Category: Central Asia

MIL-OSI USA: ICE Baltimore arrests Uzbekistani man convicted of sex offense in Maryland

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an Uzbekistani native convicted of fourth-degree sex offense when officers arrested Islom Gaziev, 65, Feb. 4, in Owings Mills, Maryland.

“Every arrest like this means one less predator on our streets today and one less potential victim tomorrow,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. “Our top priority is public safety, and this arrest is yet another example of our commitment to protecting the residents of Maryland. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who pose a threat to our communities are held accountable.”

Gaziev lawfully entered the United States through John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, Oct. 20, 2015, and later violated the terms of his lawful admission.

The Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Maryland, arrested and charged Gaziev with fourth-degree sex offense Aug. 20, 2024. The Carroll County Circuit Court convicted Gaziev of fourth-degree sex offense Dec. 13, 2024, and sentenced him to three years supervised probation.

ICE served Gaziev a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge following his arrest, and he remains in ICE custody.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Kyrgyzstan
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Kyrgyzstan
- Date：2025-02-06
- Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs
February 6, 2025

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic on February 5. The two sides issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era, which erroneously claimed that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly refutes this false narrative.

MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent nation; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other; and that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan. The ROC (Taiwan) is a modern democratic country that actively defends its democratic system and respects human rights and the rule of law. No statement seeking to distort the sovereign status of the ROC (Taiwan) can change the internationally recognized cross-strait status quo.

Taiwan is located on a strategic front line in the Indo-Pacific, safeguarding the values of democracy and freedom. Taiwan remains staunchly committed to defending its national sovereignty. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners to jointly counter China’s attempts at rhetorical and military intimidation, curb authoritarian expansionism, ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and promote global economic security and prosperity.

MIL OSI China News –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Kyrgyzstan

Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Kyrgyzstan

Date：2025-02-06
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

February 6, 2025

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic on February 5. The two sides issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era, which erroneously claimed that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly refutes this false narrative.

MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent nation; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other; and that the Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan. The ROC (Taiwan) is a modern democratic country that actively defends its democratic system and respects human rights and the rule of law. No statement seeking to distort the sovereign status of the ROC (Taiwan) can change the internationally recognized cross-strait status quo.

Taiwan is located on a strategic front line in the Indo-Pacific, safeguarding the values of democracy and freedom. Taiwan remains staunchly committed to defending its national sovereignty. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners to jointly counter China’s attempts at rhetorical and military intimidation, curb authoritarian expansionism, ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and promote global economic security and prosperity.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Lummis Delivers Remarks on DOGE, USAID, and Wasteful Government Spending

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

Washington, D.C.— Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) applauded President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on the Senate floor last Thursday for revealing millions in taxpayer dollars spent on government waste, fraud, and abuse.

During her speech, Lummis said, “Here are some of the ways the last administration have wasted your money: more than $4.5 million to combat disinformation in Kazakhstan… $20 million for a new Sesame Street show in Iraq, $25 million for Deloitte to promote green transportation in the country of Georgia…”

“Speaking on behalf of the people of Wyoming, I want to say thank you,” Lummis continued. “Thank you, President Trump, thank you for bringing in a group of people to help us shine a light on how we can make America better in just the way the American people yearned for, wanted, expect, and celebrate.”

Click here to watch the full video.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese business delegation visits Kazakhstan for closer cooperation

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

BEIJING, Feb. 10 — A delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs from the financial, energy, infrastructure and smart equipment sectors embarked on a four-day trip to Kazakhstan on Monday to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

The delegation, led by Ren Hongbin, chairman of the CCPIT, includes representatives from more than 30 Chinese enterprises such as CITIC Group, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Sinochem Holdings. During the visit, they plan to sign cooperation documents and promote mutually beneficial outcomes.

Wu Junli, deputy chief economist with PetroChina Company Limited, a subsidiary of CNPC, said that the energy cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector is highly complementary. He noted that his company has established long-term and stable partnerships with Kazakh partners and expressed high expectations for the trip.

“We hope to engage in in-depth exchanges with logistics enterprises in Kazakhstan and other places in Central Asia through this trip,” Zhu Guangmei, deputy general manager at Beijing Tegene Robots Co., Ltd. said, adding that the company aims to promote the integration of intelligent logistics equipment with the needs of local companies, thereby improving efficiency and achieving win-win outcomes.

MIL OSI China News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Terrorist Groups’ Resilience, UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Tells Security Council Lasting Global Collaboration Key to Address Conditions Conducive to Lawlessness

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

The resilience of terrorist groups underscores the need for sustained international collaboration and comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, discussing the Secretary-General’s twentieth biannual strategic-level report on the topic, highlighted the volatile situation in Syria, and “the risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists”. An estimated 42,500 individuals, some with alleged links to Da’esh, remain in detention camps in the north-east. Member States must “facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of their nationals still stranded in those camps and facilities”, he said.

Providing details on the global terrorism landscape during the past six months, he said that, in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan continued to pose a significant threat noting that its supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States. In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh affiliates and other terrorist groups intensified attacks, including against schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while in Somalia, the organization successfully recruited foreign terrorist fighters.

Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of global terrorism, he said, noting that the United Nations has prioritized capacity-building support to the continent. His office increased its delivery of technical assistance by 16 per cent, relying notably on the work of its Rabat Office. Highlighting the Fusion Cells programme which delivered specialized training to 124 analysts from 21 African Member States, he stressed the need to further strengthen border security to counter movements of terrorists. His office partnered with the Governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan to organize a conference on this.

The Countering Terrorist Travel programme, he said, continued to expand with 63 beneficiary Member States who are increasingly relying on the goTRAVEL software to collect and process passenger data to detect and prevent terrorist movements. Noting that the Pact for the Future renewed the international community’s commitment to a future free from terrorism, he urged Member States to translate these commitments into action, prioritizing inclusive, networked and sustainable responses.

Approach Centered on Prevention, Respect for Human Rights Key to Countering Terrorist Threat

Also briefing the Council was Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, who voiced concern over the humanitarian and security crisis in north-eastern Syria, with over 40,000 individuals confined in camps and detention facilities, under conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water and sanitation. Beyond the Middle East, Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability, she continued. The group now poses a threat to security and sustainable development across the African continent.

Armed terrorist groups, such as Islamic State West Africa Province, are exploiting fragile conditions to recruit children, commit abductions and attack schools and hospitals. In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s centralized operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines, she said, adding that the role of the regional financial hubs used by the group and its affiliates has also expanded.

“Addressing these threats requires an approach centered on prevention, grounded in respect for human rights, and with regional cooperation as the linchpin,” she stressed, noting the Committee’s visits to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and the United Republic of Tanzania. Assessments revealed gaps in border security and the need for stronger regional collaboration to counter the transnational nature of Da’esh’s activities. For its part, the Executive Directorate has recently adopted the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes — the so-called “Algeria Guiding Principles”, she said.

Council Members Concerned Over Terrorists’ Adeptness at Expanding Operations, Attractomg New Recruits

In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed concern that, despite decades of counter-terrorism efforts, the phenomenon has transformed adeptly, taking advantage of new technology and financial innovations. Sierra Leone’s delegate said that ISIL/Da’esh and their affiliates “continue to demonstrate resilience and adapt their modus operandi with extensive propaganda, as well as increased finances, fighters’ expertise and technology”. 14,000 fatalities were recorded on the African continent alone in 2024, he said, noting the impact on women and girls. A security-centered approach alone is insufficient, he stressed.

Along similar lines, Algeria’s delegate said that terrorist groups use the lack of development and marginalization to recruit and expand — therefore, security arrangements and development initiatives are equally necessary to combat this. Highlighting the Sahel, he said that well-equipped armed groups are adopting advancing military strategies as well as using organized crime, narcotic trafficking, kidnapping and new technologies to finance such operations.

France’s speaker noted that Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are misappropriating new technology — such as drones — to carry out more targeted and lethal attacks. “These groups thrive on the soil where basic human rights are being violated, where women are marginalized,” she stated, adding that their use of sexual violence as a means of sowing terror has been documented.

“Our work is far from complete,” said Somalia’s representative, spotlighting “patterns of expansion” across regions, with groups establishing networks that transcend national borders. For its part, his Government has successfully conducted military operations with international partners to neutralize foreign Da’esh affiliates and implement joint security initiatives.

The representative of the United States highlighted her Government’s “precision air strikes” against ISIS in Somalia on 1 February. Her country “stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” she said. She also urged Council members to list more ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee list so that they will be subject to its worldwide assets travel ban and arms embargo. While the Sahel has become “the global epicenter for fatalities from terrorist attacks”, ISIS-Khorasan is increasing its capabilities to conduct attacks and recruit in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

Counter-terrorism Policies Must Oppose Double Standards and Selectivity

Pakistan’s delegate drew attention to the need to address white supremacy and far-right extremism, as well. Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only one religion — Islam — but they must address the negative impact of stigmatizing Muslims and fanning the flames of Islamophobia, he said. His country is at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts, fighting not only Da’esh, but also TTP [Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan] and Majid Brigade. Further, “the international community has failed to address State terrorism, including the use of State power to suppress legitimate struggles for self-determination or to continue foreign occupation”, he said.

It was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) invasion into Libya and the invasion of Iraq which spawned ISIL, the Russian Federation’s delegate said. Further, the United Nations’ counter-terrorism officials must “study the facts” on assistance to terrorists provided by Western countries, he said, adding that Ukraine, for instance, has become a logistic hub from which weapons disseminate across the world. NATO troops who hastily left Afghanistan also abandoned vast quantities of weapons which fell into the hands of ISIL and affiliates, he said.

The Council should oppose double standards and selectivity in counter-terrorism efforts, China’s representative, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, underscored. He also voiced concern over the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, and called on Damascus to fulfil its counter-terrorism obligations and prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries.

Calls to Ensure Terrorist Groups Do Not Take Advantage of Instability in Syria

Several speakers, including the delegates of Denmark and Slovenia, stressed the need to ensure that terrorist groups do not take advantage of the instability in Syria. Greece’s delegate underlined the need for a political road map in that country that includes constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. “This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but terrorism in general,” he added. The United Kingdom’s delegate spotlighted the Global Coalition’s efforts to reduce the risk Da’esh poses as Syria embarks on its historical political transition. However, “we cannot fight terrorism with force alone”, he emphasized, calling for a whole-of-society approach — with the meaningful participation of women — to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

Terrorists’ Increased Use of Information and Communications Technology Draws Concern

Delegates also considered how to tackle terrorist groups’ increased use of information and communications technology (ICT), with Guyana’s representative noting that gaming and social media platforms bolster resources and recruitment. The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported extensively on the increased risk of online radicalization and recruitment targeting youth and minors and the increasing use of cryptocurrencies by Da’esh, she said.

Also noting Da’esh’s use of cryptocurrencies, Panama’s delegate said: “Terrorism thrives on secrecy and underground flows of money.” His country is the only Latin American nation to participate in the Global Coalition against Da’esh and is committed to preventing terrorists from using the Panamanian banking system for their financing.

The Republic of Korea’s speaker stressed that the international community must respond by leveraging artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to improve threat detection, disrupt terrorist narratives and bolster information integrity. Seoul’s new “AI and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” project, designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, seeks to map out how terrorists exploit AI and build States’ capacity to counter these tactics by incorporating AI solutions, he said.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI China: New freight train route links China’s Chongqing with Afghanistan

Source: China State Council Information Office

A freight train, loaded with communication equipment and other products, departed from southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Monday and is expected to arrive in Afghanistan in 12 to 15 days.

This marked the inauguration of a new direct freight train route, which passes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries, between Chongqing and Afghanistan.

The communication equipment aboard the train, manufactured by Chinese telecom firm ZTE, will be used in the development of local communication networks in Afghanistan.

“Via direct freight train services, the transportation duration has been reduced by three to five days compared to previous road transport, and logistics costs are expected to be cut back by 15 to 20 percent,” said Liu Jianfeng with ZTE.

“The successful launch of the direct freight train from Chongqing to Afghanistan marks another effort in deepening our economic and trade cooperation with Central Asian countries,” said Xu Runqiu, an executive at the Yuxin’ou (Chongqing) supply chain management company.

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.

To date, 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.

In March 2011, the China-Europe freight train (Yuxin’ou) service was launched from Chongqing to Duisburg, establishing a direct overland trade corridor between China and Europe.

MIL OSI China News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon welcomed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. In the meeting, they discussed and explored possible ASEAN-Uzbekistan cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Wärtsilä introduces next-generation engine to balance renewables and improve power plant performance
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HOUSTON, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Technology group Wärtsilä launches today its next generation 46TS engine, which is designed to balance renewable energy, provide highly efficient baseload power, and can run on sustainable fuels in future.

The Wärtsilä 46TS large-bore engine has evolved from a long line of proven and reliable power plant engines, including the Wärtsilä 50 engine platform. The W50 engine is one of the world’s most successful power generating engines of all time, having delivered 55 million running hours around the world since 2008.

Using balancing engines to support intermittent renewables is a more viable path towards a net zero power system than a renewables-only pathway. Balancing power can reduce costs, emissions, and land use, as revealed in Wärtsilä’s recent global power system modelling report, Crossroads to Net Zero, which detailed the vital role of balancing power in delivering the energy transition.

Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy, says: “The energy transition cannot be achieved by renewable power alone – we need flexible, highly efficient engines to support wind and solar power during times of low generation. The flexible 46TS engine offers exactly that, expanding our existing technology offering to balance renewables and operate cost- effectively on baseload power.

“This engine is built on our 85 years of engine expertise, incorporating everything we have learned to develop our latest and greatest solution.”

The Wärtsilä 46TS is designed with sustainable fuels in mind, to ensure that when they become readily available, these engines can play an essential role in delivering 100% renewable power systems.

The engine provides a myriad of benefits for power producers, including:
- Next level efficiency and performance: Significantly improved over 51% engine efficiency saves fuel and reduces emissions, with excellent performance in extreme ambient conditions and at high altitudes.
- Improved output: The 46TS generates 23.4 MW/unit, meaning that fewer engines are needed to achieve large plant sizes.
- Greater flexibility: Rapid response to fluctuations with even faster ramp-up time (2 minutes) and no minimum up- or down-time requirements.
- Fast and cost-efficient installation: Fast and easy modular plant installation with high-quality, factory-tested modules bringing significant savings in total installed cost.
To support the W46TS, Wärtsilä provides tailored high-quality services to maximise reliability and profitability. Wärtsilä Lifecycle services, with optimised operations and guaranteed performance, ensure the power plant’s performance and competitiveness. A technical service network provides expertise and support near customer and via remote monitoring.

