NewzIntel.com

Category: Banking

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Energy-intensive industries – P10_TA(2025)0065 – Thursday, 3 April 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to the report of September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘On the future of European competitiveness’,

    –  having regard to the report of April 2024 by Enrico Letta entitled ‘Much more than a market’,

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘Action Plan for Affordable Energy’ (COM(2025)0079),

    –  having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    –  having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

    A.  whereas energy-intensive industries (EIIs) account for a significant share of the EU’s economy and play a key role in job creation, especially in areas and regions where they are concentrated; whereas EIIs are crucial for the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness, as well as for decarbonisation, taking into account their energy footprint;

    B.  whereas the transition to a decarbonised economy and a clean energy system must lead to reducing energy prices and must take into account all available technologies that contribute to reaching the EU’s net zero goal for 2050 in the most cost-efficient way, avoiding lock-in effects and taking into account the different energy mix across Member States, including with regard to renewables and nuclear;

    C.  whereas technological neutrality is crucial for European industry as it ensures fair competition, fosters innovation and supports the clean transition without favouring specific technologies; whereas maintaining a neutral regulatory framework allows companies to choose the most efficient and sustainable solutions based on market needs rather than top-down preferences set by policymakers; whereas this approach encourages investment, boosts competitiveness and allows industry to adapt to new technologies;

    D.  whereas electrification is at the centre of the decarbonisation of EIIs; whereas EIIs include sectors that use fossil resources to meet temperature, pressure or reaction requirements, such as chemicals, steel, paper, plastics, mining, refineries, cement, lime, non-ferrous metals, glass, ceramics and fertilisers, for which greenhouse gas emissions are hard to reduce because they are intrinsic to the process or because of high capital or operating expenditure costs or low technological maturity;

    E.  whereas the energy price gap between the EU and the US and China undermines the competitiveness of the EU’s industries; whereas elevated and volatile fossil fuel prices heavily affect electricity prices and the affordable cost of renewable energy sources is not transferred to energy bills;

    F.  whereas an insufficiently integrated energy union poses further challenges to EIIs, in particular in relation to the lack of cross-border interconnections and the limited availability of clean energy, owing to lengthy permitting procedures or high capital or operating expenditures, as well as grid congestion;

    G.  whereas the emissions trading system (ETS) provided long-term investment signals and helped bring down the emissions of ETS sectors by 47 %; whereas the energy market has profoundly changed since the introduction of the ETS, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the shift from pipeline gas to liquid natural gas (LNG); whereas a lack of carbon market transparency risks hampering EIIs’ competitiveness; whereas ETS revenues are used unevenly across Member States, failing to adequately support EIIs’ decarbonisation;

    H.  whereas unnecessary regulatory burdens and lengthy permitting procedures undermine the business case for investing in decarbonisation in Europe; whereas the concept of overriding public interest is provided for in EU legislation; whereas complex and fragmented EU funding impedes timely investment in net-zero technologies and digitalisation, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

    I.  whereas the lack of necessary private investment risks hindering EIIs’ decarbonisation; whereas relying excessively on State aid can have the unwanted consequences of exacerbating disparities and distorting competition across the EU;

    J.  whereas the EU’s dependencies and limited access, both in quantity and quality, to primary and secondary raw materials pose significant challenges to EIIs; whereas circularity and efficiency can help reduce the annual investment needs in industry and in energy supply; whereas currently, ferrous metals exported to non-EU countries account for more than half of all EU waste exports, raising concerns about their sound treatment;

    K.  whereas unfair competition from non-EU countries, including subsidised overcapacity, poses a great challenge to EU companies; whereas many regions around the world do not currently have ambitious decarbonisation targets, thus increasing the risk of carbon leakage;

    L.  whereas a profound transformation of EIIs cannot succeed without the involvement of local and regional communities, workers and social partners, which are heavily affected by the transition;

    1.  Reiterates its commitment to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives and to stable and predictable climate and industrial policies;

    2.  Calls on the Member States to accelerate permitting and licensing processes for clean energy projects, ensuring administrative capacity, and to facilitate grid connections to enable clean, on-site energy generation, especially in remote areas; stresses that the growth of renewables and electrification will require massive investment in grids and in flexibility, storage and distribution networks; calls on the Commission to develop, beyond the concept of overriding public interest, solutions for speeding up decarbonisation projects;

    3.  Believes that further action is needed to implement the electricity market design (EMD) rules, especially to promote power purchase agreements (PPAs) and two-way contracts for difference (CfDs) to reduce volatility and energy costs for EIIs; calls on the Commission to propose urgent measures to address current barriers to the signing of long-term agreements, especially for SMEs, using risk reduction instruments and guarantees, including public guarantee such as by the European Investment Bank (EIB); suggests that additional ways to decouple fossil fuel prices from electricity prices be explored, in the framework of the EMD, including with the aim of boosting long-term contracts in line with the affordable energy action plan, and by advancing the analysis of short-term markets to 2025 with a view to considering alternative market design options;

    4.  Calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of scaling up best practice for EIIs from Member States, such as Italy’s energy release; calls on the Commission to develop recommendations for reducing the exposure of consumers, and especially EIIs, to rising energy costs, such as by reducing taxes and levies and harmonising network charges, while ensuring public investment in grids;

    5.  Calls for the enhancement of energy system integration, in particular in relation to cross-border interconnections, to ensure clean and resilient energy supply; asks for increased investment in flexibility, such as storage, including pumped storage hydropower and heat and waste heat storage, and demand response, to optimise grid stability; recalls the importance of energy efficiency in bringing costs down;

    6.  Underlines the need to phase out natural gas as soon as possible; stresses that some sectors cannot rely substantially on electrification in the short to medium term; underlines that carbon capture, utilisation and storage plays a key role in the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and the production of low-carbon products, including low-carbon hydrogen; calls on the Member States – over the same time span and for these limited sectors – to develop measures to address gas price spikes in duly justified cases; calls on the Commission to develop tools to ensure gas supply at a mitigated cost, by enabling demand aggregation, building on AggregateEU, and joint gas purchasing, while keeping decarbonisation objectives; highlights the importance of encouraging stable contracts with gas suppliers, diversifying supply routes and improving market transparency and stability, in line with current legislation; calls for an impact assessment in the upcoming ETS review to analyse the relationship between the gas market and CO2 prices and the role of the market stability reserve and its parameters;

    7.  Calls on the Commission to support EIIs in adopting clean and net-zero technologies, including carbon capture and storage and low-carbon hydrogen, and energy-efficient production methods by strengthening funding mechanisms and ensuring that ETS revenue is used effectively by Member States; calls for EU-level support to be complemented by State aid that allows for targeted technology neutral support to EIIs, while preserving a level playing field within the single market;

    8.  Calls for InvestEU to be topped up before the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and for leftover Resilience and Recovery Facility loans to support investment in EII decarbonisation; notes that the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform already allows for flexibility within current programmes but that this is insufficient; insists that the upcoming MFF increase funding to support EIIs, building on the Innovation Fund and the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy or through the competitiveness fund; stresses that the European Hydrogen Bank and the carbon contracts for difference programme need to be scaled up; calls on the Commission to build on the Net-Zero Industry Act(1) in the upcoming decarbonisation accelerator act, to streamline the processes for granting permits and strategic project status;

    9.  Stresses the need to simplify bureaucratic procedures to enhance the attractiveness of private investment and support EIIs’ transition; believes that both InvestEU and the EIB are pivotal in catalysing private financing, especially through de-risking measures;

    10.  Emphasises the need to secure access to critical raw materials; stresses that the upcoming circular economy act should improve resource efficiency, including through better waste management of products containing critical raw materials, as well as fostering the demand and availability of secondary raw materials; stresses the need to define those secondary raw materials that are strategic and that should be subject to export monitoring, such as steel and metal scrap, and to tackle any imbalance in their supply and demand, including by exploring export restrictions; insists on the effective enforcement of the Waste Shipment Regulation(2);

    11.  Calls on the Commission to make full and efficient use of trade defence instruments; calls on the Commission to find a permanent solution to address unfair competition and structural overcapacity, before the expiry of current steel safeguard measures in 2026; calls on the Commission to engage with the US in relation to the announced tariffs on EU imports and avoid any harmful escalation;

    12.  Stresses that an effective implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) is essential to ensure a level playing field for EU industries and prevent carbon leakage, taking into account the impact of the parallel phasing out of the ETS free allowances and the risk of increased production costs; calls on the Commission to address the risks of resource shuffling and circumvention of the CBAM; asks, furthermore, for the implementation of an effective solution for EU exporters and an analysis of the possible extension to further sectors and downstream products, preceded by an impact assessment;

    13.  Calls for the creation of lead markets for clean and circular European products, via non-price criteria in EU public procurement, such as sustainability and resilience and a European preference for strategic sectors, as well as by creating voluntary labelling schemes and minimum EU content requirements in a cost-effective way;

    14.  Highlights the importance of a just transition to assist areas heavily reliant on EIIs, by keeping and creating quality jobs through upskilling and reskilling programmes for workers and through the effective use of regional support mechanisms, such as the Just Transition Fund and the Cohesion Fund; stresses that public support will be pivotal for the transition of EIIs and that this support should be tied to their commitment to safeguarding employment and working conditions and preventing off-shoring; welcomes the Union of Skills initiative to ensure a good match between skills and labour market demands;

    15.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

    (1) Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (OJ L, 2024/1735, 28.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1735/oj).
    (2) Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste, amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) 2020/1056 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 (OJ L, 2024/1157, 30.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1157/oj).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Major shareholder announcement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Announcement about a change in a major shareholder’s shareholding, cf. S.31 of the Danish Capital Market Act.

    According to S.31 of the Danish Capital Market Act, it is announced that on 4 April 2025 Jyske Bank A/S, business registration number (CVR) 17616617, Vestergade 8-16, 8600 Silkeborg, holds, through direct and indirect holdings, 3,229,557 shares of DKK 10, corresponding to 5.02% of the share capital of Jyske Bank A/S.

    The Supervisory Board has proposed the cancellation of 2,765,118 repurchased shares at the extraordinary general meeting on 24 April 2025. This is because the necessary 90% of the share capital was not represented, even though the cancellation achieved the required majority at the ordinary general meeting on 25 March 2025.

    Yours faithfully,
    Jyske Bank

    Contact person: Birger Krøgh Nielsen, CFO, tel. +45 89 89 64 44.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: BSTDB and Express Leasing Strengthen Partnership to Support Small Business, Green Finance and Women Entrepreneurs in Moldova

    Source: Black Sea Trade and Development Bank

    Press Release | 07-Apr-2025

    Empowering Businesses with Sustainable Finance and Equal Growth Opportunities

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has provided a USD 3 million combined Micro and SME, Green, and Gender Equality Credit Line to the Moldovan microfinance institution Express Leasing and Microcredit SRL.

    The financing will support micro and small businesses across Moldova, including projects with sustainability impact. This initiative reflects BSTDB’s commitment to SMEs and climate-conscious financing, helping to align its operations with the climate priorities of its shareholders and contributing to the broader decarbonization efforts in the region.

    A portion of the funds will be allocated to supporting women entrepreneurs, promoting inclusive economic growth and fostering greater opportunities for women-led businesses in the country.

    “The financing to Express Leasing consists of  three  key components, all aimed at  supporting sustainable market development, a  core objective of BSTDB’s  strategy. By extending funds for green investments and empowering women entrepreneurs, we are not only strengthening Moldova’s SME sector but also enhancing our contribution to a low-carbon and more inclusive regional economy,” said Dr. Serhat Köksal, BSTDB President.

    We are honored to strengthen our collaboration with BSTDB through this credit line that will enable us to reach more entrepreneurs, particularly women and those committed to sustainability,” said Sergiu Rosca, Executive Director of Express Leasing. “This partnership empowers us to continue supporting Moldova’s small businesses—the backbone of our economy—while also driving green innovation and inclusivity in finance.

     

    OCN ICS “Express Leasing & Microcredit” SRL is a limited liability leading non-bank financial institution incorporated in the Republic of Moldova. Owned 100% by Broadhurst Investment Limited (registered in Cyprus), the company’s main activity is loan and lease financing focusing on SMEs and micro-financing sector.

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.

     

    Contact: Haroula Christodoulou

    : @BSTDB

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Put Your Change to Work: Coin Week Begins

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    The event will run from April 7 to 19 throughout the country.

    You can exchange your accumulated change for paper money at banks and chain stores. In addition, bank branches offer the option of crediting the amount to your account.

    This year, the number of participants has increased fivefold. Now, more than 34 thousand retail outlets and about 4 thousand bank branches are ready to accept small change from citizens without commission. Detailed information about the conditions and addresses of participants is on the website coinweek.rf.

    In 2024, the campaign was held twice. As a result, people returned 75 million coins worth 320 million rubles into circulation. The weight of the collected change was 336 tons, which is more than five railway cars.

    Preview photo: Bioraven / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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

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

    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 23516

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Malaysia credit and charge card payments market to grow by 6.8% in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Malaysia credit and charge card payments market to grow by 6.8% in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Banking

    Malaysia’s credit and charge card payments market is expected to register a growth of 6.8% to reach MYR245.7 billion ($53.7 billion) in 2025. This growth will be driven by the rising consumer spending and increasing consumer preference for cashless transactions, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that credit and charge card payment value in Malaysia registered a growth of 7.9% in 2024, driven by the rise in consumer spending. The value is forecast to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% between 2025 and 2029 to reach MYR304.3 billion ($66.5 billion) in 2029.

    Kartik Challa, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Credit and charge cards were the most preferred payment cards in Malaysia, accounting for 59.7% of total card payment value in 2024. This was mainly driven by the rewards, discounts, cashback, and interest-free installment facilities offered with these cards, as well as developing payment infrastructure and a growing e-commerce market.”

    Malaysians are increasingly using credit and charge cards for payments, with the frequency of payments per card standing at 82.8 times in 2024, much higher compared to 37.7 times for debit cards. This figure is anticipated to further rise to 107.1 by 2029.

    Challa adds: “This is driven by banks offering flexible repayment options and value-added benefits such as cashback, reward points, discounts, and installment facilities. CIMB Malaysia offers ‘0% Easy Pay,’ allowing customers to pay for purchases in monthly interest free installment of up to 36 months at more than 1,000 participating merchants.”

    Growing POS terminalization has been another key driver for the rise of credit and charge cards in Malaysia. The number of POS terminals per million inhabitants in Malaysia stood at 27,693 in 2024, which is higher compared to its peers such as Thailand (13,507), Indonesia (8,142), India (6,964) and Vietnam (5,988), though there is significant room for further expansion of POS infrastructure.

    Rising e-commerce payments are also contributing to the growth in credit and charge card usage. According to GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics, credit and charge cards are one of the most preferred payment methods for online payments, with 17.1% share in 2024.

    Moreover, banks in Malaysia offer debt consolidation option to credit card holders, which will further help boost usage. For instance, UOB offers the UOB Bank Transfer program, which allows customers to consolidate their outstanding credit card balances from other banks. The program is designed to help credit card holders to manage their debt and avoid default by offering lower interest rate and extended repayment terms.

    Challa concludes: “The Malaysian credit and charge card market is poised for sustained growth over the next five years, driven by the economic recovery, growing consumer preference for electronic payments, a rising middle-class and young working population, and growth in e-commerce payments. However, challenges such as global trade war between major countries, and geopolitical uncertainty remain obstacles to the market.”

    *GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q2 2024. Approximately 67,292 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 41 countries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Sydbank share buyback programme: transactions in week 14

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Announcement No 14/2025

    		 Peberlyk 4
    6200 Aabenraa
    Denmark

    Tel +45 74 37 37 37
    Fax +45 74 37 35 36

    Sydbank A/S
    CVR No DK 12626509, Aabenraa
    sydbank.dk
    7 April 2025  

    Dear Sirs

    Sydbank share buyback programme: transactions in week 14
    On 26 February 2025 Sydbank announced a share buyback programme of DKK 1,350m. The share buyback programme commenced on 3 March 2025 and will be completed by 31 January 2026.

    The purpose of the share buyback programme is to reduce the share capital of Sydbank and the programme is executed in compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016, collectively referred to as the Safe Harbour rules.

    The following transactions have been made under the share buyback programme:

      Number of shares VWAP Gross value (DKK)
    Accumulated, most recent
    Announcement    		 251,000   110,614,650.00
    31 March 2025
    01 April 2025
    02 April 2025
    03 April 2025
    04 April 2025    		 19,000
    20,000
    20,000
    22,000
    28,000    		 433.49
    433.51
    430.99
    424.99
    389.97    		 8,236,310.00
    8,670,200.00
    8,619,800.00
    9,349,780.00
    10,919,160.00
    Total over week 14 109,000   45,795,250.00
    Total accumulated during the
    share buyback programme    		 360,000   156,409,900.00

    All transactions were made under ISIN DK 0010311471 and effected by Danske Bank A/S on behalf of Sydbank A/S.

    Further information about the transactions, cf Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on market abuse and Commission delegated regulation, is available in the attachment.

    Following the above transactions, Sydbank holds a total of 3,754,446 own shares, equal to 6.87% of the Bank’s share capital.

    Yours sincerely
            
    Mark Luscombe        Jørn Adam Møller
    CEO        Deputy Group Chief Executive

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Danske Bank share buy-back programme: transactions in week 14

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 16 2025

    Danske Bank

    Bernstorffsgade 40

    DK-1577 København V

    Tel. + 45 33 44 00 00

    07/04/2025

    Page 1 of 1

    Danske Bank share buy-back programme: transactions in week 14

    On 7 February 2025, Danske Bank A/S announced a share buy-back programme for a total of DKK 5 billion, with a maximum of 45,000,000 shares, in the period from 10 February 2025 to 30 January 2026, at the latest, as described in company announcement no. 6 2025.

    The Programme is carried out in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (the “Market Abuse Regulation”) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016 (together with the Market Abuse Regulation, the “Safe Harbour Rules”).

    The following transactions on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S were made under the share buy-back programme in week 14:
      Number of shares VWAP DKK Gross value DKK
    Accumulated, last announcement 1,306,333 235.6660 307,858,254
    31/03/2025 210,000 225.6168 47,379,528
    01/04/2025 141,634 227.8146 32,266,293
    02/04/2025 226,000 226.5486 51,199,984
    03/04/2025 227,000 221.6461 50,313,665
    04/04/2025 263,898 201.8707 53,273,274
    Total accumulated over week 14 1,068,532 219.3970 234,432,743
    Total accumulated during the share buyback programme 2,374,865 228.3460 542,290,998

    With the transactions stated above, the total accumulated number of own shares under the share buy-back programme corresponds to 0.275% of Danske Bank A/S’ share capital.

    Danske Bank

    Contact: Claus Ingar Jensen, Head of Group Investor Relations, tel. +45 25 42 43 70

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Share repurchase programme: Transactions of week 14 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The share repurchase programme runs as from 26 February 2025 and up to and including 30 January 2026 at the latest. In this period, Jyske Bank will acquire shares with a value of up to DKK 2.25 billion, cf. Corporate Announcement No. 3/2025 of 26 February 2025. The share repurchase programme is initiated and structured in compliance with the EU Commission Regulation No. 596/2014 of 16 April 2014, the so-called “Market Abuse Regulation”, and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016 (together with the Market Abuse Regulation, the “Safe Harbour Rules”).

    The following transactions have been made under the program:

      Number of
    shares    		 Average purchase
    price (DKK)    		 Transaction
    value (DKK)
    Accumulated, previous announcement 220,997 572.75 126,576,859
    31 March 2025 45,759 551.59 25,240,097
    1 April 2025 46,567 551.02 25,659,535
    2 April 2025 46,890 550.95 25,833,961
    3 April 2025 46,851 540.66 25,330,279
    4 April 2025 46,278 500.19 23,147,631
    Accumulated under the programme 453,342 555.40 251,788,361

    Following settlement of the transactions stated above, Jyske Bank will own a total of 3,218,460 of treasury shares, excluding investments made on behalf of customers and shares held for trading purposes, corresponding to 5.01% of the share capital.

    Attached to this corporate announcement, aggregated details on the transactions related to the share repurchase programme are shown by venue.
                                                             
    Yours faithfully,
    Jyske Bank

    Contact: Birger Krøgh Nielsen, CFO, tel. +45 89 89 64 44.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Financial markets are tanking. Here’s why it’s best not to panic

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Hartigan, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney

    Financial markets around the world have been slammed by the Trump adminstration’s sweeping tariffs on its trading partners, and China’s swift retaliation.

    Share markets have posted their biggest declines since the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, as fears of US recession surged. Iron ore, copper, oil, gold and the Australian dollar have all tumbled.

    On Wall Street, leading indices have fallen around 10% since the tariffs were announced, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq is down 20% from its recent peak. European and Asian markets have also slumped.

    In Australia, the key S&P/ASX 200 slid another 4.2% on Monday to levels last seen in December 2023, taking its three-day losses since the announcement to more than 7%.

    Why are markets reacting so badly?

    Financial markets reacted so negatively because the tariffs were much larger than expected. They represent the biggest upheaval in global trade in 80 years.

    Many traders were hoping the tariffs would be used mainly as a bargaining tool. But comments by US President Donald Trump that markets may need to “take medicine” seem to suggest otherwise.

    The tariffs are expected to weaken economic growth in the US as consumers pare back spending on more expensive imports, while businesses shelve investment plans. Leading US bank JP Morgan has put the chance of a US recession as high as 60%.

    This comes at a time when the US economy was already looking fragile. The highly regarded GDPNow model developed by the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank indicates US March quarter GDP will fall 2.8%, and that was before the tariff announcement.

    Worries about global growth

    Fears of a recession in the United States and the potential for a global downturn has led to a broad sell-off in commodity prices, including iron ore, copper and oil. Further, the Australian dollar, which is seen as a barometer for risk, has fallen below 60 US cents in local trading – its lowest level since 2009.

    While the direct impact of tariffs on Australia is expected to be modest (with around 6% of our exports going to US), the indirect impact could be substantial. China, Japan and South Korea together take more than 50% of Australia’s exports, and all have been hit with significantly higher tariffs.

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday that the direct impact on the Australian economy would be “manageable”.

    The full effect on Australia will depend on how other countries respond, and whether we can redirect trade to other markets.

    The rapid decline in the Australian dollar will help offset some of the negative effects associated with a global downturn and the fall in commodity prices.

    We can also expect some interest-rate relief. Economists are now predicting three further interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank, starting in May. This brings economists into line with financial market forecasts.



    Read more:
    US tariffs will upend global trade. This is how Australia can respond

    Hang in there, markets will recover

    Watching equity markets tumble so dramatically can be unsettling for any investor. However, it is important to note that equity markets have experienced many downturns over the past 125 years due to wars, pandemics, financial crises and recessions. But these market impacts have generally been temporary.

    History suggests that over the long term, equity prices continue to rise, supported by growing economies and rising incomes.

    The key thing for investors to remember is to not panic. Now is not the time to decide to switch your superannuation or other investments to cash. This risks missing the next upswing while also crystallising any current losses.

    For example, despite the steep market sell-off in March 2020 as the first COVID lockdowns came into effect, the Australian share market had completely recovered those losses by June 2021.

    It is good practice for investors to regularly reassess their risk profile to make sure it is right for their current stage of life. This means reducing the allocation to riskier assets as investors get closer to retirement age, while also maintaining a cash buffer to avoid having to sell assets during more turbulent periods such as now.

    Super funds are exposed to global risks

    The current sell-off has highlighted a potential issue facing the superannuation industry.

    So much of our superannuation is now invested in global equity markets, mostly in the US, because Australia’s superannuation savings pool – at more than A$4 trillion – has outgrown the investment opportunities available in Australia.

    Another issue facing the superannuation industry is the growth of cyber attacks, with several funds targeted in a recent attack. Given the massive size of the assets held by some funds, it would seem they need to improve their security to be on par with that of the banking system.

    Luke Hartigan receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Financial markets are tanking. Here’s why it’s best not to panic – https://theconversation.com/financial-markets-are-tanking-heres-why-its-best-not-to-panic-253929

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.65 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.65 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, April 7, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB93.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on April 7, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.50%

    RMB93.5 billion

    RMB93.5 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年04月07日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Granting of Employee Stock Options

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    On April 4, 2025, AB Šiaulių Bankas (hereinafter – the Bank) granted stock option rights to 26 employees of the Bank Group as part of the annual variable remuneration for the year 2024,

     

    ·       when a 5-year deferral period applies to the deferred portion of the annual variable remuneration:

    o   3/5 to be granted on April 7, 2028 – 792,825 shares

    o   1/5 to be granted on April 9, 2029 – 264,275 shares

    o   1/5 to be granted on April 8, 2030 – 264,284 shares

     

    ·       when a 4-year deferral period applies to the deferred portion of the annual variable remuneration:

    o   3/4 to be granted on April 7, 2028 – 441,825 shares

    o   1/4 to be granted on April 9, 2029 – 147,264 shares

     

    ·       when a 3-year deferral period applies to the deferred portion of the annual variable remuneration to be granted on April 7, 2028 – 53,907 shares

     

    Additionally, on April 4, 2025, as part of the long-term incentive program for 2025-2027, the Bank granted stock option rights to 7 employees, subject to a 5-year deferral period:

    o   3/5 to be granted on April 7, 2028 – up to 4,380,000 shares

    o   1/5 to be granted on April 9, 2029 – up to 1,060,000 shares

    o   1/5 to be granted on April 8, 2030 – up to 1,060,000 shares

     

    The Bank has granted employees stock option rights for up to 12,292,799 shares that have not yet been acquired.

     

    Additional information:

    Tomas Varenbergas

    Head of Investment Management Division

    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Notification on Transactions by AB Šiaulių Bankas Executives

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AB Šiaulių Bankas has received notifications from its executives – members of the Management Board of Šiaulių Bankas and the Head of the Information Technology Division – regarding the signing of agreements involving stock option rights and shares of Šiaulių Bankas (attached).

     

    Additional information:

    Tomas Varenbergas

    Head of Investment Management Division

    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Reliable renewables a step closer for apartment residents

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Body corporates can apply for up to $100,000 for rooftop solar.

    The Solar for Apartments Program is making cheaper, cleaner solar energy accessible to those who have previously missed out on the benefits of renewables.

    From today, body corporates in the ACT can request quotes on rooftop solar installations from eligible vendors on the Brighte Marketplace, via the Solar for Apartments Program.

    Body corporates can apply for up to $100,000 for rooftop solar.

    More than 2,100 households will benefit, which could provide a 35 per cent reduction in energy bills for those living in apartments.

    Half of this will be a Commonwealth grant or rebate, and half an interest-free loan.

    Brighte is the exclusive finance and administration provider of the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme.

    “Brighte is proud to continue supporting the ACT Government’s nation-leading programs by extending finance to apartments, making sustainability more inclusive, affordable and accessible to everyone,” Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell said.

    Together, we’re turning apartment rooftops into power stations and empowering communities to take control of their energy future.”

    The Solar for Apartments Program is co-funded up to $3.6 million under the Solar Banks Initiative of the Commonwealth Government and the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme.

    To date there have been over 22,000 applications for the Sustainable Household Scheme.

    The Scheme supports the ACT Government’s commitment reducing emissions to net zero by 2045.

    For more information on the Solar for Apartments program, and to apply, visit https://brighte.com.au/act-sustainable-household-scheme/solar-for-apartments

    To search for eligible vendors on the Brighte Marketplace visit http://www.brighte.com.au/act-sustainable-household-scheme/solar-for-apartments

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sword Group: Investment in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Group is making a strategic operation in Scotland with the acquisition of iDelta, a cybersecurity and observability data specialist.

    iDelta, is a micro-company based in Edinburgh and specialising in the delivery of bespoke data and AI solutions, cybersecurity monitoring and automation, infrastructure monitoring, application observability and performance monitoring, fraud analytics, and Open Banking monitoring.
    iDelta has also created tools to help manage Open Banking data APIs, along with add-ons available on the Splunk marketplace. These solutions make it easier to connect with third-party technologies and ensure customers can efficiently access and use their data.

    This strategic step significantly enhances Sword’s cybersecurity and AI capabilities across all sectors, with a particular focus on Financial Services.

    The company’s revenue trend is €0.75M per year with an EBITDA margin of 30%.  
    This acquisition will be one of the driving factors in our cybersecurity strategy.

    The company will be consolidated in the Group’s accounts with effect from 1st April 2025.

    Calendar
    24/04/25
    2025 First Quarter Revenue

    28/04/25
    2025 Geeneral Meeting

    24/07/25
    2025 Second Quarter Revenue

    About Sword Group

    Sword has 3,200+ IT/Digital specialists
    active in 50+ countries to accompany you in the growth of your organisation in the digital age.

    As a leader in technological and digital transformation, Sword has a solid reputation in complex IT & business project management.

    Sword optimises your processes and enhances your data.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on April 07, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 16,505
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 16,505
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.26
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.27
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/45

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Aid cuts threaten fragile progress in ending maternal deaths, UN agencies warn

    Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

    Countries must recommit to ending deaths in childbirth amid major headwinds
    7 April 2025 – Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth, according to a major new report released today, but United Nations (UN) agencies highlight the threat of major backsliding as unprecedented aid cuts take effect around the world.
    Released on World Health Day, the UN report, Trends in Maternal Mortality, shows a 40 per cent global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 – largely due to improved access to essential health services. Still, the report reveals that the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and that an estimated 260,000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth – roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.
    The report comes as humanitarian funding cuts are having severe impacts on essential health care in many parts of the world, forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health. These cuts have led to facility closures and loss of health workers, while also disrupting supply chains for lifesaving supplies and medicines such as treatments for haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and malaria – all leading causes of maternal deaths.
    Without urgent action, the agencies warn that pregnant women in multiple countries will face severe repercussions – particularly those in humanitarian settings where maternal deaths are already alarmingly high.
    “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it will be critical to strengthen the underlying health and reproductive rights of women and girls – factors that underpin their prospects of healthy outcomes during pregnancy and beyond.”
    The report also provides the first global account of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival. In 2021, an estimated 40,000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth – increasing to 322,000 from 282,000 the previous year. This upsurge was linked not only to direct complications caused by COVID-19 but also widespread interruptions to maternity services. This highlights the importance of ensuring such care during pandemics and other emergencies, noting that pregnant women need reliable access to routine services and checks as well as round-the-clock urgent care.
    “When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Global funding cuts to health services are putting more pregnant women at risk, especially in the most fragile settings, by limiting their access to essential care during pregnancy and the support they need when giving birth. The world must urgently invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers to ensure every mother and baby has a chance to survive and thrive.”
    The report highlights persistent inequalities between regions and countries, as well as uneven progress. With maternal mortality declining by around 40 per cent between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa achieved significant gains – and was one of just three UN regions alongside Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia, to see significant drops after 2015. However, confronting high rates of poverty and multiple conflicts, the sub-Saharan Africa region still counted for approximately 70 per cent of the global burden of maternal deaths in 2023.
    Indicating slowing progress, maternal mortality stagnated in five regions after 2015: Northern Africa and Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
    “Access to quality maternal health services is a right, not a privilege, and we all share the urgent responsibility to build well-resourced health systems that safeguard the life of every pregnant woman and newborn,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “By boosting supply chains, the midwifery workforce, and the disaggregated data needed to pinpoint those most at risk, we can and must end the tragedy of preventable maternal deaths and their enormous toll on families and societies.”
    Pregnant women living in humanitarian emergencies face some of the highest risks globally, according to the report. Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict. For women in these settings, the risks are staggering: a 15-year-old girl faces a 1 in 51 risk of dying from a maternal cause at some point over her lifetime compared to 1 in 593 in more stable countries. The highest risks are in Chad and the Central African Republic (1 in 24), followed by Nigeria (1 in 25), Somalia (1 in 30), and Afghanistan (1 in 40).
    Beyond ensuring critical services during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, the report notes the importance of efforts to enhance women’s overall health by improving access to family planning services, as well as preventing underlying health conditions like anaemias, malaria and noncommunicable diseases that increase risks. It will also be critical to ensure girls stay in school and that women and girls have the knowledge and resources to protect their health.
    Urgent investment is needed to prevent maternal deaths. The world is currently off-track to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for maternal survival. Globally, the maternal mortality ratio would need to fall by around 15 per cent each year to meet the 2030 target – significantly increasing from current annual rates of decline of around 1.5 per cent.
    Notes
    About the data: The SDG target for maternal deaths is for a global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030. The global MMR in 2023 was estimated at 197 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, down from 211 in 2020 and from 328 in 2000.
    The report includes data disaggregated by the following regions, used for SDG reporting: Central Asia and Southern Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Northern America and Europe; Latin America & the Caribbean; Western Asia and Northern Africa; Australia and New Zealand; Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia, and Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand.
    About World Health Day: World Health Day is marked around the world on 7th April. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The World Health Day 2025 campaign focuses on improving maternal and newborn health and survival with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”. The campaign urges governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.
    About the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group:
    The report was produced by WHO on behalf of the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It uses national data to estimate levels and trends of maternal mortality from 2000-2023. The data in this new publication covers 195 countries and territories. It supersedes all previous estimates published by WHO and the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group.
    A maternal death is a death due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, occurring when a woman is pregnant, or within six weeks of the end of the pregnancy.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on April 04, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 4,933.25 5.96 5.25-7.00
         I. Call Money 1,522.60 5.87 5.25-6.35
         II. Triparty Repo 1,680.75 5.82 5.40-6.39
         III. Market Repo 62.00 5.75 5.75-5.75
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,667.90 6.20 6.15-7.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 14,754.46 6.11 5.00-6.40
         II. Term Money@@ 1,269.00 – 5.90-6.45
         III. Triparty Repo 4,45,987.70 6.03 5.75-6.50
         IV. Market Repo 2,04,185.40 5.97 0.01-6.60
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Fri, 04/04/2025 3 Mon, 07/04/2025 12,419.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Fri, 04/04/2025 1 Sat, 05/04/2025 1,876.00 6.50
      Fri, 04/04/2025 2 Sun, 06/04/2025 0.00 6.50
      Fri, 04/04/2025 3 Mon, 07/04/2025 291.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Fri, 04/04/2025 1 Sat, 05/04/2025 2,25,219.00 6.00
      Fri, 04/04/2025 2 Sun, 06/04/2025 0.00 6.00
      Fri, 04/04/2025 3 Mon, 07/04/2025 33,868.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,44,501.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 21/02/2025 45 Mon, 07/04/2025 57,951.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,065.99  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     65,016.99  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,79,484.01  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on April 04, 2025 9,36,934.36  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending April 04, 2025 9,28,983.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ April 04, 2025 12,419.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on March 21, 2025 1,11,247.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2082 dated February 05, 2025, Press Release No. 2024-2025/2138 dated February 12, 2025, and Press Release No. 2024-2025/2209 dated February 20, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/44

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli airstrikes kill 44 in Gaza after Hamas rocket fire

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Israeli airstrikes killed at least 44 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency, following a rare rocket barrage fired from the enclave by Hamas militants.

    Separately, Palestinian authorities reported that a 14-year-old Palestinian-American boy was fatally shot by Israeli forces during clashes in the occupied West Bank.

    The violence escalated after Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, launched rockets into southern Israel earlier Sunday, which the group described as retaliation for Israeli “massacres” against Palestinian civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the rocket fire as “unacceptable” and vowed a “forceful response.”

    The Israeli military stated that it intercepted most of the projectiles, though one rocket struck the city of Ashkelon, lightly wounding three people. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes targeting suspected rocket launch sites in central Gaza, including Deir al-Balah. Witnesses reported sustained explosions overnight as strikes rocked the area.

    Israel resumed large-scale air and ground operations in Gaza on March 18. Gaza’s health authorities said earlier on Sunday that these renewed offensives have killed at least 1,335 Palestinians and injured 3,297 others.

    In the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said a 14-year-old Palestinian-American, Omar Mohammad Rabea, was fatally shot on Sunday during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians in Turmus Ayya. The IDF claimed troops engaged “terrorists” throwing stones at civilians, resulting in one death and two injuries. Palestinian officials, however, denounced the shooting as unprovoked, with Turmus Ayya’s mayor accusing an Israeli settler of instigating the violence.

    The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has experienced intensified military raids since January, which Israel describes as counterterrorism operations. Palestinian leaders and residents accuse Israeli forces and settlers of escalating violence, exacerbating instability in the territory. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Aid cuts threaten fragile progress in ending maternal deaths, UN agencies warn

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Countries must recommit to ending deaths in childbirth amid major headwinds

    GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 7th April 2025 — Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth according to a major new report released today, but United Nations (UN) agencies highlight the threat of major backsliding as unprecedented aid cuts take effect around the world.  

    Released on World Health Day, the UN report, Trends in maternal mortality, shows a 40% global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 – largely due to improved access to essential health services. Still, the report reveals that the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and that an estimated 260 000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth – roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.  

    The report comes as humanitarian funding cuts are having severe impacts on essential health care in many parts of the world, forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health. These cuts have led to facility closures and loss of health workers, while also disrupting supply chains for lifesaving supplies and medicines such as treatments for haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and malaria – all leading causes of maternal deaths.  

    Without urgent action, the agencies warn that pregnant women in multiple countries will face severe repercussions – particularly those in humanitarian settings where maternal deaths are already alarmingly high. 

    “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it will be critical to strengthen the underlying health and reproductive rights of women and girls- factors that underpin their prospects of healthy outcomes during pregnancy and beyond.”

    The report also provides the first global account of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival. In 2021, an estimated 40 000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth – increasing to 322 000 from 282 000 the previous year. This upsurge was linked not only to direct complications caused by COVID-19, but also widespread interruptions to maternity services. This highlights the importance of ensuring such care during pandemics and other emergencies, noting that pregnant women need reliable access to routine services and checks as well as round-the-clock urgent care. 

    “When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Global funding cuts to health services are putting more pregnant women at risk, especially in the most fragile settings, by limiting their access to essential care during pregnancy and the support they need when giving birth. The world must urgently invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers to ensure every mother and baby has a chance to survive and thrive.”

    The report highlights persistent inequalities between regions and countries, as well as uneven progress. With maternal mortality declining by around 40% between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa achieved significant gains – and was one of just three UN regions alongside Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia, to see significant drops after 2015. However, confronting high rates of poverty and multiple conflicts, the sub-Saharan Africa region still counted for approximately 70% of the global burden of maternal deaths in 2023.

    Indicating slowing progress, maternal mortality stagnated in five regions after 2015: Northern Africa and Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

    “Access to quality maternal health services is a right, not a privilege, and we all share the urgent responsibility to build well-resourced health systems that safeguard the life of every pregnant woman and newborn,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “By boosting supply chains, the midwifery workforce, and the disaggregated data needed to pinpoint those most at risk, we can and must end the tragedy of preventable maternal deaths and their enormous toll on families and societies.”

    Pregnant women living in humanitarian emergencies face some of the highest risks globally, according to the report.  Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict. For women in these settings, the risks are staggering: a 15-year-old girl faces a 1 in 51 risk of dying from a maternal cause at some point over her lifetime compared to 1 in 593 in more stable countries. The highest risks are in Chad and the Central African Republic (1 in 24), followed by Nigeria (1 in 25), Somalia (1 in 30), and Afghanistan (1 in 40).  

    Beyond ensuring critical services during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, the report notes the importance of efforts to enhance women’s overall health by improving access to family planning services, as well as preventing underlying health conditions like anaemias, malaria and noncommunicable diseases that increase risks. It will also be critical to ensure girls stay in school and that women and girls have the knowledge and resources to protect their health.

    Urgent investment is needed to prevent maternal deaths. The world is currently off-track to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal target for maternal survival. Globally, the maternal mortality ratio would need to fall by around 15% each year to meet the 2030 target – significantly increasing from current annual rates of decline of around 1.5%.

    Notes to Editors

    The report will be available here.

    For more information, please contact:

    About the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group

    The report was produced by WHO on behalf of the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It uses national data to estimate levels and trends of maternal mortality from 2000-2023. The data in this new publication covers 195 countries and territories. It supersedes all previous estimates published by WHO and the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group. 

    About the data 

    The SDG target for maternal deaths is for a global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030. The global MMR in 2023 was estimated at 197 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, down from 211 in 2020 and from 328 in 2000.  

    The report includes data disaggregated by the following regions, used for SDG reporting: Central Asia and Southern Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Northern America and Europe; Latin America & the Caribbean; Western Asia and Northern Africa; Australia and New Zealand; Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia, and Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand. 

    A maternal death is a death due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, occurring when a woman is pregnant, or within six weeks of the end of the pregnancy. 

    About World Health Day 

    World Health Day is marked around the world on 7th April. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The World Health Day 2025 campaign focuses on improving maternal and newborn health and survival with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”. The campaign urges governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia Events – MCEC serves up sustainability at the Banksia National Awards

    Source: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)

    Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) proudly hosted the Banksia National Sustainability Awards last night, celebrating outstanding contributions to sustainability across Australia.

    Aligning with the theme of the evening, MCEC’s talented Chefs teamed up with Skyfarm, an urban farm on the venue’s Siddeley St Carpark rooftop, to design a vibrant gala dinner menu showcasing local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients.  

    Executive Sous Chef of Culinary Development, Karl Edmonds said “MCEC is committed to sustainable and responsible practices, and this philosophy extends to our menus.”

    “The Banksia Awards gala dinner menu featured dishes that not only taste great, but are also great for the environment. We utilised fennel seeds, celery green chilli and rainbow silverbeet hand-picked from Skyfarm and delivered on foot to our kitchens. The menu also featured fantastic local suppliers that share our commitments to sustainability.”

    Leftover produce from the evening was donated to community partner OzHarvest, to redistribute to those in need.

    In addition to hosting the awards gala, MCEC proudly sponsored the Circular Economy Award, which recognises initiatives that eliminate waste and pollution while circulating products and materials at their highest value.  

    Sustainability and Impact Manager, Kristen Gillespie said, “The Circular Economy Award strongly aligns with MCEC’s industry-leading sustainability strategy and commitment to promoting environmental responsibility. We’re thrilled to support initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future for our community and beyond.”

    The Circular Economy Award, sponsored by MCEC, was presented to BlockTexx, a textile recycling company, for their innovative technology that aims to transform the fashion industry.

    BlockTexx created a world-first solution to recycle clothes made from a mixture of polyester and cotton. Their specialised technology breaks down these clothes and turns them into recycled polyester and cellulose, which can be reused in new products.

    “I’d like to congratulate all finalists for their commitments to developing unique solutions to reduce waste, encourage responsible consumption and achieving positive social and environmental outcomes. Congratulations to BlockTexx, they are well deserving of the award,” Kristen said.

    This year marked the fourth consecutive year that MCEC has partnered with Banksia, showcasing our shared commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

    “We’re proud to partner with Banksia to host the National Sustainability Awards every year, inspiring others to make a difference and create a better future for us all. As a globally leading sustainable destination, Melbourne provides the perfect backdrop for this impactful event,” Kristen added.  

    CEO of Banksia Foundation, Graz van Egmond said, “Our collaboration with MCEC has elevated the Banksia National Sustainability Awards to new heights. Their sustainable practices and passion for fostering change complement our mission, ensuring that every aspect of this event inspires action and celebrates excellence in sustainability.”

    MCEC is the first convention centre in the world to be awarded 6-star green star rating and one of only five convention centres worldwide to achieve EarthCheck Platinum Certification. MCEC continues to pave the way for a more sustainable future, demonstrating that responsible practices can coexist with exceptional service and culinary innovation.

    ABOUT MCEC
    At Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), visionary ideas come to life, and the world’s thought leaders gather. The iconic venue hosts dynamic exhibitions, conferences, galas, and concerts—everyone who visits leaves inspired and excited.  

    MCEC loves all communities and interests, creating a space where everyone feels welcome. Blending trendy eats, sustainability, and cutting-edge tech, it creates mind-blowing, globally recognised events.  

    Thanks to its progressive sustainability practices, choosing MCEC means making a positive environmental impact. Feel Melbourne’s vibe, discover the next big thing, and be part of the conversation that shapes the future.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – RBNZ welcomes new applications to the Exchange Settlement Account System

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

    7 April 2025 – Licensed non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs) in New Zealand can apply for ESAS access now

    The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua is welcoming applications to the Exchange Settlement Account System (ESAS) under new access criteria announced on 31 March 2025.

    The application process is open to licensed non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs) in New Zealand seeking access to ESAS to hold reserves to meet prudential liquidity requirements. NBDTs include finance companies that raise funds from the public, as well as most building societies and credit unions.

    While every application will be carefully and individually assessed, the way NBDTs intend to use ESAS, and the fact that they are already licensed by RBNZ, mean the application process will be less complex than for other non-bank entities and can be expedited.

    The RBNZ expects to open the application process to other non-bank entities in the 3rd quarter of 2025. We are confirming operational details and developing guidance to support potential applicants through that process.

    Registered banks can continue to apply for ESAS access at any time.

    ESAS Access Review

    ESAS is the payments and settlement system used by banks and other approved financial organisations. It processes about $25 billion-worth of transactions daily. In March 2025, RBNZ completed a comprehensive ESAS access review which included two public consultations, the most recent in November 2024. Submissions from both consultations are available through the RBNZ website.

    Payment Services Director Steve Gordon says RBNZ considered all consultation feedback and made changes to the ESAS access policy and criteria as a result.

    “Amongst other changes, we simplified and clarified the access criteria and confirmed that all successful applicants will be eligible to receive the overnight deposit rate on their balances.”

    Information for potential applicants

    The RBNZ website has been updated with the revised access policy and criteria, and information for phase one applicants (licensed NBDTs in New Zealand) to begin the application process. The first step is completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) form, which can be downloaded from the RBNZ website.

    We will provide another update when we confirm the opening date and details for the next phase of the application process, when we will be welcoming applications from entities engaged in business activities aligned with the purpose of ESAS, as specified in the ESAS access criteria. These entities may include payment service providers, overseas deposit takers and operators of designated Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs).

    More information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Stormy start to the week, then a fine finish – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Monday 7th – Thursday 10th April – Rain, possible thunderstorms and hail, and strong winds sweep across Aotearoa New Zealand today (Monday) and Tuesday, associated with a series of cold fronts. These fronts will bring a distinct drop to temperatures ahead of some settled weather to end the working week.

    Southern and western regions of the South Island will see heavy rain, possible thunderstorms and hail today (Monday) and Tuesday.  For the east coast of the South Island, a punchy cold front tomorrow will bring heavy rain and strong winds. MetService has issued some Strong Wind Watches there, particularly about Banks Peninsula where winds could approach severe gale, as well as possible thunderstorms with hail.

    The North Island and Central Aotearoa also join in on the action from Tuesday morning as those strong winds and the heavy rain reach them. Strong Wind Watches have been issued for the Tasman, the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and the Wairarapa. Moderate risks of thunderstorms and hail for coastal Waikato south to Wellington, then in the afternoon in the east for Wairarapa.

    Temperatures are set to drop behind these cold fronts, which could mean snow for high-lying parts of Southland, Fiordland and Otago (above 800 metres), some of the first snowfall for the season. People will feel this distinct change in temperature, particularly those on the east coast of the South Island where maximums on Tuesday look to be in the low teens, then some low single digit minimums for inland North Island areas on Wednesday and Thursday.

    MetService Meteorologist Katie Hillyer says, “The combination of strong winds, heavy rain and dropping temperatures will give a very wintery feel to many tomorrow and into Wednesday.”.

    These strong southerly winds that have spanned the Southern Ocean translate to heavy swell in the west, with 5 to 6 metres along the coast and up to 7 metres offshore.  

    After an active start to the week, we see some settled weather moving in by Wednesday, which means clearer skies, chilly mornings and some foggy conditions for the second half of the week.

    Please keep up to date with the most current information from MetService at https://www.metservice.com/national/home

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 7 April 2025 Joint News Release Aid cuts threaten fragile progress in ending maternal deaths, UN agencies warn

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth according to a major new report released today, but United Nations (UN) agencies highlight the threat of major backsliding as unprecedented aid cuts take effect around the world.

    Released on World Health Day, the UN report, Trends in maternal mortality, shows a 40% global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 – largely due to improved access to essential health services. Still, the report reveals that the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and that an estimated 260 000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth – roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.

    The report comes as humanitarian funding cuts are having severe impacts on essential health care in many parts of the world, forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health. These cuts have led to facility closures and loss of health workers, while also disrupting supply chains for lifesaving supplies and medicines such as treatments for haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and malaria – all leading causes of maternal deaths.

    Without urgent action, the agencies warn that pregnant women in multiple countries will face severe repercussions – particularly those in humanitarian settings where maternal deaths are already alarmingly high.

    “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it will be critical to strengthen the underlying health and reproductive rights of women and girls – factors that underpin their prospects of healthy outcomes during pregnancy and beyond.”

    The report also provides the first global account of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival. In 2021, an estimated 40 000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth – increasing to 322 000 from 282 000 the previous year. This upsurge was linked not only to direct complications caused by COVID-19, but also widespread interruptions to maternity services. This highlights the importance of ensuring such care during pandemics and other emergencies, noting that pregnant women need reliable access to routine services and checks as well as round-the-clock urgent care.

    “When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Global funding cuts to health services are putting more pregnant women at risk, especially in the most fragile settings, by limiting their access to essential care during pregnancy and the support they need when giving birth. The world must urgently invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers to ensure every mother and baby has a chance to survive and thrive.”

    The report highlights persistent inequalities between regions and countries, as well as uneven progress. With maternal mortality declining by around 40% between 2000 and 2023, sub-Saharan Africa achieved significant gains – and was one of just three UN regions alongside Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia, to see significant drops after 2015. However, confronting high rates of poverty and multiple conflicts, the sub-Saharan Africa region still counted for approximately 70% of the global burden of maternal deaths in 2023.

    Indicating slowing progress, maternal mortality stagnated in five regions after 2015: Northern Africa and Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

    “Access to quality maternal health services is a right, not a privilege, and we all share the urgent responsibility to build well-resourced health systems that safeguard the life of every pregnant woman and newborn,” said Dr Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director. “By boosting supply chains, the midwifery workforce, and the disaggregated data needed to pinpoint those most at risk, we can and must end the tragedy of preventable maternal deaths and their enormous toll on families and societies.”

    Pregnant women living in humanitarian emergencies face some of the highest risks globally, according to the report.Nearly two-thirds of global maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict. For women in these settings, the risks are staggering: a 15-year-old girl faces a 1 in 51 risk of dying from a maternal cause at some point over her lifetime compared to 1 in 593 in more stable countries. The highest risks are in Chad and the Central African Republic (1 in 24), followed by Nigeria (1 in 25), Somalia (1 in 30), and Afghanistan (1 in 40).

    Beyond ensuring critical services during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, the report notes the importance of efforts to enhance women’s overall health by improving access to family planning services, as well as preventing underlying health conditions like anaemias, malaria and noncommunicable diseases that increase risks. It will also be critical to ensure girls stay in school and that women and girls have the knowledge and resources to protect their health.

    Urgent investment is needed to prevent maternal deaths. The world is currently off-track to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal target for maternal survival. Globally, the maternal mortality ratio would need to fall by around 15% each year to meet the 2030 target – significantly increasing from current annual rates of decline of around 1.5%.

    Note to editors

    About the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group
    The report was produced by WHO on behalf of the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It uses national data to estimate levels and trends of maternal mortality from 2000–2023. The data in this new publication covers 195 countries and territories. It supersedes all previous estimates published by WHO and the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group.

    About the data
    The SDG target for maternal deaths is for a global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030. The global MMR in 2023 was estimated at 197 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, down from 211 in 2020 and from 328 in 2000.

    The report includes data disaggregated by the following regions, used for SDG reporting: Central Asia and Southern Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Northern America and Europe; Latin America & the Caribbean; Western Asia and Northern Africa; Australia and New Zealand; Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia, and Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand.

    A maternal death is a death due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, occurring when a woman is pregnant, or within six weeks of the end of the pregnancy.

    About World Health Day
    World Health Day is marked around the world on 7 April. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The World Health Day 2025 campaign focuses on improving maternal and newborn health and survival with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”. The campaign urges governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: African Development Bank and Mozambique launch drone-based initiative to strengthen country’s disaster preparedness

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    The African Development Bank, the government of Mozambique, and Korea’s government agency Busan Technopark have launched an innovative drone-driven initiative to strengthen disaster preparedness in Mozambique, a country frequently hit by floods, mudslides, cyclones, and other weather-related crises.
    The launch event took…

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ian Powell: When apartheid met Zionism – the case for NZ recognising Palestine as a state

    COMMENTARY: By Ian Powell

    The 1981 Springbok Tour was one of the most controversial events in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. For 56 days, between July and September, more than 150,000 people took part in more than 200 demonstrations in 28 centres.

    It was the largest protest in the country’s history.

    It caused social ruptures within communities and families across the country. With the National government backing the tour, protests against apartheid sport turned into confrontations with both police and pro-tour rugby fans — on marches and at matches.

    The success of these mass protests was that this was the last tour in either country between the two teams with the strongest rivalry among rugby playing nations.

    This deeply rooted antipathy towards the racism of apartheid helps provide context to today’s growing opposition by New Zealanders to the horrific actions of another apartheid state.

    Depuis la révolte de 1976, le nom de ce township noir symbolise la lutte de la population noire contre le système d’apartheid. Les habitants mènent leur vie quotidienne au milieu des conflits et manifestations, le 15 juin 1980. (Photo by William Campbell/Sygma via Getty Images)

    ” data-medium-file=”https://politicalbytes.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/apartheid-in-south-africa.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://politicalbytes.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/apartheid-in-south-africa.jpg?w=612″/>

    A township protest against apartheid in South Africa in 1980. Image: politicalbytes.blog

    Understanding apartheid
     Apartheid is a humiliating, repressive and brutal legislated segregation through separation of social groups. In South Africa, this segregation was based on racism (white supremacy over non-whites; predominantly Black Africans but also Asians).

    For nearly three centuries before 1948, Africans had been dispossessed and exploited by Dutch and British colonists. In 1948, this oppression was upgraded to an official legal policy of apartheid.

    Apartheid does not have to be necessarily by race. It could also be religious based. An earlier example was when Christians separated Jews into ghettos on the false claim of inferiority.

    In August 2024, Le Monde Diplomatic published article (paywalled) by German prize-winning journalist and author Charlotte Wiedemann on apartheid in both Israel and South Africa under the heading “When Apartheid met Zionism”:

    She asked the pointed question of what did it mean to be Jewish in a country that saw Israel through the lens of its own experience of apartheid?

    It is a fascinating question making her article an excellent read. Le Monde Diplomatic is a quality progressive magazine, well worth the subscription to read many articles as interesting as this one.

    Relevant Wiedemann observations
     Wiedemann’s scope is wider than that of this blog but many of her observations are still pertinent to my analysis of the relationship between the two apartheid states.

    Most early Jewish immigrants to South Africa fled pogroms and poverty in tsarist Lithuania. This context encouraged many to believe that every human being deserved equal respect, regardless of skin colour or origin.

    Blatant widespread white-supremacist racism had been central to South Africa’s history of earlier Dutch and English colonialism. But this shifted to a further higher level in May 1948 when apartheid formally became central to South Africa’s legal and political system.

    Although many Jews were actively opposed to apartheid it was not until 1985, 37 years later, that Jewish community leaders condemned it outright. In the words of Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris to the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

    “The Jewish community benefited from apartheid and an apology must be given … We ask forgiveness.”

    On the one hand, Jewish lawyers defended Black activists, But, on the other hand, it was a Jewish prosecutor who pursued Nelson Mandela with “extraordinary zeal” in the case that led to his long imprisonment.

    Israel became one of apartheid South Africa’s strongest allies, including militarily, even when it had become internationally isolated, including through sporting and economic boycotts. Israel’s support for the increasingly isolated apartheid state was unfailing.

    Jewish immigration to South Africa from the late 19th century brought two powerful competing ideas from Eastern Europe. One was Zionism while the other was the Bundists with a strong radical commitment to justice.

    But it was Zionism that grew stronger under apartheid. Prior to 1948 it was a nationalist movement advocating for a homeland for Jewish people in the “biblical land of Israel”.

    Zionism provided the rationale for the ideas that actively sought and achieved the existence of the Israeli state. This, and consequential forced removal of so many Palestinians from their homeland, made Zionism a “natural fit” in apartheid South Africa.

    Nelson Mandela and post-apartheid South Africa
     Although strongly pro-Palestinian, post-apartheid South Africa has never engaged in Holocaust denial. In fact, Holocaust history is compulsory in its secondary schools.

    Its first president, Nelson Mandela, was very clear about the importance of recognising the reality of the Holocaust. As Charlotte Wiedemann observes:

    “Quite the reverse . . .  In 1994 Mandela symbolically marked the end of apartheid at an exhibition about Anne Frank. ‘By honouring her memory as we do today’ he said at its opening, ‘we are saying with one voice: never and never again!’”

    In a 1997 speech, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Mandela also reaffirmed his support for Palestinian rights:

    “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

    There is a useful account of Mandela’s relationship with and support for Palestinians published by Middle East Eye.

    Mandela’s identification with Palestine was recognised by Palestinians themselves. This included the construction of an impressive statue of him on what remains of their West Bank homeland.

    Palestinians stand next to a giant statue of Nelson Mandela following its inauguration ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah on April 26, 2016. – Palestinians inaugurated the statue of Mandela donated by the South African city of Johannesburg to their political capital. The six-metre (20-foot) two-tonne bronze statue was a gift from Johannesburg with which Ramallah is twinned. (Photo by ABBAS MOMANI / AFP)

    ” data-medium-file=”https://politicalbytes.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/mandela-statue-in-west-bank-city-of-ramallah.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://politicalbytes.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/mandela-statue-in-west-bank-city-of-ramallah.jpg?w=750″/>

    Palestinians stand next to a 6 metre high statue of Nelson Mandela following its inauguration ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah in 2016. It was donated by the South African city of Johannesburg, which is twinned with Ramallah. Image: politicalbytes.blog

    Comparing apartheid in South Africa and Israel
     So how did apartheid in South Africa compare with apartheid in Israel. To begin with, while both coincidentally began in May 1948, in South Africa this horrendous system ended over 30 years ago. But in Israel it not only continues, it intensifies.

    Broadly speaking, this included Israel adapting the infamously cruel “Bantustan system” of South Africa which was designed to maintain white supremacy and strengthen the government’s apartheid policy. It involved an area set aside for Black Africans, purportedly for notional self-government.

    In South Africa, apartheid lasted until the early 1990s culminating in South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994.

    Tragically, for Palestinians in their homeland, apartheid not only continues but is intensified by ethnic cleansing delivered by genocide, both incrementally and in surges.

    Apartheid Plus: ethnic cleansing and genocide
     Israel has gone further than its former southern racist counterpart. Whereas South Africa’s economy depended on the labour exploitation of its much larger African workforce, this was relatively much less so for Israel.

    As much as possible Israel’s focus was, and still is, instead on the forcible removal of Palestinians from their homeland.

    This began in 1948 with what is known by Palestinians as the Nakba (“the catastrophe”) when many were physically displaced by the creation of the Israeli state. Genocide is the increasing means of delivering ethnic cleansing.

    Ethnic cleansing is an attempt to create ethnically homogeneous geographic areas by deporting or forcibly displacing people belonging to particular ethnic groups.

    It can also include the removal of all physical vestiges of the victims of this cleansing through the destruction of monuments, cemeteries, and houses of worship.

    This destructive removal has been the unfortunate Palestinian experience in much of today’s Israel and its occupied or controlled territories. It is continuing in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

    Genocide involves actions intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

    In contrast with civil war, genocide usually involves deaths on a much larger scale with civilians invariably and deliberately the targets. Genocide is an international crime, according to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948).

    Today the Israeli slaughter and destruction in Gaza is a huge genocidal surge with the objective of being the “final solution” while incremental genocide of Palestinians speeds up in the occupied West Bank.

    Notwithstanding the benefits of the recent ceasefire, it freed up Israel to militarily focus on repressing West Bank Palestinians.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s genocide in Gaza during the current vulnerable hiatus of the ceasefire has shifted from military action to starvation.

    The final word
     One of the encouraging features has been the massive protests against the genocide throughout the world. In a relative context, and while not on the same scale as the mass protests against the racist South African rugby tour in 1981, this includes New Zealand.

    Many Jews, including in New Zealand and in the international protests such as at American universities, have been among the strongest critics of the ethnic cleansing through genocide of the apartheid Israeli state.

    They have much in common with the above-mentioned Bundist focus on social justice in contrast to the dogmatic biblical extremism of Zionism.

    Amos Goldberg, professor of genocidal studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is one such Jew. Let’s leave the final word to him:

    “It’s so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. Jewish history will henceforth be stained.”

    This is a compelling case for the New Zealand government to join the many other countries in formally recognising the state of Palestine.

    Ian Powell is a progressive health, labour market and political “no-frills” forensic commentator in New Zealand. A former senior doctors union leader for more than 30 years, he blogs at Second Opinion and Political Bytes, where this article was first published. Republished with the author’s permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) and Related Meetings in Malaysia

    Source: ASEAN

    At the invitation of H.E. Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation to attend the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 8-10 April 2025. This series of Ministerial meetings will provide an opportunity for the ASEAN Member States to discuss and share views on global and regional economic outlook, note the progress of the initiatives under the ASEAN Finance and Central Bank tracks, and provide guidance on relevant issues. Under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” the series of meetings will also serve as an important platform to strengthen regional cooperation, review priority economic deliverables, and advance discussions on critical financial matters that will shape ASEAN’s future.
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) and Related Meetings in Malaysia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA – Debt crisis in the Pacific: Jubilee Year campaign aims to provide relief

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – “Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa are Pacific countries at risk of experiencing the worst consequences of internal and external debt. The Caritas Internationalis Jubilee campaign, ‘Transform Debt into Hope,’ should convince everyone to be vigilant about what political elites could do to avoid the dire circumstances of debt growth,” writes Father Giorgio Licini, missionary of PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) and Caritas collaborator of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, in a letter sent to Fides. “About fifty civil society and religious organizations around the world support the ‘Turn Debt into Hope’ petition and campaign. However, there are none from Oceania,” Father Licini points out, referring to the specific situation in Papua New Guinea, the country where he lives.”Papua New Guinea,” he points out, “owes creditors approximately 50 billion kina (approximately 11 billion euros, ed.), as the country prepares to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its independence in September. The country’s solid financial position in the first two decades after independence from Australia, when the national currency was essentially equal to or more than the US dollar, is now a distant memory.” “The country,” he explains, “is classified as rich in resources but has poor human development indicators. About 75 percent of the population lives in poverty or has only the bare necessities of life, often in remote and inaccessible areas lacking basic services. The debt accumulated in recent years is more or less evenly distributed between domestic and foreign debt.”Corruption is a social challenge: “The perception that the country is at least partially determined by corruption and mismanagement is strong. Gaining government positions and jobs is widely perceived as an opportunity for personal enrichment, with family, clan, and allies benefiting in every way possible,” the missionary reports. “Yet,” he continues, “with clear political will, Papua New Guinea can curb corruption, keep its debt under control, and avoid the worst results seen in other developing countries, which are now unable even to pay the interest on their debts.”In light of this global concern, Caritas Internationalis has launched a campaign in the 2025 Jubilee Year entitled “Turn Debt into Hope,” which puts into practice the call for debt relief suggested by Pope Francis in the Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year.There are concrete figures on the current “debt crisis,” which affects more than 100 countries: The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank estimate that 60 percent of low-income countries are in “debt distress” or are on the verge of defaulting on their repayment obligations. “As many as 48 developing countries,” says Father Licini, “spend more on debt interest payments than on health and education, further perpetuating inequality and poverty. More than 3.3 billion people live in these countries.”And while rich countries hold the majority of the debt, “the cost of borrowing for developing countries is two to twelve times higher, trapping many of them in a cycle of rising debt,” Father Licini notes. “In 2023, countries in the Global South spent 12.5 times more on debt repayment than on combating climate change, making them vulnerable to its devastating impacts. What we urgently need, then, is a bold commitment from governments and financial institutions to stop the debt crisis now: the cancellation of unjust and unsustainable debts to prevent debt crises from recurring by addressing their root causes.” They also call for “a reform of the global financial system to prioritize people and the planet” so that the same crisis cannot repeat itself cyclically.A particular goal of the Caritas Internationalis campaign, according to the missionary, “is the cancellation of ‘unsustainable debt,’ i.e., debt that cannot truly be repaid.” At the international level, the petition will be presented wherever world leaders gather to discuss politics and economics, for example at the G7 summit in Canada in June, the G20 summit in South Africa in November, and the COP30 summit in Brazil. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 5/4/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 100 children killed or wounded every day since Gaza ceasefire broken

    Asia Pacific Report

    The chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has described Gaza as “no land” for children, as two rallies were held in New Zealand’s largest city Auckland today to mark Palestine Children’s Day.

    Citing the UN agency for children UNICEF, Phillipe Lazzarini said that “at least 100 children are reported killed or injured every day in Gaza” since Israel broke the truce with Hamas on March 18.

    “The ceasefire at the beginning of the year gave Gaza’s children a chance to survive and be children,” said Lazzarini, who is Commissioner-General of UNRWA.

    “The resumption of the war is again robbing them of their childhood. The war has turned Gaza into a ‘no land’ for children. This is a stain on our common humanity.

    The two Auckland Palestinian solidarity events today marking April 5 — one a children’s activities gathering in Albert Park and the other a regular weekly rally at “Palestine Corner” in downtown Te Komititanga Square — were among 25 activist happenings across the country on week 78 of continuous protests.

    In Albert Park, one of the organisers said the children “had lots of fun — painting, drawing, listening to stories, making collages, playing games with Palestinian themes and some families had picnics.”

    In “Palestine Corner”, several teachers spoke of the realities of the genocide in Gaza, protesters carried placards with photos and names of children killed by the Israeli bombing, while children coloured pictures and blew bubbles.

    Adults holding pictures of children killed in the bombing of Gaza since the ceasefire was broken by the Israeli forces this week. Image: APR

    Huge toll on children
    Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reports that children have been among the most severely affected by the continuing Israeli war on Gaza.

    “Many of them have been killed, injured and orphaned and we can see that thousands of children have lost their limbs and they are suffering from severe trauma,” he said.

    “As the UNRWA spokesperson stated: 51 percent of Gaza’s population are children and they make up the largest proportion of those that were killed since the war began back on October 7, 2023.

    A girl drawing at the Rotunda in Auckland’s Albert Park today. In the foreground are olive trees with the slogan “Free Palestine”. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    “For many children here in Gaza, displacement has taken a very heavy, huge toll on them.

    “They have been repeatedly displaced, forced to flee their homes and right now they are forced to live in overcrowded shelters and tents and on the rubble of their destroyed homes and residential buildings.”

    The Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council (PHROC) — made up of nine groups — has written to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to demand action on Israel in protest over the killing of children.

    Israeli forces continued to kill Palestinians on a genocidal scale in Gaza and had created “conditions of life unfit for human survival,” the council told Turk.

    Israel’s “intent to eliminate and eventually destroy Palestinians across unlawfully occupied Palestine” is also evident in occupied West Bank, the council said.

    The council called on Turk to clearly label Israel’s conduct as genocide, pressure the Israeli government to end its genocide, ensure accountability for Israeli perpetrators, and mobilise the UN to implement a plan to end genocide against Palestinians across the occupied territory.

    Boys decorating pictures with Palestinian poppies at the Rotunda in Auckland’s Albert Park today. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    Albanese’s mandate renewed
    Meanwhile, Francesca Albanese will continue to serve as Special Rapporteur until 30 April 2028, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council announced after the vote today in Geneva by the UNHRC to retain her.

    The UN Human Rights Council defied the efforts of Israel, the US, The Netherlands and other Western countries trying to unseat Albanese, who has been special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 for the past three years.

    Albanese had faced a smear campaign for many months by deniers of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, which she had warned about in October 2023.

    She documented the crimes against humanity, notably in her devastating report Anatomy Of A Genocide in April 2024.

    Children painting and drawing Palestinian themes in the Rotunda at Auckland’s Albert Park today. Image: Del Abcede/APR
    “Palestinian kids matter” . . . images of the 500 children who have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire was broken by the IDF at the start of last month. Image: Del Abcede/APR

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ADB Signs MOU with AIIB, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to Support Feasibility Study for Caspian Green Energy Corridor

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    ADB, AIIB, and the energy ministries of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the Feasibility Study for the Caspian Green Energy Corridor Project. The initiative is part of ADB’s regional technical assistance for the project.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Little River welcome new Ultralight Tanker

    Source:

    CO Jason Heffernan, Cpt Greg Archer, MP John Lister, Minister Vicki Ward, Mick Webb, Garry Green, Cr Peter Maynard, Belinda Webb

    Little River Fire Brigade has officially received the keys to their new Ultralight Tanker, celebrating the modernised addition to the engine bay alongside fellow members and family.

    CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan joined dignitaries at the fire station to handover the vehicle to eager brigade members on Saturday morning (5 April).

    Little River Captain Greg Archer said the new Ultralight will be a valuable addition to the brigade’s fleet, as it is more agile and allows access to narrow areas that they often encounter.

    “All members will be able to safely head to the fireground now in this vehicle after completing training. You also only require a car licence as opposed to a truck licence which opens it up to more drivers,” Greg said.

    “This will allow for a more efficient response to protect the community and an increase in attendance to emergencies.

    “Enhanced features like the improved lighting and the live hose reel have already been a big help on our callouts. 

    “It will also be a great resource to have with our Heavy Tankers during our incident responses, but also when deployed to strike teams for campaign bushfires, much like those we attended recently in the Grampians, Beaufort and Dereel.”

    The new Ultralight Tanker holds 550L of water with a Class A Foam System, a pump and other vital firefighting equipment.

    CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the new Ultralight Tanker incorporates a crew protection system to help ensure volunteers have the best possible chance of survival during a burnover.

    “The brigade members will be protected with a compressed air foam external deluge system, radiant heat shield curtains, and fire blankets,” Jason said.

    “It also allows the brigade to stow and display items in larger internal cabs, lockers and on aluminium trays.

    “The brigade’s response area covers one of the biggest in the district, including small acreage farm lets, grassland reserves, freeways and railway lines. The community will benefit greatly from the brigade’s enhanced capability with this refreshed vehicle.”

    The new Ultralight was purchased through the Victorian Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).

    To secure the funding, the brigade of 29-members, contributed over $11,350 through fundraising, BBQs and tin rattling, with assistance from Bendigo Bank Lara who donated a further $12,000.

    Four brigade members were also acknowledged on the day for their dedicated years of service, receiving awards that spanned up to 55 years of community contribution.

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –