Category: coronavirus

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Greece financing from EIB Group totals €2.2 billion in 2024 with focus on energy supply, business growth and disaster preparedness

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB Group’s fresh financing in Greece last year amounted to €2.2 billion
    • Focus last year on energy supply, business growth and disaster management
    • Latest annual results bring EIB Group support in Greece over past five years to €14.5 billion

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s new financing in Greece amounted to €2.2 billion last year, with major support to bolster energy supplies, strengthen businesses and protect against environmental disasters in the country.

    The total for 2024 included €2.03 billion from the EIB and portfolio guarantees of €152 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF), which focuses on innovative and technology-driven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as Small Mid-Caps in Europe.

    Top operations included loans of €390 million to natural-gas supplier DEPA Commercial to build solar parks, €150 million to power provider HEDNO to upgrade the grid, loans and guarantees of €550 million to domestic banks to expand financing for SMEs and Mid-Caps and €220 million to the government to bolster disaster management.

    Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Finance of the Hellenic Republic noted: “Greece’s relationship with the European Investment Bank is long-standing and strong. This was reaffirmed in 2024, with new financing reaching €2.2 billion. These funds will be used for investments in renewable energy sources, upgrades to the electricity grid, support for SMEs, and the purchase of firefighting aircraft and rescue equipment. The EIB was a valuable ally when Greece was cut off from the markets. It will remain a partner, but with a new approach. Going forward, priorities will focus on energy interconnections, research and technology, climate adaptation, and defense investments, as outlined in the EIB’s Strategic Roadmap”.

    “Our work in Greece is a testament to the transformative power of strategic financing,” said EIB Vice-President Yannis Tsakiris.In 2024, we reinforced our commitment to the country by supporting clean energy, climate resilience and critical infrastructure while strengthening SMEs, innovation, job creation and social cohesion.”

    The latest annual results bring total EIB Group financing in Greece over the past five years to €14.5 billion. The yearly average in the country since 2000 is almost €2.9 billion, which reflects an unusually high sum of almost €5 billion in 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The EIB Group’s support last year was almost 1% of Greece’s gross domestic product (GDP), the third-highest level among European Union countries behind only Croatia and Estonia. That means that EIB Group financing in Greece last year averaged €631 per inhabitant, making the country one of the biggest beneficiaries based on the size of the population and the economy. The funding is projected to catalyse investments in Greece of up to €6.6 billion – about 2.5% of its GDP.

    Energy supply

    The €390 million EIB loan to DEPA Commercial is for new photovoltaic (PV) parks in the regions of western Macedonia, Thessaly and central Greece. The sites will add approximately 800 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy – enough to power 278,000 households for a year.

    Also in the area of clean energy, the EIB last year provided a €195 million loan to supplier PPC Renewables to develop 580 MW of solar plants and 175 MW of battery storage. The moves will boost renewables capacity, grid stability and energy security.

    The €150 million EIB credit to HEDNO covers upgrades to Greece’s electricity-distribution network, improving grid reliability and facilitating integration of renewables.

    The EIB last year also took part in the creation of an EU “Decarbonisation Fund” for Greece that will channel €1.6 billion in revenue from the European emissions-trading system into sustainable energy and development projects on Greek islands. These include grid interconnections with the mainland and the phase-out of local power plants.

    Business boost

    The EIB last year allocated a total €702 million to strengthen SMEs and Mid-Caps in Greece. The support – 28% of the total – took the form of intermediated loans and guarantees.

    Top operations included €300 million guarantees to Eurobank and National Bank of Greece covering €600 million new loans to Mid-Caps. In addition, the EIB provided a €250 million loan to the National Bank of Greece to bolster green investments by Greek SMEs and Mid-Caps. The credit raised total EIB support for such investments in Greece to €1 billion.

    The EIF also showed its agility in supporting vital investments for both debt and equity. It signed €152m with several of Greece’s financial institutions for capped portfolio guarantees. They are expected to mobilise up to €1,8bn in financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, while making the Greek economy greener, and supporting innovation and the country’s digital transition.

    The EIF also signed a new €200 million equity mandate to support innovative companies in Life Sciences & Healthcare and Sustainability & Social Impact by improving their access to vital financing. Funded by Cohesion policy and national resources of the Hellenic Republic, the mandate will cover a financing gap in these sectors, supporting investments from pre-seed to growth stages based on market needs.

    Disaster protection

    The €220 million EIB loan last year to the Greek government is to buy fire trucks, rescue vehicles and aircraft needed to fight to natural disasters such as wildfires and floods, both of which have caused extensive damage in Greece in recent years. The credit also covers upgrades to essential disaster-management services.

    The financing forms part of a European climate-adaptation plan by the EIB Group and brings its total support for Greek civil protection and disaster preparedness to €595 million.

    EIB Advisory

    There were also key technical assistance projects delivered from EIB Advisory, a highlight being an agreement with the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) to back its €2 billion, 10-year investment programme to ensure the Greek capital has a more resilient water supply and supporting investments in lignite-dependent regions such as Western Macedonia and Megalopolis in the Peloponnese, facilitating their transition to a future of clean energy.

    In December 2024, the continuation of advisory support by EIB advisors from the PASSA team to the Greek administration was approved. This support aims to ensure the smooth implementation of sustainable development and Just Transition projects financed by the EU.

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, , we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, important investments outside the EU, and the Capital Markets Union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers

    Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Rate cuts highlight Willis’ economic blunders

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Today’s Official Cash Rate cut is good news for borrowers, but also a symptom of rising unemployment and an economy in recession.

    “Nicola Willis loves to take credit for the decisions of the Reserve Bank, which is an independent agency outside of her control, but if she wants to own the rate cuts then she needs to own what’s causing those cuts: rising unemployment and the worst recession in 30 years, excluding COVID-19,” Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “I welcome the Reserve Bank’s decision and hope that this provides some relief for Kiwis who are struggling under National’s recession, which the Bank cites as taking a sharp decline in mid-2024. The Bank’s rate cut is a direct response to the economic downturn that Luxon’s government’s decisions have caused. The economy is weak thanks to the government’s cancellation of infrastructure projects, leaving 13,000 construction workers out of a job.

    “New Zealanders are expressing their frustration by leaving Aotearoa New Zealand. The latest data shows a record number of people are leaving, with 128,700 departures last year.

    “If the government was serious about economic growth, it would take immediate action to stabilise the job market. That means investing in public services, infrastructure, and climate initiatives that create jobs, not axing funding for schools, hospitals, and public housing. It’s time for leadership that invests in jobs, skills, and the future, not cuts and excuses,” Barbara Edmonds said.


    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on FacebookInstagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientist talks about the current epidemic season

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    According to official data from Rospotrebnadzor, there is a slight increase in the incidence of respiratory viral infections in the Novosibirsk Region. At present, the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections is caused mainly by viruses of non-influenza etiology, with rhinoviruses predominating, which are usually not characterized by an acute course and serious complications, whereas last year the current coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus, which is most dangerous for children under one year of age and the elderly, prevailed. This virus causes diseases of the lower respiratory tract and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia.

    Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology spoke about other features of the current epidemic season Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU Sergey Netesov.

    — Compared to the same period last year, the incidence of influenza has surprisingly decreased significantly, at least until mid-February. If you look at the curves of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections in 2024 and 2025, it seems that the peak of influenza is several weeks late this year. The reasons for this are still unknown. There are different versions, including an abnormally warm winter. Another reason could be the increase in the number of people vaccinated against influenza in 2024 compared to 2023. The influenza vaccines used in the summer and fall of last year proved to be highly effective, as a result of which the incidence fell, but in the last two weeks it has been growing.

    In addition, in the current epidemiological season, the strains of influenza A viruses of the H3N2 subtype, which prevailed last season, have been replaced by strains of the H1N1 subtype. This is most likely due to the emergence of strong population immunity against viruses of the H3N2 subtype, which many people were vaccinated with and many had mild cases of last season. But the current epidemic season is not over yet (its maximum is usually recorded in February), so there is no need to relax until mid-March, and an increase in the incidence of influenza viruses has clearly emerged in the last two weeks, according to information from the website of the Research Institute of Influenza in St. Petersburg. Few people are currently sick with influenza B viruses, and they usually do not get seriously ill with them, and it does not cause serious complications in more or less healthy people. But older people should be careful for another month, wear masks in public places and avoid contact with young sick people and sick children.

    To protect yourself in the next 2025/26 ARVI season, everyone should get vaccinated against influenza in September-October 2025, because by that time new seasonal vaccines, updated according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be available.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Respiratory infections fall; expert cautions on risks

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The spread of acute respiratory infections, including influenza, has been trending downward in China, but the nation has not passed the seasonal epidemic and the start of a new school semester could amplify the infection risk, according to a health expert and official data.
    “The influenza virus remains the predominant pathogen in circulation and the nation is still in the middle of the flu epidemic season. Nonetheless, the intensity of the virus’ spread has subsided,” said Peng Zhibin, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at a news conference held on Monday by the National Health Commission.
    For the week starting on Feb 3, the positivity rate of flu climbed slightly by 1.2 percentage points from the previous week to reach 24.9 percent, and the positivity rates of respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and human parainfluenza virus all declined, according to the China CDC.
    Data also points to a continuing decline in the positivity rates of respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, as well as a persistent low level of adenovirus, coronavirus and other respiratory pathogens.
    Despite a fall in new infections, the China CDC noted that nursery care institutions and schools could face a heightened risk of infection clusters with the onset of the new semester.
    Peng, the China CDC researcher, emphasized that the nation is still in the grip of a seasonal epidemic and suggested that people who have not received a flu vaccine do so in order to reduce the risk of catching infections and prevent severe symptoms.
    With rising temperatures and the start of the spring semester, Peng said that campuses will be coping with the increased risk of infectious diseases common in spring such as norovirus infections, measles, hand-foot-mouth disease, chickenpox and meningitis.
    “These diseases typically spread through respiratory droplets or close contact,” she said.
    The researcher also advised students and school staff to receive vaccines for preventable diseases promptly in order to strengthen herd immunity.
    Meanwhile, it is important to ensure proper ventilation and maintain a clean indoor environment, she said.
    “When dealing with vomit or excrement from students infected with norovirus infections, it is recommended to apply chlorine-based disinfectants on the surface for at least 30 minutes before cleaning them up,” Peng said.
    “Early detection and handling of infection clusters on campus is of paramount importance,” she added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India – Qatar Joint Statement

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 18 FEB 2025 8:17PM by PIB Delhi

    At the invitation of Prime Minister of India His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025. HH the Amir was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, officials and business leaders. This was the second State Visit of HH the Amir to India.

    HH the Amir was received by Hon’ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on 18 February and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Hon’ble President also hosted a banquet reception in honour of HH the Amir and accompanying delegation.

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with HH the Amir at Hyderabad House on 18 February. Both leaders recalled the historic trade linkages, deep-rooted people-to-people ties and robust bilateral relations between both countries. They expressed the desire for further expanding and deepening of the multifaceted relationship between both countries. In this context, they expressed happiness on the signing of the ‘Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership’ between the two sides.

    In light of the newly established Strategic Partnership, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relations through regular and structured cooperation in all areas, including political, trade, investment, security, energy, culture, education, technology, innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties. In this regard, the two sides expressed happiness at the signing of the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and also agreed to expedite negotiations on the India-Qatar Bilateral Investment Treaty.

    The two sides noted with satisfaction that regular interactions at various levels have helped provide momentum to the multifaceted bilateral cooperation. They recalled the successful visit of HH the Amir to India in March 2015 and the visits of Prime Minister to Qatar in June 2016 and February 2024. The two sides agreed to continue the high-level exchanges through regular bilateral mechanisms at Ministerial and senior-official levels.

    The two sides noted that trade and commerce has been a strong pillar of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries and emphasized on the potential for further growth and diversification in bilateral trade. The two sides welcomed the elevation of the existing Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce into a Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce. The Joint Commission will be an institutional mechanism to review and monitor the entire spectrum of economic ties between the two countries and will be headed by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry on both sides.

    The two sides laid emphasis on strengthening collaborations between their business and industry bodies. In this context, they welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Joint Business Council on 13 February 2025.

    The two sides agreed on the need to explore strategies for enhanced and diversified trade between the two countries and address on priority market access issues related to trade in goods and services. In this regard, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both sides set the target to double bilateral trade by 2030.

    Qatar and India have a strong strategic relationship and given that the Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies, the Indian side welcomed the decision of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Joint Task Force on Investments during its first meeting in June 2024, where various avenues for investments in India were discussed.

    The Qatar side commended the steps taken by India in making a conducive environment for Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Institutional Investment and expressed interest to explore investment opportunities in different sectors, including infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, logistics, hospitality, and other areas of mutual interest. In this regard, the Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India. The Indian side also appreciated Qatar’s efforts in enhancing its investment environment and its initiatives to attract Foreign Direct Investment. India also recognized Qatar’s growing role as a regional hub for goods and services, leveraging its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly policies. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between investment authorities, financial institutions, and businesses to explore new opportunities for investment and trade expansion.

    The parties shall expand and deepen mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the two countries in accordance with their respective legislations and the provisions of international conventions to which they are parties. They shall cooperate in order to achieve stable growth and diversification of trade, increase the volume of exchanged products, and provide mutual services on a systematic and long-term basis. Additionally, they shall implement measures to attract and encourage the establishment of joint projects between the private sectors of both countries. In this regard, both sides welcomed convening of the Joint Business Forum inaugurated by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry of both countries on 18 February 2025.

    Recognizing the pivotal role of businesses in driving economic growth, both sides emphasized the importance of trade exhibitions as a strategic platform for promoting commercial partnerships, increasing and diversifying bilateral trade, and facilitating investments. In pursuit of these objectives, both sides will strengthen collaboration between their export promotion agencies to support enterprises in identifying opportunities, addressing market challenges, and increasing participation in international trade exhibitions. This initiative will enable businesses from both nations to showcase their products, explore joint ventures, and establish sustainable commercial ties.

    The two sides welcomed the operationalization of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in QNB’s Points of Sales in Qatar and looked forward to implement nation-wide roll-out of UPI acceptance in Qatar. They agreed to explore settlement of bilateral trade in respective currencies. QNB’s expansion is also welcomed in India through setting up of an office in GIFT City.

    The two sides shall work to further enhance bilateral energy cooperation, including through promotion of trade and mutual investments in energy infrastructure and regular meetings of the relevant stakeholders from both sides, including the Joint Task Force on Energy.

    The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism and agreed to cooperate in combating this menace through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They agreed to enhance cooperation in information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking, Cybercrime and other transnational crimes. The two leaders also discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation and for disturbing social harmony. They emphasized the importance of holding regular meetings of the Joint Committee on Security and Law Enforcement.

    The two sides acknowledged health cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral ties and expressed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in this important sector. The two sides appreciated the bilateral cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic including through the Joint Working Group on Health. The Indian side expressed interest in enhancing exports of Indian pharmaceutical products and medical devices to Qatar. Both sides also expressed their desire to facilitate the registration of national companies and pharmaceutical products.

    The two sides expressed interest in pursuing deeper collaboration in technology and innovation, including emerging technologies, startups, and Artificial Intelligence. They discussed avenues for furthering e-Governance and sharing best practices in the digital sector. Both sides welcomed the participation of Indian startups in Web Summits in Doha, Qatar in 2024-25.

    The importance of food security and protection of supply chains was emphasized by the two sides and they agreed to further strengthen cooperation in this field.

    The two sides stressed the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation through exchanging participation in cultural events and supporting effective partnerships between cultural institutions in both countries. They also decided to further strengthen cooperation in the area of sports including mutual exchange and visits of sportsmen, organising workshops, seminars and conferences, exchange of sports publications between both nations. In this regard, the two sides welcomed the decision to celebrate India-Qatar Year of Culture, Friendship and Sports in the near future.

    The two sides highlighted that education is an important area of cooperation including strengthening institutional linkages and exchanges between higher educational institutions of both countries. They also emphasized on enhanced interactions among educational institutions, including through academic exchanges, joint research, students and scholar exchanges, and University-to-University cooperation of both countries.

    The two sides acknowledged that the centuries old people-to-people ties represent a fundamental pillar of the historic India-Qatar relationship. The Qatari leadership expressed deep appreciation for the role and contribution made by the Indian community in Qatar for the progress and development of their host country, noting that Indian citizens in Qatar are highly respected for their peaceful and hard-working nature. The Indian side conveyed deep appreciation to the leadership of Qatar for ensuring the welfare and well-being of this large and vibrant Indian community in Qatar. The Qatar side welcomed extension of e-visa facility by India to Qatari nationals.

    The two sides stressed upon the depth and importance of long standing and historical cooperation in the field of manpower mobility and human resources. The two sides agreed to hold regular meetings of the Joint Working Group on Labour and Employment to address issues related to expatriates, manpower mobility, dignity, safety and welfare of workers and matters of mutual interest.

    The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the security situation in the Middle East. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of international disputes. The two sides also appreciated the excellent coordination between the two sides in the UN and other multilateral fora.

    The Indian side thanked the Qatari side for its support to the growing India-GCC cooperation and for facilitating the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on 9 September 2024 under Qatar’s Chairmanship. The two sides welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. Qatar side assured full support for deepening of the India-GCC cooperation under the recently adopted Joint Action Plan.

    In the context of UN reforms, both leaders emphasized the importance of a reformed and effective multilateral system, centered on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for UN reforms, including of the Security Council. Both sides stressed the importance of addressing shared global challenges through coordinated efforts within the framework of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, and programs, as well as through technical cooperation to advance the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both sides agreed to engage in close cooperation and support each other at the United Nations including supporting each other’s candidatures to multilateral forums.

    The following documents were signed/exchanged during the visit, which will further deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation:

    · Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership

    · Revised Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and its Protocol

    · MoU between Ministry of Finance, India and Ministry of Finance, Qatar on Financial and Economic Collaboration

    · MoU on Cooperation in Field of Youth and Sports

    · MOU for Cooperation in the field of Documents and Archives

    · MoU between Invest India and Invest Qatar

    · MoU between Confederation of Indian Industry and Qatari Businessmen Association

    HH the Amir thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. The visit reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Qatar. The leaders expressed optimism that this renewed partnership would continue to grow, benefiting the people of both countries and contributing to regional and global stability.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2104490) Visitor Counter : 138

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India – Qatar Joint Statement (February 18, 2025)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 18 FEB 2025 8:17PM by PIB Delhi

    At the invitation of Prime Minister of India His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani paid a State Visit to India on 17-18 February 2025. HH the Amir was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, officials and business leaders. This was the second State Visit of HH the Amir to India.

    HH the Amir was received by Hon’ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on 18 February and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Hon’ble President also hosted a banquet reception in honour of HH the Amir and accompanying delegation.

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with HH the Amir at Hyderabad House on 18 February. Both leaders recalled the historic trade linkages, deep-rooted people-to-people ties and robust bilateral relations between both countries. They expressed the desire for further expanding and deepening of the multifaceted relationship between both countries. In this context, they expressed happiness on the signing of the ‘Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership’ between the two sides.

    In light of the newly established Strategic Partnership, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relations through regular and structured cooperation in all areas, including political, trade, investment, security, energy, culture, education, technology, innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties. In this regard, the two sides expressed happiness at the signing of the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and also agreed to expedite negotiations on the India-Qatar Bilateral Investment Treaty.

    The two sides noted with satisfaction that regular interactions at various levels have helped provide momentum to the multifaceted bilateral cooperation. They recalled the successful visit of HH the Amir to India in March 2015 and the visits of Prime Minister to Qatar in June 2016 and February 2024. The two sides agreed to continue the high-level exchanges through regular bilateral mechanisms at Ministerial and senior-official levels.

    The two sides noted that trade and commerce has been a strong pillar of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries and emphasized on the potential for further growth and diversification in bilateral trade. The two sides welcomed the elevation of the existing Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce into a Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce. The Joint Commission will be an institutional mechanism to review and monitor the entire spectrum of economic ties between the two countries and will be headed by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry on both sides.

    The two sides laid emphasis on strengthening collaborations between their business and industry bodies. In this context, they welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Joint Business Council on 13 February 2025.

    The two sides agreed on the need to explore strategies for enhanced and diversified trade between the two countries and address on priority market access issues related to trade in goods and services. In this regard, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Both sides set the target to double bilateral trade by 2030.

    Qatar and India have a strong strategic relationship and given that the Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies, the Indian side welcomed the decision of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Joint Task Force on Investments during its first meeting in June 2024, where various avenues for investments in India were discussed.

    The Qatar side commended the steps taken by India in making a conducive environment for Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Institutional Investment and expressed interest to explore investment opportunities in different sectors, including infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, logistics, hospitality, and other areas of mutual interest. In this regard, the Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India. The Indian side also appreciated Qatar’s efforts in enhancing its investment environment and its initiatives to attract Foreign Direct Investment. India also recognized Qatar’s growing role as a regional hub for goods and services, leveraging its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and business-friendly policies. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between investment authorities, financial institutions, and businesses to explore new opportunities for investment and trade expansion.

    The parties shall expand and deepen mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the two countries in accordance with their respective legislations and the provisions of international conventions to which they are parties. They shall cooperate in order to achieve stable growth and diversification of trade, increase the volume of exchanged products, and provide mutual services on a systematic and long-term basis. Additionally, they shall implement measures to attract and encourage the establishment of joint projects between the private sectors of both countries. In this regard, both sides welcomed convening of the Joint Business Forum inaugurated by the Ministers of Commerce and Industry of both countries on 18 February 2025.

    Recognizing the pivotal role of businesses in driving economic growth, both sides emphasized the importance of trade exhibitions as a strategic platform for promoting commercial partnerships, increasing and diversifying bilateral trade, and facilitating investments. In pursuit of these objectives, both sides will strengthen collaboration between their export promotion agencies to support enterprises in identifying opportunities, addressing market challenges, and increasing participation in international trade exhibitions. This initiative will enable businesses from both nations to showcase their products, explore joint ventures, and establish sustainable commercial ties.

    The two sides welcomed the operationalization of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in QNB’s Points of Sales in Qatar and looked forward to implement nation-wide roll-out of UPI acceptance in Qatar. They agreed to explore settlement of bilateral trade in respective currencies. QNB’s expansion is also welcomed in India through setting up of an office in GIFT City.

    The two sides shall work to further enhance bilateral energy cooperation, including through promotion of trade and mutual investments in energy infrastructure and regular meetings of the relevant stakeholders from both sides, including the Joint Task Force on Energy.

    The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism and agreed to cooperate in combating this menace through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They agreed to enhance cooperation in information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking, Cybercrime and other transnational crimes. The two leaders also discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation and for disturbing social harmony. They emphasized the importance of holding regular meetings of the Joint Committee on Security and Law Enforcement.

    The two sides acknowledged health cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral ties and expressed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in this important sector. The two sides appreciated the bilateral cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic including through the Joint Working Group on Health. The Indian side expressed interest in enhancing exports of Indian pharmaceutical products and medical devices to Qatar. Both sides also expressed their desire to facilitate the registration of national companies and pharmaceutical products.

    The two sides expressed interest in pursuing deeper collaboration in technology and innovation, including emerging technologies, startups, and Artificial Intelligence. They discussed avenues for furthering e-Governance and sharing best practices in the digital sector. Both sides welcomed the participation of Indian startups in Web Summits in Doha, Qatar in 2024-25.

    The importance of food security and protection of supply chains was emphasized by the two sides and they agreed to further strengthen cooperation in this field.

    The two sides stressed the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation through exchanging participation in cultural events and supporting effective partnerships between cultural institutions in both countries. They also decided to further strengthen cooperation in the area of sports including mutual exchange and visits of sportsmen, organising workshops, seminars and conferences, exchange of sports publications between both nations. In this regard, the two sides welcomed the decision to celebrate India-Qatar Year of Culture, Friendship and Sports in the near future.

    The two sides highlighted that education is an important area of cooperation including strengthening institutional linkages and exchanges between higher educational institutions of both countries. They also emphasized on enhanced interactions among educational institutions, including through academic exchanges, joint research, students and scholar exchanges, and University-to-University cooperation of both countries.

    The two sides acknowledged that the centuries old people-to-people ties represent a fundamental pillar of the historic India-Qatar relationship. The Qatari leadership expressed deep appreciation for the role and contribution made by the Indian community in Qatar for the progress and development of their host country, noting that Indian citizens in Qatar are highly respected for their peaceful and hard-working nature. The Indian side conveyed deep appreciation to the leadership of Qatar for ensuring the welfare and well-being of this large and vibrant Indian community in Qatar. The Qatar side welcomed extension of e-visa facility by India to Qatari nationals.

    The two sides stressed upon the depth and importance of long standing and historical cooperation in the field of manpower mobility and human resources. The two sides agreed to hold regular meetings of the Joint Working Group on Labour and Employment to address issues related to expatriates, manpower mobility, dignity, safety and welfare of workers and matters of mutual interest.

    The two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the security situation in the Middle East. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful resolution of international disputes. The two sides also appreciated the excellent coordination between the two sides in the UN and other multilateral fora.

    The Indian side thanked the Qatari side for its support to the growing India-GCC cooperation and for facilitating the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on 9 September 2024 under Qatar’s Chairmanship. The two sides welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. Qatar side assured full support for deepening of the India-GCC cooperation under the recently adopted Joint Action Plan.

    In the context of UN reforms, both leaders emphasized the importance of a reformed and effective multilateral system, centered on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for UN reforms, including of the Security Council. Both sides stressed the importance of addressing shared global challenges through coordinated efforts within the framework of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, and programs, as well as through technical cooperation to advance the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Both sides agreed to engage in close cooperation and support each other at the United Nations including supporting each other’s candidatures to multilateral forums.

    The following documents were signed/exchanged during the visit, which will further deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation:

    · Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral Strategic Partnership

    · Revised Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and its Protocol

    · MoU between Ministry of Finance, India and Ministry of Finance, Qatar on Financial and Economic Collaboration

    · MoU on Cooperation in Field of Youth and Sports

    · MOU for Cooperation in the field of Documents and Archives

    · MoU between Invest India and Invest Qatar

    · MoU between Confederation of Indian Industry and Qatari Businessmen Association

    HH the Amir thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. The visit reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Qatar. The leaders expressed optimism that this renewed partnership would continue to grow, benefiting the people of both countries and contributing to regional and global stability.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2104490) Visitor Counter : 22

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Message to UConn Faculty and Staff

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dear Colleagues,

    As you know, along with other senior leaders, we regularly engage with the University Senate, USG, union representatives, the Deans Council, associate deans, department heads, directors of centers and institutes, and students to talk about challenges and opportunities for our university. But we can always do more to enhance our communication efforts and ensure that everyone feels heard and valued.

    We believe that effective communication and transparency are crucial for supporting trust and sustaining positive relationships and growth at UConn and UConn Health. To that end, we would like to offer the broader UConn community more opportunities to have access to senior administrators so that faculty, students, and staff can ask questions and share their ideas on challenges and aspirational goals.

    That is especially true now. Between new and sometimes rapidly changing policies and directives from the federal government to looming potential budget difficulties here at the university to the legislative session and appropriations process that is beginning at the state capitol, we are in the midst of a fraught and complicated moment on multiple levels.

    First: Together, we are going to get through all of it. We are certainly no strangers to facing challenges. As events unfold, we will deal with them — meeting the moment, coming together as a community, and being responsive while always staying true to our values.

    We will remain optimistic about the future despite the challenges of the present because we will persevere and adhere to our mission to educate the next generation of leaders across multiple fields; create educational access and opportunity for all; conduct innovative and impactful research; and engage Connecticut’s communities in the service of improving the world around us.

    As we continue to work to navigate the issues we face, we want to make sure we share relevant information with our community but also connect with and hear from you in multiple venues, both formal and informal.

    We have used the stakeholder discussions noted above as opportunities to assess our current circumstances and focus on solutions-based paths forward. Similar discussions are happening at the school, college, and department levels through the regular cadence of unit meetings as well as through smaller in-person gatherings.

    Like many leaders, we’re not only talking to one another, but are in constant contact with colleagues at institutions around the nation, our contacts at funding agencies, state leaders, and members of our Congressional delegation.

    The mood and tone of these discussions, beyond information sharing, is steady determination. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are in it for the long haul. Our collective goal is to support and protect higher education across the United States – making sure that we maintain the considerable strengths of this precious national resource while innovating into the future.

    With respect to internal communication, in addition to written messages and web content, we will resume a practice that we first began during the Covid pandemic: Beginning soon, we and other senior leaders at UConn and UConn Health will hold bi-weekly check-ins over Teams with the campus community, where we will share information and answer questions that can be submitted in advance or during the meeting itself.

    We will share the date and time of the first meeting once it has been scheduled. In the meantime, please e-mail questions to which you would like answers (to the extent there are answers) to Communications@UConn.edu with the subject line: “Questions for leadership.”

    In addition, we also want to make ourselves available at the local level through smaller group discussions during academic departmental meetings. If you would like to invite us to attend a regularly scheduled meeting of your department, please e-mail President@UConn.edu with the subject line: “Invite to department meeting.”

    We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge what is so abundantly clear: that many members of our community, including particularly vulnerable populations, are feeling everything from deep concern to outright worry. Please know that we and your university are here for you and support you. As we have said many times, we know what our values are and they are not going to change.

    We plan to send a message similar to this to our students.

    We don’t pretend to have all the answers or the perfect prescription to address each of the challenges we face, but we are going to do all we can in partnership with you to move forward.

    All the best,

    President Radenka Maric

    Provost Anne D’Alleva

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises Announces Date for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), America’s leading innovator in designing, manufacturing, and providing zinc-based long duration energy storage systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, today announced it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results after the U.S. market closes on March 4, 2025. A conference call to discuss its results will take place the following morning on March 5 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Eos is now partnering with Say Technologies to allow retail and institutional shareholders to submit and vote on questions ahead of the earnings call. A selection of key questions applicable to the broad investor base will be addressed live during the call, offering shareholders an opportunity to engage with Eos management.

    Starting on February 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. ET, registered shareholders will be able to submit questions via the Say Technologies Q&A Platform, which will remain open until 8:00 a.m. ET on March 3, 2025. For any support inquiries shareholders may email support@saytechnologies.com.

    Registration Information

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

    The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Eos’ investor relations website for twelve months following the live presentation. The webcast replay will be available from approximately 11:30 a.m. ET on March 5, 2025, and can be accessed by visiting Eos Investors

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

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

    Forward Looking Statements

    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our path to profitability and strategic outlook, statements regarding our capital needs to support project AMAZE, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the delayed draw term loan with Cerberus, and statements that refer to outlook, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.

    Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to forecast trends accurately; our ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; our ability to achieve the operational milestones on the delayed draw term loan; our ability to raise financing in the future, including the discretionary revolving facility from Cerberus; risks associated with the credit agreement with Cerberus, including risks of default, dilution of outstanding Common Stock, consequences for failure to meet milestones and contractual lockup of shares; our customers’ ability to secure project financing; the amount of final tax credits available to our customers or to Eos pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act; uncertainties around our ability to meet the applicable conditions precedent to funding under the DOE loan; our ability to continue to develop efficient manufacturing processes to scale and to forecast related costs and efficiencies accurately; fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; competition from existing or new competitors; our ability to convert firm order backlog and pipeline to revenue; risks associated with security breaches in our information technology systems; risks related to legal proceedings or claims; risks associated with evolving energy policies in the United States and other countries and the potential costs of regulatory compliance; risks associated with changes to the U.S. trade environment; risks resulting from the impact of global pandemics, including the novel coronavirus, Covid-19; our ability to maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on NASDAQ; our ability to grow our business and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain our management and key employees; risks related to the adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and increased interest rates; risk from supply chain disruptions and other impacts of geopolitical conflict; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Eos may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; other factors beyond our control; risks related to adverse changes in general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergey Netesov: “You have to root for the positive”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    At the popular science marathon “Darwin Week”, a doctor of biological sciences, professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the laboratory of bionanotechnology, microbiology and virology spoke with a report “Evolution of a set of respiratory infections” Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU Sergey Netesov.

    Evolution of the virus

    In Russia, doctors register 28 to 33 million cases of acute respiratory infections every year, but these are official statistics. When seeing a patient, the doctor fills out a statistical form, which is sent for processing to the health authorities, where statistical data is collected. However, not everyone comes to see a therapist, especially if the disease is mild, preferring to endure it “on their feet” or use home remedies to fight the infection. Such patients are not included in these statistics. Therefore, experts assume that the actual number of cases exceeds the official data at least twice.

    Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are caused by viruses, bacteria, mycobacteria and mycoplasma. In addition, most likely not all pathogens of ARI in humans have been discovered yet.

    Previously, doctors officially diagnosed ARVI without specifying the pathogen and specifically – influenza viruses, and even then the diagnosis was made by the doctor, guided only by the symptoms observed in the patient, and the laboratory diagnostic methods that existed before the 2000s were lengthy, inaccurate and insensitive. More or less reliable test systems for diagnosing influenza viruses based on the polymerase chain reaction PCR method appeared only in the late 90s, and for diagnosing other pathogens – only in the last 5-10 years. The data from a study of the causes of ARVI using the example of one of the counties of the state of Michigan (USA), published in 2002, surprised epidemiologists: influenza was not in the leading positions – its share was only 9%, while ordinary coronaviruses – 14%, rhinovirus – 34%. Unknown infections then accounted for 23%. Later, metapneumoviruses were identified, and their share in the structure of pathogens was about 10% in the category that was previously designated as “unknown infections.” Common coronaviruses, as a rule, have “overtaken” the flu in the share of infected people in the last 20-30 years, but did not pose a serious danger in the form of fatalities – until SARS-CoV-2 appeared, which took millions of lives around the world. At the initial stage of the pandemic, it posed a very serious danger with a mortality rate of up to 6%, but over time, due to the evolution into much less pathogenic variants, it almost equaled the mortality rate of the common flu – 0.1 – 0.2%.

    — The high mortality rate from the new coronavirus infection was due to vascular thrombosis, which was classified as a circulatory disease at the initial stages of the pandemic, and a cytokine storm — an overly aggressive immune response of the body to a viral infection. It manifests itself in different ways, depending on the chronic diseases of the infected person — in the form of circulatory diseases, pneumonia, complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and sometimes — digestive organs. In the first six months of the pandemic, there were no reliable diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 markers. Partly due to this, some cases of death from the new coronavirus infection were attributed to serious chronic diseases that the deceased patients suffered from – diseases of the circulatory system, respiratory system, endocrine system, etc. In addition, unlike most respiratory diseases, people died from the new coronavirus not during the first two weeks of the disease, but within a month or two, so it was believed that the patient’s death was the result of complications rather than an acute viral disease, explained Sergei Netesov.

    Over the past few years, the deadly coronavirus has evolved towards changing its antigenic properties and reducing pathogenicity, and is no longer as dangerous in terms of mortality as before. Large-scale vaccination of the population, as well as the immunity formed in those who have recovered, have also had an effect, but in terms of morbidity, this virus still sometimes outpaces the combined influenza viruses A and B, and mortality from it has not been reduced to zero. Last fall, 20-30 people died from Covid every week in Russia. These were mainly elderly people with serious chronic diseases.

    Currently, another pathogen of ARVI, the respiratory syncytial virus, is no less dangerous in terms of severe progression and mortality. In certain periods of the 2023-2024 season, its share in the causes of the overall incidence of ARVI was 40%. Scientists and doctors have long found out that it is one of the main causes of severe pneumonia in children and the elderly. Since last year, trials of vaccines against this virus have begun in the European Union and the United States.

    In the winter of 2024, rhinovirus was the leading cause of acute respiratory viral infections in Russia. It has unpleasant symptoms because it causes inflammation of the nasal sinuses, but does not pose a danger to humans.

    — Only in rare cases is the cause of ARI or ARVI only one pathogen, more often two or three. It often happens that the same patient has one or two ARI pathogens — viral and one — bacterial. In this case, the picture of the disease becomes complex. Viral infections, as a rule, prepare the ground for infection with pathogenic bacteria, — said Sergey Netesov.

    Reliable protection

    To reduce the risk of severe respiratory viral infections, it is necessary to get vaccinated in a timely manner, and it is advisable for people at increased risk of severe acute respiratory infections to wear medical masks in public places. Sergei Netesov also spoke about the influenza vaccines used in Russia. According to him, it is necessary to choose, if possible, four-component drugs with a share of 15 micrograms of antigens of each subtype of the virus. At the same time, the probability of severe disease is reduced by about 20-30 times. And for unvaccinated people, increased risks of severe acute respiratory infections remain for people with impaired immune systems, diabetics and representatives of other risk groups.

    In favor of the effectiveness of masks, Sergei Netesov noted that the mask will not hold a single viral particle, because the size of its pores is too large for this. But viruses in the form of single particles do not fly through the air. They move on microdroplets of fluids in our bodies, released from the body when talking, singing, coughing or sneezing. But these drops have a larger diameter and do not pass through the pores of the mask. And even the most primitive mask holds about 75-80% of such particles, of course, if you cover both your mouth and nose with it. And for infection, the size of the pathogen dose that a person receives is very important. Reducing this dose often leads to zeroing out the infection or getting a very small dose – then the disease does not develop quickly, and the body copes with it much easier.

    The flu virus is constantly evolving, and this process is aimed at an important goal for it – to “break through” the previous immunity and infect as many carriers – susceptible people – as possible.

    In early 2024, several publications were published in the United States stating that cow milk yields in some regions of the country had begun to decline; later, veterinarians identified the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza in them. The influenza virus of this subtype was first isolated not only from birds, but also from some sick people in 1997 in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. The virus also affected people, with a very high mortality rate. The reason was soon revealed: in most cases, it was a rare mutation characteristic of the inhabitants of these countries, in which one of the receptors in their lungs turned out to be similar to a similar receptor in birds. This feature is not typical for residents of other countries. And so in 2024, the virus spread not only among birds, but acquired new mutations and “switched” to cattle and more. Several dead cats that had previously drunk cow’s milk were found near the barns with sick cows. The cause of their death, like the illness of the cows on the farm, was the avian influenza virus. And although humans and animals do not have many common infections, this virus has become one of them. It turned out that at the end of 2023, the virus acquired mutations that allowed it to move from birds to cattle. From the beginning of 2024 to February 2025, 68 cases of infection of dairy and poultry workers were noted worldwide. It seems that this flu virus has not yet spread widely, but careful monitoring of its evolution is necessary.

    Race for survival

    Scientists believe that the more common this subtype of the virus becomes, the more likely it is to acquire a combination of mutations that will increase the risk of infection in humans. On the other hand, this subtype of flu has been circulating in various bird species and causing rare sporadic infections in humans for more than two decades, but so far there has been no pandemic. This is one of those cases where a pandemic could start next week or never.

    — Not only pathogens of viral diseases evolve, but also our immune system. It is a kind of race. Therefore, it is necessary to study not only pathogens, but also the parameters of our immunity. Increase the number and effectiveness of vaccines, increase the volume of vaccination. This really improves the quality of life of the population and increases its duration. At the same time, long-term monitoring studies are needed to study the occurrence of pathogens, their molecular genetic diversity and molecular evolution, including drug resistance. Russia has the necessary instrumental and material-reactive bases, including its own high-tech production of many (but not all) modern vaccines and diagnostics. But their wider implementation in practice is required. It is also necessary to develop new vaccines against a number of viral and bacterial pathogens. Unfortunately, so far the diagnostic algorithms in our compulsory insurance medicine have been worked out to a minimum — primarily due to underfunding. But it is possible to distinguish a bacterial infection from a viral one using a very simple test for the content of procalcitonin and some other markers in the blood, said Sergei Netesov.

    The scientist also noted that when fighting a viral disease, regardless of what virus caused it, the patient’s psychological state and the support of loved ones are also important. It is important to be sick in a good mood, then recovery will be faster.

    — You should always be positive when you are sick! A person with a bad emotional background is objectively sicker. You need to look to the future with confidence and optimism and tell your body: “Get well.” The human body is a very complex unified system, where all components influence each other. In this case, you need to establish positive feedback between the body and the brain, try to create a good mood for yourself and, of course, follow all the doctor’s recommendations, — said Sergey Netesov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister launches Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs in Mumbai today

    Source: Government of India

    Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister launches Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs in Mumbai today

    Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman also inaugurates first ‘Sachal Aaykar Seva Kendra’ virtually

    FM Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addresses and interacts with stakeholders in a post-budget meeting in Mumbai

    Increased capex, focus on reducing fiscal deficit and boosting consumption, saving and investment by the citizens: Union Finance Minister

    Posted On: 17 FEB 2025 5:56PM by PIB Mumbai

    : Mumbai, February 17, 2025

    Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (MCGS – MSME) for facilitating loans upto Rs. 100 crore to MSMEs for purchase of machinery or equipment without collateral, in pursuance of the Union Budget 2024-25 announcement, at the post-budget stakeholders’ interaction in Mumbai, today.

    The Union Minister also virtually inaugurated the first ‘Sachal Aaykar Seva Kendra’ at Mumbai, to be operational in Navy Nagar Colaba from 18th and 19th February, 2025, and is designed to facilitate access to digital services, provide assistance for grievance redressal and to promote tax awareness.

    At the same function, Smt. Sitharaman also handed over ceremonial keys to the home owners benefitted by the SWAMIH Investment Fund of SBI Ventures Ltd. Union MoS (Finance) Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Secretary (Finance) Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary (DEA) Shri Ajay Seth, Secretary (Dept. of Expenditure) Dr. Manoj Govil, Secretary (Dept. of Financial Services) Shri M. Nagaraju, Secretary (DIPAM) Shri Arunish Chawla, CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agrawal and CBIC Chairman Shri Sanjay Kr. Agarwal were also present on the occasion.

    In her keynote address, Smt. Sitharaman stated that Government continues its post-COVID capital and asset-building strategy, with increased allocations for capital expenditure to drive infrastructure development. The Finance Minister outlined the major takeaways from the Budget 2025-26, emphasizing economic growth, responsible fiscal management, and key structural reforms aimed at realising the vision of Viksit Bharat.

    Increased Capital Expenditure

    Government’s emphasis post Covid for public expenditure in asset building continues and hence, capex is 10.2 percent more in Budget 2025-26 than last budget (Vote-on-account 2024-25).  The capex budget has been significantly increased and stands at around Rs. 16 lakh crore, stated the Finance Minister.

    Boost to R& D and STEM

    Highlighting the importance of research and development, the Finance Minister noted that significant steps have been taken to support R&D, especially in STEM fields, with private sector participation being encouraged. She also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms in manufacturing, Ease of Doing Business (EODB), and social infrastructure to strengthen economic foundations.

    Focus on Fiscal Consolidation, Reduction of Fiscal Deficit 

    The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to fiscal consolidation, with a clear roadmap to bring the fiscal deficit below 4.5%. Borrowings are focused on capital asset creation, ensuring sustainable economic growth. She assured, “We are on track to bring the Debt-to-GDP ratio down to 50% by FY 2030-31. This reflects our disciplined approach towards financial stability without compromising on education, healthcare, or infrastructure investments.”

    Boosting Consumption, Saving and Investment by the citizens

    “This Budget focuses on boosting consumption while ensuring economic momentum. By providing tax concessions, we are enabling taxpayers to spend, save and invest, giving them the freedom to make financial decisions that best suit their needs.”

    New I-T Act

    The Income Tax Act, 1961, is set to be replaced by the new law which is currently under review by the Select Committee. With 60,000 inputs received, it is one of the most comprehensive tax reform exercises undertaken and reflects the spirit of Jan-bhagidaari. The new law will reduce complexity by consolidating provisions, reducing the number of sections from 800 to 500, and simplifying language for better interpretation. “FAQs The Finance Minister praised the CBDT for completing this monumental task within six months, stating, “This is a landmark effort towards simplification and transparency in taxation. Our aim is to make compliance easier and more efficient for every taxpayer.”

    Opening up newer sectors for investments – Space, Energy, Nuclear Energy, Critical Minerals

    Newer sectors such as space and nuclear energy have been opened up for investments, ensuring global competitiveness and technological advancement. Stressing the importance of energy security, she remarked, “With the rise in data centers and industrial expansion, our energy sector must scale accordingly”, stated the Finance Minister. The MSME Loan Guarantee scheme now extends to critical minerals, with the Government signing MoUs with multiple countries for import of important critical minerals. Additionally, full exemption of Customs Duties on 25 Critical Minerals have been announced in the union budget. This will benefit sectors like space, defence, telecommunications, high-tech electronics, nuclear energy and renewable energy, where these rare earth minerals are critical.

    Education and Health

    Education and health remain key priorities, with more universities being considered for student loan support to enhance accessibility to higher education. The insurance sector has been opened up with necessary safeguards, ensuring broader participation while maintaining financial security. Union Budget 2025 increased the sectoral cap of insurance sector to 100% from 74%.

    PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana for better agricultural productivity

    Addressing food security, the Finance Minister highlighted the introduction of PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which aims to improve agricultural productivity across 100 districts known for low agricultural output. This programme will help 1.7 crore farmers to enhance agricultural productivity, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate long-term and short-term credit “Strengthening food security in rural India is paramount, and this initiative will uplift our farmers and boost productivity where it is needed most,” she said.

    The interaction with stakeholders was followed by a press conference, the proceedings of which may be accessed here. 

     

    Rabee/ Sriyanka /Dhanalaxmi/PM

    Follow us on social media:  @PIBMumbai     /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2104140) Visitor Counter : 81

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Global: YouTube at 20: how it transformed viewing in eight steps

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Connock, Senior Fellow, Said Business School, University of Oxford

    Chay Tee

    The world’s biggest video sharing platform, YouTube, has just turned 20.

    It was started inauspiciously in February 2005 by former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim – with a 19-second video of Karim exploring San Diego Zoo.

    That year, YouTube’s disruption of the media timeline was minimal enough for there to be no mention of it in The Guardian’s coverage of TV’s Digital Revolution at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

    Twenty years on, it’s a different story.

    YouTube is a massive competitor to TV, an engagement beast, uploading as much new video every five minutes as the 2,400 hours BBC Studios produces in a whole year. The 26-year-old YouTube star Mr Beast earned US$85 million (£67 million) in 2024 from videos – ranging from live Call of Duty play-alongs to handing out 1,000 free cataract operations.

    As a business, YouTube is now worth some US$455 billion (2024 Bloomberg estimate). That is a spectacular 275 times return on the US$1.65 billion Google paid for it in 2006. For the current YouTube value, Google could today buy British broadcaster ITV about 127 times.

    YouTube has similar gross revenue (US$36.1 billion in 2024) to the streaming giant Netflix – but without the financial inconvenience of making shows, since most of the content is uploaded for free.

    YouTube’s first video: a 19-second look at the elephants of San Diego Zoo.

    YouTube has 2.7 billion monthly active users, or 40% of the entire global population outside China, where it is blocked. It is also now one of the biggest music streaming sites, and the second biggest social network (to Facebook), plus a paid broadcast channel for 100 million subscribers.

    YouTube has built a video Library of Babel, its expansive shelves lined eclectically with Baby Shark Dance, how to fix septic tanks, who would win a shooting war between Britain and France … and quantum physics.

    The site has taken over global children’s programming to the point where Wired magazine pointed out that the future of this genre actually “isn’t television”. But there are flaws, too: it has been described as a conduit for disinformation by fact checkers.

    So how did all that happen? Eight key innovations have helped YouTube achieve its success.

    1. How new creativity is paid for

    Traditional broadcast and print uses either the risk-on, fixed cost of hiring an office full of staff producers and writers, or the variable but risky approach of one-off commissioning from freelancers. Either way, the channel goes out of pocket, and if the content fails to score with viewers, it loses money.

    YouTube did away with all that, flipping the risk profile entirely to the creator, and not paying upfront at all. It doesn’t have to deal with the key talent going out clubbing all night and being late to the set, not to mention other boring aspects of production like insurance, cash flow or contracts.

    2. The revenue model of media

    YouTube innovated by dividing any earnings with the creator, via an advertising income split of roughly 50% (the exact amount varies in practice). This incentivises creators to study the science of engagement, since it makes them more money. Mr Beast has a team employed just to optimise the thumbnails for his videos.

    3. Advertising

    Alongside parent company Google/Alphabet, and especially with the introduction (March 2007) of YouTube Analytics and other technologies, the site adrenalised programmatic video advertising, where ad space around a particular viewer is digitally auctioned off to the highest buyer, in real time.

    That means when you land on a high-rating Beyoncé video and see a pre-roll ad for Grammarly, the advertiser algorithmically liked the look of your profile, so bid money to show you the ad. When that system works, it is ultra efficient, the key reason why the broad, demographics-based broadcast TV advertising market is so challenged.

    4. Who makes content

    About 50 million people now think they are professional creators, many of them on YouTube. Influencers have used the site to build businesses without mediation from (usually white and male) executives in legacy media.

    This has driven, at its best, a major move towards the democratisation and globalisation of content production. Brazil and Kenya both have huge, eponymous YouTube creator economies, giving global distribution to diverse voices that realistically would been disintermediated in the 20th century media ecology.

    5. The way we tell stories

    Traditional TV ads and films start slow and build to a climax. Not so YouTube videos – and even more, YouTube Shorts – which prioritise a big emotive hit in the first few seconds for engagement, and regular further hits to keep people there. Mr Beast’s leaked internal notes describe how to do sequential escalation, meaning moving to more elaborate or extreme details as a video goes on: “An example of a one thru three minute tactic we would use is crazy progression,” he says, reflecting his deep homework. “I spent basically five years of my life studying virality on YouTube.”

    6. Copyright

    Back in 2015, if someone stole your intellectual property – say, old episodes of Mr Bean – and re-broadcast it on their own channel, you would call a media lawyer and sue. Now there is a better option – Content ID – to take the money instead. Through digital rights monetisation (DRM), owners can algorithmically discover their own content and claim the ad revenue, a material new income stream for producers.

    7. Video technicalities

    Most technical innovations in video production have found their way to the mainstream via YouTube, such as 360-degree, 4k, VR (virtual reality) and other tech acronyms. And now YouTube has started to integrate generative AI into its programme-producing suite for creators, with tight integration of Google’s Veo tools.

    These will offer, according to CEO Neal Mohan, “billions of people around the world access to AI”. This is another competitive threat to traditional producers, because bedroom creators can now make their own visual effects-heavy fan-fiction episodes of Star Wars.

    8. News

    YouTube became a rabbit hole of disinformation, misinformation and conspiracy, via a reinforcement-learning algorithm that prioritises view time but not editorial accuracy. Covid conspiracy fans got to see “5G health risk” or “chemtrail” videos, because the algorithm knew they might like them too.

    How can the big, legacy media brands respond? Simple. By meeting the audience where the viewers are, and putting their content on YouTube. The BBC has 14.7 million YouTube subscribers. ITV is exploiting its catalogue to put old episodes of Thunderbirds on there. Meanwhile in February 2025, Channel 4 also announced success in reaching young viewers via YouTube. Full episode views were “up 169% year-on-year, surpassing 110 million organic views in the UK”.

    Alex Connock has worked or consulted for BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Meta.

    ref. YouTube at 20: how it transformed viewing in eight steps – https://theconversation.com/youtube-at-20-how-it-transformed-viewing-in-eight-steps-250083

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces Ten Recipients of Governor’s Educator Discovery Award

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces Ten Recipients of Governor’s Educator Discovery Award

    Governor Stein Announces Ten Recipients of Governor’s Educator Discovery Award
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) announced that ten teachers across the state would be awarded the Governor’s Educator Discovery Award. 

    “Our students benefit when their teachers prioritize their own continued education,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am proud to award these professional development grants to teachers who are striving for excellence, and I am excited to hear how they leverage this additional education in the classroom.”

    The Governor’s Educator Discovery Award is a stipend of up to $1,000, awarded to PreK-12 traditional public and public charter educators to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing. Teachers submit a proposal detailing their teaching experience, the professional development activity they wish to pursue, and how it would enhance their efforts to create work-based learning activities for their students. These applications then go through a rigorous review process and are narrowed down to ten winners.

    The 2024 winners were from the twelfth and thirteenth cycles of teachers to receive the award since its inception in 2019. Growing interest in the program has enabled it to expand, bringing the total number of grants awarded to 51. The next cycle of the Governor’s Educator Discovery Award is currently open and accepting applications. Learn more and apply here.

    The ten teachers who received grants will use their Governor’s Educator Discovery Award in the following ways:

    Daniel Fussell, a Social Studies Teacher at Innovation Early College High School in Pitt County Schools, attended the NC Technology in Education Society (NCTIES) conference in Raleigh, where he learned about innovative technologies to support a classroom that prepares students for a future-oriented workforce. In the past, NCTIES has inspired Fussell to introduce TinkerCad and 3D printers into his classroom. 

    Cori Greer-Banks, a Humanities and Expedition teacher at The Exploris School in Wake County Public Schools, used the stipend toward three different professional development opportunities. First, the Monticello Teacher Institute is an immersive professional development program that allows social studies teachers to research and study at Monticello and the Jefferson Library in Charlottesville, Virginia. The other two fellowships are offered through the National Endowment for the Humanities: Little Tokyo: How History Shapes a Community Across Generations, and Grand Coulee Dam: The Intersection of Modernity and Indigenous Cultures. Engaging in these programs will allow Greer-Banks to expand the number of perspectives in her American history curriculum. 

    Pamela Jordan, a Career Development Coordinator at Warren County High School in Warren County Public Schools, will use the grant for the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Summer Conference in San Diego, CA last June. The conference topics highlight the state of the workplace and the need for connecting mental and physical health with career success. Jordan seeks to gain additional insights on strategies and techniques to balance the current technical landscape and mental health issues derived from the COVID-19, to support students turning to career pursuits.

    Lauren Wilmot, an animal science, veterinary assisting, and horticulture teacher at North Pitt High School in Pitt County Schools, attended the NC CTE Summer Conference in Winston-Salem thanks to the grant. The conference provided numerous workshops and professional development opportunities regarding CTE curriculum updates, as well as hands-on labs that can be used in the classroom. Teachers also had the opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators in their content area from across the state.

    Rong Zhang, a Mandarin Chinese teacher at East Cary Magnet Middle School in Wake County Public Schools applied the award toward the 2024 MSU STARTALK for Chinese Language Teachers Program. STARTALK, funded by the National Security Agency (NSA), is designed to increase the number of U.S. citizens proficient in critical-need foreign languages, with a particular emphasis on Chinese. The program comprises a learning phase to curriculum development and language assessment, a summer professional development program focused on unit development and refinement, and classroom implementation and evaluation.

    Franchone Bey, an English teacher at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools attended the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention in Boston. The event offered ELA educators the chance to collaborate with teachers from across the country, meet research scholars, and hear from prominent authors like keynote speaker Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. By the end of the event, participants could integrate real-world writing experiences into their classrooms, employing cross-curricular inquiry methods and project-based learning to enhance student writing skills. 

    Darren Rhym, an English teacher at Columbia Early College High School in Tyrell County Schools also attended the NCTE Annual Convention in Boston. Rhym attended the event to learn about ways to utilize NC Writing Standards in his clean energy unit, emphasizing the importance of cross-curricular learning. Through various sessions presented by research scholars and authors, Rhym was able to gather a unit of materials for developing project-based learning experiences to enhance student writing and employability.

    Alicia D’Joi, a STEM teacher and Robotics Coach at JM Alexander Middle School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools used the grant to attend the AIM Conference hosted by NCDPI in Raleigh. D’joi led a session titled Robotics for Rookies: Your First Steps into the Future, where she provided an exciting and hands-on introduction to the world of robotics. In her session, rookie participants learned to design, build, and code a robot. Through this event, D’Joi shared her vast knowledge with colleagues across the state and heard from other educators and educational leaders.

    Jessamyn Bailey, a Visual Arts and Photography teacher at High Point Central High School in Guilford County Schools, attended the North Carolina Arts Educator Association (NCAEA) Annual Conference in Asheville. The conference offered a wide range of professional development opportunities, including workshops on fiber arts, photography, curriculum development, and new art-making techniques. Sessions focused on hands-on learning while providing networking opportunities with practicing artists and art organizations, allowing educators to bring career exploration and work-based learning opportunities into their classrooms.

    Ameriki Somers, a Media Coordinator at Lowrance Middle School in Forsyth County Schools, will use the award this year to attend the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Conference in St. Louis, MO. Lowrance Middle School is an alternate learning environment that serves students with fundamental disabilities in grades 6 – 10. The conference will provide Somers with innovative strategies and resources to create specifically tailored hands-on work experiences that meet the accessibility needs of her students. Somers hopes to provide her students with the opportunity to explore careers and develop real-world skills through the inclusive learning environments, adaptive technologies, and differentiated instructional methods.

    The Governor’s Educator Discovery Awards are funded by NCBCE member companies. As interest in the program continues to grow with each cycle, NCBCE hopes to raise additional funds to expand the program in future years. Parties interested in funding the initiative should contact Caroline Sullivan, Executive Director of NCBCE, at caroline.sullivan@nc.gov.

    The North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) is a business-led, education non-profit (501-c3) that operates out of the Office of the Governor. Since 1983, NCBCE has provided a critical link between North Carolina business leaders and the state’s education decision-makers, helping to create connections between the education curriculum and the overall work readiness of people across the state. 

    Feb 14, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Procurement of face masks in the fight against COVID-19 and the ramifications thereof – E-002236/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Public procurement is decentralised and each contracting authority or entity is responsible for its own purchases. Proper application of the rules is controlled by appropriate administrative and juridical mechanisms of Member States and later by the Commission within its enforcement powers. In parallel, Member States and the Commission have a possibility of organising joint procurement[1]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission and participating countries jointly procured[2] several types of supplies, including personal protective masks[3]. The Commission managed joint procurement procedures with countries, while the latter made individual purchases under the joint contract[4]. The Commission also procured masks using EU funds under the Emergency Support Instrument and donated them to EU Member States[5].

    2. The direct budgetary consequences of irregularities in the procurement of protective face masks do not appear to significantly contribute to non-compliance with the EU fiscal rules by Member States in a situation of excessive deficit, i.e. with deficits above the 3% of gross domestic product reference value[6].

    3. One of the key elements of effective functioning of public procurement is the procurement remedies system. The newly adopted Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act[7], the regulation on serious cross-border threats to health[8], the regulation on supply of crisis-relevant medical countermeasures[9] as well as the recast of the EU Financial Regulation[10] provide possibilities of more adequate procurement reaction to a crisis, reducing risk of disfunction or abuse.

    • [1] Pursuant to Article 168(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), OJ L 2024/2509, 26.9.2024.
    • [2] In accordance with a voluntary Joint Procurement Agreement for medical countermeasures established pursuant to Article 5 of Decision No 1082/2013/EU that has been repealed and replaced by Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371, OJ L 314, 6.12.2022.
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/public-health/ensuring-availability-supplies-and-equipment_en#public-procurement-of-medical-and-protective-equipment
    • [4] The Joint Procurement Agreement determining the practical arrangements governing the joint procurement procedure can be found here: https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-security-and-infectious-diseases/preparedness-and-response-planning_en#joint-procurement-of-medical-countermeasures-ensuring-proper-preparedness.
      A flowchart of its implementation can be found here: https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/flowchart-implementation-joint-procurement-agreement-different-steering-committees_en
      The decision process of the Steering Committees managing the joint procurement mechanism can be found here: https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/decision-process-steering-committees-managing-joint-procurement-mechanism_en
    • [5] https://ted.europa.eu/en/notice/-/detail/221190-2020
    • [6] On 26 November 2024, the Commission came forward with recommendations for the Council to set the fiscal paths to correct the excessive deficits of eight Member States under an excessive deficit procedure.
    • [7] Regulation (EU) 2024/2747 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2024 establishing a framework of measures related to an internal market emergency and to the resilience of the internal market and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98.
    • [8] In particular Article 12 (3) d), see also: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2371
    • [9] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2372
    • [10] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R2509
    Last updated: 14 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Probate waiting times halved thanks to Government push

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Families, individuals, and charities will receive funds left to them in wills twice as quickly as they did last year, with probate applications now being granted in less than half the time.

    • Outstanding caseload hits lowest level since early 2023
    • Overall wait times cut to just over four weeks, as around eight out of ten of applications go digital
    • Additional staff trained as part of Government’s Plan for Change to restore public services

    The data published yesterday shows that HMCTS has slashed average wait times in December 2024 to just over four weeks. This compares to twelve weeks at the end of 2023 and over eight weeks at the end of June 2024. The improvement is a result of decisive Government action to reduce the backlog of cases which built up because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Around 80 per cent of grant applications are now completed online, with digital applications taking on average just over two weeks to complete – improving support for those who need it and easing the burden on people who are navigating what is often a challenging time. For those who complete the application online and submit their documents without any issues probate is granted in less than a week on average.

    Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said: 

    We know that handling probate can be tough for families at a difficult period in their lives. That is why so we’ve worked hard to reduce delays and make the process easier. 

    By cutting wait times and going digital, we’re ensuring people receive the support they need quickly at what can be a challenging time.

    We’re getting public services back on their feet again as part of this Government’s Plan for Change.

    The change comes after action was taken to recruit extra staff who have been trained to handle applications quickly and ensure fair and efficient processing, preventing delays. 

    In 2024, the average number of monthly grants issued was 27,400, marking a 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year. As a result, the number of outstanding cases is at its lowest point since early 2023 when data was first published.  

    The probate system has achieved a remarkable turnaround, reducing its backlog by over 50,000 cases since August 2023 and ensuring faster estate settlements for families.

    Charities also benefit from a more efficient probate system because they now have quicker access to funds which have been entrusted to them – easing financial pressure on the third sector.

    Even paper applications, which historically take longer to process than the digital system, have seen significant improvements in timeliness with waiting times reducing from just over 22 weeks to under 15 weeks.

    James Stebbings, Chair of the Institute of Legacy Management, said:

    We are delighted to see that HMCTS have reduced probate application processing times to where they were 5 years ago.

    Each year the public leave charities £4bn of gifts in their wills and the relief in the charity sector that this income is flowing again is huge.

    On behalf of the charity sector and all who benefit from it we would like to say a huge thank you.

    Alex McDowell, Vice Chair of Remember A Charity and Director of Fundraising at the Duke of Edinburgh Award, said: 

    With more and more people across the UK choosing to support good causes through their Wills each year, an efficient and effective probate service is vital for sustaining charitable services and charities’ financial planning.

    It ensures charitable gifts in wills can be put to good use swiftly, in line with supporters’ wishes.

    We are hugely grateful to HMCTS for the improvements they have made and their ongoing engagement with the charity sector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Year-end Report – January-December 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STOCKHOLM – 14 February 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today publishes its Year-end Report January-December 2024. The full report is available on the Company’s website.

    “Stronger liquidity will ensure our ongoing ability to continue advancing the portfolio companies who are at earlier stages in the development phase and offer the potential for creating substantial value going forward”, says Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development.

    Significant events during the fourth quarter

    • The portfolio company Umecrine Cognition presented new preclinical data on golexanolone, showing retained dopamine signaling in Parkinson’s disease, at the 10th International Conference on Neurology and Brain Disorders 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland, US (October 2024).
    • The portfolio company SVF Vaccines, presented positive clinical safety and immunogenicity data from a clinical phase 1 study of the universal Covid-19 vaccine candidate, SVF-002 (October 2024).
    • The portfolio company BOOST Pharma successfully completed a pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, for its cell therapy aiming to treat children with the rare bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). The positive outcome from the meeting triggered the second tranche of previously agreed investment from Karolinska Development (November 2024).
    • Karolinska Development’s Extra General Shareholders’ Meeting on 13 November 2024 decided, among other things, to elect Will Zeng, with the dismissal of the current director Theresa Tse, as a new director of the Board of Directors. The current directors Hans Wigzell, Anna Lefevre Skjöldebrand, Benjamin Toogood and Philip Duong remain as directors of the Board of Directors and Hans Wigzell remains as chairperson (November 2024).
    • The portfolio company SVF Vaccines appointed Dr Gaston Picchio as acting CEO. He will assume the position with effect from November 15th, as Dr Richard Bethell decided to step down as CEO to pursue other professional interests while remaining associated with the company in an advisory role (November 2024).
    • The portfolio company Umecrine Cognition presented data from a recent interim analysis from an ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical study of golexanolone in patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis. The preliminary results show that golexanolone was well-tolerated and achieved drug exposure levels that correlate to clinical treatment doses. The results were presented at the Late Breaking Poster session at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’ (AALSD) 75th Liver Meeting, in San Diego, CA, USA, on November 18, 2024 (November 2024).
    • The portfolio company Modus Therapeutics secured access to bridge financing of up to SEK 5 million from Karolinska Development, the company’s largest shareholder. The funding enabled Modus to initiate the recently approved phase 2a study in chronic kidney disease (November 2024).
    • Karolinska Development announced that the company has decided to implement organizational changes in order to reduce the cost base of its operations. The changes involve reducing the management team by one person and giving notice of redundancy to a total of three employees. This is estimated to reduce the company’s personnel costs by approximately 20 percent (December 2024).
    • The portfolio company, Modus Therapeutics, dosed the first patient in a phase 2 clinical study of the drug candidate sevuparin, evaluated as a treatment for chronic kidney disease with anemia. The study is being conducted at Centro Ricerche Cliniche di Verona in Italy (December 2024).
    • Karolinska Development divested 4,6 million shares in the portfolio company OssDsign and thereby strengthened the investment company’s liquidity. Karolinska Development holds nearly 5 million shares in OssDisgn after the divestment (December 2024).
    • Karolinska Development announced that the company’s Chairman of the Board, Professor Hans Wigzell, has decided to resign from his position. The Board of Directors of Karolinska Development appointed Ben Toogood as new Chairman until the next General Shareholders’ Meeting (December 2024).
    • The portfolio company Umecrine Cognition raised SEK 23.8 million through a convertible loan to be used for the continuation of the company’s clinical study of golexanolone in primary biliary cholangitis. The convertible loan with attached share options is directed to a consortium of investors (December 2024).

    Significant post-period events

    • The portfolio company AnaCardio secured SEK 205 million in a series A extension financing round and reported positive results from the first part of a Phase 1b/2a study of AC01 in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. The final part of the study (phase 2a) is expected to start during the first quarter of 2025 (January 2025).
    • The portfolio company Dilafor announced that it successfully completed regulatory meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and European Health Agencies, regarding the continued development of the company’s drug candidate tafoxiparin. The completed meetings mark the end of a comprehensive dialogue with regulatory authorities in the US and EU to reach an alignment between the authorities on designing pivotal clinical Phase 3 studies in Europe and the US to evaluate tafoxiparin as a new potential treatment for priming of labor (January 2025).

    Financial update fourth quarter

    • The net profit/loss for the fourth quarter was SEK 18.6 million (SEK -1,9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023). Earnings per share totaled SEK 0.1 (SEK -0.01 in the fourth quarter of 2023).
    • The result of the Change in fair value of shares in portfolio companies for the fourth quarter amounted to SEK 18.7 million (SEK 6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023). The result is mainly the effect of the upturn in share price in the listed holdings OssDsign and Modus Therapeutics and also by an increase in value in AnaCardio in connection with the investment round. The upturn was partly offset by a downturn in the share price in the listed holdings.
    • The total fair value of the portfolio was SEK 1,451.5 million at the end of December 2024, corresponding to a decrease of SEK 11.6 million from SEK 1,463.1 million at the end of the previous quarter. The net portfolio fair value at the end of December 2024 was SEK 1,120.8 million, corresponding to a decrease of SEK 1.0 million from SEK 1,121.8 million at the end of the previous quarter. The main reason for the net decrease in fair value was the partial divestment of OssDsign and the downturn in the share price of the listed holding Promimic. The decrease was partially offset by the increase in the price of the listed holdings OssDsign and Modus Therapeutics together with the increase in value of AnaCardio in connection with the investment round. The quarter’s investments in Umecrine Cognition and BOOST Pharma also contributed to the increase in fair value.
    • Net asset value amounted to SEK 1,245.0 million, per share SEK 4.6, at the end of December 2024 (SEK 1,253.4 million, per share SEK 4.6 at the end of December 2023).
    • Net sales totaled SEK 0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 (SEK 0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2023).
    • Karolinska Development invested a total of SEK 19.4 million in portfolio companies during the fourth quarter of 2024 (SEK 41.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023). Fourth quarter 2024 investments in portfolio companies by Karolinska Development and other specialized life sciences investors totaled SEK 155.7 million (SEK 125.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023).
    • Cash and cash equivalents increased by SEK 12.7 million during the fourth quarter, totaling SEK 52.0 million on 31 December 2024 (SEK 85.3 million on 31 December 2023).

    Financial update full-year

    • The full-year net profit/loss was SEK -8.1 million (SEK 5.4 million in 2023). Earnings per share totaled SEK -0.03 (SEK 0.02 in 2023).
    • The full-year result for the change in the fair value of the portfolio amounted to SEK 1.6 million (SEK 15.2 million during 2023).
    • The total fair value of the portfolio was SEK 1,451.5 million at the end of December 2024, an increase from SEK 1,440.3 million at the corresponding date in 2023. The net portfolio fair value was SEK 1,120.8 million, an increase by SEK 10.5 million from SEK 1 110.3 million at the corresponding date in 2023.
    • Net asset value amounted to SEK 1,245.0 million, per share SEK 4.6, at the end of December 2024 (SEK 1,253.4 million, per share SEK 4.6 at the end of December 2023).
    • Revenue totalled SEK 1.8 million for the full-year of 2024 (SEK 2.0 million in 2023).
    • Karolinska Development invested a total of SEK 62.0 (103.0) million in its portfolio companies during the full-year. Full-year investments in the portfolio companies by Karolinska Development and other specialised life sciences investors totalled SEK 490.3 (394.5) million.
    • Karolinska Development’s cash compensation from sold shares and earn-out agreements regarding divested portfolio companies amounted to SEK 42.4 (18.3) million during the year.
    • Cash and cash equivalents decreased by SEK 43.3 million during the full-year, totalling SEK 42.0 (85.5) million on 31 December 2024.
    • The Board does not propose any dividend for the financial year 2024.

    The Year-end Report for Karolinska Development AB for the period January-December 2024 is available as a PDF at www.karolinskadevelopment.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com

    Hans Christopher “HC” Toll, CFO, Karolinska Development AB        
    Phone: +46 70 717 00 41, e-mail: hc.toll@karolinskadevelopment.com

    TO THE EDITORS

    About Karolinska Development AB

    Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.

    Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.

    Karolinska Development has established a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.

    The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.

    For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com

    Attachments

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University

    Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more than 330 million Americans.

    As health secretary, Kennedy will be involved in overseeing federal health agencies that regulate medical research, disease prevention, drug approvals and health-care programs.

    This includes oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, which are among the most crucial public health agencies in the country.

    Reports suggest he’ll oversee a budget in the order of US$1.8 trillion (A$2.8 trillion) annually.

    In the era of Trump 2.0, there’s little that shocks me anymore. But Kennedy would have to be the most unqualified person ever to hold this crucial role of protecting the health of the American people.

    A history of discounting science

    The absolute minimum requirement for someone occupying such as role should be an understanding of science and respect for scientific evidence and expertise. Yet, Kennedy fails spectacularly in this regard.

    Here are just some of the false claims he has made over the years:

    None of these positions has even the smallest amount of scientific support.

    It’s hard to predict what Kennedy will do as health secretary, especially given his confirmation hearings looked to be an exercise in being vague, evasive and denying or downplaying his prior controversial statements to secure support.

    But there are three areas where his views are fairly clear and his appointment could be expected to have a significant impact. These are water fluoridation, infectious diseases research and vaccines.

    Fluoridation of water

    Kennedy has been a long-term opponent of water fluoridation, despite its proven benefits in preventing tooth decay. He has consistently questioned its safety and claimed it’s linked to a range of illnesses such as arthritis, bone cancer, IQ loss and neurodevelopmental disorders.

    While a recent review suggested a link between water fluoridation and lower IQ in children, the levels of fluoride in the water in countries included in this review were generally several times higher than the levels in public water fluoridation programs in countries such as the US and Australia. There were also other limitations that make interpreting these findings challenging.

    The CDC has identified community water fluoridation as as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. And it continues to benefit dental health today, without any convincing evidence of possible harms.

    Nonetheless, it seems likely that in keeping with his longstanding views one of Kennedy’s first priorities will be to try to halt water fluoridation in the US.

    Infectious diseases

    Alongside his confirmation as health secretary, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing “The President’s Commission to Make America Healthy Again”, with Kennedy as the chair.

    The Make America Healthy Again movement (MAHA) is an initiative driven by Kennedy focusing on improving nutrition, increasing transparency in medical practices and reducing the corporate influence in health.

    Though premised primarily on combating chronic diseases, the movement also embraces scepticism of established medical practices, unproven alternative therapies and a general mistrust of institutions.

    What’s more, Kennedy’s focus on chronic diseases seems to be coming at the expense of continued work on infectious diseases.

    He has proposed directing the National Institutes of Health to pause infectious disease research for eight years to prioritise research into chronic diseases and alternative treatments.

    As health secretary, Kennedy has the power to shift research priorities. If he were to effectively halt infectious diseases research – in the wake of COVID and with a looming threat of future pandemics – this would be catastrophic for the US and global health.

    Vaccine scepticism

    Related to infectious diseases, there’s little doubt the area in which Kennedy has done the most damage relates to vaccines.

    He has dedicated a large part of his life to undermining public confidence in vaccines. This is despite overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, and the millions of lives they’ve saved.

    Although he has subsequently denied it, Kennedy is on record as falsely stating there is no such thing as a safe and effective vaccine. Notably, he has continued to push the debunked claim that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is linked to autism, despite the single study finding this having been widely discredited.

    Kennedy’s frequent assertion that he’s not anti-vaccine, but “pro-safety”, is also deeply disingenuous. Being “pro-safety” is a deliberately vague notion designed to appear reasonable while at the same time undermining the scientific evidence.

    The impact of Kennedy’s appointment as health secretary on vaccine confidence will not just be limited to the US. Vaccine hesitancy has been recognised as one of the greatest threats to public health. Having a vaccine sceptic leading the US health agencies has the potential to harm vaccine uptake worldwide.

    As we’ve seen during the COVID pandemic, producing a vaccine is only half the battle. Convincing people to take it is just as important. There’s no doubt Kennedy’s influence on public health messaging could further erode vaccine confidence at a time when vaccine messaging must be clear.

    It’s bad news for the US and the world

    One of the reasons Kennedy poses such a threat to public health in the US and globally is his lack of trust in science. He believes a narrative can be crafted by picking and choosing any study that fits with his world view, regardless of its quality.

    In addition, he personifies the bad-faith tactics of conspiracy theorists globally, “selling” the flawed premise that any assertion is valid until others prove it false.

    What the world needs now is a safe pair of hands leading public health in the US. Someone who is guided by evidence – not someone who promotes anti-science propaganda and conspiracy theories.

    Hassan Vally 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. In Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US has put a conspiracy theorist in charge of public health – https://theconversation.com/in-robert-f-kennedy-jr-the-us-has-put-a-conspiracy-theorist-in-charge-of-public-health-249601

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Impact of new RSV vaccine

    Source: Scottish Government

    Report shows fewer older people hospitalised.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray has welcomed a report showing the new RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine has led to a significant decrease in hospitalisations among older people.

    Public Health Scotland (PHS) research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal, demonstrates that vaccination resulted in a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations among the eligible 75-79 age group.

    The Scottish Government invested £4.2 million via health boards in the vaccine supply. The programme began last August following expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

    Mr Gray said:

    “Once again we see evidence of the role which vaccinations play in preventing serious illness and keeping people out of hospital.

    “We were pleased to be the first nation in the UK to introduce the new RSV vaccine in time to maximise the benefit to the more vulnerable ahead of winter. This research demonstrates just how many people avoided ending up in hospital as a result.

    “RSV can be very serious for older adults, newborns and infants – potentially causing lung disease such as pneumonia.

    “It is encouraging to see that by the end of November, 68% of eligible older adults had received their vaccinations and I’d urge all those eligible to come forward for their vaccine when called. It is incredibly important for older adults and pregnant women to protect their newborn babies from RSV.”

    Background

    RSV vaccine during pregnancy | NHS inform

    RSV vaccine for adults | NHS inform 

    The RSV programme was in addition to winter vaccines offered, such as flu, Covid-19 and pneumococcal.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: David Seymour – Speech to Auckland Chamber of Commerce

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Good morning to you all. Thank you to Simon and his team at the Business Chamber for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.

    I especially want to thank members of the business community for being here this morning. I can imagine it’s been a heavy workload listening to speeches about the economy. Perhaps there’s an opportunity to raise productivity right there, but I hope today I can share ideas that are good for all of us. We know this country cannot change its size or distance to market, and better public policy is our best collective hope.

    I’m going to talk mostly about the economic challenges we face, the Government’s policy prescriptions for fixing them, and report on our progress. However, there is one of those proverbial elephants in the room.

    The Elephant

    This elephant is the breakdown of political consensus on liberal democracy and economic orthodoxy. It is particularly strong across generational lines. If you doubt that, think about Helen Clark’s Government, and how it contrasts with the opposition today.

    There will be some who, at the time, believed Clark’s Labour Government was turning New Zealand into Helengrad. But if we’re objective, Helen Clark’s Government was well to the right of the current opposition. It’s not National that’s changed; they have been consistent. It is Labour who’ve moved radically to the left.

    A broad based, low-rate tax system without any capital gains tax. A pragmatic approach to government ownership, with occasional interventions in rail and banks. A commitment to liberal democracy above all, with one person, one vote, regardless of background.

    In some ways, Helen Clark was even to the right of John Key. She refused to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Key’s Government did. The Māori Party was formed due to her legislating over the Ngati Apa court case with the foreshore and seabed legislation, a position that the Key Government partially reversed.

    The debates at the time were really about the parameters of the social insurance scheme that is the welfare state. The premiums, being taxes, could be higher or lower. The payouts, being benefits and services, could be more or less generous, but the big debates of the day were still about the parameters of a giant insurance scheme.

    Fast forward to today, and we can no longer rely on a cross-party commitment to liberal democracy and economic orthodoxy. Were the Government to change, we would face a Government where one party seriously suggests an appointed Treaty Commissioner should have a veto on the elected Parliament.

    The same party openly opposes the concept of democracy, frequently shouts racial abuse across the debating chamber, where it even gets up to do war dances in people’s faces. Their website even claimed racial genetic supremacy but has few practical policy solutions for the most disadvantaged group in the country.

    The Labour Party constitution is clear that political power should be wielded only by those elected in frequent, free and fair elections conducted by secret ballot. Helen Clark lived it; Chris Hipkins has taken two positions on the Treaty Commissioner in one week.

    Chris Hipkins is a politician we have to admire. Slipperier than an eel fed on sausage rolls, no politician has glided over failure like Chris Hipkins.

    In a multi-year crime wave he was Minister of Police.

    In the biggest attendance and achievement slump in the history of our country he was Minister of Education.

    When the public service added 30 per cent more workers for no better output, he was the Minister for the Public Service.

    In many ways those problems were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government’s response to it. He was also the Minister for COVID-19, where his responsibilities included testing, tracing, making logical rules, and ordering the vaccines on time.

    Now you see why he wants to campaign on the record of the current Government, instead of his own. He is running what political campaigners call a ‘small target’ strategy, which should come naturally.

    Except, nature abhors a vacuum. Besides Te Pati Māori, you have the Greens. Like the other two, they are very different from their forebears, when liberal democrats like Jeanette Fitzsimmons and Rod Donald campaigned on the environment.

    It you take the time to listen to Chlöe Swarbrick she says things like “Parliament isn’t the system we’d design today,” and “if you think you’re crazy you’re not, it’s the whole system.” She promises taxes on assets, not just gains in asset values.

    The underlying message is that your problems are caused by others’ success, but their gains are ill-gotten so they and the system that enabled them must be torn down. It is a revolutionary, rather than evolutionary, message.

    Stability

    Now, there will be some people here wondering when I’m going to talk about the Government and my role in it. I will, but I think the changes in the political landscape are important and material enough to discuss.

    What’s more, the Government has signed up to a number of policies designed to increase policy stability. One of them I’d like to talk about more than the others, but there’s three in the ‘quasi-constitutional’ space that I think are worth mentioning.

    The four-year term is an old chestnut. It’s been defeated twice before in New Zealand, and we’re a global outlier as a result. We’re one of nine Parliaments in the world beside around 170 that have four or five-year terms.

    The Government is committed to introducing legislation that would put a four-year term to referendum, and make the select committees opposition controlled. Lawmaking would be slower, and would face tough scrutiny at committees where the public can submit. At the moment, select committees have Government-aligned majorities. It is one of the most powerful things we can do to improve the quality of policy making and debate in New Zealand.

    The Treaty Principles Bill also seeks to enhance the role of liberal democracy. Even those who say they vehemently disagree with the Bill are showing up to Parliament and submitting. In fact, there have never been so many submissions to Parliament on one Bill.

    It is not only the contents of the Bill that reinforce liberal democracy, it is the inherent effect of taking the debate back to Parliament that is important. We need to be a country where, as the Labour Party constitution says, important decisions should be made by people subject to frequent, free and fair elections with a secret ballot. In other words, democracy.

    The Regulatory Standards Bill

    The policy stabilising initiative I’d most like to talk about, though, is the Regulatory Standards Bill. It is crucial that we improve the quality and stability of our regulatory environment. The reason is our woeful productivity growth.

    The Government inherited an economy that, on an individual basis, was in recession. Economic output per person has been falling since the September 2022 quarter. In the year to June 2024, GDP per capita fell 2.7 percent.

    Behind those short-term numbers there’s an even bleaker story. While productivity growth averaged 1.4 per cent a year between 1993 and 2013, it only averaged 0.2 per cent over the last decade.

    If productivity growth had continued to grow at 1.4 per cent a year since 2013, productivity, and therefore wages, would today be about 14 per cent higher. New Zealanders would have been much better placed to endure a cost of living crisis if their wages were 14 per cent higher. In a sense, the cost of living crisis is really a productivity crisis.

    Higher productivity means a pay rise and help with the groceries for parents struggling to get by. It means the ability to pay for a doctor’s visit for a sick child. It’s the difference between owning your own home and continuing to rent.

    In short, it’s the difference between a good life and scraping by. Despite what you will hear from the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, we have an obligation to future generations to ensure productivity grows much faster.

    Access to skills and capital really matter for productivity. Skillful people, working with good technology, can produce more than people with less of those things. It’s critical that we do better in education, and this Government can point to a content-rich curriculum, a massive effort to reverse the COVID-19 slump in attendance, and education meeting entrepreneurship in the form of charter schools.

    Charter Schools

    Actually, let’s have a small diversion into charter schools. They are also designed to slow down the political turbulence that prevents people getting their job done. So many times I’ve asked state school teachers, “what if you could sign a contract that stopped the Government of the day introducing new policies, often diametrically opposed to the ones you’ve just got used to, for ten years?”

    That’s what a ten-by-ten-by-ten charter school contract does. It gives educators space to innovate, because innovation is what we need.

    The first school that opened this year, Mastery School in Christchurch, is a partner school to Mastery in Australia. What’s really interesting about Mastery is their use of interns. I believe the last twenty years of degrees for everyone has been a failure. On-the-job learning is coming back into vogue.

    Meanwhile, schools everywhere are desperate for extra teaching assistants, and Bachelor of Education students are working part-time minimum wage jobs completely unrelated to their long-term career. There’s an obvious solution to this, and Mastery are doing it. Because they are bulk funded, they can employ more teaching assistants. It is a win-win.

    The real winners are the students, some of whose families have visited Australia to investigate the schools and moved to Christchurch to attend. They are proven for raising educational achievement. Last year their achievement data showed students achieving at much higher levels than state schools in core areas of reading, mathematics and spelling.

    • Reading: 1.6 years progress in 1 year.
    • Mathematics: 1.5 years progress in 1 year.
    • Spelling: Average of 1.5 years growth after 1 year.
    • Average of 82% attendance across all campuses.

    New funding provided in Budget 24 allows up to around fifteen new charter schools and the conversion of 35 state schools to charter schools this year and the following year. Applications from sponsors who want to open charter schools opened mid-last year.

    Preparation for an expressions of interest process for current state schools to convert into charter schools is underway. The next round of applications to establish new charter schools will also run over the next few months.

    The independent Authorisation Board received 78 applications in its first application round from sponsors wanting to establish charter schools. The country is thirsting for options and innovation.

    Overseas Investment

    While we’re on diversions, it is not only the skills where we need better policy, but also the investment in capital.

    Attracting more overseas investment is a vital part of the Government’s economic strategy. But our overseas investment laws are among the worst in the developed world and they are seriously holding back economic growth and wages.

    Nearly every other developed country has less obstructive laws than New Zealand. They benefit from the flow of money and the ideas that come with overseas investment. The truth is that, in the overseas investment game, New Zealand has been benched by international investors. Being 38th out of 38 countries for openness to investment means we’re simply not in the game.

    International investors report that our rules impose significant compliance costs, delays, and uncertain outcomes. The timeframe for a general benefit test is 70 working days and costs $68,000.

    That’s not to mention the potential investors who are discouraged from even considering New Zealand as an opportunity and simply go elsewhere.

    We are 26th out of 38 for foreign investment as a percentage of GDP, which doesn’t sound so bad until you consider the size of our economy. United States, with its massive internal market, could afford to close itself off, but it is more open than us and gets more investment as a percentage of GDP than us.

    It would be bad enough if the world was standing still, but our partners, such as Australia’s Labor Government, are moving to liberalise their overseas investment settings further.

    There’s a simple equation that is holding back wage growth: workers with more capital get paid more. They work with better tools and technologies and, as a result, they are more productive. Other countries have more capital than us because we have one of the most obstructive overseas investment laws in the world. New Zealand workers have less capital to work with so they get paid less than they could.

    I’ve seen the difference that overseas investment can make. I once visited two businesses in the same industry on the same afternoon. Both had skilled and passionate people with good ideas. One had overseas investment, though, and benefited in two ways. They had more money for machinery, and they had more know-how for manufacturing and marketing their product by receiving knowledge from their partners offshore.

    Growth in the capital that workers have available to use has not kept pace with strong labour force participation. As a result, our capital-to-labour ratio has been flat for the last ten years or so. It’s probably not a coincidence that our productivity growth has also be flat over the past decade.

    If we are going to raise wages, we can’t afford to ignore the simple fact that our competitors gain money and know-how from outside their borders.

    The Government intends to simplify our overseas investment rules and I will be making an announcement about this very shortly.

    Back to Regulation

    So, yes, skills and investment are important, and I’m proud to be lending a hand to the Government’s efforts to bring entrepreneurship into education and investment into the country, but it’s the regulatory environment where I believe we can make the most progress.

    New Zealand’s low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation. Bad regulation is killing our prosperity in three ways.

    1. It adds costs to the things we do. It’s the delays, the paperwork, and the fees that make too many activities cost more than they ought to. It’s the builder saying it takes longer to get the consent than it took to build the thing. It’s the anti-money laundering palaver that ties people in knots doing basic things but somehow doesn’t stop criminals bringing in half a billion dollars of P each year. It’s the daycare centre that took four years to open because different departments couldn’t agree about the road noise outside. I could go on.
    2. There’s the things that just don’t happen because people decide the costs don’t add up once the red tape is factored in.
    3. There’s the big one that goes to the heart of our identity and culture. It’s all the kids who grow up in a country where people gave up or weren’t allowed to try. It’s the climbing wall at Sir Edmund Hillary’s old school with signs saying don’t climb. It’s the lack of nightlife because it’s too hard to get a license. It’s the fear that comes from worrying WorkSafe or some other regulator will come and shut you down. You can’t measure it, but we all know it’s there.

    The Kiwi spirit we are so proud of is being chipped away and killing our vibe. Nobody migrated here to be compliant, but compliance is infantilising our culture, and I haven’t even mentioned orange cones yet.

    It’s clear that now is the time for a significant reset. Many governments over the years have paid lip-service to cutting red tape. This Government is committed to doing something about it.

    Perhaps the biggest single policy problem New Zealand faces is the Resource Management Act. Someone once said you can fill a town hall to stop anything in this country, but you can’t fill a telephone box to get something started.

    Chris Bishop and ACT’s Simon Court are designing new resource management laws starting with the principle of private property rights. The result will be a law that makes it easier to get stuff done in this country.

    My colleague, Brooke van Velden, as Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, has repealed Fair Pay Agreements and reintroduced 90-day trials. She’s now set her sights on simplifying our health and safety laws, tackling the problems being caused by the Holidays Act, and providing certainty in the law around contractors and personal grievances.

    Another of my colleagues, Nicole McKee, is determined to bring some sanity to our anti-money laundering laws and provide regulatory relief for individuals and businesses who have to use that law. It begins with bringing all AML under the DIA as a single supervisor instead of three, as well as exempting some activities as a start.

    Chris Penk is opening up the building products market to foreign competition to get prices down, and Andrew Bayly is making various reforms to the CCCFA.

    Red Tape Tipline

    In November last year, we launched a new Red Tape Tipline. This is an online tool on the Ministry’s website where people can make submissions about red tape that affects them.

    So far, over 500 tips have been sent in. I am not at all surprised to see such an outpouring of discontent from Kiwis who are sick of red tape.

    The Tipline has quickly become a key tool helping the Ministry to find and deal to the red tape preventing people from getting things done.

    Some of the biggest themes coming through the Tipline are about traffic management and anti-money laundering. The Ministry is working with other government agencies to identify and cut red tape.

    My message to all the tradies, farmers, teachers, chefs, and engineers out there – every person doing productive work – is this: If there’s red tape in your industry that needs to go, we want to know about it.

    Sector reviews

    We also have three sector reviews underway – Early Childhood Education, Agricultural and Horticultural Products, and Hairdressing and Barbering.

    The ECE report was delivered at the end of last year with fifteen recommendations. They will reduce compliance costs and headaches for ECE providers and help encourage more providers into the market, so parents have more affordable options. I’m taking all fifteen recommendations to Cabinet.

    The Agricultural and Horticultural products review has been widely welcomed by farmers, growers and industry. They say that delays in getting access to these products are too long and the process is too complex. They are put at a disadvantage because they cannot get products that have been approved by other OECD countries. I look forward to receiving the final report and progressing changes soon.

    At the end of last year we launched a short, sharp review into outdated rules around the hairdressing and barbering industry. Hairdressers and barbers are a billion-dollar industry of more than 5,000 mostly small businesses employing 13,000 people. They are trying to work with outdated rules from the 1980s which include specifying the amount of space between seats and exactly how bright the lights have to be. The Ministry is engaged with the industry now and will deliver findings by end of March.

    I anticipate announcing the Ministry’s fourth regulatory review in the next few months.

    Regulatory Standards Bill

    I am looking forward to the introduction of the Regulatory Standards Bill later this year.

    The Bill is a long-term solution to ensuring quality of regulation. It seeks to bring the same level of discipline to regulation that the Public Finance Act brings to public spending.

    The Bill will codify principles of good regulatory practice for existing and future regulations. If we want to remain first world, we need to change how we regulate. No law should be passed without showing what problem is being solved, whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and who pays the costs and gets the benefits. These are the basic principles of the Bill.

    Some regulations operate differently in practice than they do in theory. To make regulators accountable to the New Zealanders they regulate, the Bill contains a recourse mechanism by establishing a Regulatory Standards Board. The Board will assess complaints and challenges to regulations, issuing non-binding recommendations and public reports.

    This is about raising the political cost of making bad laws by allowing New Zealanders to hold regulators accountable. The outcome will be better law-making, higher productivity, and higher wages. Because New Zealanders will be able to spend more time doing useful work, and less time complying for little reason.

    Conclusion

    The Government is committed to a goal of delivering more economic growth for New Zealanders. And the way we get that is clear: we need to get government spending down and cut through regulation.

    We don’t unlock growth by transferring significant resources from the private to the public sector. We don’t get richer by taxing you to pay your competitors. And we won’t stay a first world country by just nipping and tucking at the regulatory thicket that’s grown in recent decades. We unleash growth by letting the business community free to invest, create jobs, adopt new technology, innovate, and sell to the world.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Founder And CEO of Non-Profit and Two Others Charged With Fraud, Bribery and Money Laundering Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Through Kickbacks and Bribes, Defendants Illegally Diverted Tens of Millions of Dollars from COVID-19 Emergency Housing Program to Enrich Themselves

    Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Julio Medina, Christopher Dantzler and Weihong Hu with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, honest-services wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to violate the Travel Act and the use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of commercial bribery.  This morning, Dantzler was arrested on Long Island, Hu in Manhattan and Medina in the Bronx.  They will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho.

    John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges.

    “The defendants’ brazen and illegal kickback scheme stole money from the City of New York that was intended to provide emergency housing and support services during the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Shamefully, the defendants saw the pandemic as an opportunity to line their pockets with stacks of cash, finance a luxury vehicle, purchase homes and pay off personal debts. While New York City was trying to curb the spread of COVID-19, the defendants exploited a nonprofit organization to enrich themselves.  My Office will relentlessly pursue those who steal public funds and deprive members of our community of crucial resources.”

    DOI Commissioner Strauber stated: “As charged, these defendants, an Executive Director of a City-funded nonprofit and the principals of the nonprofit’s subcontractors, engaged in and concealed a bribery and kickback scheme, pocketing millions of dollars of funds intended to provide emergency housing and support services in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance for the referral to DOI that prompted this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI for their partnership and commitment to protect critical public resources.”

    “These three defendants allegedly pocketed millions of dollars from public funds allocated for emergency housing during the pandemic,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “This alleged kickback scheme abused a program designed to provide a vulnerable population with healthier, unexposed lodging alternatives, to finance enhancements to the defendants’ lifestyles. The FBI will never tolerate any individual who twists public programs into a mechanism to sell services for personal profit.”

    As alleged in the indictment, Medina founded and served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of a non-profit organization that, among other things, provided various reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals (the “Organization”).  In June 2020, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) contracted with the Organization to administer an emergency transitional housing program (the “Emergency Housing Program”), in partnership with local hotels and other businesses, to combat the spread of COVID-19 in New York City jails.  The Organization subsequently entered into agreements with various hotels to operate as reentry hotels under the Emergency Housing Program.  In total, between June 2020 and December 2023, the Organization received approximately $122 million in public funds from MOCJ to operate the Emergency Housing Program at these hotels.

    Dantzler and Hu each operated or controlled businesses that received tens of millions of dollars in public funds from the Organization under the Emergency Housing Program.  Dantzler’s company purported to provide security services at the reentry hotels but was not a licensed security company and did not, in fact, provide security services.   Hu operated or controlled two hotels in Queens that operated as reentry hotels under the Emergency Housing Program and was a member of a repurposed catering company that provided food services to formerly incarcerated individuals residing at reentry hotels under the Emergency Housing Program.   

    Medina solicited and accepted bribes and kickbacks from Dantzler and Hu in exchange for Medina providing business through the Organization to Dantzler’s and Hu’s respective businesses under the Emergency Housing Program.  Among other bribes and kickbacks, Dantzler and Hu purchased Medina an approximately $1.3 million townhouse; Hu, through one of her businesses, financed a luxury vehicle for Medina valued at approximately $107,000; and Dantzler paid to purchase and renovate a house for Medina for approximately $750,000.

    As depicted in the following photograph, during an in-person meeting in September 2020, Hu also provided Medina with a stack of wrapped U.S. currency in exchange for two checks from the Organization made out to Hu’s catering company, totaling more than $187,000.   

    In total, Dantzler and Hu provided Medina with at least $2.5 million in U.S. currency and in-kind benefits in exchange for Medina steering approximately $51 million in public funds from the Emergency Housing Program to Dantzler’s and Hu’s businesses.  In turn, Dantzler’s security company received approximately $21 million in public funds from the Organization under the Emergency Housing Program, of which Dantzler personally retained approximately $9 million in public funds.  Hu’s hotels received approximately $12 million in public funds from the Organization under the Emergency Housing Program, while her repurposed catering company received approximately $17 million in public funds.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  Assistant United States  Attorneys Meredith A. Arfa, Eric Silverberg and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Kavya Kannan and Rebecca Roth.

    The Defendants:

    JULIO MEDINA
    Age:  64
    Clifton Park, New York

    CHRISTOPHER DANTZLER
    Age:  49
    Baldwin, New York

    WEIHONG HU
    Age:  59
    Manhattan, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-54 (RPK)

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Woman Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-Relief Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Boston woman was sentenced in federal court in Boston for a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

    Jameela Gross, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to time served (one day) to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gross has also been ordered to pay $18,750 in restitution. In September 2024, Gross pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Gross was arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms charges and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.

    Among other relief programs, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act created the PPP, a temporary loan program directed at small businesses. PPP loans were processed and funded by participating lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If the small business used the loan funds for permissible expenses, the loan could be forgiven.

    In April 2021, Gross submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of her purported photography business. The application contained multiple false statements, including false representations regarding the fictitious business’s income in 2020 and the purpose of the loan. Gross also submitted false tax records in support of her loan application. Based on the fraudulent application, Gross received approximately $18,750.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: 1m Launches Risk Intelligence Network to Help Healthcare Providers Respond to Federal Policy Changes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Initiative equips providers with critical data and intelligence to navigate shifting federal policies on healthcare funding, reimbursement and eligibility

    More than fifteen health systems engaged in the first week

    NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 1m, a data and analytics technology company serving the risk management needs of healthcare organizations, today announced the launch of a national standardized risk assessment to help healthcare providers stay ahead of critical changes in federal healthcare policy. The initiative will include leading healthcare providers across the country to provide an objective and data-based analysis of emerging risks and their potential impact. More than fifteen health systems are already engaged and preparing to participate.

    The assessment will be made available to participating healthcare providers. Interested parties can contact intelligence@1mplatform.com to inquire about participating.

    “Health systems are scrambling to assess the flurry of policy shifts and emerging risks independently,” said Chris Giuliano, co-CEO and CTO of 1m. “We’ve seen this reactive cycle before—in response to COVID-19, cybersecurity threats, and inflation. It’s time to break the cycle. This intelligence network will standardize risk assessments and help providers align on responsive strategies.”

    1m will survey a consortium of health systems to create an anonymized national healthcare risk dataset. That data will be used to create standardized reports and executive-ready guidance for risk managers, business leaders and boards. The initial assessments will focus on the recent policy changes proposed by Congress and the new administration, and their potential impact on providers, e.g.:

    • Medicaid funding cuts and eligibility requirements
    • Medicare funding cuts and drug pricing negotiations
    • Reductions related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
    • Inflationary pressures as a result of new tariffs
    • Cuts in funding for public health agencies
    • Impact of immigration policy on staffing

    All participating health systems will have access to the in-depth, data-driven outputs, including:

    • Consensus risk assessments
    • Information on risk quantification methods
    • Benchmarking insights showing the distribution of responses across peer organizations
    • A catalog of common mitigation strategies for each risk
    • Highlighted expert insights summarizing the most valuable qualitative feedback
    • Executive and Board-ready presentations summarizing results
    • The option for 1m to customize the results for their organization

    The initial survey will be conducted during the month of February, with results available to participating organizations in early March.  

    1m recently raised a Series A financing, announced in December 2024, which included participation from five leading healthcare systems.

    About 1m

    1m is a data and analytics technology company serving large healthcare organizations through a B2B SaaS model. Led by former Goldman Sachs healthcare investment bankers Jeff Ellis and Chris Giuliano, 1m is setting the standard for risk management in healthcare, with an end-to-end risk management solution designed for Enterprise Risk, Internal Audit, Compliance, and Finance teams. The platform leverages robust data, analytics and monitoring tools that integrate seamlessly into existing risk management workflows to deliver timely, high-ROI decision support.

    For more information, visit https://www.1mplatform.com/.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Former owner of Gillingham takeaway sanctioned for £50,000 Covid loan abuse

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Former owner of Chinese takeaway in Kent claimed maximum loan for business which was not eligible for any money

    • Zhongqing Li claimed a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for his Chinese takeaway despite the business not being eligible for the scheme
    • The Official Receiver uncovered the abuse of the loan after the takeaway owner became bankrupt.
    • He is now subject to nine years of sanctions which prevent him acting as a company director 

    The former owner of a Chinese takeaway in Kent is subject to stringent sanctions after taking out a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan during the Covid pandemic when the business was not entitled to any money under the scheme.

    Zhongqing Li, 55, from Parkwood Green, Gillingham, applied for the loan in June 2020 to support his Silver Sea takeaway, which also traded from Parkwood Green. 

    Li became bankrupt in June 2024, owing the full amount of the loan. 

    The Official Receiver, whose duty includes investigating the cause of a bankruptcy, discovered that Silver Sea had not been trading within the required timeframe to have been eligible for a Bounce Back Loan.  

    Samantha Crook, Deputy Official Receiver at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    The Bounce Back Loan scheme was designed to help keep existing businesses afloat during a time of crisis for the country.  

    Zhongqing Li abused this vital support by claiming the maximum amount possible for a business that was not entitled to receive a loan under the terms of the scheme. 

    The Insolvency Service strives to secure the toughest sanctions for those who abuse public money, and we are pleased these lengthy restrictions will curb Li’s business and financial activities to help protect the public from further harm.

    Li made a loan application on 15 June 2020 in which he stated that Silver Sea had been trading on 1 March 2020 – the date businesses had to have been trading to qualify for a loan under the rules of the scheme. 

    But the Official Receiver discovered that the day before he applied for the loan, Li had signed a VAT registration form saying the business had only begun trading in the previous month, on 17 May 2020. 

    The Official Receiver secured a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU) from Li, in which he did not dispute that he had obtained a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan to which he was not entitled because he was not trading on or before 1 March 2020, as required by the terms of the scheme. 

    He agreed to abide by sanctions that restrict his finance and business activities, and extend the original terms of his bankruptcy – usually a 12-month period – for another nine years. 

    The restrictions prevent him acting as a company director without permission from the court, and from holding certain roles in public organisations. He is also prohibited from borrowing more than £500 without declaring he is subject to the sanctions.  

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted the undertaking from Zhongqing Li on 28 January 2025. He will be subject to the restrictions until 27 January 2034. 

    The Silver Sea takeaway continues to trade under different owners. 

    The Official Receiver continues to make enquiries into possible recovery of the money. 

    Further Information

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Himax Technologies, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results; Provides First Quarter 2025 Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Q4 2024 Revenues, Gross Margin and EPS All Surpassed Guidance Range Issued on November 7, 2024
    Company Q1 2025 Guidance: Revenues to Decrease 8.5% to 12.5% QoQ,
    Gross Margin is Expected to be Around 30.5%. Profit per Diluted ADS to be 9.0 Cents to 11.0 Cents

    • Q4 2024 revenues registered $237.2 million, an increase of 6.7% QoQ, significantly exceeding guidance range of a slight decrease to flat, primarily driven by stronger order momentum across product lines
    • Q4 2024 Gross margin reached 30.5%, exceeding guidance of flat to slightly up, driven by a favorable product mix and cost improvements. Up from 30.0% in the Q3 2024
    • Q4 2024 after-tax profit was $24.6M, or 14.0 cents per diluted ADS, considerably above the guidance range of 9.3 cents to 11.0 cents
    • Company’s full year 2024 revenues were $906.8 million, and gross margin was 30.5%. 2024 profit attributable to shareholders was $0.46 per fully diluted ADS
    • Company’s Q1 2025 revenues to decline 8.5% to 12.5% QoQ, reflecting the low season demand due to Lunar New Year holidays. The Q1 revenue guidance implies flat to 4.6% increase YoY. Gross margin to be around 30.5%, up from 29.3% same quarter last year. Profit per diluted ADS to be in the range of 9.0 cents to 11.0 cents, implying the increase of 26% to 54% YoY
    • Himax sales revenues in each quarter of 2024 consistently outperformed guidance, demonstrating its ability to handle most of rush orders, underscoring its strong ability in inventory management and swift market responsiveness
    • Full year 2024 automotive driver IC sales increased nearly 20% YoY, significantly outpacing global automotive growth, largely driven by the continued TDDI adoption among major customers across all continents. Himax continues to reinforce its market leadership in automotive TDDI, holding well over 50% market share
    • Himax’s WLO technology plays a critical role in CPO by providing essential optical coupling capability, making it a core element of the solution. Small-scale production of the first-gen CPO underway, with acceleration of future CPO generation development, in close collaboration with AI customers/partners. Company believes prospect of CPO remains unchanged
    • WiseEye, building on the success with Dell, has achieved notable progress with other leading NB brands. Also made breakthroughs in smart door lock, palm vein authentication and smart home. Himax anticipates a strong growth trajectory in WiseEye business in 2025 and beyond
    • At CES 2025, Himax showcased a wide range of innovative achievements, including automotive display technology, WiseEye AI, and advanced optical technologies for AR/VR
    • Rising enthusiasm in AR glasses with Gen AI in CES 2025. Himax offers three critical technologies for AR glasses, namely LCoS microdisplay, WLO waveguide, and ultralow power WiseEye AI
    • Himax is well-positioned to capitalize on the trend of the premium NB to adopt OLED displays and touch features. Confident to lead in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI PCs and premium NB, offering a comprehensive IC portfolio for both LCD and OLED NB

    TAINAN, Taiwan, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 ended December 31, 2024.

    “In 2024, our sales revenues in each quarter consistently outperformed guidance. We have consistently demonstrated our ability to handle most of rush orders, underscoring our agility, adaptability, strong capabilities in inventory management, and swift market responsiveness,” said Mr. Jordan Wu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Himax.

    “At CES this year, Himax showcased a wide range of innovative achievements, including automotive display technology, WiseEye AI, and advanced optical technologies for AR/VR. Notably, a clear trend emerged at this year’s CES as the industry demonstrated growing enthusiasm for AR glasses, fueled by more companies entering the space and integrating generative AI to accelerate the development of lightweight, compact, and all-day AR glasses. For AR glasses, Himax offers three critical technologies, namely LCoS microdisplay, WLO waveguide, and ultralow power WiseEye AI,” continued Mr. Jordan Wu.

    “Himax’s WLO technology plays a critical role in CPO by providing essential optical coupling capability, making it a core element of the solution. The prospect of CPO remains unchanged and the widespread adoption of CPO for data transmission to be conducted via optics instead of metal wire is on track in high-performance AI applications. Through WLO and CPO technologies, Himax is well-positioned to engage in the high-speed AI computing market with high expectations for its growth,” concluded Mr. Jordan Wu.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Himax net revenues registered $237.2 million, an increase of 6.7% sequentially, significantly exceeding Company’s guidance range of a slight decrease to flat, and up 4.2% year-over-year. Gross margin reached 30.5%, exceeding its guidance of flat to slightly up from 30.0% in the previous quarter, and up from 30.3% in the same period last year. The sequential increase was driven by a favorable product mix and cost improvements. Q4 profit per diluted ADS was 14.0 cents, considerably above the guidance range of 9.3 cents to 11.0 cents, thanks to better-than-expected revenues and improved costs.

    Revenue from large display drivers came in at $25.0 million, reflecting a 18.6% sequential decline. The decrease was primarily attributed to continued customer destocking after substantial Q2 replenishment for shopping festivals, as well as heightened price competition from Chinese peers. Sales of large panel driver ICs accounted for 10.5% of total revenues for the quarter, compared to 13.8% last quarter and 14.8% a year ago.

    Small and medium-sized display driver segment totaled $166.8 million, an increase of 7.4% sequentially, exceeding its guidance of flat quarter-over-quarter, thanks to stronger-than-expected sales in the automotive and tablet markets. Q4 automotive driver sales, including both traditional DDIC and TDDI, experienced mid-teens increase, significantly outperforming Company’s expectation of a single digit increase, with both DDIC and TDDI showing stronger-than-expected sales. This surge was primarily driven by continued rush orders from Chinese panel customers, carried over from Q3, following the Chinese government’s renewed trade-in stimulus initiative announced in mid-August 2024 to boost automobile consumption. Remarkably, Himax’s Q4 automotive TDDI sales have exceeded DDIC sales for the first time, underscoring the global adoption of Company’s TDDI solutions, which are increasingly essential in modern vehicles, and reflects the growing demand for more intuitive, interactive, and cost-effective touch panel features powered by TDDI technology. Himax’s automotive business, comprising drivers, Tcon, and OLED IC sales, accounted for around 50% of total Q4 revenues. Meanwhile, Q4 tablet IC sales exceeded the guidance of a low teens decline, with sales up slightly sequentially driven by rush orders from leading end customers. Q4 smartphone IC sales declined slightly, in line with its guidance. The small and medium-sized driver IC segment accounted for 70.3% of total sales for the quarter, compared to 69.9% in the previous quarter and 71.6% a year ago.

    Fourth quarter revenues from its non-driver business reached $45.4 million, exceeding the guidance range, with a 24.9% increase from the previous quarter. The growth was primarily driven by a one-time ASIC Tcon product shipment to a leading projector customer and Tcon for monitor application. In Q4, automotive Tcon sales continued to grow sequentially, due to the widespread adoption of Himax’s market-leading local dimming Tcon with over two hundred secured design-win projects across major panel makers, Tier 1 suppliers, and automotive manufacturers worldwide. Non-driver products accounted for 19.2% of total revenues, as compared to 16.3% in the previous quarter and 13.6% a year ago.  

    Fourth quarter operating expenses were $49.2 million, a decrease of 19.1% from the previous quarter and a decline of 6.0% from a year ago. The sequential decrease stemmed primarily from a reduction in annual employee bonuses, partially offset by an increase in R&D expenses. As part of Company’s standard practice, Himax grants annual bonuses, including cash and RSUs, to employees at the end of September each year. This results in higher IFRS operating expenses in the third quarter compared to the other quarters of the year. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a decline in employee bonus compensation as the amortized portion of prior year’s bonuses for 2023 was higher than that for 2024, offsetting the higher annual bonus compensation grant for 2024 compared to 2023. Amid ongoing macroeconomic challenges, Himax is strictly enforcing budget and expense controls, with full-year 2024 operating expenses declining 5.6% compared to last year.

    Fourth quarter operating income was $23.1 million or 9.7% of sales, compared to 2.6% of sales last quarter and 7.3% of sales for the same period last year. The sequential increase was primarily the result of higher sales, improved gross margin, and lower operating expenses. The year-over-year increase was primarily the result of higher sales, higher gross margin, and lower employee bonus compensation due to the amortized portion of the prior year’s bonuses. Fourth-quarter after-tax profit was $24.6 million, or 14.0 cents per diluted ADS, reflecting a meaningful increase from $13.0 million, or 7.4 cents per diluted ADS last quarter, and up from $23.6 million, or 13.5 cents in the same period last year.

    Full Year 2024 Financial

    Revenues totaled $906.8 million, a slight decline of 4.1% compared to 2023. Persistent global demand weakness, coupled with uncertainty about market trends, led to conservative purchasing decisions and inventory management by Company’s panel customers. Given this uncertainty, Himax implemented strict expense controls, resulting in a 5.6% reduction in operating expenses for the year. However, Company’s optimism in the automotive business remains unwavering, with automotive IC sales increasing by nearly 20% year-over-year in 2024, far outpacing the overall automotive market growth. Among Company’s automotive product lines, automotive TDDI and Tcon sales, both relatively new technologies, surged by more than 70%, driven by accelerated adoption across the board. This growth strengthened Company’s market leadership and positions Himax well for continued success as the automotive sector embraces more advanced technology resulting from the mega trend of increasing size, quantity, and sophistication of displays inside vehicles.

    Revenue from large panel display drivers totaled $125.9 million in 2024, marking a decrease of 28.3% year-over-year, and representing 13.9% of total sales, as compared to 18.6% in 2023. Small and medium-sized driver sales totaled $625.4 million, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.6% year-over-year, and accounting for 69.0% of its total revenues, as compared to 66.5% in 2023. Non-driver product sales totaled $155.5 million, an increase of 10.6% year-over-year, and representing 17.1% of Company’s total sales, as compared to 14.9% a year ago.

    Gross margin in 2024 was 30.5%, up from 27.9% in 2023. The margin expansion was driven by a strategic focus on cost improvements and operational efficiency optimization, combined with a favorable product mix that included a higher percentage of high-margin products such as automotive and Tcon. The successful diversification of foundry sources also contributed to the margin increase.

    Operating expenses in 2024 were $208.0 million, a decline of 5.6% from 2023, primarily due to lower employee bonus compensation, as the amortized portion of bonuses in 2023 was higher than that in 2024. 2024 operating income was $68.2 million, or 7.5% of sales, an increase from $43.2 million, or 4.6% of sales, in 2023. Himax’s net profit for 2024 was $79.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted ADS, significantly up from $50.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted ADS in 2023.

    Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

    Himax had $224.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and other financial assets as of December 31, 2024. This compares to $206.4 million at the same time last year and $206.5 million a quarter ago. Himax achieved a strong positive operating cash flow of $35.4 million for the fourth quarter, compared to a cash outflow of $3.1 million in Q3. Company made a total of $30.1 million annual cash bonus to employees, resulting in the low operating cash flow of the quarter. As of December 31, 2024, Himax had $34.5 million in long-term unsecured loans, with $6.0 million representing the current portion.

    The Company’s inventories as of December 31, 2024 were $158.7 million, lower than $192.5 million last quarter and $217.3 million at the end of last year. Company’s inventory levels have steadily declined over the past couple of quarters and are now at a healthy level. Accounts receivable at the end of December 2024 was $236.8 million, little changed from $224.6 million last quarter and $235.8 million a year ago. DSO was 96 days at the quarter end, as compared to 92 days last quarter and 91 days a year ago. Fourth quarter capital expenditures were $3.2 million, versus $2.6 million last quarter and $15.1 million a year ago. Fourth quarter capex was mainly for R&D related equipment for Company’s IC design business. Total capital expenditures for 2024 were $13.1 million as compared to $23.4 million in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to reduced spending on in-house testers for Company’s IC design business in 2024.

    Outstanding Share

    As of December 31, 2024, Himax had 174.9 million ADS outstanding, little changed from last quarter. On a fully diluted basis, the total number of ADS outstanding for the fourth quarter was 175.1 million.  

    Q1 2025 Outlook

    In 2024, Himax’s sales revenues in each quarter consistently outperformed guidance. While this strong performance is certainly commendable, it also highlights the challenges Company faced such as limited market visibility and conservative customer demand, where many customers relied on rush orders to address their actual demands. On the other hand, rush orders are indicative of the tight inventory position of Company’s panel customers in general. In the past few quarters, Himax has consistently demonstrated its ability to handle most of such rush orders, underscoring Company’s agility, adaptability, strong capabilities in inventory management, and swift market responsiveness.

    The automotive IC sales remained Company’s largest revenue contributor in 2024, accounting for almost half of total revenues and achieving close to 20% annual growth. This performance highlights Himax’s automotive leadership in technological innovations, product development, and market share. Looking ahead, Himax expects its automotive TDDI and Tcon technologies to maintain growth momentum, further strengthening its market competitiveness. Beyond LCD technology, Himax is advancing development in the automotive OLED sector, with numerous projects currently underway in partnership with leading panel makers. Company anticipates that automotive OLED IC will serve as one of the key growth drivers for Himax in the coming years, further solidifying its leadership in automotive display market.

    Meanwhile, Himax is actively expanding its technology development beyond display ICs. To that end, in the WiseEye AI segment, Company has made notable progress with leading notebook brands and achieved significant breakthroughs in smart door lock, palm vein authentication, and smart home applications, collaborating with world-leading customers to develop new innovations. Himax anticipates a strong growth trajectory in its WiseEye business in 2025 and beyond.

    Himax’s proprietary wafer-level optics (WLO) technology for co-packaged optics (CPO) has recently garnered significant attention in the capital markets. In fact, as early as June 2024, Himax and FOCI, a global leader in silicon photonics connectors, jointly announced the industry-leading CPO technology. The collaboration, spanning several years, unites Himax’s WLO technology with FOCI’s CPO solutions for cutting-edge AI multi-chip modules (MCM). Since the announcement, Himax has provided updates on the latest progress in each quarterly earnings call. Himax’s WLO technology plays a critical role in CPO by providing essential optical coupling capability, making it a core element of the solution. CPO significantly enhances bandwidth and accelerates data transmission while reducing signal loss, latency, and power consumption. Additionally, it can help drastically decrease the size and cost of MCM.

    While CPO is still in engineering validation and trial production stage this year, with customer’s mass production timelines undisclosed and the recent AI market disruptions from DeepSeek, the prospect of CPO remains unchanged. The widespread adoption of CPO for data transmission to be conducted via optics instead of metal wire is on track in high-performance AI applications. This is evident by the significant increase in customer’s recent trial production volume forecast, indicating an accelerated timeline for CPO technology to enter mass production. Furthermore, Himax and FOCI, in close collaboration with leading AI customers and partners, are actively developing future generations of CPO technologies to meet the explosive high-speed optical data transmission demand in HPC and AI. Through WLO and CPO technologies, Himax is well-positioned to engage in the high-speed AI computing market with high expectations for its growth. Company believes that CPO technology, beyond cloud applications, will see further adoption in sectors such as automotive and robot in the future. Himax’s current goal is to accelerate CPO adoption in cloud applications, thereby helping drive broader CPO adoption in AI applications.

    At CES this year, Himax showcased a wide range of innovative achievements, including automotive display technology, WiseEye AI, and advanced optical technologies for AR/VR. Notably, a clear trend emerged at this year’s CES as the industry demonstrated growing enthusiasm for AR glasses, fueled by more companies entering the space and integrating generative AI to accelerate the development of lightweight, compact, and all-day AR glasses. For AR glasses, Himax offers three critical technologies, namely LCoS microdisplay, WLO waveguide, and ultralow power WiseEye AI. Company’s latest, patented Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay delivers unparalleled brightness with an industry-leading 400k nits, exceptional optical power efficiency, compact form factor, lightweight, and superior display quality, making it one of the most viable solutions in the see-through AR glasses market. In waveguide, in collaboration with leading tech names, Himax leverages proprietary WLO expertise, built on advanced nanoimprint technology, to offer industry-leading optical solutions that optimize light transmission and display efficiency. In the field of AI sensing for AR glasses, Himax’s WiseEye provides always-on AI sensing capabilities which are being applied by developers to significantly enhance AR interactivity while consuming just a few milliwatts of power.

    In automotive display IC technology, Himax unveiled the industry’s most comprehensive LCD and OLED solutions at CES, showcasing a range of next-generation smart cabin technologies. These solutions not only improve the intuitive operation of smart cabins but also enhance driving safety and provide an exceptional user experience. A prime example is the advanced Display HMI solution developed in collaboration with AUO which meets the demands for large-size, high-resolution, and freeform automotive displays.

    At CES, Himax also partnered with several AI ecosystem partners to showcase its ultralow power WiseEye Modules over a range of innovative, production-ready AIoT applications. These applications include palm vein authentication, baby cry detection, people flow management, and human sensing detection. The modules are designed for easy integration, making it highly suitable for various AIoT applications.

    Display Driver IC Businesses

    LDDIC

    In Q1 2025, Himax anticipates a single digit sequential sales increase for large display driver ICs, driven by demand spurred by Chinese government subsidies for household appliances aimed at reviving demand in the sluggish household sector. Notebook and monitor sales are expected to increase in Q1. In contrast, TV IC sales are set to decline as customers pulled forward their inventory purchases in the prior quarter, coupled with the seasonal slowdown in Q1.

    Looking ahead in the notebook sector, Company is seeing an increase in demand for premium notebooks to adopt OLED displays and touch features, partially fueled by the rise of AI PC. Himax is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, offering a comprehensive range of ICs for both LCD and OLED notebooks, including DDIC, Tcon, touch controllers, and TDDI. A standout innovation is Company’s pioneering in-cell touch TDDI for LCD displays, which improves the ease of system design and integration by embedding the touch controller within the TDDI chip while maintaining the conventional display driver setup for Tcon data transmission. This design simplifies integration for customers, reducing engineering complexity and speeding up product development. This solution also supports high-resolution displays up to 4K and larger screens up to 16 inches, aligning with the growing demand for advanced, visually stunning, and immersive laptops. With mass production already underway for a leading notebook vendor’s AI PC, more projects are lined up. For OLED notebooks, in addition to Company’s OLED DDIC and Tcon solutions, Himax is also developing on-cell touch controller technology, with multiple projects underway with top panel makers and notebook vendors. Last but not least, progress has been made on the next-generation eDP 1.5 display interface for Tcon for both LCD and OLED panels. This interface will support high frame rates, low power consumption, adaptive sync, and high resolution, key features essential for next-generation AI PCs. By delivering innovative, cutting-edge technologies, Himax is well-positioned to lead in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI PCs and premium notebooks.

    SMDDIC

    On SMDDIC revenue, for the full year 2024, Himax’s automotive driver IC sales, comprising of TDDI and traditional DDIC, increased nearly 20% year-over-year, significantly outpacing global automotive growth, largely driven by the continued adoption of TDDI technology among major customers across all continents. However, Himax anticipates Q1 automotive revenue to decline low teens sequentially, following two quarters of surge demand. Despite this, Q1 automotive sales are still projected to increase by mid-teens on a year-over-year basis. In the automotive TDDI sector, with cumulative shipments significantly surpassing those of Himax’s competitors, Company continues to reinforce its market leadership, which currently stands at well over 50%. With nearly 500 design-in projects secured and a continuous influx of new pipeline and design-wins across the board, of which only 30% already in mass production, Himax expects to sustain this decent growth in the years ahead. While traditional automotive DDIC sales for 2024 declined due to their gradual, partial replacement by TDDI, Company’s DDIC shipment volume still saw a modest increase in the last year. This demonstrates the steady demand for mature DDIC products, such as those used in cluster displays, HUDs, and rear- and side-view mirrors, which do not require touch functionality. Furthermore, the long-term trust and loyalty from Company’s DDIC customers, some of whom have relied on Himax’s solutions for over a decade, is indicative of Company’s strong customer retention. Himax continues to lead the automotive DDIC market, maintaining a global market share of approximately 40%.

    Himax continues to lead in automotive display IC innovation by pioneering solutions that deliver superior performance, power efficiency, and enhanced user experiences. As part of this ongoing innovation, Company’s latest TED (Tcon Embedded Driver IC) solution, which combines TDDI with local dimming Tcon into a single chip, provides a cost-effective, flexible, and comprehensive solution for its customers. Another new technology worth highlighting is Himax’s automotive TDDI with advanced user-aware touch control, which differentiates between driver and passenger touches to prevent cross-touch and enhance driving safety. In addition, Company offers a unique knob-on-in-cell-display solution that combines a physical knob with a TDDI. This design seamlessly merges in-cell touch technology with tactile controls, offering drivers a safer, more intuitive interaction that reduces distractions and enhances the overall driving experience.

    Moving to smartphone and tablet IC sales, Himax expects a sequential decline in both product lines, as is typical during the low season in Q1 due to the Lunar New Year.

    On OLED business update. In the automotive OLED market, Company has established strategic partnerships with leading panel makers in Korea, China, and Japan. As OLED technology extends beyond premium car models, Himax is well-positioned as the preferred partner, leveraging Company’s strong presence and proven track record in the automotive LCD display sector. Capitalizing on Himax’s first-mover advantage, Himax aims to drive the growing adoption of OLED in automotive displays by offering a comprehensive range of solutions, including DDIC, Tcon, and on-cell touch controller. Company believes this positions it as a primary beneficiary of the anticipated shift toward OLED displays for high end vehicles in a couple of years, enabling Himax to capture new growth opportunities and further strengthen its market leadership.

    Beyond the automotive sector, Company has also made strides in the tablet and notebook markets, partnering with leading OLED panel makers in Korea and China. Himax’s comprehensive OLED product portfolio, covering DDIC, Tcon, and touch controllers, has driven several new projects that are on track to begin mass production this year. In the smartphone OLED market, Company is making solid progress in collaborations with customers in Korea and China and anticipates mass production to start later this year.

    First quarter small and medium-sized display driver IC business is expected to decline low teens sequentially.

    Non-Driver Product Categories

    Q1 non-driver IC revenues are expected to decrease high teens sequentially.

    Timing Controller (Tcon)

    Himax anticipates Q1 2025 Tcon sales to decrease mid-teens sequentially, primarily due to the non-recurrence of a one-time ASIC Tcon shipment to a leading projector customer last quarter, as well as a moderation in automotive Tcon shipments following several quarters of strong growth. That being said, Himax maintains an unchallenged position in local dimming Tcon, evidenced by growing validation and widespread adoption in both premium and mainstream car models worldwide. Company is confident in the continued growth of its automotive Tcon business, supported by its strong market presence in local dimming Tcon, with strong pipeline of over two hundred design-win projects set to gradually enter production in the coming years. Heads-up display (HUD) is another field gaining traction within automotive displays, driving increased adoption of local dimming Tcon technology and emerging as a particularly promising application. Himax’s industry-leading local dimming Tcon provides distinct advancements with high contrast ratio and optimized power consumption. It effectively eliminates the “postcard effect” often seen in HUDs, caused by backlight leakage typical of conventional TFT LCD panels, ensuring clear and precise images on the windshield. Additionally, the Tcon features advanced transparency detection to prevent the display from obstructing the driver’s view, thereby ensuring driving safety. Several HUD projects are already in progress, and Himax is excited about the potential opportunities ahead. Company is well positioned for continuous growth in automotive Tcon over the next few years.

    WiseEye™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing

    On the update of WiseEye™ ultralow power AI sensing solution, a cutting-edge endpoint AI integration featuring industry-leading ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm. WiseEye AI delivers a significant competitive edge in the rapidly growing AI market through its ultralow power consumption and context-aware, on-device AI inferencing that seamlessly integrates vision and other sensing capabilities into endpoint applications, particularly battery-powered devices. This not only enhances intuitive user interaction but also makes AI more practical and accessible. Additionally, WiseEye AI offloads tasks from the main processor, effectively extending battery lifespan and improving overall data processing efficiency. Building on the success with Dell notebooks, Himax WiseEye AI is continuing to expand its market presence, with additional use cases expected across other leading notebook brands, some of which are set for production later this year.

    WiseEye also continues to achieve significant market success across various sectors. For smart door lock, Company collaborated with DESMAN, a leading high-end brand in China, to introduce the world’s first smart door lock with 24/7 sentry monitoring and real-time event recording. Building on this achievement, Himax is expanding globally by collaborating with other leading door lock makers worldwide to integrate innovative AI features, including parcel recognition, anti-pinch protection, and palm vein biometric access, further extending application possibilities. Several of these value-added solutions are set to enter production later this year. At CES 2025, Himax joined forces with ecosystem partners to unveil a suite of innovative, production-ready AIoT applications, powered by Company’s tiny form factor, plug-and-play WiseEye Modules. Himax offers a series of modules, each incorporating an ultralow power WiseEye AI processor, an AoS image sensor, and advanced algorithms. The modules feature no-code/low-code AI platform capabilities, simplifying AI integration and supporting diverse use cases, such as human presence detection, gender and age recognition, gesture recognition, face mesh, voice command, thermal image sensing, pose estimation and people flow management. By streamlining deployment and reducing development costs, WiseEye Modules open new opportunities for automation, enhance interactivity, and elevate user experiences across a variety of industries.

    A broad range of innovative, ultralow power WiseEye Modules are also under development in collaboration with ecosystem partners, such as crying baby detection, dynamic gesture recognition, and human sensing, among others. One standout in Himax’s WiseEye Module portfolio is the Himax WiseEye PalmVein solution, which has quickly gained traction since its introduction just one year ago. Company has secured multiple design wins, with mass production already underway by a US customer for smart access applications and a Taiwan-based door lock vendor for its leading smart door lock brands. To meet growing customer demand for flexibility across various environments, the upgraded WiseEye PalmVein suite now features bimodal authentication, combining both palm vein and face recognitions. This dual-authentication solution enhances security by offering two layers of biometric verification, which not only increases reliability but also makes it highly adaptable to various environments.

    The rise of physical AI agents marks a significant shift in human-machine interaction, enabling devices to perceive, process, and respond to their surroundings in real time. A key emerging trend is the integration of cloud-based large language models (LLMs), which enables these agents’ advanced reasoning and language understanding, enhancing their ability to interact with and adapt to the physical world. Himax WiseEye AI is at the forefront of this revolution, delivering always-on sensor fusion, ultralow power on-device processing, while seamlessly interfacing with LLMs, to provide the essential real-time AI capabilities for next-generation applications. A good illustration of this innovation was showcased at CES 2025, where Himax and Seeed Studio introduced the SenseCAP Watcher, a physical AI agent powered by WiseEye AI. Equipped with vision and audio sensor fusion, along with a speaker, this battery-powered IoT device combines on-device AI with cloud-based LLMs to interpret commands, recognize objects, respond to events, and facilitate real-time interaction. Drawing from the success of SenseCAP Watcher, Himax is actively working on multiple projects leveraging WiseEye AI to further drive advancements in physical AI agent applications.

    Separately, Himax is excited about its collaboration with a leading AR player to integrate WiseEye AI into the next generation of AR glasses. At CES, there was a renewed enthusiasm on AR glasses with AI becoming an integral component to enable intuitive and seamless human-device interaction. WiseEye AI addresses two critical challenges in AR glasses, namely real-time responsiveness and power efficiency. For example, WiseEye supports always-on outward sensing, enabling AR glasses to detect and analyze the surrounding environment with real time context-aware AI. This capability powers instant response, real-time object recognition, navigation assistance, translation, and environmental mapping, enhancing the overall AR experience. Notably, WiseEye AI’s exceptional ultralow power consumption, measured in single digit milliwatts, also make it perfectly suited for AR glasses for all-day wear. In another example, Company collaborates with Ganzin on eyeball tracking technology, which, powered by WiseEye, precisely detects subtle eyeball movements, gaze direction, pupil size, and blinking, thereby providing critical data for the enhancement of user interaction in AR glasses.

    Wafer Level Optics (WLO)

    In June 2024, Himax, in partnership with FOCI, a world leader in silicon photonics connector, unveiled an industry-leading co-packaged optics (CPO) technology, leveraging Himax state-of-the-art WLO technology. This innovation integrates silicon photonic chips and optical connectors within MCM, replacing traditional metal wire transmission with high-speed optical communication. The technology significantly enhances bandwidth, boosts data transmission rates, reduces signal loss and latency, lowers power consumption, and significantly minimizes the size and cost of MCM. In working closely with FOCI, Himax is making significant strides through a solid partnership with leading AI semiconductor companies and foundry, with small-scale production of the first-generation CPO solution already underway. The significant increase in Q1 engineering validation and trial production volume, combined with the anticipated sample volume increases in the coming quarters, is a strong indication that CPO technology is being accelerated toward mass production. In addition, in close collaboration with leading AI customers/partners, Himax is speeding up the development of CPO technology for the next few generations. Himax is more optimistic than ever about the outlook for its WLO business, which is poised to generate significant growth opportunities and become a major revenue and profit contributor in the years ahead.

    Alongside the CPO progress, Company is witnessing a rise in engineering collaborations with global technology leaders who are utilizing Himax’s WLO expertise to make advanced waveguides for AR glasses, highlighting the growing recognition of Company’s WLO capabilities.

    LCoS

    On the update on LCoS, Company recently introduced its industry-leading 400K nits ultra-luminous Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay, setting a new benchmark for brightness with extremely low power consumption of merely 300mW. At CES 2025, Company showcased an AR glasses POC (Proof-Of-Concept) featuring the microdisplay with a third-party waveguide, achieving over 1,000 nits of brightness to the eye. This demonstration highlighted its suitability for outdoor, high ambient light conditions. With a lightweight of just 0.98 grams and ultra-compact form factor of less than 0.5 c.c., combined with excellent color performance, Himax’s Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay is ideal for all-day AR glasses and underscores the technology’s readiness for real-world applications.

    Following the recent release of Himax’s 400K nits ultra-luminous Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay, Himax is actively engaged in significant projects through strategic collaborations with industry leaders. Himax’s proven track record of over a decade in LCoS technology, coupled with a history of successful production shipments, highlights Company’s readiness to meet the demands of large-scale production of AR glasses.

    First Quarter 2025 Guidance
    Net Revenue: Decrease 8.5% to 12.5% QoQ, Flat to Up 4.6% YoY
    Gross Margin: Around 30.5%, depending on final product mix
    Profit: 9.0 cents to 11.0 cents per diluted ADS, Up 26% to 54% YoY  
       

    Himax noticed that some peers’ customers placed orders early due to tariff factors, especially in the consumer electronics sector, resulting in Q1 revenue forecasts exceeding normal seasonal demand. In contrast, no similar trend has been observed in the automotive semiconductor market. Since Himax’s automotive business accounts for more than half of its total revenues, Himax’s Q1 revenue forecast has not benefited from tariff factors.

    HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2024 EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL
    DATE: Thursday, February 13, 2025
    TIME: U.S.       8:00 a.m. EST
    Taiwan  9:00 p.m.
       
    Live Webcast (Video and Audio): http://www.zucast.com/webcast/br8wqbB4
    Toll Free Dial-in Number (Audio Only):
      Hong Kong 2112-1444
    Taiwan 0080-119-6666
    Australia 1-800-015-763
    Canada 1-877-252-8508
    China (1) 4008-423-888
    China (2) 4006-786-286
    Singapore 800-492-2072
    UK 0800-068-8186
    United States (1) 1-800-811-0860
    United States (2) 1-866-212-5567
    Dial-in Number (Audio Only): 
      Taiwan Domestic Access 02-3396-1191
    International Access +886-2-3396-1191
    Participant PIN Code: 3329013 # 
       

    If you choose to attend the call by dialing in via phone, please enter the Participant PIN Code 3329013 # after the call is connected. A replay of the webcast will be available beginning two hours after the call on www.himax.com.tw. This webcast can be accessed by clicking on this link or Himax’s website, where it will remain available until February 13, 2026.

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

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

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

    Company Contacts:

    Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw
      
    Karen Tiao, Investor Relations
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

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

    -Financial Tables-

    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss
    (These interim financials do not fully comply with IFRS because they omit all interim disclosure required by IFRS)
    (Amounts in Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Data)
      Three Months
    Ended December 31,
      3 Months
    Ended
    September 30,
        2024       2023       2024  
               
    Revenues          
    Revenues from third parties, net $ 237,182     $ 227,664     $ 222,401  
    Revenues from related parties, net   41       14       6  
        237,223       227,678       222,407  
               
    Costs and expenses:          
    Cost of revenues   164,963       158,669       155,795  
    Research and development   37,584       41,088       46,880  
    General and administrative   5,711       5,831       6,828  
    Sales and marketing   5,886       5,409       7,048  
    Total costs and expenses   214,144       210,997       216,551  
               
    Operating income   23,079       16,681       5,856  
               
    Non operating income (loss):          
    Interest income   2,042       1,934       2,297  
    Changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   1,245       1,710       27  
    Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net   690       (1,525 )     457  
    Finance costs   (964 )     (1,140 )     (1,018 )
    Share of losses of associates   (360 )     (14 )     (143 )
    Other losses         (1,932 )      
    Other income (losses)   60       (362 )     105  
        2,713       (1,329 )     1,725  
    Profit before income taxes   25,792       15,352       7,581  
    Income tax expense (benefit)   761       (7,933 )     (5,174 )
    Profit for the period   25,031       23,285       12,755  
    Loss (profit) attributable to noncontrolling interests   (423 )     280       268  
    Profit attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders $ 24,608     $ 23,565     $ 13,023  
               
    Basic earnings per ADS attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders $ 0.141     $ 0.135     $ 0.075  
    Diluted earnings per ADS attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders $ 0.140     $ 0.135     $ 0.074  
               
    Basic Weighted Average Outstanding ADS   175,008       174,724       174,727  
    Diluted Weighted Average Outstanding ADS   175,146       174,979       174,987  
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss
    (Amounts in Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Data)
       
        Twelve Months
    Ended December 31,
          2024       2023  
             
    Revenues        
    Revenues from third parties, net   $ 906,737     $ 945,309  
    Revenues from related parties, net     65       119  
          906,802       945,428  
             
    Costs and expenses:        
    Cost of revenues     630,601       681,931  
    Research and development     160,329       171,392  
    General and administrative     24,121       25,037  
    Sales and marketing     23,530       23,856  
    Total costs and expenses     838,581       902,216  
             
    Operating income     68,221       43,212  
             
    Non operating income (loss):        
    Interest income     9,907       8,746  
    Changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     1,363       1,655  
    Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net     2,491       (768 )
    Finance costs     (4,014 )     (6,080 )
    Share of losses of associates     (831 )     (598 )
    Other losses           (1,932 )
    Other income     198       158  
          9,114       1,181  
    Profit before income taxes     77,335       44,393  
    Income tax benefit     (2,435 )     (5,028 )
    Profit for the period     79,770       49,421  
    Loss (profit) attributable to noncontrolling interests     (15 )     1,195  
    Profit attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders   $ 79,755     $ 50,616  
             
    Basic earnings per ADS attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders   $ 0.456     $ 0.290  
    Diluted earnings per ADS attributable to Himax Technologies, Inc. stockholders   $ 0.456     $ 0.290  
             
    Basic Weighted Average Outstanding ADS     174,796       174,495  
    Diluted Weighted Average Outstanding ADS     175,014       174,783  
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    IFRS Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
    (Amounts in Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
     
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      September 30,
    2024
    Assets            
    Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 218,148     $ 191,749     $ 194,139  
    Financial assets at amortized cost     4,286       12,511       12,335  
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     2,140       2,117        
    Accounts receivable, net (including related parties)     236,813       235,829       224,589  
    Inventories     158,746       217,308       192,458  
    Income taxes receivable     726       1,454       986  
    Restricted deposit     503,700       453,000       503,700  
    Other receivable from related parties     13       69       22  
    Other current assets     43,471       86,548       42,581  
    Total current assets     1,168,043       1,200,585       1,170,810  
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     23,554       21,650       26,383  
    Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income     28,226       1,635       22,457  
    Equity method investments     8,571       3,490       2,945  
    Property, plant and equipment, net     121,280       130,109       122,333  
    Deferred tax assets     21,193       14,196       13,806  
    Goodwill     28,138       28,138       28,138  
    Other intangible assets, net     636       816       717  
    Restricted deposit     31       32       31  
    Refundable deposits     221,824       222,025       221,879  
    Other non-current assets     18,025       20,728       18,484  
          471,478       442,819       457,173  
         Total assets   $ 1,639,521     $ 1,643,404     $ 1,627,983  
    Liabilities and Equity            
    Current liabilities:            
    Current portion of long-term unsecured borrowings   $ 6,000     $ 6,000     $ 6,000  
    Short-term secured borrowings     503,700       453,000       503,700  
    Accounts payable (including related parties)     113,203       107,342       121,384  
    Income taxes payable     9,514       15,309       2,324  
    Other payable to related parties           110        
    Contract liabilities-current     10,622       17,751       25,694  
    Other current liabilities     63,595       109,291       54,673  
    Total current liabilities     706,634       708,803       713,775  
    Long-term unsecured borrowings     28,500       34,500       30,000  
    Deferred tax liabilities     564       520       505  
    Other non-current liabilities     7,496       35,879       11,361  
          36,560       70,899       41,866  
    Total liabilities     743,194       779,702       755,641  
    Equity            
    Ordinary shares     107,010       107,010       107,010  
    Additional paid-in capital     115,376       114,648       115,285  
    Treasury shares     (5,546 )     (5,157 )     (4,714 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income     8,621       (180 )     3,507  
    Retained earnings     664,600       640,447       644,596  
    Equity attributable to owners of Himax Technologies, Inc.     890,061       856,768       865,684  
    Noncontrolling interests     6,266       6,934       6,658  
    Total equity     896,327       863,702       872,342  
         Total liabilities and equity   $ 1,639,521     $ 1,643,404     $ 1,627,983  
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Amounts in Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
     
        Three Months
    Ended December 31,
      Three Months Ended
    September 30,
          2024       2023       2024  
                 
    Cash flows from operating activities:            
    Profit for the period   $ 25,031     $ 23,285     $ 12,755  
    Adjustments for:            
    Depreciation and amortization     5,564       5,115       5,640  
    Share-based compensation expenses     103       346       407  
    Losses (gains) on disposals of property, plant and equipment, net     4       (368 )      
    Loss on re-measurement of the pre-existing relationships in a business combination           1,932        
    Changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     (1,245 )     (1,710 )     (27 )
    Interest income     (2,042 )     (1,934 )     (2,297 )
    Finance costs     964       1,140       1,018  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     761       (7,933 )     (5,174 )
    Share of losses of associates     360       14       143  
    Inventories write downs     4,037       5,727       2,269  
    Unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains)     (159 )     1,517       228  
          33,378       27,131       14,962  
    Changes in:            
    Accounts receivable (including related parties)     (27,302 )     8,163       8,548  
    Inventories     29,675       36,580       8,964  
    Other receivable from related parties     9       (29 )     33  
    Other current assets     2,502       (5,682 )     (778 )
    Accounts payable (including related parties)     (7,706 )     (627 )     (26,101 )
    Other payable to related parties     1       363       (102 )
    Contract liabilities     6       (958 )     667  
    Other current liabilities     2,508       3,014       (4,161 )
    Other non-current liabilities     71       393       (3,354 )
    Cash generated from operating activities     33,142       68,348       (1,322 )
    Interest received     3,513       2,665       860  
    Interest paid     (1,047 )     (1,140 )     (1,018 )
    Income tax paid     (191 )     (1,131 )     (1,658 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     35,417       68,742       (3,138 )
                 
    Cash flows from investing activities:            
    Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment     (3,222 )     (15,052 )     (2,551 )
    Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment           111        
    Acquisitions of intangible assets           (40 )     (9 )
    Acquisitions of financial assets at amortized cost     (2,286 )     (4,573 )     (1,500 )
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at amortized cost     10,289       784       617  
    Acquisitions of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     (6,807 )     (5,375 )     (27,934 )
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     3,722       1,645       33,036  
    Acquisitions of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income           (1,379 )      
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income           99        
    Acquisition of a subsidiary, net of cash acquired (paid)     (5,416 )     433        
    Proceeds from capital reduction of investment     338       360        
    Acquisitions of equity method investment     (1,236 )            
    Decrease (increase) in refundable deposits     (8 )           11,339  
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     (4,626 )     (22,987 )     12,998  
                 
    Cash flows from financing activities:            
    Purchase of treasury shares     (832 )            
    Prepayments for purchase of treasury shares     (2,168 )            
    Payments of cash dividends                 (50,670 )
    Payments of dividend equivalents                 (233 )
    Proceeds from issuance of new shares by subsidiaries           916        
    Purchases of subsidiaries shares from noncontrolling interests           (9 )      
    Proceeds from short-term unsecured borrowings           36,932        
    Repayments of short-term unsecured borrowings           (37,226 )      
    Repayments of long-term unsecured borrowings     (1,500 )     (1,500 )     (1,500 )
    Proceeds from short-term secured borrowings     461,400       427,100       522,600  
    Repayments of short-term secured borrowings     (461,400 )     (427,100 )     (471,900 )
    Pledge of restricted deposit                 (50,700 )
    Payment of lease liabilities     (1,340 )     (1,244 )     (979 )
    Guarantee deposits received (refunded)     219       (5 )      
    Net cash used in financing activities     (5,621 )     (2,136 )     (53,382 )
    Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (1,161 )     873       985  
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     24,009       44,492       (42,537 )
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     194,139       147,257       236,676  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 218,148     $ 191,749     $ 194,139  
                 
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Amounts in Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
        Twelve Months
    Ended December 31,
          2024       2023  
             
    Cash flows from operating activities:        
    Profit for the period   $ 79,770     $ 49,421  
    Adjustments for:        
    Depreciation and amortization     22,354       20,322  
    Share-based compensation expenses     1,247       2,663  
    Losses (gains) on disposals of property, plant and equipment, net     4       (368 )
    Loss on re-measurement of the pre-existing relationships in a business combination           1,932  
    Changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     (1,363 )     (1,655 )
    Interest income     (9,907 )     (8,746 )
    Finance costs     4,014       6,080  
    Income tax benefit     (2,435 )     (5,028 )
    Share of losses of associates     831       598  
    Inventories write downs     13,551       21,540  
    Unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains)     (171 )     624  
          107,895       87,383  
    Changes in:        
    Accounts receivable (including related parties)     (40,738 )     20,804  
    Inventories     45,011       132,090  
    Other receivable from related parties     56       5  
    Other current assets     3,941       (3,863 )
    Accounts payable (including related parties)     14,567       7,676  
    Other payable to related parties     (110 )     (268 )
    Contract liabilities     45       (37,051 )
    Other current liabilities     (9,010 )     1,246  
    Other non-current liabilities     (2,260 )     (4,602 )
    Cash generated from operating activities     119,397       203,420  
    Interest received     9,732       8,567  
    Interest paid     (4,015 )     (6,080 )
    Income tax paid     (9,138 )     (53,066 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities     115,976       152,841  
             
    Cash flows from investing activities:        
    Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment     (13,054 )     (23,378 )
    Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment           111  
    Acquisitions of intangible assets     (153 )     (115 )
    Acquisitions of financial assets at amortized cost     (11,236 )     (6,911 )
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at amortized cost     19,457       3,099  
    Acquisitions of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     (76,003 )     (82,628 )
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     70,389       75,539  
    Acquisitions of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income     (17,164 )     (1,379 )
    Proceeds from disposal of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income           99  
    Acquisition of a subsidiary, net of cash acquired (paid)     (5,416 )     433  
    Proceeds from capital reduction of investment     338       360  
    Acquisitions of equity method investment     (1,236 )      
    Decrease (increase) in refundable deposits     33,562       (56,933 )
    Cash received in advance from disposal of land           2,821  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (516 )     (88,882 )
             
    Cash flows from financing activities:        
    Purchase of treasury shares     (832 )      
    Prepayments for purchase of treasury shares     (2,168 )      
    Payments of cash dividends     (50,670 )     (83,720 )
    Payments of dividend equivalents     (233 )     (148 )
    Proceeds from issuance of new shares by subsidiary     71       916  
    Purchases of subsidiaries shares from noncontrolling interests     (190 )     (9 )
    Proceeds from short-term unsecured borrowings           47,226  
    Repayments of short-term unsecured borrowings           (47,226 )
    Repayments of long-term unsecured borrowings     (6,000 )     (6,000 )
    Proceeds from short-term secured borrowings     1,780,300       1,383,300  
    Repayments of short-term secured borrowings     (1,729,600 )     (1,299,600 )
    Pledge of restricted deposit     (50,700 )     (83,700 )
    Payment of lease liabilities     (5,032 )     (4,830 )
    Guarantee deposits received (refunded)     (23,163 )     200  
    Net cash used in financing activities     (88,217 )     (93,591 )
    Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (844 )     (200 )
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     26,399       (29,832 )
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     191,749       221,581  
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 218,148     $ 191,749  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Delaying RFK Jr. Confirmation Vote on Senate Floor, Warren Highlights Kennedy’s Egregious Conflicts of Interest, “Long History of Promoting Anti-Science Conspiracy Theories”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    February 12, 2025

    Warren, Democrats hold Senate floor for 30 hours to oppose “dangerous” RFK Jr. confirmation 

    “Kennedy’s actions speak louder than his latest words, and time and time again, Kennedy has shown us who he is: An anti-science conspiracy peddler who is willing to gamble with American lives. We know who he is, we need to pay attention.”

    “(W)hile you and your family are forced to deal with the grave consequences of Kennedy’s conspiracy-driven health care decisions, Kennedy could set himself up to make millions of dollars off his anti-vaccine crusade – just like he’s been doing for decades. ” 

    Video of Remarks (YouTube)

    Washington, D.C. – On the floor of the United States Senate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Democrats in delaying a final vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Warren warned that American families and children would pay the price for Mr. Kennedy’s “conspiracy-driven health care decisions,” while his serious ethics conflicts remain unresolved. 

    Senator Warren called on her colleagues to oppose his nomination. The Senate is scheduled to vote on Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation on the morning of February 13, 2025. 

    Transcript: Floor Speech Opposing the Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services
    U.S. Senate Floor
    February 12, 2025 
    As Delivered

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. President. And I want to say thanks to the Senator from Minnesota for her leadership on this point. I know that the great research institutions in Minnesota that count on her support are out there fighting thanks to Donald Trump, as they are in Massachusetts. And the people all around this country that rely on those research institutions, who are looking for those cures, for those better treatments, for those opportunities in their lives that right now Donald Trump and his co-president, Elon Musk, seem to want to cut off. So we will stay in this fight. We will indeed. 

    I am here today because Americans didn’t vote to bring back measles.

    Americans didn’t vote to bring back polio.

    Americans didn’t vote to bring back dangerous diseases that we thought we had wiped out decades ago. 

    Americans didn’t vote to get rid of critical vaccines that we know — based on science — we know save lives.

    But that is what Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vision would mean for Americans. That is the vision Donald Trump will empower him to carry out.

    Kennedy not only worked to undercut vaccines at home and abroad, he’s made a lot of money doing it. In fact, Kennedy has made millions off of peddling harmful conspiracy theories that hurt real people. He opposed the life-saving Covid vaccine just six months into the pandemic. And he’s set himself up so that he and his family could make millions more from putting Americans’ health at risk.

    One thing is very clear: We cannot trust Robert Kennedy to make health care decisions that will affect every person in this country.

    Right now, millions of Americans are sitting down for dinner with their kids. And I hope we just think for a minute about what RFK Jr.’s plans would mean for them.

    Will their teeth decay because Kennedy took fluoride out of our water based on some conspiracy theory? 

    Will they have to worry about getting measles at school because Kennedy is spreading anti-vax conspiracies on government letterhead? 

    Will parents have to risk their kids getting polio—and maybe dying—by sending them to daycare because Kennedy used HHS rules to open the door to a flood of bogus lawsuits that forced manufacturers to pull the vaccines?

    Look, here’s the thing: Robert Kennedy has spent years on an anti-vaccine crusade, spreading baseless conspiracy theories under the guise of protecting children, so we don’t need to guess the level of harm he will cause; his past already tells us everything we need to know.   

    In July 2018, two children died immediately after receiving a measles vaccine that nurses had incorrectly mixed with a muscle relaxant. Within weeks, the Samoan Health Ministry publicly confirmed the nursing error and charged the nurses with manslaughter. Nevertheless, leading anti-vaccine groups, including Kennedy’s own organization, Children’s Health Defense, exploited public fears to question the reports and spread baseless claims.

    On August 5th, 2018, Kennedy’s organization, Children’s Health Defense, posted on Facebook, and I will quote the post. “Were these once-healthy children the only two to receive MMR that day? If not, why were they the only ones to die? Research needs to determine susceptibility so that no child is ever injured.” Del Bigtree, Kennedy’s partner and former campaign manager, also released a video linking the tragedy to false claims about measles, and telling his followers to “share it with everyone you know. This is how we are changing the world.” 

    Now, amidst public distrust and a paused vaccine program in Samoa, the vaccination rates plummeted. About 10 months later, once the Samoan government had finally stood up against the disinformation and resumed the vaccine program, Kennedy visited the island to meet with the Prime Minister.

    Later, recognizing the blowback that comes with how much went wrong when a conspiracy theory cost people their lives, Kennedy has since denied that his visit had anything to do with vaccines and said that anything suggesting otherwise was an “industry propaganda trope.” In other words, totally false. “Industry propaganda trope.” 

    Kennedy lied. A blog post that Kennedy himself wrote in 2021 admits he went to Samoa to meet with the Prime Minister, who wanted to discuss the possibility of “measur(ing) health outcomes following the ‘natural experiment’ created by the nation’s respite from vaccines.” 

    Think about what that means. Another way to say it is that Kennedy was interested in taking advantage of how the vaccination rate had plummeted, caused by misinformation, so that they could conduct uncontrolled trials on whether unvaccinated kids were healthier than vaccinated kids, a conspiracy theory he has spread widely. You see, at the time, one of his traveling partners was working on a similar study with two anti-vaccine activists, which was ultimately retracted following an investigation that “raised several methodological issues and confirmed that the conclusions were not supported by strong scientific data.” 

    Now, there’s no surprise here. The Prime Minister declined Kennedy’s outrageous proposal – he didn’t want his country to be Kennedy’s guinea pig. He didn’t want unvaccinated children to be studied to see what happened to them when measles or other diseases broke out. But that didn’t stop him from spreading his message. On this trip to Samoa, he met with various anti-vaccine influencers, one of whom said the meeting was “profoundly monumental for (the) movement.” A few months after Kennedy left, in October 2019, the vaccination rate in Samoa hit an historic low of 31%, down from 74% the prior year – and no surprise, a massive measles outbreak erupted. So here is Kennedy telling us now he had nothing, nothing to do with this, his trip to Samoa had nothing to do with the measles vaccine and calling any claim “industry propaganda trope.” And yet, he himself posted a blog about meeting with the Prime Minister and talking about a study to measure health outcomes following a natural experiment of studying children–some with no vaccination and some that were vaccinated. And the anti-vax groups that he met with talked about how profoundly important it is, then Mr. Kennedy leaves, vaccination rates drop down to 31%.

    The measles outbreak was truly tragic. In total, more than 70 children died, right up until a door-to-door vaccination campaign brought the disaster to an end.

    As HHS Secretary, Kennedy would be responsible for whether we keep our children vaccinated or subject them to, in his words, the same “natural experiment” he was interested in testing in Samoa.

    Is that what we want for our kids? Is that what we want for our elderly parents? That is a living nightmare — and it could truly be our reality with Kennedy heading up the Department of Health and Human Services. And all the while that this is going on, while Kennedy is promoting this anti-vax theory, he and his family are profiting off of the plan.

    Now, I’ve been sounding the alarm about Kennedy since the minute Donald Trump announced that he would nominate him for HHS Secretary. It’s not just that he’s unqualified — his long history of promoting anti-science conspiracy theories make him disqualified.

    This is a man who claimed “there is no vaccine that is safe and effective.” “No vaccine.” 

    He said that the polio vaccine “killed many, many more people” than polio ever did. Now, Kennedy came to our committee and said don’t worry, he swears anti-vaccine. But he’s spent his entire career on an anti-vaccine crusade, spreading baseless conspiracy theories under the guise of protecting children and making millions in the process.

    And when, in Senate hearings, he was confronted with his own words, he simply denied saying them.  Denied saying them— despite the videotapes, the transcripts, the blog posts, and the people who heard them. Kennedy thinks he knows what he needs to say to try to get the job that will put him in charge of our vaccine program, so he says he didn’t say exactly what he said.

    Kennedy’s actions speak louder than his latest words, and time and time again, Kennedy has shown us who he is: An anti-science conspiracy peddler who is willing to gamble with American lives. We know who he is, we need to pay attention.

    Let’s do a quick count of some of the ways that, as HHS Secretary, Kennedy could make the anti-vaccine lawsuits — and his own payouts — even bigger. What could Kennedy do? Well, as Secretary of HHS: 

    • He could publish his anti-vaccine conspiracies, but this time on U.S. government letterhead — something that might impress a jury in a subsequent trial. 
    • He could appoint people to the CDC vaccine panel who share his anti-vax views and let them do his dirty work.
    • He could tell the CDC vaccine panel to remove a particular vaccine from the vaccination schedule. 
    • He could remove vaccines from a special compensation program, which would “open up manufacturers to mass torts (lawsuits).” 
    • He could “make more injuries eligible for compensation even if there’s no causal evidence.” 
    • He could change vaccine court processes to make it easier to bring junk lawsuits that could get vaccines pulled from the market.
    • He could turn over FDA (data) to his friends at the law firm, and they could use it however benefits their lawsuits. 

    In short, as HHS Secretary, Kennedy would have the power to make health care decisions that would affect millions of Americans — for working Americans, kids, seniors — on everything from vaccines to abortion to life-saving drugs. Kennedy would have the capacity, as head of HHS, to make it easier to sue vaccine manufacturers. And in an area where the profit margins on vaccines are quite modest, if those lawsuits mount up, vaccines could simply disappear from the market altogether. Manufacturers could decide, “you know, it’s just not worth the lawsuits. We’ll go produce other drugs.” 

    Those kinds of decisions are critically important, and the consequences are grave. For many Americans, they may be the difference between life and death. And they can change lives forever.

    So, while you and your family are forced to deal with the grave consequences of Kennedy’s conspiracy-driven health care decisions, Kennedy could set himself up to make millions of dollars off his anti-vaccine crusade – just like he’s been doing for decades. 

    Remember, the very first ethics agreement that Kennedy submitted to us on the Senate Finance Committee, he said that even while serving as HHS Secretary, he planned to keep his financial stake in ongoing litigation — including vaccine-related litigation. That means that from the jump, Kennedy’s plan was to keep making money off the backs of lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, some of which directly related to the very products he would have the power to regulate as Secretary of HHS. So, there he is. He has the power to regulate these drugs. He has the power to make life a little better or a little worse for the vaccine manufacturers. He has the power to make it more likely that lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers would succeed. And his initial plan was even while he sat there as Secretary of HHS, he was going to keep on making money from that. 

    This was a damning conflict of interest, so we called it out. Kennedy told us okay, okay, he would submit an updated ethics agreement. Sounds good? What was his update?

    Well, he said instead of personally keeping the millions he’d make off these ongoing lawsuits… he would hand that money directly to his son. Later, he confirmed that the son he’s handing his interests off to is the one who works at Wisner Baum—the same law firm that Kennedy has maintained his very lucrative arrangement with over years, so far netting him a reported $2.5 million just in the last few years. And Kennedy has made clear that he can use his tools as HHS Secretary to open up the door for more anti-vax litigation, and once he’s through as Secretary of HHS, go right back to Wisner Baum and cash in on the new flood of cases that Kennedy himself has unleashed.

    So that is Kennedy’s idea of “fixing” an ethics issue.

    And beyond that, Kennedy has flip-flopped countless times in his answers to the Finance Committee. He is untrustworthy. He has made so many contradictory statements that it’s come to the point it is hard to believe anything he says is true.

    For example, Kennedy originally said he was not an attorney of record in any of these vaccine-related lawsuits. But we did a little homework and we found at least five cases related to the vaccine litigation that hadn’t been disclosed where Kennedy seems to be an attorney of record. That is important because what it means is that Kennedy is a lot closer to these cases than he’s revealing — cases that he and his family will be able to make bank off even as he serves as HHS Secretary. 

    The importance of this litigation can’t be overstated. Just 20 years ago, we watched vaccine makers pull their products off the market because they didn’t have protection from these kinds of lawsuits. The consequence of Kennedy’s ability to make those lawsuits easier is also the ability to shut down access and manufacturing for vaccines for every one of us. And I think that is a terrible mistake.

    Kennedy claims that he is taking on Big Pharma, but that is the lie he is peddling to hide his conflicts. I pressed him on real ways to take on the industry, including using marching-in on Big Pharma’s patents when they use taxpayer funds to bring drugs to market and then turn around and jack up prices on hardworking Americans, and by having the government negotiate prices directly with Big Pharma on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. But Kennedy, after talking a big game about taking on Big Pharma, said no, he doesn’t support march-in rights and no, he didn’t want to commit to defending Medicare price negotiations, two proven methods to take on the drug industry and put money back into Americans’ pockets. So whose side is he on? 

    Well, one thing is for sure: RKF Jr. is on the side of his own bottom line. He has also refused to share a list of cases that he stands to benefit from. Now, I told you. He said nope, he was not attorney of record on any cases. We dug around and we found five. How many more are there? Well, here’s what Kennedy said when we said, just give us a list of the cases that you’re participating in so we can take a look at the possible conflicts. His answer? The list is so long and the conflicts so clear that, evidently, it would be more damning than what we already know. 

    Kennedy’s list of ethics issues and financial issues are a mile long—and there’s still too much that he refuses to reveal. Think about this. He’s already told us enough about his conflicts, about how he plans to keep making money, even while he was Secretary of HHS. He revealed all that right upfront. He said “Yep, I’m going to make money while I’m Secretary of HHS.” 

    And yet on basic questions like can you just give us a list of the cases that you participated in? He says, “No, I can’t do that,” which really makes you ask what on Earth is he hiding? He is dodging questions from the Senate, he is contradicting himself, and he keeps changing his answers in order to muddy the waters and really make it hard to understand what’s going on.

    Look, no one is fooled about what is happening here. Kennedy has said he’ll, “slam shut the revolving door,” between government agencies and the companies they regulate. But what he won’t agree to is cut off his own family’s steady stream of money flowing in from lawsuits that he personally can directly affect while he is Secretary of HHS. 

    Kennedy knows that these conflicts are serious. And that’s why he scrambled to update his ethics agreement and hand off his interests to his son in a desperate attempt to “fix” things.

    Video of Senator Warren’s full remarks can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Beyond the Airwaves: 5 Powerful Impacts of Peacekeeping Radio Stations

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    Written by Maya Kelly, with materials from UNESCO. Ms. Kelly is a Strategic Communications Consultant and Social Media Coordinator for the UN Department of Peace Operations. She has a background in media, communications, technoculture, and education policy.

    Radio’s ability to connect communities and share real-time, impartial news is a powerful tool for peace, and for UN peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and South Sudan (UNMISS).

    MINUSCA’s Radio Guira, MONUSCO’s Radio Okapi, and UNMISS’s Radio Miraya harness radio to advance peace and security and reach millions of listeners every day. By sharing credible news, providing critical information during crises, empowering vulnerable populations, amplifying diverse community voices, and strengthening community engagement in solutions to conflict, all while supporting local journalists, UN peacekeeping radio stations are committed to broadcasting for a better world:

    1. Sharing credible news in conflict zones

    Our radio stations provide credible and trustworthy news to people in conflict zones and other remote areas where local media is often unable to reach due to limited internet. Broadcasts tackle harmful misinformation and disinformation by disseminating verified information and news in local languages, protecting community members and peacekeepers alike.

    2. Providing support and lifesaving information during crises

    In times of crisis, including conflict, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, UN peacekeeping radio stations broadcast critical information. From health messages to updates on safety and security, these broadcasts help save lives by reaching vast, diverse, and remote audiences with information in multiple local languages.

    3. Empowering vulnerable populations

    Our radio stations empower and amplify the voices of marginalized groups, including women and young people. Programs cover essential topics like human rights, gender equality, youth participation and how people can get involved in peace and political processes. When health or conflict crises cause schools to close, stations broadcast radio lessons for children. 

    4. Fostering civic education & dialogue

    Our radio stations help inform listeners about their rights, responsibilities and roles as citizens within a society. Talk shows and call-in segments provide a platform for dialogue, offering diverse communities and parties to the conflict a safe space to discuss sensitive issues.

    5. Supporting local journalism 

    UN peacekeeping radio stations are largely staffed by local journalists and community members who provide a rich and deep understanding of the political and security context and speak the local languages. Stations offer long-term career growth opportunities for reporters, presenters, producers and broadcast technicians who forge ahead long after peacekeepers have left.

    Broadcasting for a better world

    UN peacekeeping radio stations, and their hundreds of dedicated staff, are voices for peace in the countries they serve. They are united in their mission to broadcast for a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. 

    ________________

    As crisis rages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO’s Radio Okapi remains steadfast in its commitment to providing ongoing, credible information on the situation. This vital station broadcasts 24/7 from 20 cities across the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of the African region. 

    Watch this video to meet some of the people working behind the scenes of Radio Okapi’s critical operation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Announces First Pediatric Flu Deaths of 2024-25 Season, Urges Vaccination for Children Ages 6 Months and Older

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Announces First Pediatric Flu Deaths of 2024-25 Season, Urges Vaccination for Children Ages 6 Months and Older

    NCDHHS Announces First Pediatric Flu Deaths of 2024-25 Season, Urges Vaccination for Children Ages 6 Months and Older
    jwerner

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting two pediatric flu-related deaths, the first for the 2024-2025 flu season. One child in the Eastern region and another in the Central region of the state recently died due to complications of influenza. To protect both families’ privacy, additional information will not be released about these cases.

    “We at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services extend our deepest sympathies to the families of these children,” said State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D, MPH. “This is a sad reminder that seasonal influenza can be serious and, in some cases, even fatal. If you or your loved ones have not received the flu vaccine this season, please consider doing so to help protect your family and those around you.”

    North Carolina has seen a rise in flu cases in recent weeks in combination with continued COVID-19 activity, and 171 adult flu-associated deaths have already been reported in North Carolina this season. NCDHHS tracks influenza, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viruses that may be circulating and publishes data weekly on the Respiratory Virus Surveillance Dashboard.

    Flu vaccinations are especially important for children who are at higher risk of developing severe disease or complications, including those younger than 5 years old, especially under 2 years, or those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or a weakened immune system. 

    The CDC recommends all children ages 6 months and older receive a seasonal flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Parents should also talk with their health care provider about options to protect infants from severe RSV disease, including vaccines for pregnant women during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy.

    Early testing and treatment with an antiviral drug can also help prevent flu and COVID-19 infections from becoming more serious in children. Antiviral treatment works best if started soon after symptoms begin.

    In addition to vaccines and treatment, everyone should take the following preventive actions to protect themselves and their loved ones against respiratory viruses:

    • Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based cleaner or sanitizer to prevent the spread of viruses to others
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects that may be contaminated
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly
    • Stay home when sick, except to seek medical care or testing, and take steps to avoid spreading infection to others in your home, including:
      • Staying in a separate room from other household members, if possible
      • Using a separate bathroom, if possible
      • Avoiding contact with other members of the household and pets
      • Not sharing personal household items, like cups, towels and utensils
      • Wearing a mask when around other people

    For more information on respiratory viruses, including how to access vaccines, testing and treatment in your community, visit vaccines.gov/en, flu.ncdhhs.gov or covid.19.ncdhhs.gov. 

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) informa sobre dos muertes pediátricas relacionadas con la influenza (gripe), la primera de la temporada de 2024-2025. Un niño en la región oriental y otro en la región central del estado murieron recientemente debido a complicaciones de la influenza. Para proteger la privacidad de ambas familias, no se divulgará información adicional sobre estos casos.

    “En el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte expresamos nuestro más sincero pésame a las familias de estos niños”, dijo el epidemiólogo estatal Zack Moore, MD, MPH. “Este es un triste recordatorio de que la influenza estacional (gripe estacional) puede ser grave y, en algunos casos, incluso mortal. Si usted o sus seres queridos no han recibido la vacuna contra la influenza esta temporada, considere hacerlo para ayudar a proteger a su familia y a quienes lo rodean”.

    Carolina del Norte ha visto un aumento en los casos de gripe en las últimas semanas en combinación con la continua actividad de COVID-19, y ya se han reportado 171 muertes asociadas a la gripe en adultos en Carolina del Norte esta temporada. NCDHHS rastrea la influenza, COVID-19, virus sincitial respiratorio (VSR) y otros virus respiratorios que pueden estar circulando y publica datos semanalmente en el Tablero de control de vigilancia de virus respiratorios.

    Las vacunas contra la gripe son especialmente importantes para los niños que corren un mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades o complicaciones graves, incluidos los menores de 5 años, especialmente los menores de 2 años, o aquellos con afecciones crónicas de salud como asma, diabetes o un sistema inmunitario debilitado.

    Los CDC recomiendan que todos los niños de 6 meses o más reciban una vacuna contra la gripe estacional y una vacuna actualizada contra COVID-19. Los padres también deben hablar con su proveedor de atención médica sobre las opciones para proteger a los bebés de la enfermedad grave por VSR, incluidas las vacunas para mujeres embarazadas durante las semanas 32 a 36 del embarazo.

    Las pruebas y el tratamiento tempranos con un medicamento antiviral también pueden ayudar a prevenir que la gripe y las infecciones por COVID-19 se vuelvan más graves en los niños. El tratamiento antiviral funciona mejor si se inicia poco después de que comiencen los síntomas.

    Además de las vacunas y el tratamiento, todos deben tomar las siguientes medidas preventivas para protegerse a sí mismos y a sus seres queridos contra los virus respiratorios:

    • Lávese las manos regularmente con agua y jabón o use un limpiador o desinfectante a base de alcohol para evitar la propagación de virus a otras personas
    • Evite tocarse los ojos, la nariz y la boca
    • Limpie y desinfecte las superficies y los objetos que podrían estar contaminados.
    • Cubra la tos y los estornudos con un pañuelo de papel y luego deseche el pañuelo de papel rápidamente
    • Quédese en casa cuando esté enfermo, excepto para buscar atención médica o pruebas, y tome medidas para evitar transmitir la infección a otras personas en su hogar, como:
      • Alojarse en una habitación separada de otros miembros del hogar, si es posible
      • Usar un baño separado, si es posible
      • Evitar el contacto con otros miembros del hogar y mascotas
      • No compartir artículos personales de uso doméstico, como tazas, toallas y utensilios
      • Usar una mascarilla cuando esté cerca de otras personas

    Para obtener más información sobre los virus respiratorios, incluido cómo acceder a las vacunas, las pruebas y el tratamiento en su comunidad, visite  vaccines.gov/en, flu.ncdhhs.gov o covid.19.ncdhhs.gov.

    Feb 12, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Inuvo Launches Self-Serve IntentKey Platform: A Revolutionary Interface for AI-Powered Audience Modeling

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of intelligent advertising technology, today announced the launch of the IntentKey Platform, an advanced AI agent specifically designed for audience modeling using Inuvo’s proprietary IntentKey AI. Designed to address the challenges of modern advertising—including signal loss, privacy regulations, and the growing need for real-time insights—the Platform empowers marketers to build, refine, and activate audience models instantly, paving the way for smarter, more effective campaigns.

    The IntentKey Platform opens significant market opportunities within the advertising technology sector, a market valued at over $200 billion and poised for growth as the obsolescence of cookies and consumer data significantly impacts media spending. This positions Inuvo to capture substantial market share with its unique AI technology and proven ability to deliver advertising performance that significantly surpasses incumbent behavioral targeting media solutions.

    The IntentKey Platform is a purpose-built AI designed to meet the needs of both independent marketers and large-scale enterprises. Key features include:

    • Instant Audience Models: Define and refine audience targets in seconds.
    • Real-Time Updates: Audience models that adapt to trends every five minutes.
    • Flexible Activation: Audience models activated through your DSP of choice or managed as a service by Inuvo.
    • Enhanced Audience Insights: Immediate access to AI-generated demographics including age, gender, income, marital status, education, sentiment, and geography.

    The Platform is available now for marketers and agencies with two use cases:

    • Self-Service: As part of the launch, Inuvo has opened a self-serve capability that enables marketers and agencies to gain hands-on control to independently build and activate custom audience models directly through their preferred demand-side platform (DSP).
    • Managed Service: For clients seeking expert campaign management, the Platform provides visibility into the audience models and insights driving success, with Inuvo’s team delivering full-service optimization and tailored reporting.

    “Marketers are facing a daunting challenge: delivering better performance in a world where consumer privacy is paramount, cookies are disappearing, and costs are rising, all of which reduce return on ad spend. At the same time, the shift toward adaptive, AI-driven agents is replacing the traditional SaaS tools marketers have relied on for years. The IntentKey Platform addresses these issues head-on, offering real-time audience insights and dynamic models that evolve with today’s fast-changing advertising landscape,” said Amir Bahkshaie, Senior VP of Inuvo.

    The IntentKey Platform leverages ethically designed large-language-modeling to address signal loss without relying on cookies or personal identifiers. By analyzing content from the open web, it builds real-time audience models that continuously evolve, delivering actionable insights while maintaining privacy compliance. This innovation reinforces Inuvo’s leadership in AI-powered advertising, offering unparalleled transparency, flexibility, and precision to help marketers create smarter, more effective campaigns.

    As featured in an AdExchanger exclusive, the IntentKey Platform is redefining audience targeting with real-time AI-driven modeling that eliminates reliance on cookies or personal data, highlighting success stories:

    • James & James, a premium furniture brand, used IntentKey to dramatically improve media efficiency and audience precision while uncovering new product opportunities:
      “If we see a wood species trending, we may incorporate it into our lines because people want this type of wood.” — Tristan Cameron, CMO, James & James
    • Emerald Ebikes, an internal Inuvo initiative to better understand client pain points, proved IntentKey’s effectiveness by using AI-generated audience models to drive sales—with no additional targeting data.
      “We actually reach users—they come to the site. We’re not using anything else, and they’re buying our product because of our targeting.” — Amir Bahkshaie, SVP, Inuvo

    To learn more about the IntentKey Platform, book a demo, and start activating AI-powered audiences today., visit www.inuvo.com/IntentKeyPlatform.

    About Inuvo

    Inuvo®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

    Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Inuvo’s quarter-end financial close process and preparation of financial statements for the quarter that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in Inuvo, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as filed on February 29, 2024, and our other filings with the SEC. Additionally, forward looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties including the continued impact of Covid-19 on Inuvo’s business and operations. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third-party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release.

    Inuvo Company Contact:
    Katie Cooper
    Director of Marketing
    katie.cooper@inuvo.com

    Investor Relations :
    David Waldman / Natalya Rudman
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    Tel: (212) 671-1020
    inuv@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: COVID-19 oral drugs

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Judy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):Question:     In 2022, in consultation with experts, the Government introduced the COVID-19 oral drugs Paxlovid and Molnupiravir through the Hospital Authority (HA), and prescribed the two drugs to suitable patients through various channels such as public hospitals, designated clinics and residential care homes for the elderly. The Government has indicated that the fee for each course of treatment in respect of the two drugs is over $6,000. There are views that the fees for the two drugs are excessively high, and the Government should expeditiously introduce other less expensive drugs with similar efficacy. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) of the details of the vetting and approval process for introducing the two drugs by the Government in consultation with experts at that time, and whether such vetting and approval process was different from the general approval process for introducing new drugs; if so, of the reasons for and details of that;(2) of the current clinical guidelines for prescribing the two drugs, and the number of revisions made in the past;(3) whether it knows the following information on the use of each of the two drugs by HA in each of the past three years: (i) the quantity purchased and expenditure incurred, (ii) the quantity used (with a breakdown by the channels through which they were used), and (iii) the quantity discarded due to expiry or other reasons;(4) whether there has been any change to the approved shelf life of the two drugs since their introduction, and of the current respective shelf life; whether it knows the respective stock of the two drugs currently kept by HA; and(5) whether the authorities have plans to introduce other drugs with efficacy similar to that of the two drugs; if so, of the progress and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?Reply:President,     With the ever evolvement of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the prevention and treatment capacities of the local healthcare system and the handling capacity of society as a whole have been enhanced significantly. COVID-19 has been managed as an upper respiratory tract illness by the Government since early 2023. Despite this, the World Health Organization still highlights the importance of ensuring access to appropriate treatments for patients with COVID-19, including providing oral antiviral drugs to high-risk patients on a need basis taking the local situation into account. High-risk persons concerned include the elderly, immunocompromised individuals or persons with chronic illnesses.     The Health Bureau, together with the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA), have been keeping abreast of the latest development of clinical treatment and scientific evidence-based research relating to SARS-CoV-2 virus, while making reference to the latest data from drug regulatory authorities and drug manufacturers globally so as to provide appropriate treatment for COVID-19 patients.     In consultation with the DH and the HA, the reply to the question raised by the Hon Judy Chan is as follows: (1) According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), pharmaceutical products must satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality for registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (Board) before they can be sold or supplied in Hong Kong.      During the COVID-19 pandemic, the then Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Pharmaceutical Products and Substances: Certification of Clinical Trial/Medicinal Test) Committee (Committee) established under the Board considered that, in view of the public health emergency and the local medical need at the time, together with the relevant scientific evidence, the benefits of the use of COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs, namely Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, in the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 outweighed the risks and hence conditionally approved the applications of the relevant drugs for registration in February and March 2022 respectively. As part of the conditional approval of registration, the corresponding drug registration certificate holders were required to submit additional data through clinical studies and post-marketing report to the Board according to the conditions imposed by the Committee (including that the concerned products can only be supplied to doctors or medical institutions). The certificate holders of the drugs have been continuously providing relevant reports and data to substantiate their products’ safety, efficacy and quality. In this connection, Paxlovid was granted full registration in February 2024.(2) According to the existing mechanism, the expert panel formed by the DH and the HA closely monitors the efficacy and possible side-effects of the relevant drugs in light of the evolving scientific evidence, and also evaluates various drugs treating COVID-19 while reviewing and updating the clinical guidelines in a timely manner with reference to the latest clinical development and research data in the Mainland and overseas, with a view to providing patients with appropriate treatments to reduce their risk of severe complications and death.     Based on the above principle, the relevant clinical guidelines have been updated for 27 times so far. Under the current guidelines, healthcare professionals will consider prescribing relevant drugs to patients aged 70 or above, and patients aged below 70 with high-risk conditions or chronic diseases according to their clinical needs.(3) Apart from providing antiviral drugs for treating COVID-19 at public hospitals/clinics under the HA, the Government has been providing private doctors with the two aforementioned COVID-19 oral drugs procured by the HA for free prescription to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients since April 2022. Private doctors who have registered under the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) can make requests for provision of the two COVID-19 oral drugs via the dedicated online platform. Private doctors must follow the aforementioned treatment guidelines set out by the HA. Besides, the DH’s clinic dispensaries also distributed a small amount of treatment courses.     From 2022 to 2024, the HA has prescribed the two COVID-19 oral drugs to about 471 300 HA patients (a single patient may be prescribed with COVID-19 oral antivirals for more than once), including about 314 600 patients prescribed with Paxlovid and about 156 700 with Molnupiravir. Separately, about 181 700 treatment courses were prescribed by private doctors to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients for free, in which about 104 000 Paxlovid treatment courses and about 77 700 Molnupiravir treatment courses were prescribed. About 1 500 treatment courses were prescribed by clinics under the DH (including Families Clinics and Elderly Health Centres).     Detailed figures on the quantity and expenditure incurred by the HA in purchasing the two COVID-19 oral drugs are tabulated below: * Figures adjusted to the nearest thousands     Following the prevailing practice, the HA dispenses drugs before the expiration dates based on the “first-expired, first-out” principle. For those drugs requiring disposal, including unserviceable ones, the HA will dispose of them in accordance with the established procedures. There has not been any disposal of COVID-19 oral drugs so far.(4) The shelf-life of the two COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs, namely Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, are 24 and 30 months respectively. The HA has sufficient stock of drugs for prescription to COVID-19 patients, and will continue to closely monitor the supply and utilisation of the relevant drugs in order to cater for the needs of patients.(5) The DH and the HA will continue to keep in view the latest data from drug regulatory authorities and drug manufacturers globally (including the Mainland) and introduce suitable drugs in a timely manner based on the available scientific evidence to ensure that patients are prescribed with drugs of proven safety and efficacy.     Apart from Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, no other COVID-19 oral antivirals drugs are currently registered in Hong Kong. Based on the latest scientific evidence, there are no other COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs in the market that can provide the same level of appropriate treatment especially for high-risk patients.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS ON BASE 2012=100 FOR RURAL, URBAN AND COMBINED FOR THE MONTH OF January 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 12 FEB 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

    I. Key highlights:

    1. Headline Inflation: Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of January 2025 over January 2024 is 4.31% (Provisional). There is decline of 91 basis points in headline inflation of January, 2025 in comparison to December 2024. It is the lowest year-on-year inflation after August, 2024.

    1. Food Inflation: Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for the month of January 2025 over January, 2024 is 6.02% (Provisional). Corresponding inflation rate for rural and urban are 6.31% and 5.53%, respectively. All India inflation rates for CPI(General) and CFPI over the last 13 months are shown below. A sharp decline of 237 basis point is observed in food inflation in January, 2025 in comparison to December, 2024. The food inflation in January, 2025 is the lowest after August, 2024.

    1. Rural Inflation: Significant decline in headline and food inflation in rural sector observed in January 2025. It is 4.64% (provisional) in January, 2025 while the same was 5.76% in December, 2024. The CFPI based food inflation in rural sector is observed as 6.31% in January, 2025 in comparison to 8.65% in December, 2024.

    2. Urban Inflation: Sharp decline from 4.58% in December, 2024 to 3.87% (Provisional) in January, 2025 is observed in headline inflation of urban sector. Similar decline is observed in food inflation which is decreased from 7.9% in December, 2024 to 5.53% in January, 2025.

    3. Housing Inflation: Year-on-year Housing inflation rate for the month of January, 2025 is 2.76%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of December, 2024 was 2.71%. The housing index is compiled for urban sector only.

    4. Education Inflation: Year-on-year Education inflation rate for the month of January, 2025 is 3.83%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of December, 2024 was 3.95%. It is combined education inflation for both rural and urban sector.

    5. Health Inflation: Year-on-year Health inflation rate for the month of January, 2025 is 3.97%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of December, 2024 was 4.05%. It is combined health inflation for both rural and urban sector.

    6. Transport & Communication: Year-on-year Transport & communication inflation rate for the month of January, 2025 is 2.76%. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of December, 2024 was 2.64%. It is combined inflation rate for both rural and urban sector.

    7. Fuel & light: Year-on-year Fuel & light inflation rate for the month of January, 2025 is -1.38 %. Corresponding inflation rate for the month of December, 2024 was -1.33%. It is combined inflation rate for both rural and urban sector.

    8. The significant decline in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of January, 2025 is mainly attributed to decline in inflation of Vegetables, Egg, Pulses & Products, Cereals and Products, Education, Clothing and Health.

    9. Top five items with highest inflation: The top five items showing highest year on year Inflation at All India level in January 2025 are Coconut oil (54.20%), potato (49.61%), coconut (38.71%), garlic (30.65%), peas [vegetables] (30.17%).

    10. Top five items with lowest inflation: The key items having lowest year on year inflation in January, 2025 are jeera (-32.25%), ginger (-30.92%), dry chilies (-11.27%), brinjal (-9.94%), LPG (excl. conveyance) (-9.29%). For other data related to All India Item Index and Inflation, please visit the website www.cpi.mospi.gov.in.

    11. Top five major states with high Year on Year inflation for the month of January 2025 are shown in the graph below.

     

    1. All India Inflation rates (on point to point basis i.e. current month over same month of last year, i.e.

    January 2025 over January 2024), based on General Indices and CFPIs are given as follows:

     

    All India year-on-year inflation rates (%) based on CPI (General) and CFPI: January 2025 over January 2024

     

    January 2025 (Prov.)

    December 2024 (Final)

    January 2024

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    Inflation

    CPI (General)

    4.64

    3.87

    4.31

    5.76

    4.58

    5.22

    5.34

    4.92

    5.10

    CFPI

    6.31

    5.53

    6.02

    8.65

    7.9

    8.39

    7.91

    9.02

    8.30

    Index

    CPI (General)

    196.0

    190.6

    193.5

    198.4

    192.0

    195.4

    187.3

    183.5

    185.5

    CFPI

    198.8

    204.1

    200.7

    204.7

    210.3

    206.7

    187.0

    193.4

    189.3

                          Notes: Prov.  – Provisional, Combd. – Combined

     

    1. Monthly changes in the General Indices and CFPIs are given below:

         Monthly changes (%) in All India CPI (General) and CFPI: January 2025 over December 2024

    Indices

    January 2025 (Prov.)

    December 2024 (Final)

    Monthly change (%)

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    Rural

    Urban

    Combd.

    CPI (General)

    196.0

    190.6

    193.5

    198.4

    192.0

    195.4

    -1.21

    -0.73

    -0.97

    CFPI

    198.8

    204.1

    200.7

    204.7

    210.3

    206.7

    -2.88

    -2.95

    -2.90

           

    Note: Figures of January 2025 are provisional.

    1. Response rate: The price data are collected from selected 1114 urban Markets and 1181 villages covering all States/UTs through personal visits by field staff of Field Operations Division of NSO, MoSPI on a weekly roster. During the month of January 2025, NSO collected prices from 99.7% villages and 98.5% urban markets while the market-wise prices reported therein were 88.7% for rural and 93.1% for urban.

    2. Next date of release for February 2025 CPI is 12th March 2025 (Wednesday). For more details, please visit the website www.cpi.mospi.gov.in or esankhyiki.mospi.gov.in

    List of Annex

    Annex

    Title

    I

    All-India General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for December 2024(Final) and January2025(Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Annexure I)

    II

    All-India inflation rates (%) for General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for January 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Annexure II)

    III

    General CPI for States for Rural, Urban and Combined for December 2024 (Final) and January 2025 (Provisional) (Annexure III)

    IV

    Year-on-year inflation rates (%) of major States for Rural, Urban and Combined for January 2025(Provisional) (Annexure IV)

    V

     Time Series Data for All India General CPI (Base 2012 =100) Since January 2013 (Annexure V)

    VI

     Time Series Data for All India Year-on-year inflation rates (%) based on General CPI (Base 2012=100) Since January 2014 (Annexure VI)

                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Annex I

    All-India General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for December 2024 (Final) and January 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Base: 2012=100)

     

    Group Code

    Sub-group Code

    Description

    Rural

    Urban

    Combined

    Weights

    Dec. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    Weights

    Dec. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    Weights

    Dec.24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    (11)

    (12)

     

    1.1.01

    Cereals and products

    12.35

    198.9

    199.8

    6.59

    196.5

    197.5

    9.67

    198.1

    199.1

     

    1.1.02

    Meat and fish

    4.38

    219.1

    220.9

    2.73

    228.7

    230.8

    3.61

    222.5

    224.4

     

    1.1.03

    Egg

    0.49

    209.8

    206.1

    0.36

    215.8

    210.8

    0.43

    212.1

    207.9

     

    1.1.04

    Milk and products

    7.72

    187.3

    187.7

    5.33

    187.9

    188.2

    6.61

    187.5

    187.9

     

    1.1.05

    Oils and fats

    4.21

    189.0

    189.0

    2.81

    174.6

    175.6

    3.56

    183.7

    184.1

     

    1.1.06

    Fruits

    2.88

    189.0

    192.1

    2.90

    192.4

    193.8

    2.89

    190.6

    192.9

     

    1.1.07

    Vegetables

    7.46

    242.4

    203.6

    4.41

    289.2

    245.6

    6.04

    258.3

    217.8

     

    1.1.08

    Pulses and products

    2.95

    212.4

    207.8

    1.73

    217.4

    213.0

    2.38

    214.1

    209.6

     

    1.1.09

    Sugar and Confectionery

    1.70

    130.0

    129.6

    0.97

    132.7

    132.4

    1.36

    130.9

    130.5

     

    1.1.10

    Spices

    3.11

    229.0

    227.3

    1.79

    224.1

    222.9

    2.50

    227.4

    225.8

     

    1.2.11

    Non-alcoholic beverages

    1.37

    186.7

    187.7

    1.13

    175.5

    176.6

    1.26

    182.0

    183.1

     

    1.1.12

    Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.

    5.56

    201.2

    201.7

    5.54

    211.7

    212.9

    5.55

    206.1

    206.9

    1

     

    Food and beverages

    54.18

    203.9

    198.8

    36.29

    209.4

    204.6

    45.86

    205.9

    200.9

    2

     

    Pan, tobacco and intoxicants

    3.26

    208.7

    208.2

    1.36

    212.2

    212.6

    2.38

    209.6

    209.4

     

    3.1.01

    Clothing

    6.32

    200.4

    200.6

    4.72

    190.0

    190.3

    5.58

    196.3

    196.5

     

    3.1.02

    Footwear

    1.04

    193.7

    193.9

    0.85

    175.6

    176.0

    0.95

    186.2

    186.5

    3

     

    Clothing and footwear

    7.36

    199.4

    199.7

    5.57

    187.8

    188.1

    6.53

    194.8

    195.1

    4

     

    Housing

    21.67

    181.7

    182.5

    10.07

    181.7

    182.5

    5

     

    Fuel and light

    7.94

    182.3

    183.1

    5.58

    170.5

    170.6

    6.84

    177.8

    178.4

     

    6.1.01

    Household goods and services

    3.75

    187.0

    187.3

    3.87

    178.3

    178.8

    3.80

    182.9

    183.3

     

    6.1.02

    Health

    6.83

    200.2

    200.8

    4.81

    194.5

    195.4

    5.89

    198.0

    198.8

     

    6.1.03

    Transport and communication

    7.60

    176.7

    177.2

    9.73

    165.8

    166.1

    8.59

    171.0

    171.4

     

    6.1.04

    Recreation and amusement

    1.37

    181.5

    181.6

    2.04

    176.7

    177.0

    1.68

    178.8

    179.0

     

    6.1.05

    Education

    3.46

    192.2

    192.5

    5.62

    187.9

    188.0

    4.46

    189.7

    189.9

     

    6.1.06

    Personal care and effects

    4.25

    206.3

    208.4

    3.47

    208.0

    210.2

    3.89

    207.0

    209.1

    6

     

    Miscellaneous

    27.26

    190.8

    191.5

    29.53

    182.0

    182.6

    28.32

    186.5

    187.2

    General Index (All Groups)

    100.00

    198.4

    196.0

    100.00

    192.0

    190.6

    100.00

    195.4

    193.5

    Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)

    47.25

    204.7

    198.8

    29.62

    210.3

    204.1

    39.06

    206.7

    200.7

    Notes:

    1. Prov.       : Provisional.

    2. CFPI        : Out of 12 sub-groups contained in ‘Food and Beverages’ group, CFPI is based on ten sub-groups, excluding ‘Non-alcoholic beverages’ and ‘Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.’.

    1. –   : CPI (Rural) for housing is not compiled.

    Annex II

    All-India year-on-year inflation rates (%) for General, Group and Sub-group level CPI and CFPI numbers for January 2025 (Provisional) for Rural, Urban and Combined (Base: 2012=100)

     

    Group Code

    Sub-group Code

    Description

    Rural

    Urban

    Combined

     

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

     

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    (11)

    (12)

     

    1.1.01

    Cereals and products

    187.5

    199.8

    6.56

    187.1

    197.5

    5.56

    187.4

    199.1

    6.24

     

    1.1.02

    Meat and fish

    209.9

    220.9

    5.24

    219.4

    230.8

    5.20

    213.2

    224.4

    5.25

     

    1.1.03

    Egg

    204.8

    206.1

    0.63

    206.1

    210.8

    2.28

    205.3

    207.9

    1.27

     

    1.1.04

    Milk and products

    182.6

    187.7

    2.79

    182.8

    188.2

    2.95

    182.7

    187.9

    2.85

     

    1.1.05

    Oils and fats

    161.2

    189.0

    17.25

    155.8

    175.6

    12.71

    159.2

    184.1

    15.64

     

    1.1.06

    Fruits

    169.7

    192.1

    13.20

    174.5

    193.8

    11.06

    171.9

    192.9

    12.22

     

    1.1.07

    Vegetables

    179.9

    203.6

    13.17

    226.2

    245.6

    8.58

    195.6

    217.8

    11.35

     

    1.1.08

    Pulses and products

    202.5

    207.8

    2.62

    207.7

    213.0

    2.55

    204.3

    209.6

    2.59

     

    1.1.09

    Sugar and Confectionery

    129.7

    129.6

    -0.08

    131.0

    132.4

    1.07

    130.1

    130.5

    0.31

     

    1.1.10

    Spices

    245.9

    227.3

    -7.56

    235.5

    222.9

    -5.35

    242.4

    225.8

    -6.85

     

    1.2.11

    Non-alcoholic beverages

    182.3

    187.7

    2.96

    169.8

    176.6

    4.00

    177.1

    183.1

    3.39

     

    1.1.12

    Prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc.

    195.0

    201.7

    3.44

    203.1

    212.9

    4.83

    198.8

    206.9

    4.07

     

    1

    Food and beverages

    187.7

    198.8

    5.91

    194.2

    204.6

    5.36

    190.1

    200.9

    5.68

     

    2

    Pan, tobacco and intoxicants

    203.2

    208.2

    2.46

    208.9

    212.6

    1.77

    204.7

    209.4

    2.30

     

    3.1.01

    Clothing

    195.3

    200.6

    2.71

    185.1

    190.3

    2.81

    191.3

    196.5

    2.72

     

    3.1.02

    Footwear

    190.4

    193.9

    1.84

    171.8

    176.0

    2.44

    182.7

    186.5

    2.08

     

    3

    Clothing and footwear

    194.6

    199.7

    2.62

    183.1

    188.1

    2.73

    190.0

    195.1

    2.68

     

    4

    Housing

    177.6

    182.5

    2.76

    177.6

    182.5

    2.76

     

    5

    Fuel and light

    184.1

    183.1

    -0.54

    175.7

    170.6

    -2.90

    180.9

    178.4

    -1.38

     

    6.1.01

    Household goods and services

    182.9

    187.3

    2.41

    173.0

    178.8

    3.35

    178.2

    183.3

    2.86

     

    6.1.02

    Health

    193.2

    200.8

    3.93

    187.8

    195.4

    4.05

    191.2

    198.8

    3.97

     

    6.1.03

    Transport and communication

    172.0

    177.2

    3.02

    162.1

    166.1

    2.47

    166.8

    171.4

    2.76

     

    6.1.04

    Recreation and amusement

    177.2

    181.6

    2.48

    172.2

    177.0

    2.79

    174.4

    179.0

    2.64

     

    6.1.05

    Education

    185.8

    192.5

    3.61

    180.8

    188.0

    3.98

    182.9

    189.9

    3.83

     

    6.1.06

    Personal care and effects

    188.6

    208.4

    10.50

    189.9

    210.2

    10.69

    189.1

    209.1

    10.58

     

    6

    Miscellaneous

    183.4

    191.5

    4.42

    175.2

    182.6

    4.22

    179.4

    187.2

    4.35

     

    General Index (All Groups)

    187.3

    196.0

    4.64

    183.5

    190.6

    3.87

    185.5

    193.5

    4.31

     

    Notes:

    1. Prov.       : Provisional.

    2. –               : CPI (Rural) for housing is not compiled.

     

    Annex III

    General CPI for States for Rural, Urban and Combined for December 2024 (Final) and January 2025 (Provisional) (Base: 2012=100)

     

    Sl. No.

    Name of the State/UT

    Rural

    Urban

    Combined

    Weights

    Dec. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    Weights

    Dec. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    Weights

    Dec. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25 Index
    (Prov.)

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    (11)

    1

    Andhra Pradesh

    5.40

    199.5

    199.1

    3.64

    199.4

    199.2

    4.58

    199.5

    199.1

    2

    Arunachal Pradesh

    0.14

    199.1

    197.6

    0.06

    0.10

    199.1

    197.6

    3

    Assam

    2.63

    200.1

    198.4

    0.79

    196.7

    194.8

    1.77

    199.4

    197.7

    4

    Bihar

    8.21

    195.7

    189.7

    1.62

    203.1

    199.1

    5.14

    196.8

    191.1

    5

    Chhattisgarh

    1.68

    193.1

    188.9

    1.22

    185.9

    182.6

    1.46

    190.3

    186.5

    6

    Delhi

    0.28

    176.5

    175.2

    5.64

    171.2

    171.7

    2.77

    171.5

    171.9

    7

    Goa

    0.14

    183.6

    183.1

    0.25

    181.9

    182.7

    0.19

    182.6

    182.9

    8

    Gujarat

    4.54

    193.4

    191.0

    6.82

    182.8

    179.9

    5.60

    187.4

    184.7

    9

    Haryana

    3.30

    200.3

    197.5

    3.35

    186.3

    184.7

    3.32

    193.7

    191.5

    10

    Himachal Pradesh

    1.03

    182.9

    180.9

    0.26

    187.4

    185.3

    0.67

    183.7

    181.7

    11

    Jharkhand

    1.96

    191.5

    186.7

    1.39

    193.6

    191.0

    1.69

    192.3

    188.3

    12

    Karnataka

    5.09

    200.2

    199.9

    6.81

    200.9

    201.2

    5.89

    200.6

    200.6

    13

    Kerala

    5.50

    204.2

    205.4

    3.46

    199.1

    200.3

    4.55

    202.4

    203.6

    14

    Madhya Pradesh

    4.93

    196.6

    193.4

    3.97

    196.0

    193.8

    4.48

    196.4

    193.6

    15

    Maharashtra

    8.25

    196.3

    193.8

    18.86

    188.2

    186.8

    13.18

    190.9

    189.1

    16

    Manipur

    0.23

    239.4

    233.9

    0.12

    193.0

    191.0

    0.18

    224.7

    220.3

    17

    Meghalaya

    0.28

    179.5

    177.8

    0.15

    187.3

    187.4

    0.22

    181.9

    180.8

    18

    Mizoram

    0.07

    207.7

    207.4

    0.13

    183.1

    181.9

    0.10

    192.7

    191.8

    19

    Nagaland

    0.14

    202.5

    201.1

    0.12

    187.7

    186.9

    0.13

    196.2

    195.1

    20

    Odisha

    2.93

    204.9

    201.3

    1.31

    191.8

    189.4

    2.18

    201.2

    198.0

    21

    Punjab

    3.31

    191.3

    189.4

    3.09

    181.8

    179.9

    3.21

    187.0

    185.1

    22

    Rajasthan

    6.63

    193.6

    192.0

    4.23

    191.3

    189.2

    5.51

    192.8

    191.0

    23

    Sikkim

    0.06

    205.9

    203.7

    0.03

    189.9

    189.0

    0.05

    200.7

    198.9

    24

    Tamil Nadu

    5.55

    204.2

    203.8

    9.20

    200.8

    200.2

    7.25

    202.2

    201.7

    25

    Telangana

    3.16

    207.3

    205.9

    4.41

    200.2

    199.4

    3.74

    203.4

    202.3

    26

    Tripura

    0.35

    216.5

    209.9

    0.14

    207.7

    203.4

    0.25

    214.2

    208.2

    27

    Uttar Pradesh

    14.83

    198.5

    194.9

    9.54

    193.8

    191.2

    12.37

    196.8

    193.6

    28

    Uttarakhand

    1.06

    190.8

    188.5

    0.73

    195.8

    193.7

    0.91

    192.7

    190.4

    29

    West Bengal

    6.99

    201.9

    198.2

    7.20

    195.1

    193.4

    7.09

    198.7

    195.9

    30

    Andaman & Nicobar Islands

    0.05

    206.1

    203.2

    0.07

    192.0

    191.8

    0.06

    198.9

    197.4

    31

    Chandigarh

    0.02

    195.8

    192.0

    0.34

    181.2

    179.3

    0.17

    182.0

    180.0

    32

    Dadra & Nagar Haveli

    0.02

    183.8

    182.2

    0.04

    190.5

    188.5

    0.03

    188.3

    186.4

    33

    Daman & Diu

    0.02

    200.6

    199.5

    0.02

    190.3

    189.0

    0.02

    196.3

    195.1

    34

    Jammu & Kashmir*

    1.14

    205.8

    204.7

    0.72

    199.6

    197.5

    0.94

    203.6

    202.2

    35

    Lakshadweep

    0.01

    199.9

    197.5

    0.01

    190.8

    185.5

    0.01

    195.2

    191.4

    36

    Puducherry

    0.08

    210.8

    208.1

    0.27

    199.4

    198.8

    0.17

    202.3

    201.2

    All India

    100.00

    198.4

    196.0

    100.00

    192.0

    190.6

    100.00

    195.4

    193.5

    Notes:

    1. Prov.:  Provisional

    2. –:  indicates the receipt of price schedules is less than 80% of allocated schedules and therefore indices are not compiled.

    3. *: Figures of this row pertain to the prices and weights of the combined Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir

    and Ladakh (erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir).

    Annex IV

     

    Year-on-year inflation rates (%) of major@ States for Rural, Urban and Combined for January 2025 (Provisional) (Base: 2012=100)

     

    Sl. No.

    Name of the State/UT

    Rural

    Urban

    Combined

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

    Jan. 24 Index
    (Final)

    Jan. 25

    Index
    (Prov.)

    Inflation Rate
    (%)

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    (11)

    1

    Andhra Pradesh

    191.4

    199.1

    4.02

    191.5

    199.2

    4.02

    191.4

    199.1

    4.02

    2

    Assam

    189.3

    198.4

    4.81

    186.4

    194.8

    4.51

    188.7

    197.7

    4.77

    3

    Bihar

    180.9

    189.7

    4.86

    188.0

    199.1

    5.90

    181.9

    191.1

    5.06

    4

    Chhattisgarh

    176.8

    188.9

    6.84

    175.2

    182.6

    4.22

    176.2

    186.5

    5.85

    5

    Delhi

    169.9

    175.2

    3.12

    168.4

    171.7

    1.96

    168.5

    171.9

    2.02

    6

    Gujarat

    183.9

    191.0

    3.86

    173.2

    179.9

    3.87

    177.8

    184.7

    3.88

    7

    Haryana

    187.1

    197.5

    5.56

    176.6

    184.7

    4.59

    182.2

    191.5

    5.10

    8

    Himachal Pradesh

    173.6

    180.9

    4.21

    178.2

    185.3

    3.98

    174.4

    181.7

    4.19

    9

    Jharkhand

    183.3

    186.7

    1.85

    184.1

    191.0

    3.75

    183.6

    188.3

    2.56

    10

    Karnataka

    190.0

    199.9

    5.21

    191.8

    201.2

    4.90

    191.0

    200.6

    5.03

    11

    Kerala

    191.4

    205.4

    7.31

    189.3

    200.3

    5.81

    190.7

    203.6

    6.76

    12

    Madhya Pradesh

    183.9

    193.4

    5.17

    187.5

    193.8

    3.36

    185.4

    193.6

    4.42

    13

    Maharashtra

    188.9

    193.8

    2.59

    179.9

    186.8

    3.84

    182.9

    189.1

    3.39

    14

    Odisha

    188.5

    201.3

    6.79

    182.0

    189.4

    4.07

    186.7

    198.0

    6.05

    15

    Punjab

    180.6

    189.4

    4.87

    173.7

    179.9

    3.57

    177.5

    185.1

    4.28

    16

    Rajasthan

    184.3

    192.0

    4.18

    183.3

    189.2

    3.22

    183.9

    191.0

    3.86

    17

    Tamil Nadu

    193.4

    203.8

    5.38

    191.3

    200.2

    4.65

    192.2

    201.7

    4.94

    18

    Telangana

    201.2

    205.9

    2.34

    195.2

    199.4

    2.15

    197.9

    202.3

    2.22

    19

    Uttar Pradesh

    185.5

    194.9

    5.07

    184.3

    191.2

    3.74

    185.1

    193.6

    4.59

    20

    Uttarakhand

    180.6

    188.5

    4.37

    183.4

    193.7

    5.62

    181.6

    190.4

    4.85

    21

    West Bengal

    191.0

    198.2

    3.77

    187.9

    193.4

    2.93

    189.5

    195.9

    3.38

    22

    Jammu & Kashmir*

    194.3

    204.7

    5.35

    190.2

    197.5

    3.84

    192.9

    202.2

    4.82

    All India

    187.3

    196.0

    4.64

    183.5

    190.6

    3.87

    185.5

    193.5

    4.31

    Notes:

    1. Prov.     :  Provisional.

    2. *               : Figures of this row pertain to the prices and weights of the combined Union Territories of Jammu &                            Kashmir and Ladakh (erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir).

    3. @               : States having population more than 50 lakhs as per Population Census 2011.

     

    Annexure V

    Time Series Data for All India General CPI (Base 2012 =100) Since January 2013

     

    Year

    Jan

    Feb

    Mar

    Apr

    May

    Jun

    Jul

    Aug

    Sep

    Oct

    Nov

    Dec

    2013

    104.6

    105.3

    105.5

    106.1

    106.9

    109.3

    111.0

    112.4

    113.7

    114.8

    116.3

    114.5

    2014

    113.6

    113.6

    114.2

    115.1

    115.8

    116.7

    119.2

    120.3

    120.1

    120.1

    120.1

    119.4

    2015

    119.5

    119.7

    120.2

    120.7

    121.6

    123.0

    123.6

    124.8

    125.4

    126.1

    126.6

    126.1

    2016

    126.3

    126.0

    126.0

    127.3

    128.6

    130.1

    131.1

    131.1

    130.9

    131.4

    131.2

    130.4

    2017

    130.3

    130.6

    130.9

    131.1

    131.4

    132.0

    134.2

    135.4

    135.2

    136.1

    137.6

    137.2

    2018

    136.9

    136.4

    136.5

    137.1

    137.8

    138.5

    139.8

    140.4

    140.2

    140.7

    140.8

    140.1

    2019

    139.6

    139.9

    140.4

    141.2

    142.0

    142.9

    144.2

    145.0

    145.8

    147.2

    148.6

    150.4

    2020

    150.2

    149.1

    148.6

    151.4

    150.9

    151.8

    153.9

    154.7

    156.4

    158.4

    158.9

    157.3

    2021

    156.3

    156.6

    156.8

    157.8

    160.4

    161.3

    162.5

    162.9

    163.2

    165.5

    166.7

    166.2

    2022

    165.7

    166.1

    167.7

    170.1

    171.7

    172.6

    173.4

    174.3

    175.3

    176.7

    176.5

    175.7

    2023

    176.5

    176.8

    177.2

    178.1

    179.1

    181.0

    186.3

    186.2

    184.1

    185.3

    186.3

    185.7

    2024

    185.5

    185.8

    185.8

    186.7

    187.7

    190.2

    193.0

    193.0

    194.2

    196.8

    196.5

    195.4

    2025

    193.5*

    Notes:

    1. * :Index Value for January 2025  is  Provisional.

    Annexure VI

     

    Time Series Data for All India Year-on-year inflation rates (%) based on General CPI (Base 2012=100) Since January 2014

     

    Year

    Jan

    Feb

    Mar

    Apr

    May

    Jun

    Jul

    Aug

    Sep

    Oct

    Nov

    Dec

    2014

    8.60

    7.88

    8.25

    8.48

    8.33

    6.77

    7.39

    7.03

    5.63

    4.62

    3.27

    4.28

    2015

    5.19

    5.37

    5.25

    4.87

    5.01

    5.40

    3.69

    3.74

    4.41

    5.00

    5.41

    5.61

    2016

    5.69

    5.26

    4.83

    5.47

    5.76

    5.77

    6.07

    5.05

    4.39

    4.20

    3.63

    3.41

    2017

    3.17

    3.65

    3.89

    2.99

    2.18

    1.46

    2.36

    3.28

    3.28

    3.58

    4.88

    5.21

    2018

    5.07

    4.44

    4.28

    4.58

    4.87

    4.92

    4.17

    3.69

    3.70

    3.38

    2.33

    2.11

    2019

    1.97

    2.57

    2.86

    2.99

    3.05

    3.18

    3.15

    3.28

    3.99

    4.62

    5.54

    7.35

    2020

    7.59

    6.58

    5.84

    6.23

    6.73

    6.69

    7.27

    7.61

    6.93

    4.59

    2021

    4.06

    5.03

    5.52

    4.23

    6.30

    6.26

    5.59

    5.30

    4.35

    4.48

    4.91

    5.66

    2022

    6.01

    6.07

    6.95

    7.79

    7.04

    7.01

    6.71

    7.00

    7.41

    6.77

    5.88

    5.72

    2023

    6.52

    6.44

    5.66

    4.70

    4.31

    4.87

    7.44

    6.83

    5.02

    4.87

    5.55

    5.69

    2024

    5.10

    5.09

    4.85

    4.83

    4.80

    5.08

    3.60

    3.65

    5.49

    6.21

    5.48

    5.22

    2025

    4.31*

    Notes:

    1. * :Inflation Value for January  2025  is Provisional.

    2. – :Inflation was not compiled and released due to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. 

    Click here to Download PDF:

    ****

    Samrat/Allen

    (Release ID: 2102267) Visitor Counter : 200

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – EoV with Dr Hans Kluge on the current challenges in the area of Public Health – Committee on Public Health

    Source: European Parliament

    On 19 February, Members of the SANT Committee will have an exchange of views with Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, on the current challenges in the area of Public Health.

    Public Health has been facing important challenges, in particular in the European region. The m-pox health emergency in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of the climate crisis, and antimicrobial resistance are only three on the many examples we can give.

    WHO is an international organisation of 194 Member States aiming at coordinating the world response to health emergencies, promoting well-being, preventing disease and expanding access to health care.

    MIL OSI Europe News