The Wärtsilä 46TS engine will be available from 2025. Last month, Wärtsilä announced the first order for the 46TS engines placed by Kazakhstan Caspian Offshore Industries (KCOI). The engines will support KCOI’s new 120 MW power plant and additionally, the first hybrid power project of its kind in Kazakhstan, which integrates the engine power plant with wind and solar power.

Media kit

Media contacts:

Katri Pehkonen
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 50 591 6180
katri.pehkonen@wartsila.com

Elena Hale
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +1 865 329 0553
elena@piper-communications.com

All Wärtsilä releases are available at www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded. Use of the image(s) is allowed only in connection with the contents of this press release. Wärtsilä images are available at www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises of 79 GW delivered power plant capacity and over 130 energy storage systems in 180 countries around the world. Over 30% of our operating installed base is under service agreements.
www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1313b4ea-2fcb-4d25-8bb1-f6c7d6ad3691

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President of India to Inaugurate International Conference on Integrative Health Solutions in Delhi on the occasion of Unani Day tomorrow

Source: Government of India

President of India to Inaugurate International Conference on Integrative Health Solutions in Delhi on the occasion of Unani Day tomorrow

The Government of India remains committed to advancing the development of Unani medicine, ensuring that it contributes meaningfully to public welfare and the overall health of the global community: Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State, (I/C) Ministry of Ayush

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:40PM by PIB Delhi

President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the two-day International Conference on Unani Day tomorrow at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology & Ministry of Earth Sciences and Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush & Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare will also be present on the occasion.

Every year the 11th of February marks Unani Day, celebrating the birth anniversary of eminent Unani physician, educator, and freedom fighter Hakim Ajmal Khan. The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), a premier research council under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, is hosting the distinguished International Conference on “Innovations in Unani Medicine for Integrative Health Solutions – A Way Forward” from February 11-12, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

While highlighting the growth of the Unani system of medicine and the focus of the Government towards integration of Ayush systems in mainstream healthcare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministry of Ayush, said, “I am proud to witness the growing integration of Unani medicine into the global healthcare framework. By fostering innovation and collaboration, we aim to bring forward comprehensive healthcare solutions that honour our traditional practices while addressing modern health challenges. The Government of India remains committed to advancing the development of Unani medicine, ensuring that it contributes meaningfully to public welfare and the overall health of the global community.”

While underlining the focus of the Government to boost scientific research activity in Ayush systems, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, stated that “The establishment of research centres in the Ayush sector, the inclusion of Ayush in mainstream health policies, and integration of traditional systems into the broader health framework reflects India’s commitment to preserving and promoting our cultural heritage. This international conference aims to highlight the latest advances in Unani Medicine and their utility in holistic health systems.”

The International Conference offers a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, aiming to highlight the pivotal role of Unani Medicine in the promotion of global health and well-being. Key Objectives of the Conference Include-Fostering Innovation: Exploring new frontiers in Unani medicine for integrative healthcare solutions; Global Collaboration: Facilitating knowledge-sharing among national and international experts in traditional and integrative medicine; Showcasing Achievements: Highlighting the latest research and advancements in Unani medicine by CCRUM.

Key Highlights of the Event include- Scientific Sessions: Expert-led keynote addresses and discussions on integrating Unani medicine into modern healthcare; Exhibition: A vibrant display of innovations in Unani and herbal pharmaceuticals, educational institutions, research organisations, and service providers; Global Participation: Delegates from countries including the USA, South Africa, Iran, Malaysia, UAE, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh will contribute to insightful deliberations.

On this occasion, several publications by CCRUM will be released, including the Souvenir of the International Conference. Additionally, NABL and NABH certificates will be awarded to CCRUM institutions. A short video showcasing the Council’s recent initiatives will also be launched. Furthermore, Certificates of Appreciation will be awarded for the best research papers, outstanding contributions to Unani medicine, and the best-performing institutions.

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MV/AKS

(Release ID: 2101306) Visitor Counter : 94

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Opens Seventy-Seventh Session

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today opened its seventy-seventh session. The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session, during which it is scheduled to review the reports of Croatia, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and the United Kingdom.

Opening the session, Wan-Hea Lee, Chief of the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Urgent Actions Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Human Rights Council and Treaties Mechanisms Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, welcomed the five new members of the Committee: Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria), Peijie Chen (China), Charafat El Yedri Afailal (Morocco), Giuseppe Palmisano (Italy) and Laura Elisa Pérez (Mexico).

Despite the liquidity situation currently facing the United Nations, Ms. Lee said, the first sessions of all the treaty bodies this year would be held, allowing the important work undertaken by these bodies to proceed. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations more broadly had and would continue to do its utmost to ensure that their work could proceed to the maximum extent possible.

Ms. Lee reported that, at the upcoming fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, a number of key panel discussions and interactive dialogues would be held that were of great relevance to economic, social and cultural rights, and the Council would also consider several reports related to the Committee’s mandate, including the Secretary-General’s report on the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and the report of the intersessional workshop on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage. She was sure that the work of the Committee would guide some of these discussions.

In 2024, Ms. Lee said, significant efforts had been made to enhance indigenous peoples’ participation in human rights processes. A second intersessional meeting held in October 2024 explored ways to strengthen indigenous peoples’ involvement in United Nations processes. Indigenous peoples’ representatives also addressed the fifty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council in September 2024 for the first time as direct representatives of their communities and organizations. Resolution 57/15 of October 2024 would facilitate the engagement of indigenous peoples with the treaty bodies going forward. These developments were especially timely given this year’s celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Ms. Lee noted that two new instruments of accession were deposited at the end of the year. St Kitts and Nevis became the one hundred and seventy-third State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Côte d’Ivoire became the thirtieth State party to its Optional Protocol. While welcoming the continued march toward universal ratification, the Office of the High Commissioner was mindful of current events and modern challenges which were regrettably affecting the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights across the globe. The High Commissioner, in a recent statement, noted the widespread pushback on multilateralism and how the challenges faced in 2024 were unlikely to let up in 2025, as conflicts continued and reemerged.

The High Commissioner had been consistently urging States to commit to the global pursuit of a human rights economy, Ms. Lee said. In a comment to the Social Forum in October 2024, he stressed that States needed to build inclusive human rights economies that prioritised people and planet. Addressing the Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue in December last year, the High Commissioner highlighted the substantial transformation necessary in economic systems to ensure the delivery of economic, social and cultural rights to all peoples around the world. He said the world could not be based on a model that offered health for some, wealth for some, jobs for some, and rights for some.

Last year was particularly challenging, Ms. Lee said. In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis had and continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committees’ work. The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the treaty bodies could implement their mandates. Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future, she said.

Ms. Lee said the treaty body strengthening process remained active. It had reached a key moment with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly. The resolution invited the treaty bodies and the Office to continue to work on coordination and predictability in the reporting process with the aim of achieving a regularised schedule for reporting and to increase their efforts to further use digital technologies. However, the biennial resolution did not endorse certain detailed proposals made by the Chairs and corresponding resources to implement them, such as for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all the treaty body experts to strengthen the treaty body system, using all the opportunities at its disposal to advance this essential work, Ms. Lee said.

In concluding remarks, Ms. Lee said a heavy programme for the next three weeks was before the Committee. She commended the Committee’s efforts and work in preparation for such a substantial session and wished it continued success going forward.

Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the Office of the High Commissioner for expressing confidence in the work of the Committee, and its contribution to the continued and heightened protection of economic, social and cultural rights around the world, in the face of today’s evermore complex challenges and setbacks. The Committee also welcomed the accession by Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Covenant and of Côte d’Ivoire to the Optional Protocol. The Chair said that the review of the periodic report of Kenya, which was scheduled for this session, had been postponed to a future session.

Given today’s numerous challenges, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, it was clear that the Committee’s work was as important as ever in holding up the importance of human rights frameworks as a tool towards peace and sustainable development. As such, the principles of equality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, as well their justiciability, needed to continue to guide the approach of States parties and other stakeholders to addressing the many challenges being faced worldwide.

Ms. Craciunean-Tatu announced that, during the session, the Committee would work on the draft general comment on economic, social and cultural rights and the environmental dimension of sustainable development. It would also hold internal discussions on the draft general comment on drug policies and economic, social and cultural rights, the draft general comment on armed conflict and economic, social and cultural rights, and the draft statement on effective and socially just taxation for the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.

Further, during the session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, the Committee would adopt lists of issues regarding Cabo Verde, North Macedonia and Turkmenistan. It would also consider matters related to the Optional Protocol and follow up reports for Serbia and Uzbekistan, as well as proposals regarding individual communications made by its Working Group. Additionally, it would be engaging in an informal meeting with States, as well as in its annual meeting with non-governmental organizations. It would also engage with the Special Rapporteur on climate change and the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

Since the last session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu reported, the Committee received the periodic reports of Canada, Ecuador, Slovakia, Egypt, Estonia, Zambia, Paraguay and Uganda, as well the initial report of Guinea Bisau. The Committee’s concluding observations based on the consideration of reports and the dialogues held in the session would be communicated to the respective States as of Friday, 28 February, and made available publicly on the following Monday, 3 March.

The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Croatia (E/C.12/HRV/2).

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.

CESCR25.001E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: ADB and Local Currency Financing: A 20-Year Journey
Source: Asia Development Bank
ADB’s pioneering efforts in issuing local currency bonds over the past 20 years have not only mitigated currency risks for borrowers but also opened local markets to foreign investment and development finance.

Innovations like currency-linked bonds and the rapid development of derivative markets have enhanced liquidity and enabled tailored funding solutions, significantly advancing local currency financing in Asia and the Pacific.

Local currency finance, initially focused on private sector loans, is expanding into sovereign lending, signaling ADB’s evolving role in fostering financial innovation and development across the region.
Twenty years ago, ADB issued its first local currency bond. The Indian rupee bond represented about $110 million equivalent at the time. Over the following three years, ADB raised funding from onshore bond issues in Malaysian ringgit, Thai baht, Chinese renminbi and Philippine peso – acting as an “icebreaker” to open these markets to foreign issuers.

Such borrowing exercises introduced a new funding stream for ADB’s development assistance, allowing borrowers to mitigate potential currency risks associated with borrowing in foreign currencies.

Fast forward to today, and local currency finance has gone mainstream. Development partners are no longer surprised when ADB issues bonds denominated in currencies as diverse as the Azerbaijan manat, the Indonesian rupiah or the Mongolian togrog and they recognize the invaluable role that local currency finance plays in crowding in foreign investment to developing countries.

About a third of ADB’s private sector loans are currently delivered in local currencies, with the Thai baht, Indian rupee, Chinese renminbi, Kazakhstan tenge, and Georgian lari featuring prominently. ADB’s aggregate local currency portfolio reached more than $3.75 billion equivalent as of 31 October 2024 across more than 15 local currencies with local currency loans expected to reach 50% of private sector lending over the next years.

What has catalyzed local currency finance?

Over the last 20 years, local capital markets have evolved and developed significantly across Asia and the Pacific. These developments were driven by the experience of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, which was at least partially caused by excessive foreign currency exposures.

Since then, regulators, banks, and investors have made significant strides to develop local currency bond markets and improve the local currency capital market infrastructure.

Over the last 20 years, local capital markets have evolved and developed significantly across Asia and the Pacific.

ADB can reach certain target borrowers more effectively when it offers loans in their own currencies rather than in dollars, euros, or yen. For many of the projects that ADB supports, foreign currency denominated loans would not be feasible: a dairy business owner in Mongolia has no understanding of the risks involved in borrowing a foreign currency. Equally, a female worker in rural Kazakhstan would not begin to consider borrowing a home loan in a foreign currency. For both of these projects, ADB was able to provide suitable local currency financing solutions to meet borrower needs and avoid foreign currency mismatches.

Importantly, the rapid development of derivative markets in the region, which include the availability of both interest rate and cross-currency swaps in several markets, has facilitated the management of liquidity by decoupling funding and disbursement transactions, while also allowing for tailored back-to-back funding transactions.

The availability of longer-tenor financing solutions has also improved significantly in a number of the more developed Asian markets: for example, ADB was able to derive a 20-year Thai baht funding solution through the cross-currency swap market to finance a project in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, which delivered a perfect hedge for the borrower.

Similar liquidity of varying tenors is now available in swap and bond markets in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

A capital market innovation: the emergence of currency-linked bonds

Another important innovation has also improved the availability of local currency financing: the so-called “currency-linked bond” has been a game changer for development finance. In essence, this is a debt security denominated in a local currency but settled in US dollars.

It relies on international documentation usually under English law, settlement occurs in international central securities depositaries, and the bonds are listed on major international stock exchanges. The impact of such structures is to crowd in international investors into local currencies by providing an easily accessible trading infrastructure.

ADB issued its first Indian rupee currency-linked bond in 2014 and since then has issued such instruments in Armenian dram, Azerbaijan manat, Georgian lari, Indonesian rupiah, Kazakhstan tenge, Kyrgyz sum, Mongolian togrog, Pakistan rupees and Philippine pesos. In Indian rupees alone, ADB has raised more than one billion US dollars equivalent to finance private sector projects.

Issuing innovative local currency bonds

In countries such as Georgia and Kazakhstan where the environment is enabled, ADB has issued multiple domestic bonds including fixed rate, floating rate and even inflation-linked. Furthermore, ADB auctioned the first green (2020) and gender (2021) bonds on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, delivering a new asset class to the local market.

In Georgia, ADB was the first organization to issue its domestic bonds through the Georgian Securities Settlement System (GSSS) in 2015, which operates delivery versus payment Real Time Gross Settlements (RTGS) with central bank money through the National Bank of Georgia.

In Kazakhstan, ADB settled its domestically issued bonds through the Kazakhstan Securities Depositary, which crucially has an operational “bridge” with Clearstream in Luxembourg.

These innovations have fostered knowledge sharing and the shift of local currency issuance infrastructure towards international best practices.

Creating local currency liquidity pools

Liquidity pools are commonly used to warehouse the proceeds of bond issues in mainstream currencies until project disbursements happen. ADB has developed liquidity pools in Chinese renminbi and Indian rupees, which have played an important role in shepherding in high levels of local currency development finance by providing continuous availability of funding, decoupling such availability from any specific funding transactions Further liquidity pools are in the making, as ADB’s pipelines in local currency grow and evolve.

Working closely with national regulators and market participants, ADB’s engagement in local currency markets over the last 20 years has made significant progress.

The next frontier: sovereign local currency loans

Local currency finance is already well established as a financing source for ADB’s private sector loans, but it has been deployed much less in the sovereign context, which for ADB represents the largest share of lending activity. A number of sovereign borrowers have recently started to avail local currency solutions from ADB, including a recently completed $1.45 billion sovereign local currency loan conversion.

Working closely with national regulators and market participants, ADB’s engagement in local currency markets over the last 20 years has made significant progress: ADB is now able to offer funding solutions in more than 15 local currencies in Asia and the Pacific. As local currency markets will further develop, the future of local currency financing in the Asia-Pacific region looks bright.

Authors: Roberta Casali, ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk; Tobias Hoschka, ADB Treasurer; Jonathan Grosvenor, former ADB Assistant Treasurer

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MIL OSI Economics –
February 10, 2025
MIL-OSI China: First Aral Cultural Summit to be held in Nukus, Uzbekistan

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

The first Aral Cultural Summit will be held in April in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan region this year, said the organizer on Thursday.

The summit, to be held in Nukus, the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, is aimed at the social and environmental transformation of the Aral region through art, culture, design and science, said Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the organizer.

It noted that the summit, to be held every 18 months, will bring together local and international activists, artists, and scientists to explore ecological, social, and cultural solutions for the sustainable development of Karakalpakstan.

MIL OSI China News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: High Commissioner for Human Rights: Civilians in the East Democratic Republic of the Congo are Trapped in a Spiral of Violence in this Crushing Conflict

Source: United Nations – Geneva

Human Rights Council Opens Special Session on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Human Rights Council this morning opened its thirty-seventh special session on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said since the beginning of the year, the M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces, had intensified its offensive in the provinces of North and South Kivu. If nothing was done, the worst may be yet to come for the people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also beyond the country’s borders. Once again, civilians were trapped in a spiral of violence in this crushing conflict. Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives and 2,880 had been wounded. Sexual violence had been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time and was likely to worsen in the current circumstances.  The fighting had exacerbated a chronic humanitarian crisis, which was the upshot of persistent human rights violations.

Mr. Türk called on all parties to lay down their weapons and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes. In the meantime, all parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The M23, Rwandan forces and all those supporting them must facilitate access to humanitarian aid.  Air, land and lake routes must be reopened to establish humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of humanitarian actors. In these circumstances, it was crucial to establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice. An independent and impartial investigation must be opened up into human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed by all parties

Surya Deva, Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures, said the intensification of hostilities, particularly in North Kivu, following the renewed offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, had led to widespread violence, forced displacement and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The scale and severity of the violence had reached unprecedented levels. The humanitarian consequences were devastating. Mr. Deva called for all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law; for the immediate cessation of attacks against civilians; for the protection of civilian infrastructure; and for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors to deliver assistance to those in need.

Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said this conflict had continued for 30 years, and the population continued to live in fear. The attacks and pillaging against the United Nations and the Blue Helmets were condemned. It was urgent to restore peace and allow for a lasting rebuilding of the region. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda must pursue diplomatic negotiations, particularly in the context of the Luanda process. Unless compelling measures were taken to cease the escalation of violence, there would be grave consequences. Ms. Keita hoped the session would pave the way to an end to the conflict and inclusive and sustainable development.

Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, Minister of Communication and Media of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking as a country concerned, expressed deep gratitude to the Human Rights Council for holding the Special Session, a response to the urgent situation and massive human rights violations and attacks on civilians in North and South Kivu. Acts of unacceptable brutality compounded by unspeakable brutalities, like attacks against civilians, forced displacement, murders, rape, forced conscription of children and others were the responsibility of Rwanda as it supported its proxies. Peacekeeping forces, as well as humanitarian facilities, had been targeted, undermining their ability to protect civilians. The Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in the country, establish the truth as to who was responsible, and issue recommendations for holding them to account.

James Ngango, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking as a country concerned, said the current session was called for at a time when the situation was evolving rapidly. A chance should be given to regional initiatives to bear fruit before taking up the situation in the United Nations. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had unilaterally decided to expel the East African Community Force, a peacekeeping force, replacing it with the Southern African Development Community Mission with an offensive mandate. The current situation was due to imposing a military solution to a political problem. Rwanda opposed the attempts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at portraying Rwanda as being responsible for the instability in that country, as this was a well-known deflection tactic used to escape being accountable for the atrocities Kinshasa and its allied armed forces were perpetrating against its own citizens. Rwanda would respond appropriately to the actions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speaking in the discussion, some speakers said they were deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and urged the M23 to stop its advance and withdraw immediately. Alarm was expressed about reports of widespread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by multiple actors, including sexual and gender-based violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and extrajudicial executions. Innocent civilians, including women and children, were enduring extreme suffering due to widespread violence, displacement, and deprivation of essential services such as food, water, and healthcare. Many speakers spoke in support of the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law.

Speaking in the discussion were Sweden on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries, European Union, Morocco, Kenya, France, North Macedonia, Spain, Ghana, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Belgium, Costa Rica, Burundi, Japan, Brazil, Republic of Korea, China, Ethiopia, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Algeria, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Malawi, Bolivia, Colombia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Ireland, Russian Federation, Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Italy, Holy See, Austria, Ukraine, Cameroon, Uruguay, Uganda, Canada, Australia, Paraguay, Türkiye, Guatemala, Zambia, Pakistan, India, Mauritania, Angola, Malta, Peru, Zimbabwe, Timor-Leste, Slovenia, Tanzania, and South Sudan.

Also speaking were Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, World Organization against Torture, Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de l’homme, Interfaith International, Centre du Commerce International pour le Développement, Amnesty International, International Bar Association, International Federation of ACAT (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture), International Catholic Child Bureau, International Human Rights Council, and TRIAL International.

The session was called for by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was supported by 27 Member States of the Council and 21 Observer States.

The next meeting of the special session of the Human Rights Council will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, 7 February, when it will conclude the session after adopting a resolution on the situation of human rights in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Keynote Statements

VOLKER TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his Office had long been sounding the alarm about this crisis, and he was deeply disturbed to see the violence escalate once again. Since the beginning of the year, the M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces, had intensified its offensive in the provinces of North and South Kivu. If nothing was done, the worst may be yet to come, for the people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also beyond the country’s borders. There had been attacks by the M23 and their allies, with heavy weapons used in populated areas, and intense fighting against the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their allies. This raised serious concern in terms of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

Once again, civilians were trapped in a spiral of violence in this crushing conflict. Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives and 2,880 had been wounded. Sexual violence had been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time and was likely to worsen in the current circumstances. According to judicial authorities, during the prison break from Muzenze Prison in Goma on 27 January, at least 165 female prisoners were raped. Most of them were subsequently killed in a fire, the circumstances of which remain unclear. The High Commissioner said his team was also currently verifying multiple allegations of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery throughout the conflict zones. Hundreds of human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society had reported that they had been threatened or were being pursued by the M23 and Rwandan forces.

Mr. Türk was also very concerned about the proliferation of weapons and the high risk of forced recruitment and conscription of children. The fighting had exacerbated a chronic humanitarian crisis, which was the upshot of persistent human rights violations. More than 500,000 people had been displaced since the beginning of January, in addition to the more than 6.4 million already displaced. The risk of violence escalating throughout the sub-region had never been higher. All those with influence over the parties involved, be they States or non-state actors, must step up their efforts to avert a conflagration and to support peace processes.

Mr. Türk called on all parties to lay down their weapons and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes. In the meantime, all parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The M23, Rwandan forces and all those supporting them must facilitate access to humanitarian aid. Air, land and lake routes must be reopened to establish humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of humanitarian actors.

In these circumstances, it was crucial to establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice. An independent and impartial investigation must be opened up into human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed by all parties. The military path was not the answer to the roots of this conflict. States must ensure that any support, financial or otherwise, did not fuel serious human rights violations. All those with influence must act urgently to put an end to this tragic situation.

SURYA DEVA, Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures, said the intensification of hostilities, particularly in North Kivu, following the renewed offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, had led to widespread violence, forced displacement, and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The scale and severity of the violence had reached unprecedented levels. The humanitarian consequences were devastating, as those displaced often found themselves with no access to shelter, water, sanitation, food, medical care or education. Women and children were particularly at risk, facing heightened exposure to gender-based violence and trafficking for purposes of sexual slavery. There was also concern for the devastating impact on children, who were at serious risk of all six grave violations against children in armed conflict.

Mr. Deva called for all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law; for the immediate cessation of attacks against civilians; for the protection of civilian infrastructure; and for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors to deliver assistance to those in need. All parties involved in the conflict should refrain from supporting or using mercenary-related actors, as they would prolong the conflict.

The international community had a moral and legal obligation to act decisively. Member States should increase humanitarian funding to ensure the continued provision of essential services and assistance to displaced populations. Coordinated diplomatic efforts must be intensified to support peace negotiations and to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

The international community should step up efforts to support humanitarian operations, ensuring that adequate resources were allocated to assist displaced populations and those affected by violence. Women should be fully included in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. There must be independent investigations into all reported human rights violations, including attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and other abuses perpetrated during the conflict.

BINTOU KEITA, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said this conflict had continued for 30 years, and the population continued to live in fear. The attacks and pillaging against the United Nations and the Blue Helmets were condemned. Since the beginning of the year, an unprecedented advance of the M23 and the Rwandan forces had been seen, preceded by violent clashes between the two sides, injuring thousands, and with alarming mid- and long-term consequences. The risks of gender-based violence and violence against children were of great concern. Violations and abuse of human rights had increased, and the humanitarian situation declined. Agricultural and mining activities were paralysed.

Fighting impunity against the serious crimes committed could be impeded due to the damage done to the judicial forces in Goma. It was urgent to restore peace and allow for a lasting rebuilding of the region. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda must pursue diplomatic negotiations, particularly in the context of the Luanda process. Unless compelling measures were taken to cease the escalation of violence, there would be grave consequences.

The clashes in densely settled areas, including Goma, had had devastating consequences on the human population, with an increase in crime and violence. Civil society actors and human rights defenders were a major population at risk. The suspension of social networks was an infringement of the right to information. In a region with a sensitive history, ethnically motivated attacks remained a serious concern. The humanitarian situation in Goma was catastrophic. The international community must advocate for humanitarian access to Goma immediately. Ms. Keita hoped the session would pave the way to an end to the conflict and inclusive and sustainable development.

Statements by Countries Concerned

PATRICK MUYAYA KATEMBWE, Minister of Communication and Media of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking as a country concerned, expressed deep gratitude to the Human Rights Council for holding the special session, a response to the urgent situation and massive human rights violations and attacks on civilians in North and South Kivu, the result of attacks and offenses by the Rwandan Defence Forces and their M23 and AFC proxies. Indiscriminate attacks had deliberately targeted the vulnerable, a flagrant violation of international obligations. Areas of shelter had been turned into military targets, imperilling the lives of thousands of innocent people.

Acts of unacceptable brutality compounded by unspeakable brutalities, like attacks against civilians, forced displacement, murders, rape, forced conscription of children and others were the responsibility of Rwanda as it supported its proxies. Peacekeeping forces, as well as humanitarian facilities, had been targeted, undermining their ability to protect civilians. The Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in the country, establish the truth as to who was responsible, and issue recommendations for holding them to account.

It was vital to strengthen early-warning mechanisms and prevent further escalations of violence. There must be immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to evacuate the injured and reduce the risk of the spread of epidemics. The Council must hold Rwanda accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity. It was vital that international pressure be applied to Rwanda so that it ceased to support the armed groups and withdrew from Congolese territory.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo remained ready to work with all regional and international actors to put a stop to this crisis and an end to the suffering in the east of the country, calling on Rwanda to act responsibly and take immediate measures to cease supporting armed groups.

JAMES NGANGO, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking as a country concerned, said the current session was called for at a time when the situation was evolving rapidly. A chance should be given to regional initiatives to bear fruit before taking up the situation in the United Nations. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had unilaterally decided to expel the East African Community Force, a peacekeeping force, replacing it with the Southern African Development Community Mission with an offensive mandate. The current situation was due to imposing a military solution to a political problem. This was due to the preservation of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda that had perpetrated genocide in Rwanda and then fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they continued to spread their genocidal ideology, and also to the marginalisation of the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities, particularly Tutsi, by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There had been no condemnation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo leadership. There was no special session of the Human Rights Council when a Special Rapporteur had warned about war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo previously. Rwanda opposed the attempts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at portraying Rwanda as being responsible for the instability in that country, as this was a well-known deflection tactic used to escape being accountable for the atrocities Kinshasa and its allied armed forces were perpetrating against its own citizens. Rwanda would respond appropriately to the actions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Discussion

Some speakers said they were deeply concerned about the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and urged the M23 to stop its advance and withdraw immediately. Rwanda must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its armed forces. Rwanda’s military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was strongly condemned as a clear violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Alarm was expressed about reports of wide-spread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by multiple actors, including sexual and gender-based violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and extrajudicial executions. Innocent civilians, including women and children, were enduring extreme suffering due to widespread violence, displacement, and deprivation of essential services such as food, water, and healthcare. Reports of explosive weapons used in populated areas and attacks on internally displaced person sites were particularly alarming.

Some speakers said all sides must prioritise the protection of civilians, ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and fully respect their obligations under international law, including human rights law and international humanitarian law. For decades, the area had witnessed instability and conflict, for a range of causes. Reports of grave human rights violations, including summary executions, demanded immediate attention. The attacks on peacekeepers constituted violations of international law. The Rwandan Government must respect the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which latter must cease cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.

All parties must reopen negotiations, respect international law, and honour their commitments made under the Nairobi and Luanda process, committing fully to the peace process. All allegations of human rights violations and abuses must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable for their crimes. An independent fact-finding mission must be established to investigate all accounts. Acts of violence targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure were condemned, and must come to an end.

The role of the Blue Helmets was essential, speakers said, and they must be protected, with several speakers expressing condolences to the families of those Blue Helmets who paid the ultimate price in defence of the fundamental rights of the Congolese people. The United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) must ensure the protection of civilians, and a speaker called for its mandate to be supported and renewed further. The international community must strengthen its support for peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance. A sustainable solution demanded coordinated efforts, including dialogue, reconciliation, and development initiatives that fostered stability and social cohesion.

A number of speakers said this was a critical juncture in the region, with a potential for over-spill in the region as a whole. Dialogue and cooperation must be encouraged and supported, including through the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The deliberations in the Council must not undermine these, and instead support a return to peace, with the discussions aimed at building consensus and agreement. Political fragmentation must be addressed in Rwanda, with an end put to public negative ethnic discourse, and the international community must work together to build a just and peaceful world. The Council must address the challenges under its mandate. Members of the Council must work to ensure that there was no further deterioration of the situation.

The M23 must immediately withdraw from the territories under its control, a speaker said, and there must be a return to the negotiating table: all efforts must be made to put an end to the humanitarian disaster. All those involved in the conflict must put an end to human rights violations and protect the rights and lives of civilians. The population was exhausted from the decades of suffering. Rwanda must withdraw its support for the M23, which must immediately cease its attacks and withdraw.

Some speakers said the sovereignty and territoriality of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be protected and supported, and many speakers supported this, urging all sides to respect it and for the international community to support it. All armed groups must lay down their weapons and withdraw from the sovereign territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and respect the United Nations Charter, engage in dialogue, and work towards re-establishing peace and stability in the country. There was a risk of this igniting the Great Lakes region, a speaker said, supporting the peaceful coexistence of nations.

Many speakers spoke in support of the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law committed in North and South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as stipulated in the proposed resolution. The humanitarian community must rally support to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population, in particular women and children. The fact-finding mission must be fully funded and staffed appropriately, a speaker urged. Given the sheer scale of human suffering, the Council could not afford to turn a blind eye to the earnest appeal of the country concerned to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes were held accountable.

Profound alarm was expressed with regard to the increasing risk of violence against women and girls and the recruitment of children into the conflict. It was imperative that those responsible for human rights violations and atrocities were brought to justice. There was no military solution to the crisis, and only a political, negotiated solution could bring an end to the situation. Those who put their economic interests above human dignity must cease to do so. Peace and security must be brought to the region.

At this critical juncture, all parties must exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and prioritise dialogue to prevent further loss of life, uphold international humanitarian law and human rights, ensure the protection of civilians, and safeguard fundamental freedoms. It was vital to ensure immediate and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population.

It was crucial that the Human Rights Council provided necessary support for thorough investigations into grave human rights violations and abuses, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring comprehensive accountability. A sustained and inclusive dialogue was crucial to achieving a long-term and peaceful resolution to the crisis. Diplomatic negotiations were, a speaker said, the only way to resolve the situation. All parties must respect international humanitarian law, and must support the mediation efforts made both internationally and regionally. A political solution must be found that respected the independence and territoriality of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The need for the Council to make efforts to alleviate the sufferings of victims of human rights violations and abuses was crucial, and all parties involved must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. There must be an immediate end to hostilities and a permanent solution found through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue among all parties concerned, and speakers pointed out the need for “African solutions to African problems”, supporting the Luanda and Nairobi processes. African regional solutions were fully supported by several speakers, who spoke of the efforts of the Southern African Development Community Mission.

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.

HRC25.002E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Freedom Holding Corp. Reports Strong Revenue Growth in Q3 2025 Fiscal Year, Driven by Brokerage and Banking Segments

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), a U.S.-based financial services company, has announced its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2024. The holding company reported a 57% increase in total revenue, with revenues reaching $655.2 million compared to $418.6 million in the same quarter of 2023. Total assets increased to $9.1 billion from $8.3 billion as of March 31, 2024.

The company’s revenue has surged due to the increase of net gain on trading securities, which has risen from a $5.1 million loss to a $89.6 million gain. Additionally, company’s performance was significantly bolstered by its insurance underwriting income, which surged by 125% to $177.5 million, reflecting the expansion of pension annuities and accident insurance operations. The banking segment also demonstrated robust growth, with a 47% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.

“In the era of globalization, we are building the Freedom ecosystem as a unified platform where diverse business segments — ranging from banking and insurance to lifestyle services — seamlessly interact to serve over 7 million clients. Recently, the holding’s revenue has become significantly more diversified; while brokerage was once the primary income driver, revenue is now evenly distributed across the insurance and banking segments, creating a more stable and balanced ecosystem,” Timur Turlov, the founder of Freedom Holding, said.

Segment Performance

Brokerage: Revenue increased by 29% to $213.3 million, driven by an increase in net gains on trading securities and fee and commission income.

Banking: Revenue rose by 47% to $206.4 million, supported by net gains on trading securities and derivatives.

Insurance: Revenue doubled to $197.8 million, reflecting strategic growth in insurance underwriting income.

Other Segments: Revenue grew by 120% to $37.7 million, largely due to net gains on foreign exchange operations.

Despite strong revenue growth, the company’s net income declined by 19% to $78.1 million, compared to $96.1 million in the previous year’s quarter. This was due to increased fees and commission expenses, general and administrative expenses, payroll and bonuses, advertising costs and stock-based compensation expenses. Total expenses for the quarter amounted to $556.9 million, up from $307.0 million in Q3 2024 fiscal year.

During the same period, fee and commission income increased from $120.2 million to $143.4 million.

Freedom Holding Corp. remains committed to expanding its product portfolio, improving operational efficiencies, capitalizing on emerging market opportunities, and considering selective acquisitions. In October 2024, the company acquired EliteCom, a telecommunications services company, for $3 million. The acquired licenses and assets will be used to develop Freedom Holding’s own telecommunications business.

About Freedom Holding Corp.

Freedom Holding Corp. is an international financial and investment services group specializing in capital markets, asset management, and brokerage services.

Freedom Holding Corp.’s common shares are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol FRHC. The Company has its principal market of operation in Kazakhstan and operates through its subsidiaries in 22 countries. With a strong presence in Central Asia, Europe, and the U.S., the company is committed to delivering innovative financial products to individual and institutional investors.

For more information, visit www.freedomholdingcorp.com

Natalia Kharlashina

PR Department

Freedom Holding Corp.

prglobal@ffin.kz

The MIL Network –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tajikistan Parliamentary Elections: Joint Statement to the OSCE

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

UK and others regret cancellation of OSCE election observation and call on Tajikistan to engage constructively with ODIHR.

Mr. Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and my own country Canada.

We thank the European Union for adding this item to the agenda today.

In Istanbul in 1999, participating States committed to invite observers to elections from other participating States, ODIHR, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and to follow up on ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations.

In this context, we deeply regret that the authorities of Tajikistan have not accredited OSCE/ODIHR election observers in a timely manner, nor made assurances that they would do so.

This has resulted in the cancellation of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary elections and has denied the people of Tajikistan an impartial and independent assessment of the elections.

As ODIHR has stated, host governments need to provide the necessary conditions for the effective and unrestricted operation of election observation missions. Prolonged uncertainty surrounding accreditation undermines the integrity of the process.

Fulfilling these necessary conditions is an integral part of meeting OSCE commitments on the invitation of observers. We regret that not all OSCE participating States have chosen to uphold their commitments in this regard.

We thank ODIHR for its efforts in preparing and deploying the Election Observation Mission to Tajikistan. We fully support ODIHR’s mandate, autonomy and their well-proven and objective election monitoring methodology.

We encourage Tajikistan to engage constructively with ODIHR on previous election recommendations, as well as on ODIHR’s support for meeting OSCE commitments to strengthen democracy and human rights, including on free, fair and genuine elections.

Updates to this page

Published 7 February 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 7, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The work plan of SPbPU and KRSU for 2025 has been formed

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

During the working visit of the acting rector of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Sergey Volkov to Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a meeting of key leaders was held to finalize the main positions of the plan of joint activities of KRSU and SPbPU for 2025.

Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev noted: 2025 began with a series of online meetings of specialized working groups of our two universities, where the main blocks of the plan for joint activities were worked out, parameters were defined in detail, and key indicators were calculated. Today’s meeting of supervising vice-rectors and directors of institutes is the final step towards approving this most important document.

One of the main blocks of joint activities is “Development of educational potential”. The working group led by Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova discussed in advance with colleagues from KRSU issues related to the opening of network master’s degree programs in the areas of construction, software engineering, logistics and technosphere safety. KRSU will act as the base organization and plans to begin recruitment for these programs in the fall of 2025. In the second year of study, KRSU students will come to the Polytechnic University and, if they successfully master all disciplines, will receive master’s degrees from both universities. Sergey Volkov confirmed that the most talented graduates of such joint programs will be invited to teach at KRSU.

The most important component of educational activities is the organization of a distance learning system for KRSU students using the resources of the Polytechnic University. The joint work plan provides access to most SPbPU courses on the Moodle platform, as well as access for more than 50 students to the online laboratory campus. KRSU is working to open an Online Course Registration Center in Bishkek as early as 2025, and SPbPU is ready to provide expert support for the activities of such a center, train employees, conduct the necessary trainings and consultations.

Based on the successful experience of cooperation with the Russian-Armenian University, SPbPU agreed with KRSU to introduce the course “Fundamentals of Project Activities” into the educational process. In 2025, mentors will be trained and methodological recommendations for the course will be developed.

The successful practice of academic mobility of third-year undergraduate students of KRSU, who came to the Polytechnic for a semester last year, will continue. The directors of the Institute of Economics and Technology, Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Economics, Institute of Science and Culture, and Institute of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FSMEK) — the main institutes where students from Kyrgyzstan studied in 2024 — confirmed their interest in continuing such programs, but emphasized the importance of strict selection of students by field. Sergey Volkov confirmed that KRSU students are showing great interest in the Polytechnic and promised that 40 undergraduates and 10 graduates for study in the fall of 2025 will be carefully selected through a competition. In addition to semester mobility, the plan provides for short-term mobility and advanced training programs for KRSU students and teachers. Director of the Institute of Scientific Research Marina Petrochenko suggested that individual programs be timed to coincide with significant scientific and educational events of the Polytechnic institutes, for example, Science Week or student competitions, so that Kyrgyz students could participate in them.

Advanced training for KRSU teachers will be held in a hybrid and in-person format. There is a request from Kyrgyz colleagues for programs in energy, electronics, supercomputer technologies, economic security, etc. In the near future, a specific list of programs will be formed and 15 teachers will be identified who will come to SPbPU for in-person training. A separate request from the KRSU leadership is to organize training for members of the admissions committee on technologies for conducting an admissions campaign, working with the “Apply Online” services and other recruitment practices adopted at the Polytechnic University.

Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin, presenting the final plan for the “Development of Scientific Potential” block, focused the attention of KRSU management on the need to build end-to-end business processes – from the selection and training of talented young scientists in graduate school to the formation of dissertation councils and successful defenses. Polytechnic is ready to share such experience. And in the near future, there are plans to organize dissertation defenses in SPbPU dissertation councils in key areas for KRSU applicants and postgraduate students.

The specialized research groups of the institutes of KRSU and SPbPU have prepared a list of 12 initiative projects for joint research. Yuri Fomin suggested correlating these projects with the planned internships of postgraduate students, the organization of defenses, the preparation of publications, and the submission of applications for grants in order to ensure the most effective activities of joint research groups and support the long-term development of scientific potential.

Two global joint projects of KRSU and SPbPU are planned as flagship projects in the work plan. The first is related to the work of the high-mountain observatory of atmospheric physics of KRSU. The observatory is equipped with high-tech instruments, in particular a lidar complex. The project will be of a more fundamental nature and will be related to studies of the state of the atmosphere, environmental monitoring, the formation of predictive models of seismic activity, etc. Over the years of the laboratory’s work, a significant array of data has been collected that can be used to verify and build models. On the part of SPbPU, the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications and the Civil Engineering Institute will be involved in the project. Director of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Alexander Korotkov noted the enormous potential of such an interdisciplinary project, which is capable of combining scientific competencies, the use of unique equipment, the developments of both the Polytechnic University and KRSU to develop a popular scientific direction and solve problems that are truly important for Kyrgyzstan.

The second project is the preparation of a comprehensive plan for the development of mining in the interests of the industrial partner of KRSU, the company “Alliance Altyn”. In early March, a large off-site meeting will be held directly at the production site. Director of the Institute of Energy Viktor Barskov confirmed his interest in the project and his readiness to send specialists from the Institute to Bishkek.

KRSU attracts not only industrial partners, but also government organizations to cooperation. In particular, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic requested the organization of a Fire Safety Center on the basis of KRSU for the training and advanced training of relevant specialists. Director of the ISI Marina Petrochenko mentioned a similar experience of cooperation between Polytechnic University and the Gefest Group of Companies and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, which ultimately led to the creation of a basic department. The work plan for 2025 includes a clause on the organization of a Fire Safety Center at KRSU and joint work in this direction by the ISI SPbPU and the FADIS KRSU.

Vice-Rector for Information Technologies of SPbPU Andrey Lyamin confirmed the possibility of using the resources of the SPbPU supercomputer for joint scientific work and the educational process. In the near future, a joint scientific group will be formed, and KRSU scientists will be able to gain access, including for the implementation of the above-mentioned flagship projects. Andrey Lyamin also raised the issue of organizing KRSU access to the most important university toolkit – the Antiplagiat program, which is needed for scientific and educational activities. In accordance with the work plan, SPbPU will provide the Kyrgyz university with access to the resource.

In terms of joint work, significant attention is paid to the interaction of library systems, in particular the development of joint IT solutions, regulations and methods that will contribute to the maximum digitalization of librarianship, the formation of an operating repository and the promotion of the results of the intellectual work of KRSU students and scientists.

The directors of SPbPU institutes supported the KRSU initiative to create a student design bureau, on the basis of which student teams, including joint ones, will design various solutions in the field of construction, energy, calculations and modeling. Such projects will be able to participate in university, regional and international competitions. The KRSU student design bureau will also serve as a basis for the implementation of applied projects of the course “Fundamentals of Project Activity”.

And so that really interesting projects and developments do not go to waste, the director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Digital Engineering School Sergey Salkutsan in January 2025 during a visit to KRSU agreed on all the details of the pilot project for the development of student entrepreneurship and the launch of the project “Graduate Qualification Work as a Startup”. But it is not only the students who are in the focus of attention – for the management teams of KRSU (and this is more than 400 people), trainings on lean manufacturing, developed at SPbPU, are planned.

In 2025, the Polytechnic University will continue to support social projects, youth initiatives and communities. A joint student campaign will be held as part of the events for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in May 2025. Students and teachers will be able to take part in the events “Voice of Generations” and “Student Spring”. Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov said that following mutual consultations between specialists from SPbPU and KRSU, a detailed plan for joint activities of student communities has been drawn up. The work will be carried out in constant communication, with monthly online meetings in each area.

Also, key joint events will be the project-analytical session planned for May 2025 on the development of the KRSU development program for 2026-2030, and expert sessions on monitoring the implementation of the current development program and modernization and transformation processes. Acting Vice-Rector for Prospective Projects Maria Vrublevskaya, commenting on the preparation for this session, drew the attention of the KRSU management to the recommendations for assessing competencies and the staffing of the university, as well as conducting comprehensive work within the framework of the human capital management policy, which were formulated following the results strategic session in December 2024 years.

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 –

February 7, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eric Freedman, Professor of Journalism and Chair, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University

A majority of citizens in Central Asian countries practice Islam, but Muslims still face restrictions on religious expression. AP Photo/Theodore Kaye

Freedom of worship is tenuous around the globe. The Pew Research Center’s latest annual report found “high” or “very high” levels of government constraints on religion in 59 of the 198 countries and territories it analyzed – a new record. When Pew began releasing reports on the issue in 2007, just 40 countries’ restrictions on religion were classified that way.

And trampling of religious practices is a taboo subject for domestic news media in many, if not most, of such countries.

As a journalism professor, I’ve studied international press practices and obstacles to fair, balanced, ethical and independent reporting for more than two decades. Much of my work is about press rights in “repressitarian” countries, meaning repressive in human rights practices and authoritarian in governance. I see overlaps among a range of human rights abuses – of freedom of expression, of religion, of political affiliation – and how the absence of press freedom shields those abuses from public scrutiny.

The latest study I did with my undergraduate research assistant, Eleanor Pugh, examined how one news organization, Forum 18, covers constraints on religion in the five post-Soviet countries of remote but strategically important Central Asia. Based in Norway, the independent site is named after Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes a fundamental right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

Forum 18 appears to be the only news outlet that specializes in coverage of the rights of diverse faiths across the former Soviet Union. Its journalism demonstrates the challenges media outlets have in covering and influencing treatment of religious affiliations and observances in the region.

Taboo topic

The five countries of Central Asia – Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – pursue harsh policies and practices that frequently curtail freedom of faith. This is especially true for minority religions and sects, but even for practitioners of Islam, the region’s predominant faith. All are rated “Not Free” in the 2024 annual report on global political rights and civil liberties issued by Freedom House, a democracy advocacy group based in Washington.

Government tactics include censorship and seizure of religious materials, trumped-up charges and prison terms for believers, prohibiting schoolchildren from wearing hijabs or attending worship services, and imprisoning Jehovah’s Witnesses who refuse compulsory military service. One recent law in Kyrgyzstan, which took effect Feb. 1, 2025, prohibits faith communities with fewer than 500 adult members and bans unregistered religious activities or places of worship.

International news outlets generally devote little attention to religious freedom almost anywhere around the world, except for large-scale tragedies such as the repression of Muslim Uyghurs in western China and the genocidal suppression of Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar.

Foreign journalists find it tough, sometimes impossible, to report on religious issues from inside authoritarian countries.

Peter Leonard, the former Central Asia editor of the news outlet Eurasianet, told me in March 2024 that officials’ willingness to even talk with international journalists varies from country to country. At best, journalists are “greeted with a little bit of suspicion” in a capital city, while in rural areas and villages they “can expect to be booted out or harassed,” he said, adding, “Religion is a minefield area.”

Ethnic Russian Kyrgyz citizens wait for a Sunday service at the Church of Archistrategos of God Mikhail – Archangel Michael of God Orthodox Church – in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in 2010.
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

When limits on worship do make domestic news, they’re often presented as part of a fight against “terrorism” – a common way authoritarian regimes masquerade crackdowns on religious freedoms.

Darkhan Umirbekov, an editor at Radio Fee Europe/Radio Liberty, told me that in Kazakhstan – where most media are owned, controlled or financially dependent on the regime and its allies – most such coverage is “in the context of extremism,” as when “security forces detain members of a religious sect or group.”

Protecting sources

We chose to study Forum 18 because its reporting follows traditional journalistic values such as fairness and balance, seeking comments and information from government and nongovernmental sources. One of the outlet’s key underlying motives, however, is advocacy in support of religious freedom.

Although founded by a group of Christians, its coverage spans a wide spectrum of faiths. Recent topics included police raids on Jehovah’s Witnesses meetings in Kyrgyzstan, threats to punish a Muslim actor in Kazakhstan for quoting from the Quran in a video about Islam posted on Instagram, and the demolition of a mosque and Baptist church in Uzbekistan.

Our analysis, which we presented at a 2024 conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, found that almost two-thirds of Central Asian stories in 2023 focused on broad topics such as fines, government policies and jail terms for believers. The remainder focused on one-off events such as particular arrests, raids or seizures of religious books.

We also found that nonofficial news sources – frequently anonymous – outnumber named sources. Many of the site’s reporters’ sources have been developed over the years from the ranks of religious leaders, human rights activists, dissidents and legal scholars. Some live in the region, and others in exile.

In light of the serious risk of retaliation, it is unsurprising that so many sources require anonymity. While their identities are known to reporters and editors, their names are not disclosed to audiences for protection from threats, attacks and intimidation. Sometimes these sources are described generically, such as “one Protestant” or “independent religious expert” or “local resident.”

Forum 18 editor and co-founder Felix Corley told me in an interview: “What we’re concerned about is people that we talk to, that we don’t land them in trouble, so we have to be very careful to do everything we can to avoid endangering anyone by clumsy behavior on our part.”

In addition, the site’s stories detail names and titles of officials responsible for anti-faith policies and practices – among them prosecutors, judges and agency heads, most of whom refuse to comment or even respond to media inquiries.

Astana Grand Mosque in Kazakhstan, the largest mosque in Central Asia.
Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images

Small but significant

Forum 18’s audience is primarily outside the region. It includes Central Asians living abroad, human rights activists, nongovernmental organizations, foreign governments, faith leaders and other news organizations that may cite or re-report its stories.

For example, a 2019 U.S. State Department human rights report on Uzbekistan makes references to a Forum 18 story on the torture of a “prisoner of conscience” incarcerated for meeting with fellow Muslims and participating in religious activities without government permission.

Religious freedom advocates hope such coverage can inform and influence world opinion. Reporting abroad can spotlight otherwise-unaccountable officials, especially when censorship, self-censorship and threats of prosecution preclude domestic media from reporting.

Realistically, we recognize that external media coverage is unlikely to prompt meaningful protections of religious freedom in authoritarian countries.

Even so, such journalism may be seen as a step – albeit a small, symbolic one – toward holding individuals, governments, social groups and other enablers accountable for violations of a fundamental human right.

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

– ref. Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news – https://theconversation.com/religious-freedom-is-routinely-curbed-in-central-asia-but-you-wont-often-see-it-making-international-news-248740

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 7, 2025
MIL-OSI: Teniz Capital to Lead Second Phase of Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Bond Placement on the Astana International Exchange

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Almaty, Kazakhstan, 6 February 2025 – Teniz Capital Investment Banking, a leading investment bank in Central Asia and the Middle East, will lead the second phase of bond placement for multilateral financial institution Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) on the Astana International Exchange (AIX).

This follows a first tranche of 100 million USD, completed in 2024, in which Teniz Capital facilitated the transaction.

The second tranche will be directed to supporting BSTDB’s funding capacity and enhance investor participation in Central Asian markets.

“Our objective is to open financial opportunities in the Caspian and Central Asia to Western investors. This second placement, which we expect will be closed quite soon, is a clear indicator of market interest in the region, and in its future economic growth,” the management committee of the entity said.

Founded in 1999, the BSTDB is an international financial institution based in Thessaloniki, Greece. The institution was created to accelerate regional development through financial instruments such as bond issuances. It has 11 member states, including Greece, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Teniz Capital employs 50 professionals, with its main headquarters in Almaty and additional offices in Astana’s International Finance Centre and Abu Dhabi.

In 2023, Teniz Capital completed 13 bond transactions across in AIX as well the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. These transactions included JSC AIFN Retam, Capitalleasing Group Ltd., Jet Group Ltd., Kisamos Shipping DMCC, several placements of Kazakhstan’s sovereign bonds, and underwriting complex, high-value transactions.

Last year, on 29 August, the company announced the expansion of its operations with the launch of a sister company, Teniz Capital Brokerage Ltd.

For further information, members of the media can contact teniz@definition.city

This press release contains statements regarding the future of the company and its innovations. Statements regarding the future may be accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “will”, “anticipate”, “pretend”, “power”, “plan”, “potential”, the use of future time and other terms of similar meaning. No undue reliance should be placed on these claims. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including uncertainty of the company’s commercial success, ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and other risks. These statements are based on current beliefs and forecasts and refer only to the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information, future events or any other circumstance arise.

The MIL Network –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Peng Liyuan chats over tea with wife of Kyrgyz president

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

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, chats over tea with Aigul Japarova, wife of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING, Feb. 5 — Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, chatted over tea with Aigul Japarova, wife of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Peng welcomed Japarova, who is accompanying President Japarov on a state visit to China on the occasion of the Spring Festival. Noting that China and Kyrgyzstan have a traditional friendship, Peng expressed the hope that the people of both countries will maintain frequent exchanges and build close connections.

Cultural exchanges are an important bridge for people-to-people exchanges, Peng added, expressing the hope that China-Kyrgyzstan people-to-people exchanges and cooperation will flourish.

Peng also voiced appreciation for Japarova’s enthusiasm in social charity and public welfare, and looked forward to strengthening cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan concerning the protection of the rights and interests of women, children and vulnerable groups, so as to jointly benefit the two peoples.

Japarova extended Chinese New Year greetings to Peng and expressed sincere gratitude for the warm reception. She highly praised the significant achievements of China’s economic and social development, and expressed her willingness to actively promote Kyrgyzstan-China people-to-people exchanges and cooperation and continuously enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

MIL OSI China News –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: International Arms Dealer Charged with Exporting U.S. Firearms to Russia

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Defendant Unlawfully Exported Semi-Automatic Rifle-Pistols from U.S. Company Through JFK International Airport

Earlier today, an indictment was filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Sergei Zharnovnikov, an arms dealer and citizen of Kyrgyzstan, with conspiring to export firearms from the United States to Russia without the necessary licenses and with illegal smuggling. Zharnovnikov traveled from Kyrgyzstan to the United States last month and was arrested on January 24, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was attending the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show to meet with U.S. arms dealers. Zharnovnikov has been detained pending trial and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office (BIS-OEE), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, the defendant operated a sophisticated scheme to circumvent export controls and to export semi-automatic firearms and send them to Russia,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Today’s indictment sends a message to the world that we will vigorously enforce statutes that control and restrict the export of items that could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States, in this case, preventing U.S.-made firearms from getting into the wrong hands.”

Mr. Durham thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada for its assistance with the case.

“Violations of export control laws carry significant consequences for perpetrators in the U.S. and abroad,” said DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with our partners to hold accountable those who violate our laws to smuggle firearms to prohibited destinations such as Russia.”

“Attempting to illegally sell arms to Russia using multiple companies may seem like a method to evade United States sanctions, it is however a definite way to end up under arrest. Sergei Zharnovnikov is alleged to have knowingly conspired with others to violate the export control laws of the United States to provide U.S made firearms to Russian companies. The FBI will continue to enforce the export control laws enacted to safeguard our national security.”

“The Bureau of Industry and Security is committed to aggressively investigating the illegal transshipment of US firearms to adversaries like Russia through third countries,” said BIS-OEE Special Agent in Charge Carson. “Companies that provide false information to BIS to obtain export authorizations to circumvent our controls will be found out and held accountable.”

As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, since at least March 2020, the defendant, together with others, conspired to export firearms on the United States DOC Control List from the U.S. to Russia. The defendant, the General Director and owner of an arms dealer located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan Company-1), entered into a five-year, $900,000 contract with a company located in Chesapeake, Virginia (U.S. Company‑1) to purchase and export U.S. Company-1 firearms to Kyrgyzstan. DOC issued a license for U.S. Company-1 to export firearms to Kyrgyzstan Company-1, but the license prohibited the export or re-export of the firearms to Russia. Nevertheless, the defendant exported and re-exported U.S. Company‑1 firearms to Russia via Kyrgyzstan. These illegally exported firearms included semi‑automatic hybrid rifle-pistols from U.S. Company-1.

As alleged, after Kyrgyzstan Company-1 entered into a contract with U.S. Company-1, a second arms dealer company in Bishkek associated with the defendant (Kyrgyzstan Company-2) entered a contract with a Russian arms dealer (Russian Company-1) located in Moscow. The contract between Russian Company-1 and Kyrgyzstan Company-2 provided that Kyrgyzstan Company‑2 would export “Goods” to Russian Company-1 in the amount of $10 million and noted that the “Goods” could be delivered in batches. In correspondence in 2018, Russian Company-1 described the defendant’s company, Kyrgyzstan Company-1, as its “partner company.”

On or about February 3, 2021, U.S. Company-1 received an export license from DOC to export over $800,000 worth of firearms and parts to Kyrgyzstan Company-1. The license stated that items within the scope of the license “may not be reexported or transferred (in-country),” subject to certain exceptions not applicable here.

On or about July 2, 2022, the defendant emailed his banker: “Make payment according to the invoice attached to the letter,” and attached a commercial invoice from U.S. Company-1, which listed, among other things, 25 semi-automatic rifle-pistols with 25 unique serial numbers. Two days later, on or about July 4, 2022, Kyrgyzstan Company‑2, sent $67,000 to Kyrgyzstan Company-1. The next day, on or about July 5, 2022, Kyrgyzstan Company‑1 paid U.S. Company-1 $65,564—the full amount listed in the invoice from U.S. Company-1.

According to an Electronic Export Information (EEI) made on July 7, 2022, Company-1 exported semi-automatic rifles from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Kyrgyzstan Company-1 pursuant to its February 3, 2021 export license on or about July 10, 2022. According to the EEI filing, the value of the export from U.S. Company-1 to Kyrgyzstan Company-1 was over $59,000. The EEI filing’s corresponding license application indicated that the firearms were for “commercial resale in Kyrgyzstan.”

On or about August 8, 2022, the defendant received a spreadsheet titled “Supply [U.S. Company-1] ([Russian Company-1]) weapon numbers.” Russian Company-1 is a Russian company, and the DOC license did not authorize the export or re-export of the U.S. Company-1 firearms to Russia. The spreadsheet listed the same semi-automatic rifle-pistol the defendant purchased from U.S. Company-1 and serial numbers matching the U.S. Company‑1 Invoice.

On or about November 14, 2022, the General Director of Russian Company‑1 executed a form used by tax authorities of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes both Kyrgyzstan and Russia. The form listed the seller as Kyrgyzstan Company‑2 and the buyer as Russian Company-1 with an address in Moscow, Russia, and identified the goods as the same semi‑automatic rifle‑pistols that U.S. Company-1 exported to Kyrgyzstan Company‑1, the defendant’s company. The defendant did not apply for, obtain or possess a license to export or re-export the semi‑automatic pistol-rifles to Russia.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, the defendant faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Ellen H. Sise is in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES), with assistance from Litigation Analyst Rebecca Roth and CES Trial Attorney Scott Claffee.

The case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions and economic countermeasures that, beginning in 2014, the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

The Defendant:

SERGEI ZHARNOVNIKOV
Age: 46
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-45 (ENV)

MIL Security OSI –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Council to Hold Special Session onthe Democratic Republic of the Congo on 7February

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the human rights situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, 7 February 2025.

The session will start at 10 a.m. in room XX of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting will be webcast live in the six official languages of the United Nations.

The special session is being convened per an official request submitted on Monday evening, 3 February, by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been supported by 27 States thus far.

For a special session to be convened, the support of one-third of the 47 members of the Council – 16 or more – is required. This request is thus far supported by the following States members of the Council (27): Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Iceland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Morocco, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, the Republic of Korea, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland.

The request is also supported by the following 21 observer States: Australia, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The list of signatories remains open up to the holding of the special session. Therefore, the above list of States is to be considered provisional.

In connection with this special session, the Council will convene an organizational meeting on Thursday, 6 February at 10 a.m. when specific details on the special session and its scenario will be announced. This organizational meeting will also be webcast live.

This will be the thirty-seventh special session of the Human Rights Council. On 28 November 2008, the Council held a special session on the situation of human rights in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The full list of special sessions of the Human Rights Council can be seen here .

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.

HRC25.001E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney’s Office Underscores Enforcement of Executive Order on Immigration

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, through United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, issues the following statement to underscore support for the January 20, 2025, Executive Order, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”

Department of Justice agencies in Puerto Rico, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons, underscore their support and partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all its components in Puerto Rico to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.

The Justice Department and DHS will also continue to collaborate and work closely with our counterparts within the Government of Puerto Rico, to include the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and other governmental agencies, as well as municipal police departments to protect our communities from harm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s implementation of the Executive Order will focus on the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens, as well as supporting the prosecution and/or expedited removal from the United States of aliens without legal status. The apprehension and prosecution or removal of aliens includes special interest aliens deemed by the DHS to be from a country that poses a national security or counterintelligence threat.

“Those aliens who are involved in criminal activity, who are fugitives from justice, who have prior criminal convictions and/or come from nations that pose a threat to our national security, remain a priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We are also fully committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, and all its components, to make Puerto Rico and the United States safer.”

“The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Through this initiative, continued collaboration and intelligence-driven operations, we are supporting efforts to protect our communities, while adhering to our mission of upholding the Constitution.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who are illegally present in the United States, ensuring they are swiftly removed to their home countries,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Juan. “The executive order aims to protect the United States from individuals who pose a threat to public safety by committing crimes.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration remains resolute in its mission to protect the communities of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. These criminal networks not only threaten public safety through the distribution of dangerous narcotics but also exploit immigration vulnerabilities to further their illicit enterprises. Through intelligence-driven investigations, collaborative enforcement operations, and strategic partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts, the DEA will aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens. Our enforcement efforts will focus on identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting individuals and organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens involved in drug-related offenses. The DEA Caribbean Division will continue to conduct high-impact operations aimed at preventing narcotics and criminal elements from infiltrating our shores. These enforcement efforts are crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The message is clear: those who attempt to use our territory as a gateway for illicit activities will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement,” stated Michael A. Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Caribbean Division.

“We stand in unison with our Federal and Puerto Rico partners in this all-hands-on deck to stem the tide of illegal immigration,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division.

The United States Marshals Service, whose mission includes apprehending federal and state fugitives, will lead an initiative – Operation Homeland – to focus resources and coordinate enforcement operations with DOJ and DHS components on the apprehension of alien fugitives charged with federal and local crimes.

“Historically, the United States Marshals have played a crucial role in serving our nation by apprehending and removing dangerous fugitives from our communities. In this instance, we have teamed up with our federal law enforcement partners to focus on apprehending non-U.S. citizens who have active criminal warrants. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will lead to safer communities. We encourage all citizens to continue cooperating with our investigations to help locate these fugitives and bring them to justice,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal District of Puerto Rico.

As recently announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on January 30, 2025, the below-listed individuals entered into Puerto Rican waters without inspection and were detained by the CBP. Earlier that day, Coast Guard had previously boarded the sailing vessel Mistress, but the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage to St. Martin. Instead of going to St. Martin, the S/V Mistress entered U.S. waters without inspection and anchored off La Parguera, where they were arrested and processed for expedited removal by DHS officials, including the United States Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, the following eight individuals were encountered on a private boat off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico:

Name   Country of Citizenship

Erlanbek Narkoziev   Kyrgyzstan

Jafar Valamatov   Russia

Kanal Assylbekov Kazakhstan

Nikita Torshin Kazakhstan

Sanjarjon Sidikov   Uzbekistan

Shackhat Uurustamov Kyrgyzstan

Odiljon Azimov Kyrgyzstan

Shukrat Akhemodov   Russia

“Every day CBP Officers are responsible with determining the admissibility of aliens arriving at our ports of entry. Foreign travelers requesting entry undergo an inspection and determination of admissibility to the United States, and if they are not admissible, they are returned to their point of embarkation,” indicated Roberto Vaquero, Director of the San Juan Office of Field Operations. “Our officers will be vigilant in determining admissibility and will also inspect authorized presence from passengers in domestic flights as they try to reach the Continental US.”

“The Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol remains steadfast in protecting our Caribbean borders and deter irregular migration attempts. U.S. immigration law makes it a crime to enter or attempt to enter without requesting admission at a port of entry designated for that purpose by immigration officials,” stated Reggie Johnson, Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “Migrants should know that they will face full legal consequences of unlawful entry.”

“Air and Marine Operations agents and assets will support the whole of government effort to enforce immigration laws and protect our borders from emerging threats,” said Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. “AMO safeguards our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond.”

###

MIL Security OSI –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Head of the Civil Rights Division Vanita Gupta Delivers Remarks at the Civil Rights Division’s Annual Awards Ceremony

Source: United States Attorneys General 13

Good afternoon, everyone. I want to start by thanking Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General [Bill] Baer and Deputy Attorney General [Sally Q.] Yates for joining us today and for their wise counsel and outstanding support of the Civil Rights Division. I also want to thank Attorney General [Loretta E.] Lynch – who I know wanted to be here today and sends her regards – for her unwavering support of the division’s work. And I want to thank all of you – the men and women who carry out the division’s work, day-in and day-out, with the utmost integrity. For nearly six decades – during Democratic and Republican administrations, with resilience and resolve, in times of tumult and triumph, against threats of billy clubs and bullets – the Civil Rights Division has advanced America’s highest ideals of freedom, justice and equality for all.

In 1957 – in an era with open wounds of racism and hate, against fierce opposition and after a more than 24-hour filibuster by Senator Strom Thurmond – Congress passed the first piece of civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. Focused almost exclusively on voting rights, the legislation didn’t provide the tools to address widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education and other important areas. But it did create a framework to enforce the protections that Congress would pass, that courts would defend and that America would support in the years to come. That framework was the Civil Rights Division. And over time those protections went into law – protections centered around the most fundamental of human aspirations: the notion that all people deserve to be treated fairly, with dignity and with decency. They were protections designed to advance the cause of justice.

The cause of justice is never static. It is always searching for the next barrier to dismantle, for the next right to vindicate and for the next freedom to secure. That’s what President [Lyndon B.] Johnson meant when he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and said, “those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning.” That’s what President [George H.W.] Bush meant when he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and declared: “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.” And that’s what Justice [Anthony] Kennedy meant when he wrote last year in Obergefell v. Hodges that our Constitution guarantees all people “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.”

For the past eight years, this Civil Rights Division has answered that same call to make the promise of justice real for every person in every community. During a time when civil rights are at the forefront of our national public discourse, you have made extraordinary contributions. From policing and criminal justice reform, to LGBT rights and voting, you have fought discriminatory barriers and opened doors of opportunity for some of the most vulnerable among us: people with disabilities, people of color, people living in poverty and people who speak English as a second language. Your work has transformed the nation, fulfilled dreams and changed lives. And in doing this work, from Appellate to Policy, you’ve showed an amazing capacity to work across section boundaries.

You helped Hugo Ramirez – who lost his job, and then his savings and his car, because of an error with E-Verify – resolve the issue and find a new job as director of business development for a California health care provider. In his words, you “gave me my livelihood back.”

After Police Officer Lyndi Trischler suffered complications from a high-risk pregnancy and the city of Florence, Kentucky, denied her request for light duty, you brought a case, reached a critical settlement, won her thousands of dollars in relief and changed the policies and training for protecting future female employees of the city.

In a case that captured the attention of people all over the world, you brought a groundbreaking lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over H.B. 2 to vindicate the rights and defend the dignity of transgender individuals.

Your Olmstead enforcement helped Gabrielle – who dreamed of buying a home – find work as a grooming assistant at a dog day care and boutique, earning more than $9 per hour. As she said, “I feel better about my life and … I ended up buying that house.”

A consent decree you reached with Wells Fargo created a program called CityLIFT that changed Monica’s life. After she couldn’t buy a home for her family and lost her deposit, she felt like she “had lost everything.” But once she learned about CityLIFT, which provides down payment assistance grants, she used the program to fulfill her dream and buy a home. As Monica explained, “I needed for my children to know they can do anything, and for my mother to know she’s done well.”

You changed norms in our justice system by advancing language access in state courts around the country. Because of your work, a low-income LEP woman in Michigan no longer needs to struggle through her child custody hearing or use her son as the court interpreter.

You won two landmark voting rights cases in Texas and North Carolina. In Texas, Sammie Louise Bates was one of roughly half a million Texans who lacked the form of ID needed to vote. Bates – an elderly African-American woman living on a fixed income of $321 per month – lacked the $42 for a birth certificate she needed for a Texas ID. As she testified, “I had to put the $42 where it was doing the most good … because we couldn’t eat the birth certificate … and we couldn’t pay rent with the birth certificate.” Now, thanks to you, Bates can vote without paying money she doesn’t have for a card she can’t afford.

You supported and implemented an election monitoring program that mobilized the division and department to make sure we didn’t miss a beat – and based on your effort, we sent more than 500 personnel to 67 jurisdictions in 28 states during last month’s general election.

You reached a settlement agreement so that thousands of kindergarteners in Arizona will have the chance to learn English and reach their full potential.

You negotiated a consent decree with Ferguson and released our findings letter on Baltimore – two cases that shaped a national dialogue around the devastating connections among race, poverty and injustice in policing.

Your work brought transformative change to Ohio’s juvenile corrections system. One young person explained the system’s “drastic change” that helped transform her from one of the worst-behaved kids to one of the best. She went on to describe the powerful lesson of self-confidence: “When I get home I know I’m going to be able to use my new thought process because it feels so much better than doing what I used to do, being in trouble.”

From filings on bail reform and the criminalization of homelessness to a letter to state and local judges about the unlawful imposition of fines and fees, you have sought to ensure that no one is punished for their poverty.

You stood up for a black gay man in Corpus Christi, Texas, who was viciously beaten because of his race and sexual orientation. You prosecuted hate crimes targeting Muslim Americans and other vulnerable groups. You convicted a defendant for recruiting foreign students from Kazakhstan by falsely promising clerical jobs at a made-up yoga studio and then forcing them into prostitution. And you vindicated the rights of inmates and civilians abused and assaulted by officers who flouted the law.

You did extensive outreach to combat religious discrimination. And you helped advance diversity in law enforcement by identifying common barriers and promising practices to employment in the profession.

For just a few minutes, I want to talk about what your work has meant to me, and I want to emphasize that for the next several weeks, we still have work to do together. During the past two plus years, you have given me the experience of a lifetime – the privilege to advance the cause of justice, to lift up the amazing work of the outstanding career men and women in the division. It has been the most incredible two years of my life. I cannot thank you enough – for your leadership, for your friendship and for your service to our country. You have transformed the landscape of civil rights work in America irrevocably. And you have done it all with grace and resolve, with compassion and empathy, with unyielding drive and relentless focus.

You have also given me hope. This work is never easy. And I know that we – as a nation and as a people – have far more work to do. Congress didn’t create the Civil Rights Division in 1957 to solve the easy problems. Congress created this division to tackle the toughest issues, to serve as an independent and forceful agency of justice and hope. You cannot be an agent of change without a deep reservoir of hope. It’s the hope that men and women today can build a more just, more inclusive and more free future for the children of tomorrow. It’s the hope that thanks to all of you in the Civil Rights Division, people will reap the benefits of this work for generations to come – in safer streets, in desegregated schools, in fair markets and in stronger communities. It’s the hope that despite the zigs and the zags of our nation’s history, you will continue to ensure that America marches forward, imperfectly yet inexorably. Hope fuels the struggle and the struggle fills us with hope.

While we will always face new and emerging challenges to equality, civil rights work is designed to endure and build momentum. It is ironic but true that we learn the depth of our resiliency when tackling the greatest challenges. The nation needs the Civil Rights Division and all of you to continue to make equal justice and equal opportunity a reality for all who live in the country. Thank you for driving progress in our country. It has been such an incredible privilege to lead this division that I love so very much working alongside such a distinguished and exemplary team of colleagues.

MIL Security OSI –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier meets with Kyrgyz president in Beijing

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

BEIJING, Feb. 5 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday met with visiting Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Beijing.

Noting that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Kyrgyzstan relations have developed rapidly in recent years, Li also said that the foundation of mutual trust has been strengthened, bilateral cooperation upgraded, and friendly exchanges deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to implement the important consensus reached by the presidents of the two countries, firmly support each other on major issues concerning core interests, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in all respects, and better contribute to their respective modernization drives, Li said.

Li added that China stands ready to enhance the synergy of development strategies with Kyrgyzstan, focus on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, advance the construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and other connectivity projects, and create more new highlights of cooperation in fields such as mining, green energy, scientific and technological innovation.

He further said that China will work closely with Kyrgyzstan in the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms, strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, and steadily advance cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — so as to inject more certainty into regional peace, stability and development.

Japarov said Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era with China, and is willing to further strengthen high-level exchanges with China, deepen cooperation concerning connectivity, agriculture, finance, mining, science and technology, tourism and people’s livelihood development, and strengthen youth and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Kyrgyzstan welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kyrgyzstan and will provide a safe and sound business environment for Chinese enterprises, Japarov added.

MIL OSI China News –

February 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft recognized as the leader of the Russian oil and gas industry in the field of rational water use

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

Rosneft has been recognized as a leader in the field of rational use of water resources based on the results of a 2024 study by the RAEX rating agency. The assessment examined the water use indicators of 144 companies from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Rosneft became the only Russian oil and gas company to be included in the top 10 participants in the rating with the highest level of assessment of indicators of rational water consumption, as well as the quality of corporate policies and programs related to water use.

Preserving the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture and one of the key principles of Rosneft. The company follows the principles of responsible business of the UN Global Compact and annually confirms its commitment to 17 UN goals in the field of sustainable development. Rosneft intends to remain a reliable manufacturer, while reducing its impact on the climate and the environment.

Rosneft’s activities are related to the use of water resources, so issues of rational water use are given great attention. The company constantly reduces the total volume of water withdrawn through measures to reduce water consumption and the volume of water withdrawal from natural sources. The share of recycled and reused water in 2023 amounted to almost 93% of the total volume of water used for production needs. This figure has consistently exceeded 90% for 10 years.

In addition, Rosneft is implementing and using advanced wastewater treatment technologies that have already proven their effectiveness. Thus, the biological treatment facilities (BTF) of the Ufa group of oil refineries processed 134 million m3 of wastewater. BTF services the Bashneft oil refineries and treats wastewater from 66 enterprises in the northern industrial zone of Ufa and storm water. The treatment facilities provide the highest level of treatment of industrial, storm and domestic wastewater, which increases the volume of reused water in technological processes by 2.5 times.

At the same time, Rosneft enterprises also carry out activities to reproduce aquatic biological resources. In 2023, about 50 million fry were released by subsidiaries into the river systems of Russia.

The company assesses the level of water supply in the regions of its presence. In 2023, with the support of RN-Uvatneftegaz, scientists calculated changes in the area of water bodies that have occurred over the past half century and formulated recommendations for carrying out restoration and preventive measures to prevent a decrease in the area of the water surface of lakes and their bloom. Regardless of the region’s water supply, when implementing projects, the Company carries out a set of measures aimed at rational water use.

Rosneft also works to increase employee involvement in compliance with environmental requirements, conduct voluntary environmental campaigns, and develop a culture of rational and responsible consumption of natural resources. The Company’s volunteers regularly clean the coastal areas of large water bodies, improve coastal areas, install garbage containers, and place information stands for tourists about the value of lake ecosystems.

The company ensures strict compliance of production processes and industrial facilities with the requirements of Russian environmental legislation and maintains high standards of environmental safety in the field of water resource management.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 5, 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 –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: A joint competition for students of SPbPU and KRSU starts

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

As part of the work on scientific, methodological and resource support for the implementation of the activities of the development program of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, a visit of representatives of SPbPU to KRSU took place. Polytechnic was represented by Associate Professor of the Higher School of Design and Architecture of the Civil Engineering Institute Tatyana Diodorova and Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Sergey Salkutsan.

During business meetings and negotiations with the university management, issues of cooperation were discussed. In order to develop interaction between the SPbPU Institute of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Construction, the partners proposed holding a joint student competition to develop a corporate style for KRSU.

Students from both universities will take part in the competition and will work under the guidance of experienced mentors. From SPbPU, the mentor will be Tatyana Diodorova, a member of the Union of Designers of Russia, and from KRSU, Beisen Kariev, head of the department, chairman of the Union of Architects of the Kyrgyz Republic, will help the students.

The competition will be held in three stages, allowing participants to delve deeper into the process of creating and developing style concepts, as well as learning about the history of KRSU and the culture of Kyrgyzstan. The first stage of the competition will be exploratory. Students will meet with the management of KRSU to set the task. Applications for participation can be submitted after February 10, and the results of the competition will be announced in April. Winners will receive prizes, as well as a unique opportunity to go to a partner university to get to know the culture and features of the two countries better.

We are confident that this competition will become an excellent platform for exchanging ideas and experiences, and will also help students develop their skills and establish professional connections. Follow the news and don’t miss the chance to participate in this exciting project! — shared Tatyana Diodorova.

As part of cooperation with the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” (AES), we discussed issues of involving KRSU students in acceleration programs implemented by AES, as well as participation in events of the university technological entrepreneurship platform supervised by the “Startup Center” of SPbPU.

We will be glad to share our experience in implementing events on the topic of technological entrepreneurship, as well as involve KRSU students in them. In particular, a very important issue of cooperation will be the participation of the staff of the Advanced Engineering School in the implementation of the entrepreneurial projects competition, which is planned to be launched at KRSU, – noted Sergey Salkutsan.

The partners were also presented with the training simulator “Lean University”, developed by the staff of the PIS and is part of CML-Bench®.EDU, developed as an educational direction of the Digital Platform for the Development and Application of Digital Twins CML-Bench®. Based on this simulator, the management team of KRSU will be trained in the spring of 2025, and in the future, access will be provided to all university employees.

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 –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Developers from 13 countries have registered to participate in the fifth stream of the “Academy of Innovators”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Registration of participants in the fifth stream of the “Academy of Innovators” has ended in the capital. Experts have selected 100 of the most promising solutions for further development. Among them are a training platform based on artificial intelligence, a monitoring system for the oil industry and dental equipment. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

“About seven thousand people applied to participate in the new stream – 2.5 times more than last time. 60 percent of them are Muscovites. Developers from St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Sochi and 185 other cities in Russia also presented their projects,” the deputy mayor said.

The program also attracted the interest of innovators from 12 friendly countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Vietnam and Algeria.

The most popular areas were information technology, education, e-commerce, medicine and industry. For example, a student of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov created a portable scanner for diagnosing diseases in the oral cavity.

A team from Nigeria has developed an interactive platform that allows learning materials to be tailored to each user. Artificial intelligence analyzes students’ preferences and progress and suggests relevant content.

A student at the National Research University Higher School of Economics proposed a project to create applications and websites with augmented reality. The solution is aimed at parks and museums and allows visitors to be interested in interactive navigation, quests and games.

This time, the program participants also included the creators of a digital platform for printing various patterns and prints on fabric, a handbook for pregnant women with AI recommendations, and developments in the field of ceramic 3D printing.

The fifth stream of the “Innovators Academy” will begin on February 7. The educational program will include lectures, master classes and consultations. Together with experts, teams will finalize their product and present it to potential customers and investors.

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

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is account to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect the Position of Mil-Sosi or Its Clients.

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149708073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Take my money: OCR crypto stealers in Google Play and App Store

Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

Headline: Take my money: OCR crypto stealers in Google Play and App Store

In March 2023, researchers at ESET discovered malware implants embedded into various messaging app mods. Some of these scanned users’ image galleries in search of crypto wallet access recovery phrases. The search employed an OCR model which selected images on the victim’s device to exfiltrate and send to the C2 server. The campaign, which targeted Android and Windows users, saw the malware spread through unofficial sources. In late 2024, we discovered a new malware campaign we dubbed “SparkCat”, whose operators used similar tactics while attacking Android and iOS users through both official and unofficial app stores. Our conclusions in a nutshell:

We found Android and iOS apps, some available in Google Play and the App Store, which were embedded with a malicious SDK/framework for stealing recovery phrases for crypto wallets. The infected apps in Google Play had been downloaded more than 242,000 times. This was the first time a stealer had been found in Apple’s App Store.
The Android malware module would decrypt and launch an OCR plug-in built with Google’s ML Kit library, and use that to recognize text it found in images inside the gallery. Images that matched keywords received from the C2 were sent to the server. The iOS-specific malicious module had a similar design and also relied on Google’s ML Kit library for OCR.
The malware, which we dubbed “SparkCat”, used an unidentified protocol implemented in Rust, a language untypical of mobile apps, to communicate with the C2.
Judging by timestamps in malware files and creation dates of configuration files in GitLab repositories, SparkCat has been active since March 2024.

A malware SDK in Google Play apps

The first app to arouse our suspicion was a food delivery app in the UAE and Indonesia, named “ComeCome” (APK name: com.bintiger.mall.android), which was available in Google Play at the time of the research, with more than 10,000 downloads.

The onCreate method in the Application subclass, which is one of the app’s entry points, was overridden in version 2.0.0 (f99252b23f42b9b054b7233930532fcd). This method initializes an SDK component named “Spark”. It was originally obfuscated, so we statically deobfuscated it before analyzing.

Suspicious SDK being called

Spark is written in Java. When initialized, it downloads a JSON configuration file from a GitLab URL embedded in the malware body. The JSON is decoded with base64 and then decrypted with AES-128 in CBC mode.

The config from GitLab being decrypted

If the SDK fails to retrieve a configuration, the default settings are used.

We managed to download the following config from GitLab:

{ “http”: [“https://api.aliyung.org”], “rust”: [“api.aliyung.com:18883”], “tfm”: 1 }

{

“http”: [“https://api.aliyung.org”],

“rust”: [“api.aliyung.com:18883”],

“tfm”: 1

}

The “http” and “rust” fields contain SDK-specific C2 addresses, and the tfm flag is used to select a C2. With tfm equal to 1, “rust” will be used as the C2, and “http” if tfm has any other value.

Spark uses POST requests to communicate with the “http” server. It encrypts data with AES-256 in CBC mode before sending and decrypts server responses with AES-128 in CBC mode. In both cases, the keys are hard-coded constants.

The process of sending data to “rust” consists of three stages:

Data is encrypted with AES-256 in CBC mode using the same key as in the case of the “http” server.
The malware generates a JSON, where is the data upload path and is the encrypted data from the previous stage.

{ “path”: “upload@<path>“, “method”: “POST”, “contentType”: “application/json”, “data”: “<data>” }</data></path>

1

2

3

4

5

6

{

 “path”: “upload@“,

 “method”: “POST”,

 “contentType”: “application/json”,

 “data”: ““

}
The JSON is sent to the server with the help of the native libmodsvmp.so library via the unidentified protocol over TCP sockets. Written in Rust, the library disguises itself as a popular Android obfuscator.

Static analysis of the library wasn’t easy, as Rust uses a non-standard calling convention and the file had no function names in it. We managed to reconstruct the interaction pattern after running a dynamic analysis with Frida. Before sending data to the server, the library generates a 32-byte key for the AES-GCM-SIV cipher. With this key, it encrypts the data, pre-compressed with ZSTD. The algorithm’s nonce value is not generated and set to “unique nonce” (sic) in the code.

Extending the AES key using the hard-coded nonce value

The AES key is encrypted with RSA and is then also sent to the server. The public key for this RSA encryption is passed when calling a native method from the malicious SDK, in PEM format. The message is padded with 224 random bytes prior to AES key encryption. Upon receiving the request, the attackers’ server decrypts the AES key with a private RSA key, decodes the data it received, and then compresses the response with ZSTD and encrypts it with the AES-GCM-SIV algorithm. After being decrypted in the native library, the server response is passed to the SDK where it undergoes base64 decoding and decryption according to the same principle used for communication with the “http” server. See below for an example of communication between the malware module and the “rust” server.

An example of communication with the “rust” server

Once a configuration has been downloaded, Spark decrypts a payload from assets and executes it in a separate thread. It uses XOR with a 16-byte key for a cipher.

A payload being decrypted

The payload (c84784a5a0ee6fedc2abe1545f933655) is a wrapper for the TextRecognizer interface in Google’s ML Kit library. It loads different OCR models depending on the system language to recognize Latin, Korean, Chinese or Japanese characters in images. The SDK then uploads device information to /api/e/d/u on the C2 server. The server responds with an object that controls further malware activities. The object is a JSON file, its structure shown below. The uploadSwitch flag allows the malware to keep running (value 1).

{ “code”: 0, “message”: “success”, “data”: { “uploadSwitch”: 1, “pw”: 0, “rs”: “” } }

{

“code”: 0,

“message”: “success”,

“data”: {

“uploadSwitch”: 1,

“pw”: 0,

“rs”: “”

}

The SDK then registers an application activity lifecycle callback. Whenever the user initiates a chat with the support team, implemented with the legitimate third-party Easemob HelpDesk SDK, the handler requests access to the device’s image gallery. If the pw flag in the aforementioned object is equal to 1, the module will keep requesting access if denied. The reasoning behind the SDK’s request seems sound at first: users may attach images when contacting support.

The reason given when requesting read access to the gallery

If access is granted, the SDK runs its main functionality. This starts with sending a request to /api/e/config/rekognition on the C2 and getting parameters for processing OCR results in a response.

{ “code”: 0, “message”: “success”, “data”: { “letterMax”: 34, “letterMin”: 2, “enable”: 1, “wordlistMatchMin”: 9, “interval”: 100, “lang”: 1, “wordMin”: 12, “wordMax”: 34 } }

{

“code”: 0,

“message”: “success”,

“data”: {

“letterMax”: 34,

“letterMin”: 2,

“enable”: 1,

“wordlistMatchMin”: 9,

“interval”: 100,

“lang”: 1,

“wordMin”: 12,

“wordMax”: 34

}

These parameters are used by processor classes that filter images by OCR-recognized words. The malware also requests a list of keywords at /api/e/config/keyword for KeywordsProcessor, which uses these to select images to upload to the C2 server.

Searching for keywords among OCR image processing results

Besides KeywordsProcessor, the malware contains two further processors: DictProcessor and WordNumProcessor. The former filters images using localized dictionaries stored decrypted inside rapp.binary in the assets, and the latter filters words by length. The letterMin and letterMax parameters for each process define the permitted range of word length. For DictProcessor, wordlistMatchMin sets a minimum threshold for dictionary word matches in an image. For WordNumProcessor, wordMin and wordMax define the acceptable range for the total number of recognized words. The rs field in the response to the request for registering an infected device controls which processor will be used.

Images that match the search criteria are downloaded from the device in three steps. First, a request containing the image’s MD5 hash is sent to /api/e/img/uploadedCheck on the C2. Next, the image is uploaded to either Amazon’s cloud storage or to file@/api/res/send on the “rust” server. After that, a link to the image is uploaded to /api/e/img/rekognition on the C2. So, the SDK, designed for analytics as suggested by the package name com.spark.stat, is actually malware that selectively steals gallery content.

Uploading an image link

We asked ourselves what kind of images the attackers were looking for. To find out, we requested from the C2 servers a list of keywords for OCR-based search. In each case, we received words in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English, Czech, French, Italian, Polish and Portuguese. The terms all indicated that the attackers were financially motivated, specifically targeting recovery phrases also known as “mnemonics” that can be used to regain access to cryptocurrency wallets.

{ “code”: 0, “message”: “success”, “data”: { “keywords”: [“助记词”, “助記詞”, “ニーモニック”, “기억코드”, “Mnemonic”, “Mnemotecnia”, “Mnémonique”, “Mnemonico”, “Mnemotechnika”, “Mnemônico”, “클립보드로복사”, “복구”, “단어”, “문구”, “계정”, “Phrase”] } }

{

“code”: 0,

“message”: “success”,

“data”: {

“keywords”: [“助记词”, “助記詞”, “ニーモニック”, “기억코드”, “Mnemonic”,

“Mnemotecnia”, “Mnémonique”, “Mnemonico”, “Mnemotechnika”, “Mnemônico”,

“클립보드로복사”, “복구”, “단어”, “문구”, “계정”, “Phrase”]

}

Unfortunately, ComeCome was not the only app we found embedded with malicious content. We discovered a number of additional, unrelated apps covering a variety of subjects. Combined, these apps had been installed over 242,000 times at the time of writing this, and some of them remained accessible on Google Play. A full inventory can be found under the Indicators of Compromise section. We alerted Google to the presence of infected apps in its store.

Popular apps containing the malicious payload

Furthermore, our telemetry showed that malicious apps were also being spread through unofficial channels.

SDK features could vary slightly from app to app. Whereas the malware in ComeCome only requested permissions when the user opened the support chat, in some other cases, launching the core functionality acted as the trigger.

One small detail…

As we analyzed the trojanized Android apps, we noticed how the SDK set deviceType to “android” in device information it was sending to the C2, which suggested that a similar Trojan existed for other platforms.

Collecting information about an infected Android device

A subsequent investigation uncovered malicious apps in App Store infected with a framework that contained the same Trojan. For instance, ComeCome for iOS was infected in the same way as its Android version. This is the first known case of an app infected with OCR spyware being found in Apple’s official app marketplace.

The ComeCome page in the App Store

Negative user feedback about ComeCome

Malicious frameworks in App Store apps

We detected a series of apps embedded with a malicious framework in the App Store. We cannot confirm with certainty whether the infection was a result of a supply chain attack or deliberate action by the developers. Some of the apps, such as food delivery services, appeared to be legitimate, whereas others apparently had been built to lure victims. For example, we saw several similar AI-featured “messaging apps” by the same developer:

Messaging apps in the App Store designed to lure victims

Besides the malicious framework itself, some of the infected apps contained a modify_gzip.rb script in the root folder. It was apparently used by the developers to embed the framework in the app:

The contents of modify_gzip.rb

The framework itself is written in Objective-C and obfuscated with HikariLLVM. In the apps we detected, it had one of three names:

GZIP;
googleappsdk;
stat.

As with the Android-specific version, the iOS malware utilized the ML Kit interface, which provided access to a Google OCR model trained to recognize text and a Rust library that implemented a custom C2 communication protocol. However, in this case, it was embedded directly into the malicious executable. Unlike the Android version, the iOS framework retained debugging symbols, which allowed us to identify several unique details:

The lines reveal the paths on the framework creators’ device where the project was stored, including the user names:
- /Users/qiongwu/: the project author’s home directory
- /Users/quiwengjing/: the Rust library creator’s home directory
The C2-rust communication module was named im_net_sys. Besides the client, it contains code that the attackers’ server presumably uses to communicate with victims.
The project’s original name is GZIP.

Project details from code lines in the malicious framework

The framework contains several malicious classes. The following are of particular interest:

MMMaker: downloads a configuration and gathers information about the device.
ApiMgr: sends device data.
PhotoMgr: searches for photos containing keywords on the device and uploads them to the server.
MMCore: stores information about the C2 session.
MMLocationMgr: collects the current location of the device. It sent no data during our testing, so the exact purpose of this class remained unclear.

Certain classes, such as MMMaker, could be missing or bear a different name in earlier versions of the framework, but this didn’t change the malware’s core functionality.

Obfuscation significantly complicates the static analysis of samples, as strings are encrypted and the program’s control flow is obscured. To quickly decrypt the strings of interest, we opted for dynamic analysis. We ran the application under Frida and captured a dump of the _data section where these strings were stored. What caught our attention was the fact that the app bundleID was among the decrypted data:

com.lc.btdj: the ComeCome bundleID as used in the +[MMCore config] selector

As it turned out, the framework also stored other app bundle identifiers used in the +[MMCore config] selector. Our takeaways are as follows:

The Trojan can behave differently depending on the app it is running in.
There are more potentially infected apps than we originally thought.

For the full list of bundle IDs we collected from decrypted strings in various framework samples, see the IoC section. Some of the apps associated with these IDs had been removed from the App Store at the time of the investigation, whereas others were still there and contained malicious code. Some of the IDs on the list referred to apps that did not contain the malicious framework at the time of this investigation.

As with the Android-specific version, the Trojan implements three modes of filtering OCR output: keywords, word length, and localized dictionaries stored in encrypted form right inside the framework, in a “wordlists” folder. Unfortunately, we were unable to ascertain that the malware indeed made use of the last method. None of the samples we analyzed contained links to the dictionaries or accessed them while running.

Sending selected photos containing keywords is a key step in the malicious framework’s operation. Similar to the Android app, the Trojan requests permission to access the gallery only when launching the View Controller responsible for displaying the support chat. At the initialization stage, the Trojan, depending on the application it is running in, replaces the viewDidLoad or viewWillAppear method in the relevant controller with its own wrapper that calls the method +[PhotoMgr startTask:]. The latter then checks if the application has access to the gallery and requests it if needed. Next, if access is granted, PhotoMgr searches for photos that match sending criteria among those that are available and have not been processed before.

The code snippet of the malicious wrapper around the viewDidLoad method that determines which application the Trojan is running in

Although it took several attempts, we managed to make the app upload a picture to Amazon’s cloud and then send information about it to the attackers’ server. The app was using HTTPS to communicate with the server, not the custom “rust” protocol:

The communication with the C2 and upload to AWS

The data being sent looks as follows:

POST /api/e/img/uploadedCheck { “imgSign”: , “orgId”: <implantid>, “deviceId”: <deviceuuid> }</deviceuuid></implantid>

POST /api/e/img/uploadedCheck

{

“imgSign”: imgMD5>,

“orgId”: implantId>,

“deviceId”: deviceUUID>

}

POST api/e/img/rekognition { “imgUrl”: “https://dmbucket102.s3.ap-northeast- 1.amazonaws.com/”<app_name>_<device_uuid>“/photo_”<timestamp>“.jpg”, “deviceName”: “ios”, “appName”: <appname>, “deviceUUID”: <deviceuuid>, “imgSign”: , “imgSize”: , “orgId”:<implantid>, “deviceChannel”: <iphonemodel>, “keyword”:<keywordsfoundonpicture>, “reksign”:<processor type> }</processor></keywordsfoundonpicture></iphonemodel></implantid></deviceuuid></appname></timestamp></device_uuid></app_name>

POST api/e/img/rekognition

{

“imgUrl”: “https://dmbucket102.s3.ap-northeast-

1.amazonaws.com/”app_name>_device_uuid>“/photo_”timestamp>“.jpg”,

“deviceName”: “ios”,

“appName”: appName>,

“deviceUUID”: deviceUUID>,

“imgSign”: imgMD5>,

“imgSize”: imgSize>,

“orgId”:implantId>,

“deviceChannel”: iphoneModel>,

“keyword”:keywordsFoundOnPicture>,

“reksign”:processor type>

}

The oldest version of the malicious framework we were investigating was built on March 15, 2024. While it doesn’t differ significantly from newer versions, this one contains more unencrypted strings, including API endpoints and a single, hardcoded C2 address. Server responses are received in plaintext.

URLs hard-coded into the oldest version of the malicious framework

File creation date in the app

Campaign features

While analyzing the Android apps, we found that the word processor code contained comments in Chinese. Error descriptions returned by the C2 server in response to malformed requests were also in Chinese. These, along with the name of the framework developer’s home directory which we obtained while analyzing the iOS-specific version suggest that the creator of the malicious module speaks fluent Chinese. That being said, we have insufficient data to attribute the campaign to a known cybercrime gang.

Our investigation revealed that the attackers were targeting crypto wallet recovery phrases, which were sufficient for gaining full control over a victim’s crypto wallet to steal the funds. It must be noted that the malware is flexible enough to steal not just these phrases but also other sensitive data from the gallery, such as messages or passwords that might have been captured in screenshots. Multiple OCR results processing modes mitigate the effects of model errors that could affect the recognition of access recovery phrase images if only keyword processing were used.

Our analysis of the malicious Rust code inside the iOS frameworks revealed client code for communicating with the “rust” server and server-side encryption components. This suggests that the attackers’ servers likely also use Rust for protocol handling.

Server-side private RSA key import

We believe that this campaign is targeting, at a minimum, Android and iOS users in Europe and Asia, as indicated by the following:

The keywords used were in various languages native to those who live in European and Asian countries.
The dictionaries inside assets were localized in the same way as the keywords.
Some of the apps apparently operate in several countries. Some food delivery apps support signing up with a phone number from the UAE, Kazakhstan, China, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and other countries.

We suspect that mobile users in other regions besides Europe and Asia may have been targeted by this malicious campaign as well.

One of the first malicious modules that we started our investigation with was named “Spark”. The bundle ID of the malicious framework itself, “bigCat.GZIPApp”, caught our attention when we analyzed the iOS-specific Trojan. Hence the name, “SparkCat”. The following are some of the characteristics of this malware:

Cross-platform compatibility;
The use of the Rust programming language, which is rarely found in mobile apps;
Official app marketplaces as a propagation vector;
Stealth, with C2 domains often mimicking legitimate services and malicious frameworks disguised as system packages;
Obfuscation, which hinders analysis and detection.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, despite rigorous screening by the official marketplaces and general awareness of OCR-based crypto wallet theft scams, the infected apps still found their way into Google Play and the App Store. What makes this Trojan particularly dangerous is that there’s no indication of a malicious implant hidden within the app. The permissions that it requests may look like they are needed for its core functionality or appear harmless at first glance. The malware also runs quite stealthily. This case once again shatters the myth that iOS is somehow impervious to threats posed by malicious apps targeting Android. Here are some tips that can help you avoid becoming a victim of this malware:

If you have one of the infected apps installed on your device, remove it and avoid reinstalling until a fix is released.
Avoid storing screenshots with sensitive information, such as crypto wallets recovery phrases, in the gallery. You can store passwords, confidential documents and other sensitive information in special apps.
Use a robust security product on all your devices.

Our security products return the following verdicts when detecting malware associated with this campaign:

HEUR:Trojan.IphoneOS.SparkCat.*
HEUR:Trojan.AndroidOS.SparkCat.*

Indicators of compromise

Infected Android apps
0ff6a5a204c60ae5e2c919ac39898d4f
21bf5e05e53c0904b577b9d00588e0e7
a4a6d233c677deb862d284e1453eeafb
66b819e02776cb0b0f668d8f4f9a71fd
f28f4fd4a72f7aab8430f8bc91e8acba
51cb671292eeea2cb2a9cc35f2913aa3
00ed27c35b2c53d853fafe71e63339ed
7ac98ca66ed2f131049a41f4447702cd
6a49749e64eb735be32544eab5a6452d
10c9dcabf0a7ed8b8404cd6b56012ae4
24db4778e905f12f011d13c7fb6cebde
4ee16c54b6c4299a5dfbc8cf91913ea3
a8cd933b1cb4a6cae3f486303b8ab20a
ee714946a8af117338b08550febcd0a9
0b4ae281936676451407959ec1745d93
f99252b23f42b9b054b7233930532fcd
21bf5e05e53c0904b577b9d00588e0e7
eea5800f12dd841b73e92d15e48b2b71

iOS framework MD5s:
35fce37ae2b84a69ceb7bbd51163ca8a
cd6b80de848893722fa11133cbacd052
6a9c0474cc5e0b8a9b1e3baed5a26893
bbcbf5f3119648466c1300c3c51a1c77
fe175909ac6f3c1cce3bc8161808d8b7
31ebf99e55617a6ca5ab8e77dfd75456
02646d3192e3826dd3a71be43d8d2a9e
1e14de6de709e4bf0e954100f8b4796b
54ac7ae8ace37904dcd61f74a7ff0d42
caf92da1d0ff6f8251991d38a840fb4a

Trojan configuration in GitLab
hxxps://gitlab[.]com/group6815923/ai/-/raw/main/rel.json
hxxps://gitlab[.]com/group6815923/kz/-/raw/main/rel.json

C2
api.firebaseo[.]com
api.aliyung[.]com
api.aliyung[.]org
uploads.99ai[.]world
socket.99ai[.]world
api.googleapps[.]top

Photo storage
hxxps://dmbucket102.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws[.]com

Names of Infected Android APKs from Google Play
com.crownplay.vanity.address
com.atvnewsonline.app
com.bintiger.mall.android
com.websea.exchange
org.safew.messenger
org.safew.messenger.store
com.tonghui.paybank
com.bs.feifubao
com.sapp.chatai
com.sapp.starcoin

BundleIDs encrypted inside the iOS frameworks
im.pop.app.iOS.Messenger
com.hkatv.ios
com.atvnewsonline.app
io.zorixchange
com.yykc.vpnjsq
com.llyy.au
com.star.har91vnlive
com.jhgj.jinhulalaab
com.qingwa.qingwa888lalaaa
com.blockchain.uttool
com.wukongwaimai.client
com.unicornsoft.unicornhttpsforios
staffs.mil.CoinPark
com.lc.btdj
com.baijia.waimai
com.ctc.jirepaidui
com.ai.gbet
app.nicegram
com.blockchain.ogiut
com.blockchain.98ut
com.dream.towncn
com.mjb.Hardwood.Test
com.galaxy666888.ios
njiujiu.vpntest
com.qqt.jykj
com.ai.sport
com.feidu.pay
app.ikun277.test
com.usdtone.usdtoneApp2
com.cgapp2.wallet0
com.bbydqb
com.yz.Byteswap.native
jiujiu.vpntest
com.wetink.chat
com.websea.exchange
com.customize.authenticator
im.token.app
com.mjb.WorldMiner.new
com.kh-super.ios.superapp
com.thedgptai.event
com.yz.Eternal.new
xyz.starohm.chat
com.crownplay.luckyaddress1

MIL OSI Economics –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI China: Azerbaijan reacts to preliminary report on Aktau plane crash

Source: China State Council Information Office

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Transport said the preliminary report released Tuesday on the Dec. 25 crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft near Aktau indicated the plane suffered damage due to external impact, dismissing bird strikes and cylinder explosions as causes.

In a statement reacting to the report, the ministry emphasized that the aircraft, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, was fully airworthy at takeoff and experienced no mechanical failures before impact.

The ministry said that analysis of the flight recorders confirmed the aircraft lost GPS signals over Russian airspace and Grozny Airport with two external noises recorded 24 seconds apart, followed by the sequential failure of the hydraulic systems.

The fuselage suffered numerous through and blind damage, particularly in the aft section, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, left wing, and left engine, caused by foreign objects. No evidence of a bird strike or cylinder explosion was found, the ministry said citing the preliminary report.

Foreign objects, which did not belong to the aircraft, were discovered in the wreckage, and their exact origin would be determined through further expert examinations, the ministry added.

The crash occurred as Flight J2-8243 was en route from Baku to Grozny. The accident resulted in the deaths of two pilots, a senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers. Despite the severity of the crash, 29 people survived due to the crew’s emergency landing efforts, the ministry said.

Kazakhstan, as the country where the crash took place, is leading the investigation with Azerbaijan’s full participation. The final report on the accident’s causes is expected to be published within a year, in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations.

MIL OSI China News –

February 5, 2025

Category: Central Asia

MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Kyrgyzstan

Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

What has catalyzed local currency finance?

A capital market innovation: the emergence of currency-linked bonds

Issuing innovative local currency bonds

Creating local currency liquidity pools

The next frontier: sovereign local currency loans

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Subjects

Updates to this page

Taboo topic

Protecting sources

Small but significant

A malware SDK in Google Play apps

One small detail…

Malicious frameworks in App Store apps

Campaign features

Conclusion

Indicators of compromise