Category: Europe

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

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024. Fourth quarter revenue was a record $7.7 billion, gross margin was 51%, operating income was $871 million, net income was $482 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.29. On a non-GAAP^(*) basis, gross margin was 54%, operating income was a record $2.0 billion, net income was a record $1.8 billion and diluted earnings per share was $1.09.

For the full year 2024, AMD reported record revenue of $25.8 billion, gross margin of 49%, operating income of $1.9 billion, net income of $1.6 billion, and diluted earnings per share of $1.00. On a non-GAAP^(*) basis, gross margin was a record 53%, operating income was $6.1 billion, net income was $5.4 billion and diluted earnings per share was $3.31.

“2024 was a transformative year for AMD as we delivered record annual revenue and strong earnings growth,” said AMD Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su. “Data Center segment annual revenue nearly doubled as EPYC processor adoption accelerated and we delivered more than $5 billion of AMD Instinct accelerator revenue. Looking into 2025, we see clear opportunities for continued growth based on the strength of our product portfolio and growing demand for high-performance and adaptive computing.”

“We closed 2024 with a strong fourth quarter, delivering record revenue up 24% year-over-year, and accelerated earnings expansion while investing aggressively in AI and innovation to position us for long-term growth and value creation,” said AMD EVP, CFO and Treasurer Jean Hu.

GAAP Quarterly Financial Results

	Q4 2024	Q4 2023	Y/Y	Q3 2024	Q/Q
Revenue ($M)	$7,658	$6,168	Up 24%	$6,819	Up 12%
Gross profit ($M)	$3,882	$2,911	Up 33%	$3,419	Up 14%
Gross margin	51%	47%	Up 4 ppts	50%	Up 1%
Operating expenses ($M)	$3,022	$2,575	Up 17%	$2,709	Up 12%
Operating income ($M)	$871	$342	Up 155%	$724	Up 20%
Operating margin	11%	6%	Up 5 ppts	11%	Flat
Net income ($M)	$482	$667	Down 28%	$771	Down 37%
Diluted earnings per share	$0.29	$0.41	Down 29%	$0.47	Down 38%

Non-GAAP(*) Quarterly Financial Results

	Q4 2024	Q4 2023	Y/Y	Q3 2024	Q/Q
Revenue ($M)	$7,658	$6,168	Up 24%	$6,819	Up 12%
Gross profit ($M)	$4,140	$3,133	Up 32%	$3,657	Up 13%
Gross margin	54%	51%	Up 3 ppts	54%	Flat
Operating expenses ($M)	$2,125	$1,727	Up 23%	$1,956	Up 9%
Operating income ($M)	$2,026	$1,412	Up 43%	$1,715	Up 18%
Operating margin	26%	23%	Up 3 ppts	25%	Up 1 ppt
Net income ($M)	$1,777	$1,249	Up 42%	$1,504	Up 18%
Diluted earnings per share	$1.09	$0.77	Up 42%	$0.92	Up 18%

Annual Financial Results

	GAAP			Non-GAAP^(*)
	2024	2023	Y/Y	2024	2023	Y/Y
Revenue ($M)	$25,785	$22,680	Up 14%	$25,785	$22,680	Up 14%
Gross profit ($M)	$12,725	$10,460	Up 22%	$13,759	$11,436	Up 20%
Gross margin %	49%	46%	Up 3 ppts	53%	50%	Up 3 ppts
Operating expenses ($M)	$10,873	$10,093	Up 8%	$7,669	$6,616	Up 16%
Operating income ($M)	$1,900	$401	Up 374%	$6,138	$4,854	Up 26%
Operating margin %	7%	2%	Up 5 ppts	24%	21%	Up 3 ppts
Net income ($M)	$1,641	$854	Up 92%	$5,420	$4,302	Up 26%
Diluted earnings per share	$1.00	$0.53	Up 89%	$3.31	$2.65	Up 25%

Segment Summary

Data Center segment revenue in the quarter was a record $3.9 billion, up 69% year-over-year primarily driven by the strong ramp of AMD Instinct™ GPU shipments and growth in AMD EPYC™ CPU sales.
- For 2024, Data Center segment revenue was a record $12.6 billion, an increase of 94% compared to the prior year, driven by growth in both AMD Instinct and EPYC processors.
Client segment revenue in the quarter was a record $2.3 billion, up 58% year-over-year primarily driven by strong demand for AMD Ryzen™ processors.
- For 2024, Client segment revenue was a record $7.1 billion, up 52% compared to the prior year, due to strong demand for AMD Ryzen processors in desktop and mobile.
Gaming segment revenue in the quarter was $563 million, down 59% year-over-year, primarily due to a decrease in semi-custom revenue.
- For 2024, Gaming segment revenue was $2.6 billion, down 58% compared to the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in semi-custom revenue.
Embedded segment revenue in the quarter was $923 million, down 13% year-over-year, as end market demand continues to be mixed.
- For 2024, Embedded segment revenue was $3.6 billion, down 33% from the prior year, primarily due to customers normalizing their inventory levels.

Recent PR Highlights

AMD continues expanding its partnerships to deliver highly performant AI infrastructure at scale:
- IBM announced plans to deploy AMD Instinct MI300X accelerators to power generative AI and HPC applications on IBM Cloud.
- Vultr and AMD announced a strategic collaboration to leverage AMD Instinct MI300X accelerators and AMD ROCm™ open software to power Vultr’s cloud infrastructure for enterprise AI development and deployment.
- Aleph Alpha announced that it will leverage AMD Instinct MI300 Series accelerators and ROCm software to enable its tokenizer-free LLM architecture, a new approach to generative AI that aims to simplify the development of sovereign AI solutions for governments and enterprises.
- Fujitsu and AMD announced a strategic partnership to develop more sustainable computing infrastructure to accelerate open source AI.
- AMD expanded strategic investments to advance the AI ecosystem and solutions, including investments in LiquidAI, Vultr and Absci.

AMD is accelerating its AI software roadmap to deliver a robust open AI stack for the ecosystem:
- AMD released ROCm 6.3 with numerous performance enhancements enabling faster inferencing on AMD Instinct accelerators as well as additional compiler tools and libraries.
- AMD shared an update on its 2025 plans for the ROCm software stack to enable easier adoption of and improved out of box support for both inferencing and training applications.
Dell and AMD announced that AMD Ryzen AI PRO processors will power new Dell Pro notebook and desktop PCs, bringing exceptional battery life, on-device AI, Copilot+ experiences and dependable productivity to enterprise users. For the first time, Dell will offer a full portfolio of commercial PCs based on Ryzen processors, marking a significant milestone in the companies’ collaboration.
AMD expanded its broad consumer and commercial AI PC portfolio:
- New AMD Ryzen AI Max and Ryzen AI Max PRO Series processors deliver workstation-level performance and next-gen AI performance for gaming, content creation and complex AI-accelerated workloads.
- Expanded Ryzen AI 300 and Ryzen AI 300 PRO Series processors bring premium AI capabilities to mainstream and entry-level notebooks, as well as enhanced security, manageability and support for Microsoft Copilot+ experiences tailored for business users.
- Additional Ryzen 200 and Ryzen 200 PRO Series processors offer incredible AI experiences, performance and battery life for everyday users and professionals.
- More than 150 Ryzen AI platforms are expected to be available from leading OEMs this year.
AMD extended its leadership in high performance computing (HPC), enabling the most powerful and many of the most energy efficient supercomputers in the world:
- The El Capitan supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory became the second AMD supercomputer to surpass the exascale barrier, placing #1 on the latest Top500 list.
- The Hunter supercomputer at the High-Performance Computing Center of the University of Stuttgart (HLRS), powered by AMD Instinct MI300A APUs, began service, delivering HPC and AI resources for scientists, researchers, industry and the public sector.
- AMD EPYC processors and AMD Instinct accelerators power many new supercomputing projects and AI deployments, including the Eni HPC 6 system, the University of Paderborn’s latest supercomputer and the Sigma2 AS system which is slated to be the fastest system in Norway.
AMD powers incredible experiences for gamers across a broad range of devices:
- At CES 2025, AMD announced new AMD Ryzen 9000X3D, Ryzen Z2 and Ryzen 9000HX processors, extending its leadership in desktop, mobile and handheld gaming.
- AMD shared the latest version of AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™, 24.9.1, continuing to enhance gaming experiences with AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2 and AMD HYPR-RX.
AMD continues to deliver leadership compute performance and capabilities at the edge with an expanded portfolio of solutions:
- New AMD Versal™ Gen 2 portfolio with next-generation interface and memory technologies for data-intensive applications in the data center, communications, test and measurement and aerospace and defense markets.
- AMD Versal RF Series adaptive SoCs, combining high-resolution radio frequency data converters, dedicated DSP hard IP, AI engines and programmable logic in a single chip.
- Vodafone and AMD announced they are collaborating on mobile base station silicon chip designs to enable higher-capacity AI and digital services.

Current Outlook

AMD’s outlook statements are based on current expectations. The following statements are forward-looking and actual results could differ materially depending on market conditions and the factors set forth under “Cautionary Statement” below.

For the first quarter of 2025, AMD expects revenue to be approximately $7.1 billion, plus or minus $300 million. At the mid-point of the revenue range, this represents year-over-year growth of approximately 30% and a sequential decline of approximately 7%. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be approximately 54%.

AMD Teleconference
AMD will hold a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) today to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results. AMD will provide a real-time audio broadcast of the teleconference on the Investor Relations page of its website at www.amd.com.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 28, 2024			September 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
GAAP gross profit	$	3,882		$	3,419		$	2,911		$	12,725		$	10,460
GAAP gross margin		51	%		50	%		47	%		49	%		46	%
Stock-based compensation		6			5			6			22			30
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		252			233			215			946			942
Acquisition-related and other costs ⁽¹⁾		—			—			1			1			4
Inventory loss at contract manufacturer ⁽²⁾		—			—			—			65			—
Non-GAAP gross profit	$	4,140		$	3,657		$	3,133		$	13,759		$	11,436
*Non-GAAP gross margin*		54	%		54	%		51	%		53	%		50	%

GAAP operating expenses	$	3,022		$	2,709		$	2,575		$	10,873		$	10,093
GAAP operating expenses/revenue %		39	%		40	%		42	%		42	%		45	%
Stock-based compensation		333			346			368			1,385			1,350
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		332			352			420			1,448			1,869
Acquisition-related and other costs ⁽¹⁾		46			55			60			185			258
Restructuring charges ⁽³⁾		186			—			—			186			—
Non-GAAP operating expenses	$	2,125		$	1,956		$	1,727		$	7,669		$	6,616
*Non-GAAP operating expenses/revenue %*		28	%		29	%		28	%		30	%		29	%

GAAP operating income	$	871		$	724		$	342		$	1,900		$	401
GAAP operating margin		11	%		11	%		6	%		7	%		2	%
Stock-based compensation		339			351			374			1,407			1,380
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		584			585			635			2,394			2,811
Acquisition-related and other costs ⁽¹⁾		46			55			61			186			262
Inventory loss at contract manufacturer ⁽²⁾		—			—			—			65			—
Restructuring charges ⁽³⁾		186			—			—			186			—
Non-GAAP operating income	$	2,026		$	1,715		$	1,412		$	6,138		$	4,854
*Non-GAAP operating margin*		26	%		25	%		23	%		24	%		21	%

