Category: China

MIL-OSI China: China aims to establish 1,000 globally influential scientific journals by 2035

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

BEIJING, Feb. 18 — The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) unveiled a plan to develop about 1,000 world-class scientific journals by 2035, as outlined in the CAST 2035 action plan approved during the ninth meeting of its 10th National Committee on Tuesday.

Scientific journals are seen as a direct indicator of a nation’s scientific competitiveness and cultural influence. Cultivating top-tier journals is a key pillar for becoming a global science and technology leader.

In 2019, CAST and six other departments launched an action plan for developing excellent scientific journals. To date, the action plan has elevated nearly 300 Chinese journals into the global elite. The number of journals ranked in the top 5 and 25 percent of their fields worldwide has surged sixfold and twofold, respectively, compared to 2018.

The second phase of the action plan is now in full swing, supporting 450 journals and 13 journal clusters. This phase shifts focus from individual journal breakthroughs to fostering a sustainable ecosystem, integrating cluster development and platform construction to drive long-term growth.

Over the next decade, CAST will expand the action plan to cover mid-tier journals, scale up cluster pilot projects, develop an independent evaluation system, attract more international submissions, and promote open science. These measures aim to steadily enhance the global reach of China’s scientific journals.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: HKSAR gov’t to co-host briefing on new agreement under CEPA

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

HONG KONG, Feb. 18 — A briefing regarding the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will be held on Wednesday to outline the new measures and arrangements for the business sector, said John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Tuesday.

Signed on Oct. 9, 2024, between the HKSAR government and the Ministry of Commerce, the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services took effect upon inking and will be officially implemented as of March 1, 2025.

The agreement is designed to lower barriers for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals seeking access to the Chinese mainland services market, said Lee. It introduces new measures in key service areas where Hong Kong has advantages and removes the requirement that service providers must operate in Hong Kong for three years before entering most service sectors, he added.

The agreement also includes provisions allowing eligible Hong Kong businesses to select Hong Kong law for contracts and designate Hong Kong as the arbitration venue, Lee noted.

The Ministry of Commerce and the HKSAR government will jointly organize a briefing in Hong Kong. Representatives from more than 10 ministries, relevant offices and the HKSAR government will introduce the measures and implementation arrangements in detail according to different service industries.

In addition to business developments, Lee highlighted that March will feature a series of popular cultural, artistic, and sporting events, alongside several major conferences and exhibitions. On the housing front, the average waiting time for public rental housing applicants is set to decrease to 5.3 years by the end of 2024, marking a reduction of 0.2 years and the lowest figure in six years.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: First visa-free ASEAN tour group enters China’s Xishuangbanna

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

KUNMING, Feb. 18 — On Tuesday evening, a group of 15 tourists from Thailand and Laos walked out of the China-Laos Railway’s Xishuangbanna station, greeted by a water-splashing ceremony and a lively dance performance.

They are the first tour group from ASEAN countries to visit the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna in southwest China’s Yunnan Province since the implementation of a new visa relaxation policy, which allows tour groups from these countries to visit the prefecture — a popular tourist destination in Yunnan — visa-free for up to six days.

During their stay, the tour group will appreciate the natural scenery of Xishuangbanna, and experience local cuisine and ethnic customs.

The new visa policy has been in effect since Feb. 10, aimed at boosting tourism in southwest China. It is also expected to expand opening-up, promote the exchange of personnel, and deepen the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, the National Immigration Administration said in a statement.

Jiang Jie, deputy director of the culture and tourism bureau of Xishuangbanna, said that the move will boost the local inbound tourism market further. Xishuangbanna will continue cultivating new tourism formats and improve its infrastructure to cater to tourists in an improved manner.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s first helicopter-borne electromagnetic detection system deployed

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

BEIJING, Feb. 18 — China’s first helicopter airborne magnetotelluric detection system has been successfully applied to a plateau railway construction project, the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) said on Tuesday.

Researchers have used the system to conduct geological surveys of high-altitude regions with extremely cold temperatures, complex terrain and harsh environments, providing critical data support for the project.

Airborne magnetotelluric detection technology involves the use of aircraft-mounted high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors to capture subsurface electromagnetic response signals generated by Earth’s natural magnetic fields, said Huang Ling, an associate researcher at AIR.

Data inversion is then applied to map underground features such as faults, fissures, groundwater and mineral resources, Huang said.

Airborne magnetotelluric detection has advantages such as rapid deployment capabilities, high resolution imagery and broad coverage, making it a vital tool for resource exploration and engineering surveys.

It is particularly suited to underground detection in challenging environments where human access is limited, such as plateaus, forests, deserts and swamps.

To develop China’s first helicopter-borne system of this kind, the AIR research team has overcome a series of core technical challenges, including those related to high-sensitivity magnetic sensors, high-dynamic-range signal receivers and stabilized aerial payload platforms. The system’s technical specifications have met advanced international standards.

During a nearly two-month survey in harsh, high-altitude and extremely cold conditions, the research team completed more than 30 flights covering over 5,000 kilometers.

“We will continue advancing the iterative development and technological innovation of this system to support national major engineering projects and mineral resource exploration,” Huang said.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: In Day-Long Security Council Debate, Speakers Offer Divergent Views on ‘New’ Global Order, Stress Need to Update Global Governance

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

During a day-long Security Council debate on practicing multilateralism and reforming global governance today, speakers stressed the urgent need to update the United Nations — founded 80 years ago — including reforms to the Council itself and to the global economic order to better address twenty-first-century challenges.

“One can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, recalling that the UN was “born out of the ashes” of the second. The UN remains the “essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights”, he said. However, “eight decades is a long time”, he said, emphasizing that while the “hardware” for international cooperation exists, “the software needs an update”.

As global challenges demand multilateral solutions, he pointed out that the Pact for the Future puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, advance coordination with regional organizations and includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade. It also includes efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space, advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons and recognizes the UN’s role in preventive diplomacy.

“But the Pact does even more for peace,” he said, as it recognizes that the international community must address the root causes of conflict and tension and that the Council “must reflect the world of today”. Guided by the Pact, he said that multilateralism — “the beating heart of the United Nations” — can became an even more powerful instrument of peace. “But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it,” he added, urging all Member States to continue updating global problem-solving mechanisms to “make them fit for purpose, fit for people and fit for peace”.

Shift of Power to Global South

Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China — Council President for February — then spoke in his national capacity to recall that representatives of his country were the first to sign the Charter of the United Nations, “writing with the Chinese calligraphy brush an important chapter in world history”. Now, though, comprehensive peace and shared prosperity remain elusive. Noting the rise of the Global South on the world stage, he insisted that “international affairs should no longer be monopolized by a small number of countries” and the fruits of global development should not be enjoyed by only a few countries. China, as the world’s largest developing country, has become the major trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions and is promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to contribute to global prosperity and development.

“The continuing inequalities of the global financial system have further aggravated today’s crises,” said Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, adding that “the very fabric of the world order established under the UN Charter is in danger of being torn apart”. Urging reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, he pointed out that the current system favours the rich, while developing nations are trapped in a cycle of poverty and debt.

Also underlining the need to reform the global economic order, Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said that current financial arrangements are largely led by developed States. It is necessary to ensure a “flexible and sustainable financing mechanism for African States and to work towards improving or easing their debt burden,” she stressed. She also noted that Africa represents more than a quarter of UN Member States, but continues to be deprived of permanent representation on the Council.

Similarly, Francess Piagie Alghali, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, said that Africa remains the most glaring victim of inequitable Council composition. Without structural reform, the organ’s performance and legitimacy will continue to be questioned, she said, also highlighting Africa’s exclusion from multilateral development banks. Highlighting the African Union’s theme of the year — Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations — she stressed the need to urgently rectify the historical injustices perpetuated against the continent.

Push for Two Permanent Security Council Seats for Africa

Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, also reiterated the need for a “deep-rooted reform” of the Council, stressing that African States should be granted two permanent seats that include the right to veto. Stating that the UN Charter must be the “linchpin” and “our lodestar” as the international community embarks on reforming the multilateral system, he also noted that Council resolutions are being trampled upon, calling for effective mechanisms to bolster the UN’s capacity to guarantee international peace and security.

“It is illogical that Africa does not feature among permanent members,” observed France’s representative, underscoring: “That must change.” Two African States must hold permanent seats on the Council, and he added that Africa’s demand for veto power is “legitimate”. The representative of Denmark, in that vein, stated that the world needs a more-representative Council — “one which redresses the historical injustice done to the African continent”. She added: “We cannot seriously tackle the issues facing multilateralism when the Security Council continues to operate in a reality of yesteryear.”

“The Security Council is arguably the least representative and most undemocratic of global institutions,” added Guyana’s representative, pointing out that the Council faces the risk of becoming irrelevant. “We have seen repeatedly how the current structure and decision-making format — particularly the use of the veto — have thwarted the will” of the wider membership, she said. Greece’s representative, for his part, expressed support for “any model of reform that is fair, strengthens the UN as a whole and transforms the Security Council into a more democratic, efficient, representative and accountable body”.

Russian Federation, China Accused of Being Drivers of Instability

Meanwhile, the representative of the United States said that “two of the greatest drivers of instability in the world today hold veto power”, spotlighting the Russian Federation’s bloody war in Ukraine and China’s exploitation of its developing-nation status. “We need to take a close look at where this institution is falling short,” she added. Therefore, the United States is currently reviewing its support to the UN, and she said that “we will consider whether actions of the Organization are serving American interests, and whether it can be reformed”.

As to why the UN is falling short of its ambitions, the representative of the United Kingdom observed that “there is more to this than the often-mentioned liquidity crisis”. While the Organization’s membership has increased, it is not fully representative of today’s “multipolar world”, she said. Further, the Council is often characterized as “ineffective geopolitical theatre”, and she added that — while reform is needed — “this body has the tools to implement its peace and security mandate”.

“It is time to rescue multilateralism from ruinous mistrust,” stressed Panama’s representative, urging States to ensure that, rather that floundering, the system flourishes and prospers. Observing that his country has been reaping the rewards of multilateralism since its independence, he said that diplomatic efforts lead to the end of the colonial enclave and to the recovery of “our Canal”.

BRICS Surpasses G7 in Gross Domestic Product

The representative of the Russian Federation noted that developed countries have siphoned off $62 trillion in resources from the Global South since 1960, highlighting Moscow’s efforts to advance anti-colonial agendas at the UN. And “there have been tectonic shifts in the global economy”, with BRICS (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, South Africa) accounting for 37 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), surpassing 29 per cent represented by the Group of 7 (G7) countries, he added, stressing the need for a more equitable global financial architecture. Rejecting the West’s domination at the Security Council as “a relic of the past”, he said that his country advocates for indivisible security in Eurasia without infringing on others’ interests.

“It is extraordinary that 193 Member States — with each of us at different stages of political and economic development, like-minded or even antagonistic — gather every day in this very building to discuss and solve current and future issues,” observed the representative of the Republic of Korea. “This should not be taken for granted,” he stressed, stating that the UN’s convening role is the “driving engine of multilateralism”. Slovenia’s representative, similarly, noted that the UN “enabled the power of rules to replace the rule of power”. Citing former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, he said: “It is not big Powers who need the UN for their protection. It is all the others.”

Unilateralism Versus Multilateralism

As the floor opened to the wider membership, Celinda Sosa Lunda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, pointed to the need for radical change within the UN structure in view of the myriad threats to the planet’s very existence. “We are fighting for the transition towards a multipolar world,” she stressed. “Today the world is in a state of flux,” said Jeje Odongo Abubakhar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, pointing to the “palpable loss of trust” in age-old institutions and mechanisms. Observing that many world leaders now favour unilateralism, he stressed: “The future of multilateralism depends on the willingness of State and non-State actors to re-imagine and revitalize the system.”

On that, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, said that it has become crucial to defend multilateralism given “the withdrawal of the world’s greatest Power from international bodies”. He also opposed “trends towards the privatization of the Organization, turning it into a tool that represents the interests of major Powers and large transnational capital”. Meanwhile, Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said that, during the “global dictatorship of the international liberal mainstream”, the UN has failed to be a platform for peace. He therefore stressed that the UN must adjust itself to the new global political reality or “lose its significance”.

Waleed Abdul Karim El-Khereiji, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, also said that the increasing crisis of confidence in the UN demands reform. Further, “current bloody incidents” call for firm responses from the multilateral system. “No people should feel abandoned by the international community,” stressed Fedor Rosocha, Director General of the Directorate for International Organizations and Human Rights in the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, stressing that the Council must not be passive in the fact of conflict, crisis and atrocity.

The fact that “no new world war has happened” is not a consolation to Ukrainians whose towns have been destroyed, observed Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Multilateral institutions are being undermined from within, she said, urging that permanent Council members be limited in their use of the veto when they have a conflict of interest in the matter under consideration. She added: “If the UN begins to resemble a boxing ring — with fighters, their supporters and passive spectators — the prospects for global security will be bleak.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Will Thompson Concludes His Service as United States Attorney

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Will Thompson announced today that he has concluded his tenure as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, effective immediately.

“Serving as the United States Attorney has genuinely been a career highlight,” Thompson said. “Thinking that a boy who grew up in Boone County, West Virginia, would be able to serve his country in such a prestigious and vital role leaves me in awe. I am proud of the office’s work under my leadership and that my team has strengthened its relationship and reputation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, as well as with the judiciary and general public.”

Thompson was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed Thompson by voice vote on October 5, 2021. After taking his oath of office on October 13, 2021, Thompson led an office of 34 attorneys and 41 non-attorney personnel located in offices in Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley.

Thompson appreciates the role that former Senator Joe Manchin played in securing his nomination from President Biden, and the role that Manchin and Senator Shelley Moore Capito played in getting him confirmed by the United States Senate. Thompson also appreciates the relationships he built and strengthened with state officials and the district’s state prosecutors, sheriffs, and chiefs of police.

Thompson commends the Assistant United States Attorneys and support personnel who served with him. He appreciates the career people who there when he entered the office and the employees he hired during his tenure.

“The people of this office are the true backbone of federal prosecution and representation in this district,” Thompson said. “They all serve with dignity and respect for the rule of law. They are vital to the mission of the Department of Justice, which is to keep our communities safe.”

Thompson is most proud of three accomplishments while he was in office. The first is the significant decline in overdose deaths. He attributes that to his office’s change of strategy from targeting street-level drug dealers to mid- and upper-level drug distributors. This strategy has removed hundreds of pounds of this poison from communities throughout the district. His office has disrupted supply chains of fentanyl that were coming directly into the district from China and methamphetamine that was coming directly from the cartels in Mexico. As part of his plan to lower the overdose rates, Thompson also championed prevention and treatment opportunities across the district.

Thompson is also proud of his work in reducing violent crime and overall crime in the district. Thompson attributes this reduction to several factors. He improved communications and relationships with the office’s law enforcement partners. Thompson also worked with state and local partners to obtain federal grants to give them more resources to their jobs more. Finally, given that the majority of crimes in West Virginia are connected to the drug trade, the office’s revised strategy has helped reduce the crime rate.

The third accomplishment that Thompson is proud of is using his skills as a former trial court judge to instigate a vigorous review process of cases to ensure there were no evidentiary issues. Thompson met with law enforcement partners throughout the district and informed them of this new review process. He had his office work more closely with the officers to address the issues, assist with writing search warrants, and help with other search and seizure issues.

As United States Attorney, Thompson was the chief federal law enforcement officer in the southern half of West Virginia. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

The results of the revised approach to drug cases under Thompson include Operation Smoke and Mirrors, which dismantled a high-volume drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area and yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history.

Following the trail of methamphetamine in West Virginia back to Los Angeles, California, and the U.S. southern border, investigators seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms, and $935,000 in cash. The DTO was directly involved in price fixing in the methamphetamine trade by raising the price of methamphetamine coming into the United States from Mexico based on fluctuations in the currency conversion rate.

Four separate indictments led to the convictions of 31 defendants, including the DTO’s in-state leaders and California-based suppliers. Over 20 defendants have been sentenced to prison, including eight to terms of more than 10 years. Three low-level defendants were referred to the Alternative Treatment Court (ATC). Thompson also supported the ATC program, which provides a blend of treatment that focuses on drug and mental health treatment, and alternative sanctions to effectively address offender behavior, rehabilitation, and education and job skills training.

Thompson also led the prosecution of a Kanawha County man who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The defendant set up a workshop in a rented St. Albans apartment were he made fake 30-milligram oxycodone pills. The defendant admitted that the fentanyl came from a source outside the United States and that the pill press came from China. Investigators seized over 10,000 pills and nearly $80,000 in this case.

Thompson’s office also obtained guilty verdicts against a Logan County physician for four counts of distribution of a controlled substance. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to using a registration number in violation of federal law and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. His medical license and office are subject to forfeit to the government as a result of the latest convictions.

The office under Thompson also secured convictions against the majority of the defendants in prosecutions that dismantled a Huntington-area DTO responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and a Beckley-area DTO that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”

While having the utmost respect for law enforcement officers, Thompson had zero tolerance for officers who break the law and violate people’s civil rights. In what Thompson considered the most critical civil rights case during his tenure, he personally participated in the investigation and prosecution of eight former West Virginia correctional officers who were charged and convicted in connection with a March 1, 2022, assault that resulted in the death of a Southern Regional Jail inmate and the subsequent cover-up. After four days of trial, the final defendant was found guilty on January 27, 2025.

A former Fayette County law enforcement officer was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution for sex trafficking a 17-year-old minor female and obstructing the resulting investigation. Following four days of trial, a federal jury found the defendant guilty on April 28, 2023, of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor via coercion, sex trafficking of a minor via coercion, and two counts of obstruction of justice.

A former Nicholas County deputy sheriff was convicted of the production of child pornography and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The defendant took two videos of the child victim, who was under the age of 12 and was sleeping on a couch. In the first video, he walked toward her and zoomed in on her buttocks. In the second video, he recorded his exposed penis and him masturbating near the sleeping girl. He then used Snapchat to distribute the videos to multiple users. When Snapchat shut down his account, he created another Snapchat account to distribute child pornography.

A former Logan police officer was sentenced to nine years in prison after a jury convicted him of using excessive force against an arrestee. At the trial, the jury heard evidence that he assaulted the victim in a bathroom, then dragged him into another room and rammed his head against a door frame, leaving the victim unconscious and lying in a pool of his own blood.

The office successfully prosecuted 18 individuals in connection with a scheme to traffic over 140 firearms from southern West Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over 50 of the firearms were recovered at crime scenes, primarily in Philadelphia, and were connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent offenses. The ringleader was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

The Southern District of West Virginia became a national leader in prosecuting bankruptcy fraud under Thompson’s leadership. Among those cases, a Charleston developer was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $730,326.43 in restitution for falsifying bankruptcy records. The former chief executive officer of the entity that operated the West Virginia Courtesy Patrol was sentenced to five years of federal probation and ordered to pay $205,802.49 for fraudulent receipt of property from a debtor. A Putnam County man was sentenced to 30 days in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, including five months on home detention, and ordered to pay $24,662.56 in restitution for knowingly and fraudulently making a false declaration in a bankruptcy case.

The office successfully prosecuted other forms of white-collar crime under Thompson. A Kentucky businessman pleaded guilty on behalf of himself and two limited liability companies for their roles in the January 2018 discharge of oil into the Big Sandy River. The defendants were sentenced to terms of probation and also ordered to pay $1,856,957.92 in restitution. The LLC defendants cannot conduct or operate any business during their five-year terms of corporate probation.

Nine defendants were convicted in connection with multiple internet-based fraud schemes operated in the Huntington area that defrauded hundreds of individuals across the country. The schemes defrauded at least 200 victims, many of whom are elderly, of at least $2.5 million. The final convicted defendant was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, ordered to pay $904,126.96 in restitution, and participated in a digital awareness campaign to alert West Virginians to online fraud scams.

The office also secured 20 convictions related to COVID-19 benefits fraud under Thompson, with court-ordered restitution and a civil penalty in these cases exceeding $1,330,000.

Under Thompson’s leadership, the office secured a 15-count indictment charging a Kanawha County man with wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction. The indictment alleges the defendant conceived and carried out two real estate-related investment fraud schemes that caused losses of between $395,000 and $434,501.42. The defendant’s mother pleaded guilty late last year to aiding and abetting the sale and offer of unregistered securities as a result of the investigation in this case.

The office also secured an 18-count indictment charging the former maintenance director for Boone County Schools with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. The indictment alleges the defendant used his position to defraud the Boone County Board of Education out of approximately $3,400,000. To date, three other individuals have been charged as a result of this investigation.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Before taking office as United States Attorney, Thompson was a Circuit Court Judge in West Virginia’s 25th Judicial Circuit. He was appointed to that position in 2007 and re-elected in 2008 and 2016. Thompson presided over several treatment courts, including the first family treatment court in West Virginia. Before becoming a Circuit Court Judge, Thompson practiced law at the Cook and Cook law firm in Boone County. There, he focused on litigation, which included representing several hundred indigent clients in criminal defense and other matters. Thompson also previously served as President of Madison Healthcare, Inc. and as Vice President of Danville Lumber Company.

Thompson was born in Charleston and raised in Boone County, West Virginia. He earned a degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

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MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025

MIL-OSI: Bel Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WEST ORANGE, N.J., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB) today announced preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

Net sales of $149.9 million compared to $140.0 million in Q4-23. Excluding $20.8 million of contribution from Enercon, organic sales down 7.8% from Q4-23.
Gross profit margin of 37.5%, up from 36.6% in Q4-23
GAAP net loss attributable to Bel shareholders of $1.8 million versus GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders of $12.0 million in Q4-23
Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders of $19.0 million versus $19.5 million in Q4-23
Adjusted EBITDA of $30.3 million (20.2% of sales) as compared to $27.3 million (19.5% of sales) in Q4-23
Completed acquisition of Enercon, making aerospace and defense Bel’s largest end market served

Full Year 2024 Highlights

Net sales of $534.8 million compared to $639.8 million in 2023. Excluding contribution from Enercon, organic sales down 19.7%.
Gross profit margin of 37.8%, up from 33.7% in 2023
GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders of $41.0 million versus $73.8 million in 2023
Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders of $72.1 million versus $89.6 million in 2023
Adjusted EBITDA of $101.9 million (19.0% of sales), down from $116.8 million (18.3% of sales) in 2023

“Bel’s profitability levels remained strong throughout 2024 despite a challenging top line environment,” said Daniel Bernstein, President and CEO. “Our recent initiatives in operational efficiencies and global mindset of financial discipline has strengthened Bel’s foundation, enabling us to thrive despite the macro conditions we faced. We could not be more pleased with our acquisition of Enercon, both operationally and from a team perspective. We are excited to embark on 2025 as a new team, working together to progress on revenue synergy opportunities that we have identified across our two businesses. On a personal note, as recently announced, I look forward to working with Farouq in the coming months as I transition the roles of President and CEO to the next generation,” concluded Mr. Bernstein.

Farouq Tuweiq, CFO, added, “Our priority for 2024 was to take actions to drive future top line growth and further refine our organizational structure to enhance operational efficiencies. In this regard, we were successful in achieving a series of initiatives. During the fourth quarter, we closed on our acquisition of Enercon, the largest transaction in Bel’s history. Enercon adds scale, diversity and a strong financial profile to Bel’s legacy business. Further, in October 2024, Uma Pingali joined Bel as our first Global Head of Sales. Under Uma’s leadership, we are laying the foundation of a new cohesive global sales structure and strategy aimed at driving top line growth across all product groups, geographies and end markets. On the internal initiative side, we announced two additional facility consolidation projects in 2024 and have initiated a strategic focus on global procurement with the hiring of Anubhav Gothi. Each of these actions completed in 2024 will serve to support Bel’s growth and profitability objectives for 2025.

“Looking ahead, we are encouraged to see the tide turning in terms of demand from our networking and distribution partners. We anticipate the rebound in these areas will be slow and steady throughout 2025. Based on information available today, GAAP net sales in the first quarter of 2025 are expected to be in the range of $144 to $154 million, with gross margin in the range of 36% to 38%. We are excited entering 2025 as a more nimble organization and look forward to executing on the growth opportunities in the year ahead,” concluded Mr. Tuweiq.

Non-GAAP financial measures, such as Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders, Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA, adjust corresponding GAAP measures for provision for income taxes, other income/expense, net, interest income/expense, and depreciation and amortization, and also exclude, where applicable for the covered period presented in the financial statements, certain unusual or special items identified by management such as restructuring charges, gains/losses on sales of businesses and properties, acquisition related costs, impairment charges, noncontrolling interest (“NCI”) adjustments from fair value to redemption value, and certain litigation costs. In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2024, we modified our presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures, including revising our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS, to additionally exclude from these Non-GAAP measures (i) stock-based compensation, (ii) amortization of intangibles (which primarily relates to the amortization of finite-lived customer relationships and technology associated with the Company’s historical acquisitions, including those associated with the recent acquisition of Enercon), and (iii) unrealized foreign currency exchange (gains) losses. We believe this change enhances investor insight into our operational performance. We have applied this modified definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS to all periods presented. Non-GAAP adjusted net sales exclude expedite fee revenue. Please refer to the financial information included with this press release for reconciliations of GAAP financial measures to Non-GAAP financial measures and our explanation of why we present Non-GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call
Bel has scheduled a conference call for 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 to discuss these results. To participate in the conference call, investors should dial 877-407-0784, or 201-689-8560 if dialing internationally. The presentation will additionally be broadcast live over the Internet and will be available at https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations. The webcast will be available via replay for a period of at least 30 days at this same Internet address. For those unable to access the live call, a telephone replay will be available at 844-512-2921, or 412-317-6671 if dialing internationally, using access code 13750153 after 12:30 pm ET, also for 30 days.

About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, defense, commercial aerospace, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel’s portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical, broadcasting and consumer electronics markets. Bel’s product groups include Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies), and Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Company Contact:
Farouq Tuweiq
Chief Financial Officer
ir@belf.com

Investor Contact:
Three Part Advisors
Jean Marie Young, Managing Director or Steven Hooser, Partner
631-418-4339
jyoung@threepa.com; shooser@threepa.com

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, our guidance for the first quarter of 2025; our statements regarding our expectations for future periods generally including anticipated financial performance, projections and trends for the remainder of the 2025 year ahead and other future periods; our statements regarding future events, performance, plans, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, including statements regarding matters such as trends and expectations as to our sales, gross margin, products, product groups, customers, geographies and end markets; statements about the anticipated benefits of the recently-closed Enercon acquisition, including our beliefs about the potential future advantages of the acquisition for Bel’s operations, team, and with respect to revenue synergy opportunities; statements expressing management’s optimism for 2025 and for the future generally; statements about the process of transitioning the roles of President and CEO to the next generation; statements regarding Bel’s plans and intentions in respect of corporate projects and objectives, including plans for initiatives and efficiencies, and including statements about the intention to drive future top line growth and refine the organizational structure to enhance operational efficiencies; statements about the anticipated future contributions of new employees recently joining Bel and the role of such newly-created positions in the corporate team; statements about Bel’s sales structure and strategy aimed at driving top line growth across product groups, geographies and end markets; statements about facility consolidation projects and strategic focus on global procurement, and the anticipated benefits thereof including with respect to supporting Bel’s growth and profitability objectives for 2025; Anticipated demand from networking and distribution partners; size and capabilities of the organization; statements about executing on growth opportunities; statements regarding our expectations and beliefs regarding trends in the Company’s business and industry and the markets in which Bel operates, and about broader market trends and the macroeconomic environment generally, and other statements regarding the Company’s positioning, its strategies, future progress, investments, plans, targets, goals, and other focuses and initiatives, and the expected timing and potential benefits thereof. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Bel’s control. Bel’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in our forward-looking statements (including without limitation any of Bel’s projections) due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, difficulties associated with integrating previously acquired companies, including any unanticipated difficulties, or unexpected or higher than anticipated expenditures, relating to the Enercon acquisition which closed in November 2024, and including, without limitation, the risk that Bel is unable to integrate the Enercon business successfully or difficulties that result in the failure to realize the expected benefits and synergies within the expected time period (if at all); the possibility that the Bel’s intended acquisition of the remaining 20% stake in Enercon is not completed in accordance with the shareholders agreement as contemplated for any reason, and any resulting disruptions that may result to Bel’s business and our currently 80% owned Enercon subsidiary as a result thereof; trends in demand which can affect our products and results, including that demand in Enercon’s end markets can be cyclical, impacting the demand for Enercon’s products, which could be materially adversely affected by reductions in defense spending; the market concerns facing our customers, and risks for the Company’s business in the event of the loss of certain substantial customers; the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products; the effects of business and economic conditions, and challenges impacting the macroeconomic environment generally and/or our industry in particular; the effects of rising input costs, and cost changes generally, including the potential impact of inflationary pressures; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, including supply chain constraints or other challenges; the impact of public health crises; difficulties associated with the availability of labor, and the risks of any labor unrest or labor shortages; risks associated with our international operations, including our substantial manufacturing operations in China, and following Bel’s acquisition of Enercon which closed in November 2024, risks associated with operations in Israel, which may be adversely affected by political or economic instability, major hostilities or acts of terrorism in the region; risks associated with restructuring programs or other strategic initiatives, including any difficulties in implementation or realization of the expected benefits or cost savings; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment including the potential effects of trade restrictions that may impact Bel, its customers and/or its suppliers; risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market’s acceptance of the Company’s new products and competitive responses to those new products; the impact of changes to U.S. and applicable foreign legal and regulatory requirements, including tax laws, trade and tariff policies, such as any new or increase in tariffs imposed either by the U.S. government on foreign imports or by a foreign government on US. exports related to the countries in which Bel transacts business; and the risks detailed in Bel’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed by Bel with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other documents that may be filed by Bel from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the risks and uncertainties impacting our business, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Bel’s views as of the date of this press release. Bel anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. Bel undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Bel’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Non-GAAP financial measures identified in this press release as well as in the supplementary information to this press release (Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders, Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA) are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These measures should not be considered a substitute for, and the reader should also consider, income from operations, net earnings, earnings per share and other measures of performance as defined by GAAP as indicators of our performance or profitability. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled captions of other companies due to differences in the method of calculation. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain unusual or special items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company’s performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. For additional information about our use of non-GAAP financial measures in connection with our Incentive Compensation Program for 2023, please see the Executive Compensation discussion appearing in our Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2024.

Website Information
We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.belfuse.com, in the “Investor Relations” section. We use our website as a means of disclosing material, otherwise non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

[Financial tables follow]


Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾ Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2024			2023			2024			2023

Net sales	$	149,859		$	140,010		$	534,792		$	639,813
Cost of sales		93,652			88,827			332,434			423,964
Gross profit		56,207			51,183			202,358			215,849
As a % of net sales		37.5	%		36.6	%		37.8	%		33.7	%

Research and development costs		6,934			5,966			23,586			22,487
Selling, general and administrative expenses		34,831			24,942			110,616			99,091
As a % of net sales		23.2	%		17.8	%		20.7	%		15.5	%
Impairment of CUI tradename		400			–			400			–
Restructuring charges		1,669			3,808			3,459			10,114
Gain on sale of property		–			–			–			(3,819	)
Income from operations		12,373			16,467			64,297			87,976
As a % of net sales		8.3	%		11.8	%		12.0	%		13.8	%

Gain on sale of Czech Republic business		–			–			–			980
Interest expense		(2,815	)		(448	)		(4,078	)		(2,850	)
Interest income		1,013			–			4,754			–
Other expense, net		(3,186	)		(2,520	)		(3,165	)		(2,806	)
Earnings before income taxes		7,385			13,499			61,808			83,300

Provision for income taxes		953			1,463			12,616			9,469
Effective tax rate		12.9	%		10.8	%		20.4	%		11.4	%
Net earnings	$	6,432		$	12,036		$	49,192		$	73,831
As a % of net sales		4.3	%		8.6	%		9.2	%		11.5	%

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		484			–			484			–
Redemption value adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest		7,748			–			7,748			–
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Bel Fuse Shareholders	$	(1,800	)	$	12,036		$	40,960		$	73,831

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Class A common shares – basic and diluted		2,115			2,142			2,124			2,142
Class B common shares – basic and diluted		10,429			10,628			10,491			10,634

Net (loss) earnings per common share:
Class A common shares – basic and diluted	$	(0.14	)	$	0.90		$	3.09		$	5.52
Class B common shares – basic and diluted	$	(0.14	)	$	0.95		$	3.28		$	5.83

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾ Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, unaudited)

	December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	68,253	$	89,371
Held to maturity U.S. Treasury securities		950		37,548
Accounts receivable, net		111,376		84,129
Inventories		161,370		136,540
Other current assets		31,581		33,890
Total current assets		373,530		381,478
Property, plant and equipment, net		47,879		36,533
Right-of-use assets		25,125		20,481
Related-party note receivable		2,937		2,152
Equity method investment		9,265		10,282
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net		439,984		76,033
Other assets		51,069		44,672
Total assets	$	949,789	$	571,631

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	49,182	$	40,441
Operating lease liability, current		7,954		6,350
Other current liabilities		70,933		63,818
Total current liabilities		128,069		110,609
Long-term debt		287,500		60,000
Operating lease liability, long-term		17,763		14,212
Other liabilities		75,295		46,252
Total liabilities		508,627		231,073
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		80,586		–
Stockholders’ equity		360,576		340,558
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity	$	949,789	$	571,631

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾ Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands, unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2024			2023

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	49,192		$	73,831
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		16,457			13,312
Stock-based compensation		3,738			3,486
Amortization of deferred financing costs		151			33
Deferred income taxes		(6,267	)		(3,872	)
Net unrealized losses on foreign currency revaluation		1,456			1,356
Gain on sale of property		–			(2,117	)
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business		–			(980	)
Other, net		2,347			(1,037	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net		(6,817	)		22,500
Unbilled receivables		7,800			5,451
Inventories		15,121			33,613
Accounts payable		139			(22,745	)
Accrued expenses		(7,068	)		5,356
Accrued restructuring costs		215			(1,228	)
Income taxes payable		(1,009	)		(4,976	)
Other operating assets/liabilities, net		2,199			(13,634	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		77,654			108,349

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(14,108	)		(12,126	)
Purchases of held to maturity U.S. Treasury securities		(131,309	)		(59,992	)
Proceeds from held to maturity securities		167,907			19,918
Payment for equity method investment		–			(10,282	)
Investment in related party notes receivable		(785	)		(2,152	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		883			6,036
Payment of acquisition, net of cash acquired		(324,071	)
Proceeds from sale of business		–			5,063
Net cash used in investing activities		(301,483	)		(53,535	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to common stockholders		(3,453	)		(3,492	)
Deferred financing costs		(1,736	)		–
Repayments under revolving credit line		(15,000	)		(40,000	)
Borrowings under revolving credit line		242,500			5,000
Purchases of common stock		(16,053	)		(105	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		206,258			(38,597	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(3,547	)		2,888

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(21,118	)		19,105
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period		89,371			70,266
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period	$	68,253		$	89,371


Supplementary information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net of refunds received	$	22,952		$	25,056
Interest payments	$	5,795		$	4,729
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	$	6,870		$	5,999

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾ Product Group Highlights (dollars in thousands, unaudited)

	Sales							Gross Margin
	Q4-24		Q4-23		% Change			Q4-24			Q4-23			Basis Point Change
Power Solutions and Protection	$	78,073	$	68,971		13.2	%		40.6	%		40.2	%		40
Connectivity Solutions		52,548		50,562		3.9	%		36.6	%		29.3	%		730
Magnetic Solutions		19,238		20,477		-6.1	%		29.1	%		17.1	%		1,200
Total	$	149,859	$	140,010		7.0	%		37.5	%		36.6	%		90

	Sales							Gross Margin
	FY 2024		FY 2023		% Change			FY 2024			FY 2023			Basis Point Change
Power Solutions and Protection	$	245,551		314,105		-21.8	%		42.4	%		38.1	%		430
Connectivity Solutions		220,370		210,572		4.7	%		37.1	%		34.2	%		290
Magnetic Solutions		68,871		115,136		-40.2	%		25.3	%		22.0	%		330
Total	$	534,792	$	639,813		-16.4	%		37.8	%		33.7	%		410

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bel Fuse Inc.
Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Sales to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Sales⁽²⁾
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Earnings to Non-GAAP Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾⁽³⁾
(in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP net sales

149,859

140,010

534,792

639,813

Expedite fee revenue

–

425

14,850

Non-GAAP adjusted net sales

149,859

139,585

534,735

624,963

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,

	2024			2023			2024			2023

GAAP Net earnings	$	6,432		$	12,036		$	49,192		$	73,831
Provision for income taxes		953			1,463			12,616			9,469
Other income/expense, net		3,186			2,520			3,165			2,806
Interest income		(1,013	)		–			(4,754	)		–
Interest expense		2,815			448			4,078			2,850
GAAP Operating Income	$	12,373		$	16,467		$	64,297		$	88,956
Restructuring charges		1,669			3,808			3,459			10,114
Acquisition related costs		8,592			–			12,884			–
Amortization of inventory step-up		639			–			639			–
Impairment of CUI tradename		400			–			400			–
Loss on liquidation of foreign subsidiary		–			2,724			–			2,724
MPS litigation costs		–			128			–			3,031
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business		–			–			–			(980	)
Gain on sale of properties		–			–			–			(3,819	)
Stock compensation		956			774			3,738			3,486
Non-GAAP Operating Income	$	24,629		$	23,901		$	85,417		$	103,512
Depreciation and amortization		5,698			3,350			16,457			13,312
Adjusted EBITDA	$	30,327		$	27,251		$	101,874		$	116,824
% of net sales		20.2	%		19.5	%		19.0	%		18.3	%

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders, Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company’s performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. See the section above captioned “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.
(3) In the fourth quarter of 2024, we modified our presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures, including revising our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS, to additionally exclude from these Non-GAAP measures (i) stock-based compensation, (ii) amortization of intangibles (which primarily relates to the amortization of finite-lived customer relationships and technology associated with the Company’s historical acquisitions, including those associated with the recent acquisition of Enercon), and (iii) unrealized foreign currency exchange (gains) losses. We believe this change enhances investor insight into our operational performance. We have applied this modified definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS to all periods presented.


Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾ Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾ (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)

The following tables detail the impact that certain unusual or special items had on the Company’s net earnings per common Class A and Class B basic and diluted shares (“EPS”) and the line items in which these items were included on the consolidated statements of operations.

	Three Months Ended December 31, 2024													Three Months Ended December 31, 2023
Reconciling Items	Earnings before taxes		Provision for income taxes		Net Earnings Attributable to Bel Fuse Shareholders			Class A EPS⁽³⁾			Class B EPS⁽³⁾			Earnings before taxes		Provision for income taxes		Net Earnings Attributable to Bel Fuse Shareholders		Class A EPS⁽³⁾		Class B EPS⁽³⁾

GAAP measures	$	7,385	$	953	$	(1,800	)	$	(0.14	)	$	(0.14	)	$	13,499	$	1,463	$	12,036	$	0.90	$	0.95
Restructuring charges		1,669		270		1,399			0.11			0.11			3,808		675		3,133		0.24		0.25
Acquisition related costs		8,592		1,516		7,076			0.54			0.57			–		–		–		–		–
Redemption value adjustment on redeemable NCI		–		–		7,748			0.59			0.62			–		–		–		–		–
Amortization of inventory step-up		639		147		492			0.04			0.04			–		–		–		–		–
Impairment of CUI tradename		400		92		308			0.02			0.02			–		–		–		–		–
Loss on liquidation of foreign subsidiary		–		–		–			–			–			2,724		681		2,043		0.15		0.16
MPS litigation costs		–		–		–			–			–			128		29		99		0.01		0.01
Share-based compensation		956		197		759			0.06			0.06			774		160		614		0.05		0.05
Amortization of intangibles		2,843		493		2,349			0.18			0.19			1,160		254		906		0.07		0.07
Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gains) losses		908		201		707			0.05			0.06			829		203		626		0.05		0.05
Non-GAAP measures	$	23,392	$	3,869	$	19,039		$	1.45		$	1.53		$	22,922	$	3,465	$	19,457	$	1.46	$	1.54

	Year Ended December 31, 2024										Year Ended December 31, 2023
Reconciling Items	Earnings before taxes		Provision for income taxes		Net Earnings Attributable to Bel Fuse Shareholders		Class A EPS⁽³⁾		Class B EPS⁽³⁾		Earnings before taxes			Provision for income taxes			Net Earnings Attributable to Bel Fuse Shareholders			Class A EPS⁽³⁾			Class B EPS⁽³⁾

GAAP measures	$	61,808	$	12,616	$	40,960	$	3.09	$	3.28	$	83,300		$	9,469		$	73,831		$	5.52		$	5.83
Restructuring charges		3,459		587		2,872		0.22		0.23		10,114			1,682			8,432			0.63			0.67
Acquisition related costs		12,884		2,503		10,381		0.79		0.83		–			–			–			–			–
Redemption value adjustment on redeemable NCI		–		–		7,748		0.59		0.62		–			–			–			–			–
Amortization of inventory step-up		639		147		492		0.04		0.04		–			–			–			–			–
Impairment of CUI tradename		400		92		308		0.02		0.02		–			–			–			–			–
MPS litigation costs		–		–		–		–		–		3,031			696			2,335			0.18			0.18
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business		–		–		–		–		–		(980	)		(49	)		(931	)		(0.07	)		(0.07	)
Gain on sale of properties		–		–		–		–		–		(3,819	)		(763	)		(3,056	)		(0.23	)		(0.24	)
Loss on liquidation of foreign subsidiary		–		–		–		–		–		2,724			681			2,043			0.15			0.16
Share-based compensation		3,738		770		2,968		0.23		0.24		3,486			718			2,768			0.21			0.22
Amortization of intangibles		6,537		1,236		5,301		0.40		0.42		4,663			1,019			3,644			0.28			0.29
Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gains) losses		1,455		340		1,115		0.08		0.09		831			270			561			0.04			0.04
Non-GAAP measures	$	90,919	$	18,291	$	72,144	$	5.47	$	5.77	$	103,350		$	13,723		$	89,627		$	6.72		$	7.08

⁽¹⁾The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
⁽²⁾In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Bel shareholders, Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company’s performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. See the section above captioned “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.
⁽³⁾Individual amounts of earnings per share may not agree to the total due to rounding.
⁽⁴⁾In the fourth quarter of 2024, we modified our presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures, including revising our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS, to additionally exclude from these Non-GAAP measures (i) stock-based compensation, (ii) amortization of intangibles (which primarily relates to the amortization of finite-lived customer relationships and technology associated with the Company’s historical acquisitions, including those associated with the recent acquisition of Enercon), and (iii) unrealized foreign currency exchange (gains) losses. We believe this change enhances investor insight into our operational performance. We have applied this modified definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS to all periods presented.

The MIL Network –

February 19, 2025

MIL-Evening Report: Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide

IMDB

On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and visually stunning animated spectacle, full of hilarious moments and thrilling fight scenes.

But beneath all that, it’s something much deeper: a bold re-imagining of Chinese traditional mythology, cultural history and philosophies.

Unlike Hollywood’s classic hero’s journey, Ne Zha 2 is rooted in Chinese thought, weaving together ideas from Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism and more.

Through the story of a baby-faced warrior god who battles demons, it channels centuries of Chinese tradition into something refreshing, relevant and undeniably global.

The film’s success speaks for itself. Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiao Zi), Ne Zha 2 has shattered multiple global box office records, pulling in more than US$1 billion in China in just one week.

It has even entered the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time, and is the second highest-grossing animated film behind Inside Out 2 (2024).

But what makes Ne Zha 2 so compelling beyond its visual spectacle? At its heart, it’s an inspiring story about identity, free will, self-determination and rebellion – ideas that resonate far beyond China.

A child hero forged in myth and philosophy

Ne Zha is a rebellious deity in traditional Chinese folklore – a boy born with immense superpower, who defies both divine and social expectations.

Most people who know of Ne Zha will trace his legend back to Fengshen Yanyi, or Investiture of the Gods, a Ming Dynasty novel that blends mythology with historical elements.

Ne Zha’s true origins, however, trace back to India.

“Ne Zha” is a shortened transliteration of the Sanskrit Nalakuvara (or Nalakūbara), an Indian mythological figure who appears in Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

As Buddhism spread to China during the Tang Dynasty, Ne Zha evolved from an intimidating guardian deity into the rebellious, fire-wheeled warrior we know today.

In Ne Zha 2, this “fighting spirit” against authority and hierarchy is taken even further, turning the story into a deeper philosophical exploration of morality, fate, self-worth and power.

Good and evil – a Daoist perspective

One of the most thought-provoking aspects of Ne Zha 2 is how it challenges the idea of good and evil.

In Daoist philosophy, evil and good, often known as Yin and Yang, are not absolute, but are rather shifting, interconnected forces.

Through its two protagonists: the “Demon Pill” (Ne Zha) and his noble dragon prince buddy, “Spirit Pearl” (Ao Bing), the film beautifully reflects this Daoist idea of balance and self-discovery.

Their merging further blurs the line between hero and villain and brings to life a core concept from the 2,400-year-old text Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), written around 400 BC by Chinese philosopher Laozi (also called Lao Tzu).

Laozi emphasises that righteousness and villainy aren’t always what they seem. “When the world knows beauty as beauty, there arises ugliness,” he says.

Those we assume to be noble may turn out to be dark inside, while those deemed evil might be fighting for what is right.

Ne Zha’s character in the film embodies this Daoist philosophy. Echoing the Xisheng Jing, The Scripture of Western Ascension, he declares, “My fate is up to me, not the Heaven.”

He is the demon child who is willing to die fighting for his own destiny, proving that even the smallest, most underestimated individual can change the world.

Beyond family bonds: rebirth of Confucianism

In one scene, Ne Zha is struck by the “heart-piercing curse”, a brutal spell that covers his body in ten thousand thorns, causing unbearable pain and keeping him under control by targeting his heart. Ne Zha’s human mother, Lady Yin, clings to him as his thorns pierce her skin – yet she refuses to let go.

It’s a moment of heartbreak, parental love and inner awakening. As his mother takes her final breath, in Ne Zha’s grief, his body shatters into a million pieces. And then, he is reborn.

This is the film’s emotional climax, in which the so-called demon child awakens to “Rén” (benevolence), a core Confucian virtue.

Confucianism teaches that true morality isn’t imposed by rules but arises naturally from within. Ne Zha doesn’t just seek revenge, he awakes to fight for those who have been oppressed, embracing his identity with unwavering resolve.

But perhaps the most profound transformation comes from the dragon prince Ao Bing. As the last hope of his people, burdened by centuries of expectation, he finally makes a choice, not for legacy, not for his ancestors, but for himself.

In this moment, his once-imposing father Dragon King releases his grip: “Your path is yours to forge.”

The weight of tradition gives way to something new, reflecting a changing China where younger generations are defining their own paths.

Wisdom of Legalism and Mohism

Beyond Daoist and Confucian ideals, Ne Zha 2 also weaves in Legalist reform and Mohist resistance. These philosophies challenge rigid hierarchies (or in Ne Zha’s case, “divine order”) and advocate for collective justice.

Across Ne Zha’s three major trials and the climactic celestial-demon war, a brutal truth emerges: those deemed unworthy – whether groundhogs, mystical beings, or ordinary humans – are sacrificed to uphold the elite’s rule.

Take the small groundhogs. Dressed in patched clothes, surviving on pumpkin porridge. They’ve never harmed anyone. Yet, they are mercilessly crushed in the name of celestial balance.

Then there’s Shiji Niangniang, or Lady Rock, a recluse who harms no one. She indulges only in her own beauty and speaks to her enchanted mirror. Yet the heavens brand her a demon, sealing her fate.

A similar cruelty befalls the Dragon Clan and the people of Chentangguan, all caught in a war where they are mere pawns on a celestial chessboard.

Even the last battle is not just Ne Zha’s fight, but a battlefield showing the Chinese spirit of collectivism. Dragons, shrimp soldiers, crab generals, octopus warriors, humans and millions of goblins stand side by side to rewrite destiny.

The celestial-demon war itself plays out like a lesson in Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which states that “All warfare is based on deception.” War is about strategy, resilience and the unstoppable will to rise.

Ne Zha carries the weight of Eastern cultural essence: Daoist balance, Confucian ethics, Mohist resistance, Legalist reform and the strategic wisdom of The Art of War. It is a truly Chinese story, igniting next year’s Oscar buzz and sparking a global awakening to Eastern culture.

Just as Ne Zha is reborn in flames, so too does Chinese animation rise, not by breaking from its past, but by forging a bold future.

Yanyan Hong 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. Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film – https://theconversation.com/ne-zha-2-the-ancient-philosophies-behind-chinas-record-breaking-new-animated-film-249850

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to inaugurate 77th Session of Executive Committee of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization in New Delhi tomorrow

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 18 FEB 2025 5:59PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be inaugurated the 77^th Session of the Executive Committee (EC-77) of African-Asian Rural Development Organization in New Delhi tomorrow. The 77^th Session of the Executive Committee is being organised by its headquarters in New Delhi from 19-20 February 2025 with the support of Government of India. It will be attended by the Secretary/Permanent Secretary/senior officers of AARDO member countries from Asia and Africa nominated by their governments. From India, the Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development is the member of the Executive Committee.

The EC-77, among others, will propose the names of the President and two Vice Presidents, one each from Asia and Africa to the 21^stGeneral Session of AARDO Conference for the triennium 2025-2027 for consideration. It will also recommend the Work Programme and Budget Estimates for consideration of the 21^stAARDO Conference. The EC-77 will approve the enrolment of new members in AARDO and 25 new MOUs that AARDO has signed with other organizations. The EC-77 will review the Human Resource Development Programme, Development Pilot Projects and activities of AARDO’s six (6) Regional Offices for the period May 2023 – October 2024. It will also adopt reports of AARDO’s Liaison Committee: 80^th– 83^rdSession and follow up actions taken thereof. The EC-77 will review membership contribution and consider proposing enhancement in the membership contribution to the 21^stAARDO Conference for the triennium 2025-2027.

The EC-77 will be a pre-AARDO Conference meeting at the same venue, where 21^stGeneral Session of AARDO Conference will be held in New Delhi, India. Immediately after conclusion of the AARDO Conference, 78^thSession of Executive Committee will be held on 25^thFebruary 2025.

The Executive Committee, consisting of President and two Vice Presidents, one each from Asia and Africa and ten members, five each from Asia and Africa, meets once a year and deals with all matters entrusted to it by the AARDO Conference.

African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO), one of the the earliest examples of South-South and Triangular cooperation in the fields of agriculture and rural development in the African-Asian region, established in 1962, is an autonomous inter-governmental/multilateral organisation, comprising 32 country governments of Africa and Asia as full members and 3 associate members. The organization has been given the status of international organisation by the Government of India, at par with other UN organisations in India.

AARDO implements its activities at organisational and technical level. Under the organizational level, AARDO secretariat organises governing body meetings, conducts Member Relations and supervises its six Regional Offices located, 3 each in Africa and Asia. The technical activities encompass human resource development (HRD) programmes, development pilot project, technology-based transformation, collaboration with international and regional organisations and information dissemination.

The annual financial contribution by the members is the main source to run the activities of the Organization. Besides, the member countries contribute in organising technical activities in their own countries. Important among these countries are Bangladesh, Republic of China (Taiwan), Egypt, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Zambia etc.

So far, seventy-six (76) Sessions of Executive Committee have been hosted by the member countries/AARDO Secretariat. The last Session was hosted by the Government of Republic of Zambia in June 2023.

The Government of India has been supporting AARDO from the very beginning with numerous initiatives from time to time. India is host to the AARDO Secretariat by way of providing a permanent building in New Delhi for which recently, substantial financial assistance has been extended for major renovation of the building.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Traceability of active ingredients in medications sold in the European Union – E-000601/2025

Source: European Parliament

Question for written answer E-000601/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE)

There are a lot of rules and regulations in the EU to make sure that manufacturers and distributors are transparent about the origin of their products. As a result, it is easy to know where the products we eat or wear come from: everything is written on the label.

However, this requirement for transparency does not extend to the pharmaceutical sector. In fact, laboratories are only required to indicate, on secondary packaging, the name and address of the company placing the product on the market and/or those of the company producing the drug.

This is unclear, and sometimes even misleading for patients: while a drug might be produced in France, its active ingredient could come from a country like India or China. This causes serious problems for consumers in terms of traceability and transparency.

In addition, given that there is a shortage of certain medications and a need for EU independence in medicine production, it would surely be advantageous for consumers to be told the origin of active ingredients, so their buying choices can be better informed, where possible.

Does the Commission intend to take steps to ensure that active ingredients are more traceable?

Submitted: 10.2.2025

Last updated: 18 February 2025

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: As Peace Gets Pushed Further from Reach, Dark Spirit of Impunity for Terrorism Spreads, Multilateral Solutions Key

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the UN Security Council open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security: practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance, in New York today:

I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.

This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations. Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our Organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

It also signalled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter. To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace. To tackle poverty, hunger and disease. To assist countries in climbing the development ladder. To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster. To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights. And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.

Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war. Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights. But eight decades is a long time. And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.

We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update. An update in representation to reflect the realities of today. An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices. An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness. And an update to our peace operations.

Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever. The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise. As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges. We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading. The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger. And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.

These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.

The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the twenty-first century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council. At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.

It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding. The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes. And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.

The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade… New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons… And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.

It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of States.

It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue. It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy. It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural. It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.

And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

But the Pact does even more for peace. It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions. Sustainable peace requires sustainable development. The Pact includes support for a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.

It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries. And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an artificial intelligence governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.

The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform. This Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities. And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for more than a decade. Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.

Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace. The world looks to you to act in meaningful ways to end conflicts and ease the suffering these wars inflict on innocent people.

Council Members have shown that finding common ground is possible. From deploying peacekeeping operations, to forging life-saving resolutions on humanitarian aid, to historic recognitions of the security challenges faced by women and young people, to the landmark resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.

Even in the darkest days of the cold war, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security. I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.

Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations. Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can also become an even more powerful instrument of peace. But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.

As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms. Let’s make them fit for purpose — fit for people — and fit for peace.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 to Position Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) as a Catalyst for Gas Monetization

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

BRAZZAVILLE, South Africa, February 18, 2025/APO Group/ —

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) will feature a Hallmark Celebration of FLNG session, dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the remarkable advancements in FLNG technology and its domestic application within the Republic of Congo.

The session is designed to underscore the nation’s progress in harnessing FLNG solutions to bolster its energy infrastructure and economy. Attendees can anticipate in-depth analyses of current projects, insights into future initiatives and evaluations of the economic and environmental impacts of FLNG utilization.

The inaugural Congo Energy and Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société National des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

The Republic of Congo has made significant strides in the FLNG arena, positioning itself as a notable player in the global LNG market. In February 2024, Italian energy conglomerate Eni shipped its first LNG Cargo from its Tango FLNG unit, boasting a liquefaction capacity of 0.6 million tons per annum (MTPA). Building on this momentum, Eni launched the hull of the Nguya FLNG facility in November 2024 at Wison Heavy Industry’s shipyard in Nantong, China. This new facility is slated to add an additional 2.4 MTPA, bringing the total liquefaction capacity of the Congo LNG project to 3 MTPA by the end of 2025.

The integration of FLNG technology is anticipated to have a transformative impact on the Republic of Congo’s energy landscape. By enabling offshore gas liquefaction, FLNG units offer a flexible and efficient means to monetize natural gas resources, facilitating exports and generating revenue. Moreover, the domestic application of FLNG is expected to enhance energy security, support industrial development and contribute to the nation’s economic diversification efforts.

Sandra Jeque, Events & Project Director at CEIF event organizer Energy Capital & Power, stated, “The Hallmark Celebration of FLNG will provide a platform for stakeholders to reflect on these achievements, share best practices and explore collaborative opportunities to further advance FLNG initiatives. Participants will gain valuable insights into the technical, regulatory and financial aspects of FLNG projects, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate this dynamic sector.”

MIL OSI Africa –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Shein could be a shot in the arm for the London Stock Exchange – but the fashion giant might not like the added scrutiny

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Isaac T. Tabner, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Director of the MSc Finance, University of Stirling

T. Schneider/Shutterstock

Fast fashion giant Shein’s mooted flotation on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) could be larger than any stock exchange listing seen in Europe in the last year. Coming at a time when the LSE is struggling to attract new listings, with some firms migrating to other exchanges, this could be a welcome boost. So it is perhaps unsurprising that the Chinese-founded company has been courted by the UK government, the LSE and those whose role it is to champion the City of London.

Yet there are ongoing concerns about the controversial business model and practices of Shein, whose founder Chris Xu relocated himself and the company’s headquarters to Singapore in 2022. These were exacerbated when Shein’s lawyer struggled to tell the UK’s business and trade parliamentary committee whether the company uses cotton from China.

Campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide recently said it will seek a judicial review if the UK regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), approves the LSE listing. And a “Say No to Shein” campaign has nearly 50,000 signatures on the activist website 38 Degrees. (Shein says it strictly prohibits forced labour in its supply chain globally.)

More idealistic observers might question whether it is really a good idea for the UK to be courting such a controversial listing. The UK, after all, is a second-choice destination after Shein’s ambition to list on the US market failed – amid concerns about forced labour, among other things.

So what are the claims against Shein? On environmental, social and governance (ESG) grounds the firm is controversial. Although Shein says it is working hard to reduce its environmental impact, its business model – supplying items cheap enough to be discarded after a single use – is at odds with a more sustainable society and thus problematic for the “E” in ESG.

Some people add an additional “E” (for ethics) to the acronym. Concerns raised about the human and employee rights of workers in Shein’s supply chain and Shein’s reluctance to talk about them, even to a parliamentary committee, highlight both the “social” and the “ethical”. For its part, the company said last year it was actively working to improve its suppliers’ practices.

If less than 10% of Shein’s equity is floated, which is the what company is proposing, it will still be controlled by its founders and majority shareholders as if it had remained a fully private company. An LSE listing would normally compel Shein to either comply with the UK corporate governance code, or explain why it did not. But dispersed minority investors with a combined ownership of less than 10% would have little or no say in the governance of a business that remained more than 90% owned and controlled by a few founding investors.

Therefore, a listing of 10% or less would also raise concerns among minority investors about the “G” for governance. This is particularly true if their holding is involuntary, for example as part of an employee pension scheme. Shein said in a social impact report, however, that it has set up a sustainability committee to provide an extra layer of corporate governance.

Shein’s lawyer struggled to answer questions on the source of its cotton.

Given these issues, who gains and who loses from the proposed flotation? Shein itself could of course be among the winners. Common motives for a stock exchange listing are raising capital to finance new investment or giving founding shareholders an opportunity to cash out. Listing can also make mergers and acquisitions more straightforward and incentivise employees to stay with the company by offering preferential terms for buying shares.

There is also no doubt that a listing would be presented as a positive sign that the UK is open and attractive for business. It would generate an initial windfall, and ongoing revenue for the LSE, plus substantial fees for financial and legal service providers based in the City of London.

Downsides

As a private company, Shein has kept details of its financial situation out of the public domain. If the LSE listing does go ahead (which is by no means certain), the company will be required to give detail on its legal and reputational risks, as well as its financial accounts.

This will let prospective investors and others involved in the listing estimate a pricing range for the flotation. Recent headlines suggest a total equity valuation between US$50 billion and US$66 billion (£40 billion and £52 billion), yet if the listing does not go ahead it is impossible to estimate its market value with any reliability using information that is currently in the public domain.

Shein’s apparent desire for secrecy, and its reluctance to publish detailed financial data, suggests that its founders and controlling investors may not be comfortable with the increased scrutiny that a listing will require. A 2023 report from the company, however, claimed Shein was committed to “continued progress and transparency” in terms of sustainability and its social impact.

If credible revelations about controversial business practices such as forced labour or illegal working conditions emerge, this is likely to damage the stock price. No doubt outside investors would have plenty of incentive to scrutinise Shein’s activities – at least, more than the consumer buying a £10 dress for a night out.

Perhaps a cautionary example can be drawn from the UK’s much smaller home-grown fast-fashion contender, Boohoo.com (now worth around £400 million after peaking at more than £5 billion in 2020). After an initial stellar performance, the firm’s stock price never recovered from reports in 2020 about workers in its UK supply chain being paid £3.50 an hour.

An independent review published the same year found many failings in the company’s UK supply chain – Boohoo Group responded by pledging to implement the recommendations of the review in full. However, a BBC Panorama investigation indicated that it had not fulfilled its pledges. And at under 30 pence per share, its stock price is down more than 90% since the scandal first broke. (After the programme, Boohoo insisted that it had implemented “every one” of the independent review’s recommendations.)

Shein’s listing – if it goes ahead – will open its inner workings to public scrutiny in a way that it has never experienced before. Already, people who have never engaged with fast fashion are discussing the business practices of the company.

If awareness is the first stage of progress, such increased scrutiny can only be a good thing for those concerned about the darker side of the fast fashion industry.

Isaac T. Tabner is a member of the following professional bodies:

CFA Institute,
CFA Society of the UK,
Personal Finance Society and Chartered Insurance Institute.

– ref. Shein could be a shot in the arm for the London Stock Exchange – but the fashion giant might not like the added scrutiny – https://theconversation.com/shein-could-be-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-the-london-stock-exchange-but-the-fashion-giant-might-not-like-the-added-scrutiny-249541

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy EOD Conducts Arctic Warfare Exercise ‘Arctic Specialist’ with NATO Allies in Norway

Source: United States Navy

Arctic Specialist is an annual Norway-hosted multinational joint EOD and expeditionary mine countermeasures (ExMCM) exercise providing training at the platoon and squad level and the development of land and maritime EOD tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) in a cold-weather environment. Allied forces from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden trained alongside U.S. forces at this year’s event.

“Arctic Specialist represents one of the premier exercises where Thunderstealers hone our cold weather survival, EOD, and diving skills,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, Commander, Task Group (CTG) 68.1 (EODMU 8). “The opportunity to train alongside such capable Allies builds confidence in our ability to deploy to the Arctic region and sustain combat operations.”

According to the Department of Defense’s 2024 Arctic Strategy, “Major geopolitical changes are driving the need for this new strategic approach to the Arctic, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the accession of Finland and Sweden to the NATO Alliance, increasing collaboration between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. This increasingly accessible region is becoming a venue for strategic competition, and the United States must stand ready to meet the challenge alongside Allies and partners.”

While arctic strategy and presence is a growing priority for the U.S. military, training for arctic warfare with our Allies in the high north is not a new initiative for U.S. Navy EOD. In 1986, Norway began hosting an annual “EOD Ex”, which in 2012 became Arctic Specialist.

“This is my 14th year participating at this exercise. The value of it, beyond working together on realistic scenarios and exchanging knowledge and TTPs, is getting to know other nations. Learning cultural respect and traditions, their working methods, the ‘do’s and don’ts’. Whatever the operation is going to be, it is important to get to know your Allies on a deep level,” said a Lieutenant Commander Operations Officer of Norwegian Naval EOD Command.

The exercise has continued to provide an excellent training ground for EOD operators to hone their skills and operate in a uniquely challenging environment alongside NATO Allies and partners. Unique to this year’s exercise was the participation of Sweden, NATO’s newest member, for the first time.

Participation in such exercises will enable our EOD and diving forces to increase warfighting skills in arctic conditions, use lessons learned from past engagements, and provide opportunities to learn from our Allies’ extensive cold weather operating experience.

During the 11-day exercise, EOD and MCM forces exchanged knowledge for countering regional and global security threats. A multinational Tactical Operations Center (TOC) was established to provide command and control, intelligence, and advanced communications for all participating units.

Beyond in-depth training on cold weather survival techniques, the exercise included live demolition for mine countermeasure diving, conventional munition disposal, limpet mine response, historical ordnance disposal operations (HODOPS), and chemical and homemade explosive (HME) response. All training was designed with an emphasis on integrated multinational operations at the tactical level in preparation for major combat operations.

EODMU 8’s MCM Company Commander, Lt. Andrew Lewis, said, “Forward deploying our team to Norway has been critical to our development of warfighting skills in arctic conditions. Through working with our peers from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—subject matter experts who live and operate in this environment year-round—we have gained a new understanding of and respect for the difficult conditions we could face while operating in the Arctic. Exercises like Arctic Specialist allow us to continue improving our knowledge, skills, and tactics by conducting increasingly complex and high-end missions, and to build lasting bonds with our Allies.”

As the arctic security environment evolves, training, exercising, and operating in the Arctic will improve U.S. Navy EOD’s operational effectiveness by familiarizing the expeditionary Force with the unique and demanding operating environments of the European Arctic region. By exercising alongside Arctic Allies, the Force continues to improve interoperability and gains regional expertise.

“This exercise is designed for the operators. The focus is ground level training, developing the skills of the EOD technicians, and everyone getting stronger,” said a Lieutenant from Norwegian Naval EOD Command.

Before AS kicked off, a platoon of U.S. Navy EOD operators from EODMU 8 and Norwegian Navy EOD clearance divers from Minedykker Kommandoen (Norwegian Naval EOD Command) completed a 2-week winter warfare training in Hovden, Norway, focused on arctic mobility and survivability.

The winter warfare course consisted of academic training, gear preparation, cross country, back country, and downhill skiing instruction, ski training with heavy rucksack, cold weather injury treatment and prevention, improvised shelter building, camp set up, proper clothing loadout, avalanche safety training, cold weather demolition, small arms shooting on skis, and freezing water response.

“The value to the guys was immeasurable. Most of them started off the training without ever having skied and some never having seen snow in their lives. We went from that, to being able to self-sustain for 96 hours in the brutal, non-forgiving Norwegian wilderness in 6 feet of snow, transiting roughly 20 kilometers through the mountains, on back country skis, while wearing 70 lb. rucks,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Karl Sowinski, EODMU 8 ExMCM Company senior enlisted leader and lead exercise planner. “The cost of ending up out there alone, without the proper gear and training, is death. Out of all the environments we operate in, the Arctic is the only one that is actively trying to kill you 24/7.”

The team did a cold-water plunge in a freezing river, where they had to function under extreme stress and cold shock. Surrounded by snow and ice, they fully submerged in the icy water, then worked through their cold response by controlling their breathing and responding to a series of questions to demonstrate mental acuity before exiting the water, donning dry clothing, and rewarming.

“The critical takeaway of this exercise was the integration and interoperability. During the winter warfare portion, prior to Arctic Specialist, the U.S. EOD operators looked to us for our expertise in Arctic survival techniques. During Arctic Specialist, we [Norwegian EOD] looked to the U.S., Sweden, and Denmark teams for new technology or methods that we may not currently use,” said a platoon commander from Norwegian Naval EOD Command. “When we work with our Allied peers, the most valuable part is the group dynamic and becoming a team. We bond on both a personal level and as a military team, making us stronger for future engagements.”

Continuing to exercise presence in the high north through training and operations will enhance deterrence by demonstrating combat-credible capabilities and the ability to respond rapidly to threats in the Arctic and elsewhere around the globe.

U.S. Navy EOD stands ready to protect U.S. interests from explosive threats in the face of new challenges and an evolving security environment.

CTF-68 commands all naval expeditionary combat forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe -Africa, and U.S. 6th Fleet.

U.S. 6th Fleet conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and inter-agency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For additional news about U.S. Navy EOD, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/EODG-2.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: GL Communications Advances High-Density Call Emulation for Scalable Network Testing
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GL Communications Inc., a global leader in telecom testing solutions, addressed the press regarding their High-Density Call Emulation Tools, which can emulate thousands of simultaneous phone calls over IP, TDM, and Analog networks. These solutions allow users to generate and analyze a large number of phone calls, replicating real-world traffic conditions in a controlled test environment.

[For illustration, refer to High-Density Call Emulation Architecture]

There is a rapidly growing demand for voice, video, and data services world-wide. Service providers and customers alike must rigorously test their networks to identify performance bottlenecks and bandwidth limitations. GL’s solutions provide comprehensive load testing, call monitoring, and voice quality measurements across various telecom networks.

Vijay Kulkarni, CEO of GL Communications, states, “GL provides solutions to emulate thousands of simultaneous phone calls across IP, TDM, and Analog networks. Customers can load test infrastructure, monitor calls, and measure voice quality. Our solutions include GUI and scripting for call emulation and are available in both portable and rack-mount form factors. They support all telecom protocols, including VoIP (SIP + RTP), ISDN, SS7, and Analog (FXO/FXS), and emulate FAX calls over these networks.”

GL’s Message Automation and Protocol Simulation (MAPS™) framework emulates IP, TDM, and Analog protocols. Additionally, MAPS™ High-Density (HD) is a dedicated hardware appliance serving as an advanced RTP media generator for high-volume VoIP call emulation. It supports signaling and traffic generation for IP and Wireless networks, including SIP, GSM A, BICC, MGCP, and H.248/MEGACO, along with voice quality testing using E-model (R-factor) and MOS. Available in rack-mount or portable configurations with up to 8 x 1GigE interfaces, it generates up to 64,000 simultaneous calls per appliance.

The MAPS™ platform also supports multiple TDM protocols, including CAS, ISDN, SS7, FXO, FXS, MAP, CAP, INAP, and GSM, enabling large call volumes and high call rates for legacy networks, facilitating effective network performance testing under heavy traffic.

MAPS™ SS7 Protocol Emulator emulates high volumes of ISUP traffic over TDM networks, enabling automated stress and load testing through Load and Bulk Call Generation. This supports efficient network performance evaluation, reliability testing, and capacity planning in SS7 environments, with compatibility across ANSI, China, ETSI, ITU, and UK standards.

MAPS™ ISDN Protocol Emulator emulates ISDN signaling over TDM networks, generating high volumes of ISDN traffic for comprehensive testing. It supports various ISDN standards, including ITU-T Q.931, 5ESS, 4ESS, BELL, DMS-100, DMS-250, and QSIG ECMA, and can emulate Q.921 LAPD signaling over ISDN’s D channel.

MAPS™ CAS Protocol Emulator emulates Channel Associated Signaling (CAS) calls to test network performance under stress. It supports CAS signaling types like Loop Start, R1, MFC-R2, and Feature Group D (FGD), generating numerous simultaneous calls with DTMF/MF tones, signaling bits, and dialed digits to assess telecom system capacity and resilience.

MAPS™ Analog Phone Simulator (APS) is a high-capacity analog call generator for testing Central Offices, PBXs, Gateways, and other telecom equipment. It includes server hardware, GL MAPS™ software, channel banks, and optional fax emulation and voice quality testing modules in a compact rack-mount system. MAPS™ APS system supports up to 96 independent FXO/FXS ports per server.

Other key features include:
- API support for Python and Java, enabling integration with automation frameworks
- Script-based, protocol-independent MAPS™ architecture
- Transmits and detects media traffic, including digits, voice files, single/dual tones, and fax
- Manual and automated bulk call emulation for efficient testing
- Periodic logging and reporting of call-related metrics, such as attempted calls, failed calls, and Mean Opinion Scores
About GL Communications Inc.,

GL Communications is a global provider of telecom test and measurement solutions. GL’s solutions are used to verify the quality and reliability of Wireless, Fiber Optic, TDM and Analog networks.

Warm Regards,

Vikram Kulkarni, PhD

Phone: 301-670-4784 x114

Email: info@gl.com

The MIL Network –
February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Amid ‘clear’ threat of nuclear war, Guterres tells Security Council multilateral off ramp is essential

Source: United Nations 2

18 February 2025 Peace and Security

Strengthening international cooperation and delivering on a UN pact that calls for reforming global governance, among other measures, was the focus of debate in the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

The ministerial-level meeting was convened by China, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, as the UN prepares to mark its 80^th anniversary later this year.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the debate emphasizing that “global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever” as the climate crisis rages and inequalities and poverty increase.

Peace remains illusive

“As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond,” he said.

“Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges. We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading. The prospect of nuclear war remains – outrageously – a clear and present danger.”

Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also a challenge as their “limitless promise…is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.”

Pact for the Future

Mr. Guterres said “these global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions,” and pointed to the Pact for the Future, adopted by Member States last September.

The agreement “is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust” in multilateralism, the UN, and the Security Council.

Provisions include advancing coordination with regional organizations and ensuring the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.

The Pact outlines support for a stimulus plan to help developing countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and revitalized commitment to reform the post-war global financial architecture to better serve the modern world.

It also contains a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that allows developing countries to participate in decision-making, marking a first.

Security Council reform

“The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform,” said Mr. Guterres.

The Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities, while countries also must continue to improve its working methods to make the body more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

He recalled that these issues have been under consideration by the UN General Assembly for more than a decade.

Build on momentum

“Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States – including the permanent members of this Council – to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward,” he said.

“Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace.”

He noted that Council members have shown reaching common ground is possible, for example through deploying peacekeeping operations and forging resolutions on humanitarian aid.

Spirited compromise

“Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security,” he said.

“I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.”

The Secretary-General said multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations, and guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, it can become an even more powerful instrument of peace,

“As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms,” he said. “Let’s make them fit for purpose – fit for people – and fit for peace.”

More to follow

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s quiet change to US position on Taiwan is all about the economy

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

The US state department has removed a highly symbolic phrase from its routine update on Taiwan. Its previous briefings said: “We do not support Taiwan independence.” This disappeared on February 13 2025.

That’s not all. Donald Trump’s new government also stated on the same day that it advocated a peaceful and coercion free resolution to the Sino-Taiwan issue and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. These may seem like small tweaks to previous US positions, but they are sending a big signal to China.

Beijing is concerned that the changes in the state department’s factsheet suggest that Trump’s government may be taking a stronger tack than was expected in being prepared to defend, or throw support behind, the island of Taiwan.

The issue for China is that it sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, which it believes should return to Beijing’s orbit. Many Taiwanese see it as a separate state.

China hasn’t ruled out the use of force to make Taiwan part of the republic and has even sent warplanes to defend the Taiwan Strait in the past week. China claims the waterway between the island and the mainland as its own, though this is disputed under the United Nations convention on the law of the sea.

Beijing will be concerned that Washington’s updated wording on Taiwan might mean that the US is less likely to stand idly by if China invades the island than it might have expected. But what’s also interesting is why the US is warming up to Taiwan despite how aggrieved Trump has been by how Taiwan has “stolen” the semiconductor industry from the US.

Trump’s eye on business

Given Trump’s transactional, or business-first approach, towards politics, it is hardly surprising that Washington’s updated statement of support on Taiwan’s independence may be aimed towards enhancing US rather than Taiwanese interests.

Many in Trump’s second cabinet such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are China hawks who view Beijing as a national security threat and advocate a more aggressive stance towards China. One major US concern is China’s growing influence in Asia, which challenges US influence within the region.

Trump announces more tariffs on China in his first weeks in office.

While Washington still appears to tip its hat towards a one-China policy, its updated statement on Taiwanese independence suggests that the US might adopt an aggressive approach to any move by Beijing. The US’s watching brief on the China-Taiwan conflict will mean Beijing will have to think hard before taking any measures towards reclaiming the island right now.

A weakened Beijing?

China’s president, Xi Jinping, had hoped to win international hearts and minds through the Belt and Road Initiative, its global trade plan to build an international network of countries receiving Chinese investment. But as China’s own economy is weakened by a real estate crisis that started in 2021, the aim of showing Xi’s success through economic means is not working out as hoped.

The other avenue for Xi to enhance his reputation as leader is to bring Taiwan back into the Chinese fold. Since the Chinese Communist party came to power in 1949, various Chinese leaders have made reunification with Taiwan a long-term goal. So, if Xi could return Taiwan to China, he could be hailed domestically as one of the greatest leaders the country has ever seen.

If China’s plan to reunify with Taiwan was already a major challenge, Washington’s altered stance on Taiwan independence and overt opposition towards coercion or the use of force makes this task even more difficult for Beijing. This could weaken Xi’s image and undermine his rule further (and may of course be part of Trump’s agenda).

Prepped for the negotiation table

The US and China had spent years in trade negotiations before US tariffs were imposed on China during Trump’s first term, culminating in the phase one deal in January 2020. Trump has already announced an extra 10% of tariffs on Chinese goods in his first month in office.

It is plausible that these statements on Taiwan are aimed at enhancing Washington’s bargaining power in the burgeoning China-US trade war.

In 2016, Trump accused China of “raping” the US with unfair trade policies, and imposed tariffs of up to 25% on Chinese goods coming into the US. During his 2024 presidential campaign trail, Trump went as far as to suggests that tariffs on Chinese goods could go as high as 60%.

Higher tariffs are bad news for China since the country relies heavily on exports for economic growth, especially on high tech “new three” products – electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar panels – to recover its ailing economy.

However, if Beijing is forced to retreat from Taiwan, Xi might have to fall back heavily on the economy to maintain political legitimacy. When that happens, Beijing could be forced to offer concessions to the Americans, such as buying more US products, and to address how subsidies are used to aid Chinese firms to the detriment of US businesses in China.

Overall, it’s likely that someone on Trump’s team has thought about all the implications of tweaking its Taiwan stance, and sees it as working out well for the US economy and, potentially, the Trump government overall. Taiwan is just a pawn in the game.

Chee Meng Tan 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. Trump’s quiet change to US position on Taiwan is all about the economy – https://theconversation.com/trumps-quiet-change-to-us-position-on-taiwan-is-all-about-the-economy-250106

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance [bilingual as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French]

Source: United Nations – English

xcellencies,

I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.

To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.

To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.

To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.

To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.

To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.

And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.

Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.

Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.

But eight decades is a long time.

And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.

We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.

An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.

An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.

An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.

And an update to our peace operations.

Excellencies,

Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.

The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.

As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.

We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.

The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.

And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.

These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.

The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.

At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.

It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.

And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.

The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…

New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…

And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.

It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.

It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.

It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.

It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.

It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.

And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

But the Pact does even more for peace.

It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.

Sustainable peace requires sustainable development.

The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.

It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.

And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.

Excellences,

Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.

Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.

Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.

Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.

Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.

À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.

Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.

Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.

Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.

Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.

Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.

Excellences,

La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.

Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.

Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.

Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.

Je vous remercie.

****
[all-English]

Excellencies,

I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.

To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.

To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.

To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.

To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.

To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.

And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.

Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.

Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.

But eight decades is a long time.

And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.

We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.

An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.

An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.

An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.

And an update to our peace operations.

Excellencies,

Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.

The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.

As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.

We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.

The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.

And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.
These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.

The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.

At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.

It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.

And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.

The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…

New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…

And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.

It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.

It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.

It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.

It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.

It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.
And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

But the Pact does even more for peace.

It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.

Sustainable peace requires sustainable development.

The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.

It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.

And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.

Excellencies,

The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform.

This Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities.

And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for more than a decade.

Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.

Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace.

The world looks to you to act in meaningful ways to end conflicts, and ease the suffering these wars inflict on innocent people.

Council Members have shown that finding common ground is possible.

From deploying peacekeeping operations…to forging lifesaving resolutions on humanitarian aid…to historic recognitions of the security challenges faced by women and young people…to the landmark Resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.

Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security.

I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.

Excellencies,

Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations.

Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can also become an even more powerful instrument of peace.

But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.

As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms.

Let’s make them fit for purpose — fit for people — and fit for peace.

Thank you.

****
[all-French]

Excellences,

Je remercie le Ministre Wang Yi et la Chine d’avoir organisé cet important débat.

Cette année marque le quatre-vingtième anniversaire de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Née des cendres de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, notre Organisation est le fruit de l’engagement pris à l’échelle mondiale de « préserver les générations futures du fléau de la guerre ».

Sa création a également marqué un engagement en faveur d’un niveau de coopération internationale entièrement nouveau, ancré dans le droit international et dans notre Charte fondatrice.

L’engagement d’aider les pays à dépasser les horreurs du conflit pour instaurer une paix durable.

De lutter contre la pauvreté, la faim et la maladie.

D’aider les pays à progresser sur l’échelle du développement.

De fournir une aide humanitaire en cas de conflit ou de catastrophe.

D’ancrer la justice et l’équité grâce au droit international et au respect des droits humains.

D’œuvrer, dans le cadre de ce Conseil, pour faire avancer la paix par le dialogue, le débat, la diplomatie et la recherche d’un consensus.

Huit décennies plus tard, on peut établir un lien direct entre la création de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et la prévention d’une troisième guerre mondiale.

Huit décennies plus tard, l’ONU reste un lieu de rencontre unique en son genre et indispensable à la promotion de la paix, du développement durable et des droits humains.

Mais huit décennies, c’est long.

Et parce que nous croyons à la valeur et à l’objectif de l’ONU, qui lui sont propres, nous devons en permanence nous efforcer d’améliorer l’institution et notre façon de travailler.

Le dispositif de coopération internationale est opérationnel, mais une refonte du système d’exploitation s’impose.

Une refonte de la représentation, pour rendre compte des réalités d’aujourd’hui.

Une refonte de l’aide apportée aux pays en développement, afin de réparer les injustices historiques.

Une refonte visant à s’assurer que les pays adhèrent aux objectifs, principes et normes qui fondent le multilatéralisme sur la justice et l’équité.

Et une refonte de nos opérations de paix.

Excellences,

La solidarité mondiale et des solutions globales sont plus que jamais nécessaires.

La crise climatique fait rage, les inégalités se creusent et la pauvreté augmente.

Comme ce Conseil le sait bien, la paix est de plus en plus hors de portée – du Territoire palestinien occupé à l’Ukraine, en passant par le Soudan, la République démocratique du Congo, etc.

Les fléaux que sont le terrorisme et l’extrémisme violent persistent.

Nous voyons se répandre une sombre culture de l’impunité.

La menace d’une guerre nucléaire demeure un danger clair et présent, ce qui est révoltant.

Les possibilités illimitées offertes par les technologies émergentes telles que l’intelligence artificielle s’accompagnent d’un risque également illimité d’affaiblissement, voire de remplacement de la pensée humaine, de l’identité humaine et du contrôle humain.

Ces problèmes mondiaux demandent des solutions multilatérales.

Le Pacte pour l’avenir que vous avez adopté en septembre vise à renforcer la gouvernance mondiale pour le vingt et unième siècle et à rétablir la confiance – confiance dans le multilatéralisme, confiance dans les Nations unies et confiance dans ce Conseil.

Au fond, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un pacte pour la paix – la paix dans toutes ses dimensions.

Il propose des solutions concrètes pour renforcer les mécanismes de paix, s’inspirant des propositions du Nouvel Agenda pour la paix qui donnent la priorité à la prévention, à la médiation et à la consolidation de la paix.

Le Pacte vise à renforcer la coordination avec les organisations régionales et à garantir la pleine participation des femmes, des jeunes et des groupes marginalisés aux processus de paix.

Il appelle au renforcement de la Commission de consolidation de la paix afin de mobiliser le soutien politique et financier nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des stratégies de prévention et de consolidation de la paix pilotées par les pays.

Il contient également le premier accord multilatéral sur le désarmement nucléaire conclu depuis plus de dix ans…

Présente de nouvelles stratégies visant à mettre fin à l’emploi d’armes chimiques et biologiques…

Ainsi que des mesures revitalisées visant à prévenir une course aux armements dans l’espace et à faire avancer les débats sur les armes létales autonomes.

Il exhorte les États Membres à respecter les engagements qu’ils ont pris, consacrés dans la Charte des Nations Unies, ainsi que les principes de respect de la souveraineté, de l’intégrité territoriale et de l’indépendance politique des États.

Il réaffirme leur volonté inébranlable à respecter le droit international et à privilégier le règlement pacifique des différends par le dialogue.

Il reconnaît le de l’Organisation des Nations Unies dans la diplomatie préventive.

Il réaffirme la nécessité de respecter tous les droits humains – civils, politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels.

Il appelle à une véritable inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans tous les processus de paix.

Il demande en particulier au Conseil de sécurité de veiller à ce que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.

Mais le Pacte va encore plus loin pour la paix.

Il prend acte du fait que nous devons nous attaquer aux causes profondes des conflits et des tensions.

Le développement durable passe par l’instauration d’une paix durable.

Le Pacte dispose qu’il faut soutenir la mise en place d’un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable afin d’aider les pays en développement à investir dans leur population et à relever des défis majeurs, notamment à s’orienter vers un avenir ancré dans les énergies renouvelables.

Il comprend un engagement renouvelé de réformer l’architecture financière mondiale afin de représenter de manière plus exacte et plus équitable les besoins des pays en développement.

Il comprend également un Pacte numérique mondial qui appelle à la création d’un organe de gouvernance de l’intelligence artificielle associant pour la première fois les pays en développement à la prise de décisions.

Excellences,
Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.

Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.

Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.

Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.
Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.

À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.

Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.

Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.

Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.

Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.

Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.

Excellences,

La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.

Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.

Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.

Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.

Je vous remercie.

MIL OSI Africa –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance [bilingual as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Excellencies,

I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.

To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.

To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.

To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.

To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.

To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.

And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.

Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.

Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.

But eight decades is a long time.

And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.

We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.

An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.

An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.

An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.

And an update to our peace operations.

Excellencies,

Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.

The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.

As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.

We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.

The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.

And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.

These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.

The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.

At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.

It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.

And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.

The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…

New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…

And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.

It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.

It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.

It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.

It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.

It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.

And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

But the Pact does even more for peace.

It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.

Sustainable peace requires sustainable development.

The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.

It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.

And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.

Excellences,

Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.

Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.

Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.

Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.

Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.

À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.

Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.

Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.

Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.

Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.

Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.

Excellences,

La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.

Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.

Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.

Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.

Je vous remercie.

****
[all-English]

Excellencies,

I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.

To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.

To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.

To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.

To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.

To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.

And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.

Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.

Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.

But eight decades is a long time.

And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.

We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.

An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.

An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.

An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.

And an update to our peace operations.

Excellencies,

Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.

The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.

As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.

We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.

The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.

And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.
These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.

The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.

At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.

It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.

And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.

The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…

New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…

And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.

It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.

It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.

It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.

It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.

It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.
And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

But the Pact does even more for peace.

It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.

Sustainable peace requires sustainable development.

The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.

It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.

And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.

Excellencies,

The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform.

This Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities.

And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for more than a decade.

Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.

Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace.

The world looks to you to act in meaningful ways to end conflicts, and ease the suffering these wars inflict on innocent people.

Council Members have shown that finding common ground is possible.

From deploying peacekeeping operations…to forging lifesaving resolutions on humanitarian aid…to historic recognitions of the security challenges faced by women and young people…to the landmark Resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.

Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security.

I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.

Excellencies,

Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations.

Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can also become an even more powerful instrument of peace.

But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.

As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms.

Let’s make them fit for purpose — fit for people — and fit for peace.

Thank you.

****
[all-French]

Excellences,

Je remercie le Ministre Wang Yi et la Chine d’avoir organisé cet important débat.

Cette année marque le quatre-vingtième anniversaire de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Née des cendres de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, notre Organisation est le fruit de l’engagement pris à l’échelle mondiale de « préserver les générations futures du fléau de la guerre ».

Sa création a également marqué un engagement en faveur d’un niveau de coopération internationale entièrement nouveau, ancré dans le droit international et dans notre Charte fondatrice.

L’engagement d’aider les pays à dépasser les horreurs du conflit pour instaurer une paix durable.

De lutter contre la pauvreté, la faim et la maladie.

D’aider les pays à progresser sur l’échelle du développement.

De fournir une aide humanitaire en cas de conflit ou de catastrophe.

D’ancrer la justice et l’équité grâce au droit international et au respect des droits humains.

D’œuvrer, dans le cadre de ce Conseil, pour faire avancer la paix par le dialogue, le débat, la diplomatie et la recherche d’un consensus.

Huit décennies plus tard, on peut établir un lien direct entre la création de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et la prévention d’une troisième guerre mondiale.

Huit décennies plus tard, l’ONU reste un lieu de rencontre unique en son genre et indispensable à la promotion de la paix, du développement durable et des droits humains.

Mais huit décennies, c’est long.

Et parce que nous croyons à la valeur et à l’objectif de l’ONU, qui lui sont propres, nous devons en permanence nous efforcer d’améliorer l’institution et notre façon de travailler.

Le dispositif de coopération internationale est opérationnel, mais une refonte du système d’exploitation s’impose.

Une refonte de la représentation, pour rendre compte des réalités d’aujourd’hui.

Une refonte de l’aide apportée aux pays en développement, afin de réparer les injustices historiques.

Une refonte visant à s’assurer que les pays adhèrent aux objectifs, principes et normes qui fondent le multilatéralisme sur la justice et l’équité.

Et une refonte de nos opérations de paix.

Excellences,

La solidarité mondiale et des solutions globales sont plus que jamais nécessaires.

La crise climatique fait rage, les inégalités se creusent et la pauvreté augmente.

Comme ce Conseil le sait bien, la paix est de plus en plus hors de portée – du Territoire palestinien occupé à l’Ukraine, en passant par le Soudan, la République démocratique du Congo, etc.

Les fléaux que sont le terrorisme et l’extrémisme violent persistent.

Nous voyons se répandre une sombre culture de l’impunité.

La menace d’une guerre nucléaire demeure un danger clair et présent, ce qui est révoltant.

Les possibilités illimitées offertes par les technologies émergentes telles que l’intelligence artificielle s’accompagnent d’un risque également illimité d’affaiblissement, voire de remplacement de la pensée humaine, de l’identité humaine et du contrôle humain.

Ces problèmes mondiaux demandent des solutions multilatérales.

Le Pacte pour l’avenir que vous avez adopté en septembre vise à renforcer la gouvernance mondiale pour le vingt et unième siècle et à rétablir la confiance – confiance dans le multilatéralisme, confiance dans les Nations unies et confiance dans ce Conseil.

Au fond, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un pacte pour la paix – la paix dans toutes ses dimensions.

Il propose des solutions concrètes pour renforcer les mécanismes de paix, s’inspirant des propositions du Nouvel Agenda pour la paix qui donnent la priorité à la prévention, à la médiation et à la consolidation de la paix.

Le Pacte vise à renforcer la coordination avec les organisations régionales et à garantir la pleine participation des femmes, des jeunes et des groupes marginalisés aux processus de paix.

Il appelle au renforcement de la Commission de consolidation de la paix afin de mobiliser le soutien politique et financier nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des stratégies de prévention et de consolidation de la paix pilotées par les pays.

Il contient également le premier accord multilatéral sur le désarmement nucléaire conclu depuis plus de dix ans…

Présente de nouvelles stratégies visant à mettre fin à l’emploi d’armes chimiques et biologiques…

Ainsi que des mesures revitalisées visant à prévenir une course aux armements dans l’espace et à faire avancer les débats sur les armes létales autonomes.

Il exhorte les États Membres à respecter les engagements qu’ils ont pris, consacrés dans la Charte des Nations Unies, ainsi que les principes de respect de la souveraineté, de l’intégrité territoriale et de l’indépendance politique des États.

Il réaffirme leur volonté inébranlable à respecter le droit international et à privilégier le règlement pacifique des différends par le dialogue.

Il reconnaît le de l’Organisation des Nations Unies dans la diplomatie préventive.

Il réaffirme la nécessité de respecter tous les droits humains – civils, politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels.

Il appelle à une véritable inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans tous les processus de paix.

Il demande en particulier au Conseil de sécurité de veiller à ce que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.

Mais le Pacte va encore plus loin pour la paix.

Il prend acte du fait que nous devons nous attaquer aux causes profondes des conflits et des tensions.

Le développement durable passe par l’instauration d’une paix durable.

Le Pacte dispose qu’il faut soutenir la mise en place d’un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable afin d’aider les pays en développement à investir dans leur population et à relever des défis majeurs, notamment à s’orienter vers un avenir ancré dans les énergies renouvelables.

Il comprend un engagement renouvelé de réformer l’architecture financière mondiale afin de représenter de manière plus exacte et plus équitable les besoins des pays en développement.

Il comprend également un Pacte numérique mondial qui appelle à la création d’un organe de gouvernance de l’intelligence artificielle associant pour la première fois les pays en développement à la prise de décisions.

Excellences,
Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.

Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.

Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.

Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.
Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.

À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.

Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.

Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.

Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.

Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.

Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.

Excellences,

La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.

Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.

Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.

Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.

Je vous remercie.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s lurking assault on Canada rests on endless lies and irrational populism

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ilan Kapoor, Professor, Critical Development Studies, York University, Canada

United States President Donald Trump has temporarily put his trade war against Canada and Mexico on hold after vowing to slap 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian and Mexican imports, although he’s imposed tariffs on all steel and aluminum, including from Canada.

He has also upped the ante by threatening to increase tariffs should Canada carry through on its own threat of retaliatory tariffs, with the possibility of further sanctions in the spring following a U.S. government study investigating ways to address the country’s trade deficits.

This is nothing less than an attempt at the economic subordination of Canada by its giant and — until very recently — friendly neighbour and ally. But what makes Trump’s impending trade war even more absurd is that it is based on a series of lies.

Trade, drugs, migrants, banks

Trump has claimed that the U.S. has a “US$200 or $250 billion” trade deficit with Canada. The American government’s own data show that the trade in goods deficit with Canada in 2024 was US$55 billion.

But when you factor in services (in technology or finance), an area in which the U.S. currently enjoys a trade surplus, the annual U.S.-Canada annual trade deficit falls to US$45 billion. And if you exclude energy exports, sold to the U.S. at a discount, the trade scales tip decidedly in favour of the U.S.

Then we also have Trump’s claim that tariffs are needed to penalize Canada for allowing an “invasion” of drugs (mainly fentanyl) and undocumented migrants into the U.S.

But once again, figures from his own government agencies show that only 1.5 per cent of migrants apprehended in 2024, and a mere 0.2 per cent of all fentanyl impounded at U.S. borders in 2024, originated in Canada.

Finally, just hours before the American reprieve on tariffs, Trump raised a new red herring: that Canada does not allow American banks into the country. But many U.S. banks do operate in Canada, making up half of the country’s foreign banking assets.

The grip of populism

So why such lies? I suggest that we need to look to nationalist populism for an explanation. A deep, often irrational, emotional bond underpins this form of populism.

Just as was the case in his 2016 election campaign, Trump’s 2024 campaign successfully tapped into people’s frustrations and anxieties over everything from high food prices to the housing crisis and rising precarious employment as he promised once more to “make America great again.”

Tariffs featured prominently, with Trump bidding to put “America First” by punishing the country’s three largest trading partners — Mexico, Canada and China — for their alleged “unfair” trade practices.

These types of seductive populist slogans unite people under a common banner, soothing their anxieties. But the accompanying peril is their dependence on the construction of national enemies to unify the nation. In 2016, Trump singled out Muslims and Mexicans. Today it is migrants, trans people and America’s supposed three main trading villains.

Dangerous sentiments

Trump’s populism is therefore built on irrational, if not dangerous, sentiments: blind fear, pridefulness, xenophobia, transphobia, racism and aggression.

No wonder he engages in both blatant falsehoods and unabashed bullying. His lies are integral to his continuing attempts to paint the U.S. as a victim, despite its global supremacy in many areas, thereby justifying attempts at subordinating America’s putative “enemies” and even its friends. Populist sentiment, precisely because it is rooted in the irrational exuberance of pride and unity, cares little about facts, logic or veracity.

A case in point is Trump’s affirmation that the U.S. is “subsidizing” Canada as a result of the trade deficit. The allegation contravenes any economic sense — trade deficits are the result of market-driven imports exceeding exports — yet its deployment here evokes the anxiety-producing prospect that Canada is ripping off American taxpayers.

Populist passion trumps rational argument. Bluster whips up national fervour.

Much ado about nothing

This is also why Canada’s efforts to appease Trump have yielded little to date. Days after Trump’s election win, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quick to visit him at his Florida estate in an attempt to reassure him on fentanyl and migrants.

The Canadian government then announced a $1.3 billion border security package and improved state oversight of the production of opioids.

In the days leading up to Trump’s tariff executive order, Canadian federal ministers and provincial premiers also frantically engaged in a public relations offensive (interviews on American TV, meetings with congressional lawmakers and Trump’s cabinet nominees) aimed at changing minds. All to no avail.

Trump finally blinked only a few hours before the Feb. 4 tariff deadline. All it took was the offer by Trudeau of measures that, for the most part, had already been included in the previously announced border security/fentanyl measures. It seems the repackaged deal was enough to allow the president to declare a victory, while granting Canada a mere temporary reprieve.

Read more:
Trump’s tariff threats show the brute power of an imperial presidency

So all in all, much ado about not too much. Lots of theatrics and brinkmanship, but little advancement, especially on the supposed main problem to be addressed — trade deficits.

The Trump administration has basically stuck to its populist platform, providing more evidence that rational decision-making does not play a role.

Quite the opposite, in fact: attempts to appease Trump appear to have been taken as proof that his threats work, and more demands are undoubtedly in store. That’s evident by the continuing prospect of tariffs in March and the possibility of more to come afterwards (including on steel and aluminum).

Self-defeating irrationality

Trump’s tariff war is senseless. If the measures go ahead, they could plunge Canada into a painful recession requiring state stimulus to support the economy and jobs, and retaliatory and counter-retaliatory trade measures.

This may well be Trump’s intention — he has declared he wants to annex Canada by “economic force” — but it is likely to backfire. Any future trade war will harm not just Canada, Mexico and China, but also the U.S.

Canada’s counter-tariffs target Red States, where Trump derives most of his electoral support.

And given the American dependence on Canada for some 50 per cent of its crude oil imports, Canada’s nuclear option is to impose export tariffs on oil to the U.S. That would cause American prices at the pump to increase dramatically overnight and prove highly unpopular.

In the longer term, then, no one stands to win as a consequence of Trump’s irrational populist policy-making. In the meantime, expect not much else from Trump’s administration than more unpredictability, brinkmanship, intimidation … and, yes, lies.

Ilan Kapoor 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. Trump’s lurking assault on Canada rests on endless lies and irrational populism – https://theconversation.com/trumps-lurking-assault-on-canada-rests-on-endless-lies-and-irrational-populism-249256

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025

MIL-OSI: Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results Highlighting Strong Operating Cash Flow and Stable Gross Margins

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BEIJING, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd. (“Leishen Energy”), a leading provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, today announced its fiscal year 2024 financial results, showcasing robust performance driven by effective cost management, strategic market expansion, and growing demand for the Company’s innovative product offerings.

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

Operating Cash Flow Grows 243%, rising to USD $15.07 million in fiscal year 2024, up from USD $4.39 million in fiscal year 2023, marking a more than 243% year-over-year increase. This sharp rise was driven by robust accounts receivable collections, efficiency gains, and disciplined costs.
Total Revenues were USD $69.07 million, compared to USD $73.08 million in fiscal year 2023, representing a 5.5% decrease year-over-year. The decline was primarily attributable to lower sales of clean-energy equipment in the domestic market, partially offset by growth in the Company’s new energy business.
Gross Profit totaled USD $16.03 million, down from USD $18.38 million in the prior year, reflecting a gross margin of 23.2% (25.1% in fiscal year 2023). The margin decrease was primarily driven by lower margins in oil and gas engineering technical services.
Net Income was USD $7.99 million, compared to USD $11.63 million in fiscal year 2023, reflecting a 31.3% decrease.
Operating Expenses rose from USD $6.49 million in fiscal year 2023 to USD $8.48 million in fiscal year 2024, largely due to higher selling and marketing costs associated with international market expansion, as well as increased research and development.
Net Income Attributable to Leishen Energy was USD $8.10 million, reflecting a decrease of USD $3.76 million year-over-year.

Segment Performance

Clean-Energy Equipment
- Revenue declined by 14.6% year-over-year, to USD $33.82 million, mainly due to reduced domestic orders amid tighter market competition and lower selling prices for certain common products. The segment contributed 49.0% of total revenues.
Digitalization and Integration Equipment
- Revenue was USD $3.08 million, reflecting a modest year-over-year decline. Gross margin improved to 18.2% as the Company continued to streamline costs and enhance efficiency.
New Energy Sales
- Revenue grew 11.3%, reaching USD $25.82 million, driven by increased demand for natural gas. The Company added a major new client in fiscal year 2024, contributing over USD $1.5 million in revenue.
Oil and Gas Engineering Technical Services
- Revenue was USD $6.35 million, representing a decrease of 8.4% from the prior year, due to intensified pricing pressure and customers adopting lower-cost operating models. Despite increased competition, the Company continues to develop new projects at home and abroad.

Management Commentary

“We are pleased to report that while Leishen Energy experienced year-over-year declines in revenue and profitability in fiscal 2024, we have strengthened our position in new energy sales and increased our presence in international markets,” said Hongliang Li, Chief Executive Officer of Leishen Energy. “The successful expansion of our customer base—particularly in overseas regions—and ongoing investments in research and development underscore our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance energy solutions.”

Zhiping Yu, Chief Financial Officer, added: “As we navigate near-term market pressures, we remain focused on cost optimization and strategic capital allocation. We believe our prudent balance sheet management, coupled with targeted investments in key growth areas, will help us enhance our financial performance and maintain sustainable returns for our shareholders in the years to come.”

Business Outlook

The Company aims to capitalize on the following growth drivers and strategic initiatives in fiscal year 2025 and beyond:

International Expansion: Continued pursuit of overseas projects in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including joint reserve warehouses of spare parts with major oilfields and new power plant operation and maintenance projects in Africa.
Technology and Innovation: Further investment in research and development to strengthen patented technologies, with 72 patents now held across clean-energy equipment, oil and gas engineering technical services, and new energy production and operation.
Customer Diversification: Ongoing efforts to deepen relationships with long-standing domestic clients while expanding the Company’s international customer pipeline, particularly in digitalization and integration equipment sales.
Operational Efficiencies: Enhancement of cost-control measures, rigorous supply chain management, and new supplier partnerships to mitigate inflationary pressures and disruptions.

LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	2024						2023						Variance
	Amount			% of revenue			Amount			% of revenue			Amount			%
Revenues	$	69,073,374			100.0	%	$	73,084,448			100.0	%	$	(4,011,074	)		(5.5	)%
Cost of revenues		(53,038,855	)		(76.8	)%		(54,705,407	)		(74.9	)%		1,666,552			(3.0	)%
Gross profit		16,034,519			23.2	%		18,379,041			25.1	%		(2,344,522	)		(12.8	)%

Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing		2,053,194			3.0	%		775,957			1.1	%		1,277,237			164.6	%
General and administrative		5,979,890			8.7	%		5,553,912			7.6	%		425,978			7.7	%
Research and development		449,542			0.7	%		158,657			0.2	%		290,885			183.3	%
Total operating expenses		8,482,626			12.4	%		6,488,526			8.9	%		1,994,100			30.7	%

Income from operations		7,551,893			10.8	%		11,890,515			16.2	%		(4,338,622	)		(36.5	)%

Other income (loss):
Interest expense		(57,018	)		(0.1	)%		(67,964	)		(0.1	)%		10,946			(16.1	)%
Exchange (loss) gains		(18,107	)		0.0	%		280,538			0.4	%		(298,645	)		(106.5	)%
Gain from equity investment		81,150			0.1	%		80,616			0.10	%		534			0.7	%
Net investment income		445,271			0.6	%		108,671			0.1	%		336,600			309.7	%
Other expenses, net		171,845			0.2	%		71,850			0.0	%		99,995			139.2	%
Total other income, net		623,141			0.8	%		473,711			0.6	%		149,430			31.5	%

Income before income taxes		8,175,034			11.6	%		12,364,226			16.8	%		(4,189,192	)		(33.9	)%

Provision for income taxes		184,818			0.3	%		729,506			1.0	%		(544,688	)		(74.7	)%

Net income		7,990,216			11.3	%		11,634,720			15.8	%		(3,644,504	)		(31.3	)%
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(105,655	)		(0.2	)%		(223,870	)		(0.3	)%		118,215			(52.8	)%
Net income attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.	$	8,095,871			11.5	%	$	11,858,590			16.1	%	$	(3,762,719	)		(31.7	)%

LEISHEN ENERGY HOLDING CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	As of September 30,
	2024			2023
	US$			US$
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash	$	5,811,798		$	4,567,608
Restricted cash		1,489,216			–
Short-term investments		17,850,648			7,234,607
Accounts receivable, net		21,826,297			30,742,914
Notes receivable		1,054,528			1,304,004
Advance to suppliers, net		5,896,595			5,637,829
Inventories		5,396,634			7,877,202
Due from related parties		31,535			44,848
Loan receivable – related party		822,878			–
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net		1,567,060			1,351,049
Total current assets		61,747,189			58,760,061

Non-current assets:
Long-term investments		1,758,515			1,670,461
Deferred offering costs		437,653			271,155
Property and equipment, net		4,111,919			3,838,135
Intangible assets		140,070			152,901
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		668,259			712,065
Loans receivable, non-current		725,699			–
Other non-current assets		44,746			52,351
Total non-current assets		7,886,861			6,697,068

Total Assets	$	69,634,050		$	65,457,129

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Short-term loans	$	50,899		$	1,090,378
Accounts payable		10,731,238			11,758,870
Advance from customers		2,292,728			1,465,285
Taxes payable		3,418,725			2,755,661
Due to related parties		9,239,059			13,387,546
Operating lease liabilities		68,291			62,057
Other payables and other current liabilities		1,339,969			1,303,371
Total current liabilities		27,140,909			31,823,168

Non-current Liabilities:
Long-term loans		1,127,380			49,676
Deferred tax liabilities, net		307,513			1,175,703
Operating lease liabilities, non-current		602,735			650,007
Total non-current liabilities		2,037,628			1,875,386

Total Liabilities		29,178,537			33,698,554

Equity:
Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,500,000 shares issued and outstanding*		15,500			15,500
Subscription receivable		(15,500	)		(15,500	)
Additional paid-in capital		1,617,966			1,617,966
Statutory reserves		1,690,994			1,565,649
Retained earnings		37,339,006			29,368,480
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(861,374	)		(1,746,809	)
Total equity attributable to Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd		39,786,592			30,805,286
Non-controlling interests		668,921			953,289
Total Equity		40,455,513			31,758,575

Total Liabilities and Equity	$	69,634,050		$	65,457,129

About Leishen Energy Holding Co., Ltd.

The Leishen Group was founded in 2007 and is a China-based provider of clean-energy equipment and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry, with a commitment to providing customers with high-performance, safe and cost-effective energy solutions. Our major lines of business include (i) sale of clean-energy industry; (ii) new energy production and operation; (iii) digitalization and integration equipment; and (iv) oil and gas engineering technical services. At present, the Group holds more than 70 patents and software copyrights, forming a comprehensive ecosystem of core technical capabilities. Currently, our business operations have expanded beyond the PRC to Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, and our service abilities and quality have been widely recognized and praised by foreign customers. Efficient, safe and energy-saving equipment combined with professional technical services have enabled our brand to gain positive attention and recognition from our customers and enabled us to become a well-known equipment and services provider in the oil and gas industry. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.r-egroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s share offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the offering will be successfully completed. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “going forward”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “propose”, “seek”, “should”, “will”, “would” or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Michael Wei
Email:hwey@horizonconsultancy.co

The MIL Network –

February 19, 2025

MIL-OSI: ITS Logistics February Port Rail Ramp Index: Potential Effects of Tariffs and Impact on Trade Lanes Signify Most Pressing Unknown Supply Chain Threat

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

RENO, Nev., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the February forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month the index reveals that operations have returned to normal in all regions following the Lunar New Year peak and light inventory front loading to avoid anticipated bottlenecks. In addition, the most significant current unknowns for the industry are the potential effects of tariffs and their impact on trade lanes.

“Though changing booking patterns and front loading inventory can help with savings in the short-term, these strategies usually lead to additional cost and material flow problems,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “The consensus from most experienced shippers is to not be reactionary, as this issue will continue to be very fluid, and the timing and duration of disruptions is unknown.”

In an effort to promote fairer trade and enhance the appeal of U.S. goods, President Trump has called for agencies to explore reciprocal tariffs aimed at increasing America’s revenue. This move, however, risks sparking a global trade war, potentially worsening inflation.

Last week, the President signed a memorandum proposing a 25% tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on imports of Canadian energy—primarily crude oil. He also signed proclamations to help bolster tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. to help minimize attempts by China and Russia to evade penalties. To encourage this change, an incremental 10% tariff on imports from China was established, along with an executive order to place a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico, which has been postponed until March.

While the tariffs have not yet been imposed, the signing of the memo allows the current presidential administration to begin a review process to initiate them. As the industry awaits further action from the administration, ocean carrier RFP season is approaching, and professionals should begin seeing volumes shift back to the East and Gulf Coast ports as Red Sea diversions and labor disruptions are not expected to be a concern in 2025.

“We suggest companies consider moving bookings to the East and Gulf Coast ports now that the labor issues have been resolved,” continued Brashier. “Earlier in the month, the wage scale committee for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) approved a tentative six-year agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance from early January. Members are now expected to vote on their new master contract regarding the East and Gulf Coast ports on February 25.”

ITS Logistics offers a full suite of network transportation solutions across North America and distribution and fulfillment services to 95% of the U.S. population within two days. These services include drayage and intermodal in 22 coastal ports and 30 rail ramps, a full suite of asset and asset-lite transportation solutions, omnichannel distribution and fulfillment, LTL, and outbound small parcel.

The ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index forecasts port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf regions. Ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted in the index for both the West Inland and East Inland regions. Visit here for a full comprehensive copy of the index with expected forecasts for the US port and rail ramps.

About ITS Logistics
ITS Logistics is one of North America’s fastest-growing, asset-based modern 3PLs, providing solutions for the industry’s most complicated supply chain challenges. With a people-first culture committed to excellence, the company relentlessly strives to deliver unmatched value through best-in-class service, expertise, and innovation. The ITS Logistics portfolio features North America’s #19 asset-lite freight brokerage, the #12 drayage and intermodal solution, a top 50 dedicated fleet, an innovative cloud-based technology ecosystem, and a nationwide distribution and fulfillment network.

Media Contact
Amber Good
LeadCoverage
amber@leadcoverage.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128e7687-6bfd-4f21-af3a-442b9cc93409

The MIL Network –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Vivian Truong, Assistant Professor of History, Swarthmore College

Save Chinatown protesters take to the streets on Sept. 7, 2024. Zachary Kreines, CC BY-NC-ND

Visitors commonly view Philadelphia’s Chinatown as a place to eat Chinese food and appreciate Chinese culture. But for longtime members of the Chinatown community, the neighborhood – home to over over 5,000 residents – is also defined by its tenacity and survival.

Chinatown’s rich tradition of activism was on full display for the past two and half years, as residents and allies fiercely opposed the Philadelphia 76ers’ plans to build a basketball arena in the Market East neighborhood at the southern edge of Chinatown.

A city-sponsored community impact study found that the arena could have resulted in the “loss of Chinatown’s core identity and regional significance.” It estimated that half of the neighborhood’s small businesses would have suffered due to increased congestion, potential rent increases and a new demographic less likely to patronize the area’s ethnic businesses.

While the reason for the Sixers’ sudden decision to scrap the Market East arena plan remains unclear, the announcement in January 2025 came as a relief to Chinatown community members who felt they had averted yet another threat to their neighborhood’s existence.

I’m a historian whose research focuses on Asian Americans, cities and social movements, and I’ve seen how urban residents take the existence of Chinatowns in major cities across the country – and even globally, from London to Havana, Cuba, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – for granted. Chinatowns continue to exist and thrive thanks to the residents and allies who fight for them.

The fight over the Sixers arena was only the latest struggle in over 50 years of community organizing in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

Friendship Gate, erected in the 1980s, serves as a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A refuge from xenophobia

Like other American Chinatowns, Philadelphia’s formed during an era of virulent anti-Chinese racism. The neighborhood was established in the 1870s as a refuge for immigrants fleeing the American West, where white railroad workers and miners declared “The Chinese must go!”.

Among the earliest businesses were a handful of laundries and a restaurant on the 900 block of Race Street, just north of Philadelphia’s main commercial district.

In the era of anti-Chinese immigration laws from 1875 to 1943, Chinatowns were associated with opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution. Law enforcement targeted and stigmatized the Philadelphia neighborhood as a center of vice and danger. Meanwhile, city and private developers had their eyes on Chinatown as early as the 1920s.

In 1923, the Bell Telephone Company purchased additional real estate along the corridor for its new high-rise building and parking lot, displacing Chinese residents. In the same decade, the city used eminent domain to demolish blocks of housing to make way for the Broad-Ridge Spur connecting the Eighth Street and Vine Street subway stations. A Philadelphia Evening Bulletin article in 1934 declared Chinatown to be “a thing of the past.”

As the city began to accommodate more car owners, Race Street was remade as a major thoroughfare to the Delaware Valley Bridge, now called the Ben Franklin Bridge. In 1926, the year the bridge was completed, the Bulletin declared that “The Delaware River Bridge has come and Chinatown must go,” echoing the xenophobic slogans that drove Chinese workers out of western states half a century earlier.

But Chinatown persisted.

As restrictions on immigration from China loosened after World War II, more Chinese women immigrated to the U.S. The neighborhood transformed from a bachelor society of aging workers to a growing intergenerational community of families.

‘Save Chinatown’ movement forms

During the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, Philadelphia’s Chinatown youth took inspiration from the Black Power and anti-war movements to fight for their community.

In 1966, the city proposed the expansion of Vine Street into an expressway that would have demolished large swaths of Chinatown, including the beloved Holy Redeemer church and school. Established for Chinese American Catholics in 1941, Holy Redeemer hosted neighborhood meetings and recreational events as well as religious services. The Vine Street Expressway project was one instance of the national phenomenon of urban renewal, which aimed to clear and redevelop areas designated as blighted.

The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation nonprofit worked with Yellow Seeds, a group of radical Asian American youth who opposed U.S. racism and imperialism, and other Chinatown community members to fight construction of the expressway.

These groups comprised the 1970s Save Chinatown movement. They held numerous protests, made frequent media appearances and used the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act to craft their strategy. They demanded an environmental impact statement, which, when issued in 1983, recommended a much smaller expressway than originally designed. Holy Redeemer was saved. The final plans also scrapped two off-ramps that would have cut through the neighborhood. Construction on the expressway was completed in 1991.

Resisting a prison, baseball stadium and casino

The Save Chinatown movement continued through the decades as community members successfully fought the construction of a federal prison in 1993, a baseball stadium in 2000 and a casino in 2008 – all proposed for sites in or bordering Chinatown.

“The future of Chinatown is going to be a huge battle,” activist Debbie Wei stated in a 2002 documentary released after the conclusion of the baseball stadium fight a few years earlier. “We’re going to fight it, and my children are probably going to have to fight it as well.”

‘Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown’ (2002). Debbie Wei’s reflections on the future of Chinatown begin at 25:28.

Her words were prescient. Her daughter Kaia Chau emerged as a key leader of the campaign against the Sixers arena 20 years later.

Chau co-founded Students for the Preservation of Chinatown with fellow student leader Taryn Flaherty. The group organized teach-ins, galvanized Philadelphia-area students to join protests, and highlighted arena developers’ ties to local universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. By focusing on the developers, students made connections between the arena proposal and the gentrification of West Philadelphia, including the demolition of the University City Townhomes, an affordable housing complex whose residents were mostly Black.

The movement against the Sixers arena became part of a multiracial, citywide fight against displacement. As Rev. Gregory Holston of Black Philly 4 Chinatown, part of the Save Chinatown coalition, put it: “In North Philadelphia, in West Philadelphia, in South Philadelphia, the same process is happening over and over and over again, where people are pushing and displacing people of color out of this city.”

Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood celebrates the Lunar New Year in 2024, the Year of the Dragon.
Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images

Thriving intergenerational community

Activists have also created new housing, educational and arts institutions to keep Chinatown a family-friendly neighborhood.

The location where the prison was planned in 1993 is now Hing Wah Yuen, a 51-unit mixed-income affordable housing complex developed by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation – the same organization that led the fight against the Vine Street Expressway in the 1970s.

After the plans for the baseball stadium were scrapped in 2000, the grassroots Chinatown-based organization Asian Americans United partnered with the arts and culture organization Philadelphia Folklore Project to found the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures School in 2005.

The K-8 school, located in the footprint of the proposed stadium, teaches Mandarin and emphasizes art and music classes that reflect students’ cultural background.

More recently, recognizing the need for more “third places” for youth beyond home and school, student leaders Chau and Flaherty launched the Ginger Arts Center in 2024. The organization provides a recreational space and arts programs for young people in Chinatown.

The community institutions that have sprung up in the wake of defeated development projects illustrate how Chinatown is not a thing of the past, nor is it solely a food and culture destination to be consumed.

Rather, Chinatown is a thriving community that has long fought to survive, reinvent itself and determine its own future – one that carries the legacy of previous generations of resistance.

Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

– ref. Philly’s Chinatown has a rich tradition of activism – the Sixers arena fight was just one of many to preserve the neighborhood – https://theconversation.com/phillys-chinatown-has-a-rich-tradition-of-activism-the-sixers-arena-fight-was-just-one-of-many-to-preserve-the-neighborhood-247549

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Multilateralism: What is it, and why does it matter?

Source: United Nations MIL OSI

18 February 2025 UN Affairs

Multilateralism is a term frequently used at the United Nations, but it’s not a concept that is only relevant to the corridors and conference rooms where international diplomacy takes place.

Beyond the UN, it affects people’s daily lives in many ways. It helps reduce conflicts, grow our economies, and allows us to travel safely around the world. It’s also crucial for tackling big global problems like climate change and unregulated artificial intelligence.

What does “multilateral” actually mean?

Originally, “multilateral” was a geometry term meaning “many-sided.”

Now, it describes international politics and diplomacy, where many countries with different views and goals work together.

The United Nations system is the principal multilateral forum where countries come together to solve global problems. They hold conferences, summits, and meetings to address important issues.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

The world comes together to debate issues at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Cooperation, Compromise, and Coordination

In international affairs, countries work together (cooperation), make deals (compromise), and organize their efforts (coordination) to solve problems that one country alone couldn’t handle.

These three “Cs” help build trust and settle disputes peacefully.

Making the modern world possible

Imagine if every country developed its own system for phone calls, airlines, shipping or mail developed nationally – and did not coordinate with others. Global travel, communication, and trade would be a mess. Thanks to multilateralism, we have international systems that make these things possible.

The fact that we have global standards for a range of our daily activities from health to postal systems to travel is down to multilateralism, and the creation of a series of multilateral organizations, many of which were established in the 19th Century, and have now become part of the UN System.

Two multilateral organizations that pre-date the UN are:

International Telecommunications Union (ITU): Started in 1865 to standardize telegraph networks. Now, it helps with governance for radio frequencies, satellites, and the internet.

International Labour Organization (ILO): Founded in 1919 to promote workers’ rights, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

© Unsplash/Brunno Tozzo

Multilateralism enables international coordination across sectors, including communication.

Making multilateral policies

Since 1945, the UN has helped countries work together and create important agreements.

The central policy-making arm of the Organization is the General Assembly, a unique forum for multilateral discussions of international issues.

Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote, no matter the size of their economy, population, or military might: Monaco’s vote carries the same weight as China’s.

Achievements of the UN

Another feature of multilateralism is standard-setting. The General Assembly has this normative role and has created many international laws and treaties on disarmament, human rights, and environmental protection.

One of its greatest accomplishments is the drafting and adoption of the groundbreaking Universal Declaration of Human Rights which paved the way for a comprehensive body of human rights law.

Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, it was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1948.

It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and has inspired the constitutions of many newly independent States and new democracies.

UN Photo

Young children read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at a playground. (Archive)

The Cold War

During the Cold War (late 1940s to early 1990s), the UN played a key role in peacekeeping and arms control.

Despite the threat of nuclear war, a third world war was avoided partly because of the UN providing a platform for discussion and decision-making.

The UN today

Some 80 years later, the United Nations is still the world’s primary multilateral organization, harmonizing and coordinating international action in fields ranging from peacekeeping to economic development to trade.

Millions of lives have been saved thanks to the humanitarian assistance provided and coordinated by the United Nations, bringing food, health and shelter to conflict and disaster zones.

The multilateral framework has expanded beyond countries to include representatives of civil society, youth and business, among others.

© UNRWA

UN staff support a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.

What’s next?

Member States often struggle to cope effectively with today’s global threats and challenges, from devastating civil wars and cross-border conflicts to growing economic inequality between and within countries, and the existential threats of unregulated artificial intelligence and climate change.

To make sure that the UN remains fit for purpose as the world’s pre-eminent forum for multilateralism in the decades to come, in 2020 Member States invited the Secretary-General, António Guterres, to develop a vision for stronger global governance, for present and future generations.

Policy reforms in areas from peacekeeping to the international financial architecture, education and youth engagement in policymaking were encapsulated in Our Common Agenda, which covered recommendations for an upgraded UN which in turn fed into the landmark Pact for the Future, which was adopted by world leaders at the Summit for the Future meeting at the United Nations in New York in September 2024.

Call to action by the UN chief

In his first year as Secretary-General, António Guterres said having laws and conventions are not enough.

He urged: “We need stronger commitment to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its centre, with the different institutions and treaties that bring the Charter to life.”

He called for networked multilateralism – with other international and regional organizations – and an inclusive multilateralism that would withstand the tests and threats of today and tomorrow.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The 30th Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition of Taichung City Calls for Entries

Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

The 30th Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition of Taichung City calls for entries
Eligible Participants: All domestic and foreign artists.
Artwork categories: There are 11 categories, i.e., ink wash painting, calligraphy, seal engraving, glue color painting, oil painting, watercolor painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, crafts, and digital art. Application is required to be completed between April 1 and April 15, 2025.
Please visit the official website of the Da Dun Fine Arts Exhibition for more information (https://www.dadunfae.taichung.gov.tw/).
Rules and Entry Form:
Application Form
Application_Form
Exhibition Rules
Exhibition_Rules

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s railway passenger trips reach 369M in January

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

China’s railways handled 369 million passenger trips in January, representing an increase of 12.1% year on year, according to official data on Tuesday.
High-speed railways handled 275 million passenger trips during the period, marking an increase of 10.6% year on year and accounting for 74.6% of the total national railway passenger volume, according to data released by the National Railway Administration.
In January, China’s railways handled 423 million tonnes of cargo with a freight turnover of 288.47 billion tonne-kilometers, according to the data.
The fixed-asset investment in railways totaled 43.9 billion yuan (6.12 billion U.S. dollars) in January, up 3.7%, said the administration.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China responds to US-Russia talks on Ukraine crisis

Source: China State Council Information Office

China welcomes all peace efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis, including the talks between the United States and Russia, and China hopes that all parties and stakeholders can participate in the peace talks process in due course, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

China always believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way to resolve the crisis and has been committed to promoting talks for peace, Guo said at a regular news briefing.

He made the comments in response to a query about a meeting between the U.S. and Russian officials on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, without the participation of Ukraine.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ becomes highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has dethroned Disney’s 2024 picture “Inside Out 2” to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally.

As of Tuesday evening, the film’s worldwide earnings, including presales, surpassed 12.319 billion yuan (about 1.72 billion U.S. dollars), according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan.

This milestone comes just 20 days after its release on Jan. 29 during the Chinese New Year and one day after it reached the all-time global box office top 10.

The achievement adds to an impressive list of records for the film, including the first to gross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic celebrated the Eastern New Year

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

The Eastern New Year, the year of the Green Wooden Snake, was celebrated in the Polytechnic Tower. The main organizer of the event was the Humanitarian Institute together with the Higher School of International Educational Programs. Representatives of various Polytechnic institutes and St. Petersburg universities took part in the concert program

This year, the celebration was held for the first time at the Youth Trajectory Center, in the Polytechnic Tower. The hosts were Ksenia Kolomeitseva, a student at the Higher School of International Relations, and Artem Kuzmin, a student at the Higher School of Law and Forensic Science.

The Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina and the Assistant Vice-Rector for International Activities Pavel Nedelko delivered welcoming remarks.

In our multinational student family, we can celebrate the New Year several times. Today, we have a unique opportunity to learn about the bright traditions of this holiday together with representatives of China, Indonesia and Vietnam, – noted Natalia Chicherina.

Polytechnicians talked about the cultural characteristics of their countries, held an interactive competition with souvenirs for the participants. A student of the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy Li Junying gave a presentation in Russian about the traditions and culture of China. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai from IPMET represented Vietnam, a postgraduate student of the Higher School of Physics and Materials Technology of IMMIT Tegu Imanulla gave a report about Indonesia, in which he spoke about national dishes, dances, symbols, good luck charms and much more.

Ye Zizhou, a student at the Graduate School of International Relations, performed a traditional Chinese number symbolizing the wisdom of the Green Snake. Together with Viktoria Dyshko, she showed a modern dance in the K-pop style. Mao Yiling from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education demonstrated traditional martial arts with a sword.

Sofia Kononova from the Higher School of International Relations recited a poem in Chinese. Students from the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy performed two Chinese songs: “Gen Wo Yi Qi Zuo” and “Gongxi Ni”. Students from the Higher School of International Relations sang the composition “Flawless Heaven and Earth” in Chinese.

IMMIT postgraduate students Nguyen Van Tu Anh and Tran Thanh Cong performed the Vietnamese song “Hoa co mua suan”, which translates as “Spring flowers and grasses”, with a guitar.

A master class on making magical aromatic sachets in national herbal bags was held by Li Peiyun from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The art of Chinese calligraphy was taught by Yuan Fengxia from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The Chinese tea ceremony was demonstrated by Zhang Yuwen and Mao Yiling from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education. The secrets of Chinese knotting and making paper lanterns were shared by Xie Zhaoying from the Graduate School of Linguistics and Education.

Celebrating the Eastern New Year is a good tradition of the Polytechnic University. Such events allow us to better understand the culture of other countries. We still don’t know each other very well, so many thanks to all the organizers for the opportunity to communicate with the guys and immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the East, – shared Pavel Nedelko.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The secret behind Temu’s rock-bottom prices

Source: The Conversation – France – By Henri Isaac, Maître de conférences en sciences de gestion, Université Paris Dauphine – PSL

Temu has made a remarkable entry in the global e-commerce landscape, quickly becoming the fifth largest online marketplace in France. Critics claim Temu’s ultra-competitive pricing relies on unfair practices. Yet its success stems from the powerful—and proven—business model of its parent company, Pinduoduo, which started as an online marketplace for fresh fruit…

In just two years, the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has emerged as a key contender in the global marketplace. In France, it ranked as the fifth most-visited online commerce platform in October 2024. At the heart of this remarkable achievement are its ultra-low prices, which many observers argue are made possible only through questionable practices, such as poor product quality, dumping, aggressive marketing, and deceptive trade tactics.
Despite widespread skepticism over its long-term viability, Temu continues to invest heavily in advertising and market penetration, challenging an e-commerce sector where no new player has made a significant breakthrough in the past decade. While other online retailers, like AliExpress and the fashion giant Shein, have disrupted Western markets with similar cutthroat pricing strategies, only Temu has done what few believed possible: outperforming Amazon, the long-standing gold standard for competitive pricing.

From factory to global store

Temu’s pricing policies are not revolutionary in China. The platform closely follows the business model of its parent company, Pinduoduo (or PDD Holdings). As Pinduoduo’s international arm, Temu represents China’s ambition to transition from being the world’s factory to becoming the world’s store. Its low prices are not a temporary launch tactic but a fundamental pillar of its long-term strategy.

Established in Boston in September 2022, Temu is an offshoot of the Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo, founded in 2015 following the success of Pinhaohuo. Introduced by Colin Huang in April that year, Pinhaohuo used WeChat’s group-buying model to sell bulk orders of fresh fruit. Its rapid growth led to the creation of Pinduoduo, which disrupted China’s e-commerce market—long dominated by JD.com and Alibaba—before expanding globally through Temu. Today, Temu operates in 79 countries.

Reverse auctions and consigned inventory: driving down prices

At the heart of Temu’s pricing strategy is the Consumer-To-Manufacturer (C2M) model, introduced by Pinduoduo in March 2023. This approach utilizes reverse auctions, where Temu solicits bids from manufacturers, forcing suppliers to compete by offering the lowest possible prices. PDD Holdings sets final product prices and profit margins, and manufacturers deliver products directly to Pinduoduo’s warehouses in China, eliminating the need for Temu to purchase or hold stock. Instead, manufacturers bear storage costs and must take back any unsold items. Payments are typically made quarterly, further easing Temu’s financial burden. In essence, Pinduoduo operates a consigned inventory model.

Reverse auctions enable Temu to secure the lowest possible prices from the outset, with Pinduoduo’s logistics expertise allowing for rapid order consolidation, creating economies of scale that particularly benefit smaller manufacturers who, without Pinduoduo, would struggle to achieve such demand levels. Additionally, by pooling shipping logistics, Pinduoduo further reduces total product costs compared to direct manufacturer sales.

Creating a buzz on social media

On the consumer side, Pinduoduo deploys its group-buying model to drive sales through social media trends. The name Pinduoduo roughly translates as “together, more savings, more fun,” reflecting its core strategy: the more buyers in a group purchase, the lower the price. This tactic has propelled Pinduoduo to become the world’s leading social commerce platform by user numbers, with 694 million users in China alone as of June 2024, according to XQuestMobile China.

Beyond group purchasing, Pinduoduo has leveraged gamified (gamification) shopping features–widespread in Chinese business culture–to encourage impulse buying, a challenge for most online retailers.

The company entered the market by strategically targeting overlooked consumer segments, focusing on lower-income shoppers in smaller cities and rural areas, rather than competing for wealthier urban customers dominated by JD.com and Alibaba. This approach led to rapid growth and profitability by 2021. By 2023, Pinduoduo, including Temu, reported $34.879 billion in revenue and a net income of $8.267 billion.

A commission-free revenue model

How does Pinduoduo generate revenue? By charging manufacturers for end-customer shipping logistics and marketing services such as product promotion, visibility, and platform placement. Logistics revenue accounts for 38% of the platform’s total earnings, while marketing services contribute 62%.

Unlike Amazon and other online marketplaces, Pinduoduo does not take commissions on sales. Instead, it operates as a logistics and marketing service provider, facilitating distribution for manufacturers and managing logistics flows.

This proven revenue framework is key to Pinduoduo’s highly competitive prices. Additionally, the company benefits from a favorable corporate tax rate in China–15% compared to the standard 25% for traditional businesses. By leveraging bulk purchasing, optimized marketing and logistics, and a commission-free structure, Pinduoduo can sustain its low-cost pricing strategy—much like its Chinese e-commerce rival, Shein.

Favorable customs regulations

Temu is duplicating the Pinduoduo model abroad. Within this framework, Temu benefits from the U.S. customs tariffs (Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930), that exempts goods valued under $800 from customs duties. The EU provides a similar exemption for items under €150 (Article 23 of Regulation 1186/2009). Most of Temu’s products fall below these thresholds, allowing them to be shipped duty-free.

Within two years, Temu has onboarded over 200,000 retailers, shipped 4 million packages daily from 60 warehouses in China and attracted 467 million users worldwide by offering products 40% to 60% cheaper than Amazon. To rapidly grow its customer base and achieve self-sustaining critical mass in Europe and the U.S., Temu is investing heavily in product subsidies.

Its online advertising strategy is equally aggressive, with substantial investments in social media ads on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as search engine ranking. While exact figures for these campaigns remain undisclosed, annual reports from PDD Holdings, show its marketing spend–including Temu’s–increased by 34% to approximately €10.7 billion in 2023, with an estimated $4 to 5 billion allocated to Temu alone.

Temu’s marketing strategy and its slogan, “Shop like a billionaire,” follow the playbook of major digital platforms, where sustained subsidies drive demand and fuel viral engagement. In such models, economies of scale are directly tied to consumer demand—a concept known as the demand-side economy of scope.

High logistics costs

Expanding the Pinduoduo model internationally comes with logistical challenges, particularly due to the higher shipping costs of air freight delivery from China, making the current international model vulnerable to potential losses.

To address this, Temu began transitioning to a new operating model in March 2024, gradually shifting from its initial fully managed approach to a semi-managed one. Under this model, Temu-represented merchants ship products via ocean freight to U.S. warehouses for local distribution.

Additionally, Temu has engaged the Chinese diaspora in the U.S. to operate “family warehouses” from their homes, including apartments and garages, providing storage, labeling, and shipping services at competitive rates. This strategy attracts smaller merchants who cannot afford large warehouse facilities. It also demonstrates how retailers are adapting to Temu’s evolving logistics model, with the platform primarily managing purchasing and pricing.

However, Temu has introduced a traditional model, where sellers set their own prices much like eBay, AliExpress, and Amazon. Already rolled out across several European countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, and France, the model could challenge Temu’s ability to sustain its ultra-low prices.

If Temu transitions into a more conventional marketplace, how will its low-cost offerings stack up against Amazon? Temu has disrupted the online retail landscape, but can its aggressive pricing strategy stand the test of time?

Henri Isaac est membre de Renaissance Numérique.

– ref. The secret behind Temu’s rock-bottom prices – https://theconversation.com/the-secret-behind-temus-rock-bottom-prices-249231

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025

Category: China

A child hero forged in myth and philosophy

Good and evil – a Daoist perspective

Beyond family bonds: rebirth of Confucianism

Wisdom of Legalism and Mohism

Downsides

Peace remains illusive

Pact for the Future

Security Council reform

Build on momentum

Spirited compromise

More to follow

Trump’s eye on business

A weakened Beijing?

Prepped for the negotiation table

Trade, drugs, migrants, banks

The grip of populism

Dangerous sentiments

Much ado about nothing

Self-defeating irrationality

A refuge from xenophobia

‘Save Chinatown’ movement forms

Resisting a prison, baseball stadium and casino

Thriving intergenerational community

What does “multilateral” actually mean?

Cooperation, Compromise, and Coordination

Making the modern world possible

Making multilateral policies

Achievements of the UN

The Cold War

The UN today

What’s next?

Call to action by the UN chief

From factory to global store

Reverse auctions and consigned inventory: driving down prices

Creating a buzz on social media

A commission-free revenue model

Favorable customs regulations

High logistics costs