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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: COP29 climate talks end with $300 billion annual pledge, Guterres calls deal a ‘base to build on’

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    Rich nations pledged to contribute at least $300 billion annually to the global fight against climate change as UN climate talks came to a contentious end early Sunday morning in Baku. Developing nations who had sought over $1 trillion in assistance called the agreement “insulting” and argued it did not give them the vital resources they required to truly address the complexities of the climate crisis.

    After two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates at COP29, formally the 29th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agreed to provide this funding annually, with an overall climate financing target to reach “at least $1.3 trillion by 2035”.

    Soundcloud

    Countries also agreed on the rules for a UN-backed global carbon market. This market will facilitate the trading of carbon credits, incentivizing countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly projects.

    These were among the big-ticket issues decided upon as the summit, underway since 11 November in the enormous Baku Stadium in the Azerbaijan capital, ran into double overtime. 

    Other steps forward at COP29 included: 

    This summit had been dubbed the ‘climate finance COP’, and representatives from all countries were seeking to establish a new, higher climate finance goal. 

    The target, or new collective quantified goal (NCQG), will replace the existing $100 billion goal that is due to expire in 2025.

    In the closing days at COP29, negotiating teams from the developed and developing worlds were deadlocked over a final deal, with reports that representatives for least developed countries and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOIS) had walked out of the talks.

    ‘A more ambitious outcome’

    Reacting to the outcome, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that while an agreement at COP29 was absolutely essential to keep the 1.5-degree limit alive, “I had hoped for a more ambitious outcome – on both finance and mitigation – to meet the great challenge we face.”

    But he continued, this agreement provides a base on which to build and added: It must be honoured in full and on time. Commitments must quickly become cash. All countries must come together to ensure the top-end of this new goal is met.”

    For many vulnerable nations, it represents a glimmer of hope—but only if commitments translate into swift action. “Commitments must quickly become cash,” the Secretary-General stressed, urging all countries to work together to meet the upper end of the new financial goal.

    Beyond finance, COP29 built on previous gains in emissions reduction targets, the acceleration of the energy transition, and a long-sought agreement on carbon markets. These achievements come despite an “uncertain and divided geopolitical landscape,” which threatened to derail negotiations.

    The UN chief commended negotiators for finding common ground, noting, “You have shown that multilateralism – centred on the Paris Agreement – can find a path through the most difficult issues.”

    ‘An insurance policy for humanity’

    UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell described the new finance goal agreed at COP29 as “an insurance policy for humanity.”

    “This deal will keep the clean energy boom growing and protect billions of lives.  It will help all countries to share in the huge benefits of bold climate action: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all. But like any insurance policy – it only works – if the premiums are paid in full, and on time.”

    He acknowledged that no country got everything they wanted, and that the world leaves Baku with a mountain of work to do. “So, this is no time for victory laps. We need to set our sights and redouble our efforts on the road to Belém,” in the eastern Amazonian region of Brazil, which is set to host COP30 next year.

    ‘Weak, insulting deal’

    While some delegations applauded the deal, many from the developing world, including Bolivia and Nigeria, expressed their deep disappointment at what they argued was an “insultingly low” financing target and that the agreed text failed to significantly build on an agreement last year at COP28 in Dubai calling for nations to “transition away from fossil fuels”.

    India’s representative strongly denounced the new goal, calling it a “paltry sum” and emphasizing, “We seek a much higher ambition from the developed countries [and the amount agreed] does not inspire trust that we will come out of this grave problem of climate change.”

    A representative from a group of small island nations said: “After this COP29 ends, we cannot just sail off into the sunset. We are literally sinking,” and the conference outcome highlighted “what a very different boat our vulnerable countries are in, compared to the developed countries”.

    UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

    Civil society actors at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, advocate for climate financing initiatives.

    Sierra Leone’s representative said African nations were disappointed in the outcome, which “signals a lack of goodwill by developed countries.” Indeed, the $300 billion deal was “less than a quarter of what science shows is needed and barely enough to forestall a climate catastrophe”.

    Striking a different tone, a representative from the delegation of the European Union said the new climate finance goal would “simply will bring much, much more private money on the table, and that is what we need. And with these funds, we are confident we will reach the 1.3 trillion objective.”

    Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of COP29, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt follows up on scam farm cases

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Security Bureau’s dedicated task force will continue to follow up on cases in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave, Acting Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said at the Legislative Council meeting today.

     

    In response to lawmaker Yung Hoi-yan’s questions, Mr Cheuk explained that from 2023 to January 2025, law enforcement agencies received 28 such cases. Among them, 19 people have already returned to Hong Kong. For the remaining nine individuals, the Security Bureau believes that eight are in Myanmar while one is in Cambodia.

     

    Last month, Mr Cheuk led the task force, comprising members from the Security Bureau, Police and Immigration Department, to Bangkok, Thailand, to meet Thai authorities.

     

    The task force then established direct contacts with relevant Thai authorities to enhance future communication and exchange of intelligence, with a view to handling the cases more effectively, Mr Check highlighted.

     

    Separately, he noted that from 2023 to January 2025, Police arrested 11 people in connection with job scam cases where victims were lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. The suspects were involved in offences such as conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and obtaining property by deception.

     

    During the same period, two individuals charged with conspiracy to defraud were convicted and sentenced to 36 months’ and 56 months’ imprisonment respectively.

     

    In view of the recent scam cases, Mr Cheuk stressed that the Government will continue to strengthen publicity, including a promotion on social media platforms, distribution of anti-scam leaflets to travellers heading to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, and making good use of media reports.

     

    He added that in light of cases where suspects met victims in bars and entertainment venues, Police have also sent officers to hand out leaflets in such places across the city.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today welcomed the Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN, H.E. Ambassador Heng Sarith, for a meeting at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting discussed preparations for the visit of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in the first quarter of 2025 and it also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong partnership between ASEAN and Cambodia as well as to exchange views on regional priorities to advance ASEAN Community-building efforts.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: GTreasury Customer The Arnott’s Group Wins Adam Smith Award for Cash Forecasting Success

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO and SYDNEY, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GTreasury, the pioneer and global leader in Digital Treasury Solutions for the Office of the CFO, today announced that its customer, The Arnott’s Group, has been named a Highly Commended Winner in Treasury Today’s 2024 Adam Smith Awards Asia. The annual industry benchmark for corporate treasury achievement honors the most innovative and transformative treasury initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.

    The Arnott’s Group—one of Australia’s most iconic food manufacturers, with a portfolio of beloved brands including Arnott’s, Tim Tam & Shapes, V8, Messy Monkeys, Freedom Cereals, and 180degrees—was honored in Treasury Today’s Best Cash Flow Forecasting Solution category.

    “Our separation from Campbell’s presented us with an immediate need to build an independent, modern treasury function from the ground up,” said Joanne Parnell, Treasurer, The Arnott’s Group. “GTreasury’s cloud-based platform eliminated our reliance on manual Excel processes and automated our entire treasury operations, from cash forecasting to FX deal capture. The results continue to speak for themselves: we’ve cut payment preparation time by 30% and reduced our monthly close cycle by a full day. We’re honored that Treasury Today has recognized our treasury team’s work, and the transformative advantages we’ve achieved.”

    Among The Arnott’s Group’s measurable improvements across its treasury operations since implementing GTreasury:

    • Reduced daily cash reconciliation and payment preparation time by 30% through automation
    • Transformed month-end closing from a 1.5-day process to just half a day
    • Shifted from monthly to daily journal preparation, with entries now completed within hours
    • Streamlined team onboarding and training through intuitive cloud-based workflows

    The automated platform has also enhanced The Arnott’s Group’s strategic capabilities, enabling real-time visibility into cash positions and more sophisticated FX risk management. These improvements have freed up the treasury team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual processes.

    “The Arnott’s Group treasury team, working in collaboration with HSBC Australia as an implementation partner, was able to transform their entire operation in just six months,” said Jason Baldree, Chief Customer Officer, GTreasury. “It’s a remarkable achievement that we’re proud to have played a role in. Their success sets a blueprint for treasury modernization in the Asia-Pacific region, and we congratulate the team on this well-deserved recognition.”

    About GTreasury

    GTreasury provides CFOs and Treasurers with The Clarity to Act on strategic financial decisions with the world’s most adaptable treasury platform, empowering them to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. Our industry leading solutions are purposefully designed to support every stage of treasury complexity, from Cash Visibility and Forecasting to Payments, Risk, Debt, and Investments. With GTreasury, financial leaders gain comprehensive connectivity across all banks and ERPs to build an orchestrated data environment, enabling rapid value realization with implementations up and running in weeks. Plus, our unmatched industry expertise ensures clients’ continued success through dedicated guidance and top-tier support. Trusted by over 1,000 customers across 160 countries, GTreasury provides treasury and finance teams with the ability to connect, compile, and manage mission-critical data to optimize cash flows and capital structures. To learn more, visit GTreasury.com.

    GTreasury is headquartered in Chicago, with locations serving EMEA (Dublin and London) and APAC (Sydney, Singapore, and Manila).

    Contact
    Kyle Peterson
    kyle@clementpeterson.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: In China’s Harbin, world’s largest ice-and-snow park draws record visitors

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

    HARBIN, Feb. 12 — Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, has welcomed over 3 million visits as of Tuesday, setting a new attendance record just 52 days into its 26th edition, organizers announced.

    Located in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province and often referred to as the “city of ice,” this year’s park was built with 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow and features elaborate ice structures inspired by the 9th Asian Winter Games, which Harbin is hosting.

    Beyond its artistic ice sculptures, the park offers a range of interactive winter attractions, including a snowflake ice maze, ice rinks, and a massive ice slide complemented by over 20 smaller ones.

    “It’s freezing, but absolutely stunning! During the day, the ice sculptures glisten like crystals, and at night, dazzling lights transform the park into a winter wonderland,” said Mandizvidza Shalom Zivo, a visitor from Zimbabwe.

    The park covers 1 million square meters, up from 800,000 square meters last year. This is the largest in its 26-year history.

    As an established ice-and-snow theme park, Harbin Ice-Snow World stands out as one of China’s iconic winter attractions. It surged in popularity on Chinese social media last winter, becoming an internet sensation as passion for winter sports and tourism continues to rise across the country.

    “Through this park, we aim to enhance the global reputation of Heilongjiang and Harbin as premier winter destinations,” said Sun Zemin, deputy director of the marketing department at Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co., Ltd.

    With its booming ice-and-snow tourism, northeast China has gained fresh appeal. Once known as the country’s rustbelt, the region has long struggled with a painful economic transition and talent outflows.

    China aims to boost its ice-and-snow economy as a new source of growth, targeting an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan (about 167.34 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, according to guidelines released by the State Council last year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Capital projects receive awards at international exhibition in Bangkok

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Three capital projects received awards at the International Exhibition of Intellectual Property, Inventions, Innovations and Technologies IPITEX 2025, which was held in Bangkok. This was reported by Maria Bagreeva, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Head of the Department of Economic Policy and City Development.

    The gold medal in the category “Construction, civil engineering and architecture” was won by the collection of standards for assessing the costs of operating urban facilities (SN-2012). The organizers also awarded it a special prize for the high level of the product.

    The electronic robotic system “Risk-Based Approach to Execution of Government Contracts” won the gold medal in the category “Robotics, Electronics, Automation, Internet of Things and Software”. In addition, the project was awarded a special prize by the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) as the best innovative IT development.

    The investment program registry won a silver medal in the category “Environmental protection, energy, water supply, green technologies”. In addition, it was awarded a diploma by the World Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs as the best development.

    “The digital technologies that Moscow is implementing to improve the quality of life of the population and improve the business climate of the Russian capital are receiving recognition from the expert community at the international level. The SN-2012 collection contains prices for all types of work and services for the maintenance and repair of schools, clinics, parks, roads, bridges and other city facilities. This information helps the city avoid unjustified costs and provides businesses with equal conditions for participation in government procurement,” noted Maria Bagreeva.

    She also emphasized that the robotic system “Risk-oriented approach to the execution of state contracts” allows organizations to control the timely payment of contracts and reduces the time for auditing subordinate institutions. The register of investment programs, in turn, simplifies the interaction between project initiators and potential investors, which accelerates the implementation of significant city initiatives.

    In 2024, the main IPITEX awards were given to the Unified Data Warehouse database, as well as the digital mechanism for forming purchases in the healthcare system within the Expertise platform. The model for predicting citizens’ fees in the Tariff information and analytical system won a bronze medal.

    The International Exhibition of Intellectual Property, Inventions, Innovations and Technologies IPITEX has been held in Bangkok since 1995 under the auspices of the National Research Council under the patronage of the King of Thailand and the International Federation of Inventors Associations. In 2025, 680 developers from 22 countries took part in it.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149967073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: COP29 draft deal proposes wealthy nations give $250 billion in climate finance

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    A new draft finance deal delivered to harried negotiators in Baku on Friday – the final scheduled day for the UN climate talks that have been under way for the past two weeks – proposes rich countries commit $250 billion a year to help vulnerable nations cope with our warming planet and to accelerate the global switch to renewable energy.

    The new draft outcome text, which will surely push this round of talks into the weekend, called for the overall climate financing goal to reach “at least $1.3 trillion by 2035”, but left out specifics – grants, loans, or from the private sector – on how these funds will be raised.

    Delegations in Baku are expected to keep negotiating on several key issues:

    • Specifics about the role of developed countries in providing this new finance.
    • A global goal on a just transition.
    • Clear way forward on both adaptation and mitigation.

    The conference plenary is expected to reconvene on Saturday to work towards a final agreement.

    ‘A slap in the face’

    Civil society climate and environment advocates were quick to react to this latest draft.

    Some expressed their anger and disappointment at the draft by taping pieces of paper on their faces or foreheads with “Pay up!” written on them.

    Kelly Stone from ActionAid International Foundation explained to UN News, “I am wearing this because we are calling on Global North countries to pay up for climate finance and the debt they owe to the Global South.”

    Namrata Chowdhary from the 350.org, an international environmental organization, stated: “I can say it is disappointing [at] the very least.”

