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Category: China

  • MIL-OSI: ACM Research Announces Qualification of High-Temperature SPM Tool for Customer in China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today announced its Single-Wafer High-Temperature Sulfuric Peroxide Mixture (SPM) tool has been qualified by a key logic device manufacturer in mainland China. To date, ACM has delivered its SPM tools to thirteen customers. The system features ACM’s proprietary nozzle design, which prevents acid mist splatter during the SPM process, improving particle performance, reducing chamber preventive maintenance cleaning frequency, and enhancing system uptime. It supports wet etching and wafer cleaning for both front- and back-end processes at 28-nanometer (nm) and below technology nodes.

    “The Single-Wafer Moderate/High-Temperature SPM tool is a prime example of ACM’s commitment to innovation in solving customers’ challenges in high-volume 300mm semiconductor manufacturing. We’re already seeing great interest across our global customer base in this tool,” said Dr. David Wang, ACM’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Moderate/High-Temperature SPM represents a growing portion of the wafer-cleaning equipment market, especially High-Temperature SPM tool, which plays a critical role in manufacturing next-generation semiconductor devices.”

    ACM’s Single-Wafer Moderate/High-Temperature SPM tool is suitable for a variety of front- and back-end wet etching and cleaning processes, including low-to-medium temperature sulfuric acid cleaning at 90 degrees Celsius (°C), high-temperature sulfuric acid photoresist stripping at 170°C, and ultra-high temperature sulfuric acid metal lift-off at 190°C. As semiconductor process nodes advance, the demand for single-wafer high-temperature sulfuric acid processing is increasing significantly. This trend brings increasingly stringent requirements for particle control, chamber environment management, and sulfuric acid temperature stability. In response to these challenges, ACM has introduced an innovative design for its Single-Wafer Moderate/High-Temperature SPM tool, positioning it as a ready-to-deploy solution to meet the evolving needs of the industry. ACM’s proprietary technologies integrated into the tool include:

    • A multi-level heating method that ensures the highest mixed temperature exceeds 230℃ and is steadily controlled.
    • An SPM nozzle design that prevents high-temperature SPM from splashing outside the chamber; it achieves better particle control with an average particle count of fewer than 10 at 26nm.

    The Single-Wafer Moderate/High-Temperature SPM tool is equipped with an inline chemical mixing system and a configurable process chamber that accommodates various chemical solutions. It can also be seamlessly integrated with ACM’s patented SAPS and TEBO megasonic technologies to enhance organic contaminant removal and improve wafer surface preparation.

    About the ACM Single-Wafer Moderate/ High-Temperature SPM Tool
    ACM’s Single-Wafer Moderate/High-Temperature SPM tool is designed for various wet-etching processes and both single- and double-sided cleaning. It is compatible with a wide range of chemicals and cleaning processes. By effectively removing organic defects while minimizing film loss, it outperforms most post-cleaning and photoresist wet stripping processes. Supporting wafer sizes from 150mm to 300mm, the system features four load ports, a configurable setup of 8 to 12 chambers, a multifunctional chemical distribution system, and a self-cleaning chamber.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “designed,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on ACM management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings ACM makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by ACM. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ACM undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    About ACM Research, Inc.
    ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com.

    © ACM Research, Inc. ULTRA C, SAPS, TEBO and the ACM Research logo are trademarks of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, these trademarks appear in this press release without ™ symbols, but that practice does not mean ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact: Company Contacts:
    Alyssa Lundeen USA
    Kiterocket Robert Metter
    +1 218.398.0776 +1 503.367.9753
    alundeen@kiterocket.com  
      China
      Xi Wang
      ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc.
      +86 21 50808868
       
      Korea
      David Kim
      ACM Research (Korea), Inc.
      +82 1041415171
       
      Taiwan
      David Chang
      +886 921999884
       
      Singapore
      Adrian Ong
      +65 8813-1107

    The MIL Network –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: We looked at what supermarkets in 97 countries are doing to our waistlines. Here’s what we found

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tailane Scapin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University

    World Obesity Federation

    In many countries, buying food at supermarkets, convenience stores and online has become the norm. But what’s the convenience of modern food shopping doing to our health?

    Our study, published today with colleagues from UNICEF, looked at how people in 97 countries shopped for groceries over 15 years.

    Globally, we found a huge increase in the number of supermarkets and convenience stores (which we’ll shorten to chain grocery stores in this article). We also found people are spending more money in these stores and on their online platforms.

    But this has come at a cost to our health. People in countries with the most chain grocery stores per person buy more unhealthy food and are more likely to be obese.

    Here’s why we’re so concerned about this public health disaster.

    The rise of chain grocery stores

    Our study analysed food industry data from a business database to understand how the food retail sector has changed worldwide over time. We looked at the kinds of stores, how much people spend there, and how much unhealthy processed food is sold. We linked these trends with changes in obesity rates using data from a large global initiative.

    We found the density of chain grocery stores (number of stores per 10,000 people) has increased globally by 23.6% over 15 years (from 2009 to 2023).

    We found far more of these stores per person in high-income countries, as you may expect. However, it’s in low- and middle-income countries where numbers are increasing the fastest.

    Rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and customer demand mean large retail companies see these countries as new potential markets.

    For example, the density of chain grocery stores increased by about 21% a year in Myanmar, about 18% a year in Vietnam and about 12% a year in Cambodia.

    In Vietnam, the number of chain grocery stores increased by about 18% a year.
    Nature-Andy/Shutterstock

    We’re shopping online too

    The data in our study also covers the rise of online food shopping. For instance, the worldwide spend on online grocery shopping was 325% more in 2023 compared with 2014.

    Out of the 27 countries we looked at for online food shopping, people in the United Arab Emirates and the United States were the top spenders. In 2023, the average person in the United Arab Emirates spent about US$617 that year, 570% more than in 2014. In the US, the average person spent US$387 in 2023. That’s about 125% more than in 2014.

    It seems many of us took to online shopping during the early days of the COVID pandemic, a habit that appears to have stuck.

    More chain stores, more junk food, more obesity

    The rise of chain grocery stores, including their online platforms, is also changing what we eat.

    Over the 15 years of our study, there has been a 10.9% increase in the sales of unhealthy processed food from those chain grocery stores.

    In South Asia, the increase has been particularly rapid. People in Pakistan have been buying 5% more unhealthy processed foods from chain grocery stores every year for the past 15 years. In India, it’s 4% more and in Bangladesh 3% more.

    Over 15 years, our study also showed the percentage of people with obesity across all countries rose from 18.2% to 23.7%. It was the countries with the biggest increases in chain grocery stores where we saw the sharpest increases in obesity.

    Laos is a good example. The number of chain grocery stores per person in the country has been increasing by 15% each year since 2009, while the percentage of people with obesity has doubled from 2009 to 2023.

    In almost all countries, obesity is on the rise. In Australia, overweight and obesity have recently officially overtaken tobacco as the biggest burden on our health.

    Over 15 years, there has been a 10.9% increase in the sales of unhealthy processed food globally.
    Pratiwi Ambarwati/Shutterstock

    Why do we think supermarkets are to blame?

    Supermarkets and hypermarkets sell healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables. Yet, there are good reasons to think our retail environment might be to blame for the rise in obesity.

    Highly processed foods

    Chain grocery stores typically sell an enormous array of highly processed packaged foods high in sugar, fat and salt that can harm our health. One study of the food and drinks available in supermarkets from 12 countries showed the majority are classified as unhealthy. Given our findings of rapid increases in chain grocery in low- and middle-income countries, it was alarming in this study that the least healthy products were typically seen in supermarkets from countries like India, China and Chile.

    Heavy promotion

    Chain grocery stores often aggressively promote unhealthy foods. This includes through price discounting; advertising in circulars, on TV and social media; and by being placed in prominent displays at checkouts and the ends of aisles. Studies have shown this to be true in Belgium, Ireland and another 12 countries.

    Online, we see unhealthy foods promoted more often (with discounts and displayed more prominently) than healthy options. For instance, on average at least one-third of products prominently displayed on Australian supermarket websites are unhealthy.

    More buying power

    Compared to small independent grocers, large chain grocery stores globally have a far larger influence on decisions around product assortment and price. Because of this, they can control supply chains, often in partnership with national and multi-national food manufacturers of ultra processed, unhealthy packaged foods.

    What can we do about it?

    There are many social, political, cultural and economic factors that contribute to the rise in obesity globally. Many of these relate to the price, availability and promotion of food in retail settings and the way the retail industry is structured.

    Because of this, we think it’s time for governments and retailers to step up and start making changes to where and how we shop for food.

    Some countries are already beginning to act. In the United Kingdom for example, government legislation now prevents placing unhealthy foods in prominent places such as the checkout counter and at the ends of aisles close to checkouts. From October this year, further restrictions on the price promotion of unhealthy foods (such as “buy one, get one free”) will also come into force in the UK.

    There is also plenty that retailers can do. In Norway, for example, one major grocery chain launched a comprehensive healthy eating campaign several years ago, including by increasing the size and prominence of healthy food displays and offering discounts on fruits and vegetables. This led to a 42% increase in vegetable sales and a 25% rise in fruit sales from 2012 until 2020.

    But most grocery chains are still not doing enough to prioritise their customers’ health and nutrition. In the US, we see this in particular for supermarkets catering to people on low-incomes. And in the UK, although there has been some promising progress by some supermarket retailers, all those assessed have considerable scope for improvement.

    Now more than ever, it is time to create healthier retail food environments that support nutritious diets and help reverse the rising rates of obesity.

    Tailane Scapin receives funding from UNICEF.

    Adrian Cameron receives funding from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and UNICEF. He is affiliated with INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity / Non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support) and is the Director of the RE-FRESH: Next Generation NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Food Retail Environments for Health.

    – ref. We looked at what supermarkets in 97 countries are doing to our waistlines. Here’s what we found – https://theconversation.com/we-looked-at-what-supermarkets-in-97-countries-are-doing-to-our-waistlines-heres-what-we-found-246412

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the Item 2 General Debate

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the Item 2 General Debate

    UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council for the Item 2 General Debate. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President. 

    And thank you for your update, High Commissioner.  

    First of all, we share your concern at Thailand’s decision to deport forty Uyghurs to China. We urge China to ensure they are treated in accordance with international standards. 

    Mr Vice President, 

    Sudan’s people have suffered enough. This Council’s Fact-Finding Mission has reported appalling violence: women raped and sexually abused, people executed because of their ethnicity, children recruited as soldiers, and heavy artillery shelling including in civilian areas. All parties must adhere to their obligations to protect civilians and perpetrators of atrocities must be held accountable.  

    We commend DRC for its engagement with the Council and urge all parties to act in accordance with international law.  

    In Venezuela, civil society and independent media are targeted and political opposition face severe restrictions. We call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained. 

    And in Guatemala, the continuing persecution of justice officials linked to the fight against corruption is deeply concerning and must stop.  

    Finally, Mr President, 

    The situation in Libya remains precarious, with armed groups and security actors operating with impunity. We urge all Libyan actors to comply with international law and engage in the UN-facilitated and Libyan-led political process in good faith.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Donald Trump is picking fights with leaders around the world. What exactly is his foreign policy approach?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon O’Connor, Professor in U.S. Politics and U.S. Foreign Relations, United States Studies Centre,, University of Sydney

    Since returning to the US presidency, Donald Trump has outdone himself, gaining global media headlines and attention with outrageous statements and dramatic decisions.

    The most consequential decision so far has been the freezing of many US aid and development programs. The freeze had an immediate impact. Even with some waivers now in place, it is likely that starving people in Ethiopia will not get the famine relief desperately needed; food is rotting in African harbours as constitutional battles over executive power are waged in Washington.

    In Africa alone, the US has also been funding lifesaving malaria prevention efforts and HIV/AIDS drug programs. Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency has cruelly disrupted those.

    There are numerous examples of other reckless policy decisions. In terms of long term consequences, arguably the worst decision Trump has made is pulling the United States out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. He also wound back a slew of Biden administration policies while erasing the term “climate change” from various government websites.

    Trump has attempted to bully Mexico and Canada with threats of a 25% tax on all imports from those two trading partners. He has also imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports coming into the US.

    Then there are Trump’s statements on Ukraine, Gaza and Panama. Last weekend, his treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House meeting caused widespread dismay around the world, as Trump doubled down on his promotion of Putin’s talking points and Russian government interests.

    So what’s Trump’s game plan?

    With Trump, it is tempting to claim he is a chaos merchant with no plan or method to his madness. According to this view, when he is challenged or criticised, he will escalate the threats and increase the insults.

    Therefore, conventional wisdom has it that the best way to deal with Trump is to flatter and humour him, then wait for his attention to be distracted by another prize. This understanding of Trump has been developed by international relations scholar Daniel Drezner into the “toddler-in-chief” thesis.

    Psychological understandings of Trump are useful to a point, but it is worth remembering presidencies are run by vast administrations of people, departments and agencies, and not just one person. Moreover, an institution as large as the US Defense Department – with its two million employees and military bases in at least 80 countries around the world – has a near permanent mindset of its own. This, in turn, tends to make presidents as seemingly different as Obama and Trump custodians of many similar military policies and postures.

    The way I have initially examined Trump in my own research is to see him as a hardline conservative nationalist who believes projecting US power with tough talk and reminding other nations of American military might is the best approach to world politics.

    Previous Republican presidents, most notably George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, adopted this so-called “cowboy” approach. It’s a posture that rejects the idea that the US is the leader of a liberal international order (a leadership role promoted by their Democratic party opponents).

    My starting point for analysis sees continuities between Reagan, Bush and Trump, and highlights their arrogance and ignorance when it comes to dealing with the rest of the world.

    Similar, but different

    However, there are some things about Trump that are clearly different and distinct. Before his second term, the most unusual aspect of Trump’s foreign policy approach was the volume and range of his scattergun rhetoric towards other leaders and nations. For example, he threatened North Korea with “fire and fury and, frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before”, but later told a rally of supporters that, “We fell in love. No, really. He wrote me beautiful letters.”

    As for academic perspectives that might help us better understand what kind of politician Trump is and what his next moves might be, the obvious label is “crudely transactional”. His attitude to most minor and middle powers seems to be “what have you done for me lately?” or “why does America owe your nation anything?”.

    When it comes to Russia, and potentially China, there has been speculation Trump is adopting a geopolitical approach with parallels to the “great game” of the 19th century. The “great game” is another way of saying imperialism, and this is a largely underused way of describing American foreign policy in general and the second Trump administration in particular.

    Then there is the question of whether the (other) “f-word” is a useful way to understand Trump and Trumpism: are his rhetoric and his domestic and international policies fascist? They are definitely ultra-nationalist and racist, which are two key components of fascism; Trumpism revolves around a charismatic leader that has enough in common with fascist Italy and Nazi Germany to make opponents of Trump justifiably nervous. But does Trumpism have the other key element of fascism: mob or state violence that is at times directed at scapegoated enemies?

    There is certainly an embrace of revenge and cruelty by Trump in general, which is being carried out in practice by Musk’s DOGE project. However, whether it is useful to call the second Trump administration fascist, or just fascistic for now, is a complex question within scholarly circles.

    Five weeks into the second Trump administration, and many of the most destructive ideas that were laid out last year in the unofficial campaign manifesto Project 2025 are being put into place. It has been a long-term dream of many hardline conservatives to gut America’s foreign aid and development programs, which is now happening at a frightening pace.

    What lies ahead that turns rhetoric into reality is hard to entirely predict, but many of Trump’s utterances this year have clearly been imperialistic and fascistic. Trump does not have to ignore the constitution or be a textbook fascist to be a terribly dangerous president. Being an authoritarian, which he has no qualms about embracing, is worrying enough.

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

    – ref. Donald Trump is picking fights with leaders around the world. What exactly is his foreign policy approach? – https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-is-picking-fights-with-leaders-around-the-world-what-exactly-is-his-foreign-policy-approach-251238

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Digital Luddites are rising. They want to democratise tech, not destroy it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Raffaele F Ciriello, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney

    Have you ever been called a Luddite? We have – usually as an insult, rooted in a popular misconception that Luddites are anti-progress fanatics.

    Nothing could be further from the truth. The original 19th century Luddites weren’t against technology. Rather, they resisted its oppressive use.

    Their rebellion was violently suppressed. But their core critique lives on: technology should benefit all of humanity, not a privileged few.

    Today, as Silicon Valley billionaires and United States president Donald Trump turbocharge corporate control of public digital infrastructure, this critique rings truer than ever.

    In response, we are a seeing a growing surge of attempts to wrest back control of technology for democratic ends. This is a kind of “digital Luddism” which echoes past struggles against high-tech injustice.

    The original Luddites

    The Luddites were 19th century English textile workers who destroyed machinery threatening their craft and livelihoods. Historians call their tactics “collective bargaining by riot”. They were fighting against technologies that centralised power and stripped workers of dignity.

    Luddite resistance was part of broader struggles for labour rights and socioeconomic justice.

    For example, in 18th century France, silk weavers similarly revolted against mechanisation that devalued their craft.

    Earlier, England’s Diggers and Levellers resisted the privatisation of communal lands. This foreshadowed today’s battles over corporate control of digital infrastructure.

    The Luddites faced severe punishment, including imprisonment and even execution. Despite this, their legacy endures. Today, dismissing critics of Big Tech as “Luddites” repeats the mistake of conflating resistance to exploitation with fear of progress.

    The Luddite resistance in the 19th century was part of broader struggles for labour rights and socioeconomic justice.
    Working Class Movement Library catalogue

    In the most extreme scenario, unchecked corporate power allied with monstrous government polices can lead to atrocities. In Nazi Germany, for example, Dehomag, a former subsidiary of computer giant IBM, provided data systems to the Nazis to track victims. Chemical company IG Farben also supplied Zyklon B gas for extermination camps. Many other companies profited from forced labour and funded the regime. This shows how complicity can make oppression more efficient.

    Today, digital technologies are deepening inequality, eroding democracy, undermining privacy, and concentrating power.

    Digital technologies are also fuelling surveillance capitalism, the displacement of human workers by AI algorithms and the growth of monopolistic platforms.

    Platforms and AI systems governed by “broligarchs” such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are also shaping politics, culture, and beliefs globally.

    Digital Luddism, also known as neo-Luddism, tackles these issues through three strategies: resistance, removal and replacement.

    Resistance: blocking harmful systems

    Technology is not inevitable — it’s a choice. Sustained collective action can counter corporate dominance and align tech with democratic values.

    In 2018, more than 3,000 Google workers protested the company’s military AI contract, forcing it to adopt ethical guidelines. However, in February this year, Google expanded defence deals, showing how resistance must be sustained.

    Three years later, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen exposed the harmful algorithms at the heart of the social media platform.

    Then, in 2024, Amazon and Google staff also staged walkouts over a US$1.2 billion AI contract linked to Israeli military operations.

    Creative industries are also fighting back. For example, in 2023 screenwriters and actors in Hollywood protested against AI replacing their roles. Similarly, Australia’s “right to disconnect” law reflects Luddite principles of reclaiming autonomy.

    Non-profit organisations such as the Algorithmic Justice League and the Electronic Frontier Foundation empower digital rights advocates to take back control over digital spaces by exposing AI bias and through legal litigation.

    Digital Luddism doesn’t reject innovation. It demands technology serve stakeholders, not shareholders.

    Removal: dismantling entrenched power

    Some systems are beyond reform, requiring direct intervention. Removal involves political action and legal regulation. It also involves public pressure to break monopolies or impose penalties on unethical corporations.

    For example, the TraffickingHub petition has garnered more than two million signatories to hold adult website PornHub accountable for unethical or unlawful content. This has led financial institutions, such as Visa and Mastercard, to cut ties to the website. For more than 20 years, hacker collective Anonymous has carried out cyber-attacks on authoritarian regimes, extremists and corporations.

    Digital Luddites can also lend a hand to the long arm of the law.

    The European Union’s 2023 Digital Markets Act broke Apple’s app store monopoly. This sparked a surge in small EU developers.

    Big Tech has also repeatedly faced huge fines and antitrust lawsuits. However, breaking up or nationalising these corporations remains rhetoric for now.

    Replacement: building ethical alternatives

    Proprietary corporate systems have long been challenged by free, open-source alternatives.

    But digital Luddism isn’t just about using different tools. It’s about systemic change towards sustainable, transparent and user-controlled infrastructure.

    After Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, decentralised alternatives that let users control content flourished. For example, Bluesky grew from 1 million to more than 27 million users in one year.

    The Australian government is also responding to a broader public demand for platform independence. For example, it has introduced policies aimed at enhancing people’s data rights. Its Digital Transformation Agency is also advocating for improved open data standards.

    Open-source AI projects such as China’s DeepSeek and HuggingFace’s Deep Research now rival corporate models, proving open tech is a force to reckon with.

    The original Luddites smashed machines. But the global nature of today’s digital infrastructure makes physical sabotage impractical. That’s why digital Luddism isn’t about smashing screens. Instead, it’s about smashing oppressive systems.

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

    – ref. Digital Luddites are rising. They want to democratise tech, not destroy it – https://theconversation.com/digital-luddites-are-rising-they-want-to-democratise-tech-not-destroy-it-251155

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Padilla Introduce Bill to Safeguard U.S. Research Against Foreign Adversaries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) today introduced the U.S. Research Protection Act to shield American research from malign foreign influence by updating language in the CHIPS and Science Act to include additional restrictions against programs sponsored by countries of concern:
    “In a world where competition turns into hostility all too often, we must do everything in our power to safeguard American ingenuity against bad actor nations,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation will place even more restrictions on academic programs involving countries of concern to ensure American scientific research is protected.”
    “The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act included important provisions to bolster our research security,” said Sen. Padilla. “This legislation will provide much needed clarity for federal agencies and academic institutions to better safeguard national security, while preserving research collaboration and international partnerships crucial to the strength of America’s innovation economy.”
    Background:
    Malign Foreign Talent Programs are sponsored by countries of concern like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea to obtain American scientific research and technology by incentivizing or coercing American researchers to act on their behalf. The CHIPS and Science Act included provisions to prohibit the U.S. government and academic institutions from partnering with such programs.
    However, the law’s current definition of a Malign Foreign Talent Program only includes programs that “directly provide” incentives and benefits to researchers to participate, leaving out other methods to provide indirect benefits to researchers to induce their cooperation. This legislation would broaden the definition to include “indirect benefits,” ensuring foreign adversarial nations cannot exploit this loophole to evade U.S. research restrictions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Disrupting a global cybercrime network abusing generative AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Disrupting a global cybercrime network abusing generative AI

    In an amended complaint to recent civil litigation, Microsoft is naming the primary developers of malicious tools designed to bypass the guardrails of generative AI services, including Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service. We are pursuing this legal action now against identified defendants to stop their conduct, to continue to dismantle their illicit operation, and to deter others intent on weaponizing our AI technology.

    The individuals named are: (1) Arian Yadegarnia aka “Fiz” of Iran, (2) Alan Krysiak aka “Drago” of United Kingdom, (3) Ricky Yuen aka “cg-dot” of Hong Kong, China, and (4) Phát Phùng Tấn aka “Asakuri” of Vietnam. These actors are at the center of a global cybercrime network Microsoft tracks as Storm-2139. Members of Storm-2139 exploited exposed customer credentials scraped from public sources to unlawfully access accounts with certain generative AI services. They then altered the capabilities of these services and resold access to other malicious actors, providing detailed instructions on how to generate harmful and illicit content, including non-consensual intimate images of celebrities and other sexually explicit content.

    This activity is prohibited under the terms of use for our generative AI services and required deliberate efforts to bypass our safeguards. We are not naming specific celebrities to keep their identities private and have excluded synthetic imagery and prompts from our filings to prevent the further circulation of harmful content.

    Storm-2139: A global network of creators, providers and end users.

    In December 2024, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia alleging various causes of action against 10 unidentified “John Does” participating in activities that violate U.S. law and Microsoft’s Acceptable Use Policy and Code of Conduct. Through this initial filing, we were able to gather more information about the operations of the criminal enterprise.  

    Storm-2139 is organized into three main categories: creators, providers, and users. Creators developed the illicit tools that enabled the abuse of AI generated services. Providers then modified and supplied these tools to end users often with varying tiers of service and payment. Finally, users then used these tools to generate violating synthetic content, often centered around celebrities and sexual imagery.  

    Below is a visual representation of Storm-2139, which displays internet aliases uncovered as part of our investigation as well as the countries in which we believe the associated personas are located.    

    Storm-2139’s organizational structure.
    Screenshot of “Fiz’s” LinkedIn profile

    Through its ongoing investigation, Microsoft has identified several of the above-listed personas, including, but not limited to, the four named defendants. While we have identified two actors located in the United States—specifically, in Illinois and Florida—those identities remain undisclosed to avoid interfering with potential criminal investigations. Microsoft is preparing criminal referrals to United States and foreign law enforcement representatives. 

    Cybercriminals react to Microsoft’s website seizure and court filing.

    As part of our initial filing, the Court issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enabling Microsoft to seize a website instrumental to the criminal operation, effectively disrupting the group’s ability to operationalize their services. The seizure of this website and subsequent unsealing of the legal filings in January generated an immediate reaction from actors, in some cases causing group members to turn on and point fingers at one another. We observed chatter about the lawsuit on the group’s monitored communication channels, speculating on the identities of the “John Does” and potential consequences.  

    Screenshot of online chatter discussing “Fiz’s” real name.

    In these channels, certain members also “doxed” Microsoft’s counsel of record, posting their names, personal information, and in some instances photographs. Doxing can result in real-world harm, ranging from identity theft to harassment.   

    Screenshot from post on online channels providing information about the case lawyers.

    As a result, Microsoft’s counsel received a variety of emails, including several from suspected members of Storm-2139 attempting to cast blame on other members of the operation.  

    Screenshots of emails received by counsel of record.

    This reaction underscores the impact of Microsoft’s legal actions and demonstrates how these measures can effectively disrupt a cybercriminal network by seizing infrastructure and create a powerful deterrent impact among its members. 

    Continuing our commitment to combatting the abuse of generative AI.

    We take the misuse of AI very seriously, recognizing the serious and lasting impacts of abusive imagery for victims. Microsoft remains committed to protecting users by embedding robust AI guardrails and safeguarding our services from illegal and harmful content. Last year, we committed to continuing to innovate on new ways to keep users safe by outlining a comprehensive approach to combat abusive AI-generated content. We published a whitepaper with recommendations for U.S. policymakers on modernizing criminal law to equip law enforcement with the tools necessary to bring bad actors to justice. We also provided an update on our approach to intimate image abuse, detailing the steps we take to protect our services from such harm, whether synthetic or otherwise. 

    As we’ve said before, no disruption is complete in one day. Going after malicious actors requires persistence and ongoing vigilance. By unmasking these individuals and shining a light on their malicious activities, Microsoft aims to set a precedent in the fight against AI technology misuse.  

    Tags: AI, cybercrime, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Responsible AI

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Trump’s spat with Zelensky threatens the security of the world – including the US

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

    After the catastrophic press conference on February 28 between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US president Donald Trump, it is clear that there has been a global realignment.

    What the press conference revealed was that Trump’s position is a lot closer to Russian president Vladmir Putin than long-time US ally Ukraine, and also that other US allies cannot count on Washington to promote the global world order.

    The extraordinary spectacle ended with Trump and vice-president J.D. Vance shouting at Zelensky, telling him he wasn’t thankful for US aid. Since then, the expected mineral deal between Ukraine and the US has been called off – at least for now.

    There was already a wake-up call for European allies about how reliable the US might be during Trump’s first term when he launched his “American first” policy. This included chastising Nato member countries for not paying enough, and characterising Europe as free-riding on US security guarantees.

    While this sparked alarm among some European leaders over how to ensure that the continent becomes less dependent on the US, Europeans are now scrambling to respond to Trump 2.0’s much more extreme version of America first. After the press conference, European Union foreign minister Kaja Kallas declared: “Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”

    Trump’s relationship with Russia

    To some extent Europe was caught off guard because it was hard to imagine that a US president would swing US support behind Russia, especially after Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But Trump has turned the page on challenging Russian aggression, and does not seem to see Putin’s ambitions as a threat to global security.

    Instead in the press conference – as in previous statements – Trump has echoed some of Putin’s talking points, such as Ukraine not having any cards to play, being unwilling to do a peace deal, and having to give up land to Russia.

    Trump also refused to say that Putin started the war, and even claimed that peace could have been possible early on in the war had Zelensky wanted peace. Trump even repeatedly opined that both Putin and Trump were brothers of sorts — victims of the same investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

    The press conference also revealed that the security guarantees that Zelensky pushed Trump to confirm were secondary at best. Trump remained vague and offered no details, possibly because he has no intention of the US providing any security to Ukraine.

    The aim may have been to goad Zelensky – just weeks ago on Fox News Trump stated that he did not know if Ukrainians would one day become Russian. Meanwhile, Trump’s claim that Ukraine did not have any cards to play is unhelpful to highlight if you are trying to negotiate a great deal for one of your allies.

    What Trump seemed to forget is that Ukraine once had a lot of cards — holding the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world with 1,900 strategic warheads, 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles and 44 strategic bombers. Ukraine was coaxed into returning all of its nuclear warheads in exchange for security assurances from Russia and the west, in a 1994 agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum.

    But while this memorandum might mean little to the current US president, allies around the world can see how quickly a US leader can forget their country’s commitments. The message that Trump is sending now is that every country must fight for themselves. All interactions are transactional, and economic interests trump the genuine security needs of allies.



    Read more:
    Raised voices and angry scenes at the White House as Trump clashes with Zelensky over the ‘minerals deal’

    This plays perfectly into China’s hands. To China, Trump has signalled that he primarily cares about the tariff issue. In addition, he could implement higher tariffs on the US’s biggest trading partners (and allies), Canada, the EU and Mexico, than on China.

    The symbolism of the unsigned mineral deal with Ukraine and the capitulation to Russia’s territorial interests in Ukraine should be music to the ears of China’s president, Xi Jinping.

    What it means for China

    China has inundated Taiwan with a propaganda campaign that says the self-governing island is part of China. Part of the campaign focuses on the notion that if China were to invade, the US would abandon Taiwan, citing the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 as evidence of this.

    The US’s abrupt abandonment of Ukraine adds fuel to this fire. Xi could be emboldened to execute his plan of uniting Taiwan by 2049, if not earlier, which could have disastrous consequences for the global economy.

    European leaders met with President Zelensky after the Trump press conference.

    Taiwan produces 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors needed for artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and has a market share of 68%.

    An invasion could lead to a block on global access to semiconductors, causing shortages of all sorts of tech, a possible stock market crash and a fall in trade between Taiwan and western economies. This could cost around US$10 trillion (£7.9 trillion), equal to 10% of global GDP.

    Additionally, for countries such as South Korea and Japan that have been persuaded to not embark on nuclear programmes, the US U-turn sows doubt about its commitment to provide a nuclear shield to its Pacific allies. This could prompt these countries to reverse policies of nonproliferation.

    What happens to Nato?

    Nato has been traditionally led by a US general, but it’s not even clear that the US will remain in the alliance. In the past few weeks Europe has been forced to hold a series of emergency meetings to try to rise to the various global challenges – with or without the US as a key partner.

    All of this makes the US more vulnerable as well. The US is more secure and prosperous when it is part of a long-term alliance, working in partnership with its allies to ensure security, stability, free trade and investment. If the US were to even reduce its security commitments to Nato by 50%, estimates suggest trade with members would fall by US$450 billion.

    The alliance system has been a backbone of US security since 1949. The cost to Nato’s credibility and to defending its borders if Ukraine loses the war would be trillions, not billions, of dollars.

    With Trump appearing desperate to do a deal on Putin’s terms with no concessions, Russia will become much stronger as a result. In spite of the fact that more than 95,000 Russians have died, it’s likely that Russia will act even more boldly, becoming a more attractive ally to US adversaries.

    Trump’s support for Putin not only encourages a hostile nuclear power on the doorstep of the US’s top Nato allies, but also suggests that the US cannot be counted on in future.

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

    – ref. How Trump’s spat with Zelensky threatens the security of the world – including the US – https://theconversation.com/how-trumps-spat-with-zelensky-threatens-the-security-of-the-world-including-the-us-251229

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei: Helping Carriers Reshape Business, Infrastructure, and O&M with AI Mar 04, 2025

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei: Helping Carriers Reshape Business, Infrastructure, and O&M with AI
    Mar 04, 2025

    [Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2025] During MWC Barcelona 2025, Huawei is gathering carriers, industry partners, and opinion leaders from around the world to explore the intersection of 5G networks and AI, and how they can support one another to unlock new growth opportunities.
    The company is showcasing a sweeping range of solutions:
    AI-to-X – Shorthand for AI-to-Consumers, AI-to-Businesses, and AI-to-Homes, including a series of solutions that can help carriers expand into AI services for new, more targeted domains and achieve business growth
    AI-Centric Network solution – Helping carriers build networks that can meet the challenging demands of new AI applications to ensure a smooth and superior experience
    AI-powered O&M – Using AI to revitalize network O&M, and helping carriers achieve L4 autonomous networks (AN) for fully intelligent O&M
    These discussions come at a time when high-quality, open-source AI models are developing fast, powering a new, more diverse wave of innovation in AI applications.
    Huawei’s booth at MWC Barcelona 2025

    Huawei’s theme this year is “Accelerating the Intelligent World”, and their star-studded booth in Hall 1 is designed to represent countless bits of intelligence lighting up the night’s sky. The company is showcasing its innovation in digital infrastructure and service applications for individuals, homes, and enterprises, as well as success stories created together with its customers and partners.
    Evolving 5G networks to seize new opportunities
    By the end of 2024, there were more than 2.1 billion 5G users around the world, and the numbers continue to grow. Huawei has been working with carriers to drive the development of 5G through both business and network innovation, helping them transition from mobile Internet to mobile AI.
    In 2024, a number of pioneering carriers have already kicked off commercial 5G-Advanced (5G-A), launching 5G-A packages for users in more than 200 cities around the world. For consumers, these packages take advantage of 5G-A’s enhanced capabilities to provide an optimized user experience for scenarios like livestreaming and gaming, as well as metro and business travel. For carriers, these packages are an opportunity to go beyond traditional connectivity and start monetizing a more personalized experience for different users. Carrier progress in these domains has propelled the industry into an era of AI-powered 5G-A connectivity.
    Huawei is actively working with carriers in China, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific to explore innovative experience monetization models, define application scenarios, design new offerings, and build their user base. This shift of focus from connectivity to experience has both improved user experience and increased carrier revenue.
    AI-Centric Network
    Huawei launched its AI-Centric Network solution that helps carriers upgrade their ICT network infrastructure to meet new demands on bandwidth, latency, coverage, and O&M brought about by a flood of new AI applications. It’s designed to help quickly reshape telecom service and business models to seize new opportunities in the age of AI.
    With the rapid development of technologies like 5G-A, cloud, and AI, carriers will need to upgrade from connectivity service providers to digital service providers. To guide this process, Huawei is launching a three-layer technology architecture for carriers looking to transform from telcos to techcos, helping them tap into new business domains and open the door to new growth opportunities.
    Accelerating Industrial Intelligence
    At this year’s MWC, Huawei’s Enterprise Business is demonstrating how different industries can incorporate AI into their unique business scenarios using the company’s industrial intelligence reference architecture.During the event, Huawei unveiled 83 different industry showcases with customers, and launched ten 10 major solutions to accelerate intelligent transformation together with its partners.
    Pushing the boundaries of consumer devices and experience
    Huawei’s consumer business will showcase a lineup of high-end, fashion-forward, and technology-driven flagship products at the event. Through multiple scenario-based experience zones, the company will share its latest innovations in foldable phones, fitness and health, photography, and creativity, focusing on how technology can further enrich people’s everyday lives.
    Huawei believes in a human-centric approach to developing technology that shapes the future. In 2025, the company will continue to develop consumer products that push the boundaries of technology, provide an ultimate smart experience for all user scenarios, and build a high-end brand that consumers both love and trust.
    MWC Barcelona 2025 will be held from March 3 to March 6 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1.
    In 2025, commercial 5G-Advanced deployment will accelerate, and AI will help carriers reshape business, infrastructure, and O&M. Huawei is actively working with carriers and partners around the world to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent world.
    For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwc2025

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei: Helping Carriers Reshape Business, Infrastructure, and O&M with AI

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei: Helping Carriers Reshape Business, Infrastructure, and O&M with AI

    [Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2025] During MWC Barcelona 2025, Huawei is gathering carriers, industry partners, and opinion leaders from around the world to explore the intersection of 5G networks and AI, and how they can support one another to unlock new growth opportunities.
    The company is showcasing a sweeping range of solutions:
    AI-to-X – Shorthand for AI-to-Consumers, AI-to-Businesses, and AI-to-Homes, including a series of solutions that can help carriers expand into AI services for new, more targeted domains and achieve business growth
    AI-Centric Network solution – Helping carriers build networks that can meet the challenging demands of new AI applications to ensure a smooth and superior experience
    AI-powered O&M – Using AI to revitalize network O&M, and helping carriers achieve L4 autonomous networks (AN) for fully intelligent O&M
    These discussions come at a time when high-quality, open-source AI models are developing fast, powering a new, more diverse wave of innovation in AI applications.
    Huawei’s booth at MWC Barcelona 2025

    Huawei’s theme this year is “Accelerating the Intelligent World”, and their star-studded booth in Hall 1 is designed to represent countless bits of intelligence lighting up the night’s sky. The company is showcasing its innovation in digital infrastructure and service applications for individuals, homes, and enterprises, as well as success stories created together with its customers and partners.
    Evolving 5G networks to seize new opportunities
    By the end of 2024, there were more than 2.1 billion 5G users around the world, and the numbers continue to grow. Huawei has been working with carriers to drive the development of 5G through both business and network innovation, helping them transition from mobile Internet to mobile AI.
    In 2024, a number of pioneering carriers have already kicked off commercial 5G-Advanced (5G-A), launching 5G-A packages for users in more than 200 cities around the world. For consumers, these packages take advantage of 5G-A’s enhanced capabilities to provide an optimized user experience for scenarios like livestreaming and gaming, as well as metro and business travel. For carriers, these packages are an opportunity to go beyond traditional connectivity and start monetizing a more personalized experience for different users. Carrier progress in these domains has propelled the industry into an era of AI-powered 5G-A connectivity.
    Huawei is actively working with carriers in China, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific to explore innovative experience monetization models, define application scenarios, design new offerings, and build their user base. This shift of focus from connectivity to experience has both improved user experience and increased carrier revenue.
    AI-Centric Network
    Huawei launched its AI-Centric Network solution that helps carriers upgrade their ICT network infrastructure to meet new demands on bandwidth, latency, coverage, and O&M brought about by a flood of new AI applications. It’s designed to help quickly reshape telecom service and business models to seize new opportunities in the age of AI.
    With the rapid development of technologies like 5G-A, cloud, and AI, carriers will need to upgrade from connectivity service providers to digital service providers. To guide this process, Huawei is launching a three-layer technology architecture for carriers looking to transform from telcos to techcos, helping them tap into new business domains and open the door to new growth opportunities.
    Accelerating Industrial Intelligence
    At this year’s MWC, Huawei’s Enterprise Business is demonstrating how different industries can incorporate AI into their unique business scenarios using the company’s industrial intelligence reference architecture.During the event, Huawei unveiled 83 different industry showcases with customers, and launched ten 10 major solutions to accelerate intelligent transformation together with its partners.
    Pushing the boundaries of consumer devices and experience
    Huawei’s consumer business will showcase a lineup of high-end, fashion-forward, and technology-driven flagship products at the event. Through multiple scenario-based experience zones, the company will share its latest innovations in foldable phones, fitness and health, photography, and creativity, focusing on how technology can further enrich people’s everyday lives.
    Huawei believes in a human-centric approach to developing technology that shapes the future. In 2025, the company will continue to develop consumer products that push the boundaries of technology, provide an ultimate smart experience for all user scenarios, and build a high-end brand that consumers both love and trust.
    MWC Barcelona 2025 will be held from March 3 to March 6 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1.
    In 2025, commercial 5G-Advanced deployment will accelerate, and AI will help carriers reshape business, infrastructure, and O&M. Huawei is actively working with carriers and partners around the world to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent world.
    For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwc2025

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nigeria’s 2025 budget has major flaws and won’t ease economic burden

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Onyeiwu, Professor of Economics & Business, Allegheny College

    There are doubts as to whether Nigerian president Bola Tinubu’s N54.99 trillion (US$36.6 billion) 2025 budget will lay a solid foundation for addressing some of the country’s current economic challenges.

    Economist Stephen Onyeiwu unpacks these challenges and sets out why the 2025 budget won’t change Nigeria’s economic landscape (though it has some silver linings).

    What are Nigeria’s four biggest economic challenges?

    Firstly, Nigeria’s economy has grown at a subdued average rate of about 3% for the past three years.

    Though comparable to global economic growth, this rate of growth is insufficient to create jobs and alleviate poverty. The official unemployment rate is 4.3%.

    Only 15% of those employed, however, are in the formal sector as wage earners. About 93% of Nigerians are engaged in informal sector activities. They’re doing low-income and vulnerable jobs, with no social protection.

    Secondly, Nigerians are struggling with a high cost of living. Inflation has remained high for three years, as have interest rates.

    The exchange rate has been elevated and volatile. The result has been rising food, fuel and housing costs.

    Thirdly, the country has not been able to attract enough foreign investment to generate high-paying jobs in the formal sector. Foreign direct investment to Nigeria has been declining. It fell from US$8.6 billion in 2009 to US$1.8 billion in 2023.

    Reasons for the decline are the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, insecurity, poor infrastructure and macroeconomic instability.

    Fourthly, poverty rates are high. This is due to unemployment and the lack of safety nets. The poverty rate rose from 33.2% in 2020 to 47.2% in 2024. The number of poor people is expected to increase by 13 million in 2025, largely due to inflation.

    Will the 2025 budget help?

    There are a number of serious flaws in it which suggest it won’t.

    Tinubu said the 2025 budget “was designed to ensure macro-economic stability, poverty reduction, promoting economic stability, developing human capital and addressing insecurity.”

    But the allocation of funds does not reflect these priorities. The allocations to personnel and overheads far exceed allocations to capital expenditures – things that build the economy’s productive capacity.

    A key challenge for Nigeria is how to shift resources from consumption to production. The 2025 budget reinforces the longstanding consumerist nature of the economy.

    China spends about 45% of GDP on capital formation. This has spurred and sustained the country’s high growth rates for decades. Nigeria’s allocation to capital expenditure in the 2025 budget is about 19%.

    In his budget speech the president said his administration’s goal was to

    “get our manufacturing sector humming again and ultimately increase the competitiveness of our economy.”

    But the federal ministries that should be driving this effort – industry and education – weren’t allocated enough for capital expenditure.

    Nor did the budget prioritise things that would ease the economic burden of Nigerians.

    A big chunk of the budget (about 35.4%) goes to servicing debt. Indeed, about 65% of the 2025 budget will finance debt repayment, personnel costs and overheads.

    Another concern is that the government intends to borrow N9.22 trillion (US$6.2 billion) to finance the budget, higher than the N7.83 trillion (US$5.2 billion) borrowed in the previous year.

    Borrowing to finance a budget increases the interest rate and makes private-sector borrowing costly. Businesses can’t access funds that would enable them to invest and boost economic growth, reduce inflation, create jobs and alleviate poverty.

    Are there any silver linings?

    There are some.

    It is commendable that the Federal Ministry of Communications & the Digital Economy was allocated about N450 billion (US$300 million) for capital expenditure, compared to just N33 billion (US$22 million) for recurrent expenditure. The administration is signalling its commitment to building capacity in the IT sector. This is important because Nigeria needs to promote a knowledge-based economy that would diversify away from hydrocarbons.

    Another encouraging aspect of the budget is that the ratio of budget deficit to GDP (3.89%) is lower than the average 5% prior to 2024. Although the administration will borrow to cover the deficit, it’s borrowing less than before relative to GDP. This signals an intention to be more financially prudent than previous administrations, assuming it won’t resort to supplementary budgets.

    What needs to happen now?

    The 2025 budget is anything but pro-poor. Most of its provisions benefit the elites, contractors and public employees.

    Much will be used to pay politicians and their aides at the National Assembly and workers in the government ministries and agencies.

    Money allocated to capital expenditure will be used to pay contractors for government projects.

    Nigerians in the informal sector will not feel a direct impact. There should have been more proactive measures to address unemployment and poverty.

    Sustainable development requires a strong rural economy. While the manufacturing and services sectors are critical for structural transformation and job creation, they can’t develop without a vibrant agricultural sector.

    Strengthening the rural economy of Nigeria requires raising the productivity of farmers so that they can supply food to urban workers at affordable prices. This helps keep inflation and wage rates low.

    Raising the productivity of rural people raises their incomes and alleviates poverty.

    Higher rural incomes increase farmers’ purchasing power, leading to an increase in the demand for goods and services produced in the manufacturing sector. When rural people earn more, there’s less reason to migrate to urban areas.

    Less migration implies less pressure on urban social services, the labour market and the informal sector.

    More funds need to be allocated to sectors and activities that raise the productive capacity of the economy. This will involve reducing governance costs and using the savings to boost food production, agro-processing and manufacturing.

    The key to stabilising the Nigerian economy is massive food production, which will reduce food inflation. Coupled with agro-processing, food production will boost exports, reduce food imports and strengthen the value of the naira.

    A stronger naira will reduce inflation and interest rates.

    In conclusion, the 2025 budget does not solve Nigeria’s endless cycle of deficits and debts. Neither does it lay the foundation for structural transformation, economic diversification, sustainable economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation.

    It will leave the economic landscape unchanged.

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

    – ref. Nigeria’s 2025 budget has major flaws and won’t ease economic burden – https://theconversation.com/nigerias-2025-budget-has-major-flaws-and-wont-ease-economic-burden-250713

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria’s 2025 budget has major flaws and won’t ease economic burden

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Onyeiwu, Professor of Economics & Business, Allegheny College

    There are doubts as to whether Nigerian president Bola Tinubu’s N54.99 trillion (US$36.6 billion) 2025 budget will lay a solid foundation for addressing some of the country’s current economic challenges.

    Economist Stephen Onyeiwu unpacks these challenges and sets out why the 2025 budget won’t change Nigeria’s economic landscape (though it has some silver linings).

    What are Nigeria’s four biggest economic challenges?

    Firstly, Nigeria’s economy has grown at a subdued average rate of about 3% for the past three years.

    Though comparable to global economic growth, this rate of growth is insufficient to create jobs and alleviate poverty. The official unemployment rate is 4.3%.

    Only 15% of those employed, however, are in the formal sector as wage earners. About 93% of Nigerians are engaged in informal sector activities. They’re doing low-income and vulnerable jobs, with no social protection.

    Secondly, Nigerians are struggling with a high cost of living. Inflation has remained high for three years, as have interest rates.

    The exchange rate has been elevated and volatile. The result has been rising food, fuel and housing costs.

    Thirdly, the country has not been able to attract enough foreign investment to generate high-paying jobs in the formal sector. Foreign direct investment to Nigeria has been declining. It fell from US$8.6 billion in 2009 to US$1.8 billion in 2023.

    Reasons for the decline are the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, insecurity, poor infrastructure and macroeconomic instability.

    Fourthly, poverty rates are high. This is due to unemployment and the lack of safety nets. The poverty rate rose from 33.2% in 2020 to 47.2% in 2024. The number of poor people is expected to increase by 13 million in 2025, largely due to inflation.

    Will the 2025 budget help?

    There are a number of serious flaws in it which suggest it won’t.

    Tinubu said the 2025 budget “was designed to ensure macro-economic stability, poverty reduction, promoting economic stability, developing human capital and addressing insecurity.”

    But the allocation of funds does not reflect these priorities. The allocations to personnel and overheads far exceed allocations to capital expenditures – things that build the economy’s productive capacity.

    A key challenge for Nigeria is how to shift resources from consumption to production. The 2025 budget reinforces the longstanding consumerist nature of the economy.

    China spends about 45% of GDP on capital formation. This has spurred and sustained the country’s high growth rates for decades. Nigeria’s allocation to capital expenditure in the 2025 budget is about 19%.

    In his budget speech the president said his administration’s goal was to

    “get our manufacturing sector humming again and ultimately increase the competitiveness of our economy.”

    But the federal ministries that should be driving this effort – industry and education – weren’t allocated enough for capital expenditure.

    Nor did the budget prioritise things that would ease the economic burden of Nigerians.

    A big chunk of the budget (about 35.4%) goes to servicing debt. Indeed, about 65% of the 2025 budget will finance debt repayment, personnel costs and overheads.

    Another concern is that the government intends to borrow N9.22 trillion (US$6.2 billion) to finance the budget, higher than the N7.83 trillion (US$5.2 billion) borrowed in the previous year.

    Borrowing to finance a budget increases the interest rate and makes private-sector borrowing costly. Businesses can’t access funds that would enable them to invest and boost economic growth, reduce inflation, create jobs and alleviate poverty.

    Are there any silver linings?

    There are some.

    It is commendable that the Federal Ministry of Communications & the Digital Economy was allocated about N450 billion (US$300 million) for capital expenditure, compared to just N33 billion (US$22 million) for recurrent expenditure. The administration is signalling its commitment to building capacity in the IT sector. This is important because Nigeria needs to promote a knowledge-based economy that would diversify away from hydrocarbons.

    Another encouraging aspect of the budget is that the ratio of budget deficit to GDP (3.89%) is lower than the average 5% prior to 2024. Although the administration will borrow to cover the deficit, it’s borrowing less than before relative to GDP. This signals an intention to be more financially prudent than previous administrations, assuming it won’t resort to supplementary budgets.

    What needs to happen now?

    The 2025 budget is anything but pro-poor. Most of its provisions benefit the elites, contractors and public employees.

    Much will be used to pay politicians and their aides at the National Assembly and workers in the government ministries and agencies.

    Money allocated to capital expenditure will be used to pay contractors for government projects.

    Nigerians in the informal sector will not feel a direct impact. There should have been more proactive measures to address unemployment and poverty.

    Sustainable development requires a strong rural economy. While the manufacturing and services sectors are critical for structural transformation and job creation, they can’t develop without a vibrant agricultural sector.

    Strengthening the rural economy of Nigeria requires raising the productivity of farmers so that they can supply food to urban workers at affordable prices. This helps keep inflation and wage rates low.

    Raising the productivity of rural people raises their incomes and alleviates poverty.

    Higher rural incomes increase farmers’ purchasing power, leading to an increase in the demand for goods and services produced in the manufacturing sector. When rural people earn more, there’s less reason to migrate to urban areas.

    Less migration implies less pressure on urban social services, the labour market and the informal sector.

    More funds need to be allocated to sectors and activities that raise the productive capacity of the economy. This will involve reducing governance costs and using the savings to boost food production, agro-processing and manufacturing.

    The key to stabilising the Nigerian economy is massive food production, which will reduce food inflation. Coupled with agro-processing, food production will boost exports, reduce food imports and strengthen the value of the naira.

    A stronger naira will reduce inflation and interest rates.

    In conclusion, the 2025 budget does not solve Nigeria’s endless cycle of deficits and debts. Neither does it lay the foundation for structural transformation, economic diversification, sustainable economic growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation.

    It will leave the economic landscape unchanged.

    – Nigeria’s 2025 budget has major flaws and won’t ease economic burden
    – https://theconversation.com/nigerias-2025-budget-has-major-flaws-and-wont-ease-economic-burden-250713

    MIL OSI Africa –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber, and their Derivative Products

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    SECURING AMERICA’S LUMBER SUPPLY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order launching an investigation into how imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products threaten America’s national security and economic stability.
    The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to initiate a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
    This investigation will assess the national security risks arising from the United States’ increasing dependence on imported timber, lumber, and derivative products like paper, furniture, and cabinetry, and the potential need for trade remedies to safeguard domestic industry.
    The investigation will culminate in a report identifying vulnerabilities in the lumber supply chain and providing recommendations to enhance the resilience of America’s domestic wood products industry.
    ADDRESSING THE THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trump recognizes that an overreliance on foreign timber, lumber, and their derivative products could jeopardize the United States’ defense capabilities, construction industry, and economic strength.
    Timber and lumber are essential materials for national security, economic stability, and industrial resilience.
    Lumber plays a vital role in civilian construction and military infrastructure.
    The U.S. military spends over ten billion dollars annually on construction and is testing innovative wood products such as cross-laminated timber.

    The United States has been a net importer of lumber since 2016, despite having the practical production capacity to supply 95% of the United States’ 2024 softwood consumption.
    Foreign supply chains and major exporters increasingly fill U.S. demand, creating vulnerabilities to disruptions.
    America’s reliance on imported lumber is exacerbated by foreign government subsidies and predatory trade practices, which undermine the competitiveness of the U.S. wood products industry.
    STRENGTHENING AMERICAN INDUSTRY: This Executive Order builds on previous actions taken by the Trump Administration to ensure U.S. trade policy serves the nation’s long-term interests.
    On Day One, President Trump initiated his America First Trade Policy to make America’s economy great again.
    President Trump signed proclamations to close existing loopholes and exemptions in order to restore a true 25% tariff on steel and elevate the tariff to 25% on aluminum.
    President Trump implemented a 10% additional tariff on imports from China in response to China’s role in importing illegal drugs to the United States.  
    President Trump unveiled the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on trade to restore fairness in U.S. trade relationships and counter non-reciprocal trade agreements.   
    President Trump signed a memorandum to safeguard American innovation, including the consideration of tariffs to combat digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies.
    President Trump launched a Section 232 investigation into how copper imports threaten America’s national security and economic stability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: ZOOZ Power: Leading Charge Point Operator in China to install ZOOZ Power’s Boosting System, Marking Strategic Entry into the World’s Largest EV Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tel-Aviv, Israel, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZOOZ Power Ltd. (Nasdaq: ZOOZ, TASE: ZOOZ), a leading provider of flywheel-based power boosters and energy management systems for enabling ultra-fast EV charging solutions, announced today that it has shipped its first power-boosting system, the ZOOZTER™-100, to China. The commercial arrangements were made through a related party of ZOOZ Power in China. The site where ZOOZTER™-100 will be installed was developed by Yixiaoju Technology Co., Ltd, a company that operates numerous locations within the Orange Charging (Xiaoju) network. Orange Charging, a sub-brand of DiDi’s energy sector, is China’s largest charging network, operating over 115,000 fast chargers. As the foremost mobility services platform in China and a publicly traded company in the U.S. with a market cap of $24.3 billion, DiDi’s ecosystem offers a significant opportunity for ZOOZ Power to extend its presence in this rapidly growing market.

    China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with EVs accounting for nearly 50% of total car sales in 2024(1). This surge highlights the increasing demand for efficient charging solutions. In addition to enhancing the capabilities of Yixiaoju’s charging station, the Shanghai pilot installation will also serve as a vehicle for market penetration of ZOOZ Power’s flywheel-based power-boosting technology coupled with ZOOZ’s proven Energy Management System to the Chinese market. By providing a reliable and highly efficient solution for high-power EV charging, ZOOZ Power aims to support the expansion of ultra-fast charging networks while reducing the strain on local electricity grids.

    “Shipping our first system to China is a significant step in ZOOZ Power’s penetration into the Chinese market,” said Erez Zimerman, CEO of ZOOZ Power. “China is the undisputed leader in electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure, and we see tremendous potential for our technology in this market. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of our sustainable power-boosting solution to China’s top EV players. This is just the beginning of our journey in China, and we look forward to further opportunities to contribute to the country’s ambitious electrification goals.”

    ZOOZ Power’s innovative flywheel-based technology enables ultra-fast charging even in locations with limited grid capacity, eliminating the need for expensive grid upgrades and while maximizing charging station effectiveness. The company’s solution has already been deployed in multiple locations across Europe and North America, and this latest move signals its strategic focus on expanding into China’s rapidly growing EV market.

    About ZOOZ Power

    ZOOZ is the leading provider of Flywheel-based Power Boosting and Energy Management solutions, enabling the widespread deployment of ultra-fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) while overcoming existing grid limitations.

    ZOOZ pioneers its unique flywheel-based power-boosting technology, enabling efficient utilization and power management of a power-limited grid at an EV charging site. Its Flywheel technology allows high-performance, reliable, and cost-effective ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

    ZOOZ Power’s sustainable, power-boosting solutions are built with longevity and the environment in mind, helping its customers and partners accelerate the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure, thus facilitating improved utilization rates, better efficiency, greater flexibility, and faster revenues and profitability growth. ZOOZ is publicly traded on NASDAQ and TASE under the ticker ZOOZ
    For more information, please visit: www.zoozpower.com/

    Investor Contact:
    Miri Segal – CEO
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Media enquiries:
    Media@zoozpower.com

    Forward-Looking Statement

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of ZOOZ Power. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding ZOOZ Power, and any of ZOOZ Power’s strategy, future operations and statements related to the collaboration between ZOOZ Power and “ON” charging network (including any plans to implement ZOOZ Power’s solution and upgrade an additional site of “ON” on Route 6) are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause ZOOZ Power’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and other risks and uncertainties are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of ZOOZ’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to deployment of public ultra-fast charging infrastructure, the potential outcome of ZOOZ Power’s collaborations with third parties for installation of its flywheel-based power boosting solution, statements regarding the opportunity for ZOOZ Power to extend its presence in China, statements regarding growth in the Chinese market, statements regarding the expansion of ultra-fast charging networks and conditions in Israel and in the Middle East, including the effect of the evolving nature of the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war, may adversely affect ZOOZ Power’s operations. These forward-looking statements are only estimations, and ZOOZ Power may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements, so you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements made in this Press Release. Management of ZOOZ Power has based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that such persons believe may affect ZOOZ Power’s business, financial condition and operating results. Forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are made as of the date hereof, and none of ZOOZ Power or any of its representatives or any other person undertakes any duty to update such information except as may be expressly required under applicable law.

    1 https://www.asiafinancial.com/one-in-nearly-every-two-cars-sold-in-china-was-electric-in-2024

    The MIL Network –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan (Wau) complete main supply route maintenance mission 2025-03-03 22:10:05 On February 28, local time, the 15th Chinese Peacekeeping Horizontal Engineering Company to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan completed the road maintenance work for the Kuajok-Lunyaker-Warrap main supply route and the road is now fully open to traffic.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, March 3 — On February 28, local time, the 15th Chinese Peacekeeping Horizontal Engineering Company to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) completed the road maintenance work for the Kuajok-Lunyaker-Warrap main supply route and the road is now fully open to traffic.

      In 21 workdays’ maintenance work, the Chinese peacekeeping contingent dispatched more than 800 troops and more than 380 vehicles and machines and transported more than 2,000 cubic meters of soil. They completed the maintenance work with high standards and demonstrated China’s commitment to peacekeeping career.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Kish Bancorp, Inc. to Present at Banking Virtual Investor Conference on March 6

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kish Bancorp, Inc. (KISB), based in State College, Pennsylvania, focused on banking, insurance, and financial services, today announced that Gregory T. Hayes, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mark J. Cvrkel, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will present live at the Banking Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com on March 6.

    DATE: March 6, 2025
    TIME: 2:00 p.m. ET
    LINK: https://bit.ly/41vwVT3
    Available for 1×1 meetings: March 7, 10, and 11, 2025

    This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

    It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

    Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    Recent Company Highlights

    • Total assets increased $149.8 million, or 9.7%, to $1.7 billion at December 31, 2024, compared to $1.5 billion a year ago.
    • Total loans grew by $191.1 million, or 15.5%, year over year to $1.4 billion, compared to $1.2 billion a year ago.
    • Total deposits increased $119.0 million year over year, or 10.1%, as Kish Bank continued to attract new client relationships.
    • Fourth quarter net interest income, before provision, increased $1.5 million, or 13.3%, compared to the fourth quarter a year ago.
    • Noninterest income increased $416 thousand, or 14.4%, compared to the year ago quarter.
    • Fourth quarter net interest margin contracted 14 basis points from the fourth quarter a year ago to 3.23%.
    • Continued strong fourth quarter ROE of 13.56% and ROA of 0.97%.
    • Tangible book value per share increased 2.1% to $34.58, compared to $33.86 a year ago.
    • Paid a $0.39 per share quarterly cash dividend on October 31, 2024, to shareholders of record as of October 15, 2024, which was a $0.02 per share increase over the prior quarter.
    • At December 31, 2024, Kish Bank continued to exceed regulatory well-capitalized requirements with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.02%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 9.92% and a Total risk-based capital ratio of 10.62%.

    About Kish Bancorp, Inc.
    Kish Bancorp, Inc. is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Belleville, PA with executive offices in State College and an Innovation Center in Reedsville. Kish Bank, a subsidiary of Kish Bancorp, Inc., operates 19 locations serving Centre, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Blair, and Juniata counties, and northeastern Ohio. In addition to Kish Bank, other business units include: Kish Insurance, an independent property and casualty insurance agency; Kish Financial Solutions, which offers trust, fiduciary, and wealth management advisory services; Kish Benefits Consulting, which provides employee benefits consulting services; and Kish Travel, a full-service travel agency. KISB is the OTCQX stock ticker symbol for Kish Bancorp, Inc. For additional information, please visit ir.kishbancorp.com or otcmarkets.com/stock/KISB.

    In June of 2024, Kish Bancorp, Inc. was ranked 38thon American Banker Magazine’s list of Top 100 Publicly Traded Community Banks and Thrifts based on three-year average return on equity as of December 31, 2023. The rankings are derived from all publicly traded banks and thrifts in the U.S. with less than $2 billion in assets.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®
    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    CONTACTS:
    Kish Bancorp, Inc.
    Mark J. Cvrkel
    EVP, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 814-325-7346
    mark.cvrkel@kishbank.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group
    212-220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    Kish Bancorp, Inc. | 2610 Green Tech Drive, State College, PA 16803 | 1-800-981-5474 | MyKish.com

    The MIL Network –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese economy’s trend of long-term sound development unchanged: spokesperson

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

    BEIJING, March 3 — The underlying conditions for and basic trend of the long-term sound development of the Chinese economy remain unchanged, a spokesperson said Monday.

    Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, made the remarks at a press conference.

    Liu said the Chinese economy has a solid foundation, numerous advantages, strong resilience and vast potential, noting that the country has distinctive institutional strengths, a supersized domestic market and a complete industrial system.

    The spokesperson acknowledged that both domestic and external environments are undergoing profound changes and that the country’s economic development still faces many challenges and difficulties, with domestic demand still insufficient and risks in some areas yet to be defused.

    He called for addressing difficulties head-on and maintaining confidence, and stressed that the high-quality development of the economy will reach new heights.

    The country has vowed to promote opening up across more areas and in greater depth, according to the spokesperson.

    He said the country will continue to steadily expand institutional opening up, deepen foreign trade structural reform, optimize the layout for regional opening up, and improve the mechanism for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

    Over the past year, China has deepened the integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, accelerated the modernization of its industrial system, and made remarkable achievements in developing new quality productive forces, Liu said.

    Noting that new quality productive forces serve as the strong engines driving China’s high-quality development, Liu called for continued efforts to further unleash their dynamism.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China discovers 180-mln-tonne shale oil reserves

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

    BEIJING, March 3 — Sinopec, China’s largest oil refiner, on Monday announced the discovery of two major shale oilfields in the east of the country with combined proven reserves of 180 million tonnes.

    The confirmation of the Xinxing and Qintong oilfields, which was approved by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, is a strategic move to exploit and identify shale oil reserves in the country’s continental rift basins.

    Shale oil mainly refers to liquid hydrocarbons trapped in formations of shale rock that can be extracted for refining. It is often found in organic-rich shale and thin interlayers of carbonate rock, sandstone and siltstone.

    The assessment is the first time to use China’s independently developed industry standards for the estimation of shale oil and continental shale oil system data, providing experience for the improvement of technical specifications and the reserve evaluation of shale oil in the future, said Li Jinggong, head of the ministry’s oil reserves assessment team.

    The two oilfields show promise for high initial yields due to favorable fracturability and formation pressure, with test results indicating the likelihood of stable outputs over extended periods.

    Sinopec is aiming to see an annual shale oil output of 2 million tonnes by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), with an annual increase in proven reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes during the period.

    The recoverable shale oil reserves in China, one of the world’s major crude oil consumers, ranks third globally. Data from China’s National Energy Administration shows that the country’s crude oil production was 213 million tonnes in 2024, while its shale oil output surged to 6 million tonnes, a year-on-year increase of over 30 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: What to know about CPPCC in China’s democratic process

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

    BEIJING, March 3 — Around 2,100 members will attend the annual session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, which is set to open on Tuesday.

    This session and the annual session of the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature, form the “two sessions” of the country, making headlines every year in this country.

    ROLES OF CPPCC

    The CPPCC is an initiative that brings together various political parties in the country, prominent individuals without party affiliation, people’s organizations, and individuals from all ethnic groups and sectors of society to participate in the political system.

    It is a key mechanism for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and fulfills a major role in the promotion of socialist democracy and the practice of whole-process people’s democracy in China.

    The CPPCC promotes unity and cooperation among its participating political parties and individuals without party affiliation. It also works to promote democracy and offer proposals on state affairs while fostering consensus.

    The CPPCC consists of a national committee and local committees. The national committee guides the work of local committees and they all enjoy a term of five years.

    The main functions of the national committee are political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs.

    SECTORS OF NATIONAL POLITICAL ADVISORS

    Members of the CPPCC National Committee are from a wide range of sectors, such as literature and arts, science and technology, the social sciences, and economics. They are selected through extensive consultations within their respective circles.

    Individuals from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions are also among members of the top political advisory body.

    The 14th CPPCC National Committee consists of 34 sectors. Among them, the sector of environment and resources was established in 2023 to help promote green transformation and development.

    DUTIES OF NATIONAL POLITICAL ADVISORS

    National political advisors can help with formulating national policies by raising comments and suggestions after thorough research and consultations.

    Their comments and suggestions, when formally documented and submitted, are officially referred to as proposals. Each proposal, whether adopted or not, must receive a reply.

    During the annual session, national political advisors usually hold group meetings to deliberate the work report of the top political advisory body and a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled. They also sit in on the annual session of the national legislature as non-voting participants to hear and discuss documents — including the government work report.

    Political advisors are encouraged to engage deeply with the people and their communities, seek people’s opinions and suggestions, and effectively reach out to, serve, unite and guide their respective sectors throughout the year.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese national lawmakers gather in Beijing for annual session

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

    BEIJING, March 3 — Delegations of deputies attending the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature, have all registered for the NPC annual session scheduled to open in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Preparations for the session have been completed, according to the press center of the session on Monday.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s manned lunar exploration program under steady progress

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This photo shows the exterior design of China’s moon-landing spacesuit during the third Spacesuit Technology Forum in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Sept. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China aims to land its astronauts on the moon before 2030 for scientific exploration. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Monday that the country has been steadily advancing the lunar landing phase of its manned lunar exploration program.
    By 2025, China’s manned space program will focus on two major tasks: the application and development of the space station and the manned lunar exploration, said the CMSA.
    The CMSA disclosed that, by now, major space flight-related products, such as the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, the Lanyue lunar lander, the Wangyu moon-landing spacesuit, and the Tansuo manned lunar rover, are in preliminary development stages with phased progress.
    Meanwhile, the test and launch facilities related to the lunar landing mission at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in southern China’s Hainan Province are being developed and constructed in an orderly manner.
    The overall plan for the lunar exploration mission’s ground systems, such as the landing site, has been completed, and the construction works will be carried out as planned.
    Various large-scale tests will be conducted on initial samples of the above-mentioned major space flight-related products, according to the CMSA.
    China’s manned lunar exploration program will continue to promote the digital transformation of research and development, targeting the effective improvement of quality and efficiency, the CMSA added.
    The country plans to carry out a manned lunar landing before 2030. Two carrier rockets will be launched to send a manned spacecraft and a lunar lander into lunar orbit. The spacecraft and lunar lander will rendezvous and dock, and then astronauts will enter the lander.
    Upon the lander’s arrival on the moon’s surface, astronauts will drive the lunar rover for scientific exploration.
    In February, the CMSA unveiled that the moon-landing spacesuit is named Wangyu, meaning gazing into the cosmos, and the manned lunar rover is named Tansuo, meaning to explore the unknown.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 4, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Professor of the State University of Management took part in the XIII Saturday political science readings at the Presidential Academy

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) hosted the 13th Saturday Political Science Readings on the topic: “Improving the Efficiency of Migration Management in Modern Russia: Sovereignization of External Migration Management.” Professor of the Department of Public Administration and Political Technologies of the State University of Management, member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Interethnic Relations and the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Vladimir Volokh took part in the event and delivered a plenary report.

    The following also gave presentations: Chief Researcher of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Commission on Interethnic, Interreligious Relations and Migration, member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation on Interethnic Relations, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Vladimir Zorin, Associate Professor of the Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Head of the Migration Department of the P.A. Stolypin Center of the Higher School of Public Administration of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Candidate of Political Sciences Mikhail Burda.

    In his report, Vladimir Volokh noted that migration is currently a significant factor influencing the socio-economic stability and security of the Russian Federation. He emphasized the need to change the approach to migration management and noted that since the beginning of 2024, a number of regulatory legal acts aimed at improving migration policy have been adopted. In particular, they discussed the introduction of a regime for the expulsion of illegal migrants, the creation of a register of controlled persons who do not have the right to be in Russia, limiting the number of SIM cards sold to foreign citizens, tightening the requirements for concluding contracts for the provision of communication services, including the collection of biometric data, as well as a law aimed at combating fictitious marriages and adoptions.

    These measures are aimed at creating a more effective system for combating illegal migration and forming a legislative framework for combating illegal actions.

    Professor Volokh also noted that at the current stage of development, it is necessary to develop and approve a new Strategy for the State Migration Policy of the Russian Federation by the Head of State, as provided for by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. This will ensure a more systematic and long-term approach to managing migration processes.

    The readings were held under the guidance of the scientific director of the Faculty of Political Studies of the Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vice-president of the Russian Academy of Political Sciences and the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, doctor of political sciences, professor Lidiya Timofeeva.

    Doctor of Political Science, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Member of the Presidium of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, President of the Russian Association of Political Science Oksana Gaman-Golutvina addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

    The political science readings at the Presidential Academy were held online, which ensured the active participation of representatives of the scientific community and government bodies from various regions of the Russian Federation, as well as from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, China and a number of African countries. Based on the results of the event, recommendations were prepared that will be sent to interested government bodies, scientific and public organizations.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03.03.2025

    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 –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots.ai and Qatar Science & Technology Park Strengthen Collaboration to Drive AI Innovation in the Middle East

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its leading enterprise AI agent platform, GPTBots.ai, continues to strengthen its collaboration with Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), member of Qatar Foundation. QSTP is Qatar’s premier hub for technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the MENA region. This partnership, built on a shared vision of advancing artificial intelligence, has taken on new significance with the recent integration of DeepSeek, a revolutionary AI model that is reshaping the global AI landscape, into GPTBots.ai.

    A Partnership Rooted in Vision and Innovation

    Under the leadership of Dr. Jack Lau, President of QSTP, the park has established itself as a dynamic hub for technological innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on bridging technology and academia, QSTP has cultivated an environment that supports the development and scaling of transformative solutions across sectors such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, energy and environment.

    “QSTP is committed to empowering businesses to leverage advanced technologies to address the region’s unique challenges,” said Dr. Lau. “The integration of DeepSeek into GPTBots.ai’s platform is a significant step forward, making AI more accessible and tailored for Middle Eastern enterprises. By fostering such collaborations, we aim to drive sustainable growth and position the region as a global hub for technological innovation.”

    DeepSeek Integration: A Game-Changer for Middle Eastern Enterprises

    The recent integration of DeepSeek into GPTBots.ai’s no-code AI platform marks a significant milestone in the partnership. DeepSeek’s cost-effective and efficient capabilities provide Middle Eastern enterprises with unprecedented opportunities to leverage AI for localized and industry-specific applications.

    Key benefits for regional businesses include:

    Affordability: DeepSeek’s lower development costs make AI adoption more accessible to businesses of all sizes.

    Localization: Tailored solutions optimized for Arabic and Gulf dialects, addressing a critical gap in the region’s AI landscape.

    Scalability: Seamless integration with GPTBots.ai’s platform enables rapid deployment of AI applications across industries such as government services, healthcare, and finance.

    Jerry Yin, Vice President of GPTBots.ai, emphasized the value of this integration:

    “DeepSeek’s affordability and efficiency, combined with GPTBots.ai’s no-code platform, create a powerful tool for Middle Eastern businesses to innovate and grow. Our partnership with QSTP provides the foundation for delivering these solutions at scale, ensuring that enterprises in the region can fully capitalize on the potential of AI.”

    GPTBots.ai and QSTP: A Proven Track Record of Success

    This strengthened collaboration builds on a history of impactful initiatives between GPTBots.ai and QSTP. In the past, GPTBots.ai partnered with QSTP-incubated startup sKora Tech to revolutionize AI applications in the sports industry. The partnership resulted in groundbreaking advancements, including personalized growth pathways for athletes and AI-driven sports management solutions.

    The renewed focus on collaboration aims to replicate and expand such success stories across other industries, fostering innovation and economic growth in the Middle East.

    A Vision for the Future

    As the Middle East continues its journey toward becoming a global hub for AI innovation, GPTBots.ai and QSTP remain committed to driving this transformation. By combining QSTP’s visionary leadership and GPTBots.ai’s cutting-edge technology, the partnership is poised to deliver solutions that address the region’s most pressing challenges while unlocking new opportunities for growth.

    “Our collaboration with QSTP is built on a shared belief in the transformative power of AI,” said Jerry Yin. “Together, we are creating a future where AI is not just accessible but also impactful, enabling businesses across the Middle East to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

    About GPTBots.ai

    GPTBots.ai is a complementary general-purpose LLM AI bot featuring private data input and continuous fine-tuning, which can replace ‘rule-based’ chatbots, improve user experience, and reduce costs. GPTBots.ai aims to provide users with an end-to-end business platform that can seamlessly integrate robots into existing applications and workflows via plug-ins. GPTBots.ai also allow users to have great access to, and more efficiently and effectively using, AIGC to improve overall corporate productivity and output quality.

    To know more, please visit https://www.gptbots.ai.

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    Aurora Mobile Limited 
    E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn

    Christensen

    In China
    Ms. Xiaoyan Su
    Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
    E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com

    In U.S.
    Ms. Linda Bergkamp
    Phone: +1-480-614-3004
    Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Leadership Capacity Training for WHO Collaborating Centers held in Beijing

    Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

    Leadership Capacity Training for World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers in China was held in Beijing on Feb 17 and 18.

    The meeting reviewed the long-term cooperation between China and the WHO, and fully affirmed the important role of the collaborating centers in promoting the high-quality development of China’s health sector and providing technical support to the WHO for global health governance.

    Officials from the WHO Western Pacific Region presented the appointment, renewal process and 2025 work plan of the collaborating centers. Representatives of the centers talked about their roles and responsibilities, while invited experts conducted training sessions on enhancing the development resilience of the collaborating centers as well as strengthening talent capacity building and global health governance.

    Meeting participants agreed to further promote communication and collaboration between the collaborating centers and the WHO, implement the China-WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (2022-2027), and contribute to advancing the building of a Healthy China and a global community of health for all.

    The training was hosted by China’s National Health Commission and the WHO Representative Office in China and supported by the WHO collaborating centers. Over 200 representatives from NHC departments, China’s local health departments, WHO collaborating centers, the WHO headquarters, WHO Western Pacific Region, the WHO Representative Office in China as well as related organizations attended the event.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Three priests go on a mission and the Pope’s blessing for the “Korea Mission Society” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 1 March 2025

    Committee for Communications, Archdiocese of Seoul

    Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The work of missionaries is an action that “touches hearts and leads to a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ”. This is the wish that Pope Francis, hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for more than two weeks, addresses to the “Korea Mission Society”, which is celebrating its golden Jubilee these days, that is, 50 years since its foundation (see Fides, 14/10/2024).The “Korea Mission Society” was in fact founded on February 26, 1975 (about 22 years after the end of the Korean War) thanks to an intuition of the Bishop Emeritus of Busan, John A. Choi Jae-seon. Approved by the Korean Episcopal Conference, it currently has 87 members, including missionary priests and lay people. Legally speaking, it now presents itself as a Society of Apostolic Life of diocesan law, under the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Seoul.The Society, which also has a “missionary school”, says it is “open to the whole world, wherever there is a need for missionaries”, with a particular interest in Asia. To date, in fact, dozens of missionaries have been sent outside Korean territory and are working in 9 countries, including Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, but also in other countries in Africa and the American continent.Several events have accompanied February 26 in recent months, such as conferences, seminars and the ceremony of sending three diocesan priests as new missionaries.The ceremony, which took place on Friday, February 28, was presided over by Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung, who presented Joseph Yoon-sang Yoon, John Dae-yong Kim (who will travel to Taiwan), and Peter Byung-woong Oh (the latter bound for South America) with a wooden crucifix, a symbol of their commitment to the missionary path and their dedication to spreading the Gospel.“Although I feel anxious about leaving for such a distant land, I remember the words of a nun who reassured me: ‘God will be there before you, so do not worry.’ I will do my best to live joyfully alongside God, who is already here,” said Peter Byung-woong Oh. The celebration follows the solemn ceremony of the last hours, which also took place in the Cathedral of Myeongdong, during which the Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, Archbishop Giovanni Gasparri, read the message that the Pope wrote for the occasion and sent through the Cardinal Secretary of State.The Pontiff asked the missionaries to consider this important anniversary not as an end, but as “an inspiration for continued dedication to the spread of the Gospel”, overcoming the religious indifference that permeates our society in order “to proclaim the Good News effectively, even in difficult situations”.The celebration, presided over by Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek of the Archdiocese of Seoul and concelebrated by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung and a large group of bishops and priests, was opened by a procession with the flags of the countries where the “Korea Mission Society” is present. A procession attended by representatives of the nine countries where the Korea Mission Society is present, with representatives from Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, the Philippines, Mexico and the United States.In his homily, Archbishop Jeong expressed his gratitude for the sacrifices and missionary work that the Society carries out, recalling that “mission is the very essence of the Church and its reason for being. Because we Christians, who have encountered God personally, do not keep God’s love locked up in our hearts”. (FB) (Agenzia Fides, 1/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK landmark stamps to go on sale

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Hongkong Post today announced that a new set of definitive stamps and associated philatelic products on the theme of Hong Kong landmarks will be released for sale on March 18.

    This is the fifth set of definitive stamps issued by Hongkong Post since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

    The set of 16 definitive stamps introduces famous landmarks in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the International Finance Centre, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Lai Chi Wo.

    The stamps demonstrate the uniqueness and charm of Hong Kong as an international financial hub and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. They also showcase the city’s stunning landscapes and depict its important infrastructure developments and conservation achievements.

    Official first day covers will be on sale at all post offices and ShopThruPost from tomorrow, while postcards will be available at philatelic offices only.

    Stamp booklets will be on sale at all post offices from March 18 to 24, and available at convenience stores and other non-post office outlets from March 24.

    In parallel, the 2014 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps on the theme of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China will continue to be on sale while stocks last.

    Click here for details.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Himax to Unveil Innovative WiseEye™ AIoT Solutions and Revolutionary Liqxtal® LC Optical Applications at embedded world 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (“Himax” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: HIMX), an industry leader in fabless display driver ICs and semiconductors, today announced participation in embedded world 2025, a world-leading trade show for embedded electronics and industrial computing, taking place in Nürnberg, Germany, from March 10-12, 2025. At the event, Himax will showcase its innovative WiseEye™ AI technology, featuring a range of AIoT solutions focused on ultralow power AI sensing, biometric authentication, and thermal imaging sensing applications. Additionally, in collaboration with its subsidiary Liqxtal Technology Inc. (“Liqxtal”), Himax will present revolutionary liquid crystal (“LC”) optical applications, advancing industrial embedded displays, vision-assisted systems, and smart wearables.

    Ultralow Power WiseEye AI Driving Next Era of AIoT, Smart Sensing, and Thermal Imaging Sensing
    Himax WiseEye Ultralow Power AI Smart Sensing is a cutting-edge, integrated endpoint AI solution, comprising Himax’s proprietary ultralow power WiseEye AI processors, always-on CMOS image sensors, and CNN-based AI algorithms, ideal for AIoT applications. It has gained widespread acclaim and adoption across biometric authentication, occupancy detection, people flow management, smart home, smart office, and more. Notably, the latest WiseEye2 AI processor is PSA (Platform Security Architecture) certified, featuring a security-by-design approach to provide a secure and reliable foundation for AIoT applications.

    Among the featured showcases, the WiseEye PalmVein Module integrates palm vein and facial recognition, leveraging bimodal authentication technology to meet market demands for flexible access control, ensuring reliable operation across diverse use environments. Traditional fingerprint and facial recognition methods are susceptible to age, fingerprint quality, height, and lighting conditions, leading to identification errors. In contrast, the WiseEye PalmVein solution overcomes these challenges with advanced liveness detection to deliver high-precision authentication. It achieves an exceptionally low False Acceptance Rate (FAR) of one in a million and a False Rejection Rate (FRR) below 1%, significantly reducing the risks of fake attack and unauthorized access.

    At embedded world 2025, Himax, in collaboration with ecosystem partner Calumino, will showcase industry-leading thermal imaging sensing solutions. The solution combines Himax’s ultralow power WiseEye AI processor, WiseEye2, and low-power HM0360 CMOS image sensor with Calumino’s proprietary CMOS and MOMS (Micro-Opto-Mechanical System) technologies and AI algorithms. The integration enables advanced use cases, including people flow detection, people counting, assisted living, predictive maintenance, health monitoring, and security enhancement, all with ultralow power consumption. This advancement brings unprecedented innovation to thermal imaging sensing, unlocking expanded possibilities.

    Innovative Liqxtal LC-based Optical Technology Enhancing Smart Displays and Wearables
    Liqxtal specializes in LC-based optical technology, expanding its expertise to display and optical components. At the event, Himax and Liqxtal will jointly unveil a series of cutting-edge, patented products, namely Liqxtal® Graph, Liqxtal® Dim, and Liqxtal® Pro-Eye.

    Liqxtal® Pro-Eye is an innovative eye-protective display technology that made its debut at CES 2025, receiving widespread acknowledgment among industry leaders and accelerating industry adoption. The next-generation Liqxtal® Pro-Eye display, which will be showcased at embedded world 2025, delivers a 125-inch virtual screen experience at close range or within confined spaces. In vision care, Liqxtal® Pro-Eye helps alleviate digital eye fatigue by reducing ciliary muscle strain, benefiting professionals exposed to prolonged screen use, as well as individuals with presbyopia and myopia. In industrial display solutions, it is redefining personal HMI in embedded applications, making it ideal for manufacturing, aerospace, and defense sectors that require long hours of focused monitoring and operation.

    Liqxtal will also showcase its one-of-a-kind professional smart eyewear collection, featuring the award-winning Liqxtal® Graph and innovative Liqxtal® Dim. The latest Liqxtal® Graph, built on Liqxtal’s patented reflective TFT liquid crystal architecture, supports Bluetooth connectivity and mobile app integration, enabling dynamic digital content display on the outer lens surface of smart glasses without obstructing the user’s vision, while maintaining the same comfort as traditional eyewear. It is ideal for IoT remote monitoring, smart assisted display, and identification management, further enhancing the value of smart wearables. Liqxtal® Dim integrates Liqxtal’s proprietary pixelated light valve control technology powered by WiseEye AI. This advanced system detects the position of incident light sources in real time to achieve adaptive light dimming functionality for smart sunglasses with a response time of under 8 milliseconds. Additionally, it supports programmable light attenuation modes, making it suitable for vision training assistive devices and seamless integration into smart safety eyewear and industrial-grade programmable light regulation systems, enhancing visual safety and assistance.

    Himax and Liqxtal invite all interested parties to visit our embedded world 2025 exhibition booth at Hall 4, Stand 4-503, located at NürnbergMesse, Messezentrum 1, 90471 Nürnberg, Germany. Experience our groundbreaking WiseEye AI technology and Liqxtal optical solutions firsthand. To schedule a meeting or booth tour, please contact Himax at HX_WISEEYE@himax.com.tw or Liqxtal at info@liqxtal.com.tw.

    About Liqxtal Technology Inc.

    Liqxtal Technology Inc. is a Taiwan based company that has been focused on exploring opportunities with liquid crystal (“LC”) beyond just displays since the company’s inception. With a distinguished track record in liquid crystal optics, Liqxtal has developed liquid crystal based optical components such as LC lens for ophthalmic application, LC diffuser for 3D sensing and LC retarder for light sensing. Additionally, Liqxtal designed and released LQ001, a high voltage & tunable frequency LC driver with a 1mm x 2mm footprint, which is particularly ideal for portable products. As a subsidiary of Himax Technologies, Liqxtal also integrates novel display solutions such as tunable backlight with local dimming capability powered by FPGA for niche applications. Lastly, Liqxtal is dedicated to novel vision eyewear technology and strives to innovate and advance useful optical solutions to the world.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEyeTM Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,649 patents granted and 402 patents pending approval worldwide as of December 31, 2024.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Liqxtal Contacts:

    Henry Hung, Deputy Director of Market & Sales Division
    Liqxtal Technology Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: info@liqxtal.com

    Himax Contacts:

    Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Karen Tiao, Investor Relations
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Myanmar, Thailand vow to combat transnational telecom fraud

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Relevant departments from China, Myanmar and Thailand recently held a ministerial coordination meeting in Bangkok on jointly combating transnational telecom fraud crimes. They engaged in in-depth exchanges and reached a series of consensuses on strengthening cooperation.

    The meeting highlighted the severe situation posed by transnational telecom fraud crimes, which seriously harm regional economic development and social stability while infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of citizens of all countries.

    Relevant departments in the countries are urged to further deepen international law enforcement cooperation, intensify crackdown efforts, effectively respond to the high incidence of such crimes, minimize the space in which criminal groups can operate, jointly eliminate these criminal networks and resolutely protect the safety and property of their citizens.

    The three parties will thoroughly implement the consensus of jointly cracking down on telecom fraud crimes by establishing a regular coordination mechanism, enhancing information sharing, conducting repatriation work and improving the procedures, and continuously increasing their combating efficiency.

    Furthermore, the three nations aim to strengthen law enforcement collaboration with other countries to jointly safeguard regional peace and security.

    It was revealed that in recent joint law enforcement operations conducted by relevant departments from China, Myanmar and Thailand, over 620 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud were repatriated from Myawaddy, Myanmar.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Sci-fi satire ‘Mickey 17’ debuts to positive response in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    “Mickey 17,” an absurd yet thought-provoking sci-fi satire from Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho, premiered in China on Sunday, eliciting strong reactions from first-day viewers.

    Posters for “Mickey 17” line the walls of a Beijing theater, serving as decorations for the film’s premiere on March 2, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures]

    Adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey7,” the film stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an “expendable” — a disposable crew member on a space mission who can be regenerated with most memories intact if he dies. When a regeneration goes awry, Mickey confronts the extraordinary dilemma of working for an employer who expects him to die for a living. Written and directed by Bong, the film also features Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun and Mark Ruffalo.

    “I think nowadays there are very few directors in the world who are on Bong’s level and have the audience that Bong has as well,” said Pattinson. “He’s living in very rarified air. I’ve just been such a huge fan of his. And it just came out of nowhere — ‘There’s a Bong project.’ I met him and really loved him. Then the script came in, and it is one of the craziest things I’d ever read.”

    The “Parasite” director, known for his sharp social commentary and genre-defying storytelling, continues to explore systemic inequality with humor, emotion and suspense in “Mickey 17.” The film combines biting, character-driven social satire with high-concept science fiction.

    The marketing campaign for “Mickey 17” playfully appeals to Chinese audiences, especially younger viewers, by portraying the film as a tale of workers navigating demanding bosses. Following premiere events in Beijing and seven other Chinese cities, moviegoers praised the film’s funny, heartfelt and timely allegory, along with the cast’s performances.

    Posters for “Mickey 17” line the walls of a Beijing theater, providing decorations for the premiere event and serving as backdrops for attendee photographs, March 2, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    As of March 3, “Mickey 17” has received an 88% approval rating from critics on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 43 reviews. The critics’ consensus states: “‘Mickey 17’ finds Bong Joon Ho returning to his forte of daffy sci-fi with a withering social critique at its core, proving along the way that you can never have too many Robert Pattinsons.”

    The film will be released nationwide in China on March 7.

    MIL OSI China News –

    March 3, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hongkong Post to issue “2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (March 3) that a new set of “2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” and associated philatelic products on the theme of Hong Kong landmarks will be released for sale on March 18 (Tuesday).
          
         The “2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” is the fifth set of definitive stamps issued by Hongkong Post since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. This set of definitive stamps introduces famous landmarks in Hong Kong through a set of 16 stamps. The landmarks include the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the International Finance Centre, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Lai Chi Wo, etc, demonstrating the uniqueness and charm of Hong Kong as an international financial hub and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. The stamps showcase the stunning landscapes of Hong Kong and depict the city’s important infrastructure developments and conservation achievements. The definitive stamps are available in a full range of denominations, providing the public with convenience in combining the stamps for daily use when posting mail items.
          
         In parallel, the “2014 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” on the theme of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China will continue to be on sale while stocks last. A special souvenir pack will be released to commemorate the concurrent sale of two sets of Hong Kong definitive stamps.
          
         Official first day covers for “2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” will be on sale at all post offices and Hongkong Post’s online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from tomorrow (March 4), while postcards will be available at philatelic offices only. This set of definitive stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and ShopThruPost from March 18, while serviced first day covers affixed with the definitive stamps, souvenir packs and maximum cards will be available at philatelic offices only. Stamp booklets will be on sale at all post offices (except mobile post offices) from March 18 to 24, and available at convenience stores and other non-post office outlets from March 24.
          
         A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on March 18 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
          
         In addition, to bring new excitement and enhance the commemoration, Hongkong Post will launch the “2025 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps” cachets which consist of 16 designs concurrently on the issue date of March 18 of the new definitive stamps. The full set of cachets will be set up at four post offices, namely the General Post Office, the Sha Tin Central Post Office, the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office and the Tsuen Wan Post Office, as well as in the Postal Gallery at the Hongkong Post Building. In addition, six of these cachets will be available in the five designated post offices, with details in the Appendix.

         Information about this set of definitive stamps, associated philatelic products and cachets is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk).                           

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    March 3, 2025
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