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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Sims: from Hot Date to Get Famous, why expansion packs have been key to the game’s longevity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Aditya Deshbandhu, Lecturer of Communications, Digital Media Sociology, University of Exeter

    SimCity 3000, the predecessor to The Sims, played a pivotal part in my childhood, growing up in Hyderabad, India. Its recreation of the western, urban world helped me understand how cities were planned, designed and financed – and how they provided people with key services like transportation, health and education while preparing for accidents and other hazards.

    As an eight-year-old trying to figure out my place in the world, that game offered me a way to make meaning of the chaos that can be life. So, when The Sims launched in 2000 – enabling me to live inside a virtual city, rather than simply build one – I had to get my hands on a copy.

    Twenty-five years later, I write this piece in a drastically different gaming landscape, where games offer high visual fidelity and ever-increasing frame rates for ultra-smooth game play. But despite all these technological innovations and the pursuit of photo-realism, the popularity of The Sims’ game designer Will Wright’s satire on American consumer culture endures.

    Sul Sul! This article is part of a mini series from The Conversation marking 25 years of The Sims franchise.

    The franchise’s four Sims games had sold over 200 million copies before the latest instalment, The Sims 4, became free to play in 2022. Players now spend their money on extras within the game. Over 85 million people played The Sims worldwide in 2024.

    At a time when the success of a modern video game is measured in metrics like “cumulative engagement time” (number of players playing at the same time), acquisition of new players and “intensity of engagement” (number of hours spent by a player), now-over-a-decade-old The Sims 4 continues to excel with its mastery of the live-service format.

    The trailer for the first Sims game.

    Live-service describes the form modern digital games embrace when they transition from conventional products into “services” – a shift made possible because games today can be regularly updated, fixed and expanded upon by their makers remotely. They can acquire new levels and in-game features in a similar way to how streaming platforms like Netflix drop new episodes of your favourite show.

    Players don’t buy a live-service game, they sign up for the journey.

    Expanding player horizons

    In each incarnation of The Sims, players have been able to access new ways to perform roles and tasks that mimic everyday life, in the form of expansions and content packs.

    The original title, The Sims (2000), had seven expansion packs and two content packs. I distinctly remember brewing potions in the chemistry lab and rubbing a magic lamp to conjure a genie in the first expansion, Livin’ Large; the new holiday island that was built for The Sims: Vacation; and leaving my Sim’s home to visit downtown areas as part of Hot Date.

    The trailer for The Sims Hot Date expansion pack.

    But for The Sims 4 (2014), the developers went all in. This game – and its subsequent expansions – represents a digital supermarket of lifestyles, sub-cultures, activities and stardom. For example, 2018’s Get Famous pack not only introduced Del Sol Valley – a region that resembled Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills – but also introduced the “reputation” mechanism for players.

    The Discover University expansion (2019) allowed players to take their Sims to school in a new region called Britechester – after this update, the game integrated Sims’ careers and education, and in many ways changed the rules of the game. And the Eco Lifestyle expansion pack (2020) is memorable because the game engaged with ideas of sustainable living for the first time.

    Genre, fantasy and reality

    From content packs featuring a digital recreation of singer Katy Perry in The Sims 3 to collaborations with streamers, content creators and fashion houses, The Sims has remained relevant by consistently blurring the lines between genre, reality and fantasy.

    Hot Date was a popular early Sims expansion pack.

    Today, video game makers the world over try to master formats like free-to-play games where players pay for cosmetic items, customisations and added content, or expansions offering downloadable content. The Sims set the standard for most of them.

    Over the past 25 years, this franchise has had several life simulation competitors in the form of Second Life, Facebook’s once popular Farmville, virtual reality experiences like Half-Life: Alyx and, during the pandemic when we worked, learnt and played online, initiatives like the Metaverse.

    However, today only The Sims endures. The game’s developers continue to give its players what they want, while also getting them to engage with difficult ideas like sustainability, the question of life and death, and even gentrification (For Rent expansion pack, anyone?).

    Few games let players critique life so closely. For game researchers like me, this begs the question: do people play life simulation games like The Sims in order to build alternative lives, relive their own – or create something entirely new?

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

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

    – ref. The Sims: from Hot Date to Get Famous, why expansion packs have been key to the game’s longevity – https://theconversation.com/the-sims-from-hot-date-to-get-famous-why-expansion-packs-have-been-key-to-the-games-longevity-248604

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New partnerships for growth: FCDO Minister’s speech at the LSE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    FCDO Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds gave a keynote speech to the UK financial sector at the London Stock Exchange today on partnerships for growth.

    Thank you so much, Julia [Dame Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange], and a very good morning to all of you.

    Thank you so much for joining us today, I really appreciate it.

    It was an absolute thrill to see the market open this morning.

    I am very keen to hear from as many of you as possible, so I’m not going to speak for too long.

    I want to leave plenty of time for questions.

    But I do want to share a few reflections with you this morning.

    This is, as Dame Julia kindly said, the second time I had the privilege of opening the London Stock Exchange.

    I had the privilege of speaking in this room almost two years ago, and it was then as now a very moving moment, because sat in the front row were some of the first women, in fact the first women, and others who set foot on the London Stock Exchange because they had not been allowed to do so until then.

    What a privilege to have been there for that moment, as for this moment.

    Two years ago, when I was here, I spoke about my own family background – with my dad having worked in financial services.

    And I want again to place on record, my respect for the work that goes on in this building, and across the country.

    Businesses in the financial sector power jobs and growth across the UK, and indeed often around the world as we’ve just heard.

    Well, of course, a lot has changed in the last two years, since I was last here.

    I am addressing you, not as a shadow minister – but now as the Minister for Development, and for Women and Equalities.

    We have a new government focused on growth and restoring our reputation on the world stage.

    And the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have set us all a guiding mission to grow our economy, and bring opportunity to people across our country.

    They have been clear that supporting growth and development around the globe is not just the right thing to do.

    It is an essential part of how we unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and pride in our economy here at home as well.

    Indeed, as the Foreign Secretary said in a major speech at the start of the new year, in today’s contested, competitive world, what we need now is a whole new level of global engagement – drawing on our greatest strengths.

    That absolutely includes the expertise, experience, and dynamism in this room.

    Clearly, the City of London and wider UK financial sector must be at the heart of how we meet the opportunities and challenges of our time.

    Twenty years ago, people marched and campaigned to Make Poverty History.

    [Political content redacted]

    That call was heeded and huge progress was made.

    Debt was cancelled, and development assistance was ramped up.

    Lives were saved and lives were changed.

    Today, the challenges we face are growing and becoming increasingly complex – not least because our world is so deeply interconnected.

    We have all seen how shocks can indeed reverberate across the globe.

    A vicious cycle of conflicts.

    The pandemic.

    The climate and nature crisis, and others.

    We have seen supply chains disrupted, and investor confidence shaken – harming our economy, here at home.

    Yet we have all seen the power of harnessing this interconnectedness as well.

    By working together – we can get ahead of global shocks, mitigate their impact, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

    For outward investment by UK businesses.

    To build future markets for UK exports.

    To support low-and-middle-income countries to grow their economies as well.

    As the UK’s Minister for Development, and for Women and Equalities, I am determined to build genuine partnerships across the Global South, based on genuine respect, and in service of our mutual interests.

    Indeed, in all of the visits I’ve undertaken over the last 6 months, from Indonesia to Malawi, to the major global gatherings of the UN General Assembly, the World Bank Annual Meetings, and the climate summit at COP29 – I heard loud and clear that our drive for growth is an ambition our partners all share.

    They want respectful, modern partnerships that benefit us all, too.

    They want to tap into your expertise and the innovative financial solutions you are pioneering – to harness the power of private finance.

    They want to work with us to build resilience to shocks.

    To escape the trap of unsustainable debt.

    To break down the barriers to private investment.

    And they want to work with us to champion much-needed reform of the global financial system, so we unlock more opportunities for everyone – from millions of women and girls around the world whose game-changing potential has yet to be unleashed, to investors right here in the City of London.

    Your hard work is at the heart of these partnerships.

    Already, 115 African companies are listed here.

    London is the world’s number one hub as I said before for green finance.

    All of this puts the UK in pole position to be the leading source of investment for emerging markets – and to build on the reputation you have worked so hard to develop.

    So today, I want to focus on four key areas, where the government and the City can make the most of the important roles we have to play – to support stable, resilient long-term growth, here at home, and around the world.

    Mobilising private capital – to help us maximise the impact of public and private finance.

    Reforming international financial institutions – to make sure they are bigger, better, and fit for the future.

    Tackling unsustainable debt – to achieve the fast, orderly restructuring that helps countries avoid default and supports stability.

    And scaling up insurance – to get more finance in place before disasters strike, to protect and promote growth across the world.

    First – mobilising private capital.

    Together, we can maximise the impact of billions of dollars of public money – and unlock many billions more.

    Consider that globally, there are some $121 trillion of assets under management.

    Currently, Africa accounts for less than 1% of the overseas portfolio allocation of UK pension funds.

    Yet Africa’s GDP growth – and I know I don’t need to tell many in this room of this – is projected to outpace the global average – and almost 70% of UK savers say they want their investments to consider impact on people and the planet.

    It is time to lean in.

    So, I was delighted to hear the Chancellor announce her plans – to consolidate the UK’s fragmented £1.3 trillion pension fund landscape, and create larger, more agile funds, capable of investing in high-growth emerging and developing markets.

    This is exactly the kind of opportunity we need to embrace.

    And I’m delighted that today, a new report from leading UK-based institutional investors sets out how the UK can continue to be the climate finance hub for the world.

    The report makes it clear that investing in other countries to accelerate the transition to clean energy is critical – to growing our economy at home, and to building financial stability long-term, in the UK, and right around the world.

    The Energy Secretary is rightly championing this through the new Global Clean Power Alliance, that the Prime Minister launched at the G20 in Rio.

    Well, today I am pleased to announce that alongside the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, I am convening an Investor Taskforce – to increase UK private investment for climate and development, in markets around the world.

    We are building partnerships with public markets like the London Stock Exchange to pursue this.

    In just four years, our flagship MOBILIST initiative has mobilised almost $250 million for listed products focussed on climate and development globally – including recent investments, like the infrastructure securitisation through Bayfront.

    This method of structuring bank infrastructure loans makes it possible for institutional investors to purchase them through investment-grade listed instruments.

    MOBLIST also helped achieve a $100 million first close for the Green Guarantee Company that will provide up to $1 billion of guarantees – for institutional investors buying green bonds, including those listed on the London Stock Exchange, and green loans issued in the private credit market.

    Today, I am pleased to announce up to £100 million of additional funding for MOBILIST – so we can build on this innovative work pioneering public market investment in emerging markets.

    This will allow MOBILIST to provide a platform for even more partners to draw on UK financial expertise – unlocking opportunities for investments in green growth, and helping more businesses to access new and affordable sources of capital across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

    MOBILIST is not the only way that we are doing this.

    When I visited the London-based Private Infrastructure Development Group, funded by the UK and others – I saw how they are developing and de-risking infrastructure projects across Africa and Asia.

    The UK financial sector has been a key partner for them.

    For example, one arm of the group – GuarantCo – has guaranteed bonds and loans, to unlock $5.7 billion of private investment in infrastructure, benefitting over 44 million people.

    And – breaking news – I am delighted that a new $50 million deal with Standard Chartered Bank – signed today – will allow them to expand further.