    “It is a slap. It is an insult. It is shocking that we are at this state now. The rich countries are basically gambling with the lives of people in the developing nations and small islands,” she said.

    Lidy Nacpil from Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development also expressed her disappointment. She also pointed out that “climate finance should not come in the form of loans because this will add to the debt burden”.

    “One of the issues that is preventing the Global South from undertaking urgent climate actions and also from providing our people with the essential services we need is the debt burden,” she told UN News.

    Jacobo Ocharan of Climate Action Network International said: “We urge all developing countries to have the courage in the negotiations to keep pushing, because this deal is terrible. We keep pushing on the idea that no deal is better than a bad deal.”

    UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

    Negotiating teams at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, pictured here during a break in the talks, are working to reach agreement on a new climate financing deal.

    What’s at stake

    COP29, formally the 29th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has been dubbed, the ‘climate finance COP’ because parties are expected to establish a new global climate finance target.

    This target, or new collective quantified goal (NCQG), is seen as one of the summit’s main deliverables. It will replace the existing $100 billion goal that is due to expire in 2025.

    Climate experts have pegged the new annual funding goal at between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion, which would assist vulnerable nations to deal with loss and damage from climate change and to adapt to that change, including building out their own clean-energy systems.

    Last week, in a move to support a new funding target, the World Bank Group and other multilateral development banks announced a significant boost in climate finance for low- and middle- income countries. This would reach $120 billion a year by 2030 with another $65 billion mobilised from the private sector, and a natural projection that would increase these values for 2035.

    A significant breakthrough on the opening day at COP29 was the adoption of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, paving the way for a UN-backed global carbon market. This market will facilitate the trading of carbon credits, incentivizing countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly projects.

    Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of COP29, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Rafael Epstein, Melbourne Mornings, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Rafael Epstein:

    Pretty big announcement from the federal government today. They’re going to let the banks, when they lend you money for a mortgage, they can relax the rules when it comes to the debt you owe for your university degree. So, you might say, woohoo, fantastic. You can borrow more or borrow sooner. Is it financially smart? Andrew Leigh joins us. He speaks for the Albanese government on this.

    Andrew is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment. Andrew Leigh, good morning.

    Andrew Leigh:

    Good morning, Raf. Great to be with you.

    Epstein:

    Is it a good idea?

    Leigh:

    Certainly is. We need to make sure that more Australians get into housing and to the extent that lenders have been taking into account your HECS debt, that can sometimes hold young people back from home ownership. And the fact is HECS is not a debt like any other, it’s a debt whose repayments stop if you lose your job. It’s proportional to your income. It is a repayment that occurs through an income contingent loan. And so, taking that off the table when lenders are considering how to allocate funding and who to lend to is really important in terms of boosting home ownership rates.

    Epstein:

    So, I understand that it’ll allow more people to buy a home. That’s a good thing. I’m just not sure if it’s a smart thing financially. I mean, if I’m earning say $80 grand, I still have to, I’ve got to pay that HECS debt. So, if interest rates go up suddenly, it is an extra cost that I have to pay. Why should the banks not take that into consideration?

    Leigh:

    Well, the first thing to say, we’re reducing those HECS debts. A re‑elected Albanese government would cut all the HECS debts by 20 per cent. We’ve already changed indexation so that that’s operating off the lesser of wages or inflation and backdated that over a year, saving hundreds of dollars for the typical HECS debtor.

    But more broadly to your question, Raf, this is an appropriate way of recognising that an income contingent loan isn’t like having a car loan, for example. It’s a fundamentally different kind of loan and we want to make sure that people don’t have to choose between getting an education or getting a house, that both of those are easily open to young Australians.

    Epstein:

    A slightly different issue. I know your time is short because parliament is sitting. Free trade is clearly something that Donald Trump supporters don’t like. And I think it’s worth noting the US Presidents kind of almost torn up the free trade agreement between America and Australia by even talking about tariffs. But is free trade, is it actually fair? Is it effective? Does it actually help all of us?

    Leigh:

    Well, Raf, the way I think about trade is it’s another form of comparative advantage. Just as most of us don’t fix our own car or cut our own hair or make our own wine, so too countries tend to specialise in what they do best. And this isn’t a zero‑sum game. Trade isn’t like the Eurovision Song Contest or the Olympics. Trade is a way in which each of us can benefit from specialising in what we do best. And just as your hairdresser doesn’t defeat you when you get a haircut, Japan doesn’t defeat you when you buy a Honda.

    That is an example of comparative advantage in action. And Australia, with 0.3 per cent of the global population, benefits enormously from open markets. The tariff liberalisation in Australia saved the typical Australian household around $4,000 a year. And my party, the Labor Party, was in the thick of that with Whitlam, Hawke and Keating spearheading significant tariff cuts. So, of course we’ve been strong advocates of open markets on the global stage.

    The conversation between Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump went well and the Americans are considering our request for an exemption.

    Epstein:

    I just wanted to give you one example. There’s a window maker in Melbourne called Oceania Glass in Dandenong. They’ve got 260 employees. Their problem, they say, is the dumping of cheap windows from Thailand. I did go on the default website.

    We’ve had a free trade agreement with Thailand for 20 years, so we get lots of tariff‑free cars, trucks and air conditioners. So, that’s the good part of free trade with Thailand. The bad part of free trade with Thailand is they can sell really cheap windows.

    And we’re going to lose our only domestic architectural window maker. Is that just a sort of a cost we have to put up with, so we get cheap air conditioners? Is that the trade off?

    Leigh:

    Well, the Australian Government takes anti‑dumping very seriously. Dumping is where an overseas exporter aims to drive down the price, temporarily knock out the local producers and then spike the price back up again. So, ultimately consumers suffer.

    What we’ve seen over the course of, of the last couple of decades, Raf, is Australian manufacturers increasingly moving into higher and higher and more advanced manufacturing, more value added. We don’t produce kids’ pyjamas anymore, but we do well in high‑end fashion.

    Epstein:

    But we’re not going to have anybody making windows for houses at all in the country. Is that a cost? Are we just happy to lose that because we’re moving into more advanced manufacturing?

    Leigh:

    Not at all. The government strongly committed to advanced manufacturing and strongly committed to working with our manufacturing sector. We’re investing in the skills that are available. The Future Made in Australia plan provides resources to encourage a strong Australian manufacturing sector. But the trend throughout the advanced world is for manufacturers to steadily move up and up the value chain.

    That means better jobs for the people working in those sectors, and it means more earnings for the firms in those sectors. So, I think there are great opportunities for Australian manufacturers to increasingly capture that high advanced manufacturing sector.

    Epstein:

    I appreciate your time this morning. Andrew Leigh, thank you.

    Leigh:

    Always a pleasure to chat, Raf.

    Epstein:

    Part of the Anthony Albanese Labor government. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Greater Bay Airlines’ report received

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government announced that it has received a report and supplementary information submitted by Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) to the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) in relation to the cancellation of a number of flights in February and March.

     

    The report revealed that the main causes of the failure in flight scheduling were due to a lack of internal communication and co-operation from customer service operations.

     

    Also in the report, GBA indicated that it has conducted an in-depth review and taken necessary measures to contact all of the some-5,000 affected passengers and properly provide them with alternatives, including ticket refunds and transfers to alternative flights.

     

    In addition, GBA reassured passengers that it is committed to providing them with stable and reliable services, and ensuring that similar incidents would not occur again in future.

     

    The report proposed a number of improvement measures, including strengthening internal management procedures for flight scheduling arrangements, enhancing internal communication on changes to flight schedules and destinations, ensuring fleet and manpower stability and reliability, and enhancing customer service’s ability to cope with unforeseen incidents.

     

    The Government noted that the Transport & Logistics Bureau and the CAD will closely follow up on the implementation progress of the various improvement measures proposed, with a view to preventing the recurrence of similar incidents.

     

    The Government will also maintain close communication with GBA on its aviation network development, fleet and manpower situation, ensuring steady and orderly growth of local airlines while optimising the use of civil aviation resources.

     

    As requested by the Government, GBA submitted the report and supplementary information on January 29 and February 7 respectively.

     

    Click here for the summary of the report.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: WithSecure Financial Statement Release 1 January – 31 December 2024: Strong growth in Cloud Protection for Salesforce, improving profitability and cash flow, divestment of Cyber security consulting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WithSecure Corporation, Financial Statement Release 1 January – 31 December 2024, 12 February 2025 at 8.00 EET

    WithSecure Financial Statement Release 1 January – 31 December 2024: Strong growth in Cloud Protection for Salesforce, improving profitability and cash flow, divestment of Cyber security consulting

    Highlights of October – December 2024 (“fourth quarter”)

    • Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)1 for Elements Cloud products and services2 increased by 6% to EUR 83.3 million (EUR 78.4 million)
    • Elements Cloud ARR increase from previous quarter was 2%
    • Net Revenue Retention for Elements Cloud was 99%
    • Revenue for Elements Cloud increased by 9% to EUR 21.5 million (EUR 19.7 million)
    • ARR for Cloud Protection for Salesforce increased by 52% to EUR 12.8 million (EUR 8.4 million)
    • Cyber security consulting revenue declined by 15% to EUR 8.6 million (EUR 10.2 million). Cyber security consulting divestment agreement was signed in January 2025. Business is reported as Discontinued operations. A goodwill impairment of EUR 13 million was recognized in the fourth quarter to reflect the impact of the divestment
    • Adjusted EBITDA (Continuing and discontinued operations) for WithSecure was EUR 2.4 million (EUR 0.2 million)
    • Operative cash flow of the fourth quarter was EUR 7.7million (EUR 2.7 million) 
    1. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) of cloud products is calculated by multiplying monthly recurring revenue of last month of quarter by twelve.  Monthly recurring revenue includes recognized revenue within the month excluding non-recurring revenue
    2. Elements Cloud includes Elements Cloud portfolio software and services as well as the managed services

    Highlights of January – December 2024

    • Revenue for Elements Cloud products and services increased by 9% to EUR 83.3 million (EUR 76.1 million)
    • CPSF revenue increased by 14% to EUR 9.4 million (EUR 8.3 million)
    • Cyber security consulting revenue declined by 3% to EUR 32.3 million (EUR 33.4 million)
    • Adjusted EBITDA (Continuing and discontinued operations) for WithSecure was EUR 3.1 million (EUR -16.1 million)

    Outlook for 2025

    Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) for Elements Cloud products and services will grow by 10-20% from the end of 2024.
    At the end of 2024, Elements Cloud ARR was EUR 83.3 million.

    Elements Company segment’s Adjusted EBITDA will be 3-7% of revenue.

    Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) for Cloud Protection for Salesforce (CPSF) will grow by 20-35% from the end of 2024.
    At the end of 2024, CPSF ARR was EUR 12.8 million.

    Cyber security consulting business will be divested in 2025. Elements company and CPSF will have their own guidance going forward. Both are recurring, subscription-based businesses, which is reflected in the new guidance.

    Medium-term financial target (for Elements Company segment)

    Over the next three years (2025-2027), WithSecure will become a “Rule of 30+” company.

    The components of the target are

    • Annual revenue growth as percentage
    • Adjusted EBITDA as percentage of revenue

    WithSecure is targeting to reach a sum of the components that exceeds 30.

    Figures in this release are unaudited. Figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period in the previous year, unless otherwise stated. Percentages and figures presented may include rounding differences and might therefore not add up precisely to the totals presented.

    CEO Antti Koskela

    In the last quarter of 2024, WithSecure Elements Cloud ARR grew by 6% from previous year to EUR 83.3 million (EUR 78.4 million). Elements Cloud revenue grew by 9% to EUR 21.5 million (EUR 19.7 million). Cloud Protection for Salesforce, reported as a separate segment, performance was strong, ARR grew by 52% to EUR 12.8 million (EUR 8.4 million).

    In the Elements Company, Elements software continued to perform with a strong year-on-year growth. In the Managed services and Co-security, revenue declined slightly from the fourth quarter of 2023, due to the customer churns reported in the quarter and earlier in 2024. Of the geographic regions, Elements Cloud ARR and revenue decreased slightly in UK and North America, mainly impacted by the Managed services customer churns during the year 2024. In all other regions, a steady growth of cloud ARR and revenue continued. December revenue includes a higher than customary volume of discounts, timing of which is partly dependent on the customers. Due to the timing issues, the Cloud ARR growth was negatively impacted by approximately 3 percentage points. Our intention is to review and improve the recognition process to avoid ARR volatility caused by timing in the future. 

    In January 2025, our Elements Identity Security reached General Availability. It will increase protection of the users from business email compromise attacks and provide easy-to-use identity response features. Two significant product recognitions were received at the end of 2024. We were identified as one of 15 global vendors in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platforms3, recognising our ability to execute and completeness of vision. In the 2024 MITRE ATT&CK® Evaluations, our Endpoint Detection and Response solution set new standards for detection-to-alert ratios, reinforcing our position as a European mid-market leader in cyber security.

    Elements Company Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was EUR 1.5 million (EUR -1.0 million). Full WithSecure Adjusted EBITDA of EUR 2.4 million (EUR 0.2 million) in the fourth quarter shows that our continuous work on improving profitability is giving results despite some lower revenue in 2024 than planned.

    In Cloud Protection for Salesforce (CPSF), systematic efforts in the past year to improve sales efficiency are generating strong results. ARR grew by 52% year-on-year to EUR 12.8 million (EUR 8.4 million). The growth is driven by both new customers and expansions to existing customers, while the customer churn remained at a controlled level. We continue to develop the CPSF as an independent business inside WithSecure, while keeping the strategic review options open.

    On 23 January 2025, we signed an agreement intending to divest our Cyber security consulting business to Neqst, a Swedish investment firm focusing exclusively on technology and technology-enabled companies. In the segment reporting, consulting is presented according to the previously applied calculation principles. In other parts of the financial reporting, consulting result is included in the result of discontinued operations. Cyber security consulting revenue declined by 15% to EUR 8.6 million (EUR 10.2 million). Adjusted EBITDA of the fourth quarter was EUR 0.9 million (EUR 2.0 million).

    After reaching some important milestones during the year, we are confidently heading for a new year of profitable growth. I would like to thank WithSecure personnel, partners, customers and other stakeholders for their great collaboration in the past year and going forward.

    Financial performance

    (mEUR) 10-12/2024 10-12/2023 Change % 1-12/2024 1-12/2023 Change %
    Continuing operations            
    Revenue 29.9 28.0 7% 116.0 109.9 6%
    Cost of revenue -5.9 -5.7 3% -23.4 -23.1 1%
    Gross Margin 24.0 22.3 8% 92.6 86.8 7%
    % of revenue 80.4 % 79.7 %   79.8 % 79.0 %  
    Other income, adjusted1 0.4 0.4 11% 2.0 1.4 41%
    Operating expenses1 -23.0 -24.3 -5% -92.6 -103.1 -10%
    Sales & Marketing -12.2 -13.1 -7% -47.9 -57.2 -16%
    Research & Development -8.5 -8.8 -3% -35.0 -36.3 -4%
    Administration -2.3 -2.4 -5% -9.7 -9.5 2%
    Adjusted EBITDA2 1.4 -1.6 188% 2.0 -14.8 113%
    % of revenue 4.7 % -5.7 %   1.7 % -13.5 %  
    Items affecting comparability (IAC)            
    Other items 0.0 -1.0 99% -1.0 -1.4 33%
    Divestments 0.1 0.0 0% 1.2 1.4 10%
    Restructuring -0.1 -4.5 99% -1.1 -8.9 87%
    Costs under TSA 0.0 -1.4 100% 0.0 -6.9 100%
    Income for costs under TSA 0.0 1.4 100% 0.0 6.9 100%
    EBITDA 1.4 -7.2 120% 1.1 -23.8 105%
    % of revenue 4.7 % -25.6 %   1.0 % -21.6 %  
    Depreciation & amortization, excluding PPA3 -2.0 -2.5 -19% -9.0 -9.5 -6%
    PPA amortization -0.5 -0.6 -17% -2.2 -2.4 -7%
    EBIT -1.1 -10.2 89% -10.1 -35.7 72%
    % of revenue -3.7 % -36.6 %   -8.7 % -32.5 %  
    Adjusted EBIT2 -0.6 -4.1 85% -7.0 -24.3 71%
    % of revenue -2.0 % -14.5 %   -6.0 % -22.1 %  
    Discontinued operations            
    Revenue 8.3 10.0 -17% 31.4 32.9 -5%
    Adjusted EBITDA2 1.0 1.8 -45% 1.1 -1.3 187%
    % of revenue 12.0 % 18.1 %   3.6 % -4.0 %  
    Items affecting comparability (IAC)            
    Divestments 1.1     1.1    
    EBIT -13.6 1.6 -927% -29.3 -8.2 -258%
    % of revenue -164.1 % 16.5 %   -93.6 % -24.9 %  
    Combined operations            
    Revenue 38.1 38.0 0% 147.4 142.8 3%
    Adjusted EBITDA2 2.4 0.2 1070% 3.1 -16.1 119%
    % of revenue 6.3 % 0.5 %   2.1 % -11.3 %  
    Earnings per share, (EUR)4 -0.08 -0.07 -25% -0.22 -0.23 5%
    Deferred revenue       67.7 66.9 1%
    Cash flow from operations before financial items and taxes 7.7 2.7 191% 2.1 -19.9 110%
    Cash and cash equivalents       27.3 36.6 -25%
    ROI, % -52.3 % -27.5 % -90% -34.1 % -30.5 % -12%
    Equity ratio, %       59.1 % 73.3 % -19%
    Gearing, %       0.4 % -22.2 % 102%
    Personnel, end of period       961 1,087 -12%

    1. Excluding Items Affecting Comparability (IAC) and depreciation and amortization. In 2023 excludes also costs of services provided to F-Secure under TSA and equivalent income charged for TSA services. 

    2. Adjustments are material items outside the normal course of business associated with acquisitions, integration, restructuring, gains or losses from sales of businesses and other items affecting comparability. For reconciliation and a breakdown of adjusted costs, see Note 6 (Reconciliation of alternative performance measures)

    3. Amortization of intangible assets from business combinations (PPA, purchase price allocation, related amortizations). 

    4. Based on the weighted average number of outstanding shares during the period 175 986 422 (1-12/2024).

    Events after period-end
    After the end of the financial year, on 23 January 2025, WithSecure announced the sale of its Cyber security consulting business to Swedish investment firm Neqst. The transaction is executed by the sale of shares of the parent company of a to-be-established WithSecure cyber security consulting group, to which the consulting business will be transferred prior to the completion of the transaction. As a result of the agreement, total of approximately 250 employees located in Finland, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Italy, and US are expected to transfer to the buyer.

    Additional information
    This is a summary of WithSecure’s Financial Statement Release 1 January – 31 December 2024. The full report is a PDF file attached to this stock exchange release. Full report is also available on the company website.

    Webcast
    WithSecure’s CEO Antti Koskela and CFO Tom Jansson will present the results in a webcast on 12 February starting at 14.00 EET. The webcast will be held in English and can be accessed at

    https://withsecure.events.inderes.com/q4-2024

    Questions in written format are requested in the webcast portal. Presentation material and the webcast recording will be available on the company website

    Materials | Investor Relations | WithSecure™

    Financial calendar
    During the year 2025, WithSecure Corporation will publish financial information as follows:

    • 25 April 2025: Interim Report for January–March 2025
    • 16 July 2025: Half-Year Report for January–June 2025
    • 22 October 2025: Interim Report for January–September 2025

    WithSecure observes at least a three-week (21 days) silent period prior to publication of financial reports, during which it refrains from engaging in discussions with capital market representatives or the media regarding WithSecure’s financial position or the factors affecting it.

    The Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 18 March 2025. The Board of Directors will convene the meeting.

    Contact information
    Tom Jansson, CFO
    WithSecure Corporation

    Laura Viita
    VP, Controlling, investor relations and sustainability
    WithSecure Corporation
    +358 50 487 1044
    investor-relations@withsecure.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on February 12, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,50,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 1,93,865
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 1,93,865
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.26
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.26
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) N.A.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/2132

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: Moscow Zoo takes first place in the world in species diversity

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    63 species of animals have become new residents of the Moscow Zoo. Rare animals listed in the Red Book have also taken up residence in the enclosures. This was reported by Sergei Sobyanin in his telegram channel.

    “In total, 300 new inhabitants from two dozen regions of Russia and other countries appeared here last year. Among them are three Malayan bear cubs: Masha, Luchik and Zvezdochka.

    The names have been chosenMuscovites in the Active Citizen project,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    New residents have also settled in the “Animal Island” exhibit. Now you can see spotted hyenas there. In addition, as part of international cooperation, a black vulture was brought to the Moscow Zoo from the Alma-Ata Zoo.

    Two bison from Belarus have arrived at the zoo in Veliky Ustyug. This is part of a program to form a sustainable population of these animals. Since August, 37 dogs have been living on the zoo’s territory near Moscow, transported from shelters in the Kursk regionThey are cared for by staff and volunteers.

    The Moscow Zoo has become the first in the world in terms of the diversity of its collection. It is home to more than 1,200 species of animals, including such rare ones as Amur leopards and Sumatran orangutans.

    This year, the Moscow Zoo celebrates its 161st birthday. In honor of the holiday, guests will be given themed excursions, master classes, lectures, film screenings, interactive classes, and quests. You can visit them from February 12 to 16.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/1237505/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Powerless – another Asia-Pacific angle on the long siege of USAID

    COMMENTARY: By Robin Davies

    Much has been and much more will be written about the looming abolition of USAID.

    It’s “the removal of a huge and important tool of American global statecraft” (Konyndyk), or the wood-chipping of a “viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America” (Musk) or, more reasonably, the unwarranted cancellation of an organisation that should have been reviewed and reformed.

    Commentators will have a lot to say, some of it exaggerated, about the varieties of harm caused by this decision, and about its legality.

    Some will welcome it from a conservative perspective, believing that USAID was either not aligned with or acting against the interests of the United States, or was proselytising wokeness, or was a criminal organisation.

    Some, often more quietly, will welcome it from an anti-imperialist or “Southern” perspective, believing that the agency was at worst a blunt instrument of US hegemony or at least a bastion of Western saviourism.

    I want to come at this topic from a different angle, by providing a brief personal perspective on USAID as an organisation, based on several decades of occasional interaction with it during my time as an Australian aid official.

    Essentially, I view USAID as a harried, hamstrung and traumatised organisation, not as a rogue agency or finely-tuned vehicle of US statecraft.

    Peer country representative
    My own experience with USAID began when I participated as a peer country representative in an OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) peer review of the US’s foreign assistance programme in the early 1990s, which included visits to US assistance programmes in Bangladesh and the Philippines, as well as to USAID headquarters in Washington DC.

    I later dealt with the agency in many other roles, including during postings to the OECD and Indonesia and through my work on global and regional climate change and health programmes, up to and including the pandemic years.

    An image is firmly lodged in my mind from that DAC peer review visit to Washington. We had had days of back-to-back meetings in USAID headquarters with a series of exhausted-looking, distracted and sometimes grumpy executives who didn’t have much reason to care what the OECD thought about the US aid effort.

    It was a muggy summer day. At one point a particularly grumpy meeting chair, who now rather reminds of me of Gary Oldman’s character in Slow Horses, mopped the sweat from his forehead with his necktie without appearing to be aware of what he was doing. Since then, that man has been my mental model of a USAID official.

    But why so exhausted, distracted and grumpy?

    Precisely because USAID is about the least freewheeling workplace one could construct. Certainly it is administratively independent, in the sense that it was created by an act of Congress, but it also receives its budget from the President and Congress — and that budget comes with so many strings attached, in the form of country- or issue-related “earmarks” or other directives that it might be logically impossible to allocate the funds as instructed.

    Some of these earmarks are broad and unsurprising (for example, specific allocations for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment under the Bush-era PEPFAR program) while others represent niche interests (Senator John McCain once ridiculed earmarks pertaining to “peanuts, orangutans, gorillas, neotropical raptors, tropical fish and exotic plants”) — but none originates within USAID.

    Informal earmarks calculation
    I recall seeing an informal calculation showing that one could only satisfy all the percentage-based earmarks by giving most of the dollars several quite different jobs to do. A 2002 DAC peer review noted with disapproval some 270 earmarks or other directive provisions in aid legislation; by the time of the most recent peer review in 2022, this number was more like 700.

    Related in part to this congressional micro-management of its budget — along with the usual distrust of organisations that “send” money overseas — USAID labours under particularly gruelling accountability and reporting requirements.

    Andew Natsios — a former USAID Administrator and lifelong Republican who has recently come to USAID’s defence (albeit with arguments that not everybody would deem helpful) — wrote about this in 2010. In terms reminiscent of current events, he described the reign of terror of Lieutenant-General Herbert Beckington, a former Marine Corps officer who led USAID‘s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) from 1977 to 1994.

    He was a powerful iconic figure in Washington, and his influence over the structure of the foreign aid programME remains with USAID today. … Known as “The General” at USAID, Beckington was both feared and despised by career officers. Once referred to by USAID employees as “the agency’s J. Edgar Hoover — suspicious, vindictive, eager to think the worst” …

    At one point, he told the Washington Post that USAID’s white-collar crime rate was “higher than that of downtown Detroit.” … In a seminal moment in this clash between OIG and USAID, photographs were published of two senior officers who had been accused of some transgression being taken away in handcuffs by the IG investigators for prosecution, a scene that sent a broad chill through the career staff and, more than any other single event, forced a redirection of aid practice toward compliance.

    Labyrinthine accountability systems
    On top of the burdens of logically impossible programming and labyrinthine accountability systems is the burden of projecting American generosity. As far as humanly possible, and perhaps a little further, ways must be found of ensuring that American aid is sourced from American institutions, farms or factories and, if it is in the form of commodities, that it is transported on American vessels.

    Failing that, there must be American flags. I remember a USAID officer stationed in Banda Aceh after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami spending a non-trivial amount of his time seeking to attach sizeable flags to the front of trucks transporting US (but also non-US) emergency supplies around the province of Aceh.

    President Trump’s adviser Stephen Miller has somehow determined to his own satisfaction that the great majority (in fact 98 percent) of USAID personnel are donors to the Democratic Party. Whether or not that is true, let alone relevant, Democrat administrations have arguably been no kinder to USAID than Republican ones over the years.

    Natsios, in the piece cited above, notes that The General was installed under Carter, who ran on anti-Washington ticket, and that there were savage cuts — over 400 positions — to USAID senior career service staffing under Clinton. USAID gets battered no matter which way the wind blows.

    Which brings me back to necktie guy. It has always seemed to me that the platonic form of a USAID officer, while perhaps more likely than not to vote Democrat, is a tired and dispirited person, weary of politicians of all stripes, bowed under his or her burdens, bound to a desk and straitjacketed by accountability requirements, regularly buffeted by new priorities and abrupt restructures, and put upon by the ignorant and suspicious.

    Radical-left Marxists and vipers probably wouldn’t tolerate such an existence for long. Who would? I guess it’s either thieves and money-launderers or battle-scarred professionals intent on doing a decent job against tall odds.

    Robin Davies is an honorary professor at the Australian National University’s (ANU) Crawford School of Public Policy and managing editor of the Devpolicy Blog. He previously held senior positions at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and AusAID.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP requires $16.9 billion in 2025 as hunger reaches alarming highs

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Humanitarian Aid

    The World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday called for some $16.9 billion to address the escalating global hunger crisis – or roughly what the world spends on coffee in just two weeks.

    This call follows the release of the agency’s Global Outlook 2025, which assesses global food security needs.

    According to WFP, hunger continues to rise, with 343 million people across 74 countries experiencing acute food insecurity – a 10 per cent increase from last year.

    This includes 1.9 million people who are on the brink of famine, with catastrophic hunger recorded in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.

    Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director, described the gravity of the situation: “Global humanitarian needs are rising, fuelled by devastating conflicts, more frequent climate disasters, and extensive economic turmoil. Yet funding is failing to keep pace.”

    Funding shortfalls in 2024 forced WFP to scale back activities, often leaving some of the most vulnerable behind. 

    Sub-Saharan Africa, ground zero

    In Sub-Saharan Africa, over 170 million people face acute hunger, making the continent the focus of half of WFP’s funding needs for 2025.

    Conflict in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel, combined with climate extremes exacerbated by El Niño, has deepened the crisis.

    Humanitarian operations are under significant strain, with rising displacement and reduced access to essential resources creating further challenges. 

    © UNRWA

    Children queue for food in Gaza.

    Dire hunger in the Middle East

    The Middle East is witnessing alarming levels of food insecurity, with Gaza, Syria, and Yemen among the hardest-hit regions.

    In Gaza, 91 per cent of the population is acutely food insecure, and 16 per cent are living under catastrophic conditions.

    Syria and Yemen face similar challenges, with millions dependent on food assistance amid ongoing conflict.

    Asia and Pacific suffer climate shocks

    In Asia and the Pacific, 88 million people are struggling with hunger caused by climate-related disasters.

    The region’s vulnerabilities have been compounded by extreme weather events, which have disrupted food systems and livelihoods.

    WFP plans to enhance social protection systems and anticipatory action to mitigate the effects of these crises.

    © CAPAC/Jean Valder Presume

    WFP distributes hot food to Haitians in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

    Urgent support needed in Latin America  

    Latin America and the Caribbean are also severely affected, with over 40 million people food insecure and 14.2 million identified as needing immediate assistance.

    WFP’s focus in the region includes strengthening food systems, building climate resilience, and supporting social protection programmes to stabilise vulnerable communities and prevent further deterioration. 

    A global call to action

    The $16.9 billion funding would allow the organization to feed 123 million of the hungriest people globally in 2025.

    “At WFP, we are dedicated to achieving a world without hunger. But to get there, we urgently need financial and diplomatic support from the international community to reverse the rising tide of global needs and help vulnerable communities build long-term resilience against food insecurity,” Ms. McCain emphasised.

    In 2025, WFP will continue prioritising and adapting its responses to each country’s specific needs and aligning its capabilities and resources to deliver high-quality programmes, the agency concluded.

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: COP29 gets boost from Rio as G20 leaders back scaling up climate finance from ‘billions to trillions’

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    The high-level diplomatic push for climate action shifted southward on Tuesday as G20 leaders meeting in Rio sent a clear signal to negotiating teams at stalled UN climate talks in Baku on the need to rapidly and substantially ‘scale up climate finance from billions to trillions from all sources.’

    While the statement from the world’s leading economies – and biggest emitters – stopped short of explicit reference of ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels’, to which all nations agreed last year at COP28 in Dubai, the G20 leaders did ‘welcome the balanced, ambitious outcome’ of those talks.

    The G20 communiqué comes as the clock ticks down on COP29, which is set to wrap up this Friday in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku. The complex negotiations on new and significantly scaled-up funding for loss and damage and accelerated clean energy goals are moving slowly, as some countries dig into their positions while waiting for others to pull back from their own. 

    UN climate chief Simon Stiell who earlier warned against brinkmanship and what he called ‘you-first-ism’, said today that G20 leaders sent a clear message to their negotiators at COP29: “A successful new finance goal… is in every country’s clear interests.” 

    “Leaders of the world’s largest economies have also committed to driving forward financial reforms to put strong climate action within all countries’ reach,” said Mr. Stiell, who is the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which convenes that annual COP meetings.

    He added: “This is an essential signal in a world plagued by debt crises and spiraling climate impacts, which are wrecking lives, disrupting supply chains, and fueling inflation in every economy.”

    ‘Failure is not an option’

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is in Rio to participate in discussions on sustainable development the combat against poverty and hunger, as well as climate change, noted during a session earlier this morning that Brazil is set to host COP30 next year in the eastern Amazon region.

    “Failure [in Baku] is not an option. It might compromise the ambition in the preparation of the new national climate action plans, with potential devastating impacts as irreversible tipping points are getting closer. The preservation of the Amazon is a case in point,” he said.

    Missing the opportunity to reach agreement on a new climate finance deal in Baku “would inevitably also make the success of COP30 in Brazil much more difficult,” the Secretary-General said, and added: “I appeal to the sense of responsibility of all the countries around this table to help ensure that COP29 will be a success.” 

    Some climate and environment activists in Baku said they were cautiously optimistic about the communique, while others gave it a mixed verdict, saying the statement was vague on climate finance and failed to explicitly mention the need to transition away from fossil fuels.

    Harjeet Singh, a climate activist who is the Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, shared his views with UN News: “Developed nations remain unmoved, failing to quantify the trillions needed or to ensure these funds are provided as grants – essential for achieving climate justice.”

    He added: “Their rehashed rhetoric offers no solace for the fraught COP29 negotiations, where we continue to see a deadlock on climate finance.”

    Agrifood solutions

    Alongside the negotiations, dozens of meetings and events are underway COP29, with the bulk of today’s activities focused on agriculture, food security and water. Delegations from around world shared experiences on sustainable food production practices and addressed agriculture-related challenges.

    Just in time for COP29, new analysis from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has found that nearly all countries identify agrifood systems as a priority for climate change adaptation (94 per cent) and mitigation (91 per cent) in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

    According to the FAO, this highlights the tremendous potential of agrifood systems as climate solutions, especially as countries prepare to submit their third round of NDCs in 2025.

    “Agrifood systems are key to achieving food security and hold the solutions to multiple challenges: climate change, biodiversity, land degradation, and water scarcity,” FAO Assistant Director-General Viorel Gutu said, as climate change is a significant driver of food insecurity in a world where around 730 million people still live in hunger.

    He noted, “Unfortunately, current financing and investment are not sufficient to affect the transformation we need.” He added that, over the past two decades, funding for agrifood systems has declined from 37 per cent to 23 per cent of all climate-related development finance.

    While agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, if done right, the industry can also help overcome the climate crisis.

    Also spotlighting the importance of agriculture – for climate action and broader sustainable development efforts – was Jemimah Njuki, Chief of Economic Empowerment and Head of the Economics Division at UN Women

    In an interview with UN News, she called on governments to provide special support to women-led farms.

    “Without women, we will not be able to feed the world,” Ms. Njuki stressed. At the same time, she lamented that women are less likely than men to own the land they cultivate, and it is more difficult for them to secure loans to develop their businesses.

    It is not only women who are affected but also other vulnerable groups, such as Indigenous peoples.

    Andrea Echiverri of the Global Forest Coalition, an international nongovernmental organization advocating for social and gender justice for rural communities, said that she believes current agricultural practices are destructive to the environment.

    “Take livestock, for example, which requires more and more pasture, meaning forests continue to be cut down, and Indigenous peoples are being expelled from their lands,” Ms. Echiverri said.

    Governments, she emphasized, do not pay enough attention to the sustainability of livestock farming, although this industry accounts for about 16 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions and 15 per cent of all fossil fuels consumed.

    UN News

    View of Azerbaijan’s capital Baku from the Caspian Sea

    Action on Water

    Elsewhere in the giant Baku Stadium complex where COP29 has been running since last Monday, water-related challenges were in the spotlight at a panel discussion where experts and participants stressed that floods, droughts, shrinking water sources, and rising water levels threaten the well-being of populations, provoke forced displacement, and undermine food security.

    For example, in countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, glaciers are shrinking rapidly, threatening long-term water supplies.

    “The climate knows no borders, and water knows no borders,” emphasized Sonja Koppel, Secretary of the UN Water Convention. “At the same time, water can be both the cause of conflict and the key to its resolution.”

    Speaking to UN News, she noted that 153 countries share water bodies with other nations, but only 28 per cent of them have agreements with their neighbors to cooperate most of their shared water resources. One successful example is the Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which have overcome differences and established cross-border cooperation on the Chu Talas River.

    Ms. Koppel called on countries to use water resources to establish peace with their neighbors and effectively manage shared natural resources.

    Formally the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, the treaty is a unique international legal instrument and intergovernmental platform which aims to ensure the sustainable use of transboundary water resources by facilitating cooperation. Initially negotiated as a regional instrument, it has been opened for accession to all UN Member States in 2016.

    Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of COP29, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Surveys

    Source: Privacy Commissioner

    2024 biennial survey on privacyMedia release:  Digital revolution drives concerns for New Zealanders: UMR survey results.

    APPA Privacy Awareness Week 2011 social media survey

    View the English language survey results and the English language redacted comments of the survey from the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities social media survey.

    View the Spanish language survey results.

    View the Chinese language survey results.

    View the Korean language survey results.

    International Disclosures and Overseas Information and Communication Technologies Survey

    Results in this survey showed that a large number of respondents that send information overseas do not check the overseas organisations’ use and management of the information.

    The issue of ‘cloud computing’ clearly has major benefits for businesses and government agencies but it also carries some risks.

    This survey has found that both the private and public sectors need guidance in this area. While most of the organisations have controls to protect the security of personal information in transit, some have no control over what happens once the information is sent overseas or don’t know if they have controls.

    Media release.

    View the full report.

    May 2011.

    Privacy survey 2010

    Results in this report are based upon questions asked in the UMR Research nation-wide omnibus survey. This is a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 750 New Zealanders 18 years of age and over.

    Fieldwork was conducted from 18th to 23rd March 2010 at UMR Research’s national interview facility in Auckland.

    Media release

    View the 26 page report.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla of the Kingdom of Eswatini

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-02-08
    Presidential Office thanks US and Japan for joint leaders’ statement
    On February 7 (US EST), President Donald Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru of Japan issued a joint leaders’ statement reiterating “the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community.” In the statement, the two leaders also “encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion” and “expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.” Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) on February 8 expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the Presidential Office to the leaders of both countries for taking concrete action to demonstrate their firm support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and for Taiwan’s international participation. Spokesperson Kuo pointed out that there is already a strong international consensus on the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, is capable and willing to work together with the international community and will continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities as it deepens its trilateral security partnership with the US and Japan and works alongside like-minded countries to uphold the rules-based international order. The spokesperson said that Taiwan will work toward ensuring a free and open Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region, as well as global peace, stability, and prosperity, as it continues to act as a force for good in the world.

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    2025-02-08
    President Lai’s response to Pope Francis’s 2025 World Day of Peace message  
    President Lai Ching-te recently sent a letter to Pope Francis of the Catholic Church in response to his message marking the 58th World Day of Peace. The following is the full text of the president’s letter to the pope: Your Holiness, In your message for the 2025 World Day of Peace entitled Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace, you called for a cultural change that would bring an end to the governance of interpersonal and international relations by a logic of exploitation and oppression and herald true and lasting peace. I wholeheartedly admire and identify with your point of view. Since transitioning from a medical career to politics, I have remained true to my original intentions in the sense that, while a doctor can help only one person at a time, a public servant can simultaneously assist many people in resolving the difficulties affecting their lives. In my inaugural address in May 2024, I pledged that every day of my term, I would strive to act justly, show mercy, and be humble, which accord with the teachings of the Bible. I promised to treat the Taiwanese people as family and prove myself worthy of their trust and expectations. With an unwavering heart, I have accepted the people’s trust and taken on the solemn responsibility of leading the nation forward and building a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous new Taiwan. In this new year, the changing international landscape continues to present many grave challenges to democratic nations around the world. As the Russia-Ukraine war persists, the steady convergence of authoritarian regimes, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, threatens the rules-based international order and severely impacts peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and the world at large. Your Holiness has stated that war is a defeat for everyone. I, too, firmly believe that peace is priceless and that war has no winners. A high level of consensus has formed in the international community on upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese people also maintain an unyielding commitment to safeguarding a way of life that encompasses freedom, equality, democracy, and human rights. Taiwan will continue to spare no effort in preserving regional peace and stability and serving as a pilot for global peace. In your World Day of Peace message, you urged prosperous countries to assist poorer ones. This compassion is truly touching. Taiwan is proactively implementing values-based diplomacy and, under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, enhancing allies’ development through a range of initiatives. Over many years, Taiwan has accumulated abundant and unique experience of providing foreign assistance. Seeking to foster self-reliance among disadvantaged countries, we have extended genuine support to help alleviate poverty through such avenues as strengthening basic infrastructure, transferring technology, and cultivating talent. In your message, you reminded countries worldwide that assistance should not be merely an isolated act of charity and pointed to the need to devise a new global financial framework so that food crises, climate change, and other challenges could be jointly addressed. I hold this view in high regard. I therefore earnestly hope that international organizations will stop excluding Taiwan for political reasons. Taiwan is willing to shoulder its international responsibilities so that it can contribute and share its valuable experience through many global platforms.  On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I again express our interest in collaborating with the Holy See to advance world peace through concrete action. We also aspire to demonstrate Taiwanese values and the Taiwanese spirit and work together with the Holy See to uphold the core values of justice, democracy, freedom, and peace.  Please accept, Your Holiness, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration, as well as my best wishes for your good health and the continued growth of the Catholic Church.

    Details
    2025-02-08
    President Lai meets former US Vice President Mike Pence
    On the afternoon of January 17, President Lai Ching-te met with former Vice President of the United States Mike Pence. In remarks, President Lai thanked former Vice President Pence for his contributions to the deepening of Taiwan-US relations, noting that he actively helped to strengthen Taiwan-US cooperation and facilitate the normalization of military sales to Taiwan, and did his utmost to deepen the Taiwan-US economic partnership. The president indicated that former Vice President Pence also spoke up for Taiwan on numerous occasions at international venues, backing Taiwan’s international participation. President Lai expressed hope for a stronger Taiwan-US partnership to maintain peace and stability throughout the world, and that the two sides can advance bilateral exchanges in such areas as the economy, trade, and industry. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to welcome former Vice President Pence and Mrs. Karen Pence to the Presidential Office. Former Vice President Pence is not only an outstanding political leader in the US, but also a staunch supporter of Taiwan on the international stage. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest gratitude to former Vice President Pence for his contributions to the deepening of Taiwan-US relations. Thanks to former Vice President Pence’s strong backing, ties between Taiwan and the US rose to unprecedented heights during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Former Vice President Pence actively helped to strengthen Taiwan-US security cooperation and facilitate the normalization of military sales to Taiwan, helping Taiwan reinforce its self-defense capabilities. He also did his utmost to deepen the Taiwan-US economic partnership. Former Vice President Pence also paid close attention to the military threats and diplomatic isolation faced by Taiwan. He spoke up for Taiwan on numerous occasions at international venues, taking concrete action to back Taiwan’s international participation. We were truly grateful for this. As we speak, China’s political and military intimidation against Taiwan persist. China and other authoritarian regimes, such as Russia, North Korea, and Iran, are continuing to converge and present serious challenges to democracies around the globe. At this moment, free and democratic nations must come together to bolster cooperation. I believe that a stronger Taiwan-US partnership can be an even more powerful force in maintaining peace and stability throughout the world. Former Vice President Pence has previously supported the signing of a trade agreement between Taiwan and the US. Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the new US administration and Congress to advance bilateral exchanges in such areas as the economy, trade, and industry. This is the first time that former Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence are visiting Taiwan, and their visit is significantly meaningful for Taiwan-US exchanges. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to extend a warm welcome. Moving forward, I hope we will jointly realize even more fruitful achievements through Taiwan-US cooperation. Former Vice President Pence then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for his hospitality on his and his wife’s first visit to Taiwan, saying that it is an honor to be here to reaffirm the bonds of friendship between the people of America and the people of Taiwan, which are strong and longstanding. The former vice president indicated that the American people admire the people of Taiwan and all that has been accomplished in a few short decades for Taiwan to rise to one of the world’s preeminent economic powers and free societies. He said that he is grateful for President Lai’s courageous and bold leadership of Taiwan, and grateful to be able to express the support of the overwhelming majority of the American people for this alliance. Former Vice President Pence indicated that the values shared by Taiwan and the US, including freedom, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, bind us together in a partnership that transcends geographic boundaries and cultures. He then assured President Lai that China’s increasingly aggressive posture in the Taiwan Strait and across the Indo-Pacific, for the values and interests that both sides share, is deeply concerning to the American people. Former Vice President Pence stated that America is a Pacific nation, and is committed to the status quo, adding that they recognize it is China that wants to change the status quo that America, Taiwan, and other allies in the region want to preserve, which has created an environment of extraordinary growth and prosperity. The former vice president concluded by once again thanking President Lai and his team for their gracious hospitality and conveying best wishes to him and the people of Taiwan. Former Vice President Pence then assured President Lai that just as Taiwan will never surrender its freedom, he will continue to be a voice for a strong US-Taiwan relationship in the defense and the benefit of Taiwan, the US, and the free world. Later that day, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao hosted a banquet for former Vice President Pence and his delegation at Taipei Guest House to thank him for his longstanding friendship and staunch support for Taiwan-US ties.  

    Details
    2025-02-08
    President Lai meets delegation to 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of US president and vice president
    On the morning of January 16, President Lai Ching-te met with Taiwan’s delegation to the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. In remarks, President Lai stated that democratic Taiwan stands united, working hard to deepen Taiwan-US ties together. He then entrusted the delegation with three missions: to convey best wishes from the people of Taiwan, convey our firm commitment to democracy, and help Taiwan-US relations reach a new milestone. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: The 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the US will be held on January 20. I want to thank Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), president of the Legislative Yuan, for accepting my invitation to lead our nation’s representative delegation to the event. I also thank Legislative Yuan Members Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), Ko Ju-chun (葛如鈞), Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀), Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), Kuo Yu-ching (郭昱晴), and Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) for joining this visit to the US to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. We have gathered together today despite differences in party affiliation because in democratic Taiwan, while parties may compete domestically, when it comes to engagement externally, they stand united and share responsibility, working hard to deepen Taiwan-US ties and strive for the best interests of the nation. We share the value of defending freedom and democracy, and we share the goal of advancing peace and prosperity. Today, we engage with the world together as those from the same country – the Republic of China (Taiwan). In this complex and volatile new international landscape, and as the nation faces difficulties and challenges, I want to stress that in Formosa, there is no hostility that cannot be let go, and no hardship that cannot be overcome. Unity is the most important, and I hope that Taiwan can stand united, because there is true strength in unity. Democratic Taiwan must stand united in engaging with the world and initiate exchanges with confidence. On that ground, I am entrusting this delegation with three key missions. First, convey best wishes from the people of Taiwan. Just last year, Taiwan and the US celebrated the 45th anniversary of the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act. And on May 20, the US sent a senior bipartisan delegation to congratulate me and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao on our inauguration. As the leader of this cross-party delegation, Speaker Han must clearly convey the well-wishes of the people of Taiwan, congratulate President Trump and Vice President Vance on their inauguration, and wish success to the new administration and prosperity to the US. Second, clearly convey the firm commitment of the people of Taiwan to democracy. The theme of these inaugural ceremonies is “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise.” Taiwan and the US share the universal value of democracy and are staunch allies. I hope that the delegation can faithfully convey the firm commitment to democracy that the people of Taiwan have, which will not change even in the face of authoritarian threats. Taiwan is willing to stand side by side with the US and other members of the democratic community to defend the sustainable development of global democracy and prevent the expansion of authoritarianism. Third, help Taiwan-US relations reach a new milestone. In recent years, Taiwan-US relations have continued to grow, with the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st Century Trade having formally taken effect last month. This morning, the House of Representatives also passed the US-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act. I hope that the delegation can help Taiwan-US relations reach a new milestone through these exchanges so that our relations continue to grow, our cooperation expands even more, and so that we can achieve even greater success after the new administration takes office. Four years ago, Taiwan’s representative to the US inaugural ceremonies was Vice President Hsiao, who was then our representative to the US. Everyone has a lot to learn from her. I have specially invited everyone here to converse so that you can draw from Vice President Hsiao’s experience and ensure an even smoother visit. Washington, DC was also hit by a rare blizzard recently, and the weather has been very cold, so make sure to stay warm. I am sending everyone off with hand warmers and thermoses so that you can bring some warmth from Taiwan with you on your journey. And I ask that Speaker Han exercise his wisdom to help generate some warmth between the ruling and opposition parties through cooperation, which they can then bring back to Taiwan. Let us unite to give our all for diplomacy so that we can unite to give our all for Taiwan. I wish the delegation a smooth and safe trip, and hope your missions can be carried out successfully. Speaker Han then delivered remarks, stating that it was an honor to be invited by President Lai to organize a delegation to represent our nation at the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the US in Washington, DC, and express the Republic of China’s sincere and cordial best wishes. The Legislative Yuan’s president has assumed this important task numerous times in the past, he said, not only to represent the government of the Republic of China, but also to take on the mission of conveying the voices of 23 million people. He went on to say that he is honored to take up the baton, lead eight legislators to the US to attend this celebration that will attract global attention, and express sincere best wishes to newly elected President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the new administration’s team. As enjoined by President Lai, he hopes the delegation’s trip will help open a new chapter in Taiwan-US exchanges. Speaker Han stated that the US is the most free and democratic country in the world. He noted that in 1776 in the US Declaration of Independence, founding father Thomas Jefferson propounded the concept of “unalienable rights,” and emphasized that the people have a right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness, democratic ideas that have long been rooted in the people’s hearts. Today, he said, democracy is also embedded in the DNA of Taiwan’s 23 million people, and this hard-won democratic achievement is a result of the concerted efforts of our pioneering predecessors, thinkers, and activists over the past 100 years. Speaker Han stated that during this visit, the Legislative Yuan delegation hopes to convey the voice of Taiwan as a democratic country. Taiwan’s security, he said, is like the four legs of a table: The first leg is defending the Republic of China, the second is defending freedom and democracy, the third is maintaining Taiwan-US relations, and the fourth is maintaining cross-strait peace. The delegation will travel to the US amidst severe cold weather to show that we value our relationship with the US, and our citizens have great hopes and expectations. Speaker Han stated that this will be a cross-party delegation of eight legislators, all of whom have a strong sense of mission. He hopes that all democratic nations will acknowledge Taiwan’s importance, and pay attention to Taiwan’s 23 million people. The delegation, he said, will do its utmost to convey the goodwill and warmth that the people of Taiwan give to each and every one of our good friends.

    Details
    2025-02-08
    President Lai confers decoration on former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis
    On the morning of January 14, President Lai Ching-te conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon upon former Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis of the Republic of Lithuania in recognition of his remarkable contributions to deepening Taiwan-Lithuania relations. In remarks, President Lai thanked former Minister Landsbergis for standing firmly with Taiwan and remaining a staunch defender of democratic values, yielding fruitful cooperative results. The president expressed hope that the two countries will engage in even more cooperation and exchanges in such areas as the economy, trade, technology, and culture, and continue to advocate for the values of freedom and democracy so that together we can contribute even more to our nations’ development and to peace and prosperity throughout the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, by conferring the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon upon former Minister Landsbergis, we recognize his outstanding contributions during his time as foreign minister of Lithuania. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I thank him for the key role he has played in deepening Taiwan-Lithuania relations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the efforts of former Minister Landsbergis, Lithuania was the first European nation to donate vaccines to Taiwan. On that occasion, he stated that “freedom-loving people should look out for each other.” His statement was very moving and left a deep impression on many Taiwanese people. We will never forget it. Former Minister Landsbergis has continued to express the spirit of those words through his concrete actions. With his staunch support, Taiwan and Lithuania have mutually established representative offices. Moreover, our representative office in Lithuania was the first in Europe to incorporate “Taiwan” in its name. As for bilateral cooperation, Taiwan and Lithuania have seen fruitful results in such fields as semiconductors, laser technology, finance, and medicine. Be it overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic or resisting expanding authoritarianism, former Minister Landsbergis has stood firmly with Taiwan and remained a staunch defender of democratic values. We greatly admire and appreciate his spirit. Today, authoritarian regimes continue to converge, posing threats and challenges to democracies around the world. Taiwan, Lithuania, and other democratic countries must come closer together, drawing on the strength of unity, so as to jointly safeguard freedom and democracy and uphold the rules-based international order. Looking ahead, we hope that Taiwan and Lithuania will engage in even more cooperation and exchanges in such areas as the economy, trade, technology, and culture. Let us continue to advocate for the values of freedom and democracy. Together, we can contribute even more to our nations’ development and to peace and prosperity throughout the world. In closing, I once again thank you, former Minister Landsbergis, for your support and for all that you have done for Taiwan. We welcome you and your wife to visit often. I wish you both a smooth and successful visit in Taiwan, and hope you leave with lasting memories.    Former Minister Landsbergis then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor to receive the decoration today. He noted that only partially can he accept the honor, as there have been many people who worked together with him in the ministry and in the whole country who support the people of Taiwan and see the benefit of supporting democracy in Taiwan. He often says that in Lithuania they remember well the fight for their freedom, and just today, he mentioned, he was shown the permanent exhibition in the Presidential Office, where he saw similar pictures of Taiwanese people fighting for democracy. He emphasized that not even one generation has passed since these events took place here in Taipei or similar events took place in Vilnius. Former Minister Landsbergis said that decision-makers in the Lithuanian government are either people who were themselves fighting for freedom, or, as in his case, those who were sitting on the shoulders of parents who were fighting for freedom. So for them, he underlined, freedom, democracy, liberty, and sovereignty are very real concepts that they cherish, not just things read about in a history book. He said that this is the main connector between Lithuania and Taiwan, a feeling of freedom and support for each other. Former Minister Landsbergis stated that in the face of authoritarians who do not wish us prosperity, who do not wish us freedom and future achievements, what he expects from the future is that the friendship, collaboration, and mutual support between Lithuania and Taiwan will inspire others to join in. This, he said, will make other countries not be afraid to support freedom and democracy, and will allow our group of friends to continue to grow. Lithuanian history, the former minister said, is difficult, and a big part of it was fighting for their freedom. He explained that during the 19th century when Lithuania was part of Russia’s empire, they had several revolutions and uprisings with the aim of becoming free, and that they were fighting for that freedom alongside Poland and Belarus. He then applied a phrase that they used in the revolution of 1864 – “for your freedom and ours,” meaning that they will continue to fight for their freedom while helping Taiwan fight for ours. Also in attendance at the ceremony were former Minister Landsbergis’ wife Dr. Austėja Landsbergienė and Lithuanian Representative to Taiwan Paulius Lukauskas.

    Details
    2025-01-01
    President Lai delivers 2025 New Year’s Address
    On the morning of January 1, President Lai Ching-te delivered his 2025 New Year’s Address, titled “Bolstering National Strength through Democracy to Enter a New Global Landscape,” in the Reception Hall of the Presidential Office. President Lai stated that today’s Taiwan is receiving international recognition for its performance in many areas, among them democracy, technology, and economy. In this new year, he said, Taiwan must be united, and we must continue on the right course. The president expressed hope that everyone in the central and local governments, regardless of party, can work hard together, allowing Taiwan sure footing as it strides forward toward ever greater achievements.  President Lai emphasized that in 2025, we must keep firm on the path of democracy, continue to bolster our national strength, make Taiwan more economically resilient, enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies, and continue working toward a Balanced Taiwan and generational justice, ensuring that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people. The president said that Taiwan will keep going strong, and we will keep walking tall as we enter the new global landscape. A translation of President Lai’s address follows: Today is the first day of 2025. With a new year comes new beginnings. I wish that Taiwan enjoys peace, prosperity, and success, and that our people lead happy lives. Taiwan truly finished 2024 strong. Though there were many challenges, there were also many triumphs. We withstood earthquakes and typhoons, and stood firm in the face of constant challenges posed by authoritarianism. We also shared glory as Taiwan won the Premier12 baseball championship, and now Taiwanese people around the world are all familiar with the gesture for Team Taiwan. At the Paris Olympics, Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and Lee Yang (李洋) clinched another gold in men’s doubles badminton. Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) took home Taiwan’s first Olympic gold in boxing. At the International Junior Science Olympiad, every student in our delegation of six won a gold medal. And Yang Shuang-zi’s (楊双子) novel Taiwan Travelogue, translated into English by King Lin (金翎), became a United States National Book Award winner and a tour de force of Taiwan literature on the international level. Our heroes of Taiwan are defined by neither age nor discipline. They have taken home top prizes at international competitions and set new records. They tell Taiwan’s story through their outstanding performances, letting the world see the spirit and culture of Taiwan, and filling all our citizens with pride. My fellow citizens, we have stood together through thick and thin; we have shared our ups and downs. We have wept together, and we have laughed together. We are all one family, all members of Team Taiwan. I want to thank each of our citizens for their dedication, fueling Taiwan’s progress and bringing our nation glory. You have given Taiwan even greater strength to stand out on the global stage. In this new year, we must continue bringing Taiwan’s stories to the world, and make Taiwan’s successes a force for global progress. In 2025, the world will be entering a new landscape. Last year, over 70 countries held elections, and the will of the people has changed with the times. As many countries turn new pages politically, and in the midst of rapid international developments, Taiwan must continue marching forward with steady strides. First, we must keep firm on the path of democracy. Taiwan made it through a dark age of authoritarianism and has since become a glorious beacon of democracy in Asia. This was achieved through the sacrifices of our democratic forebears and the joint efforts of all our citizens. Democracy’s value to Taiwan lies not just in our free way of life, or in the force driving the diverse and vigorous growth of our society. Democracy is the brand that has earned us international trust in terms of diplomacy. No matter the threat or challenge Taiwan may face, democracy is Taiwan’s only path forward. We will not turn back. Domestic competition among political parties is a part of democracy. But domestic political disputes must be resolved democratically, within the constitutional system. This is the only way democracy can continue to grow. The Executive Yuan has the right to request a reconsideration of the controversial bills passed in the Legislative Yuan, giving it room for reexamination. Constitutional institutions can also lodge a petition for a constitutional interpretation, and through Constitutional Court adjudication, ensure a separation of powers, safeguard constitutional order, and gradually consolidate the constitutional system. The people also have the right of election, recall, initiative, and referendum, and can bring together even greater democratic power to show the true meaning of sovereignty in the hands of the people. In this new year, the changing international landscape will present democratic nations around the world with many grave challenges. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflict between Israel and Hamas rage on, and we are seeing the continued convergence of authoritarian regimes including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, threatening the rules-based international order and severely affecting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the world at large. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. Taiwan needs to prepare for danger in times of peace. We must continue increasing our national defense budget, bolster our national defense capabilities, and show our determination to protect our country. Everyone has a responsibility to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy and security. We must gather together every bit of strength we have to enhance whole-of-society defense resilience, and build capabilities to respond to major disasters and deter threats or encroachment. We must also strengthen communication with society to combat information and cognitive warfare, so that the populace rejects threats and enticements and jointly guards against malicious infiltration by external forces. Here at home, we must consolidate democracy with democracy. Internationally, we must make friends worldwide through democracy. This is how we will ensure security and peace. The more secure Taiwan, the more secure the world. The more resilient Taiwan, the sounder the defense of global democracy. The global democratic community should work even closer together to support the democratic umbrella as we seek ways to resolve the war in Ukraine and conflict between Israel and Hamas. Together, we must uphold stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific, and achieve our goal of global peace. Second, we must continue to bolster our national strength, make Taiwan more economically resilient, and enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies. In the first half of 2024, growth in the Taiwan Stock Index was the highest in the world. Our economic growth rate for the year as a whole is expected to reach 4.2 percent, leading among the Four Asian Tigers. Domestic investment is soaring, having exceeded NT$5 trillion, and inflation is gradually stabilizing. Export orders from January to November totaled US$536.6 billion, up 3.7 percent from the same period in 2023. And compared over the same period, exports saw a 9.9 percent increase, reaching US$431.5 billion. Recent surveys also show that in 2024, the average increase in salaries at companies was higher than that in 2023. Additionally, over 90 percent of companies plan to raise salaries this year, which is an eight-year high. All signs indicate that Taiwan’s economic climate continues to recover, and that our economy is growing steadily. Our overall economic performance is impressive; still, we must continue to pay attention to the impact on Taiwan’s industries from the changing geopolitical landscape, uncertainties in the global economic environment, and dumping by the “red supply chain.”  For a nation, all sectors and professions are equally important; only when all our industries are strong can Taiwan be strong as a nation. Our micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the lifeblood of Taiwan, and the development of our various industrial parks has given Taiwan the impetus for our prosperity. We must carry the spirit of “Made in Taiwan” forward, bringing it to ever greater heights. Thus, beyond just developing our high-tech industry, our Executive Yuan has already proposed a solution that will help traditional industries and MSMEs comprehensively adopt technology applications, engage in the digital and net-zero twin transition, and develop channels, all for better operational structures and higher productivity. Taiwan must continue enhancing its economic resilience. In recent years, Taiwan has significantly increased its investments in the US, Japan, Europe, and the New Southbound countries, and such investment has already surpassed investment in China. This indicates that our efforts in diversifying markets and reducing reliance on any single market are working. Moving forward, we must keep providing assistance so that Taiwan industries can expand their global presence and market internationally from a solid base here in Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan must use democracy to promote economic growth with the rest of the world. We must leverage our strengths in the semiconductor and AI industries. We must link with democratic countries so that we can together enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies. And through international cooperation across many sectors, such as UAVs, low-orbit communications satellites, robots, military, security and surveillance, or biopharmaceuticals, renewable energy technology, new agriculture, and the circular economy, we must keep abreast of the latest cutting-edge technology and promote diverse development. This approach will help Taiwan remain a leader in advancing global democratic supply chains, ensuring their security and stability. Third, we must continue working toward a Balanced Taiwan and generational justice, ensuring that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people. Democracy means the people have the final say. Our nation belongs to all 23 million of us, without regard for ethnic group, generation, political party, or whether we live in urban or rural areas. In this new year, we must continue to pursue policies that promote the well-being of the nation and the people. But to that end, the central government needs adequate financial resources to ensure that it can enact each of these measures. Therefore, I hope that the ruling and opposition parties can each soberly reconsider the amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures and find a path forward that ensures the lasting peace and stability of our country. For nine consecutive years, the minimum wage has continued to rise. Effective today, the minimum monthly salary is being raised from NT$27,470 to NT$28,590, and the hourly salary from NT$183 to NT$190. We hope by raising the pay for military personnel, civil servants, and educators for two consecutive years, coupled with benefits through wage increases and tax reductions, that private businesses will also raise wages, allowing all our people to enjoy the fruits of our economic growth. I know that everyone wants to pay lower taxes and rent. This year, we will continue to promote tax reductions. For example, unmarried individuals with an annual income of NT$446,000 or less can be exempt from paying income tax. Dual-income families with an annual income of NT$892,000 or less and dual-income families with two children aged six or younger with an annual income of NT$1,461,000 or less are also exempt from paying income tax. Additionally, the number of rent-subsidized housing units will also be increased, from 500,000 to 750,000 units, helping lighten the load for everyone. This year, the age eligibility for claiming Culture Points has been lowered from 16 to 13 years, so that now young people aged between 13 and 22 can receive government support for experiencing more in the arts. Also, our Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative is about to take effect, which will help more young people in Taiwan realize their dreams by taking part in education and exchange activities in many places around the world. We are also in the process of establishing a sports ministry to help young athletes achieve their dreams on the field, court, and beyond. The ministry will also be active in developing various sports industries and bringing sports and athletics more into the lives of the people, making our people healthier as a result. This year, as Taiwan becomes a “super-aged society,” we will launch our Long-term Care 3.0 Plan to provide better all-around care for our seniors. And we will expand the scope of cancer screening eligibility and services, all aimed at creating a Healthy Taiwan. In addition, Taiwan will officially begin collecting fees for its carbon fee system today. This brings us closer in line with global practices and helps us along the path to our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. We will also continue on the path to achieving a Balanced Taiwan. Last month, the Executive Yuan launched the Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan and its six major regional flagship projects. Both of these initiatives will continue to expand the investment in our public infrastructure and the development of local specialty industries, narrowing urban-rural and wealth gaps so that all our people can live and work in peace and happiness. My fellow citizens, today’s Taiwan is receiving international recognition for its performance in many areas, among them democracy, technology, and economy. This tells us that national development is moving in the right direction. In this new year, Taiwan must be united, and we must continue on the right course. We hope that everyone in the central and local governments, regardless of party, can work hard together to ensure that national policies are successfully implemented, with the people’s well-being as our top priority. This will allow Taiwan sure footing as it strides forward toward ever greater achievements. In this new year, we have many more brilliant stories of Taiwan to share with the world, inspiring all Taiwanese, both here and around the world, to cheer time and again for the glory of Taiwan. Taiwan will keep going strong. And we will keep walking tall as we enter the new global landscape. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: India’s Green Hydrogen Review and Perspective

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    As a global leader in renewable energy, India is transitioning from fossil fuel-based hydrogen to green hydrogen, driven by technological advancements, cost reductions, and supportive policies. Initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Green Hydrogen Policy aim to establish India as a global hub, targeting an annual production of 5 million metric tons by 2030. The strategy emphasizes investments in indigenous technologies, pilot projects, and infrastructure to boost domestic demand and production. However, significant challenges remain in scaling up green hydrogen production. These include high capital expenditures for electrolyzers, gaps in transportation and storage technologies, and material dependencies. While alkaline electrolysis systems are not expected to face long-term material constraints, they still require substantial quantities of steel, nickel, and copper per megawatt. India’s dependence on imported nickel could disrupt supply chains even for these systems. To address these challenges, collaboration between the government, public enterprises, and the private sector is essential for building a sustainable green hydrogen ecosystem. By 2030, India’s investment in green hydrogen and its ammonia capacity is estimated to reach approximately $34.0 billion, with $9.3 billion (27%) from government-owned enterprises and $24.8 billion (73%) from major private companies, based on their current investment plans. This investment is projected to achieve a green hydrogen and green ammonia capacity of over 10 million metric tons by 2030, doubling the government’s target. While economic analysis shows that green hydrogen projects can be viable in accordance with the Asian Development Bank’s economic analysis guideline, financial analysis underscores the need for financing mechanisms—such as public funding, guaranteed pricing, and operational support—to make projects more competitive and attract investment. In particular, concessional funding will play a key role in mitigating risk and attracting initial investments. Additionally, a unified policy approach must address the development of infrastructure and foster collaboration across multiple stakeholders. Given the scarcity of key raw materials for electrolyzers, such as iridium and platinum, exploring alternative options like anion exchange membrane electrolyzers could be strategically significant for scaling up production. International partnerships for green hydrogen exports will also be important to support expansion on a large scale.

    WORKING PAPER 1491

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Are Natural Disasters Disastrous for Education? Evidence from Seven Asian Countries

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    We estimate natural-disaster impacts on children’s school enrollments and math skills and test for impact heterogeneities with respect to age and gender in seven countries in Asia and the Pacific, which is the world’s most disaster-prone region. We link survey data on children aged 5 to 17 to time- and geo-coded disaster variables. We create time-varying disaster exposures for each child for the first 1,000 days from conception, the most recent years, and the time in between. The results show significant negative effects of early life natural disaster exposures on enrollments and math skills; weaker or no effects of recent or mid-childhood disaster exposures; persistent negative effects of early life exposures on enrollments through school-going ages; and variable age patterns of the enrollment and learning effects of exposures across countries. Boys’ enrollments were more negatively affected by early life natural-disaster exposures, and girls’ math-test scores were more negatively affected by early life natural-disaster exposures.

    WORKING PAPER 1492

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s SME development index edges up in January

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People visit the 12th APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Technology Conference and Fair (APEC SMETC) in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, Nov. 10, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    An index tracking the development of China’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) edged up in January, data from an industry association showed Tuesday.

    The SME development index rose by 0.1 points to 89.0, compared to the previous month, the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises data showed.

    Six of the eight sub-indices rallied in January, including market, labor and investment, according to the association.

    In terms of sectors, sub-indices for the industry, transport, real estate, wholesale and retail sales, social service, and information transmission software sectors grew by 0.1, 0.4, 0.2, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.3 points, respectively.

    In terms of regions, the sub-indices for the east, west and northeast regions stood at 89.7, 88.1 and 81.0, up 0.1, 0.3 and 0.3 points, respectively. The sub-index for the central region was 89.9, equivalent to the previous month.

    In China, more than 90 percent of private companies are SMEs, and more than 90 percent of SMEs are private companies.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Trailblazing women win top UNHCR award for life-changing work

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Migrants and Refugees

    Five trailblazing women – a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness – have been named the winners of this year’s UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.

    This year’s global laureate for the UN refugee agency award, Sister Rosita Milesi, is a Brazilian nun, lawyer, social worker and movement builder who has championed the rights and dignity of people on the move for nearly 40 years. The four others have been named regional winners.

    “All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” said UNHCR Filippo Grandi.

    “But these five winners show how women are also playing a critical role in the humanitarian response and in finding solutions,” he underscored.

    Mr. Grandi praised their dedication to driving action in their own communities, building grassroots support and even shaping national policies.

    Sister Rosita has personally assisted thousands who have either been forced from the homes or gone in search of new opportunities – helping them access legal documentation, shelter, food, healthcare, language training and access to the labour market in Brazil.

    As a lawyer, she has also been instrumental in shaping public policy, the refugee agency said. 

    Her work on Brazil’s 1997 refugee law, for example, helped to amplify refugee rights in line with the 1984 Cartagena Refugee Declaration, ensure that it does more to protect, include and empower people forced on the move within the Central America region, in line with international standards.

    Life of dedication

    “I decided to dedicate myself to migrants and refugees. I’m inspired by the growing need to help, to welcome, and to integrate refugees,” said Sister Rosita, aged 79.

    “I’m not afraid to act, even if we don’t achieve everything we want to. If I take something on, I will turn the world upside down to make it happen,” she added.

    Regional winners

    Maimouna Ba, the regional winner from Africa this year, is an activist from Burkina Faso. She has helped more than 100 displaced children return to the classroom and put over 400 displaced women on a path to financial independence.

    Meanwhile, Jin Davod, the winner from Europe, drew on her own experience as a Syrian refugee to build an online platform that has connected thousands of trauma survivors with licensed therapists providing free mental health support.

    Sudanese refugee Nada Fadol, the winner from the Middle East and North Africa region, has mobilized essential aid for hundreds of refugee families fleeing to Egypt in search of safety.

    Lastly, Deepti Gurung, the winner from the Asia-Pacific region, campaigned to reform Nepal’s citizenship laws after learning that her two daughters had become stateless – opening a path to citizenship for them and thousands more in similar straits.

    The people of Moldova will also receive honourable mention for acting as a beacon of humanity. Setting aside their own economic challenges, they rapidly transformed schools, community spaces and homes into sanctuaries for more than one million people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

    © UNHCR/Etinosa Yvonne

    UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, 2024 Regional Winner for Africa, Maimouna Ba, from Burkina Faso.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 11, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,87,196.10 6.25 5.15-6.70
         I. Call Money 12,933.60 6.33 5.15-6.42
         II. Triparty Repo 4,15,256.05 6.23 5.80-6.35
         III. Market Repo 1,57,425.85 6.32 5.99-6.55
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,580.60 6.50 6.45-6.70
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 381.10 6.13 5.50-6.37
         II. Term Money@@ 555.00 – 6.40-6.75
         III. Triparty Repo 800.00 6.23 6.15-6.35
         IV. Market Repo 3,298.72 6.37 6.25-6.45
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Tue, 11/02/2025 1 Wed, 12/02/2025 2,00,036.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 11/02/2025 1 Wed, 12/02/2025 3,498.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 11/02/2025 1 Wed, 12/02/2025 71,434.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       1,32,100.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,756.81  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     58,766.81  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,90,866.81  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 11, 2025 9,37,612.51  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 21, 2025 9,12,240.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 11, 2025 1,57,559.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 24, 2025 -34,103.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2131

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB’s North American Representative Office Celebrates 30 Years of Partnership

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Transcript

    SUPERS

    ADB logo
    Asian Development Bank
    North American Representative Office
    30 Years of Partnership

    Samuel Tumiwa, NARO Representative:

    [Music] The North American Representative Office was established 30 years ago, in 1995. Our main job is to maintain a strong relationship with the US government and the Canadian government. One of the things that’s become more and more important is that we also share with the people here in the US and Canada what we do in the developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.  

    Alain Borghijs, NARO Deputy Representative:

    It’s crucial that we work closely with our government partners because they guide us on their development policy priorities. I should also mention our close collaboration with other financial institutions based here in DC: the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Monetary Fund. Our corporate-level work here complements the on-the-ground collaboration that we have in the developing countries.  

    Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific):

    If I look at the US in particular, they have been a key architect of the broader MDB Evolution agenda, which is enabling us as an institution to up our game and provide more resources to these countries. When I look to Canada, I see critical intellectual leadership, particularly in providing us a course to follow on a gender-based strategy.  

    Roberta Casali, Vice-President (Finance and Risk Management):

    Thought leadership and important policy dialogues in the US and Canada have strengthened our innovative finance and balance sheet optimization solutions.  

    Yingming Yang, Vice-President (South, Central and West Asia):

    Both the US and Canada have worked to support telecommunication activities and small businesses. US and Canadian technology and innovation have been essential to our work in Asia and the Pacific.  

    Xinning Jia, Director General of Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships:

    The United States is a founding member of ADB and the co-largest shareholder, promoting excellence in ADB’s strategy and policy direction. Canada is a founding member of ADB, always promoting gender equality. Canada is supporting ADB’s climate finance through the Canadian Climate Fund for the private sector in Asia.  

    Suzanne Gaboury, Director General of Private Sector Operations:

    Both the US and Canada are great supporters of the private sector, which is really important for us. As a consequence, we have many Canadian clients and many US clients that come to visit us in the Philippines. It’s also really important that we come here to North America to visit them in their home countries. Last year, for every dollar that we invested, we mobilized another $2.7. I think that’s remarkable because we need to mobilize capital into the private markets and help capital market development. Part of our job is to be a financial intermediary in these markets.  

    Steve Goldfinch, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist:

    NARO provides an important link across ADB’s developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific and the governments of the US and Canada. Partners and organizations such as the World Bank and think tanks based here in DC make DC not only a center of development finance but also of development thinking. From the MDBs headquartered here to the think tanks and policy centers, NARO’s role is really that of a convener, broker, and connector. This is critical in serving ADB’s member countries.  

    Natasha Mooney, NARO Senior External Relations Officer:

    When I think about the theme of partnerships in line with the 30th anniversary, I see that as not just financial partnerships but also knowledge collaboration. We can do more in terms of coming together and convening power, bringing networks together, whether it be academia, civil society, government, private sector, or diaspora communities. I think there’s a lot that we can do in terms of the theme of partnerships, but again, really trying to drive progress on our shared goals within the region. The last 30 years have seen incredible innovation with partnerships between Canada, the US, and the ADB, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the future holds. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: On the Edge of Food Security: Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture in Bhutan

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    To ensure Bhutan’s food security, it is essential to adopt strategies to increase farm productivity and decrease food loss in the supply chain. The study proposed three pilot solutions: (i) adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity, (ii) creation of modern greenhouse farms, and (iii) improvements in post-harvest management (Figure 2).

    Figure 2. Proposed Solutions for Food Security Challenges in Bhutan

    ICT = information and communication technology.
    Source: Author.

    Adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity

    Improving self-sufficiency through increased productivity of staple crops is a top priority. In particular, increasing the productivity of main crops, such as rice and potatoes, is critical.

    Rice is an important cereal in Bhutan and its availability directly impacts national food security and stability. However, rice production is continuously decreasing due to the reduction in cultivated areas, labor shortages, limited irrigation water, and climate change. To address this, an integrated approach is needed, involving the following:

    • farmland configuration (farmland consolidation and mechanization)
    • research and development on new seed variety and seed system development
    • promotion of mechanization and information and communication technology (ICT), such as use of drones for sowing, pesticide spraying, remote diagnosis of diseases
    • water-saving irrigation systems to ensure sustainable water management, mitigate drought risks, and improve crops
    • harvest and post-harvest management through effective and efficient implementation of harvesting techniques
    • establishment of proper storage facilities (e.g., warehouses and silos equipped with climate control systems to maintain grain quality and prevent pest infestations)

    It is also important to promote gender and youth capacity development through specialized training programs focused on gender-sensitive and youth-friendly agricultural practices.

    Potatoes are one of Bhutan’s cash crops, but production has suffered a significant drop due to the aging and declining quality of potato seeds. Mainstreaming disease-free potato seeds is essential because potato is a highly degenerated crop easily infected with virus. Immediate interventions should focus on the following:

    • improve agricultural practices (e.g., adequate irrigation, fertilization, and pest management)
    • intensify disease-free potato seed production systems and seed supply
    • introduce post-harvest management system
    • adoption of new varieties

    Creation of modern greenhouse farms

    The establishment of modern greenhouse farms are proposed to reduce dependency on imported vegetables. Traditional farming methods limit year-round production and hinder competitiveness, forcing the country to rely on imported vegetables during the winter season.

    Modern greenhouse farms—integrated with ICT—can produce and supply vegetables year-round and reduce import dependence. ICT, such as sensor systems, automated control systems, remote monitoring and control, fertilizer application systems, and weather forecasting would help monitor and control temperature, irrigation, and fertilizer application.

    Development of farm operational manuals customized to Bhutan’s conditions is also an innovative and systematic approach of knowledge transfer. While greenhouse infrastructures are being built, enhanced capacity development through trainings and workshops, collaboration with industry partners, technology providers, agricultural experts and study tours are crucial technical assistance components.

    Improvements in post-harvest management

    Effective post-harvest management is crucial to minimizing food loss and ensuring food supply. Food loss occurs due to inadequate management of the value chain, from crop harvesting to storage, processing, and packaging. To tackle these issues, several steps are necessary:

    • activation of an agricultural products processing center, which would play a key role in the efficient production and distribution of local crop production areas and post-harvest management. The center can supply foods that meet the needs of consumers, using facilities for pre-cooling, sorting, packaging, processing, storage, and carrying out shipping and distribution.
    • development of post-harvest management manuals for each crop to ensure a more aligned and systematic approach
    • commercialize customized products by route, grade, specification, and packaging materials to meet the needs of various consumers

    Sales and delivery management should also be enhanced through strategic marketing segmentation, expanded market channels (e.g., wholesale markets, large distributors, and exporters), and integrated value chain logistics (e.g., installation of cooling transportation facilities linked to cold storage to maintain marketability, unit load system, and traceability system).

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is Elon Musk taking over the US government? Here’s how ‘state capture’ works – and why we should be concerned

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Griffith University

    Many Americans have watched in horror as Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been permitted to tear through various offices of the United States government in recent weeks. Backed by President Donald Trump, and supported by a small team of true believers, he has successfully laid siege to America’s vast federal bureaucracy.

    On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order giving Musk even more power. It requires federal agencies to cooperate with his “Department of Government Efficiency” (known as DOGE) in cutting their staffing levels and restricting new hires.

    In his first comments to the media since joining the Trump administration as a “special” government employee, Musk also responded to criticism that he’s launching a “hostile takeover” of the US government.

    The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what people are going to get.

    Are Musk’s actions akin to a “hostile takeover” of government, or a coup? I argue it’s more a form of “state capture”. Here’s what that means.

    Why it’s not a coup or self-coup

    Under the pretence of maximising government efficiency and productivity, DOGE has amassed quite a bit of power. It has:

    Musk’s blitzkrieg across Washington – carried out in apparent violation of numerous federal laws – has not only stirred confusion, but defied explanation.

    A popular argument, supported by some historians and commentators, is that Musk’s actions amount to a coup. They argue this is not a coup in the classic sense of a takeover of the physical centres of power. Rather, it’s a seizure of digital infrastructure by an unelected group seeking to undo democratic practices and violate human rights.

    This term, however, is not technically correct. The most widely accepted definition of a coup is:

    an overt attempt by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting head of state using unconstitutional means.

    Since Musk and Trump are bedfellows in this plot, the tech billionaire is clearly not trying to violently unseat the president.

    Another possible explanation: this is a self-coup. This describes a situation in which

    the sitting national leader takes decisive illegitimate action against countervailing institutions and elites to perpetuate the incumbent’s power.

    In December, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup when he declared martial law in order to ostensibly protect the country from opposition forces. He quickly reversed his decision amid elite defections and mass public demonstrations.

    Though self-coups are becoming more common, Musk is doing the dirty work in the US – not Trump. Also, Musk’s chief target – the bureaucracy – does not nominally offset presidential power (except in conspiracy theories).

    What is ‘state capture’?

    More accurately, Musk’s siege amounts to a form of “state capture”. This refers to:

    the appropriation of state resources by political actors for their own ends: either private or political.

    By this logic, Musk’s aim could be to capture different pieces of the US government and turn the state into a tool for wealth extraction.

    State capture is a relatively simple but extremely destructive process. This is how it has played out in countries like Indonesia, Hungary, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (Musk’s birthplace):

    First, political and corporate elites gain control of formal institutions, information systems and bureaucratic policy-making processes.

    Then, they use this power to apply rules selectively, make biased decisions and allocate resources based on private interests (rather than the public good).

    In captured states, strongman leaders often use economic policy and regulatory decisions to reward their political friends. For instance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma have helped their allies by:

    • making government anti-trust decisions
    • issuing permits and licenses
    • awarding government contracts and concessions
    • waiving regulations or tariffs
    • conferring tax exempt status.

    State capture is fundamentally a predatory process.

    By taking over how the American government does business, Musk could be seeking to enrich a small but powerful network of allies.

    The first beneficiary would be Trump, who is no stranger to using his office to expand his family’s business empire. With a more fully captured state, Trump can take an active role in determining how public wealth is dispersed among corporate and political elites. This decision-making power often goes hand-in-hand with “personalist” regimes, in which everything is a transaction with the leader.

    The second beneficiary would be Musk himself and other Silicon Valley mega-billionaires who have bent a knee to Trump. By positioning their tech companies as the solution to what allegedly ails the federal government, particularly when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence, they stand to secure lucrative contracts handed out by the “new” state.

    The third beneficiary would be the small army of engineers and technicians working with Musk to upend the American government. As loyal foot soldiers, these individuals will be compensated with career advancement, financial gains and networking opportunities, while also enjoying legal impunity. This kind of quid pro quo is how authoritarian regimes work.

    What this could mean for the US

    As Musk continues his assault on the federal bureaucracy, the American people will suffer the consequences.

    The most immediate impact of state capture: worse decisions are made. By purging experienced civil servants, cancelling government contracts and accessing sensitive information systems, Musk’s actions will likely degrade the standard of living at home and endanger American lives abroad.

    State capture also means there would be less accountability for the Trump administration’s public policy decisions. With a lack of congressional and independent oversight, key decisions over the distribution of economic benefits could be made informally behind closed doors.

    Finally, state capture is inseparable from corruption. Doing business with the US federal government could soon require one to pass a loyalty test rather than a public interest test.

    Trump’s enemies will encounter more hurdles, while his allies will have a seat at the table.

    Lee Morgenbesser receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DP220103214). He is also a member of the Australian Labor Party.

    – ref. Is Elon Musk taking over the US government? Here’s how ‘state capture’ works – and why we should be concerned – https://theconversation.com/is-elon-musk-taking-over-the-us-government-heres-how-state-capture-works-and-why-we-should-be-concerned-249471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNHCR amplifies voices of displaced on frontlines of climate change

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    UN refugee agency, UNHCR, on Thursday launched the Refugees for Climate Action initiative in a bid to mobilise the world’s forcibly displaced to join the fight against global warming. 

    Actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James kicked the campaign off at the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, alongside a group of eight displaced people with first-hand knowledge of how the climate crisis is impacting families.

    The actor has been lending his voice to UNHCR’s urgent call to address the impact of record rising temperatures on displaced communities.

    Passionate about climate activism, the refugees taking part in the initiative will be advocating for climate justice and demanding a voice in policy discussions.

    The Refugees for Climate Action group was initially convened in 2023 by UNHCR to create a space where refugees and displaced communities on the frontlines of climate change could share their unique experiences and knowledge.

    Theo James calls for more action

    Following a recent visit to Mauritania, Mr. James said he was committed to supporting their efforts. His own grandfather was a refugee who fled Europe for the safety of Syria during World War Two: “I’ve seen the profound injustice of the climate crisis on refugees, and the urgency is real,” he said.

    “Yet, I’ve also seen the resilience of those affected – refugees are finding solutions, and they must be heard”, he added, calling on leaders to put the displaced at the centre of the conversation.

    Refugee climate activists

    The network brings together refugees and displaced people from countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Bangladesh and Brazil, each with lived experiences of displacement interlinked with conflict and climate change, and who are already driving climate action initiatives in their communities.

    “We refugees are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said Najeeba Wazefadost, a member of the group and founder of the Asia Pacific Network for Refugees (APNOR) who empowers Afghan women through solar energy to support their businesses.

    “For us, climate change is not an abstract threat. It is a daily fight for survival, stability and dignity. We urge leaders to listen to our stories and to take decisive action that includes us, supports our resilience and empowers refugee-led solutions”, added Ms. Wazefadost, who fled Afghanistan in 2000.

    © UNHCR/Markel Redondo

    Najeeba Wazefadost, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees.

    Impacts or war and climate emergency

    Other members of the group include Mohammed Anowar, a Rohingya refugee based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, who trains fellow refugees on flood resilience; Eman Al-Hamali, an internally displaced woman from Yemen, who leads a solar microgrid project providing affordable energy to vulnerable households in her community; and Ermano Prévoir, from Haiti, now living in Brazil, who is an agronomist looking at sustainable farming techniques to improve food security.

    “As refugees and displaced people, we have intimately witnessed the profound impacts of war on our lives and communities – and now a global climate emergency,” said Opira Bosco Okot, a refugee climate activist living in Uganda, who uses communication technologies to advocate for refugee access to climate policy discussions.

    In its first ever climate report released on Tuesday, UNHCR said three out of four forcibly displaced people worldwide – 90 million out of 120 million – lived in countries exposed to high to extreme climate change impacts.

    UNHCR commitment

    The initiative embodies UNHCR’s commitment to place displaced communities at the centre of climate action. The group will serve as a consultative body on climate issues, contribute to key global and local climate events, and work to ensure that the voices and perspectives of refugees and displaced people are integrated into UNHCR’s work and international climate discussions.

    UNHCR provides members of the group with opportunities for training and capacity building, helping them sharpen their advocacy skills and expand their influence in key climate events such as COP29.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNHCR launches $10 billion appeal to address global refugee crisis in 2025

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Migrants and Refugees

    The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has launched a $10 billion appeal for 2025 to meet critical needs and implement sustainable solutions for millions of refugees, displaced persons and stateless people worldwide.

    Announced earlier this week, the agency’s Global Appeal comes amid escalating humanitarian crises, as conflict, persecution and the growing impacts of climate change continue to force millions from their homes.

    “We live in an era of relentless emergencies. Of crises without end,” High Commissioner Filippo Grandi said, emphasising the scale of the challenges in a foreword accompanying the appeal.

    He highlighted recent and ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon, which have driven massive displacement, while also noting the protracted nature of many refugee situations, including those involving displaced populations from Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    Fully funded, the appeal aims to support more than 139 million refugees and other vulnerable groups in some 136 countries and territories.

    Three primary areas

    The appeal focuses on three primary areas: emergency response, inclusion, and long-term solutions.

    UNHCR remains committed to its frontline role in emergencies, providing life-saving aid to displaced individuals, Mr. Grandi said, adding: “When conflict breaks out, UNHCR is among the first to respond.”

    The appeal also goes beyond immediate assistance, calling for sustainable approaches that integrate displaced individuals into local and national systems.

    UNHCR aims to work with governments, civil society and development actors to promote inclusion in education, healthcare, and employment.

    Numbers breakdown

    Of the 139.3 million targeted beneficiaries, 34 million (24 per cent) are refugees, 68 million (48 per cent) internally displaced, 12 million are returnees, and about 4.5 million are stateless people under the agency’s mandate.

    Around $2.1 is required for UNHCR programmes in Middle East and North Africa, $1.2 billion in Europe, $957 million in Asia and the Pacific, and $815 million in the Americas.

    Across the African continent, $2.1 billion is needed in East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, $1.2 billion in West and Central Africa and $451 million in Southern Africa.

    Worries for Asia and the Pacific

    UNHCR anticipates that the Asia-Pacific region in 2025 could face increased displacement due to conflict, persecution, climate change impacts and yet more disasters. It projects a rise in the complexity and scale of emergencies, compounded by diminishing donor support, which threatens to fall short of escalating needs.

    In response UNHCR will focus on fulfilling the pledges from the Global Refugee Forum, including more than 60 commitments from States to strengthen protections and find solutions for Afghan refugees and stateless Rohingya populations.

    Afghanistan remains the top country of origin for the region’s displaced, where over nine million forcibly displaced are located. Neighbouring nations Iran and Pakistan bear the brunt, sheltering 3.9 million and 2.4 million Afghan refugees respectively.

    Similarly, Bangladesh continues to host over one million stateless Rohingya driven from their homes in neighbouring Myanmar over several years.

    Other regional overviews can be found by clicking here: Americas, East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes,  Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa.

    © UNICEF/Maria Spiridonova

    Driven from their homes in Myanmar, over a million Rohingya refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh.

    Working together

    Mr. Grandi also highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration, reiterating that addressing forced displacement requires a united global effort.

    “We do not work alone. Reaching those in need – both displaced people and their hosts – requires partnerships with governments, local actors, academia, and the private sector.”

    UNHCR plans to build on the progress made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, where thousands of pledges were made to support displaced populations.

    A key focus for 2025 will be turning these promises into tangible action, supported by technical expertise and funding from the international community.

    Unpredictable times

    Mr. Grandi also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of global crises, expressing confidence in UNHCR’s readiness.

    “Our determination and experience enable us to face the future – as uncertain as it may be – with conviction,” he said.

    With forced displacement reaching record levels, he stressed the importance of global solidarity, urging governments, donors, and the private sector to contribute to the $10 billion target.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Major milestone’ on solutions to internal displacement: Top adviser

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Migrants and Refugees

    There have been significant advances in addressing the worldwide internal displacement crisis, but urgent action is still needed as numbers continue to rise, topping 76 million people worldwide, the top UN official on the issue said on Wednesday.

    UN Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement Robert Piper was delivering his final press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York before concluding his mandate.

    “There are around 76 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world today, 76 million people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their assets, their community because of wars, because of disasters, because of criminal violence,” he told correspondents.

    Internally displaced people are “relatively invisible despite their numbers, unlike refugees and migrants,” Mr. Piper emphasised. Their numbers have doubled in the last ten years.

    “Tens of millions of displaced people do not get home quickly, especially when they’ve been displaced by conflict,” Mr Piper emphasised, adding that “they get stuck in displacement”.

    ‘Major milestone’ in investments

    The Secretary-General commissioned a high-level panel to advise him in 2021, focusing on this growing pattern of protracted displacement. To fix this issue, the panel insisted that only national governments can provide long term fixes.

    “The right kind of investments, more development, more capacity building, less substitution, less short-term fixes,” said Mr. Piper.

    In a positive development, governments have demonstrated increased commitment to addressing the crisis, he continued.

    Iraq, Libya, Columbia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Somalia have collectively pledged to help over 11.5 million internally displaced persons find solutions. Some countries have backed these commitments with substantial funding – Iraq and Libya will fully fund their solutions processes, while Columbia is committing approximately $1 billion annually.

    Reaping the rewards

    “We are starting to see the results when governments take that responsibility seriously,” the Special advisor noted, pointing to recent initiatives such as Somalia’s commitment of $140 million for land purchases to facilitate displaced people’s integration.

    In Nigeria’s northeastern states, governances have allocated specific portions of their revenue to address displacement, with the Governor of Borno state, committing 15 per cent of revenue for the next five years to this cause.

    New laws and policies on internal displacement have been implemented in various countries – from Chad to Nigeria to the Philippines – demonstrating growing national ownership of the issue.

    Challenges amid rising numbers

    Despite progress, significant issues remain. The number of IDPs has doubled in just a decade with approximately 20 million new IDPs joining the long-term displaced since 2019.

    The Special Adviser also highlighted specific areas where solutions cannot currently be implemented: “We cannot apply our model in Myanmar at the moment, for example, or in Gaza, where 85 percent of the population has been deliberately, repeatedly displaced by Israeli government acts”.

    Strengthened response

    Prevention tools need strengthening, particularly in light of climate change impacts and the need for better conflict prevention and disaster risk reduction.

    Mr Piper said new ideas were being put into motion to address internal displacement including a solutions fund, strengthened country teams and increased development and peacebuilding assets. International financial institutions have also stepped up their involvement, with both the World Bank and The African Development Bank introducing IDP solutions indicators into their corporate scorecards.

    The issue has gained increased visibility in international forums, including the climate COPs, the World Bank’s Fragility Forum, and the World Urban Forum. A group of 30-member states has formed to support these efforts, while Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and UN migration agency, IOM, have released new analyses on children and climate displacement.

    Return to normal

    Additionally, the humanitarian response remains robust, with UN operations reaching 50 million IDPs with assistance in 2023, while country-based pool funds assisted nearly 12 million displaced people.

    However, reflecting on his tenure and the path forward, the Special Advisor warned that “we need to get better at preventing new displacements. Our prevention tools are not up to task”.

    He concluded that “the core task is to keep saving lives, while we also help governments wherever possible, to build exit ramps for their displaced citizens back from crises to some sense of normality and stability”. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China receives first unpainted Airbus A350 in 2025

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An Airbus A350 aircraft without livery is pictured in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 11, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    An Airbus A350 aircraft without livery flew from Toulouse, France, to north China’s Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday, marking the first such arrival in 2025, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said.

    The jet, which completed assembly overseas, will undergo final cabin installation, painting, and flight testing at the Airbus Tianjin Widebody Completion and Delivery Center (C&DC) before its delivery to the customer.

    Airbus established its A320 Family Final Assembly Line Asia in Tianjin in 2008, its first production facility outside Europe. The C&DC, inaugurated in 2017 and the first of its kind outside Europe, began supporting A350 completion and delivery in 2020.

    As of the end of 2024, the C&DC had delivered 767 A320 Family jets, 16 A330s and 25 A350s.

    “China is Airbus’ largest single-country market globally,” said George Xu, Airbus executive vice president and Airbus China CEO.

    According to Xu, aircraft delivered to Chinese customers account for about 20 percent of Airbus’ global annual deliveries. Additionally, the company’s market share in China has risen from some 20 percent in 2008 to more than 50 percent today.

    Xu said that 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Airbus civil aircraft entering the Chinese mainland market, and the company will continue working with Chinese aviation partners to promote the high-quality development of China’s aviation industry.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s ‘small and beautiful’ foreign aid projects show global commitment

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

    A report focusing on “small and beautiful” projects in China’s foreign aid was unveiled on Tuesday, demonstrating China’s commitment and efforts to promote international development cooperation and achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

    The reports is the fifth of its kind regarding China’s practice in international development cooperation released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and the Center for International Knowledge on Development.

    A large number of “small and beautiful” projects have taken root worldwide over the years, establishing renowned and widely recognized Chinese foreign aid brands, such as Chinese medical teams, Juncao technology, and Luban workshops, according to the report.

    As an important direction and priority of the Belt and Road development, those small-scaled, well-grounded and replicable projects aim to improve people’s well-being and boost people-to-people bond in recipient countries, the report said.

    They demonstrate the humanistic care and kindness of China’s foreign aid and international development cooperation, it added.

    In the next step, China will scale up those projects and magnify the comprehensive benefits of the projects based on efforts in top-level design, communication and coordination, diversified participation and management efficiency, it said.

    Also on Monday, another report on the country’s green development assistance was released as the sixth issue of China’s international development cooperation practice.

    The report showed that since 2018, the country has carried out 184 assistant projects in green development totaling 30 billion yuan ($4.11 billion), benefiting 75 countries.

    The aid, ranging from sustainable agricultural development, clean energy development to climate change response and environmental protection and pollution control, are provided through various ways including technical assistance, materials and complete sets, the report noted.

    Hu Zhangliang, vice-chairman of the CIDCA, said that China closely aligns its assistance with the development plans of partner countries, ensuring that improving local livelihoods and well-being remains the key focus.

    China will, as always, play an active and important role in global development and continuously expanding the scope of foreign aid and international development cooperation, enriching aid modalities, increasing investment in global development cooperation and strengthening supervision and evaluation of aid programs, Hu said.

    China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with developed countries and emerging economies, and carry out tripartite and multilateral cooperation with more international organizations, complementing each other and jointly promote the realization of UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development, he added.

    Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, Pakistani ambassador to China, said that China’s “small and beautiful projects” and green development financing align with Pakistan’s national economic transformation plan from 2024 to 2029, and complement with the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

    “We are grateful to China for launching a series of ‘small and beautiful’ projects in Pakistan…These projects are yet another demonstration of China’s enduring commitment to promoting inclusive development,” he said.

    By fostering partnerships in key sectors through targeted cooperation initiatives, CIDCA is improving local employment and building local capacities, he said, adding that Pakistan is keen to further expand partnership with the agency in broader areas of cooperation.

    Zhao Bing, representative of the UN World Food Programme in China, said that thanks to the support of CIDCA and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, WFP has implemented 53 practical people-centered projects across 36 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which have impacted the lives of more than 10 million people.

    “We serve as a bridge for South-South and triangular cooperation, sharing Chinese knowledge, technology, expertise throughout the Global South countries,” Zhao said.

    The WFP commits to further deepening and expanding collaboration with the public and private sectors represented by CIDCA, redouble efforts through “small and beautiful” projects and green development projects, so as to leverage additional resources, innovation and technology from China and beyond, in an effort to end hunger and achieve the sustainable development goals for resilient, inclusive future for all, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –