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Category: Central Asia

  • MIL-OSI Video: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Post-Flight News Conference

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    After seven months, 93 million miles, and 670,000 photos, astronaut Don Pettit has returned to Earth. Pettit is taking part in a news conference on Monday, April 28, to discuss his 220-day mission to the International Space Station.

    Pettit returned to Earth on April 19 (April 20, Kazakhstan time), along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Pettit celebrated his 70th birthday on April 20. During his time in orbit, Pettit conducted hundreds of hours of scientific investigations, including research into 3D printing, water sanitization, and growing plants in space.

    Have questions for Don? Join us on NASA’s Instagram account after the news conference for a live Q&A: https://www.instagram.com/nasa/

    Learn more about this event: https://go.nasa.gov/4ji9Z00
    Get the latest updates from the station: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q8RKIRTqn4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit to Discuss Seven-Month Space Mission

    Source: NASA

    Media are invited to a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT Monday, April 28, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston where astronaut Don Pettit will share details of his recent mission aboard the International Space Station.
    The news conference will stream live on NASA’s website. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of platforms.
    To participate in person, U.S. media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at 281-483-5111 or jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. Media wishing to participate by phone must contact the newsroom no later than two hours before the start of the event. To ask questions by phone, media must dial into the news conference no later than 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online.
    Questions also may be submitted on social media during the news conference by using #AskNASA. Following the news conference, NASA will host a live question and answer session with Pettit on the agency’s Instagram. For more information, visit @NASA on social media.
    Pettit returned to Earth on April 19 (April 20, Kazakhstan time), along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Pettit celebrated his 70th birthday on April 20. He spent 220 days in space as an Expedition 71/72 flight engineer, bringing his career total to 590 days in space during four spaceflights. Pettit and his crewmates completed 3,520 orbits of Earth over the course of their 93-million-mile journey. They also saw the arrival of six visiting spacecraft and the departure of seven.
    During his time on orbit, Pettit conducted hundreds of hours of scientific investigations, including research to enhance on-orbit metal 3D printing capabilities, advance water sanitization technologies, explore plant growth under varying water conditions, and investigate fire behavior in microgravity, all contributing to future space missions.
    He also spent time aboard the space station sharing his photography, often posting images to his X account. He took more than 670,000 photos during his stay.
    Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
    http://www.nasa.gov/station
    -end-
    Joshua Finch / Claire O’SheaHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
    Chelsey BallarteJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: At the XV Eurasian Economic Youth Forum in Yekaterinburg, Vladimir Stroyev shared his experience in implementing DPO programs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 23, 2025, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev took part in the XV Eurasian Economic Youth Forum “Eurasian Synergy: Multipolarity – Integration – Dialogue of Civilizations”.

    The Eurasian Economic Youth Forum (EEYF) is being held from April 21 to 25 in Yekaterinburg at the Ural State University of Economics. More than 20,000 people from 116 countries, representing 209 universities, are taking part in the Forum.

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev gave a report on the topic “Experience of the Eurasian Network University in implementing programs of additional professional education in the EAEU space.”

    Vladimir Vitalyevich told the audience that in 2022, the State University of Management was one of the initiators of the creation of the scientific and educational consortium “Eurasian Network University” – a project that united more than 30 universities from 7 states of the Eurasian space: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, as well as universities of Uzbekistan and Transnistria as observers. More distant countries, such as Iran or Cuba, are also showing interest in joining the ENU. The ENU Secretariat is based at the State University of Management and carries out the necessary operational activities of the consortium.

    The rector of the State University of Management reported that in 2024 alone, with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo, 18 additional professional education programs were implemented, for the implementation of which 324 quotas were allocated. Among the program areas: management, marketing, management in the field of science and education, logistics and others. The programs turned out to be especially in demand in Belarus, 260 citizens of the union state studied under them. In-person strategic sessions on additional professional education programs were also held in Belarus, at the Russian House in Minsk.

    The basis of the DPO programs is a modular-block structure developed on the basis of the experience accumulated at the State University of Management. The program can be assembled from modules of different levels of complexity, duration of training and technologies for conducting educational events.

    “One example of a successfully implemented educational initiative of the State University of Management is the program “Strategic Planning and Macroeconomic Forecasting: Theoretical Foundations and Practice of the EAEU”. It is interesting because it was developed not only by specialists of the State University of Management, but also by teachers of the Belarusian State University of Economics, as well as leading experts of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Last year, 27 specialists from the EAEU countries successfully completed training within the framework of this program,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    In conclusion of the report, the rector of the State University of Management noted that participation in such advanced training programs is becoming a driver for the development of trade and economic relations between Eurasian states, providing their participants with the opportunity to get acquainted with the experience and best business practices in the EAEU countries, and establish business contacts. Feedback received from participants in the additional professional education programs shows a high interest in such educational projects in the EAEU countries, which is largely due to the absence of a language barrier, and this makes the learning process more effective.

    Photo from the official website of the EEFM.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 23.04.2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church’s foreign policy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Massimo D’Angelo, Research Associate in the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Loughborough University

    Pope Francis greets visitors at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Ricardo Perna / Shutterstock

    When the late Pope Francis first stepped on to the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica following his election 12 years ago, he remarked that he had been called almost from the “end of the world”. He was the first non-European pontiff since Gregory III, elected in AD731, who was of Syrian origin. And he was the first pope in history to come from Latin America.

    This is not merely a biographical detail. His papacy was transformative in shaping a Catholic Church that was not focused solely on Europe. He shifted its attention from the old continent to the world’s peripheries, aspiring to create a truly global church.

    Before his election, Pope Francis was called Jorge Mario Bergoglio and had, since 1998, held the office of Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In Argentina, he worked to expand and support the efforts of priests serving in the slums.

    The Catholic Church has maintained a presence in the peripheries of Buenos Aires since the 1960s, when a group called Priests for the Third World established itself in impoverished neighbourhoods. These priests advocated for the rights of their parishioners and preached liberation theology, a movement that aligns the Catholic Church with the struggles of marginalised groups.

    The theme of the peripheries became a defining thread of Pope Francis’s papacy. Days before he became pope, Francis told the cardinals that elected him that the Church must “come out of herself and to go to the peripheries, not only geographically, but also the existential peripheries”.

    Without doing so, he warned, the Church risks becoming structurally disconnected from the ambivalent and contradictory processes that shape the modern global era.



    Read more:
    Pope Francis dies: an unconventional pontiff who sought to modernise Catholicism

    Pope Francis navigated a complex relationship with liberation theology. Some interpretations of the movement, which gained prominence in the late 1960s, incorporate Marxist elements. This raised concerns within the Church hierarchy and among western governments during the cold war.

    As a young Jesuit in Argentina, Bergoglio was influenced by the 1969 Declaration of San Miguel. This rejected Marxist interpretations of liberation theology and developed an alternative called the “theology of the people”. Rather than drawing on Marxist analysis, it emphasises the faith, culture and spiritual expressions of ordinary people, especially the poor.

    And from 1976 to 1983, when Argentina was ruled by a military dictatorship, Bergoglio distanced himself from radical priests engaged in liberation theology. His caution not to alienate military hierarchy led to tensions, most notably in the 1976 abduction of two Jesuits, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics.

    The then Father Bergoglio was accused of withdrawing his protection from the priests, which allegedly left them exposed to the regime. In 2005, a secret dossier was anonymously circulated among cardinals accusing him of complicity in the abduction, based on a complaint by human rights lawyer Marcelo Parrilli.

    Some sources claimed this was smear campaign orchestrated by Jesuits who had previously clashed with Bergoglio. And in his testimony, Bergoglio stated that he met on two occasions with the dictators and members of the military, Jorge Videla and Emilio Massera, but to intercede on behalf of the detained priests. The Vatican denied he was guilty of any wrongdoing.

    Despite his cautious stance, Bergoglio consistently upheld the Church’s priority of addressing the needs of the poor. This was a principle that later defined his papacy. As Pope Francis, he softened the Vatican’s previous opposition to liberation theology, reaffirming its emphasis on social justice while distancing it from Marxist rhetoric.

    A post-European Pope

    Pope Francis’s predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, maintained a profound engagement with Europe. This shaped his thinking as a theologian, cardinal and later as Pope Benedict XVI. His papacy was marked by numerous visits across the continent, where he delivered significant speeches on the Church’s role and Europe’s intellectual and spiritual challenges.

    One of his most notable speeches, delivered at the University of Regensburg in Germany in 2006, sparked considerable controversy in the Muslim world. The lecture explored Europe’s relationship with Christianity and its future responsibilities.

    But it became infamous for his quotation of Manuel II Palaiologos, a Byzantine emperor who characterised aspects of Islam as violent. This remark provoked widespread anger and protests across the Muslim world, highlighting the sensitivities surrounding interfaith dialogue and the role of religion in global politics.

    In contrast, Pope Francis recognised that Christians must go “beyond the walls” to embrace humanity as a whole. In his vision, the Church should function as a “field hospital”, extending its care even to the so-called “churches of the decimal point” – those with only a tiny percentage of Catholics relative to the populations in which they exist.

    Under his leadership, the Vatican’s geopolitical focus shifted significantly. The composition of the College of Cardinals, which will elect his successor, has changed. The historic European influence has been diluted.

    The regional distribution of the 135 cardinal electors now includes 23 from Asia, 20 from North America, 18 each from South America and Africa, and three from Oceania. Europe, which comprised a slight majority of the body when Francis was elected in 2013, has 53 cardinals.

    This diversification aligns with Francis’s vision of a Church that is truly present across the globe. Pope Francis’s apostolic journeys further reflected this global reorientation, taking him to places such as Iraq, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

    Pope Francis during his visit to Iraq in 2021.
    Jon_photographi / Shutterstock

    Another major transformation has been in the Church’s relationship with political power. While Ratzinger often saw alliances with political parties as necessary to safeguard the Church’s survival in an era of secular decline, Francis rejected this approach.

    As he stated in Kazakhstan in 2022, “the sacred must not be instrumentalised by the profane”. This stance has drawn criticism, particularly in relation to his responses to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. His constant appeals for peace, rather than direct condemnation of religious or political leaders, led some to perceive his position as one of “neutralism” or even pro-Russian.

    Yet his approach appears to have been rooted in the conviction that dialogue is essential, even with the most controversial figures. This was evident in his willingness to engage with General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military government, further underscoring his effort to desacralise worldly power.

    Massimo D’Angelo 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. How Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church’s foreign policy – https://theconversation.com/how-pope-francis-changed-the-catholic-churchs-foreign-policy-255051

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics is being held at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics with international participation has started in Saint Petersburg. The event is held with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Association of Technical Universities and the Federal Educational and Methodological Association in the field of “Mechanical Engineering” at the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University (PISh SPbPU).

    The All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics with international participation was held regularly from 1999 to 2020.

    At the opening of the Olympiad in the Technopolis Polytech research building, the participants were greeted in a video message by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Valery Falkov:

    “Dear friends! Welcome to the All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics with International Participation. It is gratifying that after almost a five-year hiatus, we are reviving the platform for interaction between talented students and their mentors. I would like to express special gratitude to the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”, which organized this meeting within its hospitable walls. The profile of the Olympiad is of particular importance today in the context of strengthening Russia’s ties with its closest foreign partners in the scientific and technological sphere. Mechanics allows us to solve key problems in the creation of technologies and science-intensive products in many industries, including mechanical engineering and engine building, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, medical and biomechanical systems. I am sure that the revival of the Olympiad will become one of the effective tools for supporting talented students. Friends, I wish you fruitful work, success and all the best!”

    In 2025, the main goals of the revived All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics were to improve the academic and extracurricular work of students, develop deeper knowledge in the field of applied mechanics, develop creative activity and independent thinking, identify gifted students and develop human resources.

    Vice-Governor of Saint Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin conveyed his greetings to the participants, in which he also noted the contribution of Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” to the revival and development of the Olympiad: “The All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics is gaining particular relevance not only as a significant event in the personal and professional development of students. It also helps to synchronize watches and unite efforts in achieving common goals of technological development of representatives of the scientific and educational community, industry and government. It is no coincidence that this event is being held at the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” – one of the leaders of the corresponding federal project, which was previously part of the national project “Science and Universities”, and since 2025 has been implemented within the framework of the new national project “Youth and Children”. I am confident that participation in the Olympiad will give students a positive and useful experience, and it will become an important annual event in the world of training new generation engineers, developing advanced technologies and strengthening the technological leadership of our country. I thank the St. Petersburg Polytechnic for organizing the Olympiad and wish all its participants interesting tasks and success in finding new promising solutions!”

    This year, 29 teams from the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia are participating in the Olympiad: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Volgograd, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Samara, Tver, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Yaroslavl regions, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Perm Krai, Khabarovsk Krai.

    “The advanced engineering school of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” has been training personnel for almost three years now, who will form the engineering elite of the country, the so-called engineering special forces. Therefore, the revival of the All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics, which has decades of history behind it, at the site of the SPbPU PISh – a modern and proven method of training engineering personnel in close cooperation with industrial partners – is a bright symbol that reflects the changes that are currently taking place in Russian engineering education in the broadest sense of the word. We see great interest in applied mechanics and potentially in engineering, including because teams from all over the country – from Kaliningrad to Khabarovsk, as well as students from foreign countries – participate in the Olympiad. I want to wish all participants success, and may the smartest win!” — the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy announced the start of the Olympiad.

    The All-Russian Student Olympiad in Applied Mechanics with International Participation is held in person and includes two blocks: theoretical and practical. In the theoretical block, participants are offered six problems to solve: three on the strength of materials and three on theoretical mechanics. Each problem will be assessed by an expert jury on a 10-point scale. The topics of the problems on the strength of materials include: tension-compression, bending and complex resistance. On theoretical mechanics: statics, kinematics and dynamics.

    The practical block is a wide range of events that will allow the Olympiad participants to immerse themselves in the world of modern digital engineering. Thus, students will be able to take part in master classes on the use of domestic software packages for solving computer modeling problems from leading Russian vendors of engineering software: APM (STC “APM”), FlowVision (OOO “Tesis”), “Logos” (FSUE “RFNC-VNIIEF”).

    Participants will be able to try their hand at the engineering championship, as well as visit leading high-tech industry enterprises such as Gazprom Neft Scientific and Technical Center and CentroTech-Engineering (part of the management structure of the Fuel Company JSC TVEL of Rosatom State Corporation) and get acquainted with their activities. In addition, Olympiad participants will visit the new laboratories of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU. An extensive cultural and entertainment program has been organized for the guests.

    The results of the Olympiad will be announced on April 25, 2025. The Olympiad website is HTTPS: // Applied-Mechanics.ru/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Weatherford Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • First quarter revenue of $1,193 million decreased 12% year-over-year
    • First quarter operating income of $142 million decreased 39% year-over-year
    • First quarter net income of $76 million, a 6.4% margin, decreased 32% year-over-year
    • First quarter adjusted EBITDA* of $253 million, a 21.2% margin, decreased 25%, or 354 basis points, year-over-year
    • First quarter cash provided by operating activities of $142 million and adjusted free cash flow* of $66 million
    • Repurchased $34 million of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2030 in the first quarter of 2025
    • Shareholder return of $71 million for the quarter, which included dividend payments of $18 million and share repurchases of $53 million
    • Board approved quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on June 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 6, 2025
    • As part of its portfolio optimization strategy, Weatherford completed the sale of its Pressure Pumping business in Argentina on April 1, 2025
    • Signed a strategic agreement with Abu Dhabi-based AIQ to bring transformative efficiency to energy production, leveraging advanced automation, data-driven insights, and the power of AI technology

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    HOUSTON, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) announced today its results for the first quarter of 2025.

    Revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were $1,193 million, a decrease of 12% year-over-year and 11% sequentially. Operating income was $142 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $233 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $198 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net income in the first quarter of 2025 was $76 million, with a 6.4% margin, a decrease of 32%, or 188 basis points year-over-year and 32%, or 198 basis points, sequentially. Adjusted EBITDA* was $253 million, a 21.2% margin, a decrease of 25%, or 354 basis points, year-over-year and 22%, or 310 basis points, sequentially. Basic income per share in the first quarter of 2025 was $1.04, compared to $1.54 in the first quarter of 2024 and $1.54 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Diluted income per share in the first quarter of 2025 was $1.03, compared to $1.50 in the first quarter of 2024, and $1.50 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    First quarter 2025 cash flows provided by operating activities were $142 million, compared to $131 million in the first quarter of 2024, and $249 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted free cash flow* was $66 million, a decrease of $16 million year-over-year and $96 million sequentially. Capital expenditures were $77 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $59 million in the first quarter of 2024, and $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The first quarter was marked by significant market softening across key geographies, especially Mexico, the United Kingdom and North America. This created headwinds for activity levels but the One Weatherford team continued to focus on the controllable elements of the business, driving execution to deliver results inline with expectations.

    Over the past few weeks, the market conditions have skewed more negatively, as we continue to navigate uncertainty on customer activity levels stemming from macroeconomic factors, global trade and geopolitical tensions. However, our actions remain focused on our North Star of driving adjusted free cash flow and we are further accelerating efficiency and optimization programs to ensure that we are well positioned for any scenario that might unfold in the latter part of the year. We believe it to be prudent to scale back our expectations on activity levels through the rest of the year and are focused on minimizing decrementals and improving working capital efficiencies. Nonetheless, even at a significantly reduced level of customer activity, we remain confident in increasing our adjusted free cash flow conversion for the full year 2025, allowing progress on our capital allocation priorities.

    The sale of our Pressure Pumping business in Argentina marks another key milestone in our portfolio optimization strategy to a more capital-efficient model and further builds liquidity to position us well for the upcoming period.”

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Operational & Commercial Highlights

    • An International Oil Company (IOC) awarded Weatherford an eight-year contract extension to provide a comprehensive suite of services, including Intervention Services & Drilling Tools, Pipe Inspection, Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), Tubular Running Services (TRS), Well Services, and Pipe Recovery in Kazakhstan.
    • PDO Oman awarded Weatherford a five-year Integrated Completions contract consisting of Completions, Liner Hangers and Cementation Products.
    • ADNOC Onshore awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Well Services Production enhancement systems in the United Arab Emirates.
    • Eni Oman awarded Weatherford an open contract for onshore MPD services.
    • Petrobras awarded Weatherford a five-year contract for Liner Hangers systems and services in deepwater Brazil and amended its TRS contract, adding two Vero Mechanized Systems.
    • Sierracol Energy Andina LLC awarded Weatherford a six-month contract for Artificial Lift Systems in Colombia.
    • GeoPark Colombia S.A.S. awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Wireline Open & Cased Hole Services.
    • Jadestone Energy (Malaysia) PTE LTD awarded Weatherford a contract for the Autonomous Inflow Control Device Screens and associated lower Completions equipment and services for the PM323 East Belumut Phase 9 Infill Drilling campaign.
    • Dragon Oil awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Completions Equipment and Services in offshore Turkmenistan.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a one-year contract for Artificial Lift Equipment and Centro® Well Construction Optimization Platform in Argentina.
    • An IOC in Turkey awarded Weatherford a five-year contract for Open Hole Wireline Tools.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Artificial Lift Equipment in Australia.
    • A major integrated energy company awarded Weatherford a three-year, multi-rig contract for Vero® Mechanized Systems in deepwater Gulf of America.
    • A National Oil Company (NOC) awarded Weatherford a two-year contract for Stage Tool Cementing Equipment in the Middle East.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a one-year contract for the SCADA Digital Platform in offshore United Arab Emirates.

    Technology Highlights

    • Drilling & Evaluation (“DRE”)
      • In the UK, Weatherford successfully delivered Logging While Drilling and Formation Pressure Services for Shell on a high-pressure, high temperature well. The well was drilled at 175°c and reached a total depth of 21,000 feet.
      • In the Middle East, Weatherford successfully deployed GuideWave® CLEAR in three wells for an NOC, enabling improved formation evaluation and more precise geo-steering.
    • Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)
      • In deepwater Brazil, Weatherford successfully installed the first OptiROSS® RFID Multi-Cycle Sliding Sleeve Valve for Petrobras. This system enhances acid stimulation efficiency, improving production and boosting the reservoir’s oil recovery factor.
      • In North America, Weatherford successfully completed 17 field trials of its SecureTrac™ technology with one of the largest multinational oil and gas companies. The tool’s more compact design enables a shorter shoe track, maximizing reservoir exposure and enhancing production potential.
      • In the Middle East, Weatherford successfully deployed the first WidePak™ straddle solution for Gupco in Egypt. The well had been shut for 15 years due to a sustained tubing leak. Following Weatherford’s intervention, the well is now back online and delivering significant production.
    • Production and Intervention (“PRI”)
      • In North America, Weatherford successfully deployed the ForeSite® Regenerative Power for KODA, following a two-month pilot. The deployment delivered significant power savings, demonstrating the technology’s efficiency and value in the field.
      • In North America, Weatherford deployed the ForeSite® Power Regenerative variable-speed drive across key customers, following multiple successful pilots. The implementation delivered significant power savings and reduced carbon emissions. Due to its unique ability to recycle, store, and optimize power, this innovative solution helps control operating expenses for customers.

    Shareholder Return

    During the first quarter of 2025, Weatherford paid dividends of $18 million and repurchased shares for approximately $53 million, resulting in a total shareholder return of $71 million.

    On April 17, 2025, our Board declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company’s ordinary shares, payable on June 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 6, 2025.

    Results by Reportable Segment

    Drilling and Evaluation (“DRE”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 350     $ 398     $ 422     (12 )%   (17 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 74     $ 96     $ 130     (23 )%   (43 )%
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     21.1 %     24.1 %     30.8 %   (298 )bps   (966 )bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 DRE revenue of $350 million decreased by $72 million, or 17% year-over-year, primarily from lower Drilling-related services activity in Latin America, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia and North America, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, DRE revenue decreased by $48 million, or 12%, primarily from lower international activity, especially in Latin America, partly offset by higher Wireline activity in North America.

    First quarter 2025 DRE segment adjusted EBITDA of $74 million decreased by $56 million, or 43% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, DRE segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $22 million, or 23%, primarily from lower international activity, especially in Latin America, partly offset by higher Wireline activity in North America.

    Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 441     $ 505     $ 458     (13 )%   (4 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 128     $ 148     $ 120     (14 )%   7 %
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     29.0 %     29.3 %     26.2 %    (28) bps   282 bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 WCC revenue of $441 million decreased by $17 million, or 4% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in North America, Latin America and Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia, partly offset by higher activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, WCC revenues decreased by $64 million, or 13%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies.

    First quarter 2025 WCC segment adjusted EBITDA of $128 million increased by $8 million, or 7% year-over-year, primarily from higher activity and fall through in Middle East/North Africa/Asia, partly offset by lower activity in North America, Latin America and Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia. Sequentially, WCC segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $20 million, or 14%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies.

    Production and Intervention (“PRI”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 334     $ 364     $ 348     (8 )%   (4 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 62     $ 78     $ 73     (21 )%   (15 )%
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     18.6 %     21.4 %     21.0 %   (287 )bps   (241 )bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 PRI revenue of $334 million decreased by $14 million, or 4% year-over-year, as lower international activity was partly offset by higher activity in North America. Sequentially, PRI revenue decreased by $30 million, or 8%, primarily from lower Artificial Lift activity.

    First quarter 2025 PRI segment adjusted EBITDA of $62 million decreased by $11 million, or 15% year-over-year, primarily from lower international activity, partly offset by higher fall through in North America. Sequentially, PRI segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $16 million, or 21%, primarily from lower Artificial Lift activity, partly offset by higher fall through from Digital Solutions in North America.

    Revenue by Geography

        Three Months Ended   Variance  
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    North America   $ 250   $ 261   $ 267   (4 )%   (6) %
                           
    International   $ 943   $ 1,080   $ 1,091   (13 )%   (14 )%
    Latin America     241     312     370   (23 )%   (35 )%
    Middle East/North Africa/Asia     503     542     497   (7 )%   1 %
    Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia     199     226     224   (12 )%   (11 )%
    Total Revenue   $ 1,193   $ 1,341   $ 1,358   (11 )%   (12 )%


    North America

    First quarter 2025 North America revenue of $250 million decreased by $17 million, or 6% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in DRE and WCC segments, partly offset by higher activity in PRI segment led by Pressure Pumping and Digital Solutions. Sequentially, North America decreased by $11 million, or 4%, primarily from lower US land and US offshore activity, partly offset by higher Wireline activity.

    International

    First quarter 2025 international revenue of $943 million decreased 14% year-over-year and decreased 13% sequentially.

    First quarter 2025 Latin America revenue of $241 million decreased by $129 million, or 35% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in Mexico, partly offset by MPD and Pressure Pumping activity. Sequentially, Latin America revenue decreased by $71 million, or 23%, primarily from lower activity in Mexico, partly offset by higher MPD and Completions activity.

    First quarter 2025 Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue of $503 million increased by $6 million, or 1% year-over-year, as higher activity from Completions and Drilling Services were partly offset by lower MPD and Integrated Services & Projects activity. Sequentially, the Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue decreased by $39 million, or 7%, primarily from lower activity in all the segments, partly offset by higher Integrated Services & Projects and MPD activity.

    First quarter 2025 Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue of $199 million decreased by $25 million, or 11% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity across all the segments, partly offset by higher Well Services and MPD activity. Sequentially, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue decreased by $27 million, or 12%, primarily from lower activity across all the segments, partly offset by higher activity in Drilling Services.

    About Weatherford
    Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 18,000 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 320 operating locations. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

    Conference Call Details

    Weatherford will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to discuss the Company’s results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The conference call will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time).

    Listeners are encouraged to download the accompanying presentation slides which will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Listeners can participate in the conference call via a live webcast at https://www.weatherford.com/investor-relations/investor-news-and-events/events/ or by dialing +1 877-328-5344 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-902-6762 (outside of the U.S.) and asking for the Weatherford conference call. Participants should log in or dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

    A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, please dial +1 877-344-7529 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-317-0088 (outside of the U.S.) and reference conference number 6907941. A replay and transcript of the earnings call will also be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Contacts
    For Investors:
    Luke Lemoine
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
    +1 713-836-7777
    investor.relations@weatherford.com

    For Media:
    Kelley Hughes
    Senior Director, Communications & Employee Engagement
    media@weatherford.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains projections and forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, the Company’s quarterly adjusted EBITDA*, adjusted EBITDA margin*, adjusted free cash flow*, net leverage*, shareholder return program, forecasts or expectations regarding business outlook, prospects for its operations, capital expenditures, expectations regarding future financial results, and are also generally identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “budget,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “guidance,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs of Weatherford’s management and are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are only estimates and may differ materially from actual future events or results, based on factors including but not limited to: global political, economic and market conditions, political disturbances, war or other global conflicts, terrorist attacks, changes in global trade policies, tariffs and sanctions, weak local economic conditions and international currency fluctuations; general global economic repercussions related to U.S. and global inflationary pressures and potential recessionary concerns; various effects from conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia Ukraine conflicts, including, but not limited to, nationalization of assets, extended business interruptions, sanctions, treaties and regulations (including changes in the regulatory environment) imposed by various countries, associated operational and logistical challenges, and impacts to the overall global energy supply; cybersecurity issues; our ability to comply with, and respond to, climate change, environmental, social and governance and other sustainability initiatives and future legislative and regulatory measures both globally and in specific geographic regions; the potential for a resurgence of a pandemic in a given geographic area and related disruptions to our business, employees, customers, suppliers and other partners; the price and price volatility of, and demand for, oil and natural gas; the macroeconomic outlook for the oil and gas industry; our ability to generate cash flow from operations to fund our operations; our ability to effectively and timely adapt our technology portfolio, products and services to remain competitive, and to address and participate in changes to the market demands, including for the transition to alternate sources of energy such as geothermal, carbon capture and responsible abandonment, including our digitalization efforts; our ability to effectively execute our capital allocation framework; our ability to return capital to shareholders, including those related to the timing and amounts (including any plans or commitments in respect thereof) of any dividends and share repurchases; and the realization of additional cost savings and operational efficiencies.

    These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Weatherford’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly.

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Revenues:            
    DRE Revenues   $ 350     $ 398     $ 422  
    WCC Revenues     441       505       458  
    PRI Revenues     334       364       348  
    All Other     68       74       130  
    Total Revenues     1,193       1,341       1,358  
                 
    Operating Income:            
    DRE Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]   $ 74     $ 96     $ 130  
    WCC Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]     128       148       120  
    PRI Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]     62       78       73  
    All Other[2]     4       11       27  
    Corporate[2]     (15 )     (7 )     (14 )
    Depreciation and Amortization     (62 )     (83 )     (85 )
    Share-based Compensation     (7 )     (10 )     (13 )
    Restructuring Charges     (29 )     (34 )     (3 )
    Other Charges, Net     (13 )     (1 )     (2 )
    Operating Income     142       198       233  
                 
    Other Expense:            
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $11, $12, and $14     (26 )     (25 )     (29 )
    Other Expense, Net     (20 )     (4 )     (22 )
    Income Before Income Taxes     96       169       182  
    Income Tax Provision     (10 )     (45 )     (59 )
    Net Income     86       124       123  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests     10       12       11  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
                 
    Basic Income Per Share   $ 1.04     $ 1.54     $ 1.54  
    Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     73.1       72.6       72.9  
                 
    Diluted Income Per Share   $ 1.03     $ 1.50     $ 1.50  
    Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     73.4       74.5       74.7  
    [1] Segment adjusted EBITDA is our primary measure of segment profitability under U.S. GAAP ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” and represents segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, restructuring charges and other adjustments. Research and development expenses are included in segment adjusted EBITDA.
    [2] All Other includes results from non-core business activities (including integrated services and projects), and Corporate includes overhead support and centrally managed or shared facilities costs. All Other and Corporate do not individually meet the criteria for segment reporting.
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited)
           
    ($ in Millions) March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Assets:      
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 873   $ 916
    Restricted Cash   57     59
    Accounts Receivable, Net   1,175     1,261
    Inventories, Net   889     880
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net   1,103     1,061
    Intangibles, Net   315     325
           
    Liabilities:      
    Accounts Payable   714     792
    Accrued Salaries and Benefits   249     302
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   22     17
    Long-term Debt   1,583     1,617
           
    Shareholders’ Equity:      
    Total Shareholders’ Equity   1,360     1,283
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Cash Flows Information (Unaudited)
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Cash Flows From Operating Activities:            
    Net Income   $ 86     $ 124     $ 123  
    Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:            
    Depreciation and Amortization     62       83       85  
    Foreign Exchange Losses (Gain)     13       (2 )     15  
    Gain on Disposition of Assets     (1 )     (2 )     (7 )
    Deferred Income Tax Provision     7       —       14  
    Share-Based Compensation     7       10       13  
    Changes in Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Accounts Payable and Accrued Salaries and Benefits     (17 )     24       (152 )
    Other Changes, Net     (15 )     12       40  
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities     142       249       131  
                 
    Cash Flows From Investing Activities:            
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment     (77 )     (100 )     (59 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets     1       13       10  
    Business Acquisitions, Net of Cash Acquired     —       —       (36 )
    Proceeds from Sale of Investments     —       —       41  
    Other Investing Activities     (3 )     1       (10 )
    Net Cash Used In Investing Activities     (79 )     (86 )     (54 )
                 
    Cash Flows From Financing Activities:            
    Repayments of Long-term Debt     (39 )     (23 )     (172 )
    Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests     —       (20 )     —  
    Tax Remittance on Equity Awards     (20 )     (22 )     (8 )
    Share Repurchases     (53 )     (49 )     —  
    Dividends Paid     (18 )     (18 )     —  
    Other Financing Activities     (3 )     (1 )     (7 )
    Net Cash Used In Financing Activities   $ (133 )   $ (133 )   $ (187 )
    Weatherford International plc
    Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined (Unaudited)
     

    We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford’s management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures (as defined under the SEC’s Regulation G and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K) may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods and comparisons with peer companies. The non-GAAP amounts shown in the following tables should not be considered as substitutes for results reported in accordance with GAAP but should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA* – Adjusted EBITDA* is a non-GAAP measure and represents consolidated income before interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, and excludes, among other items, restructuring charges, share-based compensation expense, as well as other charges and credits. Management believes adjusted EBITDA* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA margin* – Adjusted EBITDA margin* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing consolidated adjusted EBITDA* by consolidated revenues. Management believes adjusted EBITDA margin* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA margin* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income margin and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted Free Cash Flow* – Adjusted Free Cash Flow* is a non-GAAP measure and represents cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures plus proceeds from the disposition of assets. Management believes adjusted free cash flow* is useful to understand our performance at generating cash and demonstrates our discipline around the use of cash. Adjusted free cash flow* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for cash flows provided by operating activities and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Net Debt* – Net Debt* is a non-GAAP measure that is calculated taking short and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Management believes the net debt* is useful to assess the level of debt in excess of cash and cash and equivalents as we monitor our ability to repay and service our debt. Net debt* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for overall debt and total cash and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s results prepared in accordance with GAAP.​

    Net Leverage* – Net Leverage* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing by taking net debt* divided by adjusted EBITDA* for the trailing 12 months. Management believes the net leverage* is useful to understand our ability to repay and service our debt. Net leverage* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for the individual components of above defined net debt* divided by consolidated net income attributable to Weatherford and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    *Non-GAAP – as defined above and reconciled to the GAAP measures in the section titled GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled (Unaudited)
     
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Margin in Percentages)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Revenues   $ 1,193     $ 1,341     $ 1,358  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
    Net Income Margin     6.4 %     8.4 %     8.2 %
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $ 253     $ 326     $ 336  
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin*     21.2 %     24.3 %     24.7 %
                 
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests     10       12       11  
    Income Tax Provision     10       45       59  
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $11, $12, and $14     26       25       29  
    Other Expense, Net     20       4       22  
    Operating Income     142       198       233  
    Depreciation and Amortization     62       83       85  
    Other Charges, Net[1]     13       1       2  
    Restructuring Charges     29       34       3  
    Share-Based Compensation     7       10       13  
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $ 253     $ 326     $ 336  
                 
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities   $ 142     $ 249     $ 131  
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment     (77 )     (100 )     (59 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets     1       13       10  
    Adjusted Free Cash Flow*   $ 66     $ 162     $ 82  
    [1] Other Charges, Net in the three months ended March 31, 2025 primarily includes fees to third-party financial institutions related to collections of certain receivables from our largest customer in Mexico.
       

    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled Continued (Unaudited)
     
                   
         
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		  
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $ 22   $ 17   $ 101  
    Long-term Debt     1,583     1,617     1,629  
    Total Debt   $ 1,605   $ 1,634   $ 1,730  
                   
    Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 873   $ 916   $ 824  
    Restricted Cash     57     59     113  
    Total Cash   $ 930   $ 975   $ 937  
                   
    Components of Net Debt              
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $ 22   $ 17   $ 101  
    Long-term Debt     1,583     1,617     1,629  
    Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents     873     916     824  
    Less: Restricted Cash     57     59     113  
    Net Debt*   $ 675   $ 659   $ 793  
                   
    Net Income for trailing 12 months   $ 470   $ 506   $ 457  
    Adjusted EBITDA* for trailing 12 months   $ 1,299   $ 1,382   $ 1,253  
                   
    Net Leverage* (Net Debt*/Adjusted EBITDA*)     0.52 x   0.48 x   0.63 x
                         

    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Opens One Hundred and Fifteenth Session in Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning opened its one hundred and fifteenth session in Geneva, during which it will review anti-discrimination efforts by Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Republic of Korea and Ukraine under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.  The Committee heard from a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and adopted the session’s agenda.

    Antti Korkeakivi, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and representative of the Secretary-General, opening the one hundred and fifteenth session, paid tribute to the important work of the Committee in promoting and protecting the human rights of all people without discrimination. With the Convention marking its sixtieth anniversary this year, it was an opportunity to explore avenues to generate greater political will and concrete action to fight racial discrimination. 

    Mr. Korkeakivi said a heavy programme of work was before the Committee over the next three weeks, with five major State party reviews; the consideration of five follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Tajikistan and Uruguay; a half-day of general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, which would inform a new general recommendation on the topic; consideration of cases under the early warning and urgent action and individual complaints procedures; and meetings with various stakeholders.  He wished the Committee a fruitful and productive session.

    Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chairperson, congratulated Mr. Korkeakivi on assuming his position, and expressed hope that he could help navigate the treaty body system through the stormy weather it was currently facing.  Mr. Balcerzak also said he hoped that, during the session, the Committee would have fruitful interactive dialogues with Ukraine, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea, Gabon and Kyrgyzstan.  He thanked the members of the Committee’s secretariat for their help in facilitating Committee Experts’ work during and between sessions.

    The programme of work and other documents related to the Committee’s one hundred and fifteenth session can be found here.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Wednesday, 23 April at 3 p.m. to consider the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of Ukraine (CERD/C/UKR/24-26).

    Statements

    ANTTI KORKEAKIVI, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and representative of the Secretary-General, opening the one hundred and fifteenth session, said the international system was going through a tectonic shift, and the human rights edifice that was built up so painstakingly over decades had never been under so much strain.  Everyone needed to make an all-out effort to ensure that human rights and the rule of law remained foundational to communities, societies and international relations.  Otherwise, the picture would be very dangerous.

    The Secretary-General, in his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, warned that “The poison of racism continues to infect our world – a toxic legacy of historic enslavement, colonialism and discrimination.  It corrupts communities, blocks opportunities, and ruins lives, eroding the very foundations of dignity, equality and justice.  Forged amidst the civil rights, anti-apartheid, and decolonisation movements of the 1960s, the Convention sets out concrete steps countries must take to combat racist doctrines, promote understanding, and build a world free from racial discrimination.  Today, it remains a beacon of hope to guide us in dark times.”

    Mr. Korkeakivi paid tribute to the important work of the Committee to monitor the implementation of the Convention and its significant contributions in promoting and protecting the human rights of all people without discrimination.  With the Convention marking its sixtieth anniversary this year, it was an opportunity to explore avenues to generate greater political will and concrete action to fight racial discrimination.

    In this connection, several events were held to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the sixtieth anniversary.  The Committee Chair, Mr. Balcerzak, participated in person in commemorative events at the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, presenting a joint statement led by the Committee together with 10 other mechanisms.  The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to support the Committee in its objectives for the yearlong anniversary campaign.  It had created a website on the anniversary, which presented a list of commemorative activities that would be updated throughout the year. 

    The High Commissioner’s annual report on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, presented to the fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council last month, extensively referenced the Committee’s assessment of the realisation of minority rights and acknowledged the important contribution made by the Committee in advancing the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation worldwide.  Last December, the United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities organised a community-of-practice on the Committee’s general recommendation 37 to discuss how countries could use it to eliminate racial discrimination in the context of health. 

    Further, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in its 2024 study on mechanisms to achieve the United National Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, underscored the relevance of the Committee’s jurisprudence in protecting the political and cultural rights of indigenous peoples. The study highlighted how the Committee’s work reinforced the principles of the Declaration and strengthened the role of international treaty bodies in holding States accountable for respecting the collective rights of indigenous peoples.

    In December 2024, the General Assembly proclaimed 2025-2034 as the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”.  The Office of the High Commissioner had continued consultations to inform the implementation of its agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality. 

    The session of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent in December 2024 also focused on reparatory justice.  Their report would be presented at the Human Rights Council session in September 2025. The Working Group organised yesterday a panel to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention. Also, in December 2024, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent held its first regional consultation on the draft United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent in Barbados.  The fourth session of the Permanent Forum held last week focused on “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence”. 

    Additionally, the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement would hold its fourth session from 5 to 9 May 2025 in Geneva.  It would discuss “addressing systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system” in preparation of its thematic report on the same topic.

    In March 2025, the Office of the High Commissioner organised a regional consultation for Europe on racism in sports in Belgium.  The second consultation for the Latin American region would take place in Mexico. The outcomes of these regional consultations would inform the High Commissioner’s report on a world of sport free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, to be presented at the Human Rights Council’s September session.

    The fifteenth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to the Convention was continuing efforts to elaborate an additional protocol to the Convention aiming at criminalising acts of a racist and xenophobic nature.  This session would focus on concrete provisions related to the prohibition and criminalisation of such acts, procedural guarantees for indicted persons and the protection of victims.  The session also included a commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention. 

    The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance would present two thematic reports on intersectionality from a racial justice perspective, and combatting the glorification of Nazism, as well as a report on her country visit to Brazil, at the fifty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council in June 2025.

    The past year had been particularly challenging for the treaty body system.  In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committee’s work. The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that this Committee and other treaty bodies could implement their mandates, including by highlighting the direct impact that resource limitations had on human rights protection on the ground.  Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future.  While all treaty bodies had been able to hold their first sessions, the outlook for the rest of the year remained uncertain, both in terms of plenary meeting and visits.  The Office would inform the Committee when it received information regarding its second session for the year.

    Despite these challenges, the treaty body strengthening process remained active.  It reached a key moment with the adoption in December of last year of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly, which invited the treaty bodies and the Office to continue to work toward a regularised schedule for reporting and to further use digital technologies.  However, the biennial resolution did not endorse the proposal for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

    In concluding remarks, Mr. Korkeakivi said a heavy programme of work was before the Committee over the next three weeks, with five major State party reviews; the consideration of five follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Tajikistan and Uruguay; a half-day of general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, and the ongoing crimes against people of African descent, which would inform a new general recommendation on the topic; consideration of cases under the early warning and urgent action and individual complaints procedures; and meetings with various stakeholders.  He wished the Committee a fruitful and productive session.

    MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chairperson, congratulated Mr. Korkeakivi on assuming his position.  The Committee hoped that he could achieve his mandate and navigate the treaty body system through the stormy weather it was currently facing.  Mr. Balcerzak expressed hope that, during the session, the Committee would have fruitful interactive dialogues with Ukraine, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea, Gabon and Kyrgyzstan.  He thanked the members of the Committee’s secretariat for its help facilitating Committee Experts’ work during and between sessions.

    NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert, said that he had been fighting all forms of racial discrimination for half a century, including as the Committee’s former Chair.  Despite his failing eyesight, he would continue to breathe life to the Committee’s struggle against racial discrimination.  The world was in a sorry state, Mr. Amir said.  The Committee needed to ensure that the international community was fully cognisant of what was happening in the world today. Murders were being committed in Palestine, in Gaza.  What could the Committee do to put an end to these crimes against women and children. This situation beggared belief, yet it continued.  People needed to be held accountable.  The Committee had a responsibility to continue to fight for its mandate.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CERD25.001E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum+ 2025 promotes cultural co-operation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum+ 2025 promotes cultural co-operation 
    The theme of the Forum is “Connect, Create, Engage: Bridging Cultures for All”. Officiating at the Panel opening today, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, highlighted that the world has undergone rapid and vigourous changes and technological advancement is something inevitable. A people-oriented approach should be adopted to promote the arts and cultural development, i.e. to connect more with people, to create more for people and to engage more people. Making good use of Hong Kong as an East meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and the largest art trading centre in Asia, Hong Kong will surely continue to work hard to make our name card more shiny and tell good stories of Hong Kong.
     
    In addition to the speeches given by Miss Law and Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Gao Zheng in the Panel, participating cultural ministers and senior officials from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam also took turns to speak.

    The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, hosted the gala dinner for the delegations as well as local cultural leaders. Local musicians, all-inclusive orchestra and a cappella choir were invited by the forum to perform in the dinner, showcasing a blend of Chinese and Western traditional and contemporary music, demonstrating to the guests the diversified and vibrant of art and culture scene in Hong Kong.
     
    In his speech at the dinner, Mr Chan pointed out that the Government has been actively fostering the city’s development into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange with the clear national support in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. With its unique advantage of blending Chinese and Western cultures and its extensive international connections, Hong Kong will become a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
     
    The delegations attending the forum visited the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) yesterday (April 21). They will attend the plenary session and visit the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District tomorrow (April 23).
     
    The Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum has been held since 2003 with the aim of promoting cultural co-operation and exchanges among regions. Drawing on the success of past forums, this year’s forum is themed “Connect, Create, Engage: Bridging Cultures for All” and has expanded its scale. In addition to inviting more Asian countries to participate, Belt and Road countries outside of Asia are invited to participate for the first time to further promote cultural exchanges with countries in the region.
    Issued at HKT 20:54

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India hosts inaugural Capacity Building Programme for Central Asian Republics on combating terrorism financing

    Source: Government of India

    India hosts inaugural Capacity Building Programme for Central Asian Republics on combating terrorism financing

    Senior experts from five Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan participated in knowledge exchange

    Posted On: 22 APR 2025 7:38PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Revenue (DoR), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), successfully organised the first-ever Capacity Building Programme for Central Asian Republics (CARs) on ‘Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) through Cryptocurrencies, Crowdfunding, and Non-Profit Organisations’. The two-day programme was held on 21st-22nd April, 2025.

     

    Bringing together senior experts from five Central Asian countries — Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan — the programme served as a platform for knowledge exchange and regional cooperation in tackling terrorism financing. Participants benefited from a series of sessions led by Indian authorities, including representatives from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Cell of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND). Additionally, an expert from the Eurasian Group (EAG), a FATF-style regional body (FSRB), contributed valuable insights on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards, with a focus on the non-profit and virtual asset sectors.

    Customised to the specific needs of the Central Asian region, the programme aimed to build technical capacity and deepen understanding of emerging terrorism financing risks. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and the sharing of operational best practices, the initiative fostered a collaborative approach to addressing key challenges.

    Technical sessions explored a broad range of issues, including the use of financial intelligence in terrorism-related investigations, the growing threat posed by the misuse of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), and the exploitation of crowdfunding platforms. Additional discussions covered the financing of radicalization and the abuse of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) for terrorist purposes.

    This initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening regional cooperation and resilience against terrorism financing, reflecting India’s commitment to global counterterrorism efforts.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust

    OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust | OSCE
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    Home Newsroom News and press releases OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Engineering Elite: Polytechnics Win Medals at International Olympiad

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Polytechnic University team, led by ISI teachers, won prizes in the international student Internet Olympiad in the discipline “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics”. The event brought together 166 students from 35 universities in Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

    In the second round of the open international student Internet Olympiad, the participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge and professional training in these subject areas. Polytechnicians performed for the third year in a row. During this time, the university team has established itself as one of the strongest, winning prizes every year.

    This time, the achievements of the Polytechnic University were once again impressive: each participant was awarded medals of various degrees.

    Silver medal – Aidar Ibragimov, Arseniy Belashev and Mikhail Bogdanov; Bronze medal – Anastasia Kuskova, Kirill Kulinushkin and Ulyana Morenko.

    The students were prepared and accompanied by associate professors of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Civil Engineering Institute, Tatyana Markova and Elena Knyazeva.

    “All the polytechnics who participated in the Olympiad returned with medals. And our team has shown such a result for the third year in a row. The success of our students at the Olympiads is the tip of the iceberg, which is based on the methodology of teaching geometric and graphic disciplines, formed and developed over several decades,” said the head of the section “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics”, associate professor of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Institute of Contemporary Art Mikhail Kokorin.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New freight train cuts travel time to Central Asia by 30%

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

    China has launched a new regular freight train route from Chongqing Municipality in the southwest to Central Asia. A train carrying polyester chips made in Chongqing departed for Uzbekistan on April 20. It will reach the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, in about 12 days, covering approximately 4,700 kilometers. The new route is expected to reduce transportation time between Chongqing and Central Asia by 30 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: ZA Miner Introduces Free Cloud Mining Service, Making Bitcoin and Dogecoin Mining Accessible to Everyone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZA Miner enables users to generate passive income by mining Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin online.

    MIDDLESEX, United Kingdom, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZA Miner, a UK-based cloud mining company, announces the launch of its zero-cost cloud mining service, giving users the ability to mine popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin without investing in expensive hardware or electricity costs.

    The new platform introduces a streamlined way for crypto enthusiasts and newcomers to earn passive income through mining—entirely online. By offering a $100 free mining contract upon registration, ZA Miner is making mining more accessible than ever.

    No Equipment. No Experience. Just Crypto Rewards.

    ZA Miner’s platform removes the traditional complexities of crypto mining. Users no longer need to purchase mining rigs or maintain servers. With just an email address, individuals can sign up and start earning daily payouts through a simple, user-friendly interface. The platform supports mining for Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Litecoin (LTC).

    “We created ZA Miner with the belief that anyone should be able to participate in cryptocurrency mining without high costs or technical challenges,” said a company representative. “Our model is built for transparency, ease of use, and financial inclusion.”

    Global Operations with Eco-Conscious Infrastructure

    ZA Miner operates its mining farms in strategic, energy-efficient regions such as Kazakhstan and Iceland. These locations are selected for their low electricity rates and sustainable energy sources, allowing the company to pass cost savings and reliability on to its users.

    Mining contracts from ZA Miner are designed to support users with varying levels of expertise.

    Platform Highlights:

    • Free $100 Mining Bonus – Get started immediately without any payment.
    • No Hardware Required – All mining is cloud-based.
    • Daily Earnings – Receive payouts directly to your wallet.
    • Environmentally Friendly – Operates in energy-efficient regions.
    • Safe & Secure – SSL encryption and anti-DDoS protection ensure account safety.
    • Referral Rewards – Earn up to 7% commission for inviting others to the platform.

    How to Begin:

    1. Create an account on www.zaminer.com
    2. Claim your $100 bonus mining contract
    3. Start earning and track your rewards daily

    ZA Miner’s free cloud mining model reflects a growing demand for accessible crypto tools. With reliable performance, global infrastructure, and a clear path for users to get started, the company is offering an opportunity for anyone to join the digital economy—no technical knowledge required.

    About ZA Miner:

    ZA Miner is a leading cloud mining provider based in Middlesex, United Kingdom, specializing in Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin mining services. Focused on making cryptocurrency mining accessible, affordable, and eco-conscious, ZA Miner combines cutting-edge technology, sustainable operations, and user-friendly solutions to empower individuals around the world to participate in the digital asset economy. For more information, visit www.zaminer.com.

    Media Contact:
    SHEIKH, Anisah Fatema
    ZA FUNDINGS LTD
    info@zaminer.com
    https://www.zaminer.com/

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/16b2baaf-18de-4e33-95e3-16fc66f6af82

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/953d2c2d-b1d0-492e-9c22-2b7fcac43aae

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The focus is on language training for future professionals

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Speech by Irina Chechik

    As part of the III National (All-Russian) scientific and practical conference with international participation “Current issues of economics and management in construction”, the Department of Intercultural Communication of SPbGASU organized and held a section “Language training of future professionals” on April 17.

    In her welcoming speech, the head of the Department of Intercultural Communication Elena Selezneva emphasized the importance of including the section in the work of the university conference, since knowledge of foreign languages, understanding of cultural characteristics, and the ability to effectively interact with representatives of other cultures are becoming key competencies for specialists in any field. A separate greeting was addressed to young scientists participating in the section: students, postgraduates.

    Professor of the Department of Intercultural Communication Elena Chirkova shared her thoughts on the importance of live communication: “In a world where digital technologies are rapidly changing the usual forms of communication, it is live communication that remains the foundation on which true understanding and deep mutual perception are built.” The professor is confident that live communication is not just an exchange of information. It is an exchange of emotions, cultural characteristics and unique experience that cannot be fully conveyed through screens and virtual platforms. This is especially true for learning foreign languages – a process that requires not only knowledge, but also live interaction, immersion in the cultural context and direct dialogue with teachers or native speakers. With the availability of online courses and programs for additional practice, it is live language learning, including dialogues, discussions, exchange of experience and cultural characteristics, that forms real language competence.

    Participants from St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Tyumen, Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and others discussed the improvement of language training strategies, improving the quality of teaching foreign languages, including Russian as a foreign language. Particular attention was paid to the introduction of new technologies, primarily artificial intelligence, to solve current problems of language education.

    Associate Professor of the Department of Intercultural Communication Irina Chechik and Senior Lecturer of the Department Natalia Savelyeva prepared a report “Study of the language of the specialty by foreign students-architects based on local history texts (initial stage of training)”. In her speech Irina Chechik noted the enthusiasm with which students-architects perceive local history texts containing information about the architectural monuments of St. Petersburg. Irina Vladimirovna gave examples of such texts from a new teaching aid developed by teachers of Russian as a foreign language of the Department of Intercultural Communication.

    In this textbook, the authors chose popular science texts. Grammar is given through constructions (models), which are practiced in exercises. Each text contains information about the history of the object, archival photographs. Students are asked to compare different architectural monuments, which gives additional opportunities to include speech activity.

    Senior Lecturer of the Department of Intercultural Communication Valeria Ryabkova presented a report on “The Role of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Language Training of University Students”. Valeria Valeryevna noted the explosive growth of interest in this topic. Artificial intelligence in education opens up many new opportunities: it allows developing and implementing teaching methods for specific disciplines, simulating speech and thinking activity, implementing automated control and providing feedback. Valeria Ryabkova reviewed specialized and universal generative chatbots and gave an example of a task from her textbook on English for forensic experts using artificial intelligence. According to the speaker, specific pedagogical technologies for the use of generative artificial intelligence are not yet available, and we are at the stage of analyzing the accumulated experience.

    “Artificial intelligence has a certain didactic potential, but requires careful control from teachers. First of all, we ourselves must learn to use it and teach our students to use it,” Valeria Ryabkova summed up.

    We thank all section participants for their fruitful work and exchange of valuable experience!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, the Asian and Oceanian Sambo Championship was held in Uzbekistan

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    With the support of Rosneft, the continental championships of Asia and Oceania in sambo were held in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) from April 14 to 20. The competitions included the Asian and Oceania Championship in sambo, the Youth Championship in sambo, and the Championship in sambo among masters.

    Athletes from 21 national federations took part in the Asian and Oceanian Sambo Championship. Competitions among men, women, blind and visually impaired athletes were held in 38 weight categories. According to the results of the tournament, the winner of the medal count was the team of Uzbekistan, second place went to the team of Kazakhstan, and third to the Philippines.

    Rosneft pays great attention to the development and support of mass and professional sports. The company builds multifunctional sports complexes and sites, ice arenas, holds mass sports events in various disciplines for children and adults. Since 2013, Rosneft has been the general sponsor of the International Sambo Federation. During this time, dozens of outstanding tournaments have been held with the support of the Company.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft April 21, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytech developed a corporate identity for the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University summed up the results of the competition to create a new logo for the university. The organizers were the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Institute of Civil Engineering of SPbPU and the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Construction of KRSU.

    In total, more than 50 applications from students of two universities were submitted to the competition. Four projects reached the final: one of them was presented by students of KRSU, and three others by students of the Civil Engineering Institute. The final presentations of the projects took place in Bishkek. The jury members awarded first place to the students of the Civil Engineering Institute.

    The best work was by 4th year bachelor’s student in Graphic Design Anna Panina, made in the style of arrows.

    “The project means a lot to me, as several generations of my ancestors lived and worked in Bishkek (Frunze). Their activities were related to science, art, design and development of education. Therefore, I was especially pleased to defend my work in person, in the homeland of my family. My concept of the corporate style of KRSU is based on the image of an arrow – a polysemantic symbol reflecting several metaphors. Directional arrows hidden in the space between the letters symbolize the two-sided vector of education: synthesis of East and West, cultural exchange, freedom of choice of students and graduates. In the pictograms of the faculties, arrows are used as a universal symbol, which through the dynamics of the form conveys the specifics of each faculty,” shared Anna Panina.

    The project of first-year student of the Master’s program in Communication Design Anna Kozlova, based on the infinity symbol, reflected the idea of continuous development and cultural ties between Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

    “KRSU unites two cultures – Russian and Kyrgyz, linking the heritage of the past and the development of the future. The basis of the logo is the abbreviation of the university, made in a font that is a modern stylization of Slavic ligature. The key image is the infinity sign, which is derived from elements of two cultures. It personifies endless development, the desire for knowledge and perfection,” said Anna Kozlova.

    The second place in the competition was taken by the work of SPbPU student Maria Dracheva, who managed to originally connect two symbols from the flags of two countries – the Russian tricolor and the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan, the tunduk.

    “The concept of my work is about unity, cooperation and experience between the two countries. Russian identity is conveyed by three stripes in the colors of the national flag. Kyrgyzstan is represented by lines that are part of the tunduk – a symbol of unity and national identity of the country. The interweaving of lines is associated with a strong union and symbolizes strong friendly relations between the countries, conveying the main value of the university,” Maria Dracheva emphasized.

    Also, second place was taken by KRSU students Abdusalikh Ibragimov and Elena Shigaeva. Their work is dedicated to another symbol of Kyrgyzstan – kurak.

    The competition became an important step in the development of educational integration, especially within the framework of cooperation between the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Construction Technologies of KRSU and the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Institute of Civil Engineering of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    “The students not only showed a creative approach, but also demonstrated a deep understanding of the task. The works presented reflected the historical context and core values of the university community. The project acquired special significance due to the fact that it went beyond the design competition, becoming part of an educational dialogue between universities of the two countries. Such initiatives contribute to strengthening trust and developing constructive cooperation between higher education institutions of Russia and Kyrgyzstan,” said Tatyana Diodorova, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Institute of Contemporary Art.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit, Crewmates Complete Space Station Expedition

    Source: NASA

    NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned to Earth Saturday, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, concluding a seven-month science mission aboard the International Space Station.
    The trio departed the space station at 5:57 p.m. EDT aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft before making a safe, parachute-assisted landing at 9:20 p.m. (6:20 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, Kazakhstan time), southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. Pettit also celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday, April 20.
    Spanning 220 days in space, Pettit and his crewmates orbited the Earth 3,520 times, completing a journey of 93.3 million miles. Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner launched and docked to the orbiting laboratory on Sept. 11, 2024.
    During his time aboard the space station, Pettit conducted research to enhance in-orbit metal 3D printing capabilities, advance water sanitization technologies, explore plant growth under varying water conditions, and investigate fire behavior in microgravity, all contributing to future space missions. He also used his surroundings aboard station to conduct unique experiments in his spare time and captivate the public with his photography.
    This was Pettit’s fourth spaceflight, where he served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 71 and 72. He has logged 590 days in orbit throughout his career. Ovchinin completed his fourth flight, totaling 595 days, and Vagner has earned an overall total of 416 days in space during two spaceflights.
    NASA is following its routine postlanding medical checks, the crew will return to the recovery staging area in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Pettit will then board a NASA plane bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. According to NASA officials at the landing site, Pettit is doing well and in the range of what is expected for him following return to Earth.
    For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs that are not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a strong low Earth orbit economy, NASA is focusing more resources on deep space missions to the Moon as part of Artemis in preparation for future astronaut missions to Mars.
    Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/station
    -end-
    Joshua FinchHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
    Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China champions people-centered, outward-looking human rights approach

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    People taste grapes at a grape fair in Turpan, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Aug. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China’s human rights approach emphasizes pragmatism, diversity, and mutual respect, as demonstrated by its poverty eradication efforts and global cooperation initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. 
    This was highlighted at the 2025 Asian Forum on Human Rights, held in Chongqing on April 19. Under the theme “Science & Technology and Human Rights,” the forum brought together regional scholars to discuss technology’s impact on human rights.
    Chen Youwu, executive director of the Human Rights and Rule of Law Research Center at Guangdong University of Technology, said China’s human rights philosophy centers on serving people and prioritizing their well-being. He noted that this principle — that people’s happiness is the greatest human right — grants human rights a powerful guiding role in the development of science and technology, promoting technology that benefits society.
    Kanatbek Aziz, director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kyrgyzstan, examined the connection between digital governance and human rights. He identified three prevailing models: the European approach, which emphasizes personal data protection; the American system, driven by corporate interests where users are often treated as products; and the Chinese framework, which focuses on digital sovereignty, strategic planning and national security.
    Aziz praised China’s Global AI Governance Initiative as a necessary contribution to international discussions on technology regulation. “The initiative emphasizes the need for safe, orderly and reliable development of artificial intelligence,” he said. “This reflects China’s commitment to establishing international frameworks where AI is guided by justice, inclusiveness and technological ethics.”
    Liu Hongzhen, deputy director of the Human Rights Center at Jilin University, warned that some Western powers misuse both human rights and technology to maintain dominance and escalate geopolitical tensions, citing U.S. attempts to limit China’s technological progress.
    “The diversity of human rights must be respected, and both hegemonism and the instrumentalization of rights must be resisted,” Liu said. “We should approach technological competition through the lens of human rights, thereby promoting reform in global technology governance systems.”
    Beyond technology, China’s commitment to human rights is also demonstrated in its domestic development efforts. Li Zhongxia, deputy director of the Human Rights Research Center at Renmin University of China, highlighted China’s poverty alleviation campaign, which lifted 832 impoverished counties and nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty. The achievement secured basic survival and development rights, which Li described as a major step forward for global human rights.
    “If basic needs are not met, discussing political rights becomes detached from reality,” Li said. “Human rights development must respond to the people’s most urgent needs.”
    China’s commitment to human rights also extends beyond its borders. Through multilateral platforms such as China-ASEAN cooperation, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Belt and Road Initiative, China continues to promote peace, security and sustainable development throughout Asia and beyond.
    Recent joint statements with Vietnam and Cambodia emphasized that human rights should be pursued according to national conditions, while opposing the politicization of human rights and the application of double standards. The statements also rejected using such issues to interfere in sovereign nations’ internal affairs.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On April 21, Mikhail Mishustin will hold talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On April 21, in Moscow, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin will hold talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov.

    The heads of government will discuss current issues of Russian-Kazakh trade and economic cooperation. Particular attention will be paid to the implementation of joint projects in the field of industry, energy, including peaceful nuclear energy, space, transport infrastructure and the digital economy.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular freight train route links China’s Chongqing with Central Asia

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A freight train, loaded with polyester chips made in southwest China’s Chongqing, departed from the municipality on Sunday morning heading for Uzbekistan, marking the inauguration of a new regular freight train route from Chongqing to Central Asian countries.

    The train is expected to arrive in the Uzbek capital roughly 4,700 kilometers away in about 12 days. It will exit China through Horgos Port in Xinjiang and pass through Kazakhstan.

    According to the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. each month two trains are scheduled to start from Chongqing to Central Asia.

    Xu Meiqiong, an engineer with the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that such regular services could ensure fast customs clearance, timely transportation and reduced costs, so as to guarantee cross-border transportation of better quality.

    It was believed that the regular train route could reduce the transportation duration between Chongqing and Central Asia by 30 percent.

    Cargoes in the freight train on Sunday were from the Chongqing Wankai New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Lin Zheng, the company’s manager in charge of logistics, noted that the launch of the new route would be good for them to expand their market in Central Asia.

    In recent years, Chongqing has been striving to elevate itself into a comprehensive inland hub, with the number of China-Europe freight trains and those heading to Central Asian countries departing from the city, along with cargo volumes, growing.

    As of February, more than 18,000 trains covering over 50 regular routes linking the city with European and Central Asian countries have been dispatched, reaching over 100 hub cities and regions across Asia and Europe. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 5th CICPE sees 92B yuan in intended deals

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) attracted the participation of a record-breaking 1,767 companies and 4,209 consumer brands from 71 countries and regions this year, according to a press briefing on Friday.

    Events targeting global brands, e-commerce and country-specific suppliers led to 52 intended cooperation agreements, the value of which amounted to approximately 92 billion yuan (about 12.6 billion U.S. dollars), said Zeng Rong, chief economist at Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development.

    Countries including Slovakia, Singapore, Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan debuted their national pavilions at this year’s CICPE in south China’s Hainan Province. The United Kingdom, as the 2025 guest country of honor, occupied an exhibition area of over 1,300 square meters, showcasing 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, doubling its 2024 presence.

    More than 60,000 professional purchasers attended — representing a 10 percent increase from last year. In tandem with the expo, the Ministry of Commerce also launched the “Shopping in China” campaign to stimulate domestic consumption, and introduced a dedicated exhibition to facilitate cooperation between foreign trade firms and domestic purchasers.

    Preparations for the 6th CICPE are underway, with hundreds of companies already registered or signed on to participate in the next edition of this event.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Classifies Q’Apel Medical Inc.’s Worldwide Medical Device Recall and Discontinuation of its 072 Aspiration System (Hippo) as Class I

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    April 18, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    April 18, 2025
    Product Type:
    Medical Devices
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Distal Tip Design outside scope of 510k clearance

    Company Name:
    Q’Apel Medical, Inc.
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Q’Apel Medical

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    072 Aspiration System

    Company Announcement
    Fremont, CA – April 18, 2025 – On April 7, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA” or “the agency”), classified Q’Apel Medical, Inc.’s (“Q’Apel” or “the company”) voluntary recall of 1,617 units of its 072 Aspiration System (also known under the product name “Hippo”, which includes “Cheetah”; collectively, the “product”) as Class I.
    On February 26, 2025, the company initiated a discontinuation and recall of 1,617 units of its 072 Aspiration System product. The recall was initiated because the company received a Warning Letter from FDA that raised questions about whether the features and characteristics of the distal tip of the Hippo aspiration catheter were within the scope of its 510(k) clearance. Rather than pursue a new regulatory pathway, the company chose to voluntarily remove all affected product lots and discontinue the 072 Aspiration System line as part of its strategic shift toward newer technologies
    Q’Apel has submitted three Medical Device Reportable events for the Hippo product to date; these adverse events include a reported tip detachment, retrieved without patient injury; a vessel rupture; and a vasospasm. Based on the company’s investigation of these events, factors other than the device’s distal tip likely contributed to the reported adverse events.
    Notably, each of these event types is a known risk associated with use of any aspiration catheter and is not unique to the Hippo product. The tip of any aspiration catheter used during a thrombectomy could potentially cause vasospasm and/or vascular injury. In particular, if the tip of an aspiration catheter triggers irritation of the vessel wall, it may manifest as vasospasm, which may be self-limiting or may require treatment (e.g., vasodilatation). Vascular injury may result in a non-flow limiting dissection that requires no intervention and causes no permanent morbidity, a flow-limiting dissection that requires intervention and may be associated with morbidity, or in the extreme case, vessel perforation or rupture which requires intervention and likely results in morbidity or even mortality. If unretrieved, a detached tip of a catheter could result in serious adverse events such as blockage of blood vessels, ischemia of end organs, and death.
    The product was distributed in the United States, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
    The following product configurations have been removed and discontinued:

    072 Aspiration System (Hippo with Cheetah Delivery Tool) with Aspiration Tubing; Catalog Number: APT6072-132; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008127; Lots: FG241008C-03, FG240916C-04, FG240905C-04
    072 Aspiration System (Hippo with Cheetah Delivery Tool); Catalog Number: AP6072-132; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008097; Lots: FG241206A-03, FG240917A-01
    072 Aspiration Tubing; Catalog Number: APT-95; Unique Device Identifier: 00857545008103; Lot: FG241206A-04

    Actions to be taken by user:
    The Hippo product configurations described above have been discontinued in all markets. The company has proactively notified all customers and distributors and will continue to monitor the situation closely. Consignees of the product should immediately return any available product inventory to the company. If consignees have distributed the product to others, contact Q’Apel so that the company can notify them of this action and retrieve any remaining product.
    For questions or assistance with product return, please contact:Q’Apel Medical Inc. – Customer Service Phone: 510-738-6255Email: orders@qapelmedical.comHours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT
    Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

    About Q’Apel Medical
    Q’Apel Medical is revolutionizing neurovascular interventions. Inspired by the evolving needs of our customers, our novel approach allows us to solve clinical challenges where others fall short. We are up for the task, the more complex the better. Our team thrives on creating high quality uniquely engineered products, designed in partnership with neurovascular specialists, that address what is needed right now, yet with the versatility to focus on what is coming next. For more information, visit www.qapelmedical.com.

    Company Contact Information

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Create in India Challenge Evolves into a Global Movement with Nearly 1 Lakh Registrations from Over 60 Countries

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 18 APR 2025 4:32PM by PIB Delhi

    The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, launched as a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), is gearing up for a spectacular finale at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, from 1st to 4th May 2025. With registrations now officially closed for all 32 challenges, CIC has achieved a significant milestone, receiving nearly 1 lakh registrations, including over 1,100 international participants. The challenges have attracted entries from over 60 countries, reflecting the global appeal and reach of this pioneering initiative. From this exceptional pool of talent, 750 finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their creative skills and outcomes at Creatosphere, a specially curated platform featuring innovation across animation, comics, AI, XR, gaming, music, and more, as part of WAVES 2025. The winners of these challenges will be conferred the prestigious ‘WAVES Creator Awards’ in a grand red carpet ceremony on Day 2 of the event.

    The Creatosphere at WAVES will witness remarkable global participation, with 43 international finalists showcasing their talents, adding a truly international dimension to this celebration of creativity. These finalists represent over 20 countries, including Argentina, Nepal, Germany, Bermuda (BOT), the United States, Greece, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Laos, Thailand, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Russia, Maldives, Malaysia, and Japan. Notably, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Tajikistan each contributes 6 finalists, followed by 5 each from Indonesia and Maldives, and 4 from Mauritius. The United States is represented by 2 finalists, while Russia, Canada, Argentina, Laos, Malaysia, Bermuda, Egypt, Thailand, and the United Kingdom each have 1 finalist. This diverse international presence underscores the global appeal and growing reach of the Create in India Challenge.

    In India, the challenges saw enthusiastic participation from across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, underscoring the truly national footprint of the initiative. The list of finalists across the challenges reflects remarkable regional representation, with participants hailing from across the country from Assam and Meghalaya in the East to Gujarat in the West and from Himachal Pradesh in the North to Kerala in the South.

    Celebrating the energy of youth, the Create in India Challenges are overwhelmingly driven by young creators predominantly in their 20s, reflecting a vibrant ecosystem of college students, early-career professionals, and teen innovators. With the youngest finalist just 12 years old and the oldest at 66, the initiative showcases a truly inclusive creative platform that transcends age.

    The Create in India initiative champions grassroots innovation while celebrating diversity in purpose and participation. From making education accessible through the Innovate 2 Educate Challenge to reviving India’s textile legacy with “Make the World Wear Khadi,” the challenges span tradition and technology. “India: A Bird’s Eye View” captures the nation’s spirit through breathtaking aerial visuals by filmmakers and Drone Didis, using drone technology for storytelling and community empowerment.

    As excitement for WAVES 2025 reaches its crescendo, the Create in India Challenge has emerged as a powerful expression of India’s creative ambition, unlocking new opportunities for talent and reaffirming the nation’s rising leadership in the global media and entertainment landscape. With its vibrant mix of Indian and international participation, the Create in India Challenge has grown into a dynamic global platform, empowering voices across regions and generations, and truly embodying the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision that “WAVES should reach every home and every heart.”

    *****

    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith | 98

    (Release ID: 2122688) Visitor Counter : 91

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 5th China International Consumer Products Expo sees 92 billion yuan in intended deals

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

    5th China International Consumer Products Expo sees 92 billion yuan in intended deals

    HAIKOU, April 18 — The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) attracted the participation of a record-breaking 1,767 companies and 4,209 consumer brands from 71 countries and regions this year, according to a press briefing on Friday.

    Events targeting global brands, e-commerce and country-specific suppliers led to 52 intended cooperation agreements, the value of which amounted to approximately 92 billion yuan (about 12.6 billion U.S. dollars), said Zeng Rong, chief economist at Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development.

    Countries including Slovakia, Singapore, Brazil, Armenia and Kazakhstan debuted their national pavilions at this year’s CICPE in south China’s Hainan Province. The United Kingdom, as the 2025 guest country of honor, occupied an exhibition area of over 1,300 square meters, showcasing 53 brands across the fashion, beauty, homeware, health and jewelry industries, doubling its 2024 presence.

    More than 60,000 professional purchasers attended — representing a 10 percent increase from last year. In tandem with the expo, the Ministry of Commerce also launched the “Shopping in China” campaign to stimulate domestic consumption, and introduced a dedicated exhibition to facilitate cooperation between foreign trade firms and domestic purchasers.

    Preparations for the 6th CICPE are underway, with hundreds of companies already registered or signed on to participate in the next edition of this event.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Comprehensive bonded zones fuel China’s foreign trade growth

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

    BEIJING, April 17 — A truck loaded with 1.3 tonnes of clothing, hats, sunglasses and other goods departed from the cross-border e-commerce warehouse at the comprehensive bonded zone of Beijing Daxing International Airport (BDIA), heading to the international cargo terminal of China Southern Air Logistics Co., Ltd. at the airport.

    At 4 p.m., these made-in-China daily necessities were shipped to Tashkent in Uzbekistan via flight CZ6027.

    “Almost every flight on this route carries goods in and out of the bonded zone,” said Song Bing, a manager at the logistics company.

    Comprehensive bonded zones are customs-supervised areas with streamlined clearance procedures, serving as vital platforms for China’s opening-up endeavors. Policies such as tax refunds upon entry, bonded imports and the free flow of goods within the zone help enterprises significantly reduce institutional transaction costs.

    Over 160 such zones nationwide play a crucial role in expanding trade, attracting foreign investment and driving industrial upgrades.

    At the BDIA bonded zone, trucks carrying goods arrive continuously. Inside bonded warehouses and production workshops, modern machinery operates at full capacity, fueling a bustling environment featuring manufacturing and research and development (R&D).

    Having settled in the zone in 2022, Beijing CRS Medical Device Co., Ltd. now produces 700,000 dental implants annually, serving clients nationwide.

    “Our imported equipment and materials from Germany and Japan enter the zone duty-free. Taxes are only paid when our products are sold outside the zone in China, easing our financial pressure,” said Xu Chang, manager of the company’s external relations department.

    In 2024, duty exemptions on imported machinery alone saved them over 2.7 million yuan (374,558 U.S. dollars), and the company plans to expand production and explore global markets, Xu added.

    Straddling Beijing and Hebei Province in north China, the bonded zone saw its foreign trade value grow by fourfold to reach 9.89 billion yuan in 2024, said Zhang Jizhou, deputy head of BDIA customs, adding that more enterprises are encouraged to settle there to boost regional foreign trade.

    Fan Taoyu, general manager of the north China marketing center of China Southern Air Logistics, said the company’s cargo terminal at BDIA had handled more than 35,000 tonnes of cross-border e-commerce goods, electronics, industrial accessories and agricultural products in 2024, linking to markets in Europe and Asia via hubs like London, Amsterdam and Tashkent.

    “The BDIA bonded zone is unleashing growing potential, benefiting logistics firms like us,” said Fan.

    Despite global challenges, China’s trade value continues to rise, with bonded zones serving as important drivers of such growth. The country’s total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating stable growth and strong resilience, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    In the first two months of this year, two comprehensive bonded zones in the coastal city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province saw over 20 billion yuan in total foreign trade value — up 6 percent year on year, while bonded zones in Anhui Province, also in east China, recorded trade value of 23.11 billion yuan, a 16.1 percent increase.

    Beyond trade growth, bonded zones are accelerating industrial transformation, leveraging policies to establish R&D centers and foster high-tech industries. In May 2024, the GAC introduced 23 measures to advance high-quality development in comprehensive bonded zones.

    Notably, the BDIA bonded zone welcomed a firm specializing in flight simulator R&D and training, which trained 1,000 airline personnel in 2024. Meanwhile, Beijing’s Zhongguancun comprehensive bonded zone, the country’s first bonded zone featuring R&D and innovation, hosts a series of tech companies, dedicating 90 percent of its space to experimental R&D.

    “Joining the zone means saving costs on tax-free R&D equipment and bonded materials, allowing us to focus on innovation,” said Wang Shicheng, chairman and general manager of Beijing Soaring Electric Technology Co., Ltd., a clean energy and energy saving tech firm based in the Zhongguancun bonded zone.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Concludes Fortieth Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on the Reports of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families this afternoon concluded its fortieth session after adopting concluding observations on the reports of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger.

    The concluding observations will be available on the webpage of the session in the coming days.

    Fatimata Diallo, Committee Chair, reiterated the urgent need to redouble efforts to save lives and protect the human rights of migrants.  Current migration channels were not adapted to new migration patterns, which often pushed migrants through irregular and dangerous routes, where they risked violence, exploitation, abuse, or loss of life.  The year 2023 was the deadliest year in the last decade for migrants using these routes.  Migration issues were cross-cutting across the humanitarian and development fields and should be considered in relevant instruments and forums, including the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

    As of 21 February 2025, 60 States were parties to the Convention.  The Committee was pleased that, in November 2024, Zimbabwe became the sixtieth State party to the Convention.  The Committee continued its campaign for ratification by raising awareness in collaboration with States parties, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and civil society organizations, and by disseminating its general comments worldwide. While ratification by 60 States was a good start, the Convention remained the least ratified of the core international human rights treaties.  In line with the recommendations of the President of Global Migration Policy Associates, a concerted, organised, well resourced, multi-stakeholder, and independently led campaign was a key means of obtaining more ratifications.

    Ms. Diallo noted that the treaty body system had been affected by chronic resource constraints, in addition to the current liquidity crisis, which prevented this Committee and others from fully implementing their activities.  It was vital that these resources were strengthened.  Despite these constraints, the process of strengthening the treaty bodies had led to significant results, in response to the adoption of General Assembly resolution 68/268.  At the Meeting of Chairpersons of Treaty Bodies in June this year, States were urged to approve the introduction of a predictable eight-year review timetable, with follow-up reviews in between.  It was regrettable that the resolution recently adopted in New York did not take into account the recommendations on the foreseeable eight-year timetable, including on the harmonisation of the working methods of the Committees.

    Ms. Diallo commended the Governments of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger, whose reports were reviewed this session, for their commitment to and participation in the dialogue.  Also during the session, the Committee adopted the list of issues for Tajikistan, in relation to its third periodic report, as well as the lists of issues prior to reporting for Fiji, Guinea and Ecuador in relation to their initial, second and fourth periodic reports respectively.

    The Chair then briefed the Committee on other activities which were undertaken during the session.  The Committee had held collaborative dialogues with the International Labour Organization, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the Committee against Torture.  On 15 April, the Committee held a public side event to launch the general comment on the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the Convention and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, with participation from States, United Nations agencies, and civil society. 

    Finally, the Committee adopted the draft annual report covering the thirty-ninth and fortieth sessions, as well as intersessional activities.  Ms. Diallo thanked all Committee members and members of the Secretariat for their commitment to what had been a busy and successful session.

    The forty-first session of the Committee is scheduled to be held in December 2025 in Geneva.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CMW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Undocking

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Watch as NASA astronaut Don Pettit, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, undock from the International Space Station and begin their voyage back to Earth.

    The Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft is set to undock from the space station at 5:57 p.m. EDT (2157 UTC), heading for a parachute-assisted landing at 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 UTC or 6:20 a.m. Kazakhstan time, Sunday, April 20) on the steppes of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan. Landing will occur on Pettit’s 70th birthday.

    See our full schedule for MS-26’s return: https://go.nasa.gov/3Eg3z2l
    Follow the ISS blog for the latest updates: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzy9GahNHE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Re-entry and Landing

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    After 220 days and 93.3 million miles in space, astronaut Don Pettit is returning to Earth on Saturday, April 19.

    After undocking from the International Space Station alongside cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, Pettit’s Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft will begin its deorbit burn at 8:26 p.m. EDT (0026 UTC April 20) and touch down on the steppes of Kazakhstan around 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 UTC April 20).

    This was Pettit’s fourth spaceflight; while on the station, Pettit contributed to research that benefits humanity and delighted photography enthusiasts around the world with his unique point of view.

    Get the details on Pettit’s return to Earth: https://go.nasa.gov/3Eg3z2l
    Read the latest updates from the ISS: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

    Credit: NASA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DmBm9gP460

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee against Torture Praise France’s Engagement with the Review Process, Ask about Prison Overcrowding and Excessive Use of Force by the Police

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of France under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, with Committee Experts praising the State’s engagement with the review process, and raising questions about prison overcrowding and excessive use of force by the police.

    Abderrazak Rouwane, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Mr. Rouwane said conditions in French prisons were very concerning, with serious overcrowding. There were over 79,000 prisoners, although there were only 61,000 prison places, and there were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations, poor sanitation facilities, and a lack of penitentiary staff.  What measures were in place to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?

    Jorge Contesse, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, said excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  A 2017 law allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat, which reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police?

    Introducing the report, Isabelle Rome, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said France was working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  The Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 additional places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.

    The delegation added that a 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail and a 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service

    On excessive use of force by police officers, Ms. Rome said various training activities had been conducted for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence. The police code of ethics stated that force was to be used only when necessary and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  France had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

    The delegation added that the judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    In closing remarks, Erdogan Iscan, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles.

    In her concluding remarks, Ms. Rome said that the Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  Its recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture around the world.

    The delegation of France consisted of representatives from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Overseas Territories; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of the Armed Forces; Ministry of Health and Prevention; French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons; and the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of France at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 May.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the website of the session.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Wednesday, 23 April at 10 a.m. to consider the third periodic report of Turkmenistan (CAT/C/TKM/3).

     

    Report

    The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of France (CAT/C/FRA/8).

    Presentation of Report

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said respect for human rights and the prohibition of any act of torture or inhuman and degrading treatment were priorities in France’s foreign policy.  On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the President made concrete commitments, such as the organisation of the ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris in 2026.  On the fortieth anniversary of the Convention in 2024, France issued a statement reaffirming its support for the universalisation and implementation of the Convention and its Optional Protocol. Together with its partners, France organised the first World Congress on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva at the end of January 2025. 

    As a member of the Global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, France would continue to support the development of an international and binding legal instrument on trade in goods which could be used for capital punishment or torture.  While France already applied European provisions on such trade, regulating trade in such goods at the international level would be a crucial step towards eradicating torture and ill-treatment globally.

    France had strengthened its public policies regarding torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment since its last report in 2020.  Various training activities for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence had been increased.  The Code of Ethics of the National Police and the National Gendarmerie stated that force was to be used only within the framework set by law, only when necessary, and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  Judicial authorities investigated the most serious cases of alleged crimes and misdemeanours by police officers.  The State had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

    The legal framework guaranteed the right of persons in police custody to notify any person of their choice, the right to a doctor, the right to silence, and the right to be immediately assisted by a lawyer.  France was also working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  It adopted a preventive remedy mechanism in April 2021 to guarantee the right to respect for dignity in detention and a decree in June 2023 on legal aid.  In addition, the Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 places.  Measures had been put in place to increase access to psychiatric care in prisons and to control the use of solitary confinement.  The policy to combat suicide in prisons was bearing fruit, and measures to prevent and punish gender-based violence against intersex and transgender people had been implemented.  Further, at psychiatric establishments, structural reforms and significant financial measures had been taken to strengthen care and the training of caregivers.

    The immigration law of January 2024 introduced several significant advances: the creation of “France asylum” spaces and territorial chambers of the National Court of Asylum, simplification of immigration litigation, more effective protection of the most vulnerable asylum seekers, the cessation of detention of families with minors, and the creation of a fine for employers who used the work of foreigners without a residence permit in France.

    France was under no obligation under the Convention to remove the statute of limitations on the offence of torture.  However, the offence of torture as a predicate offence of the crime against humanity remained imprescriptible.

    In December 2023, France presented its third national plan to combat the exploitation and trafficking of human beings, for the years 2024 to 2027, consisting of 60 measures, the follow-up of which would be coordinated by an interministerial committee.  The Central Office for the Repression of Trafficking in Human Beings had also developed a strategy to combat the prostitution system and sexual exploitation.

    France was more committed than ever to the fight against discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech, in particular acts committed online.  A national unit for the fight against online hate was created within the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2020.  The National Plan for Equality developed for the period 2023-2026 included concrete and ambitious actions to eradicate the scourge of hatred and violence.  In May 2024, the President announced the creation of a new non-governmental organization, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.  A May 2024 law was also introduced to regulate the digital space to strengthen the repression of hate speech.

    In New Caledonia, the Government had been particularly active to guarantee the safety of people during the recent riots.  Emergency measures, for the benefit of the economic world and local authorities, had been deployed.  The working mission set up by the Head of State was engaging in dialogue with the local political forces, in the spirit of the Nouméa Accords.  In Mayotte, France had carried out operations aimed at restoring public order and combatting illegal immigration, and had accelerated the processing of asylum applications.  It was also heavily mobilised in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido. France remained committed to supporting the people of Mayotte in this ordeal by mobilising all the resources necessary for reconstruction and the restoration of daily life.

    Nine years after France’s last examination before this Committee and five years after the publication of its national report, France was staying the course to ensure that progress was made in the fight against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in France and internationally.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said France’s Criminal Code criminalised torture but did not specifically define the crime. The State needed to integrate a definition that was in line with article one of the Convention.  Why was the State party reluctant to have a stand-alone definition of torture, unlike other common law countries?  What court rulings had included specific definitions of torture? Why had France refused to remove the statute of limitations on torture crimes unless the crime was a crime against humanity?

    Reportedly, there were excessive delays in police informing detainees of their rights, particularly for arrests after demonstrations.  There were reports of excessive arrests to dissuade protesters.  Police custody lasted up to 48 hours, but this could be extended to 96 hours for serious offences.  The Committee was concerned by reported plans to increase the length of police custody, and reports of excessive handcuffing and poor training of police on custody regulations.  Was training on police ethics provided only on recruitment or continuously?  Was training provided on the Istanbul Protocol? Were there plans to introduce tools to monitor torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in police custody?

    Excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force?  One man of African descent had died in 2016 following arrest, and no one had been held accountable.  There were grounds to believe that there was a lack of proper training on excessive use of force.  A law of 2017 allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat.  This law had reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  Had the State party implemented measures to address racism in the police force?  What were the findings of the 2024 thinktank established to assess the increase in incidents of excessive use of force? What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police and what penalties were issued to perpetrators?

    In New Caledonia, eight Kanak protesters were killed by French officials under the state of emergency.  A large number of protesters were arrested and many claimed to have been beaten by police officers.  Why were detained persons taken to mainland France?  Why did the State party refuse to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples on French territory?

    Restrictions on immigration had reportedly increased due to a recent law on immigration control.  The fast-tracked procedure introduced by this law gave asylum seekers less time to prepare their cases.  What was the State party’s view of these legal changes?  How were lawyers who represented asylum seekers chosen and how was their performance assessed?  There were concerns about unlawful deportations and failure to respect the rights of asylum seekers.  France had forcibly expelled over 3,500 asylum seekers without sufficiently assessing the risks that they faced in their home countries.  What measures were in place to prevent forced expulsions? Would the State party respect the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in this regard?  How many appeals had been made against forced removals and what were their outcomes?

    State law was clear that French courts could prosecute people pursuant to the Convention for torture crimes committed outside of France; why did the same provisions not apply on crimes committed domestically?  France had called for the arrest of the President of the Russian Federation under the Rome Statute in 2024 but had stated that the President of Israel was immune to the International Court of Justice’s arrest warrant.  Why did its position differ for these two leaders?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that the State party had provided detailed responses to the list of issues.  He also commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Nothing justified the violence that had been seen since Sunday in prisons against penitentiary staff in France, but conditions in prisons were very concerning, with serious prison overcrowding.  There were over 79,000 prisoners in France, although there were only 61,000 prison places. The overcrowding rate was 150 per cent on average, and one prison had a rate of over 300 per cent.  There had been a 5.6 per cent increase in pre-trial detainees in 2024 compared to 2023.  There were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations in prisons, poor sanitation facilities, a lack of access to natural light, and a lack of penitentiary staff. 

    What measures were in place to develop a law to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?  Detainees were not informed about the complex complaints’ mechanisms available.  What measures would the State party take to bolster non-custodial alternatives and reduce the use of pre-trial detention? How did the State party ensure that full body searches were only conducted when necessary and prevent excessive night surveillance activities?  What was the legal framework related to body searches, night searches, and the complaints mechanism for prisoners?

    Prison overcrowding inhibited prisoners’ access to medical services.  Detainees needed to send written advanced requests for medical check-ups and there was a high rate of cancellation of medical transfers due to logistical difficulties.  Detainees with psychosocial disabilities were disproportionately represented in prisons. What steps had been taken to improve access to medical services in prisons and to prevent the incarceration of persons with psychosocial disabilities?  The number of suicides in places of deprivation of liberty in 2024 had increased compared to 2023, despite measures implemented to prevent them. How many investigations had been opened into suicides, and how many staff had been convicted related to prison deaths?

    Disciplinary seclusion measures were reportedly excessively used in places of deprivation of liberty.  How was the State party addressing this issue?  The law provided a maximum duration of solitary confinement for up to 30 days. What measures would the State party take to ban solitary confinement for minors aged between 16 and 18 and persons with psychosocial disabilities? 

    Maximum security wings had been established for persons accused of terrorism that were tantamount to solitary confinement.  Detainees were systematically handcuffed when guards carried out random checks and there were frequent full body searches.  What measures were in place to increase human contact for persons in these wings and to protect their rights?  How would the State party prevent the unnecessary detention of persons with disabilities and ensure that such people had access to the necessary support and facilities that they needed?

    Police custody facilities were small and inappropriate, with overcrowding, poor sanitation facilities, unwashed blankets and lack of access to drinking water.  In one case, a detainee had spent the night handcuffed to a waiting bench rather than being placed in a cell.  How would the State party ensure that handcuffs were used only as provided for in law, improve detainment facilities, and strengthen training for police officers on detainees’ rights?

    The Committee welcomed the 2024 ban on administrative detention for children.  However, administrative detention centres increasingly resembled prisons, with poor facilities, insufficient provision of food, and wire cages for detainees.  How would the State party improve conditions in administrative detention and prevent the detention of unaccompanied minors in Mayotte?

    There were 112 holding areas at ports on French territory.  Some 8,600 persons were held in these areas in 2023, where conditions were reportedly worsening.  There was no separation of men, women and children, and it was hard for detainees to access health care and psychological care, leading to suicides.  There were also reports of detained persons being subjected to violence.  How would the State party encourage civil society organizations and oversight bodies to visit these areas?  How would it improve conditions and access to support services and prevent the detainment of children in these areas?

    There were around 500 incidents reported to the Ombudsman in 2023 related to the excessive use of force by police officers.  Administrative penalties had been issued to police officers in around 40 cases.  The rate of prosecutions for such cases had fallen between 2016 and 2021.  Why was this?  The Committee was concerned by the increase in the use of tasers.  Three people were seriously injured in 2023 by tasers.  A 30-year-old man’s heart had stopped twice after police used a taser on him.  How did the State party ensure that the use of tasers followed principles of proportionality?

    Another Committee Expert cited reports that police identity checks disproportionately targeted persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Black and Arab persons.  Would the Government take measures to ensure that police used stop-and-search measures in strict compliance with international law?  What oversight was there of these practices?

    One Committee Expert asked about measures to properly investigate cases of sexual violence and to strengthen support services for victims of sexual violence and incest. There were reports of mothers being criminalised for child abduction in cases where they sought to protect their children from abusive fathers.  How would the State prevent the prosecution of mothers in such cases?  Could the State party provide information on investigations into cases of sexual violence committed by French troops in the Central African Republic?  What safeguards were in place to ensure consent for medical procedures on intersex persons?

    A Committee Expert asked about pre-deployment training provided to French peacekeepers on international humanitarian law.  What training did police receive on the use of tasers and other equipment?  The United Nations General Assembly had called on States to prevent and prohibit trade in equipment for the purposes of torture. What legal and policy measures were in place in this regard?

    One Committee Expert said that in recent years, the Government had initiated fewer investigations into trafficking and prosecuted fewer traffickers.  Enforcement authorities reportedly continued to arrest child victims of forced begging and deport undocumented minors from Mayotte without investigating whether they were victims of trafficking.  How was this being prevented?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said France believed that the Criminal Code covered the provisions of the Convention; there was thus no need to revise it.  There was a 2022 court of cassation ruling that included a definition of torture that was in line with that of the European Convention on Human Rights.  The crime of torture was not time-barred when it was part of a crime against humanity or genocide.  The statute of limitations lasted for 20 years from the commission of the crime; the State party believed that this was long enough.

    There had been major reforms to police custody legislation that allowed for immediate access to lawyers from the moment of detention.  Persons in detention could inform third parties of the detention and needed to be immediately informed of their rights.  Police custody was rendered void if it did not respect legal regulations.  It could not exceed 24 hours, but could be extended by courts in certain situations, such as in cases of drug trafficking and terrorism due to the complex nature of investigations.  Preventative arrest was illegal in France.

    Respect for human dignity and hygiene in places of deprivation of liberty was a priority for the State party.  It was modernising police detention facilities, installing floor heating, and expanding cell sizes.  The Police Commissioner and the Head of the Gendarme Brigade were responsible for ensuring appropriate detention conditions and regular cleaning.  There were regular inspections of the gendarmerie and police stations.  The percentage of blankets that had been washed had increased between 2016 and 2021, and single-use blankets were also being used.  Water was not available in cells for security reasons, but police were required to provide water to detainees when they asked for it. Persons were not to be placed in cells with blocked toilets.  Around 90 per cent of facilities had hygiene kits.

    There was initial training for police and gendarmerie officers on regulations related to arrests, ethics and appropriate use of force, and additional training was provided to officers upon promotion.  Officers who handled weapons needed to go through training each year on rules related to the use of weapons.  Work psychology programmes had been set up that promoted de-escalation and delaying the use of weapons.  Victims’ associations provided testimony during training courses. 

    The national training college for prison guards provided theoretical training on European legislation on human rights and the use of force, and virtual reality helmets were used in practical training for guards on preventing violence.  Prison guards were trained to build positive relationships with inmates and to use non-violent means of resolving conflicts. Persons who conducted hearings of asylum seekers were trained on the Istanbul Protocol and on identifying victims of torture.  A Government body had been established that focused on issues of torture and trauma in asylum assessments.

    Police and the gendarme were guided by the Criminal Code, which gave them the right to decide whether to handcuff an individual based on the threat that they posed and the flight risk.  Training taught officers how to observe and read situations and to follow technical guidelines.  Handcuffing to a fixed point could only be done when necessary to prevent persons in custody from becoming a danger to themselves or police.  Handcuffing persons lying on their stomach was prohibited in 2021.

    Tear gas was not recommended to be used in closed areas such as football stadiums.  There was rigorous training on tear gas, flash-ball launchers and tasers, which could not be used on moving vehicles.  Police were bound to provide immediate assistance to persons struck by these weapons.  Sonar grenades were used to disperse crowds rather than explosive devices. There was post-facto judicial oversight on the use of these devices.

    Police could only carry out identity checks if there was a suspicion of illegal or threatening behaviour or an arrest warrant.  Body searches sometimes needed to be carried out during identity checks to check for weapons.  Only officers of the same sex could carry out such searches and there was post-facto judicial oversight.

    State agents received ongoing training on the appropriate use of force.  The 2017 law spelled out the rules on the appropriate use of force, respecting the principles of necessity and proportionality. There were 5,300 assaults on police in 2023.  In 2015 and 2016, many police officers had been killed; this number had reduced each year since.

    Law enforcement officials’ activity was monitored by plaintiffs, external oversight bodies and superiors.  Members of the public could report illegal behaviour via various channels; some 6,000 complaints had been received in 2024.  Investigations were carried out into all complaints, and prosecutions or administrative actions were taken to respond to failings.  Close to 600 police officers had been sanctioned in 2024. The judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    Racial and facial profiling were prohibited.  Complaints related to racial profiling and discriminatory identity checks represented only a small percentage of complaints against police.  Officers were required to explain why identity checks were carried out and to wear body cameras when carrying out checks.

    Training was provided to prison staff at juvenile detention centres on responding to violent situations.  Prison guards were not allowed to use any form of violence against detainees. Force could only be used when necessary and needed to be proportionate.  Excessive use of force was reported to the judiciary for investigation.  Accused guards could be suspended and their salary withheld.

    The rights of irregular migrants were systematically respected in administrative detention centres. People placed in these centres were deemed to be a threat to public order; half of the people in these centres had served prison sentences.  All cases of excessive use of force by officials were subject to judicial oversight.

    New Caledonia had been trying to develop its institutional framework.  Some stakeholders had been expressing their discontent with this process, giving rise to protests in spring 2024, in which hundreds of people were injured.  There were 14 deaths, including deaths of two gendarmes.  Hundreds of firearms were fired at police officers, and hundreds of people who participated in the protests were subsequently subjected to prison sentences.  A minister for the overseas territories had since been appointed and would promote a peaceful emancipation process.

    All persons’ rights were protected in France, regardless of their cultural and racial heritage.  French authorities paid special attention to the needs and desires of persons living in its overseas territories, including related to health, education and land rights. The legal framework was reconciled with customary laws in Guyana and New Caledonia by customary councils of indigenous peoples.  Authorities supported these bodies and sought to increase their resources.

    Deaths of migrants could be attributed to traffickers and businesses that exploited migrants’ suffering.  Some 73 migrants had died in the English Channel.  Law enforcement officials sought to prevent deaths of migrants at sea. When foreign citizens posed threats to the country, they could be extradited.  Appeals to extraditions could be lodged within 24 hours of the decision.  Qualified legal experts represented foreigners that lodged appeals.  The principle of non-refoulement was respected by France in extradition procedures.  Risks of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment were taken into consideration by officials at all stages of proceedings. France sought guarantees from receiving countries that extradited persons would not be subjected to torture.

    The overall prison occupation rate was 131 per cent as of 2025.  The Ministry of Justice had rolled out a voluntary prison regulation policy.  A 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail.  A 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service.  There was a programme in place to add 15,000 prison places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.  In 2024, 18 million euros were allocated to renovation and maintenance of overseas prisons.  In Mayotte, Cyclone Chido had caused damage to detention facilities; funds had been allocated to ensure repairs and to reduce overcrowding in these facilities.

    French law established strict conditions for the detention of minors.  Minors aged 16 to 18 could only be held in solitary confinement for three to six days, or in single person blocks from five to seven days. Seclusion did not restrict their access to family visits or medical and education services.  The number of suicides in prisons had increased in recent years; it was around 140 in 2024.  The increase was proportionate to the increase in the prison population. An action plan for preventing suicides had been drafted in 2023.  The State had provided over 1,800 prison staff with training on preventing suicide and a hotline had been established to report detainees’ suicide risks.

    All detainees were provided with healthcare that was of the same quality of that of the general population free of charge.  Each place of deprivation of liberty had a healthcare clinic.  The State party was encouraging student doctors to carry out internships at prisons, and to try job sharing between hospitals and prison clinics.

    All sexual relationships with children aged 14 or younger were considered to be rape.  When persons reported sexual violence by partners, anti-family violence units carried out investigations and judicial action was taken against perpetrators.

    There was currently a legal debate raging in France related to the obligation to cooperate with the rulings of the International Criminal Court.  French courts would rule on this issue, reviewing arrest warrant requests and the immunities that applied to officials. 

    France trained military staff who were to be deployed overseas on international humanitarian and human rights law, including the prohibition of torture.  Allegations of abuse citing members of the French armed forces were handed over to judicial authorities for investigation.  Constant assessments of human rights protections by French armed forces were conducted in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross.  France applied internationally determined sanctions and embargos on goods that could be used for capital punishment and torture.

    A bioethics law was adopted in 2021 and six centres specialised in caring for intersex children had been set up.  Experts made proposals regarding treatment and therapy for intersex children.  The aim was to avoid abusive therapy. Assessments were well received by surgeons and families.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if France planned to take measures to incorporate the complete prohibition of torture in domestic law and prevent superior orders from being used as a defence for the act. Were superiors held accountable for subordinates’ actions if they were aware of them?  It was striking that France refused to define torture in its legislation or to remove the statute of limitations on it.  Why was this?  Had there been cases in which individuals had sought to lodge torture cases after the statute of limitations had elapsed?

    In one case of a killing by police, it seemed that there was there was no immediate threat to officers when they fired on a person.  Had the concept of “imminent threat” intentionally been removed from the 2017 law?  Why had killings by police reportedly increased five-fold since the introduction of the law?  There was a large discrepancy between the number of cases of racial profiling recorded by the State and the number reported by civil society.  Why was this?

    Leaders of indigenous independence movements had reportedly been held in seclusion in New Caledonia for more than 300 days.  Was this information credible?  Why had persons who were detained in New Caledonia transferred to the mainland? Did transferred persons consent to such transfers?  Dialogue was needed to advance toward emancipation in New Caledonia.  How did the State party ensure that the best legal experts provided counsel to persons who came before asylum authorities?

    The International Criminal Court specified that Heads of State did not enjoy immunity from arrest warrants.  How did France understand its obligations to the Court?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that the dialogue had been fruitful.  The Committee welcomed the recent survey undertaken on hate crimes conducted in 2023, which found that more than three-fifths of these crimes concerned racial discrimination.  The Committee welcomed measures adopted in the national anti-racism plan to eliminate racism; what results had been achieved by the plan?  What follow-up had the State party carried out on the Ombudsperson’s recommendations concerning medical procedures on intersex persons? The Ombudsperson had called for the prohibition of flash-ball launchers; had this been enacted?

    Other Committee Experts asked questions on reports of excessive use of physical restraints in psychiatric institutions, monitoring of such institutions, and strategies to increase the number of qualified medical personnel and prevent violence against children in them; measures to ensure that the definition of rape in the Criminal Code was in line with international standards; and steps taken to ensure the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in detention.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Criminal Code stated that persons were held criminally responsible for carrying out orders that were clearly unlawful.

    There was complete withdrawal of parental authority when a parent posed a risk to children. Various judicial bodies collaborated to assess cases of parental abduction and domestic violence.

    The 2017 law on internal security specified that weapons could only be used when strictly necessary and after verbal orders were given.  Police considered the imminence of danger when acting.  State figures suggested that there had been a 44 per cent increase in deaths caused by police since the adoption of the 2017 law, not a five-fold increase.

    Professional lawyers were appointed to defend asylum seekers.  It was not up to the French Government to give instructions regarding how cases of transfer from New Caledonia to the mainland were handled. The Government had been working to improve detention conditions in New Caledonia.

    Full body searches could only be used as a last resort measure.  Searches into cavities were banned.  Training on body searches was provided for prison staff.  Some 48 cases had been brought against prison staff for repeated searches.  There was an awareness raising campaign in place on promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in prison.  Transgender persons were placed in vulnerable wings only as a last resort.  Reports of discrimination or sexual violence against these persons were investigated.

    There was administrative, medical and judicial oversight of psychiatric institutions. Reforms that were undertaken in 2021 ensured that authorised institutions had the necessary equipment and resources.  Doctors needed to obtain authorisation to carry out non-consensual medical procedures and there was judicial oversight of such procedures and of hospitalisations.

    The law on rape covered non-consensual contact with genitals.  In 2021, the act of ordering rape was considered a crime.

    Concluding Remarks

    ERDOGAN ISCAN, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue. The multilateral system was facing a political and financial crisis and it was important to reacknowledge the value of the United Nations Charter.  The dialogue was an essential tool for this process.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles in this regard. It would identify three recommendations for immediate follow-up within a year.

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the high-quality dialogue.  The Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  France was a living democracy and could only move forward.  The Committee’s recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party, including regarding the statute of limitations. The legal reforms implemented by the State party aimed to strengthen the rights of all persons in France, including those in detention.  There was no tolerance for discrimination.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment around the world.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Banking: Training course on trade in services concludes in Geneva for WTO acceding governments

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Training course on trade in services concludes in Geneva for WTO acceding governments

    The governments represented were Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Curaçao, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Participants received training on the  GATS disciplines, including how to create schedules of commitments, and how to view services from a sectoral perspective. They also learned how to develop market access offers in services in the context of bilateral market access negotiations.
    The course also covered current trends in services trade, and provided participants with an overview of the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, launched in 2017 by a group of WTO members to streamline regulations and reduce unnecessary barriers to services trade. In addition, the course looked into cross-cutting topics, such as e-commerce and investment facilitation. Experience-sharing roundtables were also organized with selected WTO members active in accessions and with former services negotiators.
    Speaking at the closing session of the course, WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang emphasized the transformative potential of the WTO accession process and the importance of trade in services in this process. He noted that services negotiations can drive domestic reform and attract foreign direct investment. DDG Zhang encouraged participants to continue advancing their governments’ accession negotiations while actively engaging across all areas of the WTO’s work.
    In a fireside chat with Hamid Mamdouh, former Director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division, on the last day of the course, WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill emphasized the dynamism and resilience of services trade. She noted that many recently acceded members have been outperforming most WTO members in services trade growth, GDP growth and domestic investments.
    At the opening session on 7 April, Maika Oshikawa, Director of the WTO’s Accessions Division, highlighted the value of specialized training courses the WTO Secretariat has been regularly providing since 2016 on key pillars of accession negotiations. She said that “understanding WTO disciplines and practices on trade in services is essential for preparing market access offers and conducting bilateral market access negotiations.”
    Markus Jelitto, Officer in Charge of the WTO Trade in Services and Investment Division, said: “Negotiating services in the context of WTO accession is a complex challenge — but one that holds significant potential. Services trade offers exceptional opportunities for developing economies, including those in the process of WTO accession.”
    Mondher Mimouni, Director of ITC’s Division of Market Development, stressed the importance of mastering WTO rules on services trade, especially for acceding governments. He said: “This training is a critical step toward maximizing the benefits of WTO membership.”
    Ylham Yarashov, a participant from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, said the course provided useful guidance  to support his government’s accession efforts. He stated: “The knowledge gained from this training will be applied directly because we will be beginning to build Turkmenistan’s position and preparing our offers and requests in a way that responds to both our economic interests and development priorities.”
    Another course participant, Sonam Tshering Dorji from Bhutan’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, said: “The course provided me with deeper insights into the world of services, which are highly relevant to the work of my Ministry. It has also strengthened my ability to read and draft schedules of commitments, while offering valuable opportunities to expand my network with fellow negotiators from various acceding governments.”
    Carol Young from The Bahamas Investment Authority who also participated in the course, said: “The training highlighted the need to better align my country’s National Investment Policy with WTO principles to prepare for its accession to the Organization.”

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