    As another example, take British International Investment, or BII – the world’s oldest Development Finance Institution, at the forefront for 75 years.

    The BII teams were full of ambition when I visited their HQ in November.

    I am always proud to tell our partners that 25% of BII’s new investment commitments already meet the 2X Challenge standard – to increase investment in women.

    By making this a priority, BII is funding everything from affordable housing led by women in India, to making lines of credit accessible to small-scale retailers run by women in Nigeria – supporting jobs and growth.

    And when I sat down with key African investors alongside partners from the City in the autumn, I was able to highlight that over half of BII’s portfolio is invested in Africa, and at least 30% of BII’s investments are in climate finance.

    So today, I want to encourage you to engage with their live call for proposals that is open right now.

    BII are looking for innovative pilots to be funded through a new facility announced by the PM at UNGA in New York – that we expect to mobilise over $500 million of institutional investment.

    We are supporting public markets to mobilise finance in other ways as well.

    UK support has been instrumental in helping Ethiopia to launch its first public stock exchange just a few weeks ago, with support from the UK government through Financial Sector Deepening Africa – or ‘FSD Africa’ for short.

    This exchange brings transparency and international-standard accounting to listed companies – and the diverse ownership that should improve accountability, and broaden both the gains from growth, and the buy-in.

    We are sharing UK expertise on financial regulation with our partners as well.

    Through a partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, the Bank of England is now supporting more than 10 countries to improve monetary policy and strengthen financial stability – from Nigeria to South Africa, and from Bangladesh to Indonesia.

    And in the last few days we have signed a new partnership with the Financial Conduct Authority, that will lead to them sharing knowledge with partner countries – to ensure that markets are competitive and fair.

    That is good for our partners – and it is good for us as well.

    Last year, Tanzania’s NMB Bank cross-listed East Africa’s first sustainability bond on the London Stock Exchange and the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange – again, with support from FSD Africa, and an anchor investment from BII.

    The $73 million raised through this ‘Jamii’ Bond will support renewable energy, food security, jobs, and growth.

    In fact, thanks in no small part to your hard work, these sorts of listing are becoming a trend on the London Stock Exchange.

    Last year, the Brazilian Government dual-listed its first $2 billion sovereign sustainable bond on the London Stock Exchange.

    That was followed by a full listing of its second $2 billion sustainable bond, a few weeks later.

    All of this was enabled by UK support that helped Brazil develop a Sovereign Sustainable Bonds framework.

    Now, as we heard earlier, just a few weeks ago, the first $500 million Climate Investment Funds Capital Markets Mechanism bond was issued on the London Stock Exchange.

    It generated considerable investor interest.

    As has already been mentioned of course, it was over-subscribed six times over.

    Further issuances could raise up to $7.5 billion over ten years, for new investments in clean energy in developing countries – leveraging UK government contributions, and those from our international partners.

    So, I could not have been more delighted to open the market this morning – and to congratulate the Climate Investment Funds and World Bank Treasury on issuing this promising new bond today.

    Now, of course, no one in this room is going to invest in developing economies, or provide climate finance – simply because it is a nice thing to do.

    You are making those investments and building those partnerships because they represent a remarkable opportunity – to marry investment in the economies and technologies of the future, with the experience and expertise of the City of London.

    [Political content redacted]

    Let us keep up the momentum – so the London Stock Exchange continues to be the preferred choice.

    My second point is about reforming international financial institutions.

    We are asking a lot of all of you – but of course, there are certain things that only governments can do.

    And reforming the multilateral development banks or MDBs is one of the biggest ways that we are holding up our end of the bargain.

    Every year, the World Bank Group and various regional development banks multiply every pound the UK government and other shareholders put in.

    Last year alone, they raised around £30 billion from bond issuances in London.

    Together with finance raised on other markets around the world, this allowed them to deploy over $170 billion to low-and-middle-income countries.

    This finance is on much more affordable terms than many of our partners could access directly – thanks to the banks’ triple-A credit ratings.

    They use this to invest in high-impact public and private projects.

    Green infrastructure, healthcare, education, women and girls – all underpinning the foundations for growth around the world, and here in the UK.

    So clearly, pursuing reforms that make the MDBs bigger, better, and fit for the future is key.

    As the Prime Minister set out at the UN General Assembly last year –that is exactly what we are using the UK’s influence to do, in partnership with the Global South.

    Indeed, when I travelled to Washington D.C in October, as the UK Governor of the World Bank Group, I made it my priority to agree changes to its risk appetite, that will unlock an additional $30 billion over ten years.

    This builds on UK government guarantees that have made it possible for the World Bank and other MDBs to lend an additional $6 billion, across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

    Ahead of the next big ‘Financing for Development’ summit in Seville this summer – we must do more.

    To make sure the MDBs can shoulder more risk.

    To create more opportunities for private companies to invest in emerging markets.

    And to empower the women and girls who have the power to lift up whole families, communities, countries, and economies.

    Thirdly – we have to tackle the unsustainable debt that is dampening global growth.

    As we take the next steps now, we need the City to be at the forefront of expertise and solutions, to make sure that countries facing unsustainable debt burdens can restructure it effectively.

    Clearly, fast, orderly restructuring can help countries avoid default, and support stability.

    This is squarely in the interest of lenders, such as bondholders and commercial lenders here in the City.

    Obviously, it is squarely in the interests of borrowers too.

    I heard that loud and clear from the governments of Malawi and Zambia during my visit at the end of last year.

    With some 95% of African bonds issued under English Law, the UK has a key role to play.   We need to leverage this.

    Half of the lowest income countries are now in debt distress, or at high risk of it.

    Some 3.3 billion people are living in countries that are spending more on servicing their debt, than on the health and education services that underpin long-term, global growth.

    So, I want us to build on the successes of Collective Action Clauses that featured in over 90% of new bond issuances.

    These have been rolled out widely since their introduction in 2004.

    They have played an important role in ensuring a smooth process and strong private sector participation, in recent debt restructuring negotiations in Ghana and Zambia – avoiding situations where one or two bondholders can hold up a deal.

    This is a great example of what market-friendly innovation can achieve.

    My challenge to the commercial banks now is to introduce the equivalent clauses for syndicated lending – that the UK government has worked with the International Capital Markets Association, legal and financial advisors based in the City, and international partners to develop.

    No lender has implemented them – yet.

    So today, I am announcing that the UK government will offer support for the first ten transactions that put ‘majority voting provisions’ into existing or new lending to low-or-middle-income countries.

    Together, we can speed up debt restructuring negotiations with syndicated lenders – and get growth recovering more quickly in cases where debt has become unmanageable.

    We can do more on Climate Resilient Debt Clauses as well.

    The UK government was the first bilateral creditor to offer these clauses.

    Several other lenders have followed since.

    The difference they can make is significant.

    They allow repayments to be paused when a shock hits.

    This frees up fiscal space for countries responding to a crisis.

    Helps avoid default.

    Supports stability.

    And safeguards growth.

    Just look at Grenada.

    At the end of last year, following Hurricane Beryl – these clauses were triggered on government-issued bonds

    The result was $30 million of interest payments being suspended over the following year – thanks to the bondholders who pioneered these clauses.

    Already, we are going further.

    In October, I announced that the UK will support small states to take up Climate Resilient Debt Clauses in their World Bank loans, by covering the fees.

    In the long run these should be offered at no cost – improving sustainability, and offering benefits both to borrowers and lenders.

    All of this builds on the leadership of countries like Grenada and Barbados who championed these clauses.

    Today, I am reiterating our call on all creditors to offer these clauses in their sovereign lending, by the end of this year – including private sector lenders here in the City.

    I want to see greater transparency on debt as well.

    This improves investors’ understanding – and reduces the hidden debt that poses substantial risks for creditors here in the City.

    It lowers the cost of borrowing for our partners.

    And it allows citizens across the world to hold their governments to account for borrowing and using resources.

    Already, the UK government publishes all its new lending quarterly, on a loan-by-loan basis.

    Now, we want to see other public and private creditors meeting the same standards of transparency in their lending – especially to low-income countries.

    The UK will keep under review if further action is needed – working together with the private sector, to combat high levels of indebtedness.

    Fourth and finally, we need to get insurance and other contingent finance in place before disasters strike, so we protect and promote growth around the world.

    Extreme weather events are on the rise, as we all know.

    Millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people are bearing the brunt of repeated shocks.

    Yet currently, less than 2% of crisis finance is of the ‘pre-arranged’ variety – that makes sure every pound spent yields three or four times its worth in benefits.

    Changing that is so important – to help countries receive the rapid payments they need to avoid losses.

    To reduce the need for humanitarian support.

    And to protect growth and jobs.

    Once again, the City is well-placed to meet the needs of this growing, and largely untapped market – as a global leader in innovative insurance and managing risk.

    In Africa, the Caribbean, South-East Asia and the Pacific, the FCDO has helped to establish regional insurance schemes – helping countries get cheaper prices by buying insurance from the private sector as a group, pooling their risk.

    London reinsurers underwrote a quarter of the first eight pools that have allowed Africa to transfer over $1 billion of risk, through the UK-funded African Risk Capacity.

    On a visit at the end of last year, I saw first-hand the difference that payouts from the African Risk Capacity are making to people in Zambia and Malawi, as they respond to a devastating recent drought.

    I was proud to tell them that this was made possible by UK government subsidies for insurance premiums – for countries that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford them.

    Now, I want us all to engage with the ground-breaking report published by a high-level industry panel, that I helped to launch last week – on how we can strengthen the provision of insurance and other contingent finance, and scale up the use of pre-arranged finance.

    Improving modelling, and the way we price risk.

    Championing innovative parametric insurance.

    De-risking investments upfront.

    This work is so important for giving investors confidence, expanding markets in development economies, improving returns, and strengthening the UK’s role as a leading global financial hub.

    Cultivating a virtuous cycle of global resilience and growth is in all our best interests.

    Your expertise, innovation, and investment are critical.

    So, my pledge to you is that I will make it a priority to build stronger partnerships between the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the City.

    So we face up to unprecedented challenges.

    Embrace new opportunities.

    And reinvigorate hope for our shared future – and for sustained and sustainable economic growth here and overseas – by working towards it together, in the months and years ahead.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Digital Domain Holdings Limited to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Digital Domain Holdings Limited (Hong Kong Stock Exchange: 547; OTCQX: DDHLY), a global leader in visual effects and transformative experiences, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Digital Domain Holdings Limited upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    Digital Domain Holdings Limited begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “DDHLY.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for trading on OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    “We are pleased with the upgrade to the OTCQX Market, as it underscores our commitment to transparency and strengthens investor confidence,” says William Wong, Executive Director and the CEO of Digital Domain. “This milestone reflects our ongoing strategy to build trust and provide sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”

    About Digital Domain Holdings Limited
    Digital Domain is a pioneer in creating transportive experiences. Over the last 30 years, the company has solidified its position as a leader in the visual effects industry, expanding its expertise in virtual humans and visualization on a global scale. Digital Domain boasts an impressive legacy that includes contributions to hundreds of feature films and television episodes, advertisements, game cinematics, and groundbreaking immersive experiences. Renowned for its creative innovation in cutting-edge technology, Digital Domain has delivered exceptional artistry to Academy Award-winning films such as “Titanic,” “What Dreams May Come,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” The skilled artists at Digital Domain have collectively earned over 100 prestigious awards, including Academy Awards, Clios, BAFTA awards, and Cannes Lions.

    Digital Domain is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 547) and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Digital Domain maintains operations in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hyderabad, and more.

    To learn more about Digital Domain, visit www.digitaldomain.com.

    Digital Domain PR Contact:

    Kavita Smith
    Director of Marketing Communications and PR
    kavita@d2.com

    Angela Yang
    Sr. PR Manager
    angela.yang@ddhl.com

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Allegro MicroSystems Appoints Dr. Krishna Palepu to its Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MANCHESTER, N.H., Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (“Allegro”) (Nasdaq: ALGM) a global leader in power and sensing semiconductor solutions for motion control and energy-efficient systems, today announced the appointment of Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, to Allegro’s Board of Directors (“Board”) as an independent director. Dr. Palepu’s appointment was effective on January 31, 2025. 

    Dr. Palepu brings extensive expertise in strategy, governance, and emerging markets to the Board, as well as experience advising companies in the technology and semiconductor sectors. His academic research focuses on globalization, particularly in India and China, and corporate board effectiveness. He has served on multiple public company boards and is a fellow of the International Academy of Management.

    “I am delighted to welcome Krishna to Allegro’s board of Directors,” said Yoshihiro “Zen” Suzuki, Chairman of the Board. “He brings a unique perspective with his impressive background in academia combined with considerable board and consulting experience in the sectors and markets of focus for the company. Dr. Palepu’s deep understanding of business strategy and global markets positions him perfectly to navigate the complexities of international business. His practical experience complements his research background, bringing valuable insight to the Board as we move towards our next stage of growth.”

    “It is an exciting time to join Allegro’s Board, and I am honored to be appointed,” said Dr. Palepu. “I look forward to working closely with Allegro’s directors and management team and drawing upon my expertise in corporate governance, emerging markets, and global strategy to further enable the company to continue its strong progress.”

    Dr. Palepu holds a master’s degree in Electronics from Andhra University, an MBA-equivalent degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and a Ph.D. in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

    About Allegro MicroSystems

    Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. is leveraging more than three decades of expertise in magnetic sensing and power ICs to propel automotive, clean energy and industrial automation forward with solutions that enhance efficiency, performance and sustainability. Allegro’s commitment to quality drives transformation across industries, reinforcing our status as a pioneer in “automotive grade” technology and a partner in our customers’ success. For additional information, visit www.allegromicro.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release should be considered forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “aim,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “exploring,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “would,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar words and expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results, performance or achievements, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements.

    Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s current expectations, beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. Such beliefs and assumptions may or may not prove to be correct. Additionally, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 29, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2024, which is available at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: downturns or volatility in general economic conditions; our ability to compete effectively, expand our market share and increase our net sales and profitability; our reliance on a limited number of third-party semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities and suppliers of other materials; any failure to adjust purchase commitments and inventory management based on changing market conditions or customer demand; shifts in our product mix, customer mix or channel mix, which could negatively impact our gross margin; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, including the analog segment in which we compete; any downturn or disruption in the automotive market or industry; our ability to successfully integrate the acquisition of other companies or technologies and products into our business; our ability to compensate for decreases in average selling prices of our products and increases in input costs; our ability to manage any sustained yield problems or other delays at our third-party wafer fabrication facilities or in the final assembly and test of our products; our ability to accurately predict our quarterly net sales and operating results and meet the expectations of investors; our dependence on manufacturing operations in the Philippines; our reliance on distributors to generate sales; events beyond our control impacting us, our key suppliers or manufacturing partners; our ability to develop new product features or new products in a timely and cost-effective manner; our ability to manage growth; any slowdown in the growth of our end markets; the loss of one or more significant customers; our ability to meet customers’ quality requirements; uncertainties related to the design win process and our ability to recover design and development expenses and to generate timely or sufficient net sales or margins; changes in government trade policies, including the imposition of export restrictions and tariffs; our exposures to warranty claims, product liability claims and product recalls; our dependence on international customers and operations; the availability of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives on end-user demands for certain products; risks, liabilities, costs and obligations related to governmental regulations and other legal obligations, including export/trade control, privacy, data protection, information security, cybersecurity, consumer protection, environmental and occupational health and safety, antitrust, anti-corruption and anti-bribery, product safety, environmental protection, employment matters and tax; the volatility of currency exchange rates; our ability to raise capital to support our growth strategy; our indebtedness may limit our flexibility to operate our business; our ability to effectively manage our growth and to retain key and highly skilled personnel; our ability to protect our proprietary technology and inventions through patents or trade secrets; our ability to commercialize our products without infringing third-party intellectual property rights; disruptions or breaches of our information technology systems or confidential information or those of our third-party service providers; our principal stockholder continues to have influence over us; the negative impact any future issuance or sale of our shares may have on the market price of our common stock; anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; any failure to design, implement or maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; changes in tax rates or the adoption of new tax legislation; the negative impacts of sustained inflation on our business; the physical, transition and litigation risks presented by climate change; and other events beyond our control. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties.

    You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

    Allegro Contact
    Jalene Hoover
    VP of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
    jhoover@allegromicro.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia selected by DE-CIX to upgrade New York’s largest Internet Exchange backbone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Nokia selected by DE-CIX to upgrade New York’s largest Internet Exchange backbone 

    • New York’s largest Internet Exchange to receive 400GE backbone upgrade and 800GE support as network ecosystem grows, resulting in greater router flexibility and operational resilience.
    • Nokia optical solution offers improved flexibility, faster incident response times, and seamless customer experience with no service interruptions.

    3 February 2025
    New York, USA – Nokia and DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, today announced the upgrade of the backbone network for DE-CIX New York, the largest IX in NY and in the US Northeast region. The DE-CIX backbone will be upgraded to 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) using Nokia optical technology and redesigned in a ring topology, redundantly interconnecting the 10 data center facilities where DE-CIX infrastructure is housed and enhancing the resiliency of the platform for all participants.

    The Nokia optical solution also enables 800GE support for anticipated further growth of the IX and employs Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology to ensure much greater routing flexibility, faster reaction times in the case of incidents, and a seamless customer experience without any service interruptions.

    Dr. Thomas King, CTO of DE-CIX, said: “When we began planning the upgrade of our New York backbone, we wanted to simplify our network, while also increasing the resilience of the platform. We took a detailed look at the options in the market, and Nokia was the best choice for us. We have worked with Nokia globally for more than 10 years now, and the capacity, reliability, and innovative strength of their hardware has always impressed us.”

    Within a dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) system, the ROADM technology in Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) makes it possible to automatically reroute waves at the optical layer in any direction around the backbone. This means that incidents at any location in the network can be mitigated more rapidly and less capacity is required at the IP layer to guarantee the same level of resilience.

    James Watt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia’s Optical business, said: “In today’s connected world, staying resilient and ready to scale is a must. This upgrade to DE-CIX New York’s backbone isn’t just about supporting the largest Internet Exchange in the Northeast — it’s about shaping the future of connectivity in one of the world’s biggest markets. With Nokia’s cutting-edge optical tech, we’re ensuring networks are flexible, reliable, and ready to handle whatever comes next. Together with DE-CIX, we’re building the foundation for a limitless digital future.”

    Ed d’Agostino, Vice President DE-CIX North America, said: “This upgrade, powered by Nokia’s optical technology, allows us to future-proof our platform to best serve the New York market and start 2025 on track for further growth. With the number of data centers that we integrate, it is imperative that we have a state-of-the-art transport network with scalable capacity. DE-CIX New York is the largest IX in New York and the youngest Internet Exchange in the Top 5 largest IXs in the US. The platform covers an area spanning Long Island to the East and Piscataway and Edison to the South and West. It connects over 265 networks from across the city, with an infrastructure that spans over 40 data centers served.

    DE-CIX New York is connected to all other DE-CIX locations in North America, enabling remote peering and access to a vibrant ecosystem of networks not present in other local exchanges. The DE-CIX Internet and Cloud Exchanges in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Richmond, Houston, and Phoenix, and the dedicated Cloud Exchange in Seattle, form the largest carrier and data center neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America.

    Further, DE-CIX New York is directly connected to DE-CIX’s locations in Europe – e.g. DE-CIX Frankfurt, the largest IX in Europe – and beyond. Globally in 2025, the 30th year since the operator’s establishment, DE-CIX offers its interconnection services in close to 60 locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Accessible from data centers in over 600 cities world-wide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, and offers peering, cloud, and other interconnection services.

    Nokia, DE-CIX and 650 Group to host webinar on 5 March 2025, 12PM EST

    Nokia will host a webinar together with DE-CIX and 650 Group on the topic of “Rewiring the Future: Conversations on Networking for an AI-Driven World”. Interested parties can join Rodney Dellinger, CTO of Webscale, Nokia, Dr Thomas King, CTO of DE-CIX, and Alan Weckel, co-founder and principal analyst of 650 Group, as they discuss what’s needed for the success of GenAI and how the network needs to evolve to deliver these services to the end users. Further information can be found here.

    Resources and additional information
    DE-CIX New York: https://www.de-cix.net/en/locations/new-york
    Product page: 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)
    Webpage: Nokia Optical Networks
    Webpage: Webscale networking for AI

    About Nokia 
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.  

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    About DE-CIX North America
    DE-CIX North America Inc., which began operations in 2014, is a wholly owned subsidiary of DE-CIX International AG, the international arm of DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange operator. Together, the DE-CIX Internet and Cloud Exchanges in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Richmond, Houston, and Phoenix, and the dedicated Cloud Exchange in Seattle, create the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America. DE-CIX provides network and data center-neutral peering and other interconnection services in North America. With access to DE-CIX North Americas’ Internet Exchanges, customers gain more control of their networks and access to world-class content providers, as well as IP transit, Virtual Private Network (VPN), and Blackholing services to mitigate the effects of DDoS attacks. DE-CIX New York is the youngest Internet Exchange in the Top 5 largest IXs in the US. It is carrier and data center-neutral and Open-IX certified. DE-CIX’s IXs are distributed across major carrier hotels and data centers throughout each metro region it serves. DE-CIX operates more access points than any other Internet Exchange operator in North America. For more information, please visit https://de-cix.net/north-america

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    DE-CIX Global Public Relations
    Judith Ellis, Nils Klute, Elisabeth Marcard, Viola Schreiber, Robert Stotzem & Carsten Titt
    Telephone: +49 (0)69-1730902-130
    Email: media@de-cix.net 

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New partnerships with financial sector to unlock growth in UK and overseas

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    UK Minister for Development announces funding and partnerships to deliver Sustainable Development Goals and domestic growth, in speech at London Stock Exchange.

    • Government to partner with UK financial sector to deliver on the Plan for Change by tackling climate change and driving growth at home.
    • Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds pays tribute to the UK financial services sector, which “powers jobs and growth across the UK”.
    • New funding and partnerships will unlock investment opportunities, as part of a new development approach supporting sustainable economic growth overseas.

    Efforts to address the climate crisis and boost growth in the Global South and at home will be enhanced under a partnership approach between the government and the UK financial sector, the UK’s Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds announced today (Monday 3 February).

    Speaking at the London Stock Exchange, Minister Dodds praised the “expertise, experience and dynamism” of the UK’s financial services sector, and pledged to put this expertise “at the heart of how we meet the opportunities and challenges of our time”, including accelerating delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These seek to address global challenges, including poverty, inequality, and climate change, to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, by 2030.

    Minister Dodds set out how investment in the Global South is an opportunity for UK financial services “to marry investment in the economies and technologies of the future, with the experience and expertise of the City of London”, adding that the government will hold up its end of the bargain by working internationally to reform the global financial system to provide greater opportunity and stability.

    Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

    With businesses and the government working hand in hand to drive investment in the Global South, we can unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and pride in our economy overseas and here at home.

    This government is enabling the financial services sector to flourish and use its expertise and depth of capital to invest in the markets and technologies of the future.

    Through partnerships like this, we will deliver on the Plan for Change, drive domestic growth, and create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet.

    The Minister announced up to £100 million for the UK’s flagship public markets programme MOBILIST. This programme will provide businesses focused on delivering the SDGs with the anchor funding and expert advice they need to list on stock exchanges around the world, including in London, allowing them to attract significant sums of additional private investment. 

    This is expected to generate between £400 million and £600 million of new investments in businesses across emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These investments will support economic growth, sustainable development, and climate action in local markets.

    She also celebrated the issuance of the first Climate Investment Fund (CIF) Capital Markets Mechanism (CCMM) bond last month, which raised $500 million (approximately £400 million) for energy and clean technology projects in low- and middle-income countries. The CCMM, launched by the Prime Minister at COP29, is a new financial mechanism to leverage future loan repayments by issuing bonds on capital markets.

    As today’s announcements demonstrate, this government’s modern approach to development focuses on harnessing the power of the private sector in mobilising the finance emerging markets need to grow. This will create future export markets for the UK and new overseas investment opportunities, supporting domestic growth and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. It will also make the UK safer and more stable by tackling the drivers of conflict, climate crises and economic decline in partner countries.

    UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said: 

    This is a historic moment for tackling the climate crisis, with the first bond raising $500 million to accelerate the global clean energy transition and support the flow of climate finance to developing countries.

    Public finance alone cannot tackle the scale of this challenge, and this mechanism will help leverage the private finance needed to support those on the frontline of a changing climate.

    Its listing in the UK positions London as a green finance capital. By working with partners such as the World Bank the UK can drive the action needed to grow the economy and reap the rewards of net zero.

    Minister Dodds made the announcements during a speech to the UK financial sector, including pension funds, insurers, banks, and development finance organisations, after joining a market opening ceremony at the London Stock Exchange.

    Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange, added:

    Flows of investment are vital to generating sustainable growth both in the UK and around the world. London’s capital markets have long played a leading role in driving flows of capital to where they need to go, and we welcome the focus on fuelling growth and supporting the just transition to net zero.

    As part of these efforts, we are proud to celebrate the listing of the Climate Investment Funds’ Capital Markets Mechanism on the London Stock Exchange. This pioneering bond issuance programme not only brings a new financing tool to our market but is facilitating critical investment in sustainable and clean assets.

    As part of the speech, the Minister also welcomed a first-of-its-kind report from UK institutional investors, co-led by Mercer, Aviva Investors and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and supported by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), on scaling private capital for climate action in emerging markets, and announced a new taskforce to take its recommendations forward.

    The speech comes a week after British International Investment (BII), which is funded by the FCDO, launched a call for institutional investors to work with them to develop solutions that will boost the flow of private capital into emerging markets, which are often considered too risky by global investors, but can offer attractive investment opportunities for growth, diversification and impact for the climate transition. 

    Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Investment Funds, said:

    The UK has long recognized that to transform our energy systems at the scale and speed required, we must deploy public money smartly. That means putting climate finance to work where it’s most needed: investing in promising new technologies and enabling new clean energy markets, to spur private sector interest at scale.

    As a founding member of the Climate Investment Funds and a proud partner in the launch of our next-generation CIF Capital Markets Mechanism today, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to bold new models of public-private partnership for both people and planet.

    Benoit Hudon, Mercer’s UK President and CEO said:

    UK institutional investors, as part of the wider financial and professional services ecosystem are uniquely placed to help finance development projects in emerging markets and developing economies, which will also support UK growth. The report published today, co-led by Mercer, sets out a range of measures the UK Government and finance industry can take to secure the UK’s position as the world’s leading destination for transition finance.

    Background

    The Minister’s full speech will be made available on gov.uk following the event: Search – GOV.UK

    Photos to be available on FCDO Flickr later today.

    About MOBILIST 

    A flagship UK government programme, MOBILIST (Mobilising Institutional Capital Through Listed Product Structures) identifies and invests in scalable, replicable transactions on public markets that help deliver the climate transition and the Sustainable Development Goals. MOBILIST invests capital on commercial terms, delivers technical assistance, conducts research, and builds partnerships to catalyse investment in newly listed products. Since its inception, MOBILIST has invested £87 million in equity and equity commitments, directly mobilising £247.5 million in private capital.

    Examples of initiatives supported by MOBILIST include:

    • Citicore Renewable Energy Company: in June 2024, MOBILIST supported the Philippines in its transition to renewable energy through a £9.9 million local currency investment in the initial public offering (IPO) of Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC) on the Philippines Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE), helping to decarbonise the Philippines power generation fleet by rapidly rolling out wind and solar, adding 2.3GW by the end of 2025 and 5GW by 2028. MOBILIST’s investment supported £63.7 million of private investment, a mobilisation ratio of 6.25.
    • Bayfront Infrastructure Capital IV: MOBILIST’s £4 million equity investment in September 2023 into a $410 million securitisation vehicle that listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and enabled the greening of bank balance sheets in Southeast Asia and attracted international investors into developing countries’ infrastructure. MOBILIST’s investment supported £90.5 million in private investment, a mobilisation ratio of 22.9.

    About the CIF & CCMM

    The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) were launched in 2008 to invest in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) climate projects. To date, the CIF has leveraged over $64bn from $12.3bn of donor contributions, supporting over 400 projects in over 80 countries. The UK (led by DESNZ) is a leading donor and chairs its Joint Trust Fund Committee.

    The CIF Capital Markets Mechanism (CCMM) was launched by the Prime Minister at COP29, and the bonds were issued on the London Stock Exchange in January 2025. It is a new financial mechanism to leverage future loan repayments (reflows) from previous investments made under the CIF’s Clean Technology Fund (CTF), by issuing bonds on capital markets. 

    Examples of investments made by the CTF include:

    • In South Africa, CTF invested $430.9 million (with co-financing of $2.28 billion). Key achievements include supporting Sub-Saharan Africa’s first large-scale battery storage project and increasing clean energy share in the power grid. This has led to a reduction of 1 million tons of CO2 annually. Notable projects include the KaXu, Xina, and Khi solar plants and the 2023 launch of Africa’s largest battery energy storage system.
    • In Thailand, CTF invested $85.7 million (with co-financing of $1.1 billion). This funding supported over 480MW of solar and wind capacity, reducing 160,000 tons of CO2 annually. Over eight years, wind capacity increased seven-fold, and solar capacity more than doubled. CTF also helped finance the Theppana Wind Power Project and kickstarted the Solar Power Company Group to develop solar farms across northeastern Thailand.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Escalation of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: G7 foreign ministers’ statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    G7 foreign ministers gave a statement condemning the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capture of Minova, Saké and Goma.

    Joint statement:

    We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in particular, the capture of Minova, Saké and Goma. We urge M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to cease their offensive in all directions. We call for the urgent protection of civilians.

    We also call for an end to all direct and indirect support to the M23 and all non-state armed groups in the DRC. This offensive constitutes a flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. We also condemn M23’s intention to continue expansion into South Kivu.

    This latest M23 offensive has led to a dramatic increase in displaced civilians in Goma and across eastern DRC, on top of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people since the start of the M23 offensive in January. We deplore the devastating consequences of the renewed M23 and RDF offensive, worsening already difficult humanitarian conditions.

    G7 Foreign Ministers call for the rapid, safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians and reiterate that humanitarian personnel must be provided assurances of safety.

    We urge all parties to return to the negotiating table and honour their commitments under the Luanda Process. We urge the M23 to withdraw from all controlled areas. We also urge all parties to fully commit to a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict.

    We reiterate our full support to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to protect civilians and stabilize the region and call on all parties to respect its mandate.

    Attacks against peacekeeping personnel are entirely unacceptable. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers of MONUSCO and the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).

    We strongly condemn all attacks against diplomatic missions in Kinshasa. We urge the Congolese authorities to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomats and the premises of diplomatic missions, as is their responsibility in accordance with international law.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE University Opens Dual Degree Master’s Program with Chinese University RIEM SWUFE

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    In January 2025, HSE and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) signed a cooperation agreement to implement a dual degree master’s program within the Financial Economics program at ICEF and the Master’s in Finance program at SWUFE. This program will allow students to gain a unique educational experience in two countries, combining the best educational traditions of Russia and China. ICEF’s counterpart is the Research Institute of Economics and Management (RIEM), established at SWUFE in 2006 to implement research and educational programs in economics and finance at a high international level.

    ICEF delegation at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) in Chengdu, China, in October 2024. During the meetings, an agreement was reached to establish the ICEF–RIEM Dual Degree Master’s Program.

    © MIEF

    Features of the program

    The program is based on the principle of mirror mobility: students study for 1-1.5 years in China at RIEM SWUFE and for 1-1.5 years in Russia at ICEF HSE. During their studies, students will gain in-depth knowledge in economics, finance, and data analysis, and will also study the economic and cultural characteristics of both countries.

    To participate in the program, you must successfully complete the first year at your home university and be selected for the double degree program. In the second year, students will study at the partner university and then return to their home university to complete their studies. Master’s theses will be defended separately at each of the universities.

    The programme will be taught in English and will include courses in micro- and macroeconomics, asset valuation and corporate finance. Each university will offer its own unique emphasis: RIEM will focus on the Chinese economy and financial system, and ICEF on quantitative and applied finance and data analysis.

    Upon completion of the program, graduates will receive two diplomas: a Master’s degree from the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Economics and a SWUFE diploma in Economics (specialization in Finance).

    Dean of the Research Institute of Economics and Management RIEM, Professor Yan Dong (graduated with a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics, UK, and received a PhD from the University of Essex, UK) about RIEM:

    “Our institute is very special. From the name, it seems that we are a research institute, but in fact, we are an educational unit. We have about 1,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Our institute is special because all of our teachers have obtained their PhD degrees abroad. We have graduates from universities in the United States, Europe, Asia and other countries. All of our teachers are fluent in English, and the language of instruction – the working language in our institute – is English. We have more than 100 foreign students studying at our institute. This is what makes our institute special – it is quite an internationalized institution, and we have teachers who do not speak Chinese at all – they are international specialists.”

    Academic Director of the ICEF Master’s Program “Financial Economics” Maxim Nikitin:

    “Since the creation of the Financial Economics program, its main feature has been its international format. We have sought to integrate international standards and practices into the educational process. Cooperation with one of China’s leading universities in the field of finance, such as SWUFE, is an important step in this direction and expands the geography of our educational interaction. We are pleased that this initiative is based on the principle of equal exchange, which will enrich the programs of both partners, and will also create a new platform for academic exchange and joint projects. We are confident that this partnership will provide our students with access to unique knowledge and skills that will be in demand in the global labor market.”

    Earlier in 2024, HSE ICEF and RIEM SWUFE launched Bachelor’s double degree program in economics and financeCurrently, the first cohort of 2nd year students of ICEF is already successfully studying at SWUFE under this program.

    Graduates of the program will receive a bachelor’s degree in economics from the National Research University Higher School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in economics from SWUFE.

    Academic Director of the ICEF Bachelor’s Program Oleg Zamkov:

    “ICEF HSE and RIEM SWUFE are a very good match for each other in implementing dual degree programs due to the close financial and economic focus of the programs and the level of updating of the courses. All economic and financial subjects required for ICEF students are also available at SWUFE, and, conversely, ICEF has everything required for students of the partner university.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Retail sales down 9.7% in December

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The value of total retail sales for December, provisionally estimated at $32.8 billion, was 9.7% less than in the same month a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

    After netting out the effects of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate represents an 11.5% year-on-year decrease.

    The value of total retail sales for 2024 as a whole was provisionally estimated at $376.8 billion, down 7.3% in value and 9% in volume against 2023.

    Online sales accounted for 7.2% of December’s total retail sales value. Provisionally estimated at $2.4 billion, the value of this segment fell 17.2% from the same month a year earlier.

    The value of sales of jewellery, watches, clocks and valuable gifts dropped by 13.8%.

    Meanwhile, decreases were likewise seen in sales of “consumer goods not elsewhere classified” (down 2.9%); commodities in supermarkets (down 3.1%); clothing (down 11.1%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (down 0.6%); commodities in department stores (down 8.9%); and medicines and cosmetics (down 2.2%).

    Sales also declined in the following categories: electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (down 20.2%); motor vehicles and parts (down 36.3%); fuels (down 11.2%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (down 4.9%); Chinese drugs and herbs (down 2.2%); furniture and fixtures (down 22%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (down 9.6%); and optical items (down 7.5%).

    The Government commented that the decline in the value of total retail sales in December from a year earlier partly reflected an increase in outbound trips by residents during the holidays.

    Looking ahead, it said the retail sector’s near-term performance will continue to be affected by changes in the consumption patterns of visitors and residents.

    However, it added that increasing earnings from employment, and the introduction of various measures by the central government to boost the Mainland’s economy and benefit Hong Kong, together with proactive efforts by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote tourism and boost market sentiment, will benefit the sector.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with former Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Indonesia

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Rudiantara, former Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and current Chairman of Amartha, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges of ASEAN economic integration amidst the evolving global economic landscape and discussed preparations for the Asia Grassroots Forum 2025, to be hosted by Amartha, scheduled for 21-23 May 2025, in Bali, Indonesia.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with former Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Indonesia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Economy grows 2.5% in 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Hong Kong’s economy in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 2.4% year-on-year, and grew 2.5% for 2024 as a whole.

    The Census & Statistics Department announced the figures today as it released its advance estimates on gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter and the whole of 2024.

    According to the estimates, private consumption expenditure decreased 0.2% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, while it decreased 0.6% for the whole year.

    Government consumption expenditure grew 1.9% year-on-year and expanded 0.9% for 2024 as a whole.

    Gross domestic fixed capital formation fell 0.9% year-on-year and increased 2.4% for the whole of 2024.

    Over the same period, total goods exports and imports grew 1.2% and 0.1% from a year earlier. For the whole of 2024, total goods exports and imports increased 4.7% and 2.3%.

    Compared with a year earlier, exports of services rose 5.6% in the fourth quarter, while imports of services went up 8.7%. For 2024 in full, exports and imports of services increased 4.8% and 11.8% respectively.

    Commenting on the figures, the Government said the Hong Kong economy posted moderate growth of 2.5% in 2024, further to 3.2% growth in 2023.

    During the year, total exports of goods resumed growth amid improved external demand. Exports of services continued to increase, driven by further growth of visitor arrivals and improvement in other cross-border economic activities. Overall investment expenditure showed a further increase as the economy continued to expand.

    However, private consumption expenditure recorded a slight decline, affected by the change in residents’ consumption patterns.

    Looking ahead, the Hong Kong economy is expected to register further growth in 2025 despite heightened uncertainties in the external environment. Trade protectionist policies implemented by the US may disrupt global trade flows and adversely affect Hong Kong’s goods exports, and also lead to a slower pace of interest rate cuts in the US and keep the Hong Kong dollar strong for longer.

    Nevertheless, the Mainland’s proactive policy to boost its economy will help bolster market confidence and benefit a wide spectrum of economic segments in Hong Kong. The central government’s various measures benefitting Hong Kong, coupled with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s wide range of initiatives to promote economic growth, will also provide support to various economic activities, it added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Peacekeepers from Timor-Leste share their unique stories

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    One of the main examples of successful stabilization by the UN comes from East Timor, a context that was marked by 24 years of conflict during the Indonesian occupation and violent internal crises after independence. With support from the United Nations, the small Asian nation achieved self-determination and pacification.

    To overcome divisions and other issues, Timor-Leste invested in reconciliation, an experience that can inspire global peace and security efforts in other contexts. Therefore, on a recent visit to the country, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that “the world has a lot to learn” from the Timorese experience.

    Between 1999 and 2012, Timor-Leste hosted six of the organization’s missions, four of which were peacekeeping and the other two were political. The Asian nation lives under the motto “conflict never again, welcome development” and works to send more and more Timorese soldiers to stabilization missions around the world.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQLOZv9Grhw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to news that AstraZeneca has scrapped plans for a £450m expansion of a vaccine factory in Merseyside

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on AstraZeneca scrapping plans for a UK based vaccine plant. 

    Sharon Todd, Chief Executive, Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), said:

    “Today’s news regarding AstraZeneca’s vaccine factory is a real concern for industry, sending out the wrong message at a time government is shaping its new industrial strategy, Invest 2035. 

    “Since 2013 inward FDI in life sciences has grown at a CAGR of 6% (2013-2023) across 18 major countries, however the UK growth in FDI was only 3%, falling way short of most of the other countries, which include France, Germany, Ireland and Singapore. 

    “If life sciences are going to be a major pillar of the UK’s new industrial strategy, then the UK needs to make some bold steps forward to ensure it is competitive for life sciences investments.”

    Declared interests

    The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement on the escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Source: Government of Canada News

    We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in particular, the capture of Minova, Saké and Goma.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM congratulates musician Chandrika Tandon on winning Grammy award

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 2:32PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister today congratulated musician Chandrika Tandon on winning Grammy award for the album Triveni. He commended her passion towards Indian culture and accomplishments as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and musician.

    In a post on X, he wrote:

    “Congratulations to @chandrikatandon on winning the Grammy for the album Triveni. We take great pride in her accomplishments as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and ofcourse, music! It is commendable how she has remained passionate about Indian culture and has been working to popularise it. She is an inspiration for several people. 

    I fondly recall meeting her in New York in 2023.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2099101) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Advance estimates on Gross Domestic Product for fourth quarter and whole year of 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 3) the advance estimates on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2024.
     
         According to the advance estimates, GDP increased by 2.4% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.9% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, GDP increased by 2.5% in real terms over 2023.
     
         Analysed by major GDP component, private consumption expenditure (PCE) decreased by 0.2% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, narrowed from the decrease of 1.3% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, PCE decreased by 0.6% in real terms from 2023.
     
         Government consumption expenditure (GCE) measured in national accounts terms recorded an increase of 1.9% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.7% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, GCE increased by 0.9% in real terms over 2023.
     
         Gross domestic fixed capital formation (GDFCF) decreased by 0.9% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 5.7% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, GDFCF increased by 2.4% in real terms over 2023.
     
         Over the same period, total exports of goods measured in national accounts terms recorded an increase of 1.2% in real terms over a year earlier, moderated from the increase of 4.0% in the third quarter. Imports of goods measured in national accounts terms grew by 0.1% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with the increase of 2.8% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, total exports of goods and imports of goods recorded increases of 4.7% and 2.3% respectively in real terms over 2023.
     
         Exports of services rose further by 5.6% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, after the increase of 2.9% in the third quarter. Imports of services increased by 8.7% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with the increase of 8.9% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, exports of services and imports of services recorded increases of 4.8% and 11.8% respectively in real terms over 2023.
     
         On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison basis, GDP increased by 0.8% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 when compared with the third quarter.
     
    Commentary
     
         A Government spokesman said that the Hong Kong economy grew at an accelerated pace in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier. According to the advance estimates, real GDP expanded by 2.4% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, real GDP turned to growth of 0.8%.
     
         For 2024 as a whole, real GDP posted moderate growth of 2.5%, further to 3.2% growth in 2023. Total exports of goods resumed growth amid improved external demand. Exports of services continued to increase, driven by further growth of visitor arrivals and improvement in other cross-border economic activities. Overall investment expenditure showed a further increase as the economy continued to expand. However, private consumption expenditure recorded a slight decline, affected by the change in residents’ consumption patterns.
     
         Looking ahead, the Hong Kong economy is expected to register further growth in 2025 despite heightened uncertainties in the external environment. Trade protectionist policies implemented by the US may disrupt global trade flows and adversely affect Hong Kong’s goods exports. They may also lead to a slower pace of interest rate cuts in the US and keep the Hong Kong dollar strong for longer. Nevertheless, the Mainland’s proactive policy to boost its economy will help bolster market confidence and benefit a wide spectrum of economic segments in Hong Kong. The Central Government’s various measures benefitting Hong Kong, coupled with the SAR Government’s wide range of initiatives to promote economic growth, will also provide support to various economic activities.
     
         The revised figures on GDP and more detailed statistics for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2024, as well as the real GDP growth forecast for 2025 will be released on February 26, 2025 when the 2025-26 Budget is announced.
     
    Further information
     
         The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP and selected major expenditure components in real terms from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2024 are shown in Table 1.
     
         When more data become available, the C&SD will compile revised figures on GDP. The revised figures on GDP and more detailed statistics for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2024 will be released at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.html) and the Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component report (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030001&scode=250) on February 26, 2025.
     
         For enquiries about statistics on GDP by expenditure component, please contact the National Income Branch (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5077 or email: gdp-e@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ Credit Conditions for fourth quarter 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ Credit Conditions for fourth quarter 2024
    Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ Credit Conditions for fourth quarter 2024
    ***************************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (February 3) the results of Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’ Credit Conditions for the fourth quarter of 2024. According to the survey, SMEs’ credit conditions remained broadly stable.           Regarding SMEs’ perception of banks’ credit approval stance relative to 6 months ago, excluding respondents who answered “no idea/ don’t know”, 70 per cent perceived a “similar” or “easier” credit approval stance in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 76 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 1 in the Annex). 30 per cent perceived a “more difficult” credit approval stance, compared to 24 per cent in the previous quarter. The perception of a more difficult credit approval stance may not necessarily reflect actual difficulties faced by SMEs in obtaining bank credit as the perception could be affected by a number of factors, such as media/news reports, business conditions and opinions of relatives and friends.           Among respondents with existing credit lines, 0 per cent reported a “tighter” banks’ stance, down further from 1 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 2 in the Annex). In this survey, a tighter stance on existing credit lines denotes a range of possible measures or arrangements, such as reducing unused and used credit lines, raising the interest rate, imposing additional collateral requirements, or shortening loan tenor. Therefore, respondents’ indication of banks’ stance on existing credit lines may not directly reflect banks’ supply of credit to SMEs.            The survey also gauged the results of new credit applications from SMEs. 4 per cent of the respondents reported that they had applied for new bank credit during the fourth quarter of 2024. Among the respondents who had already known their application outcomes, 77 per cent reported fully or partially successful applications, down from 79 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 3 in the Annex).           Owing to small sample sizes of SMEs with existing credit lines (26 per cent of surveyed SMEs) and with new credit applications (4 per cent of surveyed SMEs) during the quarter, the results could be prone to large fluctuations, and hence should be interpreted with care.About Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’ Credit Conditions           In light of the importance of SMEs to the Hong Kong economy and concerns about potential funding difficulties facing SMEs over the past few years, the HKMA has appointed the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to carry out this survey, starting from the third quarter of 2016. This survey is conducted on a quarterly basis, covering about 2 500 SMEs from different economic sectors each time. The results of this survey can help monitor the development of SMEs’ access to bank credit from a demand-side perspective.           The results of this survey should be interpreted with caution. Similar to other opinion surveys, views collected in this survey may be affected by changes in sentiment due to idiosyncratic events that occurred over the survey period, which can make the results prone to fluctuations. Readers are advised to interpret the results together with other economic and financial information. In addition, views collected are limited to the expected direction of inter-quarter changes (e.g. “tighter”, “no change” or “easier”) without providing information about the magnitude of these changes.           Detailed tables and technical information of this survey are published on the website of the HKPC (smecc.hkpc.org).

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Provisional statistics of retail sales for December 2024 and whole year of 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (February 3).

         The value of total retail sales in December 2024, provisionally estimated at $32.8 billion, decreased by 9.7% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in November 2024 decreased by 7.3% compared with a year earlier.

         Of the total retail sales value in December 2024, online sales accounted for 7.2%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.4 billion, decreased by 17.2% compared with the same month in 2023. The revised estimate of online retail sales in November 2024 decreased by 7.2% compared with a year earlier.

         After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in December 2024 decreased by 11.5% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in November 2024 decreased by 8.4% compared with a year earlier.

         Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing December 2024 with December 2023, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts decreased by 13.8%. This was followed by sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified (-2.9% in value); commodities in supermarkets (-3.1%); wearing apparel (-11.1%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-0.6%); commodities in department stores (-8.9%); medicines and cosmetics (-2.2%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-20.2%); motor vehicles and parts (-36.3%); fuels (-11.2%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-4.9%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-2.2%); furniture and fixtures (-22.0%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-9.6%); and optical shops (-7.5%).

         Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the preceding quarter, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 0.2%.

         For 2024 as a whole, the value of total retail sales was provisionally estimated at $376.8 billion, decreased by 7.3% in value and 9.0% in volume compared with 2023. The value of online retail sales was provisionally estimated at $31.7 billion, decreased by 2.6% over 2023.
     
         Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing the whole year of 2024 with the whole year of 2023, the value of sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts decreased by 14.5%. This was followed by sales of commodities in supermarkets (-1.5% in value); wearing apparel (-10.6%); food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-3.2%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-11.3%); commodities in department stores (-13.9%); motor vehicles and parts (-17.2%); fuels (-11.4%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-7.5%); furniture and fixtures (-14.4%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-14.8%); and optical shops (-13.6%).

         On the other hand, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified increased by 0.4% in 2024 compared with 2023. This was followed by sales of medicines and cosmetics (+4.4% in value); and books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (+4.7%).

    Commentary

         A government spokesman said that the value of total retail sales declined further in December from a year earlier, partly reflecting the impact of residents’ increased outbound trips during the holidays. For the fourth quarter as a whole, the value of total retail sales fell by 6.7% year-on-year, narrower than the 9.6% decrease in the preceding quarter.

         Looking ahead, the spokesman said that the near-term performance of the retail sector would continue to be affected by the change in consumption patterns of visitors and residents. Nevertheless, the introduction of various measures by the Central Government to boost the Mainland economy and benefit Hong Kong, together with the SAR Government’s proactive efforts to promote tourism development and boost market sentiment, as well as increasing employment earnings, would benefit the retail sector.

    Further information

         Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for November 2024 as well as the provisional figures for December 2024. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the whole year of 2024 are also shown.

         Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for November 2024 as well as the provisional figures for December 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the whole year of 2024 are also shown.
     
         Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for November 2024 as well as the provisional figures for December 2024. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the whole year of 2024 are also shown.

         Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.

         The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.

         These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.

         The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.

         Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.

         More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey of Retail Sales”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080003&scode=530).

         Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; email : mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Harnessing Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 1:41PM by PIB Delhi

    In order to harness the potential and to optimally tap constructive and creative energies of the youth, the Department of Youth Affairs pursues the twin objectives of personality-building and nation-building, that is, developing the personality of youth and involving them in various nation-building activities through its field organizations and various schemes.

    National Service Scheme (NSS) is engaged in developing the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service. ‘Education through Service’ is the purpose of the NSS.

    Similarly, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) through its various programmes and interventions is reaching out to the rural youth for their empowerment and civic engagement.

    Moreover, recently, an overarching enabling mechanism- Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body under the Department of Youth Affairs has been established, which is powered by technology, for youth development and youth led development through ‘Kartavya Bodh’ and ‘Seva Bhaav’, during the Amrit Kaal.

    A digital platform for MY Bharat (https://www.mybharat.gov.in/) has been developed on which the youth across the country can register and signup for various volunteering opportunities being made available on the portal. The envisioned phygital (physical + digital) ecosystem is to empower young individuals to become catalysts for community transformation. So far, more than 1.65 Crore Youth have registered on the MY Bharat Portal.

    To advance the goal of developed India by 2047 among youth, the “Yuva Connect” program has been conceptualized with the aim to foster youth engagement and leadership in the developmental transformation of India. The events are organised around discussions on the concept of Viksit Bharat with young people in educational institutions throughout India. Youth also get an opportunity to interact with eminent speakers.

    Through these programs, emphasis is laid on values such as national identity, civic engagement, social cohesion, human capital development, critical thinking, and empowerment, so that students are better prepared to contribute positively to their societies. These interactions not only enhance individual growth but also strengthen the fabric of the nation as a whole. 

    This information was given by Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2099075) Visitor Counter : 78

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US
    CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US
    ******************************************************************************************

         ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 3) urged the public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from the United States (US), as the products may pose a choking hazard. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.     Details of the products are as follows:Product name:(1) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Strawberry Apple (Net weight: 90 grams per pack)(2) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Banana (Net weight: 90g per pack)(3) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Banana (Net weight: 45g per pack)Brand: GerberPlace of origin: USBatch: all lotsImporter: Nestle Hong Kong Limited     ​A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS noted notices issued by the Food and Drug Administration of the US and the Canadian authorities respectively that the above-mentioned products are under recall as they possess a choking hazard. The CFS confirmed that the above-mentioned importer has imported the products concerned into Hong Kong.”     The importer has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected products and initiated a voluntary recall. Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2179 8333 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the products concerned.     ​The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 16:02

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2025
    Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2025
    **********************************************************************

         The Transport Department (TD) today (February 3) reminded members of the public that, to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Marathon 2025 this Sunday (February 9), temporary road closures will be implemented at various locations in phases from Saturday (February 8) at 11.30pm and will be reopened subject to the progress of the race. It is anticipated all closed roads will be reopened by about 2pm on Sunday.      This year, the full and half marathon races will start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. The full marathon race will route through major road sections including Nathan Road (from Granville Road to Argyle Street), Argyle Street, Lin Cheung Road, West Kowloon Highway, Stonecutters Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Tsing Kwai Highway, the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC), Connaught Road West flyover, Lung Wo Road, Expo Drive, Hung Hing Road, Lockhart Road, Percival Street, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street and Sugar Street, and finish at Victoria Park. The half marathon race route will follow that of the full marathon race from the starting point at Nathan Road to Lin Cheung Road with the turning point at Tsing Kwai Highway and then rejoin the full marathon race route at West Kowloon Highway.      As for other races, the starting point will be set at different locations on Hong Kong Island while all the finishing points will be set at Victoria Park. The 10-kilometre race will start at the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) near the exit/entrance of Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel (CWBT) and run along the IEC eastwards to the turning point near Oi Tak Street and then return to the finishing point. The 10-kilometre wheelchair race will start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road, Expo Drive, Lung Wo Road and Central Ferry Piers area and then return to run along Lung Wo Road, Hung Hing Road, Marsh Road, Lockhart Road and Hennessey Road heading for the finishing point. The Wheelchair Trial and Leaders Cup will also start at Wan Chai Sports Ground and route through Hung Hing Road and Marsh Road and then rejoin the 10-km wheelchair race route heading for the finishing point.      According to the arrangements for the full and half marathon race routes, temporary closures of major road sections and their vicinities in Yau Tsim Mong area will be implemented extensively, including (i) the whole section of Nathan Road (in both directions) between Salisbury Road and Gascoigne Road, (ii) the northbound carriageway of Nathan Road between Gascoigne Road and Argyle Street, and (iii) the westbound carriageway of Argyle Street between Nathan Road and Tong Mi Road. The above road sections will be reopened at or before about 10.30am in phases, subject to the progress of the races. At the same time, public transport services in this area will also be subject to extensive adjustments. Members of the public heading to this area are advised to use railway services.      Moreover, since the full marathon will use the Kowloon-bound carriageways of Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel as the race route, vehicles on Lantau Link (Tsing Ma Bridge) heading to Kowloon will be diverted to use North West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsuen Wan Road, Kwai Chung Road, Cheung Sha Wan Road and Lai Chi Kok Road. It is anticipated that traffic congestion along North Lantau Highway, Tsing Ma Bridge and the vicinity of North West Tsing Yi Interchange may occur.      The above road closures will not affect vehicles from Hong Kong Island/Kowloon/New Territories East heading for Hong Kong International Airport and Lantau Island. Vehicles from the New Territories West to the airport and Lantau Island could travel via Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel. Due to the closure of the Kowloon-bound carriageway of Ting Kau Bridge, vehicles travelling via Tuen Mun Road or Tai Lam Tunnel to the airport and Lantau Island will be diverted to use Tsuen Wan Road, Tsuen Tsing Interchange, Tsing Tsuen Road, Tsing Tsuen Bridge and Tsing Yi North Coastal Road to enter Tsing Ma Bridge.      During the races, the Kowloon-bound tube of the WHC will remain opened, while the Hong Kong-bound tube of the WHC will be temporarily closed from 0.45am on Sunday till about 1.15pm, subject to the progress of the races. Motorists in Kowloon West heading for Hong Kong Island are advised to use the Cross-Harbour Tunnel or Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC). For the race routes in Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Street eastbound will be temporarily closed to serve as a race route. Most of the public transport services operating along Yee Wo Street (in the direction of North Point) will be diverted to use Percival Street, Leighton Road and Pennington Street during the closure period.      According to the arrangements for the 10-km race, both bound carriageways of the IEC between Victoria Park Road and Shau Kei Wan, and the CWBT linking to and from the IEC will be closed from 1.15am on Sunday in phases, and traffic will be diverted via appropriate alternative routes such as Connaught Road Central, Gloucester Road, King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, etc. Traffic to and from the EHC will be diverted to the Sai Wan Ho or Kornhill exit/entrance. Depending on the progress of the races, different sections of the CWBT will be reopened in phases to minimise the impact on traffic. Upon the anticipated reopening of the IEC before noon, the section of the CWBT between Central and North Point will be reopened while the Wan Chai North exit from and entrance to the CWBT will be closed for most of the race time.      In connection with the road closure arrangements, starting from 11.15pm on Saturday until the reopening of the roads, 211 daytime bus routes and 33 daytime green minibus (GMB) routes will be subject to suspension, truncation or diversion, and the stopping points concerned of the affected bus and GMB services will be relocated accordingly in phases. Also, 49 overnight bus routes and six overnight green minibus routes to be affected by the road closures will be subject to the associated service adjustments. These affected bus routes include the cross-harbour routes and bus services operating in the following areas:     Hong Kong Island – bus routes operating along the IEC, the CWBT, in Central and Western District, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay areas;     Kowloon – bus routes operating along Nathan Road, Argyle Street, Shanghai Street, Jordan Road and Yau Tsim Mong areas; and New Territories – bus routes operating along Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel.     The following bus termini and public transport interchanges on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon will be suspended: Hong Kong Island – Tin Hau Station Public Transport Interchange, Expo Drive East Bus Terminus, Central Ferry Piers Bus Terminus and Whitfield Road Bus Terminus; and      Kowloon – China Ferry Terminal Public Transport Interchange and Star Ferry Bus Terminus.     To enable participants of the full/half marathon and 10-km races that start in the early morning to go to Tsim Sha Tsui or Causeway Bay, the first departures of eight rail lines of MTR services will be advanced suitably on Sunday, with the first departures on the Tuen Ma Line and East Rail Line to be operated at 3.25am. In addition, 28 special bus routes will also be operated to serve participants going to Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay on Sunday.      During the road closure period, bus stops, taxi stands, taxi pick-up/drop-off points, public light bus/GMB stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks within the closed roads and their vicinities may be suspended subject to the situation.      The commencement time of the pedestrian precinct on Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street in Causeway Bay will be postponed to 3pm on Sunday subject to the road reopening situation in the vicinity of Causeway Bay.     Members of the public and tourists heading for Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express Line, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, China Ferry Terminal (China Hong Kong City) or Ocean Terminal are advised to plan their journeys early to avoid any delays caused by road closures and traffic diversions.      The TD anticipates that the traffic at various locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories will be more significantly congested when compared with normal Sundays, including:     Hong Kong Island – King’s Road, Shau Kei Wan Road, Victoria Park Road, Leighton Road, Hennessy Road, Gloucester Road, Queensway, Connaught Road Central, Aberdeen Tunnel (Wan Chai bound) and Central Ferry Piers areas;     Kowloon – Nathan Road and its vicinity, Argyle Street, Wylie Road, Gascoigne Road flyover, West Kowloon Corridor and Cross-Harbour Tunnel (both bounds), with a higher chance of long traffic queues along Gascoigne Road flyover and West Kowloon Corridor; and     New Territories – Lantau Link (Kowloon bound) and North West Tsing Yi Interchange.     Motorists should avoid driving to the above affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, they should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on-site.      Members of the public should plan their journeys early and use alternative routes to avoid unexpected delays, and take railway services as far as possible. Public transport users are advised to pay attention to the arrangements of route diversions and changes of stop locations.      Other ad-hoc traffic and public transport measures, including adjusting the extent of road closures, traffic diversions, alterations and suspensions of public transport services, may be implemented by the Police on-site at short notice depending on the actual traffic and crowd conditions. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay alert to the latest traffic news through the media.      For information about the above special traffic and transport adjustments, members of the public may browse the TD’s website at www.td.gov.hk or the “HKeMobility” mobile application.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 15:45

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bureau of Indian Standards strengthens engagement with African and Latin American Nations on Standardization

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 1:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hosted a high-level roundtable discussion to foster collaboration in the field of standardization with African and Latin American nations. The event saw participation from Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and representatives of over 25 countries from these regions, along with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Consumer Affairs.

    Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India and Mr. Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, BIS, led the discussions alongside senior officials from Bureau.

    Consumer Affairs Secretary acknowledged BIS’s comprehensive standards ecosystem, which ensures product quality and safety while facilitating seamless trade across borders. She underscored the importance of harmonizing standards to strengthen international trade and quality infrastructure.

    Smt. Khare said that BIS plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade by setting standards that ensure compatibility, safety, and quality. She emphasized India’s strong commitment to international standardization and its active participation in ISO and IEC at both technical and governance levels. With seven decades of expertise in standardization, BIS continues to lead in this domain.

    She highlighted how BIS has been organizing capacity-building programs for developing countries under the ITEC program. So far, 30 African nations and 10 Latin American countries have benefited from these initiatives. Additionally, BIS has established Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with these countries to facilitate knowledge-sharing and the exchange of best practices.

    The Secretary reiterated BIS’s commitment to extending cooperation to any interested country, offering support on standardization principles and sector-specific matters. The organization has also developed comprehensive codes for the National Building Code (NBC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC), which contribute to safe and sustainable infrastructure development.

    For developing countries with limited resources and expertise, she stressed that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they can adopt Indian standards through harmonization, benefiting from the experience and expertise that BIS has cultivated.

    All dignitaries present appreciated the efforts and support provided by BIS. The representatives encouraged more such programs in collaboration with National Standards Bodies (NSBs). African and Latin American countries expressed keen interest in furthering mutual cooperation with BIS, strengthening their standardization frameworks.

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    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2099057) Visitor Counter : 74

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Chairman’s Opening Remarks at Commencement of 267th Session of Rajya Sabha

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 12:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Hon’ble Members, the 267th Session of the Rajya Sabha is a milestone in the constitutional journey of Bharat, being the first one convened as we march into the last quarter of the century of adoption of our Constitution on November 26, 1949.

    An occasion of expression of profound gratitude to visionary founding fathers, whose wisdom and foresight endowed us with a Constitution that has remarkably shaped the destiny of our Republic.

    In this journey of 75 years, we have embraced modernity without forsaking our timeless wisdom and heritage. Our collective dreams and aspirations have enabled strides in digital innovation and sustainable development to space exploration and infrastructure.

    Guided by the mantra of Vikas with Virasat, the march forward towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047 must be the north star that anchors our collective efforts. It is incumbent upon us, as members of this august House, to rise to this calling with unwavering resolve.

    As the Council of States—the House of Elders—we must serve as both guardians of constitutional values and torchbearers of progressive thought. Let us emulate our founding fathers, and seize this moment in history to leave our indelible footprints upon the sands of time.

    Our conduct must be exemplary; our deliberations, wise and constructive; and our actions, driven by the welfare of the 1.4 billion citizens who place their faith in us.

    A vibrant and functional Parliament is the lifeblood of democracy. In this sacred chamber, the voices of a pluralistic, dynamic, and aspirational society converge, particularly those of our youth, who represent our nation’s boundless energy and dreams. By empowering youth with education, opportunity, and a sense of responsibility, we can craft a more inclusive and sustainable future.

    The great Mahakumbh, a resplendent celebration of India’s spiritual and cultural essence, offers profound lessons for our journey—unity in diversity, collective well-being, and an abiding commitment to truth, tolerance, and harmony.

    As we engage with the global community, let these principles remain the touchstones of our actions, ensuring that the well-being of every citizen remains at the heart of our endeavours.

    Hon’ble Members, our task is monumental, so has to be our resolve. Let us pledge to uphold the sanctity and dignity of this House. Let our debates and decisions be guided by the noble aspirations of service to the nation. Let us work together, across all divides, to forge policies that elevate Bharat’s standing on the global stage.

    In the words of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution: “Democracy is not merely a form of government. It is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience. It is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards our fellow men.”

    May we be ever mindful of this wisdom.

    As we embark upon this session, let us deliberate with purpose, cooperate with dignity, and legislate with vision—mindful always that we carry the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts.

     Together, let us chart a course toward a future that fulfills the promise made in the Constitution.

    ***

    (Release ID: 2099044) Visitor Counter : 85

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Registrations and nominations invited for Labour Advisory Board By-election of Employee Representative

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Registrations and nominations invited for Labour Advisory Board By-election of Employee Representative
    Registrations and nominations invited for Labour Advisory Board By-election of Employee Representative
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         The Labour Department (LD) is inviting employee unions registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance (TUO) to register as electors, appoint authorised representatives to vote and nominate candidates for the 2025 Labour Advisory Board (LAB) By-election of Employee Representative.     “Registration as electors, appointment of authorised representatives and nomination of candidates start today (February 3) and will close on February 25, 2025 (Tuesday),” a spokesman for the LD said.     The LAB is a tripartite consultative body comprising representatives of employees and employers to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters. There is a vacancy in the current 2025-2026 term of the LAB arising from the resignation of an elected employee representative.     The 2025 LAB By-election of Employee Representative will be held at Function Rooms, 3/F South Tower, The Salisbury – YMCA of Hong Kong, 41 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, on March 29 (Saturday). Authorised representatives may cast their votes at the above polling station between 9am and 5pm. Upon the appointment by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare with authority delegated by the Chief Executive, the elected representative will become an LAB member for the current term up to December 31, 2026.     Employee unions registered as electors in the LAB elections held in 2006 or thereafter need not re-register as electors but have to submit forms to appoint authorised representatives in order to vote in the by-election.     “We have sent out today related forms and copies of the rules and procedures for the by-election to all employee unions registered under the TUO,” the spokesman said.     Enquiries on matters relating to the by-election can be made at 2852 4024.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 15:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mineral and non-ferrous Metal Production on Growth Track in FY 2024-25 (April-December)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Mineral and non-ferrous Metal Production on Growth Track in FY 2024-25 (April-December)

    Robust Growth in Production of Key Minerals and non-ferrous Metals

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 12:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Production of some key minerals in the country has continued to witness strong growth during FY 2024-25 (April-December), after reaching record production levels in FY 2023-24. Iron ore accounts for 69% of the total MCDR mineral production by value. Production of iron ore was 274 million metric tonne (MMT) in FY 2023-24.

    As per provisional data, production of iron ore has increased from 203 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-December) to 208 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- December), showing a healthy 2.5% growth. Production of manganese ore has risen by 8.3% to 2.6 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- December) from 2.4 MMT during the corresponding period of previous year. Production of Chromite has risen by 9.5% to 2.3 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- December) from 2.1 MMT during the corresponding period of previous year. Additionally, production of bauxite has also risen by 6.5% to 18.1 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- December) from 17.0 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April- December).

    In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April- December) posted a growth of 1.6% over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 31.56 lakh ton (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April- December) from 31.07 LT in FY 2023-24 (April- December). During the same comparative period, refined copper production has grown by 7.3% from 3.69 LT to 3.96 LT.

    India is the 2nd largest Aluminium producer, among top-10 producer in refined copper and 4th largest iron ore producer in the world. Continued growth in production of iron ore in the current financial year reflects the robust demand conditions in the user industry viz. steel. Coupled with growth in aluminium and copper, these growth trends point towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.

     

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2099042) Visitor Counter : 51

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Coal Sector Records Steady Growth: Production Up by 5.88% and Dispatch Up by 5.73% Upto January 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 12:14PM by PIB Delhi

    India’s coal sector continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, achieving steady progress in both production and dispatch during April 2024 – January 2025. Total coal production during January 2025 has reached 104.43 MT, reflecting 4.38% increase over 100.05 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year. The contribution from Captive, Commercial and Other Entities for January 2025 has also been particularly strong, with production surging to 19.68 MT, 31.07% rise from 15.01 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year.

    On a broader scale, the cumulative coal production up to January 2025 has climbed to 830.66 MT, marking a 5.88% increase from 784.51 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year.

     

    Similarly, Coal dispatch has also kept pace with this growth. The total coal dispatch during January 2025 stands at 92.40 MT, registering 6.31% increase from 86.92 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year.

    Coal dispatch from Captive and Other Entities for January 2025 has also shown remarkable growth, reaching 17.72 MT as compared to 13.64 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting 29.94% increase. Meanwhile, the cumulative coal dispatch up to January 2025 has risen to 843.75 MT, marking 5.73% increase from 798.02 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year.

    These figures underscore the sector’s strong performance in ensuring a consistent energy supply. The Ministry of Coal remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing the sector’s productivity, ensuring energy security, and supporting the country’s economic growth.

     

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2099041) Visitor Counter : 53

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Coal Production and Dispatch from Captive and Commercial Mines Cross Last Financial Year’s Total; Production in January crosses 19 MT

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 12:04PM by PIB Delhi

    In furtherance of the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, India’s coal sector continues to set new benchmarks. As on January 2025, the total coal production from Captive and Commercial mines for the financial year 2024-25 has surged to 150.25 million tonnes (MT), surpassing last financial year’s total of 147.12 MT by January 27, 2025, 64 days ahead of schedule. This marks an impressive 34.05% YoY growth from 112.08 MT at the end of January 2024, underscoring the resilience and accelerated pace of India’s coal industry.

    Similarly, coal dispatch has mirrored this success, with the total dispatch for the financial year reaching 154.61 MT, surpassing last financial year’s total of 142.79 MT by January 11, 2025. This reflects a robust 33.75% increase from 115.57 MT in January 2024, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted coal supply to key industries, including power, steel, and cement.

    With coal production reaching an all-time high of 19.20 MT in January 2025, this milestone represents the highest-ever monthly output from Captive and Commercial mines. This achievement marks a 33.15% increase YoY from 14.42 MT in January 2024. Coal dispatch in January, similarly surged to 17.26 MT, a 32.45% rise YoY from the previous year, further securing the supply for industrial growth.

    Additionally, the Ministry of Coal has granted Mine Opening Permissions for three new mines—Bhaskarpara, Utkal E, and Rajhara North (Central and Eastern). Notably, Rajhara North (Central and Eastern), allocated to Fairmine Carbon Pvt. Ltd., is the first commercial coal mine in Jharkhand to receive Mine Opening Permission. This development will significantly contribute to boosting coal production and enhancing the role of commercial mining in the region.

    The Ministry of Coal remains unwavering in its commitment to augmenting domestic coal production, reducing import dependency, and ensuring energy security for the nation. The sector continues to play a pivotal role in the realization of Viksit Bharat—a self-reliant and developed India.

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2099037) Visitor Counter : 24

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Celebrating a decade of empowering girls: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme in Jharkhand

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Celebrating a decade of empowering girls: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme in Jharkhand

    Administration and Social Welfare Office of Palamu  launched series of awareness programmes in sync with 100 Din Sankalp Abhiyan in Jharkhand under  BBBP initiative

    Significant positive changes in Palamu district brought about thorough multi-faceted approach of BBBP initiative

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 12:01PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated the 10th  anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme on 22 January 2025. Launched in 2015, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme aims to protect, educate and empower girls and address gender imbalance and declining child sex ratio in India. To achieve the objectives of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme, States, Union Territories and Districts are implementing programmes tailored to local and stakeholder needs.

    Palamu district of Jharkhand, known for its rich cultural heritage, has long been facing social challenges affecting girls and women, especially the rural communities.

    In sync with the 100 Din Sankalp Abhiyan in Jharkhand under the BBBP initiative, the Administration and Social Welfare Office of Palamu had launched a series of awareness programmes. The initiative was aimed at addressing the critical issues of gender inequality, women’s rights and child protection.

    Palamu district of Jharkhand has achieved remarkable success in promoting a culture of gender equality and girls’ empowerment by adopting targeted weekly themes and organizing impactful programs through the “100 Din Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign. The campaign addressed critical issues like education, health and safety, ultimately enhancing the welfare and rights of girls.

    In this special 100-day campaign, more than 70 programs were organized in Palamu district on various topics, including four programs involving 125 government officials and 22 field representatives and 216 beneficiaries were enrolled.

    Similarly, BBBP Week, a dedicated week within the 100-day campaign and the Pre-Conception Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Enforcement Drive, organised three programmes with the participation of 54 officials and 8 local representatives, enrolling 178 beneficiaries. These programmes were specifically designed to address issues related to gender equality and child protection and their success underlined the impact of the initiative.

    The primary goal of the BBBP initiative in Palamu was to protect the rights of girls, promote gender equality and raise awareness about the importance of education for girls.

    Mission Shakti Week saw the highest enrollment of beneficiaries, with 280 participants, underlining the reach of the initiative. In total, 379 government officials and 104 representatives of local governing bodies supported these efforts, reaching out to 1,999 beneficiaries through thematic weeks focused on gender equality, skill development, legal awareness and community mobilisation. In addition, volunteers conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns, distributing stickers and pamphlets emphasizing gender equality and prevention of child marriage. Community Engagement Programs The success of the campaign in spreading awareness on issues such as ending early marriage (ECM) and violence against women and children (EVAWAC) in Palamu through rallies, street plays and group discussions is a testament to the community’s involvement and value in the initiative. Schools conducted essay competitions, signature drives and tree planting ceremonies, encouraging children to advocate for gender equality and environmental responsibility. The community’s commitment to girls’ education and development was evident in the distribution of annual Shishu Kits and Academic Excellence Awards. These initiatives were designed to support new born girls and motivate students, emphasizing the community’s dedication to their education and development.

    The initiative included various activities including inauguration ceremonies, awareness meetings with adolescents, oath taking programs, rallies and discussions on important issues such as child marriage and gender-based violence. The level of participation varied across different programmes, with some activities such as oath taking and rallies involving 59,640 women participants.

    Posters displaying key messages were made and put up in 165 out of 265 selected panchayats in Palamu and in 14 ICDS projects through Lok Sabha (LS), AWW, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), gender community resource persons (CRPs), self-help groups (SHGs) and NGO representatives. Short video clips, campaign messages and social media posts addressing child protection were disseminated through local channels. IEC material was distributed to all AWC and JSLPS teams to promote awareness efforts at the grassroots level. The initiative involved a variety of activities including inaugural ceremonies, awareness sessions with adolescents, oath taking events, rallies and discussions on important issues such as child marriage and gender-based violence. Many community members participated, especially women, who were particularly active in community engagement events such as rallies.

    All age groups participated meaningfully in the initiative, particularly in the 7-18 and 18-55 age groups. Participants were significantly higher among women, reaching 180,965, as well as 1,440 men and 82 individuals identified as disabled or transgender. The initiative verified its reach and impact through photo documentation, video recordings and attendance records. The campaign outputs reflect increased awareness within the community, which is likely to lead to long-term reduction in child marriage rates and stronger support for girls’ education.

    The Central Government also appreciated these initiatives under BBBP in Palamu.

    Collaborative efforts between the Government, Schools and NGOs increase the reach and impact of gender equality initiatives. Early involvement of parents and teachers ensures more significant community participation and promotes sustained engagement. The BBBP campaign promoted substantial community participation while achieving significant milestones.

    The multi-faceted approach of the BBBP initiative brought about significant positive changes in Palamu district, including increased community participation, improved educational outcomes, and improved safety measures, providing solid evidence of the program’s success.

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    SS/MS

    (Release ID: 2099035) Visitor Counter : 50

    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 5, 6 and 7 services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 5, 6 and 7 services
    Temporary suspension of LCSD’s Mobile Library 5, 6 and 7 services
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         Mobile Libraries 5, 6 and 7 will suspend services during designated periods in February and March for maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 3).     Mobile Library 6 will suspend services from February 10 to 15. The affected service points are Shau Kei Wan Market on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, Lei Tung Estate and Ap Lei Chau Estate in Ap Lei Chau, the First Aid Station at Shek O Beach and Tsui Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O. For enquiries about Mobile Library 6 services, please call 2505 4690.     Mobile Library 5 will suspend services from February 17 to March 1. The affected service points are Ta Kwu Ling in North District; Hin Keng Estate, Kam Ying Court, Kam Tai Court, Mei Tin Estate, Yan On Estate and Yiu On Estate in Sha Tin; Ming Tak Estate, Yee Ming Estate and Mang Kung Uk Road in Sai Kung; and Tai Wo Estate, Nai Chung, On Ho Lane, Fu Shin Estate and Fu Heng Estate in Tai Po. For enquiries about Mobile Library 5 services, please call 2696 5842.     Mobile Library 7 will suspend services from February 24 to March 8. The affected service points are Hoi Fu Court in Mong Kok West, Sceneway Garden in Lam Tin, Chuk Yuen (South) Estate and Fung Tak Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Kai Yip Estate in Kowloon Bay. For enquiries about Mobile Library 7 services, please call 2926 3056.     Readers are welcome to use other public libraries during the service suspension periods. They may also renew library materials by telephoning 2698 0002 or 2827 2833, or via www.hkpl.gov.hk.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 14:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TD launches bus safety roving exhibition with first stop at West Kowloon Government Offices (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    TD launches bus safety roving exhibition with first stop at West Kowloon Government Offices (with photos)
    TD launches bus safety roving exhibition with first stop at West Kowloon Government Offices (with photos)
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         The Transport Department (TD) will hold the “Safe Journey Begins with You and Me” bus safety roving exhibition at nine government buildings from today (February 3) to mid-May to feature the efforts of both the Government and franchised bus operators (FBOs) in improving bus safety and enhancing public awareness on passenger safety. Its first stop is the G/F Lobby, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices. Members of the public are most welcome to visit.     The Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, said, “Franchised buses carry over 3.7 million passenger journeys per day on average, accounting for about 30 per cent of the total public transport patronage. Safe and convenient bus services are key to the public’s daily commuting. Enhancing the safety of franchised buses is the shared priority of the Government and FBOs. We are committed to improving bus and passenger safety through four major areas, namely bus captains and passengers, technology, safety performance management, and road safety, with a view to preventing accidents.”     The rich content of the exhibition panels and educational videos covers bus captains’ daily work to uphold passenger safety, passenger safety tips, Safety Performance Indicators drawn up by the TD to assess FBO’s performance, FBOs’ extensive application of technology to enhance bus safety as well as an array of road safety and bus-friendly measures implemented by the Government. Visitors can participate in quiz games on site and receive souvenirs.     The bus safety roving exhibition will be open from 9am to 7pm. Admission is free. Details are as follows: 

    Date
    Venue

    February 3 to 8
    G/F Lobby, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices

    February 10 to 15
    2/F, Harbour Building

    February 17 to 22
    G/F Lobby, Revenue Tower

    February 24 to March 1
    1/F, Trade and Industry Tower

    March 3 to 8
    G/F Lobby, North Point Government Offices

    March 10 to 15
    G/F Lobby, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices

    April 14 to 18
    2/F, Tsuen Wan Government Offices

    April 28 to May 3
    G/F Lobby, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building

    May 12 to 16
    G/F Lobby, Tuen Mun Government Offices

         To engage with the community to promote bus safety, the TD has held interactive sharing sessions and game activities at primary schools and District Elderly Community Centres in various districts since late 2024, aiming to raise the awareness of students and the elderly on bus and pedestrian safety. Publicity has also been regularly rolled out via the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) in the past month. This exhibition is part of the TD’s series of bus safety promotion measures.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 14:00

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