levels, while rice production is set for a record-breaking harvest in 2024/25 which could enable an increase in global rice consumption, reserves and international trade. 

    Production of meat and dairy is forecast to grow modestly while global fisheries output is expected to expand by 2.2 per cent, fuelled by aquaculture.

    Meanwhile, vegetable oils’ consumption may outpace production for the second consecutive season, leading to stock drawdowns.

    The report cautions that extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and policy changes could destabilise production systems, further straining global food security.

    Olive oil prices spike alongside climate stress

    A special focus on olive oil details price spikes due to climate-related production declines.

    IFAD

    Compost made from a mixture of pine trees empty cones and cow dung helps olive trees grow in a sustainable way.

    In Spain, wholesale prices for cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil reached nearly $10,000 per tonne in January 2024, almost triple their 2022 levels.

    High temperatures, which force olive trees to conserve water for core functions instead of producing fruit, led to a nearly 50 per cent production cut for two years in a row.

    Although Spain’s next harvest is expected to surpass the 10-year average, high prices may constrain global consumption.

    Producers ought to consider more sustainable water and soil management practices, the report notes.

    Given the great potential for expansion in olive oil exports, governments might offer support to olive growers, such as insurance schemes and measures to control the spread of diseases, said FAO Economist Di Yang.

    Cheaper fertiliser…mostly

    The report also highlights a 50 per cent drop in fertiliser prices since their 2022 peak, thanks to falling natural gas prices and reduced trade barriers.

    FAO Economist Maria Antip noted however that phosphate fertilisers have resisted this trend, with ongoing trade barriers and geopolitical tensions posing risks to future supplies, particularly in Latin America and Asia.

    Additionally, the report underscores the potential of low-carbon ammonia, a key component of nitrogen-based fertilisers, as a sustainable alternative.

    However, while using renewable energy instead of natural gas is viable and investments to do so are underway, scaling up production will require targeted incentives to offset higher manufacturing costs and encourage adoption among farmers.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Quantum effects make distant objects move together: new research finds this may happen with ripples in space

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Partha Nandi, Postdoc Fellow, Stellenbosch University

    An illustration of two black holes orbiting each other. Eventually they will merge, producing gravitational waves. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

    Galaxies, planets, black holes: to most people, everything about our Universe sounds and feels enormous. But while it’s true that much of what happens millions of light years away is large, there are also processes happening at the quantum end of the scale. That’s the branch of science which explains how nature works at very small scales – smaller than atoms. At this level, things behave in surprising ways.

    Theoretical physicists Partha Nandi and Bibhas Ranjan Majhi explored the possibility that gravitational waves – ripples in space caused by massive objects moving or colliding – might exhibit quantum properties. They shared their findings with The Conversation Africa.

    What are gravitational waves?

    Simply put, they’re like tiny ripples in space, similar to the waves you see when you splash water. They occur when really heavy things in space, like stars or black holes, move around or crash into each other. These ripples then travel across space and carry energy.

    They’re also far more than that: they are a method of communication. They carry information about massive cosmic events, helping scientists to “listen” to space in a way that wasn’t possible before their existence was confirmed.

    In 1916 the legendary theoretical physicist Albert Einstein published a groundbreaking paper that laid out his theory of general relativity. He described gravity not as a force, but as the bending of space and time caused by massive objects. This bending affects how objects move, just like a heavy ball placed on a stretched rubber sheet makes smaller objects roll toward it.

    Einstein accurately predicted the motion of planets, black holes, and even how light bends around massive objects – and the existence of gravitational waves rippling in space-time when those massive objects move or collide.



    Read more:
    Curious Kids: what are gravitational waves?

    It took nearly 100 years for Einstein’s hypothesis about gravitational waves to be confirmed. That’s when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the US detected these waves for the first time. It took such a long time because despite how huge they sound, gravitational waves are minute: they stretch or squeeze space by a factor 1,000 times smaller than the size of an atom. Special tools were needed to spot them and LIGO’s cutting-edge technology was up to the task.

    You argue that some gravitational waves are quantum in nature. What does that mean?

    “Quantum” is the branch of science that explains how nature works at very small scales – smaller than atoms. At this level, things behave in surprising ways.

    For instance, tiny particles can behave like waves. They can also exist in more than one state at the same time, which is called superposition. Additionally, they can be mysteriously linked so that a change in one instantly affects the other, no matter how far apart they are. This is called entanglement.



    Read more:
    Quantum entanglement: what it is, and why physicists want to harness it

    Photons are a good example. These are particles of light, and scientists have proved that they behave in these “quantum” ways, such as being able to exist in superposition or becoming entangled with each other.

    Entanglement is a kind of connection but it’s much deeper than a simple link. When two objects are entangled, they share something called a quantum state. This describes everything about a particle or system. It’s like a blueprint, but instead of fixed details, it gives the chance of finding the particle under different conditions, such as its position or speed.

    When two objects share a quantum state, their behaviour becomes mysteriously linked. If you measure one object, the state of the other will immediately adjust to match, no matter how far apart they are. This is what makes entanglement so special and unlike anything we see in the everyday world.

    What did your research reveal?

    We hypothesised that gravitational waves could have both classical and quantum properties. The ones detected by LIGO so far follow classical behaviour, matching Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

    But the current LIGO detectors aren’t sensitive enough to detect quantum effects, and there’s been no way to know whether our hypothesis is correct. So we modelled a detector similar to the latest generation of LIGO, which has mirrors attached to arms that can move and vibrate.

    Classical gravitational waves cause the mirrors to move in specific ways, but in our study quantum gravitational waves – tiny ripples caused by particles called “gravitons” – affected the mirrors differently. They can make the mirrors’ oscillation modes become entangled: parts of the motion move together in ways that classical waves cannot create.

    To visualise this, imagine two wind chimes far apart, swaying in sync because of an invisible breeze. Here, the quantum gravitational waves are like that breeze. They make distant objects move together in a way that classical gravitational waves cannot.

    This suggests that at very small scales, gravitational waves may show quantum features, like entanglement, which can’t be explained classically. We’re not suggesting that all gravitational waves are quantum. However, this does not imply that all gravitational waves are quantum in nature. Instead, those originating from the early universe, approximately 13.8 billion years ago, may carry quantum signatures. These types of gravitational waves may encode information about the early universe, especially around the time of the Big Bang, and how they may have changed over time.

    Why is this an important finding?

    Confirming the quantum nature of gravitational waves bridges Einstein’s relativity with quantum mechanics, solving a puzzle that has challenged physics for decades: the difficulty of reconciling the principles of general relativity, which describes gravity on a large scale, with the laws of quantum mechanics, which govern the behaviour of particles at the smallest scales.

    This breakthrough could revolutionise our understanding of the universe. The quantum nature of gravitational waves could help advanced sensors detect faint cosmic signals and provide insights into the universe’s origins, black hole behaviour, and the fabric of reality. While LIGO has already made great progress in measuring gravitational waves, exploring their quantum side opens up a new field of physics.



    Read more:
    Gravitational waves: will the global south provide the next pulse of gravity research?

    It’s important to note that more research will be needed to test and replicate our findings in different experimental settings. We’re far from the only people studying these phenomena and we hope our findings will strengthen the efforts of South African institutions such as the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) and the Astrophysics Research Group at Stellenbosch University which contribute to gravitational wave astrophysics through data analysis, collaboration and theoretical work.

    Advances in technology will also play a key role in expanding quantum gravitational wave research opportunities. The LIGO-India observatory, due to become operational by 2030, will be one such possible experimental setting.

    Partha Nandi receives funding from the University of Stellenbosch. as a posdoctoral fellowship.

    Bibhas Ranjan Majhi 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. Quantum effects make distant objects move together: new research finds this may happen with ripples in space – https://theconversation.com/quantum-effects-make-distant-objects-move-together-new-research-finds-this-may-happen-with-ripples-in-space-245050

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New local Asian fashion business moves into city centre Pop Up

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Local Southsea business SP Collections have moved into the city centre Portsmouth Pop Up shop to sell Asian inspired clothing and jewellery. This start up business is hitting the ground running by trialling high street retail as part of Portsmouth City Council’s pop-up shop scheme that is designed to help local businesses grow.

    SP Collections is a fashion brand inspired by the rich heritage of Asian culture offering an elegant range of attire, including sarees, salwar kameez, abayas, long dresses, and jewellery.

    Shama Parveen, founder and owner of SP Collections said:

    ‘I am truly grateful for the pop-up scheme as it provides an incredible opportunity to showcase my products to a wider audience.

    Previously, I sold at local pop-up markets, but these occasional events weren’t enough to sustain consistent growth. This initiative offers a fantastic platform for small businesses like mine to connect with new customers in Portsmouth.

    SP Collections was born from the desire to bring authentic, Asian-inspired clothing to Portsmouth’s diverse community. We understand the challenges with finding modest, stylish Asian fashion locally. That’s why we’re dedicated to making these beautiful pieces easily accessible, without compromising on quality, style, or authenticity.”

    The Portsmouth Pop Up enables local entrepreneurs and small businesses to trade in a high street location without the commitment or cost of a longer-term lease.

    Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for economic development said:

    “Pop Up shop schemes can breathe new life into our high streets, whilst giving independent businesses a great opportunity to have a shop front in a prime retail location.

    “One year on since the Portsmouth Pop Up initiative began, it’s great to see its success in supporting local businesses like SP Collections. This is a fantastic example of how we’re working together to strengthen our economy and providing the necessary support businesses need to grow”

    The Portsmouth Pop-Up shop, a joint venture between Portsmouth City Council, Cascades, and Flude, opened last year to address the increasing demand for business space in the city. The first tenant, Goly Natural, a local natural skincare business, has been so successful that they plan to establish a permanent shop this year.

    Businesses can apply to rent the pop-up shop in Cascades, in Portsmouth’s city centre for a minimum of 13 weeks giving them a chance to engage with customers and launch products and services.

    For more information visit Portsmouth Pop Up

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results Highlighting Strong Operating Cash Flow and Stable Gross Margins

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. (“Leishen Energy”), a leading provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, today announced its fiscal year 2024 financial results, showcasing robust performance driven by effective cost management, strategic market expansion, and growing demand for the Company’s innovative product offerings.

    Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Operating Cash Flow Grows 243%, rising to USD $15.07 million in fiscal year 2024, up from USD $4.39 million in fiscal year 2023, marking a more than 243% year-over-year increase. This sharp rise was driven by robust accounts receivable collections, efficiency gains, and disciplined costs.
    • Total Revenues were USD $69.07 million, compared to USD $73.08 million in fiscal year 2023, representing a 5.5% decrease year-over-year. The decline was primarily attributable to lower sales of clean-energy equipment in the domestic market, partially offset by growth in the Company’s new energy business.
    • Gross Profit totaled USD $16.03 million, down from USD $18.38 million in the prior year, reflecting a gross margin of 23.2% (25.1% in fiscal year 2023). The margin decrease was primarily driven by lower margins in oil and gas engineering technical services.
    • Net Income was USD $7.99 million, compared to USD $11.63 million in fiscal year 2023, reflecting a 31.3% decrease.
    • Operating Expenses rose from USD $6.49 million in fiscal year 2023 to USD $8.48 million in fiscal year 2024, largely due to higher selling and marketing costs associated with international market expansion, as well as increased research and development.
    • Net Income Attributable to Leishen Energy was USD $8.10 million, reflecting a decrease of USD $3.76 million year-over-year.

    Segment Performance

    1. Clean-Energy Equipment
      • Revenue declined by 14.6% year-over-year, to USD $33.82 million, mainly due to reduced domestic orders amid tighter market competition and lower selling prices for certain common products. The segment contributed 49.0% of total revenues.
    2. Digitalization and Integration Equipment
      • Revenue was USD $3.08 million, reflecting a modest year-over-year decline. Gross margin improved to 18.2% as the Company continued to streamline costs and enhance efficiency.
    3. New Energy Sales
      • Revenue grew 11.3%, reaching USD $25.82 million, driven by increased demand for natural gas. The Company added a major new client in fiscal year 2024, contributing over USD $1.5 million in revenue.
    4. Oil and Gas Engineering Technical Services
      • Revenue was USD $6.35 million, representing a decrease of 8.4% from the prior year, due to intensified pricing pressure and customers adopting lower-cost operating models. Despite increased competition, the Company continues to develop new projects at home and abroad.

    Management Commentary

    “We are pleased to report that while Leishen Energy experienced year-over-year declines in revenue and profitability in fiscal 2024, we have strengthened our position in new energy sales and increased our presence in international markets,” said Hongliang Li, Chief Executive Officer of Leishen Energy. “The successful expansion of our customer base—particularly in overseas regions—and ongoing investments in research and development underscore our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance energy solutions.”

    Zhiping Yu, Chief Financial Officer, added: “As we navigate near-term market pressures, we remain focused on cost optimization and strategic capital allocation. We believe our prudent balance sheet management, coupled with targeted investments in key growth areas, will help us enhance our financial performance and maintain sustainable returns for our shareholders in the years to come.”

    Business Outlook

    The Company aims to capitalize on the following growth drivers and strategic initiatives in fiscal year 2025 and beyond:

    • International Expansion: Continued pursuit of overseas projects in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including joint reserve warehouses of spare parts with major oilfields and new power plant operation and maintenance projects in Africa.
    • Technology and Innovation: Further investment in research and development to strengthen patented technologies, with 72 patents now held across clean-energy equipment, oil and gas engineering technical services, and new energy production and operation.
    • Customer Diversification: Ongoing efforts to deepen relationships with long-standing domestic clients while expanding the Company’s international customer pipeline, particularly in digitalization and integration equipment sales.
    • Operational Efficiencies: Enhancement of cost-control measures, rigorous supply chain management, and new supplier partnerships to mitigate inflationary pressures and disruptions.
    LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
        2024     2023     Variance  
        Amount     % of
    revenue    		     Amount     % of
    revenue    		     Amount     %  
    Revenues   $ 69,073,374       100.0 %   $ 73,084,448       100.0 %   $ (4,011,074 )     (5.5 )%
    Cost of revenues     (53,038,855 )     (76.8 )%     (54,705,407 )     (74.9 )%     1,666,552       (3.0 )%
    Gross profit     16,034,519       23.2 %     18,379,041       25.1 %     (2,344,522 )     (12.8 )%
                                                     
    Operating expenses:                                                
    Selling and marketing     2,053,194       3.0 %     775,957       1.1 %     1,277,237       164.6 %
    General and administrative     5,979,890       8.7 %     5,553,912       7.6 %     425,978       7.7 %
    Research and development     449,542       0.7 %     158,657       0.2 %     290,885       183.3 %
    Total operating expenses     8,482,626       12.4 %     6,488,526       8.9 %     1,994,100       30.7 %
                                                     
    Income from operations     7,551,893       10.8 %     11,890,515       16.2 %     (4,338,622 )     (36.5 )%
                                                     
    Other income (loss):                                                
    Interest expense     (57,018 )     (0.1 )%     (67,964 )     (0.1 )%     10,946       (16.1 )%
    Exchange (loss) gains     (18,107 )     0.0 %     280,538       0.4 %     (298,645 )     (106.5 )%
    Gain from equity investment     81,150       0.1 %     80,616       0.10 %     534       0.7 %
    Net investment income     445,271       0.6 %     108,671       0.1 %     336,600       309.7 %
    Other expenses, net     171,845       0.2 %     71,850       0.0 %     99,995       139.2 %
    Total other income, net     623,141       0.8 %     473,711       0.6 %     149,430       31.5 %
                                                     
    Income before income taxes     8,175,034       11.6 %     12,364,226       16.8 %     (4,189,192 )     (33.9 )%
                                                     
    Provision for income taxes     184,818       0.3 %     729,506       1.0 %     (544,688 )     (74.7 )%
                                                     
    Net income     7,990,216       11.3 %     11,634,720       15.8 %     (3,644,504 )     (31.3 )%
    Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests     (105,655 )     (0.2 )%     (223,870 )     (0.3 )%     118,215       (52.8 )%
    Net income attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.   $ 8,095,871       11.5 %   $ 11,858,590       16.1 %   $ (3,762,719 )     (31.7 )%
    LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
     
      As of September 30,
      2024   2023
      US$   US$
    ASSETS              
    Current Assets:              
    Cash $ 5,811,798     $ 4,567,608  
    Restricted cash   1,489,216       –  
    Short-term investments   17,850,648       7,234,607  
    Accounts receivable, net   21,826,297       30,742,914  
    Notes receivable   1,054,528       1,304,004  
    Advance to suppliers, net   5,896,595       5,637,829  
    Inventories   5,396,634       7,877,202  
    Due from related parties   31,535       44,848  
    Loan receivable – related party   822,878       –  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net   1,567,060       1,351,049  
    Total current assets   61,747,189       58,760,061  
                   
    Non-current assets:              
    Long-term investments   1,758,515       1,670,461  
    Deferred offering costs   437,653       271,155  
    Property and equipment, net   4,111,919       3,838,135  
    Intangible assets   140,070       152,901  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   668,259       712,065  
    Loans receivable, non-current   725,699       –  
    Other non-current assets   44,746       52,351  
    Total non-current assets   7,886,861       6,697,068  
                   
    Total Assets $ 69,634,050     $ 65,457,129  
                   
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY              
    Current Liabilities:              
    Short-term loans $ 50,899     $ 1,090,378  
    Accounts payable   10,731,238       11,758,870  
    Advance from customers   2,292,728       1,465,285  
    Taxes payable   3,418,725       2,755,661  
    Due to related parties   9,239,059       13,387,546  
    Operating lease liabilities   68,291       62,057  
    Other payables and other current liabilities   1,339,969       1,303,371  
    Total current liabilities   27,140,909       31,823,168  
                   
    Non-current Liabilities:              
    Long-term loans   1,127,380       49,676  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net   307,513       1,175,703  
    Operating lease liabilities, non-current   602,735       650,007  
    Total non-current liabilities   2,037,628       1,875,386  
                   
    Total Liabilities   29,178,537       33,698,554  
                   
    Equity:              
    Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,500,000 shares issued and outstanding*   15,500       15,500  
    Subscription receivable   (15,500 )     (15,500 )
    Additional paid-in capital   1,617,966       1,617,966  
    Statutory reserves   1,690,994       1,565,649  
    Retained earnings   37,339,006       29,368,480  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (861,374 )     (1,746,809 )
    Total equity attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd   39,786,592       30,805,286  
    Non-controlling interests   668,921       953,289  
    Total Equity   40,455,513       31,758,575  
                   
    Total Liabilities and Equity $ 69,634,050     $ 65,457,129  
                   

    About Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.

    The Leishen Group was founded in 2007 and is a China-based provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, with a commitment to providing customers with high-performance, safe and cost-effective energy solutions. Our major lines of business include (i) sale of clean-energy industry; (ii) new energy production and operation; (iii) digitalization and integration equipment; and (iv) oil and gas engineering technical services. At present, the Group holds more than 70 patents and software copyrights, forming a comprehensive ecosystem of core technical capabilities. Currently, our business operations have expanded beyond the PRC to Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, and our service abilities and quality have been widely recognized and praised by foreign customers. Efficient, safe and energy-saving equipment combined with professional technical services have enabled our brand to gain positive attention and recognition from our customers and enabled us to become a well-known equipment and services provider in the oil and gas industry. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.r-egroup.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s share offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “going forward”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “propose”, “seek”, “should”, “will”, “would” or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Michael Wei
    Email:hwey@horizonconsultancy.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Visited App Releases List of Top Travel Destinations in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The travel app, Visited, by Arriving In High Heels Corporation, has published a travel report which showcases top travel trends around the world with highlight of 2024 travels. 

    Visited is a travel tracking app, which lets users map out their travel journey, mark famous places visited on travel lists and helps with trip planning for their itinerary feature. It is the ultimate travel bucket list planning app, as it has over 150 travel lists available from ancient sites to golf destinations. The app is available in 30 languages for both iOS or Android and is free to download.

    According to Visited’s travel stats, the average global traveler has been to 18 countries. While American travelers have been to 23. Travelers from the United Arab Emirates have visited the most countries, with an average of 30 countries visited. Swiss and Finnish travelers came in second and third as the most well-traveled. The most popular countries to visit are France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. 

    The most sought-after places to visit are Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Brazil. The top destinations that American travelers want to travel to include Australia, Greece, and New Zealand. The highest numbers of American users have traveled to Mexico, Canada, France, the UK, and Italy.

    The most popular travel destinations in the world in 2024 were in Europe, while the U.S. is in 12th spot, Turkey is in 10th spot and Thailand is in 15th spot. For American travelers, 2024 saw the UK, Portugal and Japan topping the list of the most visited countries.

    The most popular travel lists are world wonders, capitals of the world and culinary experiences.

    The travel report was compiled based on 2.4 million international users and over 300,000 U.S. users. To see more top travel lists and browse top destinations worldwide, download Visited on iOS or Android. For the full travel report, visit https://visitedapp.com/travel-report-results/

    To learn more about the Visited app, visit https://visitedapp.com. 

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app. Visited Media provides customized travel research services to travel companies.

    Contact Information

    Anna Kayfitz

    anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WSO2Con 2025 to Showcase How Enterprises Can Embrace ‘Platformless Modernization’ to Drive Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2Con 2025 will empower enterprises to embrace ‘Platformless Modernization’ by showcasing real-world strategies, expert insights, and innovations that simplify development, accelerate digital transformation, and future-proof IT infrastructures. Keynotes, customer stories and technical discussions during the three-day event will explore and deep-dive into how enterprises can transform digital innovation by eliminating the complexities of traditional platforms either by adopting an enterprise-grade internal developer platform or leveraging software-as-a-service offerings to build your own. The event will take place from March 18 to 20, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

    Delivering a platform experience without the complexity

    Platformless modernization aims to redefine how organizations build, deploy, and manage applications. Traditional platforms often come with operational overhead, requiring businesses to maintain infrastructure and navigate complex configurations. A platformless approach removes these burdens, making the platform layer invisible to developers, so they can focus on just building innovative applications and providing better digital experiences to their customers and users.

    At WSO2Con 2025, WSO2 executives and industry experts will explore what platformless modernization means for enterprises, offering insights into:

    • How businesses can deliver developer-friendly experiences without the overhead of managing platforms
    • Strategies for enabling rapid, secure, and scalable application development powered by API management, integration, and identity solutions
    • The role of internal developer platforms (IDPs) in modernizing software delivery with AI, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures

    Insightful keynotes and customer success stories

    The conference will feature a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers. In his opening keynote, WSO2’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana will discuss the vision for platformless modernization with WSO2 technical experts providing in-depth sessions on how platformless is shaping the future of integration, API management and identity & access management. 

    Jeremy Schneider, Senior Partner & Co-Head of Global Software & High-Tech Practice, McKinsey and Company will provide a framework for navigating evolution in the digital economy in his keynote Every Company is a Software Company. In other keynote presentations, Amy Bingham, vice president & chief information officer at Pekin Insurance will share learnings on how Pekin turned a challenging year of unprecedented setbacks into a story of resilience, rebuilding, and long-term success in an increasingly unpredictable world. Jonathan Pearl, executive director – technology product management at financial services company, BNY Mellon, will explore the power of APIs and how they can be used to drive modernization, innovation and collaboration – both internally and externally. He will discuss the key principles and best practices for designing, building, discovering and governing APIs, as well as the cultural and organizational changes needed to successfully support an API first strategy.

    Registration for WSO2Con 2025 is still open with a flash sale from February 18 to 21, 2025. To register and view the full agenda, visit https://wso2.com/wso2con/2025/. 

    About WSO2

    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) products. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of APIs for secure delivery of digital services and applications, enabling thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries globally to drive their digital transformation journeys. Our open-source, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in, enabling rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has over 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Spain, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

    Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

    ###

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vivian Truong, Assistant Professor of History, Swarthmore College

    Save Chinatown protesters take to the streets on Sept. 7, 2024. Zachary Kreines, CC BY-NC-ND

    Visitors commonly view Philadelphia’s Chinatown as a place to eat Chinese food and appreciate Chinese culture. But for longtime members of the Chinatown community, the neighborhood – home to over over 5,000 residents – is also defined by its tenacity and survival.

    Chinatown’s rich tradition of activism was on full display for the past two and half years, as residents and allies fiercely opposed the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans to build a basketball arena in the Market East neighborhood at the southern edge of Chinatown.

    A city-sponsored community impact study found that the arena could have resulted in the “loss of Chinatown’s core identity and regional significance.” It estimated that half of the neighborhood’s small businesses would have suffered due to increased congestion, potential rent increases and a new demographic less likely to patronize the area’s ethnic businesses.

    While the reason for the Sixers’ sudden decision to scrap the Market East arena plan remains unclear, the announcement in January 2025 came as a relief to Chinatown community members who felt they had averted yet another threat to their neighborhood’s existence.

    I’m a historian whose research focuses on Asian Americans, cities and social movements, and I’ve seen how urban residents take the existence of Chinatowns in major cities across the country – and even globally, from London to Havana, Cuba, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – for granted. Chinatowns continue to exist and thrive thanks to the residents and allies who fight for them.

    The fight over the Sixers arena was only the latest struggle in over 50 years of community organizing in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

    Friendship Gate, erected in the 1980s, serves as a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
    Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    A refuge from xenophobia

    Like other American Chinatowns, Philadelphia’s formed during an era of virulent anti-Chinese racism. The neighborhood was established in the 1870s as a refuge for immigrants fleeing the American West, where white railroad workers and miners declared “The Chinese must go!”.

    Among the earliest businesses were a handful of laundries and a restaurant on the 900 block of Race Street, just north of Philadelphia’s main commercial district.

    In the era of anti-Chinese immigration laws from 1875 to 1943, Chinatowns were associated with opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution. Law enforcement targeted and stigmatized the Philadelphia neighborhood as a center of vice and danger. Meanwhile, city and private developers had their eyes on Chinatown as early as the 1920s.

    In 1923, the Bell Telephone Company purchased additional real estate along the corridor for its new high-rise building and parking lot, displacing Chinese residents. In the same decade, the city used eminent domain to demolish blocks of housing to make way for the Broad-Ridge Spur connecting the Eighth Street and Vine Street subway stations. A Philadelphia Evening Bulletin article in 1934 declared Chinatown to be “a thing of the past.”

    As the city began to accommodate more car owners, Race Street was remade as a major thoroughfare to the Delaware Valley Bridge, now called the Ben Franklin Bridge. In 1926, the year the bridge was completed, the Bulletin declared that “The Delaware River Bridge has come and Chinatown must go,” echoing the xenophobic slogans that drove Chinese workers out of western states half a century earlier.

    But Chinatown persisted.

    As restrictions on immigration from China loosened after World War II, more Chinese women immigrated to the U.S. The neighborhood transformed from a bachelor society of aging workers to a growing intergenerational community of families.

    ‘Save Chinatown’ movement forms

    During the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, Philadelphia’s Chinatown youth took inspiration from the Black Power and anti-war movements to fight for their community.

    In 1966, the city proposed the expansion of Vine Street into an expressway that would have demolished large swaths of Chinatown, including the beloved Holy Redeemer church and school. Established for Chinese American Catholics in 1941, Holy Redeemer hosted neighborhood meetings and recreational events as well as religious services. The Vine Street Expressway project was one instance of the national phenomenon of urban renewal, which aimed to clear and redevelop areas designated as blighted.

    The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation nonprofit worked with Yellow Seeds, a group of radical Asian American youth who opposed U.S. racism and imperialism, and other Chinatown community members to fight construction of the expressway.

    These groups comprised the 1970s Save Chinatown movement. They held numerous protests, made frequent media appearances and used the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act to craft their strategy. They demanded an environmental impact statement, which, when issued in 1983, recommended a much smaller expressway than originally designed. Holy Redeemer was saved. The final plans also scrapped two off-ramps that would have cut through the neighborhood. Construction on the expressway was completed in 1991.

    Resisting a prison, baseball stadium and casino

    The Save Chinatown movement continued through the decades as community members successfully fought the construction of a federal prison in 1993, a baseball stadium in 2000 and a casino in 2008 – all proposed for sites in or bordering Chinatown.

    “The future of Chinatown is going to be a huge battle,” activist Debbie Wei stated in a 2002 documentary released after the conclusion of the baseball stadium fight a few years earlier. “We’re going to fight it, and my children are probably going to have to fight it as well.”

    ‘Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown’ (2002). Debbie Wei’s reflections on the future of Chinatown begin at 25:28.

    Her words were prescient. Her daughter Kaia Chau emerged as a key leader of the campaign against the Sixers arena 20 years later.

    Chau co-founded Students for the Preservation of Chinatown with fellow student leader Taryn Flaherty. The group organized teach-ins, galvanized Philadelphia-area students to join protests, and highlighted arena developers’ ties to local universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. By focusing on the developers, students made connections between the arena proposal and the gentrification of West Philadelphia, including the demolition of the University City Townhomes, an affordable housing complex whose residents were mostly Black.

    The movement against the Sixers arena became part of a multiracial, citywide fight against displacement. As Rev. Gregory Holston of Black Philly 4 Chinatown, part of the Save Chinatown coalition, put it: “In North Philadelphia, in West Philadelphia, in South Philadelphia, the same process is happening over and over and over again, where people are pushing and displacing people of color out of this city.”

    Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood celebrates the Lunar New Year in 2024, the Year of the Dragon.
    Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Thriving intergenerational community

    Activists have also created new housing, educational and arts institutions to keep Chinatown a family-friendly neighborhood.

    The location where the prison was planned in 1993 is now Hing Wah Yuen, a 51-unit mixed-income affordable housing complex developed by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation – the same organization that led the fight against the Vine Street Expressway in the 1970s.

    After the plans for the baseball stadium were scrapped in 2000, the grassroots Chinatown-based organization Asian Americans United partnered with the arts and culture organization Philadelphia Folklore Project to found the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures School in 2005.

    The K-8 school, located in the footprint of the proposed stadium, teaches Mandarin and emphasizes art and music classes that reflect students’ cultural background.

    More recently, recognizing the need for more “third places” for youth beyond home and school, student leaders Chau and Flaherty launched the Ginger Arts Center in 2024. The organization provides a recreational space and arts programs for young people in Chinatown.

    The community institutions that have sprung up in the wake of defeated development projects illustrate how Chinatown is not a thing of the past, nor is it solely a food and culture destination to be consumed.

    Rather, Chinatown is a thriving community that has long fought to survive, reinvent itself and determine its own future – one that carries the legacy of previous generations of resistance.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood – https://theconversation.com/phillys-chinatown-has-a-rich-tradition-of-activism-the-sixers-arena-fight-was-just-one-of-many-to-preserve-the-neighborhood-247549

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The 30th Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition of Taichung City Calls for Entries

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    The 30th Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition of Taichung City calls for entries
    Eligible Participants: All domestic and foreign artists.
    Artwork categories: There are 11 categories, i.e., ink wash painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, glue color painting, oil painting, watercolor painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, crafts, and digital art. Application is required to be completed between April 1 and April 15, 2025.
    Please visit the official website of the Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition for more information (https://www.dadunfae.taichung.gov.tw/).
    Rules and Entry Form:
    Application Form
    Application_Form
    Exhibition Rules
    Exhibition_Rules

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Understanding of marine ecosystems is alarmingly low – here’s why ocean literacy matters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma McKinley, Senior Research Fellow, Cardiff University

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Understanding the relationship between humans and the ocean is crucial for making informed and effective decisions that will shape the future of our ocean. With this in mind, achieving lasting global progress in ocean protection requires prioritising ocean literacy.

    Right now, there is a disconnect between young peoples’ recognition of the ocean’s vital role in climate change, and the measures required to protect and restore it.

    My work as a marine social scientist focuses on ocean literacy. For me, knowledge is one of the most powerful tools to incite the action needed to save ocean health. The development of ocean literacy, through a range of education and engagement initiatives worldwide that embrace different types of knowledge, must be better prioritised.

    Only then can we equip young people with what they need to protect our ocean and to know who to hold accountable for its health.

    The ocean — stretching past the horizon, beneath the surface, and into the depths — remains largely out of sight, out of mind. But what happens within it affects us. Fostering stronger ocean literacy across society can help us mend this disconnect.

    Ocean literacy is defined as “having an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean”. While not a new concept, ocean literacy has gained increasing popularity in recent years, partly due to its inclusion as a potential mechanism for change within the UN Ocean Decade, launched in January 2021.

    Young people must be central in efforts to restore ocean literacy across society. It is essential for them to understand the challenges facing the ocean, recognise who is responsible for addressing them, and advocate for more action. Enhancing ocean literacy among this generation encourages a greater appreciation of the ocean’s critical role in our daily lives, now and in the future.

    According to a recent global study engaging 3,500 young people from across 35 countries, a large percentage of young people express concern about the ocean’s health.

    The non-peer-reviewed report has been published by Back to Blue,
    an initiative of the thinktank Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, a grant-making organisation based in Asia.

    It highlights that 53% of young people believe that the ocean can protect us from climate change, yet 61% place a higher priority on protecting forests, tackling air pollution and freshwater scarcity. This shows that young people around the world have low ocean literacy.

    This echoes a growing number of national ocean literacy assessments. In 2022, a study of ocean literacy in Wales found that although 84% of people indicated that protecting the marine environment was important to them, 40% felt that their lifestyle had no impact on the sea at all. This highlights a concerning level of disconnect and lack of ocean literacy that could undermine our ability to tackle urgent challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health. This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    It’s all about accountability

    This is not a blame game. However, accountability ensures that governments, industries and people take responsibility for their role in ocean health, driving the transparency and action needed for meaningful education and engagement.

    The Back to Blue study found that while half (50%) of young people surveyed were concerned about ocean pollution, very few (17%) wanted increased responsibility from corporations and businesses.

    That study, which I advised on, also reveals that young people have high expectations of governments, conservation charities and local communities. Almost half (46%) said that governments should take stronger action to protect ocean health. Yet, expectations of the private sector – some of the biggest ocean polluters – were very low. Young people are misunderstanding where accountability for ocean pollution and the decline in ocean health lies.

    Green turtles have been listed as endangered since 1982.
    Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

    The lack of accountability slows progress and perpetuates a cycle of ocean neglect. But, engaging young people in ocean issues will empower them to demand more action and help develop effective solutions.

    In some places, ocean literacy is more embedded into students’ learning. More than 500 certified European blue schools are part of the Network of European Blue Schools. And the All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network has established ocean literacy projects and blue school ambassadors in schools in 16 countries, from Angola to the US.

    Education can help to engage young people. But only if education systems worldwide integrate ocean literacy from a young age and across all subject areas.

    By prioritising ocean literacy, we can empower young people to become informed stewards of the ocean, ensuring that they are not only aware of its vital role in our daily lives but also actively involved in changing the tide.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Emma McKinley 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. Understanding of marine ecosystems is alarmingly low – here’s why ocean literacy matters – https://theconversation.com/understanding-of-marine-ecosystems-is-alarmingly-low-heres-why-ocean-literacy-matters-248724

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic celebrated the Eastern New Year

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Eastern New Year, the year of the Green Wooden Snake, was celebrated in the Polytechnic Tower. The main organizer of the event was the Humanitarian Institute together with the Higher School of International Educational Programs. Representatives of various Polytechnic institutes and St. Petersburg universities took part in the concert program

    This year, the celebration was held for the first time at the Youth Trajectory Center, in the Polytechnic Tower. The hosts were Ksenia Kolomeitseva, a student at the Higher School of International Relations, and Artem Kuzmin, a student at the Higher School of Law and Forensic Science.

    The Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina and the Assistant Vice-Rector for International Activities Pavel Nedelko delivered welcoming remarks.

    In our multinational student family, we can celebrate the New Year several times. Today, we have a unique opportunity to learn about the bright traditions of this holiday together with representatives of China, Indonesia and Vietnam, – noted Natalia Chicherina.

    Polytechnicians talked about the cultural characteristics of their countries, held an interactive competition with souvenirs for the participants. A student of the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy Li Junying gave a presentation in Russian about the traditions and culture of China. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai from IPMET represented Vietnam, a postgraduate student of the Higher School of Physics and Materials Technology of IMMIT Tegu Imanulla gave a report about Indonesia, in which he spoke about national dishes, dances, symbols, good luck charms and much more.

    Ye Zizhou, a student at the Graduate School of International Relations, performed a traditional Chinese number symbolizing the wisdom of the Green Snake. Together with Viktoria Dyshko, she showed a modern dance in the K-pop style. Mao Yiling from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education demonstrated traditional martial arts with a sword.

    Sofia Kononova from the Higher School of International Relations recited a poem in Chinese. Students from the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy performed two Chinese songs: “Gen Wo Yi Qi Zuo” and “Gongxi Ni”. Students from the Higher School of International Relations sang the composition “Flawless Heaven and Earth” in Chinese.

    IMMIT postgraduate students Nguyen Van Tu Anh and Tran Thanh Cong performed the Vietnamese song “Hoa co mua suan”, which translates as “Spring flowers and grasses”, with a guitar.

    A master class on making magical aromatic sachets in national herbal bags was held by Li Peiyun from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The art of Chinese calligraphy was taught by Yuan Fengxia from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The Chinese tea ceremony was demonstrated by Zhang Yuwen and Mao Yiling from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The secrets of Chinese knotting and making paper lanterns were shared by Xie Zhaoying from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education.

    Celebrating the Eastern New Year is a good tradition of the Polytechnic University. Such events allow us to better understand the culture of other countries. We still don’t know each other very well, so many thanks to all the organizers for the opportunity to communicate with the guys and immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the East, – shared Pavel Nedelko.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Crown LNG Signs Gas Sales MOU with India Gas Exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crown LNG Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: CGBS) (“Crown” or “Crown LNG”), a leading provider of LNG liquefaction and regasification terminal technologies for harsh weather locations, announced today the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the India Gas Exchange Ltd. (“IGX”), India’s first automated national level trading platform. The MOU outlines how Crown and IGX plan to cooperate on liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) sales to pipeline customers downstream from Crown’s planned LNG import terminal in Kakinada, India.

    The signing ceremony on the sidelines of India Energy Week 2025 in New Delhi included Swapan Kataria, CEO of Crown LNG, and Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Managing Director & CEO of IGX, and was witnessed by The Honorable Member of Parliament from Kakinada Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas, an advocate for building infrastructure to empower millions of households and to improve the development of new industries in Andhra Pradesh, including data centers requiring uninterrupted 24/7 power supply.

    The non-binding MOU provides a framework for LNG cargoes traveling through Crown’s regasification terminal to be listed, marketed, and sold on the IGX. Under the agreement, IGX will drive market awareness through workshops and industry engagement initiatives, encouraging wider participation in gas trading. Crown LNG will collaborate closely with IGX on LNG cargo arrivals and sales, ensuring a stable and efficient supply chain. Together, they aim to unlock new opportunities in India’s energy sector and reinforce the role of natural gas as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. Both organizations will explore further areas of cooperation to accelerate India’s 15% gas-based economy target by 2030, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “This collaboration will offer Crown a unique position to sell gas to a large base of producers, traders, and offtakers throughout India,” said Swapan Kataria, Crown LNG CEO. “We believe this agreement is the first of several that will address the lack of supply for the eastern coast of the fourth largest LNG importer in the world. Together with IGX and our growing network of trusted local partners, we are excited to strengthen India’s energy security and to help make natural gas more accessible to industries and micro-enterprises across India.”

    The Kakinada terminal has received an approved total import capacity of 7.2 MMTPA. Crown expects to achieve final investment decision for the project in 2026 and to deliver first gas in 2029.

    About Crown LNG Holdings Limited
    Crown LNG is a leading provider of offshore LNG liquefaction and regasification terminal infrastructure solutions for harsh weather locations, which represent a significant addressable market for bottom-fixed, gravity based (“GBS”) liquefaction and floating storage regasification units, as well as associated green and blue hydrogen, ammonia and power projects. Through this approach, Crown aims to provide lower carbon sources of energy securely to under-served markets across the globe. Visit www.crownlng.com/investors for more information.

    Forward-Looking Information and Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “future,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release and on current expectations of Crown’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Crown. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Crown LNG Contacts

    Investors
    Caldwell Bailey
    ICR, Inc.
    CrownLNGIR@icrinc.com

    Media
    Zach Gorin
    ICR, Inc.
    CrownLNGPR@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $485.7 million, an increase of 3% to the prior year
    • Energy Systems and Distribution net sales increased 5% and 6%, respectively, while Water Systems net sales were flat
    • Operating income was $43.0 million with operating margin of 8.9%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.72

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $2.0 billion, a decrease of 2% to the prior year
    • Distribution net sales increased 2%, while Water Systems and Energy Systems net sales decreased 2% and 8%, respectively
    • Operating income was $243.6 million with operating margin of 12.1%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.86
    • Cash flows from operating activities were $261.4 million

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its fourth quarter and full year financial results for fiscal year 2024.

    Fourth quarter 2024 net sales were $485.7 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 net sales of $473.0 million. Fourth quarter 2024 operating income was $43.0 million, compared to fourth quarter 2023 operating income of $50.8 million. Fourth quarter 2024 EPS was $0.72, versus EPS in the fourth quarter 2023 of $0.82.

    Full year 2024 net sales were $2.0 billion, compared to full year 2023 net sales of $2.1 billion. Full year 2024 operating income was $243.6 million, compared to full year 2023 operating income of $262.4 million. Full year 2024 EPS was $3.86, versus EPS in the full year 2023 of $4.11.

    “The fourth quarter marked a solid finish to a challenging year. Our results were driven by strong performance in our newly renamed Energy Systems segment. While we have worked through the elevated post-COVID backlogs at this time, underlying demand remains healthy, and we continue to execute on productivity initiatives as we align our businesses with the more normalized environment,” commented Joe Ruzynski, Franklin Electric’s CEO.

    “Our resiliency is supported by the breadth of our global portfolio, which has proven to be a strategic asset as we closed out a year shaped by macroeconomic pressures. Order trends have improved, and with the support of a very healthy balance sheet, we are well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the year ahead. In 2025, our focus turns to driving revenue growth and margin expansion as we accelerate innovation and growth,” concluded Mr. Ruzynski.

    Segment Summaries

    Water Systems net sales were $279.6 million in the fourth quarter, flat compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Results were driven by higher sales of groundwater products, water treatment products and all other surface products. These sales increases were offset by lower sales of large dewatering pumps, which had a record fourth quarter last year. Water Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $35.6 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Water Systems operating income was $44.1 million.

    Distribution net sales were $157.2 million, an increase of $9.2 million or 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and the incremental impact from a recent acquisition. The Distribution segment operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was $0.5 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Distribution operating income was $1.0 million.

    Energy Systems net sales were $68.8 million in the fourth quarter 2024, an increase of $3.1 million or 5 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by higher volumes and price realization. Energy Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2024 was a record for any fourth quarter at $24.7 million. Fourth quarter 2023 Energy Systems operating income was $19.4 million. The Company has changed the name of the Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to reflect its diverse portfolio and growth strategy, as well as to better reflect the markets and customers served by the segment.

    Cash Flow

    The Company ended 2024 with a cash balance of $220.5 million, an increase of $135.5 million compared to the end of 2023. Net cash flows from operating activities for 2024 were $261.4 million versus $315.7 million in the same period in 2023. Cash flow in 2023 benefitted from actions the Company took to improve working capital including inventory reductions as its supply chain resiliency and lead times improved during the year.

    2024 Guidance

    The Company expects its full year 2025 sales including the impact of its recently announced acquisitions to be in the range of $2.09 billion to $2.15 billion and full year 2025 EPS to be in the range of $4.05 to $4.25.

    Earnings Conference Call

    A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The fourth quarter 2024 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9jnstij5

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BI4b232e4ceea6435ba8f046e92e18e563

    All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

    A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, February 18, 2025, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

    Forward Looking Statements

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    About Franklin Electric

    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2024 and America’s Climate Leaders 2024 by USA Today.

    Franklin Electric Contact:

    Jeffery L. Taylor
    Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
    InvestorRelations@fele.com

     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
                   
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)              
                   
      Fourth Quarter Ended   Fiscal Year End
      December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023   2024   2023
                   
    Net sales $ 485,745     $ 472,970     $ 2,021,341     $ 2,065,133  
                   
    Cost of sales   321,505       312,961       1,304,061       1,368,125  
                   
    Gross profit   164,240       160,009       717,280       697,008  
                   
    Selling, general, and administrative expenses   117,846       108,825       470,136       433,476  
                   
    Restructuring expense   3,360       356       3,499       1,091  
                   
    Operating income   43,034       50,828       243,645       262,441  
                   
    Interest expense   (1,339 )     (1,481 )     (6,319 )     (11,790 )
    Other income, net   630       1,831       1,339       3,696  
    Foreign exchange expense, net   (1,590 )     (4,026 )     (6,818 )     (12,124 )
                   
    Income before income taxes   40,735       47,152       231,847       242,223  
                   
    Income tax expense   6,443       8,322       50,238       47,489  
                   
    Net income $ 34,292     $ 38,830     $ 181,609     $ 194,734  
                   
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   (637 )     (281 )     (1,300 )     (1,462 )
                   
    Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc. $ 33,655     $ 38,549     $ 180,309     $ 193,272  
                   
    Income per share:              
    Basic $ 0.73     $ 0.83     $ 3.92     $ 4.17  
    Diluted $ 0.72     $ 0.82     $ 3.86     $ 4.11  
                   
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
           
    (In thousands)      
           
      December 31,   December 31,
      2024   2023
    ASSETS      
           
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 220,540     $ 84,963  
    Receivables (net)   226,826       222,418  
    Inventories   483,875       508,696  
    Other current assets   32,950       37,718  
    Total current assets   964,191       853,795  
           
    Property, plant, and equipment, net   223,566       229,739  
    Lease right-of-use Assets, net   62,637       57,014  
    Goodwill and other assets   570,212       587,574  
    Total assets $ 1,820,606     $ 1,728,122  
           
           
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
           
    Accounts payable $ 157,046     $ 152,419  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   139,989       104,949  
    Current lease liability   18,878       17,316  
    Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings   117,814       12,355  
    Total current liabilities   433,727       287,039  
           
    Long-term debt   11,622       88,056  
    Long-term lease liability   43,304       38,549  
    Income taxes payable non-current   –       4,837  
    Deferred income taxes   10,193       29,461  
    Employee benefit plans   29,808       35,973  
    Other long-term liabilities   22,118       33,914  
     
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest   1,224       1,145  
           
    Total equity   1,268,610       1,209,148  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 1,820,606     $ 1,728,122  
           
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)      
           
      2024   2023
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income $ 181,609     $ 194,734  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   56,073       52,260  
    Non-cash lease expense   21,438       18,852  
    Share-based compensation   12,061       10,133  
    Other   (13,327 )     10,259  
    Changes in assets and liabilities:      
    Receivables   (17,045 )     19,150  
    Inventory   10,889       48,176  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   15,285       (23,085 )
    Operating leases   (21,129 )     (18,874 )
    Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act   (3,870 )     (2,902 )
    Other   19,369       7,007  
           
    Net cash flows from operating activities   261,353       315,710  
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Additions to property, plant, and equipment   (41,682 )     (41,415 )
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment   1,182       1,494  
    Acquisitions and investments   (5,201 )     (34,831 )
    Other investing activities   73       463  
           
    Net cash flows from investing activities   (45,628 )     (74,289 )
           
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Net change in debt   29,235       (115,529 )
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock   7,204       9,193  
    Purchases of common stock   (61,041 )     (43,332 )
    Dividends paid   (46,876 )     (41,723 )
    Deferred payments for acquisitions   (2,591 )     (802 )
           
    Net cash flows from financing activities   (74,069 )     (192,193 )
           
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (6,079 )     (10,055 )
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents   135,577       39,173  
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   84,963       45,790  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 220,540     $ 84,963  
           

    Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary

      Net Sales For the Fourth Quarter
      United
    States    		 Latin Europe,
    Middle    		 Asia Total        
    (in millions) & Canada America East & Africa Pacific Water Energy** Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
                       
    Q4 2023 $161.2   $46.6   $45.5   $26.3   $279.6   $65.7   $148.0   ($20.3 ) $473.0  
    Q4 2024 $158.5   $44.3   $49.7   $27.1   $279.6   $68.8   $157.2   ($19.9 ) $485.7  
    Change ($2.7 ) ($2.3 ) $4.2   $0.8   $0.0   $3.1   $9.2   $0.4   $12.7  
    % Change   -2 %   -5 %   9 %   3 %   0 %   5 %   6 %     3 %
                       
    Foreign currency translation, net* ($0.4 ) ($5.5 ) ($0.8 ) ($0.8 ) ($7.5 ) $0.0   $0.0     ($7.5 )
    % Change   0 %   -12 %   -2 %   -3 %   -3 %   0 %   0 %     2 %
                       
    Acquisitions $3.1   $0.0   $0.0   $0.0   $3.1   $0.0   $4.0     $7.1  
    % Change   2 %   0 %   0 %   0 %   1 %   0 %   3 %     2 %
                       
    Volume/Price ($5.4 ) $3.2   $5.0   $1.6   $4.4   $3.1   $5.2   $0.4   $13.1  
    % Change   -3 %   7 %   11 %   6 %   2 %   5 %   4 %   -2 %   3 %
                       
      Net Sales For the Full Year
      United
    States    		 Latin Europe,
    Middle    		 Asia Total        
    (in millions) & Canada America East & Africa Pacific Water Energy** Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
                       
    FY 2023 $744.4   $174.2   $198.3   $86.8   $1,203.7   $296.5   $673.3   ($108.4 ) $2,065.1  
    FY 2024 $708.5   $170.9   $211.4   $93.2   $1,184.0   $273.7   $685.5   ($121.9 ) $2,021.3  
    Change ($35.9 ) ($3.3 ) $13.1   $6.4   ($19.7 ) ($22.8 ) $12.2   ($13.5 ) ($43.8 )
    % Change   -5 %   -2 %   7 %   7 %   -2 %   -8 %   2 %     -2 %
                       
    Foreign currency translation, net* ($0.9 ) ($9.7 ) ($6.3 ) ($2.4 ) ($19.3 ) $0.0   $0.0     ($19.3 )
    % Change   0 %   -6 %   -3 %   -3 %   -2 %   0 %   0 %     -1 %
                       
    Acquisitions $17.6   $0.0   $0.0   $0.0   $17.6   $0.0   $17.1     $34.7  
    % Change   2 %   0 %   0 %   0 %   1 %   0 %   3 %     2 %
                       
    Volume/Price ($52.6 ) $6.4   $19.4   $8.8   ($18.0 ) ($22.8 ) ($4.9 ) ($13.5 ) ($59.2 )
    % Change   -7 %   4 %   10 %   10 %   -1 %   -8 %   -1 %   12 %   -3 %
                       

    *The Company has presented local currency price increases used to offset currency devaluation in the Argentina and Turkey hyperinflationary economies within the foreign currency translation, net row above.
    ** Recognizing the Company’s diverse portfolio and growth strategy, it renamed its Fueling Systems segment to Energy Systems to better reflect the markets and customers served by this business.

    Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary

    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Fourth Quarter 2024
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 35.6   $ 24.7   $ 0.5   $ (17.8 ) $ 43.0  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   12.7 %   35.9 %   0.3 %     8.9 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Fourth Quarter 2023
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 44.1   $ 19.4   $ 1.0   $ (13.7 ) $ 50.8  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   15.8 %   29.5 %   0.7 %     10.7 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Full Year of 2024
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 197.9   $ 93.6   $ 24.3   $ (72.2 ) $ 243.6  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   16.7 %   34.2 %   3.5 %     12.1 %
               
    Operating Income and Margins          
    (in millions) For the Full Year of 2023
      Water Energy Distribution Other/Elims Consolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss) $ 196.6   $ 92.7   $ 34.3   $ (61.2 ) $ 262.4  
    % Operating Income To Net Sales   16.3 %   31.3 %   5.1 %     12.7 %
               

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP and Republic of Korea boost resilience and food security for vulnerable families in Kenya

    Source: World Food Programme

    NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$5 million from the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to build resilience and improve food security for vulnerable communities in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.

    With below-normal rainfall forecasted for the upcoming March-May rainy season, strengthening early warning systems is critical to help communities and government anticipate and prepare ahead of possible drought or floods.  

    “The Republic of Korea’s commitment to supporting vulnerable families in Kenya is commendable,” said Lauren Landis, WFP’s Country Director in Kenya. “This contribution comes at a time when people in the arid and semi-arid areas face the risk of both droughts and floods, exacerbating food insecurity and increasing humanitarian needs. This project will equip communities with the tools and resources they need to prepare and build sustainable livelihoods.” 

    The contribution will enable WFP to support more than 158,000 people like smallholder farmers, pastoralists, women, and youth, to restore degraded ecosystems, create economic opportunities, and strengthen early warning systems to provide accurate and timely forecasts in in Samburu, Mandera, Tana River, Turkana, and Baringo Counties. 

    “The Republic of Korea recognizes the urgent need to build resilience and food security in Kenya,” said Nam Sangkyoo, the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya. “By partnering with WFP, we are empowering communities to break the cycle of crises and build a future where they can thrive.”

    The Republic of Korea is a longstanding supporter of WFP’s work in Kenya and this contribution comes in addition to past investments like resilience projects supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and rice assistance for refugees from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).

    #                  #                      #

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

    Follow us on X @wfp_kenya, @wfp_africa, @wfp_media

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Customs handled 31k cases in 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Customs & Excise Department handled a total of 31,242 cases in 2024, up 63% on the figure for 2023.

    Commissioner of Customs & Excise Chan Tsz-tat announced the figures today during a press conference reviewing the department’s work last year.

    Among the cases handled by the department, a majority of 68% were in relation to illicit cigarettes. This was followed by cases involving dangerous drugs and cases involving intellectual property rights infringements.

    Mr Chan highlighted that the number of cases involving illicit cigarettes in 2024 was up by 80% on 2023, reaching 21,284. The number of cigarettes seized stood at 614 million, 6% fewer than in 2023.

    He explained that the increase in the number of cases involving illicit cigarettes stemmed from a huge surge in cases involving inbound individuals exceeding their duty-free allowances.

    Mr Chan also outlined that the department handled 1,363 drug cases in 2024, which was about the same as in 2023. About 6.3 tonnes of drugs were seized, a 33% drop year-on-year.

    He iterated that etomidate, the main ingredient in the so-called “space oil drug”, has been added to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, adding that the department’s anti-narcotics efforts will be stepped up.

    Meanwhile, a total of 233 smuggling cases, comprising a seizure value of $4.34 billion, were handled last year, representing an increase of 5% in the number of cases and 37% in the seizure value as against the figures for 2023.

    As regards intellectual property rights infringements, Customs detected 783 cases last year, an annual increase of 11%, with the value of infringing items seized rising 7% to around $309 million.

    Mr Chan also outlined the department’s work on clearance and trade facilitation, stressing that it is collaborating with the Shenzhen Municipal Government on a boundary control point redevelopment project in Huanggang.

    He said the department will continue to expand its global network under the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement, adding that it has launched a Cross-boundary Express Cargo Clearance Facilitation Arrangement to cope with the rapid development of the global electronic commerce industry.

    As regards human resources, Mr Chan said that Mainland Hong Kong students are among the department’s target groups for recruitment. He mentioned that recruitment seminars on the Mainland held in March last year received more than 290 on-the-spot applications.

    In 2023, 82 customs inspectors and 355 customs officers were recruited, and the department will continue recruiting to fill vacancies this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts first Luncheon with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) in 2025

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today hosted the first luncheon of the year for the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), bringing together the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States and the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN. The engagement provided a platform for fostering closer cooperation between the CPR and the ASEAN Secretariat, with a view to continue building on the excellent collaborative partnership in advancing the work of ASEAN. During the luncheon, SG Dr. Kao extended his well-wishes and full support to Malaysia as the ASEAN Chair for 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” and also congratulated the ASEAN Chair for the successful convening of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat in January 2025.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts first Luncheon with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) in 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Lantronix Expands Latin American Market Reach Through Strategic Partnership With Ion LATAM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader of compute and connectivity for IoT solutions enabling AI Edge Intelligence, today announced a strategic partnership with Ion LATAM, a premier sales and marketing manufacturer’s representative organization covering Mexico, Central America and South America. Designed to broaden Lantronix’s market presence in Latin America, this relationship will expand access of its cutting-edge IoT and AI Edge solutions to the companies’ mutual customers.

    “We are pleased to add Ion LATAM to our network of trusted partners and are excited about growing our business in Latin America in response to the increasing demand for secure, reliable IoT solutions,” said Kurt Hoff, VP of Global Sales & Marketing at Lantronix. “This relationship represents a significant milestone in Lantronix’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative products and services throughout Latin America and the world at large.”

    Under this agreement, Ion LATAM will promote Lantronix’s comprehensive IoT and intelligence edge product portfolio and will also provide expert technical support to customers in Latin America. By leveraging Ion LATAM’s deep industry expertise and customer relationships, the alliance is poised to accelerate the adoption of Lantronix’s innovative solutions across Mexico, Central America and South America.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Lantronix,” said Toby Lasley, president of Ion LATAM. “As a manufacturer representative, we see immense value in offering Lantronix’s world-class IoT and AI Edge Intelligent products,, engineering services and AI-powered Out-of-Band solutions to our customers. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver leading-edge technology to our markets.”

    About Lantronix

    Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix’s advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing.

    For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

    “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements related to Lantronix leadership. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, future business, financial condition, or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent tensions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, or other factors; future responses to and effects of public health crises; cybersecurity risks; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of that report, as well as in our other public filings with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in our future filings. In addition, actual results may differ as a result of additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or which we do not currently view as material to our business. For these reasons, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements we make speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations, except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. If we do update or correct any forward-looking statements, investors should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.

    ©2025 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

    Lantronix Media Contact:
    Gail Kathryn Miller
    Corporate Marketing &
    Communications Manager
    media@lantronix.com

    Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
    investors@lantronix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Transocean Ltd. Announces CEO Succession Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) today announced its plan for key leadership changes pursuant to the company’s multi-year succession planning strategy. As part of this plan, Keelan Adamson, the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, will become President and Chief Executive Officer following a transition period, which is expected to conclude during the second quarter of 2025. Mr. Adamson will succeed Jeremy Thigpen, who has led Transocean as Chief Executive Officer since 2015. Mr. Adamson is also expected to be nominated to join the Board of Directors at the company’s 2025 annual general meeting of shareholders.

    Mr. Thigpen will continue serving as Chief Executive Officer until Mr. Adamson’s appointment and will continue his service as a member of the company’s Board of Directors through his current term. Thereafter, subject to shareholder approval at the 2025 annual general meeting, Mr. Thigpen is expected to be appointed as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Chad Deaton, Transocean’s current Chair of the Board, will transition to Lead Independent Director.

    “Keelan is an experienced executive who has a deep understanding of our business, our customers and our industry,” Mr. Deaton said. “Throughout his three decades with Transocean, where his experience has taken him from the drill floor to the executive level, Keelan has helped to shape the foundation of the company and position Transocean for sustained success as the industry’s market leader. This transition represents the culmination of a key part of our multi-year, rigorous and thoughtful succession plan designed to develop internal talent and maintain business and leadership continuity.  Keelan is well-prepared for this opportunity.” 

    Mr. Deaton continued, “On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to recognize and thank Jeremy for leading Transocean through the most challenging market in the history of offshore drilling. He guided Transocean as we transformed our fleet through opportunistic asset transactions, as well as the acquisition of two major competitors; under his leadership, we placed into service the most technologically advanced rigs in the world, including the first 8th generation, 20K drillships. He oversaw the continuation of Transocean’s legacy for leading the industry in innovation, with the application of new technologies that improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of our operations. Jeremy’s contributions and leadership have been recognized and appreciated by the entire industry, and we look forward to his continued work with Transocean as he transitions into his new role.” 

    Mr. Adamson has served as Transocean’s President and Chief Operating Officer since February 2022. Prior to that time, he served as the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer from August 2018 to February 2022, as Senior Vice President, Operations from October 2017 to July 2018, and as Senior Vice President, Operations Integrity and HSE, from June 2015 to October 2017. As part of his responsibilities during this period, Mr. Adamson oversaw the company’s Technical Services team from May 2016 to October 2017. He also served as the company’s Vice President, Human Resources from December 2012 to May 2015, and has held other executive positions with the company, including as the Vice President overseeing Major Capital Projects and Engineering. He joined Transocean in 1995 and has held rig management positions in the United Kingdom, Asia and Africa, sales and marketing leadership roles, and served as the Managing Director for the company’s business in North America, Canada and Trinidad. Mr. Adamson earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from The Queens University of Belfast and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

    “I am honored by and grateful for the opportunity to lead Transocean and its talented and dedicated workforce,” said Mr. Adamson. “With the highest specification fleet in the industry and the unparalleled experience of our offshore crews and shore-based support personnel, we are well-positioned for success. As I work alongside the entire Transocean team as CEO, we will maintain a sharp focus on executing our business strategy – delivering enhanced shareholder value by optimizing operations, safely and efficiently meeting our customers’ objectives and meaningfully reducing our debt. It is an honor to succeed Jeremy, who skillfully guided Transocean through an unprecedented industry downturn and prepared it for the opportunities that we are realizing today.”

    In reflecting on his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thigpen said, “The trust and support the Board and the entire Transocean team provided during my tenure as CEO helped assemble an impressive team that operates the industry’s most technologically advanced assets, while executing on strategies that preserved and enhanced shareholder value. Transocean is a resilient and strong organization, made stronger by leaders like Keelan whom I have had the pleasure of working closely with for the past decade. Keelan is the right person to lead Transocean as we build upon the company’s position as the leader in offshore drilling.”

    About Transocean

    Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. Transocean specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.

    Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 34 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 26 ultra-deepwater floaters and eight harsh environment floaters.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The statements described herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements could contain words such as “possible,” “intend,” “will,” “if,” “expect,” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are beyond our control, and in many cases, cannot be predicted. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out-of-service time, sales of drilling units, the cost and timing of mobilizations and reactivations, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the fluctuation of current and future prices of oil and gas, the global and regional supply and demand for oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the effects of the spread of and mitigation efforts by governments, businesses and individuals related to contagious illnesses, and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in the company’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. We expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs with regard to the statement or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company’s website at: www.deepwater.com. 

    This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean.

    Analyst Contact:
    Alison Johnson
    +1 713-232-7214

    Media Contact:
    Pam Easton
    +1 713-232-7647

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Releases January 2025 Transparency Report, Showcasing Market Growth and Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its January 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting a dynamic start to the year marked by significant growth in trading volumes, platform engagement, and ecosystem innovation.

    Bitget expanded the BGB ecosystem through strategic initiatives, including launching a BGB liquidity pool on Uniswap and a $1.1 million liquidity pool on Bulbaswap following its integration with Morph Chain. These efforts enhance cross-chain compatibility and deepen liquidity, positioning BGB as a strong pillar of the Bitget ecosystem. Additionally, Bitget Research shared a report on 20% of Gen Z and Gen Alpha respondents who are open to incorporating crypto into pension plans, signaling a shift in long-term financial planning preferences toward digital assets.

    January saw the introduction of multiple platform enhancements. Bitget TraderPro Season 4 launched with a 10,000 USDT Grand Prize, enabling traders to test strategies and optimize returns. The HodlerYield service debuted, allowing users to earn passive income by holding USDE and weETH. Bitget Seed, an AI-powered algorithm, was unveiled to identify early-stage Web3 projects, while a strategic integration with Zen streamlined crypto payments across 11 fiat currencies. Bitget also became the first centralized exchange to offer TAO staking, expanding opportunities for users to earn rewards.

    Bitget Wallet strengthened its offerings with a $1 million airdrop for BGB holders, exclusive collaborations with Bitrefill for crypto-powered gift cards, and AI Agent Trading Zone features. The wallet’s limit order support on Base and Solana chains further enhances automated trading capabilities.

    Global engagement efforts included participation in the Crypto XR event in Auxerre, France, attended by over 3,000 enthusiasts, and New Year’s meetups in the Philippines, Vietnam, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Kenya, and other regions. These events fostered deeper connections with users and showcased Bitget’s expanding global footprint.

    Bitget’s January 2025 achievements build on its 2024 momentum, establishing the platform as a top-tier exchange focusing on security, innovation, and accessibility. As the crypto landscape evolves, Bitget remains poised to drive adoption through cutting-edge solutions and strategic partnerships, supporting users in navigating the opportunities and complexities of the digital asset era.

    For the full January 2025 transparency report, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f7f064f-8f44-40ae-9096-c738e009aaa8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE and UN Road Safety Envoy call for global use of UN helmet standard to save millions of lives 

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Wearing quality helmets reduces the risk of death for drivers and passengers of powered two- and three-wheelers by over six times and reduces the risk of brain injury by up to 74%.  UN regulation No. 22 has provided countries with the blueprint to legislate the use of tested and certified helmets for over 50 years. Already applied in 43 countries, millions of lives could be saved through the worldwide application of this standard.  

    As governments and stakeholders come together for the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech on 18-20 February, UNECE and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, are launching a call for widespread enforcement of UN Regulation 22. 

    “Wearing a helmet that meets the UN standard is a game changer”, stressed UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt. “Countries must address any remaining legislative gaps to make helmet use compulsory, and ensure that affordable safe helmets are available to all. Together with political will and partnerships like the safe and affordable helmets initiative we have shown this can be done. Now we need action at scale.”  

    “Millions of households around the world depend on two- and three-wheelers, but do not have access to safe and affordable helmets. The human cost caused by this situation, not to mention the huge economic impact of deaths and injuries, is unacceptable. It is the collective responsibility of regulators, governments and manufacturers to ensure that helmets meeting the safety standards of UN certification are available and to convince riders to use them. This is a matter of justice and equity – no one should be left behind when it comes to road safety,” said Tatiana Molcean, UNECE Executive Secretary.    

    Rise in 2-3 wheelers calls for urgent safety action  

    Two- and three-wheeler use has grown rapidly as many low-and -middle-income countries have motorized over the last 20-30 years. Motorcycles comprise nearly 70% of the national vehicle fleet in countries like India, Indonesia, the Philippines and China. However, the lack of a widespread, systematic approach to ensuring safety has led to a huge increase in deaths and injuries.  

    According to the 2023 Global Road Safety report of the World Health Organization, motorcyclists and other powered two- and three-wheeler riders represent 30% – a staggering 357,000 deaths – of the 1.19 million global road traffic deaths every year. This marks a 25% increase in the number of victims since 2013, with head injuries being the main cause of death in most motorcycle crashes. Non-use of helmets among motorcyclists across some 40 countries was reported at 20% for drivers and 30% for passengers. 

    In Malaysia, nearly 65% of road crash victims are motorcycle riders, while in the European Union, which has the lowest death rate compared to any country worldwide at 4.6/100,000, users of powered two-wheelers (motorbikes and mopeds) accounted for only 19% (3,876) of the deaths on the road in 2023. 

    Safe helmets need further enforcement  

    Since the entry into force of UN regulation No. 22, 43 countries have applied it, including:  

    • Belgium in 1972 
    • Netherlands in 1972 
    • Sweden in 1973 
    • Spain in 1976 
    • Italy in 1977 
    • Finland in 1977 
    • Switzerland in 1982 
    • Russian Federation in 1986 
    • New Zealand in 2002 

     

    And most recently in; 

    • Pakistan in 2020 
    • Malaysia, the Philippines and Uganda in 2023 

     

    But with the rapid increase of two- and three-wheeler use, application in many more countries around the world could significantly reduce risks.  

    The Special Envoy’s Safe and Affordable Helmets Initiative 

    The cost of UN-certified helmets can be a barrier to mass use in many countries. In other markets, the proliferation of helmets which do not comply with UN Regulation 22 offers a false sense of protection to riders and passengers, as highlighted in the White Paper of the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety released last week. 

    In order to make safe helmets available to many more road users in developing countries, Special Envoy Jean Todt launched the Safe and Affordable Helmets Initiative in 2020. The Initiative promotes safe helmet use and the development and mass production of UN-certified helmets in developing countries themselves. 

    As a result, producers in India, Indonesia, Spain, and South Korea have already started manufacturing UN-certified helmets for retail at around $20, and more than 40,000 helmets financed by partners of the initiative were distributed in some 17 countries in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia. In addition, Rwanda, through a project financed by the UN Road Safety Fund, set up a helmet testing facility in December 2024 and align its national standard and certification scheme with UN Regulation N°22. The aim is to build the foundations for a vibrant, scalable helmet manufacturing industry to produce a consistent supply of safe and affordable helmets that would be available across Africa. 

     

    Note to editors 

    UNECE hosts the World Forum for Harmonization for Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), which develops and updates safety regulations, including UN Regulation No. 22. As custodian of the UN road safety conventions, UNECE hosts the Secretariats of both the Special Envoy and UN Road Safety Fund and supports their work. 

    Technical specifications of helmet manufacturing and testing  

    UN Regulation No. 22, under the 1958 Agreement outlines a series of tests that ensure adequate measures for fields of vision, hearing ability, non-flammability, material requirements, moisture absorption, and child helmet provisions. One of the most important requirements that makes UN Regulation No. 22 unique, compared to other standards, is conformity of production (CoP) – the procedure to ensure that helmets produced by a manufacturer, is in conformity with the approved type overtime.  

    The conformity of production procedures; exchange of information among type approval authorities on type approvals granted, counterfeit products and products not meeting the requirements. All this aims to prevent the delivery of fake helmets to the market. Countries involved in the UN system can, thus, rely on each other in the implementation and maintenance of their national legislation based on UN Regulation No. 22. 

    Technological and materials improvement have led to amendments in 1988, 1995, 2000, and in 2021 concerning moisture absorption, scratch resistance, friction limits, and chinstrap strength.  

    The 06 series of amendments of the UN Regulation No. 22, entered into force in 2021, increases the number and types of testing required for certification, including visor coloring and material, testing of extra impact points, and updated procedures for tests introduced previously. UN Regulation No. 22-05 tested helmets in rectilinear impact situations, i.e. perpendicular to the impacted surface. Series 6 adds oblique impacts to its tests, which better reflects real-world impact conditions and better protects the brain from rotational accelerations. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia 2024 highlights

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This highlights flyer provides an overview of UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROECA) activities in 2024, including key initiatives on disaster risk reduction (DRR), urban resilience, early warning systems, and intergovernmental coordination. It summarizes achievements such as the 2024 Europe and Central Asia Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, new partnerships, policy advancements, and capacity-building efforts across the region.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Talent list coverage further expanded

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government announced today the latest round of the Talent List update, adding nine professions to the list, which increases the coverage to 60 professions with local talent shortages, starting from March 1.

    The newly added professions are from the industry segments of financial services, innovation and technology, legal and dispute resolution services as well as aviation and shipping.

    They include accountants, financial professionals with Islamic market experience, experienced professionals in commodities trading, experienced systems architects, patent professionals, legal knowledge engineers, ship surveyors, professionals in green shipping and aircraft maintenance engineers.

    Outside talent who meet the eligibility criteria for relevant professions can enjoy immigration facilitation when applying under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents & Professionals.

    In reviewing the list, the Government considered whether talent of the professions concerned are readily available in the local employment market and cannot be nurtured by local training in good time.

    Those interested in the admission schemes can submit applications online.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Supports State and Local Response to Ohio Valley Flooding

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Supports State and Local Response to Ohio Valley Flooding

    FEMA Supports State and Local Response to Ohio Valley Flooding

    Following President Trump’s Approval of Emergency Declaration for KentuckyWASHINGTON — FEMA is closely coordinating with state and local officials to provide support as widespread flooding impacts portions of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. With winter weather in the forecast, residents should stay informed about changing conditions, as freezing temperatures and additional precipitation could worsen impacts and create hazardous travel conditions.“I spoke to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to offer federal resources and action for the deadly flash floods impacting Kentucky. We discussed how while emergency management is best led by local authorities, we reinforced that the Department of Homeland Security stands ready to take immediate action to offer resources and support,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “Local emergency managers should swiftly notify people in the affected areas to take action to protect themselves and their belongings. DHS stands ready to help when a state needs, requests and declares an emergency. Follow us for updates and closely monitor messages from your state and local leaders.” Within 12 hours of the initial weather impacts, FEMA deployed Urban Search and Rescue teams and swift-water rescue teams from Missouri, Indiana and Ohio, to work alongside state National Guard personnel, to assist with evacuations. Additionally, two FEMA Incident Management Teams and emergency communications support were deployed in Kentucky today to assist with response efforts. FEMA is delivering 40 truckloads of meals and water requested by the states. FEMA also deployed staff to the Virginia and West Virginia emergency operations centers to monitor and coordinate on any requests for additional assistance.Resources for Affected ResidentsPeople in affected areas are encouraged to follow local officials’ guidance and seek available resources. Kentucky: Residents with immediate needs should complete the Rapid Needs Assessment Form online or call 502-607-6665. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 immediately.Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia: Residents should monitor local emergency management agencies and the National Weather Service for updates and emergency instructions.Shelters are open for those displaced by the flooding. Individuals in need of shelter can locate the nearest open facility by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).FEMA urges residents to take precautions as floodwaters continue to rise. Never attempt to walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, and one foot of water can carry away most vehicles.FEMA remains committed to working with federal, state, tribal and local partners to support the recovery for communities and the Americans who were affected by the storms and flooding.
    mashana.davis
    Mon, 02/17/2025 – 22:13

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ukraine: Global impact of the war is felt far beyond – DPPA Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    On the tenth anniversary of the Minsk Agreements, US representative John Kelley told the Security Council that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders was “an unrealistic objective,” while musician and peace activist Roger Waters welcomed United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin talks on Ukraine as “a move in the right direction.”

    Briefing Council members on the situation in Ukraine, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas Miroslav Jenča said the ten-year anniversary of the Minsk Agreements has taught us that “agreeing on the ceasefire or the signing of an agreement alone do not ensure a durable end to the violence,” and “ensuring that the conflict does not reoccur and does not escalate will require genuine, genuine political will and understanding of its multidimensional complexity for Ukraine and for the region.”

    Waters expressed hope that, “maybe there is a glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel of war. It’s come three years and hundreds of thousands of priceless lives too late.”

    Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told the Council that “the Minsk agreements were something which the Western sponsors of the Kiev regime needed purely as a smokescreen to provide armaments to Ukraine and to prepare it for war with Russia.”

    Nebenzya said, “had the Minsk agreements been implemented in good faith by Ukraine and its sponsors, there would have been nothing, nothing of what subsequently transpired would have occurred.”

    The Russian Ambassador said, “diplomacy has finally been actively brought into the game. And opportunities have emerged for the prompt end to the hot phase of the Ukrainian crisis,” and referring to the Minsk Agreements said, “what lessons do the present negotiators need to draw from the process which so abjectly failed three years ago?”

    The US representative, for his part said, “we want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, but we must start by recognizing and then returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering. A durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure the war will not begin again. This must not be Minsk 3.0.”

    UK representative Barbara Woodward said, “the conditions for a just and lasting peace which protects Ukraine’s security, sovereignty and independence” must be create, and stressed that “Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any negotiations.”

    Ukraine’s representative Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said, “weak agreements will not bring real peace, they will only lead to the greater war. That is why we are working with our partners to find strong and effective solutions. Peace cannot be bought, especially not at the expense of law and principles, especially principle of territorial integrity and sovereign equality. This cannot be replaced with appeasement. History offers many relevant examples. Our task is to avoid repeating past mistakes, as the cost of those mistakes is more blood, suffering and destruction.”

    Today’s meeting coincided with the tenth anniversary of resolution 2202, which endorsed the now-defunct Minsk agreements of 2015 signed by the representatives of European security pact, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and leaders of the pro-Russian separatists in the occupied east of Ukraine following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

    The unanimously adopted resolution included a package of measures as its annex, including an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, as well as the withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides by equal distances to create a security zone.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znAbPa7Np4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director-General of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises visits Auckland and Sydney to promote Hong Kong’s advantages (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Director-General of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises visits Auckland and Sydney to promote Hong Kong’s advantages (with photos)
    Director-General of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises visits Auckland and Sydney to promote Hong Kong’s advantages (with photos)
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         The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr Peter Yan, today (February 18) began his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia, to promote Hong Kong’s latest developments and new opportunities in the innovation and technology (I&T) industry. These include sectors of artificial intelligence and data science, life and health technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, and financial technology, with the aim of attracting potential strategic enterprises to establish their presence in Hong Kong.           Upon arrival in Auckland today, Mr Yan met with various senior representatives of local I&T enterprises to gain insights into the latest local technological developments and trends, and exchange views on potential collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong and Auckland. Mr Yan also shared OASES’s unique role and support functions with the business leaders, and discussed with them their intentions and plans for setting up or expanding in Hong Kong.           During the meetings, Mr Yan said, “Hong Kong is the world’s freest economy, the third-largest international financial centre, and the seventh-most digitally competitive city globally. Additionally, Hong Kong is the only Asian city with five universities in the world’s top 100, and features world-class research institutions, top-notch professional services and a highly skilled talent pool. On top of these unique advantages, Hong Kong also embraces the role of connecting both Mainland China and overseas countries, serving as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’, making it the most convenient and efficient gateway for New Zealand and Australian enterprises to enter Mainland China.”           Tomorrow (February 19) and February 20, Mr Yan and an OASES representative will meet with more I&T enterprises in Auckland and Sydney. They will also visit industry chambers, I&T investment and financial institutions, and professional services organisations in both places to discuss opportunities for financial and investment exchanges as well as I&T collaborations between Hong Kong and the two cities to foster interaction between talent and industries within the I&T sector.           Through these meetings, Mr Yan aims to reinforce OASES’s connections with Auckland and Sydney, and encourage more strategic enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong.           Mr Yan will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon on February 20 (Sydney time).

     
    Ends/Tuesday, February 18, 2025Issued at HKT 19:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –