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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveils BSNL’s new logo and seven customer centric services

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 7:58PM by PIB Delhi

    • With the launch of 7 indigenous services, BSNL from now on will always be at the forefront of technological innovations in India: Minister Scindia.
    • BSNL to soon deploy indigenous 5G services, have successfully conducted trials of 5G RAN and core in both the 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands.
    • Under PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a leader: Sh Scindia.

     

    Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today unveiled Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)’s new logo and its seven citizen centric services. These services represents BSNL’s renewed focus on delivering secure, affordable, and reliable connectivity to every corner of Bharat. The logo was launched in presence of Hon. MoS for Communications & Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. The launch ceremony was held at Bharat Sanchar Bhavan and was attended by Secretary Telecom, CMD BSNL& senior Officers from DoT, BSNL, CDoT, ITI & TCIL.

    Alongside the new logo, seven pioneering initiatives were also launched, aimed at revolutionizing how India connects, communicates, and enhances its digital security.

    BSNL from now on will always be at the forefront of technological innovations in India: Minister Scindia

    Union Minister of Communication Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia while unveiling the new logo shared that BSNL’s new logo is a symbol of our commitment towards customer service. He added that the bouquet of these 7 citizen centric services, are Made in India, Made for India and Made by India.

    He mentioned that BSNL is the only Telecom Service Provider (TSP) in India to launch these seven indigenous services, which from now on will always keep BSNL at the forefront of technological innovations in India.

    BSNL to soon deploy 5G services, have successfully conducted trials of 5G RAN and core in both the 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands.

    Talking about India’s indigenous 5G vision, the Minister shared that BSNL has embarked upon several initiatives to strengthen India’s ambitious 5G roll-out. We have conducted successful trials of Indigenous 5G RAN and Core in both 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands and India will soon deploy indigenous 5G services. He added that out of the 1,00,000 BSNL 4G sites planned to be set-up by mid-2025, many will also be graduated to 5G connectivity.

    Under PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a leader: Sh Scindia

    Minister Scindia mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a Leader. He highlighted that the launch of the new logo and seven citizen centric services is a testament to the same.

    The Minister of State for Communication and Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar gracing the occasion, highlighted that time and again, BSNL has stood as the nation’s backbone, providing telecom services in remote, challenging terrains. The Minister emphasized that BSNL has unwavering Govt support and has received two revival packages . BSNL is deploying fully indigenous 4G equipment showing the capability of technological advancement . The Minister mentioned that BSNL has skilled manpower and has nationwide reach. Minister stressed that unveiling of new logo  will bring refreshed identity for BSNL and shows the intent of BSNL for readiness to transform and innovate.

    New Logo – Vibrancy, Trust, and Nationwide Reach

    BSNL’s new logo symbolizes strength, trust, and accessibility. The green and white arrows surrounding India emphasize the company’s expansive nationwide reach, while the vibrant orange backdrop signifies warmth and inclusivity. The bold tagline ‘Connecting Bharat‘ highlights BSNL’s unwavering mission to bridge the digital divide by offering a modern, reliable telecom network that connects both urban and rural India.

    Seven New Initiatives Built on Three Key Pillars

    Security:

    1. Spam! Free Network

    BSNL’s spam-blocking solution automatically filtering out phishing attempts and malicious SMS and creates a safer communication environment for user without the need to issue alerts to customers, ensuring seamless and secure communication for all users.

    Affordability:

     

    1. BSNL National Wi-Fi Roaming

    BSNL is launching a first-of-its-kind seamless Wi-Fi roaming service for its FTTH customers, enabling high-speed internet access at BSNL hotspots at no extra charge, thus minimizing data costs for users.

     

    1. BSNL IFTV

    A first for India, BSNL’s fiber-based intranet TV service offers 500+ live channels and Pay TV through its FTTH network. This service will be accessible for all BSNL FTTH subscribers without additional charges. The data used for the TV viewing will not be consuming the FTTH Data pack.

     

    1. Any Time SIM (ATS) Kiosks

    A first of it kind- Automated SIM kiosks allow users to purchase, upgrade, port or replace SIMs on 24/7basis , leveraging UPI/QR-enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access.

     

    Reliability:

     

    1. Direct-to-Device Service

    India’s first Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity solution converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver seamless, reliable connectivity. This groundbreaking technology is particularly useful in emergency situations and isolated regions, and can enable UPIpayments in such areas.

    1. ‘Public Protection & Disaster Relief’ – as a solution

    BSNL’s scalable, secure network for disaster response is India’s first guaranteed encrypted communication for government and relief agencies during crises, enhancing national disaster management capabilities. The robust network design guarantees uninterrupted connectivity and also uses innovative drone-based and balloon-based systems to extend coverage during disasters.

     

    1. First Private 5G in Mines

    BSNL introduces reliable, low-latency, 5G connectivity for mining operations in partnership with C-DAC, leveraging Made-in-India equipment and BSNL’s technological expertise. This service enables advanced AI and IoT applications, in underground mines and large opencast mine which require high speed low latency connectivity, such as safety analytics, real-time remote control of AGVs, AR enabled remote maintenance, fleet tracking & optimization, etc.

    These launches signal BSNL’s continuing commitment in transforming India’s telecom landscape, ensuring that secure, affordable and reliable connectivity remains accessible to all.

    Tweet link of the Minister:

    https://x.com/JM_Scindia/status/1848678264157442304

    Speech of the Minister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthCVOcNyQk

    ******

    SB/DP/ARJ

    (Release ID: 2067144) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves the proposed acquisition of Aavas Financiers Limited by Aquilo House Pte. Ltd.

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 8:38PM by PIB Delhi

    Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of Aavas Financiers Limited by Aquilo House Pte. Ltd.

    Aavas Financiers Limited (Acquirer) is a newly incorporated entity, wholly and indirectly held by the Relevant CVC Funds which are certain investment funds or vehicles managed and/or advised by members of the CVC Network. The “CVC Network” or “CVC Group” is a global alternative investment manager focused on private equity, credit, secondaries and infrastructure, consisting of CVC Capital Partners plc. (CVC PLC) and each of its subsidiaries from time to time. CVC PLC is a public limited company whose shares are listed and admitted to trading on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

    Aavas Financiers Limited (Target) is registered with the National Housing Bank as a non-deposit taking housing finance company. In India, the Target’s business activities include: (A) provision of (a) Home loans; (b) MSME business loans; (c) Loan against property; and (B) Distribution of life, health, and general insurance products to Target’s customers only.

    The proposed transaction relates to acquisition of shares and control by the Acquirer in the Target pursuant to: (i) the share sale agreements executed amongst the Acquirer, the Target and certain existing promoters/promoter group of the Target; and (ii) the mandatory open offer in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.

    Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

    ****

    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2067175) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Reporters Without Borders Voices heard but repressed: #MeToo: What impact on journalism?

    Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (Video Release)

    #MeToo, #EuTambém, #EnaZeda, #Cuéntalo.. “Voices heard but repressed: #MeToo: What impact on journalism?” An exclusive report and documentary with Lénaïg Bredoux (@Mediapart), Laurène Daycard (freelance journalist and author of this report) and Jovanna García (freelance journalist).

    It cannot be denied: this worldwide movement to liberate women’s voices has significantly impacted the media landscape. Even if the #MeToo wave only had a weak echo in some countries, it has led to the emergence of new stories and new media outlets worldwide. While some pioneers had already paved the way — including Awa in Senegal in the 1970s, Sharika Wa Laken in Lebanon since 2012, and Axelle magazine, created in Belgium in 1998 — they have, in turn, benefited from this new exposure. Yet investigating women’s rights remains dangerous.

    To accompany the report, RSF has published recommendations to support journalists working on women’s rights and gender violence.
    We have issued recommendations for governments, police, judicial authorities, social media platforms and newsrooms, to ensure the right to information on women’s rights and gender violence is truly guaranteed.

    Read the report on rsf.org

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6EjSBchy8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between fusion and fission? A nuclear physicist explains

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hole, Professor, Mathematical Sciences Institute and School of Computing, Australian National University

    Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

    Globally, nuclear power accounts for roughly 10% of electricity generation. In some countries, such as France, this figure is nearly 70%.

    Big tech companies such as Google are also turning to nuclear power to meet the huge power demands of their data centres.

    The source of all nuclear power is the binding energy of an atom. The energy stored in an atom can be released in two main ways: fission or fusion. Fission involves splitting big heavy atoms into smaller, lighter ones. Fusion involves combining little atoms together into bigger ones.

    Both processes release a lot of energy. For example, one nuclear fission decay of U235, an isotope of uranium typically used as the fuel in most power plants, produces more than 6 million times the energy per single chemical reaction of the purest coal. This means they are great processes for generating power.

    What is fission?

    Fission is the process behind every nuclear power plant in operation today. It occurs when a tiny subatomic particle called a neutron is slammed into an uranium atom, splitting it. This releases more neutrons, which continue colliding with other atoms, setting off a nuclear chain reaction. This in turn releases a tremendous amount of energy.

    To convert this energy to electricity a heat exchanger is installed, which turns water to steam, driving a turbine to produce power.

    The fission reaction can be controlled by suppressing the supply of neutrons. This is achieved by inserting “control rods” which soak up neutrons. Historically, nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl have occurred when the control rods fail to engage and quench the neutron supply, and/or coolant circulation fails.

    So called “third generation” designs improve on early designs by incorporating passive or inherent safety features which require no active controls or human intervention to avoid accidents in the event of malfunction. These features may rely on pressure differentials, gravity, natural convection, or the natural response of materials to high temperatures.

    The first third generation reactors were the Kashiwazaki 6 and 7 advanced boiling water reactors in Japan.

    The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Japan.
    Tokyo Electric Power Co, CC BY-SA

    An unresolved challenge for fission is that the byproducts of the reaction are radioactive for a long time, in the order of thousands of years. If reprocessed, the fuel source and waste can also be used to make a nuclear weapon.

    Fission power is a demonstrated technology. It is also scalable from large scale (the largest is the 7.97 gigawatt Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan) through to small-to-medium reactors that produce around 150 megawatts of electricity, as used on a ship or nuclear submarine. These are the reactors that will power Australia’s eight nuclear submarines promised as part of a trilateral security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States.

    What is fusion?

    Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and stars. It is the opposite process to fission. It occurs when atoms are fused together.

    The easiest reaction to initiate in the laboratory is the fusion of isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. Per unit mass, the reaction produces 4 times more energy than the fission of U235.

    The fuel ion deuterium is incredibly abundant on Earth and in the universe. Tritium is radioactive with a half-life of 12 years, so is very rare on Earth. The universe is 13.8 billion years old; the only isotopes of light nuclei (hydrogen, helium and lithium) found in nature are those that are stable on those time scales.

    In a fusion power plant, tritium would be manufactured using a “lithium blanket”. This is a solid lithium wall in which fusion neutrons slow and ultimately react to form tritium.

    However, at present it’s very difficult for scientists to create a fusion reaction outside of the laboratory. That’s because it requires incredibly hot conditions to fuse: the optimal conditions are 150 million degrees Celsius.

    Fusion is the process that powers the Sun.
    SOHO (ESA & NASA)

    At these temperatures the fuel ions exist in the plasma state, where electrons and (nuclear) ions are dissociated. The byproduct of this process isn’t radioactive; rather, it’s helium, an inert gas.

    The leading technology path to demonstrate sustained fusion is called “toroidal magnetic confinement”. This is when the plasma is confined at extreme temperatures in a very large doughnut-shaped magnetic bottle.

    Unlike fission, this technology path requires continuous external heating to reach fusion conditions and a strong confining field. Terminate either and the reaction stops. The challenge is not uncontrolled meltdown, but getting the reaction to occur at all.

    A major unresolved challenge for toroidal magnetic confinement fusion, which attracts the majority of research interest, is the demonstration of a burning self-heated plasma. This is when the heating power produced by the reaction itself is primary. This is the objective of the publicly funded multi-national ITER project, the world’s largest fusion experiment, and the privately funded SPARC experiment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    However, the consensus of much of the scientific community is that fusion will not be commercially viable until at least 2050.

    A climate solution?

    I am often asked if nuclear power could save Earth from climate change. I have many colleagues in climate science, and indeed my late wife was a high-profile climate scientist.

    The science is clear: it is too late to stop climate change. The world needs to do everything it can to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and minimise catastrophic damage, and it needs to have done it decades ago.

    For the planet, fission is part of that global solution, together with widespread rollout and adoption of renewable sources of power such as wind and solar.

    On a longer time scale, one hopes that fusion might replace fission. The fuel supply is much larger and ubiquitously distributed, the waste problem is orders of magnitude smaller in volume and timescale, and the technology cannot be weaponised.

    Matthew Hole receives funding from the Australian government through the Australian Research Council and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and the Simons Foundation. He is also affiliated with ANSTO, the ITER Organisation as an ITER Science Fellow, and is Chair of the Australian ITER Forum.

    – ref. What’s the difference between fusion and fission? A nuclear physicist explains – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-fusion-and-fission-a-nuclear-physicist-explains-240438

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor looks set for a resounding defeat in Queensland. But the state’s elections have long thrown up surprises

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pandanus Petter, Research Fellow School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University

    On Saturday October 26, Queensland Premier Steven Miles’ Labor is vying for a fourth consecutive term in government, up against David Crisafulli’s Liberal National Party (LNP).

    Although Labor won the previous election in 2020 comfortably, opinion polls in the lead up to this election have consistently pointed to an LNP win.

    Recent Queensland history shows voters can produce dramatic election results, such as the 2012 wipeout of Labor, and its equally dramatic return to government in 2015. With no upper house to provide a check on government power, whoever wins will likely have a relatively free hand to enact their policy agenda.

    A continuing trend of increased early voting means many Queenslanders have already made their judgement. But what have been the big issues dominating the campaign, and what priorities will the next government be working toward?

    The usual suspects

    The big issues of concern to voters in Queensland are likely familiar to people in other states:

    • cost of living

    • housing

    • crime

    • health

    • to a lesser extent, economic management.

    However, the two main parties have different emphases and approaches.

    A campaign on crime and crises

    The LNP is focused on attacking Labor’s record. Crisafulli has largely tried to keep the party firmly on-message, highlighting what they describe as “crises” in housing, youth crime, cost of living, health and government integrity for at least the last year.

    The extent of youth crime, what causes it and what solves it are a matter of debate.

    But the LNP has been keen to present themselves as proposing tougher solutions than their opponents. They’ve made promises to change youth sentencing laws to deter offenders under the slogan “adult crime, adult time”.

    They’ve also promised to provide “tough love” to at-risk youth with mandatory re-training camps.

    On other issues, they’ve been promising more efficient health services, incentives to home ownership and greater government transparency.

    However, they’ve been careful to try to avoid more controversial issues and present a “small target” on economic management. Interestingly, the LNP has largely confirmed they’ll adopt many of Labor’s budgetary priorities on cost of living relief.

    Despite this, a last minute emphasis on the possible reversal of legislation decriminalising abortion and voluntary assisted dying has threatened to derail their careful messaging.

    Reverting to old ways, the LNP is backing an “indefinite” commitment to coal fired power plants and dumping a controversial proposed hydroelectric dam.

    Crisafulli has walked back earlier support for Treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    If they win government, the LNP would also likely shut down the freshly minted Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry, claiming they will focus on “practical” help for Indigenous communities instead.

    They’re also promising electoral reform with a longstanding commitment to remove “corrupt” compulsory preferential voting and the reversal of laws that banned property developer donations.

    Progressive balancing act

    Steven Miles took over from Annastacia Palaszczuk as Labor leader and premier less than a year ago.

    Labor has also been focused on using incumbency to address key issues, while trying to stake out a position as a force for progressive change.

    They have warned of the potential “hidden” dangers of the LNP, pointing to unpopular cuts to the civil service last time the LNP governed.

    On cost of living, they’ve given direct relief to households, with 50 cent fares for public transport, $1000 household energy rebates and promised free lunches for public school students.

    They have been keen to say this is a dividend from increased royalties charged to coal mining companies.

    On housing, they have continued their focus on addressing the undersupply of social and affordable housing alongside modest reforms to renters’ rights (although ruling out any caps on prices).

    They’re promising a new era of state intervention to improve competition in petrol and energy retail.

    On crime, Labor has followed the LNP’s lead in some matters, such as investing in extra police resources. They’ve also controversially ignored the Human Rights Act to keep youth imprisoned while emphasising diversion over punishment.

    Of more comfort to progressive voters, they have positioned themselves as firmly committed to keeping their abortion and voluntary assisted dying legislation intact. Labor will also continue the transition to renewable energy.

    Disenchantment with the major parties

    Despite their efforts, or perhaps because of Crisafulli’s disciplined messaging, it doesn’t look as if voters have been swayed to keep the government. There’s a clear mood for change.

    However, it should be noted this isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of Crisafulli or the LNP’s whole agenda, as opinion polls show neither is particularly popular.

    After trailing for most of the campaign, Miles is still behind, but has made up a lot of ground in the past week.

    Whoever wins, they will have to govern in an era when more people are disenchanted with the mainstream parties.

    Among those vying to hold or increase their crossbench seats in regional Queensland are the socially conservative Katter’s Australian Party, as well as some popular local mayors running as independents.

    Meanwhile, the Greens are pushing to claim more Brisbane seats.

    The minor parties are campaigning hard on persistent problems in housing, cost of living, health and crime. These are all hard to solve quickly and not necessarily helped by rushed responses.

    The next parliament will have to find a way to represent a state divided in public opinion between those in the city and those in regional areas across all of the key issues.

    Pandanus Petter receives funding from the Australian Research Council to study public opinion polling, democratic responsiveness and the idea of ‘the Fair Go’ in public policy.

    – ref. Labor looks set for a resounding defeat in Queensland. But the state’s elections have long thrown up surprises – https://theconversation.com/labor-looks-set-for-a-resounding-defeat-in-queensland-but-the-states-elections-have-long-thrown-up-surprises-241774

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No home left behind: a postcode approach to electrification

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gill Armstrong, Researcher in architecture and urban planning, Climateworks Centre

    EndeavourEnergy

    In Australia and overseas, it’s clear that homes without gas – running on clean energy – are healthier, have cheaper power bills, and produce lower greenhouse emissions.

    The emissions part is crucial. Collectively, homes are responsible for 10% of Australia’s greenhouse emissions. But how do we get Australia’s 11 million homes to ditch gas and switch to electricity for cooking, hot water and home heating?

    The current approach is slow and piecemeal. State and local governments offer incentives to individual households, but few adopt them. For those that do, little coordinated support and guidance is available. The households must deal with suppliers and tradies on their own, which can be a frustrating and lonely process.

    A pilot project to electrify 500 homes in a single postcode south of Sydney could show a better way. After a two-year campaign by residents, “Electrify 2515” has won A$5.4 million in federal funding, along with industry support. Challenges remain, but this pilot promises to demonstrate how household electrification can be accelerated and coordinated at scale.

    As independent climate transitions specialists within Monash University, Climateworks Centre has no direct involvement in this project. But our ongoing Renovation Pathways Program focuses on ways to decarbonise Australia’s existing houses and bring about a national renovation wave. So we are watching with keen interest.

    Testing extra incentives

    The 2515 postcode sits between Wollongong and Sydney in New South Wales. It covers the suburbs of Austinmer, Clifton, Coledale, Scarborough, Thirroul and Wombarra.

    The pilot encourages households to retire three types of gas appliance: water heaters, space heaters and cookers. Financial subsidies of up to $1,000 off electric hot water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioners and induction cooktops, and up to $1,500 off home batteries, are available. Higher subsidies are available to low-income households.

    Successful applicants receive the subsidies as a discount on the purchase price of these new electrical appliances, rather than a rebate. Money for this is coming from the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

    Such incentives prompt households within a single community to make the switch together, retiring their electric appliances before their gas appliances fail or break, speeding up the transition.

    A fully subsidised smart energy device, valued at around $1,500, is also installed in every home to track and optimise energy use. Subsidies are also available for upgrades to switchboards where required to meet modern safety standards.

    Rooftop solar and electric vehicle chargers can also be purchased through the pilot, but will not be subsidised.

    How it works.
    Electrify 2515

    The 2515 difference

    2515 is not the first community to rally behind clean energy. Grassroots initiatives are scattered around the country, such as in Yackandandah in northeast Victoria, Parkes in central west NSW, and Broken Hill in far west NSW.

    Home energy pilot projects are also already underway through the Cooperative Research Centre Race2030, which partners with industry and research institutions. But these initiatives, along with those at a state and local government level, tend to recruit individual households across a wider geographic area.

    In contrast, Electrify 2515 offers holistic support for households within a community. It is not driven by a single government program, or by a gas supply problem – which was the case for the people of Esperance in Western Australia.

    By electrifying 500 homes in a single community, Electrify 2515 will provide a tangible measure of what’s required to drive rapid household electrification. The main challenge isn’t technological – it’s social. The technology is here. Getting the social drivers and settings right, at scale, is the key.

    The holistic approach will demonstrate what consumers need to make the shift from gas to electricity. This includes what conversations are needed and which incentives enable all households to act in a coordinated way.

    Local 2515 residents explain why everyone should join them in applying for the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot.

    The bright side of a community approach

    The whole-of-community focus brings technical and financial advantages.

    After completing an application form and receiving an offer, households receive guidance and support from the installation partner Brighte, a commercial company that provides consumer loans for clean energy appliances such as solar panels and batteries. The service streamlines the decision-making process, which is often the biggest barrier stopping households from progressing with electrification.

    Being able to work with a larger number of homes at once is likely to streamline and scale up installation with dedicated teams of installers and tradespeople.

    It also helps build households’ trust in literature about payback times and financial benefits through friendly neighbourhood conversations and, importantly, through access to local real-world evidence, not just theory.

    Thermal efficiency is also key

    The electrification pilot is a solid starting point, especially for a community in a relatively mild coastal climate such as postcode 2515.

    For homes in more extreme climates, or for inefficient older homes – which a lot of Australia’s homes sadly are – the fundamental thermal efficiency of the building must be improved alongside electrification of appliances.

    The thermal efficiency of homes can be improved by insulating ceilings, walls and floors, double-glazing windows and sealing gaps. These measures make a home more comfortable for occupants. They can also reduce peak demand on the energy network and save on household energy bills.

    Electrify 2515 currently focuses on appliance upgrades but adding thermal efficiency upgrades could take it to the next level. Without these upgrades, there is a risk of households in harsher climates using more electricity in a heatwave if homes are draughty and inefficient.

    There are various ways to upgrade a home’s capacity to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
    Climateworks Centre, 2023, Climate-ready homes: Building the case for a renovation wave in Australia.

    When paired with electrification, thermal upgrades could save Australian households around $2,200 annually on their energy bills (based on 2023 gas and electricity prices), according to Climateworks Centre analysis.

    Projects like Electrify 2515 should include both home thermal efficiency improvements and electrification efforts, particularly for communities in harsher climates in order to maximise benefits to households.

    Electrification challenges

    Electrify 2515 caters for low-income households, by offering higher subsidies to households in the lowest 25% income percentile to ensure these groups comprise 25% of community buy-in.

    Renters are encouraged to put their hand up too. But it may still be challenging to encourage their landlords to invest in upgrades.

    Further challenges include decarbonising homes that cannot generate electricity from rooftop solar panels due to being shaded by taller buildings or trees. This can sometimes be an issue for homes in colder winter climates with higher annual energy demands, such as Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.

    Building momentum for widescale rollout

    The technology for all-electric homes exists. Now we must identify the key social drivers and settings required to spur Australia’s electrification wave.

    Electrify 2515 is a promising approach. It’s a way to build momentum, showcase technology at scale, and prompt meaningful discussions around the benefits and challenges of getting off gas.

    This program, and others like it, can provide a tangible real-world foundation to bring about bills savings, emissions reductions and healthier homes across Australia. And it will help ensure no one is left behind.

    Climateworks Centre is a part of Monash University. It receives funding from a range of external sources including philanthropy, governments and businesses.

    – ref. No home left behind: a postcode approach to electrification – https://theconversation.com/no-home-left-behind-a-postcode-approach-to-electrification-241471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rebuilding homes after a disaster is an opportunity to build back better – why isn’t the insurance industry on board?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antonia Settle, Lecturer, Monash University

    For many Australians, 2022 was a dark and devastating year. Major floods wreaked havoc on hundreds of communities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. But for some, the floods themselves were only half the disaster.

    As a recent report by Financial Counselling Victoria showed, many affected households had their insurance claims rejected or diminished, whether due to complicated exclusion clauses or because their “sum insured” had been whittled away by unexpected costs.

    A long parliamentary inquiry sought to examine the insurance industry’s response to this disaster. Its final report – released to little fanfare last Friday – revealed a sector in crisis.

    The report put forward 86 recommendations, which taken together could deliver real progress in pushing the insurance sector to deliver on its promises.

    Some standout areas of focus included abolishing a principle called “like-for-like reinstatement” and increasing accountability and oversight. Making sure households can rely on their own coverage is a vital step.

    But the report also highlighted just how vulnerable Australia’s housing stock is to climate change, which is no easy problem to solve.



    Read more:
    How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle

    Forced to repeat the same mistakes

    To address the challenge of rising climate risk, we need to increase the resilience of Australian homes. Insurance will only be affordable if risk exposure can be brought down.

    Recommendation 26 of the inquiry’s final report deals with the principle of “like-for-like reinstatement”. Written into many policies, this protects insurers from having to pay for home improvements in an insurance claim – known as “betterment” in insurance jargon.

    ‘Like-for-like’ rules can prevent households from improving their disaster resilience when rebuilding.
    Anna Mente/Shutterstock

    The underlying idea is to stop households sneaking an extra en-suite bathroom into their insurer-funded rebuild. The same dimensions and building materials have to be used.

    But this can mean a home that has been flooded ends up being rebuilt with exactly the same flood risk.

    This was the experience of Madeleine Serle, whose home was flooded in Melbourne in 2022. She told me she had asked her insurer to rebuild using polished concrete floors in the downstairs rooms of her home, instead of the plasterboard and wood that had soaked up the floodwaters. Serle reasoned that if it flooded again, it wouldn’t cause so much damage.

    Her insurer refused. Even when Serle offered to pay any extra costs herself that might arise from concrete flooring, her insurer insisted on a “like-for-like reinstatement”. This meant using the same low-resilience materials that will likely be destroyed if inundated again by floodwater.

    Bringing ‘betterment’ to the fore

    Serle was actively trying to reduce her future flood risk, but this was precluded by the terms of her insurance contract.

    By seeking an end to like-for-like reinstatement, recommendation 26 is pushing for “betterment” to be brought to the forefront of how we think about insurer rebuilds.

    It proposes allowing households to swap out size for quality in an insurer rebuild. That could allow them to use the money saved from reducing the footprint of their home on resilience measures, which are often much more expensive.

    This wouldn’t just reduce their exposure to climate risks – fire, flooding and so on. It could also improve the energy efficiency of our houses, which is another key part of the climate challenge in Australia.

    Standardised products

    Many of the report’s other recommendations centred on the better handling of claims and better outcomes for households.

    This includes by strengthening accountability through stronger regulatory oversight (recommendations 2, 4, 9, 41, 47, 49), tightening up some key loopholes (recommendations 3, 10, 13), and penalising insurers for delays in the resolution of claims (recommendations 19 and 57).

    It also laid out ways to improve communications between insurers and households (recommendations 6, 10, 24, 25, 28, 33), so people can better understand what they should expect from their insurer – and when their insurer might be falling short.

    These proposed reforms aim to create more standardised insurance products across the industry. But they could have gone further. The report didn’t go as far as recommending a fully standardised insurance product that all insurers would have to offer.

    Making insurance products more standardised could make them easier to compare.
    DC Studio/Shutterstock

    As the Financial Rights Legal Centre has argued, standardisation is vital to untangling the “confusopoly” that leaves households unable to make informed decisions about the merits of different policies on the market without reading reams of product disclosure statements.

    Reform alone isn’t enough

    The inquiry’s final report recommends the government buy back some of the riskiest homes (recommendation 81), alongside much stronger government support for households looking to mitigate their own risks.

    But insurance reform alone isn’t enough to solve the problem that Australian households face in securing their housing amid worsening climate risk.

    The bigger overarching problem faced by Australia is one of climate change mitigation and adaption. While our country is exposed to relatively high levels of climate risk, much of this risk is borne by individuals through home ownership.

    With nearly half of all renter retirees living in poverty, Australians know owning their own home is a powerful way to secure their economic future. That’s why home ownership is referred to as part of the “third pillar” of the retirement income system (voluntary private savings), along with superannuation and the public pension.

    Reforming our insurance system can make important strides in providing households with better tools to manage climate risk.

    Only with stronger safety nets, and by grappling with risks at the societal level, can we counteract the extreme individualisation of climate risk that we experience here in Australia.



    Read more:
    Some New Zealand homes are becoming uninsurable because of natural disasters – but all may not be lost

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

    – ref. Rebuilding homes after a disaster is an opportunity to build back better – why isn’t the insurance industry on board? – https://theconversation.com/rebuilding-homes-after-a-disaster-is-an-opportunity-to-build-back-better-why-isnt-the-insurance-industry-on-board-241576

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: AvePoint to Announce Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on November 7

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AvePoint (NASDAQ: AVPT), the global leader in robust data management and data governance, will report its third quarter 2024 financial results after the US financial markets close on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

    The company will host a conference call at 4:30pm ET on Thursday, November 7, 2024. CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Tianyi Jiang (TJ) and CFO Jim Caci will provide an overview of these results, discuss current business trends, and conduct a question-and-answer session. You may access the call and register with a live operator by dialing 1-833-816-1428 for US participants and 1-412-317-0520 for those outside the US. The passcode for the call is 7094823.

    A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of AvePoint’s website at: https://ir.avepoint.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available for approximately 90 calendar days.

    About AvePoint

    Securing the Future. AvePoint is a global leader in data management and data governance, and over 21,000 customers worldwide rely on our solutions to modernize the digital workplace across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and other collaboration environments. AvePoint’s global channel partner program includes over 3,500 managed service providers, value added resellers and systems integrators, with our solutions available in more than 100 cloud marketplaces. To learn more, visit http://www.avepoint.com.

    Disclosure Information

    AvePoint uses the https://ir.avepoint.com/ website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws including statements regarding the future performance of and market opportunities for AvePoint. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive and regulated industries in which AvePoint operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting AvePoint’s business and changes in AvePoint’s ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and ability to identify and realize additional opportunities, and the risk of downturns in the market and the technology industry. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of AvePoint’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its registration statement on Form S-3 and related prospectus and prospectus supplements filed with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents filed by AvePoint from time to time are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and AvePoint does not assume any obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. AvePoint does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

    Investor Contact
    AvePoint
    Jamie Arestia
    ir@avepoint.com
    (551) 220-5654

    Media Contact
    AvePoint
    Nicole Caci
    pr@avepoint.com
    (201) 201-8143

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vicor Corporation Reports Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ: VICR) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. These results will be discussed later today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, during management’s quarterly investor conference call. The details for the call are below.

    Revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 totaled $93.2 million, a 13.6% decrease from $107.8 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and an 8.5% sequential increase from $85.9 million in the second quarter of 2024.

    Gross margin decreased to $45.7 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $55.9 million for the corresponding period a year ago but increased from $42.8 million for the second quarter of 2024. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 49.1% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 51.8% for the corresponding period a year ago and 49.8% for the second quarter of 2024. Operating expenses increased to $40.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $40.2 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and decreased sequentially from $42.6 million for the second quarter of 2024.

    Net income for the third quarter was $11.6 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to net income of $16.6 million or $0.37 per diluted share, for the corresponding period a year ago and net loss of $(1.2) million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024.

    Cash flow from operations totaled $22.6 million for the third quarter, compared to cash flow from operations of $23.8 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and cash flow from operations of $15.6 million in the second quarter of 2024. Capital expenditures for the third quarter totaled $8.4 million, compared to $7.7 million for the corresponding period a year ago and $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2024. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 increased 6.2% sequentially to approximately $267.6 million compared to approximately $251.9 million as of June 30, 2024.

    Backlog for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 totaled $150.6 million, a 13.8% decrease from $174.7 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and 2.1% sequential decrease from $153.8 million at the end of the second quarter of 2024.

    Commenting on third quarter performance, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Patrizio Vinciarelli stated: “Revenues and cash flow improved in Q3 while gross margins were impacted primarily by product mix. We are close to initial deliveries of 2nd generation, high density VPD systems for leading AI applications with current multipliers achieving superior density, bandwidth and signal integrity. Vicor’s VPD will enable AI processors setting new standards for compute performance and power system efficiency.”

    “We are off to a good start asserting our Intellectual Property against unscrupulous actors playing a game of “catch me if you can”. As indicated in a recent Initial Determination from the International Trade Commission (“ITC”), contract manufacturers may be precluded from importing computing systems using infringing modules. Redesigned modules, or discrete alternatives, may still infringe and OEMs condoning infringement are taking chances with their supply chain. Leaders in Artificial Intelligence licensing Vicor IP are wisely securing a resilient supply chain of enabling power system solutions.”

    For more information on Vicor and its products, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.vicorpower.com.

    Earnings Conference Call

    Vicor will be holding its investor conference call today, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Vicor encourages investors and analysts who intend to ask questions via the conference call to register with Notified, the service provider hosting the conference call. Those registering on Notified’s website will receive dial-in info and a unique PIN to join the call as well as an email confirmation with the details. Registration may be completed at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. on October 22, 2024. For those parties interested in listen-only mode, the conference call will be webcast via a link that will be posted on the Investor Relations page of Vicor’s website prior to the conference call. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register and, if necessary, download and install any required software. For those who cannot participate in the live conference call, a webcast replay of the conference call will also be available on the Investor Relations page of Vicor’s website.

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statement in this press release that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement, and, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “assumes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “continue,” “prospective,” “project,” and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding bookings, shipments, revenue, profitability, targeted markets, increase in manufacturing capacity and utilization thereof, future products and capital resources. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and estimates as to the prospective events and circumstances that may or may not be within the company’s control and as to which there can be no assurance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those economic, business, operational and financial considerations set forth in Vicor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, under Part I, Item I — “Business,” under Part I, Item 1A — “Risk Factors,” under Part I, Item 3 — “Legal Proceedings,” and under Part II, Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K may not be exhaustive. Therefore, the information contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read together with other reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K, which may supplement, modify, supersede or update those risk factors. Vicor does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.

    Vicor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets modular power components and complete power systems based upon a portfolio of patented technologies. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Vicor sells its products to the power systems market, including enterprise and high performance computing, industrial equipment and automation, telecommunications and network infrastructure, vehicles and transportation, and aerospace and defense electronics.

    For further information contact:

    James F. Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer
    Office: (978) 470-2900
    Email: invrel@vicorpower.com

                   
    VICOR CORPORATION
                   
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS      
    (Thousands except for per share amounts)
                   
      QUARTER ENDED   YEAR ENDED
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                   
      SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,
      2024   2023
    		   2024   2023
                   
                   
    Net revenues $93,166     $107,844     $262,892     $312,407  
    Cost of revenues   47,422       51,966       129,254       154,822  
    Gross margin   45,744       55,878       133,638       157,585  
                   
    Operating expenses:              
    Selling, general and administrative   23,398       22,422       72,715       63,020  
    Research and development   16,960       17,752       51,938       50,556  
    Litigation-contingency expense   –       –       19,500       –  
    Total operating expenses   40,358       40,174       144,153       113,576  
                   
    Income (loss) from operations   5,386       15,704       (10,515 )     44,009  
                   
    Other income (expense), net   3,713       1,917       9,244       5,643  
                   
    Income (loss) before income taxes   9,099       17,621       (1,271 )     49,652  
                   
    Less: (Benefit) provision for income taxes   (2,455 )     1,038       2,832       4,716  
                   
    Consolidated net income (loss)   11,554       16,583       (4,103 )     44,936  
                   
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   2       1       14       9  
                   
    Net income (loss) attributable to Vicor Corporation $11,552     $16,582     ($4,117 )   $44,927  
                   
                   
    Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vicor Corporation:              
    Basic $0.26     $0.37     ($0.09 )   $1.01  
    Diluted $0.26     $0.37     ($0.09 )   $1.00  
                   
    Shares outstanding:              
    Basic   45,117       44,433       44,829       44,275  
    Diluted   45,174       45,187       44,829       45,000  
                   
    VICOR CORPORATION
           
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    (Thousands)
           
      SEPT 30,   DEC 31,
      2024   2023
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Assets      
           
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 267,605     $ 242,219  
    Accounts receivable, net   58,525       52,631  
    Inventories   105,761       106,579  
    Other current assets   18,933       18,937  
    Total current assets   450,824       420,366  
           
    Long-term deferred tax assets   288       296  
    Long-term investment, net   2,640       2,530  
    Property, plant and equipment, net   158,779       157,689  
    Other assets   20,231       14,006  
           
    Total assets $ 632,762     $ 594,887  
           
    Liabilities and Equity      
           
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 15,724     $ 12,100  
    Accrued compensation and benefits   12,449       11,227  
    Accrued expenses   6,429       5,093  
    Accrued litigation   26,550       6,500  
    Sales allowances   2,640       3,482  
    Short-term lease liabilities   1,739       1,864  
    Income taxes payable   642       746  
    Short-term deferred revenue and customer prepayments   4,198       3,157  
           
    Total current liabilities   70,371       44,169  
           
    Long-term deferred revenue   –       1,020  
    Long-term income taxes payable   1,916       2,228  
    Long-term lease liabilities   5,605       6,364  
    Total liabilities   77,892       53,781  
           
    Equity:      
    Vicor Corporation stockholders’ equity:      
    Capital stock   402,687       384,395  
    Retained earnings   292,557       296,674  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,198 )     (1,273 ) 
    Treasury stock   (139,424 )      (138,927 ) 
    Total Vicor Corporation stockholders’ equity   554,622       540,869  
    Noncontrolling interest   248       237  
    Total equity   554,870       541,106  
           
    Total liabilities and equity $ 632,762     $ 594,887  
           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises Announces Date for Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), a leading provider of safe, scalable, efficient, and sustainable zinc-based long duration energy storage systems, today announced it will release its third quarter 2024 financial results after the U.S. market closes on November 5, 2024. A conference call to discuss its results will take place the following morning on November 6 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Registration Information

    A live webcast of the earnings call will be available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at https://investors.eose.com or may be accessed using this link (registration link). To avoid delays, we encourage participants to join the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

    The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Eos’ investor relations website for twelve months following the live presentation. The webcast replay will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET on November 6, 2024, and can be accessed by visiting https://investors.eose.com/events-and-presentations.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to clean energy with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.

    Contacts        
    Investors:            ir@eose.com
    Media:                 media@eose.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Baker Hughes Declares Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON and LONDON, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) announced today that the Baker Hughes Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share of Class A common stock payable on Nov. 14, 2024, to holders of record on Nov. 4, 2024.

    In line with our stated goal to responsibly grow the dividend over time, the dividend reflects a 5% increase, or $0.01, compared to the same quarter last year.

    Baker Hughes expects to fund its quarterly cash dividend from cash generated from operations.

    About Baker Hughes:
    Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Chase Mulvehill
    +1 346-297-2561
    investor.relations@bakerhughes.com

    Media Relations

    Adrienne M. Lynch
    +1 713-906-8407
    adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU measures on customs controls and duties for online purchases of low-cost and low-quality products from China – E-002053/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    14.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002053/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Carlo Fidanza (ECR)

    The growth in online purchases of cheap and very low-quality products from China is seriously harming the economy and the safety of European consumers.

    Those products, which are often sold at derisory prices, not only undermine the competitiveness of European businesses, but also pose serious risks to consumers’ health and safety. Many of them do not meet the quality and safety standards imposed by the European Union and, as a result, numerous cases of defective or dangerous products have been reported.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.What steps will the Commission take to scale up customs controls on products imported from China by means of e-commerce platforms?
    • 2.Is it considering introducing specific import duties for products that do not meet European quality and safety standards?
    • 3.What initiatives are being planned that will help European companies to compete with Chinese companies’ low-cost, low-quality products?

    Submitted: 14.10.2024

    Last updated: 22 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOD, German Ministry of Defence Enter Into Security of Supply Arrangement

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    The Department of Defense (DoD) entered into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) with the Federal Ministry of Defence for the Federal Republic of Germany (DEU MOD). The arrangement will enable both the U.S. and Germany to acquire the industrial resources they need to quickly meet defense requirements, resolve unanticipated disruptions that challenge defense capabilities, and promote supply chain resiliency.

    The SOSA was signed on October 22, 2024 by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William LaPlante, on behalf of the United States and the Head of the Directorate-General for Equipment within the Federal Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, on behalf of Germany in Brussels, Belgium.

    “This SOSA is an important step forward and further strengthens the robust defense partnership between Germany and the United States,” said Dr. LaPlante.

    Through this arrangement, the U.S. and Germany commit intent to support one another’s priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defense resources. The U.S. will provide Germany some assurances under the U.S. Defense Priorities and Allocations System, with program determinations by the DoD and rating authorizations by the Department of Commerce. Germany will in turn establish a government-industry Code of Conduct with its industrial base, in which German firms will voluntarily agree to make every reasonable effort to provide the U.S. with priority support. Participation in this Code of Conduct is made voluntarily.

    SOSAs are an important mechanism for DoD to strengthen interoperability and are a proven supply chain tool for enabling a resilient, global defense ecosystem for the U.S. and key partners and allies. The arrangements institute working groups, establish communication mechanisms, streamline DoD processes, and proactively act to allay anticipated supply chain issues in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict.

    Germany is the nineteenth SOSA partner of the United States. Other SOSA signatories include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For more information on SOSAs, visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/security-of-supply.html

    About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD (IBP):

    The OASD IBP works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets president of Eurasia Group

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

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Ian Bremer, president of the Eurasia Group, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, Oct. 18 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ian Bremer, president of the Eurasia Group, in Beijing on Friday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and the United States working together to meet global challenges and achieve win-win results serve the interests of the two peoples and meets the common expectations of the rest of the world.

    China will respond to all uncertainties in today’s world with its own certainty, continue to hold the international moral high ground, and make efforts for the overall progress and development of mankind.

    Wang expressed the hope that the U.S. side will earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, establish an objective and rational understanding of China, change the mindset of zero-sum game, and work together with China to continue to explore the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other on this planet.

    The Eurasia Group welcomes the relationship between the two countries showing signs of stabilization through bilateral efforts, Bremer said, adding that the company is willing to continue offering suggestions and proposals for the long-term peaceful coexistence between the United States and China, and hopes that the two major countries will work together to maintain a stable international order.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Ian Bremer, president of the Eurasia Group, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Yili wins innovation award at World Dairy Summit

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A guest visits the stand of China’s Yili Group during the 2024 World Dairy Summit in Paris, France, on Oct. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

    Chinese dairy giant Yili has won the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) innovation award, IDF announced on Friday.

    The announcement came at the 2024 World Dairy Summit in Paris. Yili won the award in the category of new product development, with focus on food safety and consumer nutrition.

    The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards have nine categories, and this year Yili Group was nominated in four. It won with its product Satine Active Lactoferrin Organic Pure Milk, in recognition of its breakthrough in directional lactoferrin extraction and protection technology.

    Speaking to Xinhua, president of the jury for this year’s IDF Innovation Awards Caroline Edmond said that China is a strong presence in the context of innovation for the global dairy sector.

    “Year after year, since we have introduced the innovation, we see great participation from the Chinese community … innovation is important,” she said.

    Edmond added that she looked forward to seeing more Chinese companies presenting their innovation projects in the future.

    Delegates at the summit also signed the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability, to promote the green and sustainable development of the global dairy industry.

    As a signatory of the declaration, executive president of Yili Group Liu Chunxi said the declaration reflects the desire of the humanity to have a sustainable development in the dairy industry and to protect the planet.

    The 2024 World Dairy Summit began on Tuesday in Paris, drawing experts, scholars, and industry leaders from across the globe to discuss the latest trends, as well as the future of the dairy sector.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong improves listing rules to attract more IPOs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Hong Kong on Friday announced an enhanced timeframe for new stock listings, giving companies greater certainty in the timing of their initial public offerings (IPOs), a move that is expected to elevate Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a leading international listing venue.

    The enhanced framework clarified rules for applications fully meeting requirements, accelerated timeframe for eligible A-share listed companies, and applications requiring longer process, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) said in a joint statement.

    Michael Duignan, the SFC’s executive director of corporate finance, said that the SFC has always been committed to transparency, accountability and better efficiency in listing regulation, and the improvement is in line with its strategic priority to enhance the global competitiveness and appeal of Hong Kong’s capital markets.

    Katherine Ng, HKEX’s head of listing, said that the enhanced timeframe will provide greater clarity and certainty in the application process for new listing applications, further elevating Hong Kong’s attractiveness as an international financial center.

    The enhanced application timeframe will be applicable to new listing applications filed after the statement, the regulators said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Honduras and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 18, 2024

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Honduran authorities have reached staff level agreement on a set of comprehensive policies and reforms needed to complete the first and second reviews of Honduras’ program supported by the IMF.
    • The authorities have made important progress under their program. Fiscal policy remains prudent, public investment continues to expand, and the authorities have recently begun normalizing monetary and exchange rate policies.
    • Strengthened budget execution, energy sector reforms, including to reduce the public power company’s arrears, and further adjustments to monetary and exchange rate policies remain key to safeguard macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive and sustained growth.

    Tegucigalpa, Honduras: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ricardo Llaudes visited Tegucigalpa during October 7-18, 2024. The mission was a continuation of presential and virtual discussions in recent months. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Llaudes issued the following statement:

    “The Honduran authorities and the IMF team have reached staff level agreement on the economic policies necessary to complete the first and second reviews of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements. The IMF’s Executive Board is expected to consider the case in the coming weeks.

    “The team and the authorities concurred that the Honduran economy remains broadly resilient despite a still-challenging global environment and the impact of the El Niño climate shock. Robust growth has continued this year—projected close to 4 percent—and inflation has stabilized between 4½ and 5 percent, within the tolerance range around the BCH’s inflation objective. On the external front, international reserves levels remain adequate but have continued to decline this year owing to a variety of factors, including the severe drought in the first half of the year—hindering agricultural exports and increasing energy imports—and lower-than-expected multilateral and bilateral financing support.

    “The authorities have reiterated their strong commitment to implement a prudent macroeconomic policy mix to strengthen economic stability and to take prompt actions on all critical aspects of their economic reform program supported by the IMF to ensure program objectives are met. Policy discussions and program reforms revolved around five key pillars.

    “First, continued budgetary discipline to preserve debt sustainability. As in 2023, fiscal performance this year is expected to overperform program objectives, supported by solid tax revenues and strengthened public financial management. The authorities are planning additional measures to further bolster the fiscal position, including enhancing transparency in budget execution, further strengthening the Treasury Single Account, and modernizing the public procurement framework. Timely adoption of the 2025 budget in line with program objectives is essential to support the authorities’ fiscal efforts and public investment program.

    “Second, strengthened social spending to protect the most vulnerable. The authorities have faced capacity constraints in disbursing social support. These constraints are now being lifted, and the authorities agreed on the need to roll out more decisively monetary transfers under the flagship program Red Solidaria, accelerate completion of the census of urban households in extreme poverty, and finalize the Single Social Sector Information System to facilitate the design, monitoring, and transparency of Honduras’ social programs.

    “Third, decisive implementation of monetary and exchange rate policies to keep inflation low and safeguard international reserves. Following the global shocks of 2020-2023—including the COVID-19 pandemic, global commodity shocks, and climate events—the authorities have recently begun normalizing monetary and exchange policies. Key recent measures include an increase in reserve requirements, adjustments to the monetary policy rate (TPM), and a higher rate of crawl of the Lempira, in line with the crawling band regime. There was agreement on the need for additional tightening of the TPM to support demand for Lempira assets and continued decisive implementation of the crawling band regime to achieve a healthy and sustainable external position. The authorities agreed to stand ready to further adjust these policies as needed to ensure achievement of program objectives. Strong communication with the public and markets on these measures will be key to strengthen their effectiveness.

    “Fourth, improved health of the energy sector. The team was encouraged by the recent downward trend in electricity losses by the public power company ENEE. That said, it was agreed that continued reforms will be vital to underpin ENEE’s financial health. In the short run, the authorities agreed that reducing ENEE’s payment arrears through domestic bond issuances and enhancing coordination across relevant official stakeholders to tackle ENEE’s challenges are a priority. These measures are also essential to attract needed investment to expand generation capacity and guarantee adequate provision of energy. In parallel, the authorities committed to continue other structural reforms, including integration of ENEE’s three distribution units and upgrading of its financial accounting to international standards.

    “Fifth, steadfast commitment to fight corruption. The recent establishment of an asset declaration system for public level officials and a National Observatory of Transparency and Anticorruption are welcome. Continuing efforts to strengthen the AML/CFT framework ahead of the evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2026 are essential, including approval of the Beneficial Ownership Law and creation of a corresponding firm registry including beneficial ownership information. The authorities also committed to ensure the adoption of the Honduran National Transparency and Anti-Corruption Strategy (ENTAH) and continue to strengthen the public dialogue and participation of civil society.

    “The IMF team would like to thank the authorities, the private sector, and civil society for their kind hospitality and candid discussions.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Rosa A Hernandez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/19/pr24384-imf-concludes-visit-to-honduras-and-reaches-staff-level-agreement

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Lecture By Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group On the occasion of the 90th Birthday of H.E. General Yakubu Gowon (rtd…

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    Your Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic
    of Nigeria, ably represented by Senator George Akume, CON, Secretary of the Government of the Federation.
    Your Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – the celebrant.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s consumer goods trade-ins unleash market potential

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s consumer goods trade-ins have unleashed new market demands, with over 1.4 million applications for automobile scrapping and renewal subsidies recorded so far, Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said on Friday.

    As of Wednesday, more than 10.8 million consumers across the country had purchased some 15.6 million pieces of household appliance included in China’s consumer goods renewal program, Sheng told the 2024 Haihe International Consumption Forum that opened on the same day in Tianjin, north China.

    Household appliance trade-ins have driven a total sales of 73.36 billion yuan (about 10.3 billion U.S. dollars), according to the vice minister.

    During the first half of this year, consumption alone contributed 60.5 percent to China’s economic growth, driving its GDP growth by 3 percentage points, said Sheng.

    He said the ministry will join hands with other departments to further boost consumption and consolidate the stable and positive momentum of the market.

    In March this year, China unveiled an action plan to implement the equipment and consumer goods renewal program to expand domestic demand and shore up the economy. In July, it further stepped up policy support for the program with an extra fund injection of 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Financial opening-up under spotlight at key forum

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 is held in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2024. The Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 opened here on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Heavyweight guests from home and abroad discussed financial opening-up and cooperation as well as economic development on Friday as they gathered in Beijing for the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024.

    Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, said as an important destination for global financial investment, the Chinese capital will move faster to develop a vibrant modern financial system and enhance its capacity to serve national financial management functions.

    Toward that end, efforts will focus on improving financial service facilities, building a financial market system that fosters innovation, strengthening international financial exchanges, and maintaining a safe and sound financial environment, Yin said.

    Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said the central bank will focus on serving high-quality development while strengthening counter-cyclical adjustments through monetary and macroprudential policies.

    The central bank will work to make financial support policies more targeted and effective, create a favorable monetary and financial environment for stable economic growth and structural adjustments, and steadily push forward financial opening up, said Pan.

    Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, said the administration will guide financial institutions to increase financial supply, improve resource allocation, and accelerate the flow of funds, therefore fully supporting the country’s economic recovery.

    Regarding the capital market, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said the regulator will deepen capital market reform, and improve institutions and mechanisms that promote the high-quality development of listed companies and strengthen the market’s intrinsic stability.

    Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, said media should move to create a favorable “soft” environment with boosted market confidence. Boosting trust and confidence is particularly of great significance when the Chinese economy is at a critical stage of overcoming challenges, he told the forum.

    Fu said Xinhua will make every effort to amplify the “main theme” of economic development, and contribute new and greater strength to advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality financial development.

    Zhu Hexin, head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said the administration will make solid efforts to deepen reform and promote high-standard opening up in the field of foreign exchange.

    Work will be done to improve the opening up of capital accounts, enhance the evaluation of policies and communication with the market, and boost regulation and risk control capabilities, according to Zhu.

    Agustin Carstens, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements, said via video link that as a key engine for global growth, the strengthening of China’s domestic demand will benefit the world, inject fresh momentum into the global economy and safeguard global monetary and financial stability.

    Themed “Trust and Confidence — Work Together to Promote Financial Openness, Cooperate for Shared Economic Stability and Growth,” this year’s conference is jointly hosted by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the People’s Bank of China, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua News Agency, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Allen & Overy top M&A legal adviser in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2024, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Allen & Overy top M&A legal adviser in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2024, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Allen & Overy was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal adviser in the Middle East & African region during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2024 by value as well as volume, according to the latest Legal Advisers League Table, which ranks legal advisers by the value and volume of mergers and acquisition (M&A) deals on which they advised, by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Allen & Overy achieved this leading position by advising on nine deals worth $9.7 billion.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Allen & Overy was the top adviser by value during Q1-Q3 2023 and managed to retain its leadership position by this metric during Q1-Q3 2023 as well. Interestingly, despite experiencing a year-on-year fall in the total value of deals advised by it during Q1-Q3 2024, Allen & Overy outpaced its peers by a significant margin in terms of value. Meanwhile, its ranking by volume improved from second position during Q1-Q3 2023 to the top position during Q1-Q3 2024.”

    Bernitsas Law, Latham & Watkins and Simmons & Simmons collectively occupied the second position in terms of value, with each of them advising on $3.4 billion worth of deals, followed by Linklaters with $2.3 billion worth of deals advised.

    Meanwhile, White & Case occupied the second position in terms of volume with nine deals, followed by Webber Wentzel with six deals, ENSafrica with six deals, and Naschitz Brandes Amir with four deals.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Rothschild & Co top M&A financial adviser in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2024, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Rothschild & Co top M&A financial adviser in Middle East & Africa during Q1-Q3 2024, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Rothschild & Co was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the Middle East & African region during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2024 by both value and volume, according to the latest Financial Advisers League Table, which ranks legal advisers by the value and volume of mergers and acquisition (M&A) deals on which they advised, by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that Rothschild & Co achieved this leading position by advising on eight deals worth $4.2 billion.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Rothschild & Co was also the top adviser by volume during Q1-Q3 2023 and retained its leadership position by this metric during Q1-Q3 2024 as well. Meanwhile, its ranking by value improved significantly, as there was a more than three-fold increase in the total value of deals advised by it during Q1-Q3 2024 compared to Q1-Q3 2023. As a result, Rothschild & Co went ahead from occupying the ninth position by value during Q1-Q3 2023 to top the chart by this metric during Q1-Q3 2024.”

    HSBC occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $2.3 billion worth of deals, followed by Fort Capital Investment with $1.6 billion at the third position, whereas Citi and KPMG jointly occupied the fourth position, with each of them advising on $1.4 billion worth of deals.

    Meanwhile, HSBC occupied the second position in terms of volume with seven deals, followed by Rand Merchant Bank with seven deals, Deloitte with seven deals, and Clairfield International with six deals.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: UNI-494 trial results highlight Unicycive’s potential to differentiate in AKI space, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    UNI-494 trial results highlight Unicycive’s potential to differentiate in AKI space, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    Unicycive Therapeutics recently announced positive results from its Phase I trial of UNI-494, showing that the drug’s use was observed to be safe and well-tolerated in both single ascending and multiple ascending doses. The trial results also showed that UNI-494 absorption was fast, rapidly metabolized, and plasma concentration increases when dose increases. The drug potentially fills an unmet need in the acute kidney injury (AKI) space as it has an alternate mechanism of action to current marketed therapies, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    AKI can cause a buildup of waste products in the blood and make it difficult to maintain the right balance of fluid and minerals in the body. It can also cause permanent kidney damage, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

    According to GlobalData’s latest report “Chronic Kidney Disease: Epidemiology Forecast to 2033,” the total prevalent cases of CKD are expected to increase from 110,299,913 cases in 2023 to 121,072,673 cases in 2033, across the seven major markets (7MM*).

    Kajal Jaddoo, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The aging global population will lead to an increase in the prevalence of AKI, leading to an expansion of the market as well as a growing need for more therapeutic options.”

    UNI-494 exhibits therapeutic intervention activating SUR2 subunit of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP channel) and thus reduces oxidative stress and restores mitochondrial function.

    The Phase I study was a randomized, open-label, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose, multiple ascending dose, and single centered study to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of UNI-494. The single ascending dose from 10mg to 160mg was well-tolerated. The multiple ascending dose of 40mg twice daily for five days was also safe and well-tolerated.

    Jaddoo concludes: “Key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData have emphasized that a drug that specifically shows enhanced efficacy in kidney disease patients will most likely receive breakthrough or fast track designations and gain market share.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug dealer with £1.5 million worth of property convicted after tireless Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man with a multimillion pound property empire has been convicted for supplying drugs and money laundering as a result of proactive investigation by Met officers.

    Richard Baxter, 50 (20.07.1974), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the following offences at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 18 October:

    • Conspiracy to supply Heroin
    • Conspiracy to supply Cocaine
    • Conspiracy to transfer criminal property – cash

    The conviction demonstrates the Met’s proactive work in tackling the crimes that matter most to London residents. The public regularly tell officers about their concerns of drug dealing within local communities, and how it can bring violence and anti-social behaviour into the neighbourhood. This is why the Met is working harder than ever to tackle these crimes.

    In August 2024, Spanish police arrested Baxter in Valencia and he was extradited back to the UK to be remanded in custody.

    As part of their investigation, specialist officers investigating criminal gangs operating in London discovered that Baxter was one of the key figures of a group smuggling hundreds of kilos of cocaine and heroin, before laundering money through various companies.

    As part of their investigation, officers discovered Baxter owned a home in Surrey, with a property empire across the south-east of England. All four properties and a holiday chalet with a total approximate value of £1.5m of houses have been seized as part of the investigation.

    Detective Constable David Lawn, who led the investigation, said: “We have zero-tolerance for anyone who engages in criminal activities and are committed to combat the sale of dangerous and illegal drugs which pose a threat to the public.

    “The Met are deploying specialist resources to tackle drug criminality and make the capital a safer place to live.

    “Baxter’s conviction sends out a strong message to those who seek to profit from illegal drug trade – you will be held accountable for your actions in front of the court.”

    Met officers are working alongside communities to crack down on individuals who supply drugs in London. As part of the Met’s drive to tackle issues that matter most to communities through our A New Met for London plan, officers are focusing on community crime fighting, acting on residents’ concerns, making London safer for those who live, work and raise a family in the capital.

    The supply of drugs has devastating consequences on communities across London and beyond – it causes addiction, having devastating health impacts, as well as leading to anti-social behaviour and violence.

    With the help of local communities sharing information, Met officers are acting swiftly to pursue those who seek to cause harm by supplying drugs.

    If you want to report a drugs crime, call 999 in an emergency, 101 or report online. Alternatively, this can be reported to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    Baxter has been remanded for sentencing at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, 5 December.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese drone maker sues US government

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese drone maker DJI filed a lawsuit to challenge the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on Saturday, seeking to be removed from the blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies.

    In an announcement released to Xinhua, the company said the designation is erroneous and decided to seek relief in U.S. federal court after more than 16 months of efforts to engage with DoD.

    The company added that it has been dedicated to promoting the application of civilian drone products and opposes the use of its products for military purposes.

    “DoD itself acknowledges that DJI makes consumer and commercial drones, not military drones,” said the company.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FEHD cancels licence of restaurant in Sham Shui Po

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene today (October 19) cancelled the licence of a general restaurant in Sham Shui Po, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by illegally extending the food business area. The restaurant concerned has had to cease operation with immediate effect.
          
         The restaurant is located at Shop C5 on the ground floor of 353-357 Un Chau Street.
          
         “Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the restaurant licensee in April and July of this year. A total fine of $6,000 was levied by the court and 30 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department’s demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the cancellation of the licence,” a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.
          
         The licensee concerned had a record of four convictions for the same offence between August of last year and January of this year. A total fine of $9,900 was levied and 60 demerit points were also registered, resulting in a seven-day and 14-day licence suspension in February and April of this year respectively.
          
         The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR and other relevant regulations, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.
                      
         Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises have been licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious Crash, Coronation Road, Morrinsville

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are responding to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Coronation Road and Bank Street, Morrinsville.

    The crash was reported around 6:50pm.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

    The road is closed and diversions are in place at the intersections of Bank Street, Williams Avenue and North Road.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: TRYX Announces Exclusive Partnership with Pro Gamers Group for EU Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, Oct. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — We are thrilled to announce that TRYX has entered into a strategic partnership with Pro Gamers Group, making them the exclusive distributor of TRYX products across Europe. Through Pro Gamers Group’s extensive distribution network, including Caseking Germany, Caseking France, Caseking Hungary, Caseking Netherlands, Caseking Iberia, Caseking UK, Overclockers UK, Globaldata, Trigono, and Jimm’s, our products will now be more accessible than ever before.

    Why Pro Gamers Group?

    Pro Gamers Group has established itself as a leader in the European technology market, known for its strong in retail and distribution of high-performance hardware. With their commitment to quality, customer service, and expertise in system integration, they are the perfect partner for TRYX. This collaboration allows us to deliver on our promise of premium products to a broad audience of gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, all while ensuring quick delivery times, and localized services.

    What This Means for Our Customers

    Customers throughout the European region can now purchase TRYX products exclusively through Pro Gamers Group’s entities, benefiting from faster shipping, local support, and direct access to the latest TRYX product releases. Whether you’re a gamer, a creator, or simply passionate about high-performance systems, TRYX gear is now closer to you than ever before.

    About TRYX

    TRYX was established in 2023 by a dedicated group of tech and gaming PC enthusiasts who firmly believe that, in the era of AI, imagination and creativity remain irreplaceable traits of human expression. TRYX is on a mission to empower individuals with more possibilities, enabling gamers to shape their own distinct identities.

    Contact: Lucius Liu, Global PR – TRYX Technology Inc.
    Email: lucius_liu@tryxzone.com
    Phone: +86 16607554477

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01c3fa1c-fe95-4b45-9ef4-5ec45b495b91

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c6c3c16-6d27-49ae-87b5-6a9038b72d02

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22603bfd-045f-4012-ac61-cf2763e50927

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f812999-594f-4c6a-be79-5431d3dbb1ea

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Yoruba vs Igbo: how a 1977 football cup caused ethnic tensions to boil over in Nigeria

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Chuka Onwumechili, Professor of Communications, Howard University

    Football is a game of passion, and passions can become particularly inflamed when the sport represents larger political struggles. In Nigeria in 1977, an Africa-wide football contest fuelled the ethnic rivalry between the Yoruba and the Igbo people to the point that the military had to intervene. The game was to be played as a semi-final in the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup, the club football tournament that would go on to become the Caf Confederation Cup.

    As scholars of sports communication, we recently published a research paper about that 1977 confrontation between Shooting Stars of Ibadan (Ibadan is home to a Yoruba majority in the south-west) and Enugu Rangers (Enugu is an Igbo state).



    Read more:
    Hamas-Israel conflict: Algeria offers to host Palestine’s football matches – the bigger history

    Our study adds to a history of football and politics that is not well documented in Africa. In the process it shows that football represents more than just sport, but can also be a way of understanding cultural and political issues.

    Yoruba vs Igbo

    The rivalry between the Igbos and Yorubas is almost as old as the formation of Nigeria in 1914. Both groups vie politically and for jobs. Each forms roughly a fifth of the Nigerian population. The Igbo had lost political power after the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970.

    This rivalry became particularly visible in Nigerian football from the 1950s when ethnic groups contested annually for the Alex Oni Cup. The Yorubas often won, the Igbos a close second but the tournament was eventually discontinued because of fights between players and spectators.

    After this, Igbos did not have a representative club team in national competitions until after the war ended in 1970. Top Igbo footballers were employed at various clubs across the country, particularly in Lagos. Yorubas played for various clubs in their home region. One such club was the Shooting Stars. They made up the bulk of the Ibadan Lions team that won the national Challenge Cup four times from 1959 to 1969.



    Read more:
    Football and politics in Kinshasa: how DRC’s elite use sport to build their reputations and hold on to power

    After the civil war, most Igbo footballers – who had fought unsuccessfully for the secession of Biafra state – were afraid to live in other parts of the country. Enugu Rangers was formed and the club dominated Nigerian football in the 1970s and 1980s.

    Shooting Stars had become the beacon club of the Yorubas and quickly developed a rivalry with Enugu Rangers.

    The semi-final that caused all the trouble

    This ongoing rivalry escalated when the two clubs beat off opposition from across the continent to meet in the two legs of the semi-final of the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977. Shooting Stars were defending the title. Rangers chose not to take part in the more prestigious Africa Champions Club’s Cup – instead they sought to equal Shooting Stars’ feat of winning the Cup Winners Cup.

    To add to the tension, Nigeria’s national team was made up of mainly by players from these two clubs – and the national team was competing in the last stage of the qualifiers for the 1978 men’s football World Cup. It was feared that the rivalry would affect its chances. Almost daily, the newspapers reported on accusations levelled by officials of the two teams at each other and the Nigerian Football Association (today the Nigeria Football Federation).

    The association had to find solutions – fast. Both teams had played their home matches in their own cities so far. The association decided that their two semi-final games should be played in a “neutral” location: Lagos.



    Read more:
    Egypt’s powerful football fans and politics: a toxic mix that could combust during Afcon

    But after the first leg, a designated “home game” for Shooting Stars, ended 0-0, controversy erupted. Lagos is in the west of the country, home of the Yorubas. This was seen to give the Shooting Stars an advantage. There was also controversy about whether the teams could call up some or all of their players in the national team. The association’s authority to re-schedule the second leg was then called into question. These issues were argued at fever pitch and publicly by fans and in the media, with threats and ethnic undertones.

    The association wanted to bar both Rangers and Shooting Stars from using their national team players, but was eventually forced to agree on the release of all players to play in the final leg of the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final. But not before making a very late request that the Confederation of African Football put off the game until after the national team’s World Cup qualifying games.

    Shooting Stars, frustrated by the postponement, lashed out publicly and in the media. They accused Nigeria’s federal sports commissioner, Dandeson Isokrari, of ethnocentrism and favouritism. Isokrari was an easterner, from Enugu Rangers territory.

    With tension boiling over and threats issued from both sides, the second-in-command of the Nigeria state, Major General Musa Yar’ Adua, stepped in to avoid ethnic strife and possible violence. He instructed the match to move to Kaduna, a northern city, away from the homes of the clubs. This decision by the country’s military leadership calmed nerves.



    Read more:
    Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup – Palestine and Western Sahara will be burning issues

    An overflowing crowd packed the Kaduna venue from the early morning. In the early minutes of the game, Shooting Stars mounted a siege in the Rangers’ goal area. It was so tense that journalists and photographers converged behind the Rangers goal. Angry Rangers supporters claimed they were not journalists and photographers, but disguised juju men concocting mystical incantations that kept the ball rooted in the Rangers goal area.

    The match ended in another 0-0 tie but Rangers advanced when goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala helped to turn the penalty kick tiebreaker in the club’s favour, 4-2. Despite the tensions, there were no reported incidents of violence during the match.

    This epic contest between two clubs during a continental cup contest in 1977 reminds us of the rivalry that persists even today among ethnic groups across the continent. Football often represents such ethnic rivalries beyond the field of play – and in the case of Enugu Rangers and Shooting Stars it reached a dangerous level that forced the state to step in.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Yoruba vs Igbo: how a 1977 football cup caused ethnic tensions to boil over in Nigeria – https://theconversation.com/yoruba-vs-igbo-how-a-1977-football-cup-caused-ethnic-tensions-to-boil-over-in-nigeria-239128

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: ​TV executive Jack Gao highlights AI’s transformative power

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    During the recent 6th World Media Summit in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, top TV executive Jack Gao addressed a forum about how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world with boundless potential and evolving at an unprecedented pace.

    Jack Gao speaks at a forum during the 6th World Media Summit in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Whale TV]

    “AI possesses the ability to speak, write, see, create and learn — mimicking the very cognitive capabilities that define us as human,” said Gao, chairman of Whale TV. “I view AI as a new digital species, one that is both our companion and our partner.”

    Having spent his career at the intersection of technology and entertainment — from Microsoft China and News Corp. to Fox, Legendary Pictures, AMC Theatres, and now Whale TV — the executive has been uniquely placed to witness firsthand the transformative power of technology in the media industry. He even believes AI’s impact on human civilization may very well surpass that of fire, agriculture or electricity.

    Despite its growing prominence, there is still widespread misunderstanding about AI, he pointed out, and many people are either unaware of its potential or hold misconceptions about its capabilities. “AI is not overhyped; if anything, it demands more attention and awareness,” he said. “Today, AI is no longer a buzzword, but a profound force revolutionizing media production and audience engagement.”

    The executive has observed several key trends shaping the media landscape: personalization at scale, whereby AI enables highly individualized experiences; interactivity and immersion, with AI, AR and VR transforming passive consumption into active participation; media-commerce integration, allowing audiences to seamlessly purchase products directly from media content; and cross-screen synergy, with AI enabling seamless media consumption across multiple devices.

    “These trends offer exciting opportunities — new revenue streams, cost efficiencies and more. However, they also present significant challenges. With great AI power comes the responsibility to navigate issues of privacy, ethics and the preservation of storytelling as an art form,” he noted.

    As a former board director of AMC Theatres, Gao noted the significant challenges theatres face in an age of home entertainment. However, he believes AI is revitalizing the cinema experience by offering immersive and interactive content that can be tailored in real-time. Meanwhile, personal computers and tablets have evolved into true creative powerhouses. With the help of AI, virtually anyone can produce professional-quality content, democratizing media creation in unprecedented ways. Whether it is an independent filmmaker or a young child with a great idea, the tools to create are now within reach, he said.

    In terms of smartphones, the most personal and ubiquitous screen, Gao explained that AI is personalizing content consumption at an individual level, from bite-sized videos to augmented reality experiences. The executive believes phones have essentially become personal media assistants, curating experiences to people’s preferences. However, this heightened personalization presents challenges in managing attention spans and addressing the ethical implications of AI’s influence on user behavior.

    Television has transformed from the bulky analog devices of the past to today’s sleek, connected digital platforms, while streaming now dominates TV consumption, replacing traditional cable and satellite. AI has made connected TV predictive, anticipating viewers’ preferences before they themselves know, Gao said. Television now serves as the central hub of smart homes, linking security systems, appliances and more, which offers media companies dynamic and profitable engagement opportunities, he added.

    The promising prospects prompted Gao to join Whale TV, which powers over 100 million connected devices globally, and he eventually became the company’s chairman. “I can confidently say that connected TV operating systems will be a critical component of the media landscape in the years to come,” he said. “These systems will integrate AI and other emerging technologies, creating a future where media is not just consumed, but experienced in ways we can scarcely imagine today.”

    MIL OSI China News –