	Three Months Ended																		Year Ended
	December 28, 2024						September 28, 2024						December 30, 2023						December 28, 2024						December 30, 2023
GAAP net income / earnings per share	$	482		$	0.29		$	771		$	0.47		$	667		$	0.41		$	1,641		$	1.00		$	854		$	0.53
(Gains) losses on equity investments, net		—			—			(1	)		—			1			—			2			—			(1	)		—
Stock-based compensation		339			0.21			351			0.21			374			0.23			1,407			0.86			1,380			0.85
Equity income in investee		(12	)		(0.01	)		(7	)		—			(6	)		—			(33	)		(0.02	)		(16	)		(0.01	)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		584			0.36			585			0.36			635			0.39			2,394			1.46			2,811			1.73
Acquisition-related and other costs ⁽¹⁾		46			0.03			56			0.03			61			0.04			187			0.11			262			0.16
Inventory loss at contract manufacturer ⁽²⁾		—			—			—			—			—			—			65			0.04			—			—
Restructuring charges ⁽³⁾		186			0.11			—			—			—			—			186			0.11			—			—
Income tax provision		152			0.10			(251	)		(0.15	)		(483	)		(0.30	)		(429	)		(0.25	)		(988	)		(0.61	)
Non-GAAP net income / earnings per share	$	1,777		$	1.09		$	1,504		$	0.92		$	1,249		$	0.77		$	5,420		$	3.31		$	4,302		$	2.65

(1	)	Acquisition-related and other costs primarily include transaction costs, purchase price fair value adjustments for inventory, certain compensation charges, contract termination costs and workforce rebalancing charges.
(2	)	Inventory loss at contract manufacturer is related to an incident at a third-party contract manufacturing facility.
(3	)	Restructuring charges are related to the 2024 Restructuring Plan which comprised of employee severance charges and non-cash asset impairments.

About AMD
For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn and X pages.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) such as, the opportunities for continued growth based on AMD’s product portfolio and growing demand for high-performance and adaptive computing; AMD’s ability to position itself for long-term growth and value creation; the features, functionality, performance, availability, timing and expected benefits of future AMD products; and AMD’s expected first quarter 2025 financial outlook, including revenue and non-GAAP gross margin, which are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as “would,” “may,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects” and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this press release and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Such statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond AMD’s control, that could cause actual results and other future events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, without limitation, the following: Intel Corporation’s dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices; Nvidia’s dominance in the graphics processing unit market and its aggressive business practices; competitive markets in which AMD’s products are sold; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; market conditions of the industries in which AMD products are sold; AMD’s ability to introduce products on a timely basis with expected features and performance levels; loss of a significant customer; economic and market uncertainty; quarterly and seasonal sales patterns; AMD’s ability to adequately protect its technology or other intellectual property; unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations; ability of third party manufacturers to manufacture AMD’s products on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies; availability of essential equipment, materials, substrates or manufacturing processes; ability to achieve expected manufacturing yields for AMD’s products; AMD’s ability to generate revenue from its semi-custom SoC products; potential security vulnerabilities; potential security incidents including IT outages, data loss, data breaches and cyberattacks; uncertainties involving the ordering and shipment of AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party intellectual property to design and introduce new products; AMD’s reliance on third-party companies for design, manufacture and supply of motherboards, software, memory and other computer platform components; AMD’s reliance on Microsoft and other software vendors’ support to design and develop software to run on AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party distributors and add-in-board partners; impact of modification or interruption of AMD’s internal business processes and information systems; compatibility of AMD’s products with some or all industry-standard software and hardware; costs related to defective products; efficiency of AMD’s supply chain; AMD’s ability to rely on third party supply-chain logistics functions; AMD’s ability to effectively control sales of its products on the gray market; long-term impact of climate change on AMD’s business; impact of government actions and regulations such as export regulations, tariffs and trade protection measures; AMD’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets; potential tax liabilities; current and future claims and litigation; impact of environmental laws, conflict minerals related provisions and other laws or regulations; evolving expectations from governments, investors, customers and other stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility matters; issues related to the responsible use of AI; restrictions imposed by agreements governing AMD’s notes, the guarantees of Xilinx’s notes and the revolving credit agreement; impact of acquisitions, joint ventures and/or strategic investments on AMD’s business and AMD’s ability to integrate acquired businesses; our ability to complete the acquisition of ZT Systems;  impact of any impairment of the combined company’s assets; political, legal and economic risks and natural disasters; future impairments of technology license purchases; AMD’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and AMD’s stock price volatility. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in AMD’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to AMD’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

(*)

In this earnings press release, in addition to GAAP financial results, AMD has provided non-GAAP financial measures including non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses/revenue%, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. AMD uses a normalized tax rate in its computation of the non-GAAP income tax provision to provide better consistency across the reporting periods. For fiscal 2024, AMD used a non-GAAP tax rate of 13%, which excludes the tax impact of pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments. AMD also provided adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and free cash flow margin as supplemental non-GAAP measures of its performance. These items are defined in the footnotes to the selected corporate data tables provided at the end of this earnings press release. AMD is providing these financial measures because it believes this non-GAAP presentation makes it easier for investors to compare its operating results for current and historical periods and also because AMD believes it assists investors in comparing AMD’s performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that it does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance and for the other reasons described in the footnotes to the selected data tables. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this earnings press release should be viewed in addition to and not as a substitute for or superior to AMD’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with AMD’s Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures referenced are reconciled to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the data tables in this earnings press release. This earnings press release also contains forward-looking non-GAAP gross margin concerning AMD’s financial outlook, which is based on current expectations as of February 4, 2025, and assumptions and beliefs that involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Adjustments to arrive at the GAAP gross margin outlook typically include stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition-related and other costs. The timing and impact of such adjustments are dependent on future events that are typically uncertain or outside of AMD’s control, therefore, a reconciliation to equivalent GAAP measures is not practicable at this time. AMD undertakes no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise its outlook statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

© 2025 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, 3D V-Cache, Alveo, AMD Instinct, EPYC, FidelityFX, Kria, Radeon, Ryzen, Threadripper, Ultrascale+, Versal, Zynq, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Millions except per share amounts and percentages) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 28, 2024			September 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
Net revenue	$	7,658		$	6,819		$	6,168		$	25,785		$	22,680
Cost of sales		3,524			3,167			3,042			12,114			11,278
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		252			233			215			946			942
Total cost of sales		3,776			3,400			3,257			13,060			12,220
Gross profit		3,882			3,419			2,911			12,725			10,460
Gross margin		51	%		50	%		47	%		49	%		46	%
Research and development		1,712			1,636			1,511			6,456			5,872
Marketing, general and administrative		792			721			644			2,783			2,352
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		332			352			420			1,448			1,869
Licensing gain		(11	)		(14	)		(6	)		(48	)		(34	)
Restructuring charges		186			—			—			186			—
Operating income		871			724			342			1,900			401
Interest expense		(19	)		(23	)		(27	)		(92	)		(106	)
Other income (expense), net		37			36			49			181			197
Income before income taxes and equity income		889			737			364			1,989			492
Income tax provision (benefit)		419			(27	)		(297	)		381			(346	)
Equity income in investee		12			7			6			33			16
Net income	$	482		$	771		$	667		$	1,641		$	854
Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.30		$	0.48		$	0.41		$	1.01		$	0.53
Diluted	$	0.29		$	0.47		$	0.41		$	1.00		$	0.53
Shares used in per share calculation
Basic		1,623			1,620			1,616			1,620			1,614
Diluted		1,634			1,636			1,628			1,637			1,625

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Millions)

	December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,787		$	3,933
Short-term investments		1,345			1,840
Accounts receivable, net		6,192			4,323
Inventories		5,734			4,351
Receivables from related parties		113			9
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,878			2,312
Total current assets		19,049			16,768
Property and equipment, net		1,802			1,589
Operating lease right-of-use assets		623			633
Goodwill		24,839			24,262
Acquisition-related intangibles, net		18,930			21,363
Investment: equity method		149			99
Deferred tax assets		688			366
Other non-current assets		3,146			2,805
Total Assets	$	69,226		$	67,885

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,990		$	2,055
Payables to related parties		476			363
Accrued liabilities		4,260			3,082
Current portion of long-term debt, net		—			751
Other current liabilities		555			438
Total current liabilities		7,281			6,689
Long-term debt, net of current portion		1,721			1,717
Long-term operating lease liabilities		491			535
Deferred tax liabilities		349			1,202
Other long-term liabilities		1,816			1,850

Stockholders’ equity:
Capital stock:
Common stock, par value		17			17
Additional paid-in capital		61,362			59,676
Treasury stock, at cost		(6,106	)		(4,514	)
Retained earnings		2,364			723
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(69	)		(10	)
Total stockholders’ equity		57,568			55,892
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	69,226		$	67,885

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Millions) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	482		$	667		$	1,641		$	854
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		172			164			671			642
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		583			635			2,393			2,811
Stock-based compensation		339			374			1,407			1,384
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		31			25			113			98
Deferred income taxes		(300	)		(219	)		(1,163	)		(1,019	)
Inventory loss at contract manufacturer		—			—			65			—
Other		62			(23	)		12			(54	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable, net		96			(379	)		(1,865	)		(1,339	)
Inventories		(362	)		94			(1,458	)		(580	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		494			(34	)		343			(383	)
Receivables from and payables to related parties, net		30			29			108			(107	)
Accounts payable		(585	)		(181	)		(109	)		(419	)
Accrued and other liabilities		257			(771	)		883			(221	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		1,299			381			3,041			1,667
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(208	)		(139	)		(636	)		(546	)
Purchases of short-term investments		(786	)		(410	)		(1,493	)		(3,722	)
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments		65			770			1,416			2,687
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments		25			52			616			300
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(117	)		(548	)		(131	)
Related party equity method investment		—			—			(17	)		—
Issuance of loan to related party		(100	)		—			(100	)		—
Purchase of strategic investments		(210	)		(6	)		(341	)		(11	)
Other		—			—			2			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(1,214	)		150			(1,101	)		(1,423	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt		—			—			(750	)		—
Proceeds from sales of common stock through employee equity plans		127			120			279			268
Repurchases of common stock		(256	)		(233	)		(862	)		(985	)
Common stock repurchases for tax withholding on employee equity plans		(42	)		(45	)		(728	)		(427	)
Other		—			(1	)		(1	)		(2	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(171	)		(159	)		(2,062	)		(1,146	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(86	)		372			(122	)		(902	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		3,897			3,561			3,933			4,835
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	3,811		$	3,933		$	3,811		$	3,933

ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
SELECTED CORPORATE DATA
(Millions) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 28, 2024			September 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
Segment and Category Information⁽¹⁾
Data Center
Net revenue	$	3,859		$	3,549		$	2,282		$	12,579		$	6,496
Operating income	$	1,157		$	1,041		$	666		$	3,482		$	1,267
Client
Net revenue	$	2,313		$	1,881		$	1,461		$	7,054		$	4,651
Operating income (loss)	$	446		$	276		$	55		$	897		$	(46	)
Gaming
Net revenue	$	563		$	462		$	1,368		$	2,595		$	6,212
Operating income	$	50		$	12		$	224		$	290		$	971
Embedded
Net revenue	$	923		$	927		$	1,057		$	3,557		$	5,321
Operating income	$	362		$	372		$	461		$	1,421		$	2,628
All Other
Net revenue	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Operating loss	$	(1,144	)	$	(977	)	$	(1,064	)	$	(4,190	)	$	(4,419	)
Total
Net revenue	$	7,658		$	6,819		$	6,168		$	25,785		$	22,680
Operating income	$	871		$	724		$	342		$	1,900		$	401

Other Data
Capital expenditures	$	208		$	132		$	139		$	636		$	546
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾	$	2,212		$	1,887		$	1,576		$	6,824		$	5,496
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	5,132		$	4,544		$	5,773		$	5,132		$	5,773
Free cash flow ⁽³⁾	$	1,091		$	496		$	242		$	2,405		$	1,121
Total assets	$	69,226		$	69,636		$	67,885		$	69,226		$	67,885
Total debt	$	1,721		$	1,720		$	2,468		$	1,721		$	2,468

(1	)	The Data Center segment primarily includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerators, server microprocessors (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), accelerated processing units (APUs), data processing units (DPUs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Smart Network Interface Cards (SmartNICs) and Adaptive System-on-Chip (SoC) products for data centers.
		The Client segment primarily includes CPUs, APUs, and chipsets for desktops and notebooks.
		The Gaming segment primarily includes discrete GPUs, and semi-custom SoC products and development services.
		The Embedded segment primarily includes embedded CPUs, GPUs, APUs, FPGAs, System on Modules (SOMs), and Adaptive SoC products.
		From time to time, the Company may also sell or license portions of its IP portfolio.
		All Other category primarily includes certain expenses and credits that are not allocated to any of the operating segments, such as amortization of acquisition-related intangible asset, employee stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related and other costs, inventory loss at contract manufacturer, restructuring charges and licensing gain.

(2	)	Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
(Millions) (Unaudited)	December 28, 2024			September 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
GAAP net income	$	482		$	771		$	667		$	1,641		$	854
Interest expense		19			23			27			92			106
Other (income) expense, net		(37	)		(36	)		(49	)		(181	)		(197	)
Income tax provision (benefit)		419			(27	)		(297	)		381			(346	)
Equity income in investee		(12	)		(7	)		(6	)		(33	)		(16	)
Stock-based compensation		339			351			374			1,407			1,380
Depreciation and amortization		186			171			164			685			642
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles		584			585			635			2,394			2,811
Inventory loss at contract manufacturer		—			—			—			65			—
Acquisition-related and other costs		46			56			61			187			262
Restructuring charges		186			—			—			186			—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	2,212		$	1,887		$	1,576		$	6,824		$	5,496

The Company presents “Adjusted EBITDA” as a supplemental measure of its performance. Adjusted EBITDA for the Company is determined by adjusting GAAP net income for interest expense, other (income) expense, net, income tax provision (benefit), equity income in investee, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, inventory loss at contract manufacturer, acquisition-related and other costs, and restructuring charges. The Company calculates and presents Adjusted EBITDA because management believes it is of importance to investors and lenders in relation to its overall capital structure and its ability to borrow additional funds. In addition, the Company presents Adjusted EBITDA because it believes this measure assists investors in comparing its performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the Company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance. The Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may or may not be consistent with the calculation of this measure by other companies in the same industry. Investors should not view Adjusted EBITDA as an alternative to the GAAP operating measure of income or GAAP liquidity measures of cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account changes in certain assets and liabilities that can affect cash flows.

)

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
(Millions except percentages) (Unaudited)	December 28, 2024			September 28, 2024			December 30, 2023			December 28, 2024			December 30, 2023
GAAP net cash provided by operating activities	$	1,299		$	628		$	381		$	3,041		$	1,667
Operating cash flow margin %		17	%		9	%		6	%		12	%		7	%
Purchases of property and equipment		(208	)		(132	)		(139	)		(636	)		(546	)
Free cash flow	$	1,091		$	496		$	242		$	2,405		$	1,121
Free cash flow margin %		14	%		7	%		4	%		9	%		5	%

The Company also presents free cash flow as a supplemental Non-GAAP measure of its performance. Free cash flow is determined by adjusting GAAP net cash provided by operating activities for capital expenditures, and free cash flow margin % is free cash flow expressed as a percentage of the Company’s net revenue. The Company calculates and communicates free cash flow in the financial earnings press release because management believes it is of importance to investors to understand the nature of these cash flows. The Company’s calculation of free cash flow may or may not be consistent with the calculation of this measure by other companies in the same industry. Investors should not view free cash flow as an alternative to GAAP liquidity measures of cash flows from operating activities.

Media Contact:
Drew Prairie
AMD Communications
512-602-4425
drew.prairie@amd.com

Investor Contact:
Matt Ramsay
AMD Investor Relations
512-602-0113
matthew.ramsay@amd.com

The MIL Network –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Study – EP Academic Freedom Monitor 2024: Key findings and policy options – 04-02-2025

Source: European Parliament

The 2024 edition of the European Parliament’s Academic Freedom Monitor consists of two studies, to be published shortly, with joint key findings and policy options that are summarised in this briefing. The first study, ‘Analysis of the state of de facto academic freedom in the EU’, examines various measurements of academic freedom across the EU Member States. It also analyses the main threats to academic freedom and their impacts in 10 Member States through a qualitative data analysis, with input from stakeholder organisations and academic experts. The second study, ‘Overview of de jure academic freedom protection’, gives an overview of constitutional provisions on academic freedom protection in all Member States. It also offers an in-depth analysis of constitutional protection of academic freedom in four Member States and examines the EU’s scope of action on academic freedom.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next SEDE meeting – Committee on Security and Defence
Source: European Parliament

18 February 2025:

The next meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 18 February 2025 from 9:00 – 13:00 and 14.15-18.15 in Brussels (SPINELLI 3G2).

Further information about the meeting can be found here.

_______________________

SEDE missions 2024:
- Ukraine – 25-26 October 2024
- United Kingdom – 28-30 October 2024
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Exchange of views with Commissioner Kadis on upcoming ocean initiatives – Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

Commissioner Costas Kadis © European Commission

On 6 February, ENVI Members will hold an exchange of views with Commissioner Costas Kadis, responsible for Fisheries and Oceans. The discussion will focus on the Commission’s upcoming initiatives on oceans at both EU and international levels.

Commissioner Kadis will present the Commission’s priorities on ocean-related matters, including on the upcoming European Oceans Pact, developments on the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), initiatives to tackle marine litter, and preparations for the UN Ocean’s Summit. The exchange will provide an opportunity to address the EU’s role in global ocean governance. The debate will be structured in two rounds of questions, allowing Members to engage with the Commissioner on key policy developments.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Commissioner Roswall’s speech at the press conference on the state of water in the European Union

Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

European Commission Speech Brussels, 04 Feb 2025 Ladies and gentlemen,
I am happy to be here today to present to you the state of our waters in the European Union.
As you know, water is very high on the Commis…

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – European trucks used by the Syrian regime – E-002384/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
Ordinary road trucks are not subject to an export ban within the EU restrictive measures vis-à-vis Syria, as established in Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012[1]. However, when exporting such trucks to Syria, EU operators should ensure that no funds or economic resources are made available to listed persons.

The responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of EU sanctions lies with the Member States. In case of doubt, EU operators are encouraged to seek assistance from the relevant Member State national competent authority. The Commission stands ready to support Member States in the uniform application of EU sanctions, including by providing clarifications where necessary.

The Commission works in close coordination with the Member State national competent authorities to monitor the implementation of EU sanctions. This close coordination ensures that the EU’s Syria sanctions are responsive to any issues observed during the implementation of EU sanctions. In the event of any possible breach, the Commission brings this to the attention of the national competent authorities. It is then for national authorities to investigate the matter.

For EU operators to minimise the risk of engagement with designated persons or entities, the Commission recommends a risk-based approach consisting of risk assessment, multi-level due diligence and ongoing monitoring.

[1] OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1-32.
Last updated: 4 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unfair competition from third-country fleets for EU mackerel catches – E-003013/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
While the coastal States agree that the total catches of mackerel should be set in line with the best available scientific advice, the lack of a comprehensive quota sharing agreement means that coastal States decide individually the level of their annual quotas, thereby collectively exceeding such advice.

Unilateral mackerel quota increases by some coastal States threaten the sustainability of shared stocks and undermine the efforts to manage fisheries responsibly.

This unsustainable exploitation not only threatens the long-term viability of the stock, but also negatively impacts the economic sustainability of the EU fleet, reducing profitability due to diminishing catch rates and potential regulatory constraints.

Coastal States consultations for a sharing arrangement are ongoing since 2022 with an active involvement from the EU, represented by the Commission, in close coordination with the Council.

The Commission’s focus in these consultations is to advocate for comprehensive arrangements that ensure a sustainable, equitable, and fair management of the mackerel stock.

Moreover, as regards trade, mackerel is currently no longer covered by the EU’s additional bilateral market access concessions to the European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

The Commission is determined to strengthen the EU’s sustainability tools. It has therefore adopted in September 2024 a proposal to clarify the application of Regulation 1026/2012[1] to address third country practices regarding non-sustainably fished stocks.

This proposal is currently under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council as part of the ordinary legislative procedure.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2024:407:FIN#:~:text=Regulation%20%28EU%29%201026%2F2012%20of%20the%20European%20Parliament%20and,to%20adopt%20certain%20measures%20regarding%20the%20fisheries-related%20act
Last updated: 4 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: UK’s Aldermore Bank selects Temenos to launch new small business savings notice accounts

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Temenos (SIX: TEMN) today announced that UK-based Aldermore Bank (Aldermore) has selected Temenos SaaS to modernize its existing savings operations starting with quickly launching new savings notice accounts for small businesses.

The bank will adopt Temenos Business & Corporate Enterprise Service to achieve a fast time to market and scale efficiently as it seeks to grow customer deposits and unlock new sources of revenue. Using Temenos’ end-to-end service for business and corporate banking, Aldermore will leverage pre-configured, proven capabilities across core and digital banking, to enable rapid deployment of its new products.

Following the launch of these, Aldermore will also migrate its existing business savings accounts to Temenos, consolidating multiple legacy systems on a single, cloud-based solution with the highest security standards. This will enable the bank to increase efficiency and deliver exceptional experiences in line with its customer-centric business model.

Part of First Rand Group, the largest financial services group in Africa, Aldermore is a multi-specialist lending and savings provider with total assets of £20.5bn. The bank is focused on helping groups underserved by mainstream providers, particularly SMEs, homeowners, landlords and intermediaries.

With Temenos Business & Corporate Enterprise Service, Aldermore will benefit from high levels of automation to easily configure banking services that meet the specific needs of its client base. Leveraging, pre-packaged capabilities tailored to the UK market, as well as pre-defined user journeys and proven processes, Aldermore will be able to quickly move these into production and scale according to customer demand on a proven, modern solution.

Alex Myers, Commercial Director for savings at Aldermore Bank, said: “This strategic technology investment will help us to rapidly expand our offering, providing more customer-centric solutions and exceptional experiences for the underserved small business market. With Temenos SaaS, we can launch new products in record time, with the agility to adapt to the changing needs of our customers.”

Mark Yamin-Ali, Managing Director, Europe, Temenos, commented: “We’re delighted Aldermore has chosen Temenos SaaS to help drive its expansion of business savings. Aldermore prioritized both advanced technology and robust functionality, and Temenos was the only provider that met both needs. With pre-configured, proven capabilities tailored to the UK market and the small business sector, Temenos will help the bank to deliver a much faster time to market and increased efficiency as it looks to drive future growth.”

Temenos is the global market leader in banking software, ranked #1 by IBS Intelligence in eight categories, including core, digital and Islamic banking, in the latest IBS Intelligence Sales League Table. Temenos was also named a Leader in the The Forrester Wave™: Digital Banking Processing Platforms, Q4 2024.

About Aldermore Bank
Aldermore backs more people to go for it, in life and business. We get finance to people who want to get on in life; building businesses, buying property and purchasing vehicles. And we champion equality by supporting those that the big traditional banks can’t or won’t help.

The Group consists of two operating companies, Aldermore Bank plc and MotoNovo Finance Limited. Aldermore Bank provides finance to business owners, homeowners and landlords, and supports savers. It operates online, by phone and through networks. MotoNovo Finance helps people buy their next car, van or motorcycle.

Aldermore Group is part of FirstRand Group, the largest financial services group in Africa by market capitalisation.

About Temenos
Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is the world’s leading platform for banking, serving clients in 150 countries by helping them build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences. Top performing banks using Temenos software achieve cost-income ratios almost half the industry average and returns on equity 2X the industry average.

For more information, please visit www.temenos.com.

Media Contacts

Scott Rowe & Michael Anderson Temenos Global Public Relations Tel: +44 20 7423 3857 Email: press@temenos.com	Gabriel Goonetillake Temenos Team at Edelman Smithfield Tel: +44 7813 407710 Email: Temenos@EdelmanSmithfield.com

The MIL Network –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – 4 February – World Cancer Day – Committee on Public Health

Source: European Parliament

World cancer day © Image used under the licence of Adobe stock

World Cancer Day is an international day observed every 4 February to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic. Cancer is a major health concern worldwide, being the second-leading cause of death globally. The World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027, “United by Unique” places people at the centre of care and explores new ways of making a difference.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next DAND Delegation Meeting: 20 February 2025 – Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community

Source: European Parliament

The next meeting of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community (DAND) is scheduled for:

Thursday, 20 February 2025, 13.30-14.00

Room: SPINELLI 1G2

This meeting will be dedicated to the election of the two Vice-chairs of DAND delegation.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2024

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024, which included the summary below from its President and CEO, Badri Kothandaraman.

We reported quarterly revenue of $382.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, along with 53.2% for non-GAAP gross margin. We shipped approximately 2.01 million microinverters, or 878.0 megawatts DC, and 152.4 megawatt hours of IQ^® Batteries.

Financial highlights for the fourth quarter of 2024 are listed below:

Strong U.S. manufacturing: shipped 1.69 million microinverters and 6.7 megawatt hours of IQ Batteries
Quarterly revenue of $382.7 million
GAAP gross margin of 51.8%; non-GAAP gross margin of 53.2% with net IRA benefit
Non-GAAP gross margin of 39.7%, excluding net IRA benefit of 13.5%
GAAP operating income of $54.8 million; non-GAAP operating income of $120.4 million
GAAP net income of $62.2 million; non-GAAP net income of $125.9 million
GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.45; non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.94
Free cash flow of $159.2 million; ending cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of $1.72 billion

Our revenue and earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024 are provided below, compared with the prior quarter:

(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)

	GAAP									Non-GAAP
	Q4 2024			Q3 2024			Q4 2023			Q4 2024			Q3 2024			Q4 2023
Revenue	$	382,713		$	380,873		$	302,570		$	382,713		$	380,873		$	302,570
Gross margin		51.8	%		46.8	%		48.5	%		53.2	%		48.1	%		50.3	%
Operating expenses	$	143,489		$	128,383		$	156,893		$	83,322		$	81,612		$	86,551
Operating income (loss)	$	54,804		$	49,788		$	(10,231	)	$	120,434		$	101,411		$	65,587
Net income	$	62,160		$	45,762		$	20,919		$	125,862		$	88,402		$	73,474
Basic EPS	$	0.46		$	0.34		$	0.15		$	0.94		$	0.65		$	0.54
Diluted EPS	$	0.45		$	0.33		$	0.15		$	0.94		$	0.65		$	0.54

Our revenue and earnings for the fiscal year 2024 are provided below, compared with the prior year:

(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)

	GAAP						Non-GAAP
	FY 2024			FY 2023			FY 2024			FY 2023
Revenue	$	1,330,383		$	2,290,786		$	1,330,383		$	2,290,786
Gross margin		47.3	%		46.2	%		48.9	%		47.1	%
Operating expenses	$	551,846		$	612,647		$	329,227		$	382,115
Operating income	$	77,292		$	445,741		$	321,919		$	697,210
Net income	$	102,658		$	438,936		$	321,044		$	613,241
Basic EPS	$	0.76		$	3.22		$	2.37		$	4.50
Diluted EPS	$	0.75		$	3.08		$	2.37		$	4.41

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $382.7 million, compared to $380.9 million in the third quarter of 2024. Our revenue in the United States for the fourth quarter of 2024 increased approximately 6%, compared to the third quarter. The increase in revenue was due to higher microinverter sales. Our revenue in Europe decreased approximately 25% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the third quarter. The decline in revenue was the result of a further softening in European demand.

Our non-GAAP gross margin was 53.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 48.1% in the third quarter. Our non-GAAP gross margin, excluding net IRA benefit, was 39.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 38.9% in the third quarter.

Our non-GAAP operating expenses were $83.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $81.6 million in the third quarter. The increase was driven by higher R&D expense on new products. Our non-GAAP operating income was $120.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $101.4 million in the third quarter.

We exited the fourth quarter of 2024 with $1.72 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities and generated $167.3 million in cash flow from operations in the fourth quarter. Our capital expenditures were $8.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2024.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, we repurchased 2,883,438 shares of our common stock at an average price of $69.25 per share for a total of approximately $199.7 million. We also spent approximately $5.0 million by withholding shares to cover taxes for employee stock vesting that reduced the diluted shares by 68,532 shares.

We shipped 152.4 megawatt hours of IQ Batteries in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 172.9 megawatt hours in the third quarter. More than 10,300 installers worldwide are certified to install our IQ Batteries, compared to more than 9,000 installers worldwide in the third quarter of 2024.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, we shipped approximately 1.69 million microinverters from our contract manufacturing facilities in the United States that we booked for 45X production tax credits. We also expanded our higher domestic content product offerings, and shipped our IQ8HC™ Microinverters, IQ8X™ Microinverters, IQ8P-3P™ Commercial Microinverters, and IQ^® Battery 5Ps, all with higher domestic content than previous models and produced at our contract manufacturing facilities in the United States.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, we made great strides with the IQ^® Meter Collar, fourth-generation IQ Battery, and new IQ^® Combiner products. We launched the IQ^® PowerPack 1500, a 1.5 kWh smart, portable energy system for home, work, and on-the-go use. In Europe, we introduced the IQ^® EV Charger 2, a next-generation smart charger that integrates with our solar and battery systems seamlessly or works as a standalone. In January 2025, we began shipping the IQ^® Battery 5P™ with FlexPhase to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, delivering reliable backup power for both single- and three-phase installations.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

On Jan. 30, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that it is expanding in Southeast Asia by entering the solar markets in Vietnam and Malaysia with IQ8P™ Microinverters.

On Jan. 27, 2025, Enphase Energy announced integration with Octopus Energy’s smart tariffs in the UK, such as “Intelligent Octopus Flux” (IO Flux), which can help customers save money on electricity bills.

On Jan. 23, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that its IQ8™ Microinverters for residential and commercial applications, are now in compliance with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act.

On Jan. 13, 2025, Enphase Energy announced shipments of its most powerful and versatile battery yet, the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase, for customers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With reliable backup power and support for single- and three-phase systems, it offers unmatched flexibility for home energy needs.

On Jan. 9, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that it is expanding into Latin America with IQ8P Microinverters, bringing solar solutions to Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica for residential and commercial use.

On Jan. 7, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that IQ8 Microinverters were selected for a 2.2 MW solar project at the Belgoprocess radioactive waste facility in Dessel, Belgium.

On Dec. 17, 2024, Enphase Energy announced initial shipments of its most powerful home battery to-date, the IQ Battery 5P, for customers in India.

On Dec. 5 and Dec. 9, 2024, Enphase Energy announced collaborations with two energy providers in the Netherlands, Frank Energie and NextEnergy, to enable participation in the grid imbalance energy marketplace.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Enphase Energy announced the launch of Busbar Power Control software that empowers homeowners to install larger solar and battery systems without costly main electrical panel upgrades.

On Nov. 11, 2024, Enphase Energy announced an AI-powered do-it-yourself (DIY) permitting feature on Solargraf^®, to automate the complex solar permitting process for installers in the USA.

On Nov. 4, 2024, Enphase Energy announced the launch of its most powerful Enphase Energy System to-date, featuring the IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters, for customers in Romania.

FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

For the first quarter of 2025, Enphase Energy estimates both GAAP and non-GAAP financial results as follows:

Revenue to be within a range of $340.0 million to $380.0 million, which includes shipments of 150 to 170 megawatt hours of IQ Batteries. The first quarter of 2025 financial outlook includes approximately $50.0 million of safe harbor revenue. We define safe harbor revenue as any sales made to customers who plan to install the inventory over more than one year.
GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 46.0% to 49.0% with net IRA benefit
Non-GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 48.0% to 51.0% with net IRA benefit and 38.0% to 41.0% excluding net IRA benefit. Non-GAAP gross margin excludes stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related amortization
Net IRA benefit to be within a range of $36.0 million to $39.0 million based on estimated shipments of 1,200,000 units of U.S. manufactured microinverters
GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $143.0 million to $147.0 million
Non-GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $81.0 million to $85.0 million, excluding $62.0 million estimated for stock-based compensation expense, acquisition related expenses and amortization, restructuring and asset impairment charges

For 2025, GAAP and non-GAAP annualized effective tax rate with IRA benefit, excluding discrete items, is expected to be within a range of 17.0% to 19.0%.

Follow Enphase Online

Use of non-GAAP Financial Measures

Enphase Energy has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure can be found in the accompanying tables to this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures presented by Enphase Energy include non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, income from operations, net income, net income per share (basic and diluted), net IRA benefit, and free cash flow.

These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with Enphase Energy’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. As such, these non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Enphase Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operating performance and future prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Enphase Energy believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of its operations that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business.

As presented in the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables below, each of the non-GAAP financial measures excludes one or more of the following items for purposes of calculating non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of Enphase Energy’s current operating performance and a comparison to its past operating performance:

Stock-based compensation expense. Enphase Energy excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash in nature. Moreover, the impact of this expense is significantly affected by Enphase Energy’s stock price at the time of an award over which management has limited to no control.

Acquisition related expenses and amortization. This item represents expenses incurred related to Enphase Energy’s business acquisitions, which are non-recurring in nature, and amortization of acquired intangible assets, which is a non-cash expense. Acquisition related expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets are not reflective of Enphase Energy’s ongoing financial performance.

Restructuring and asset impairment charges. Enphase Energy excludes restructuring and asset impairment charges due to the nature of the expenses being unusual and arising outside the ordinary course of continuing operations. These costs primarily consist of fees paid for cash-based severance costs, accelerated stock-based compensation expense and asset write-downs of property and equipment and acquired intangible assets, and other contract termination costs resulting from restructuring initiatives.

Non-cash interest expense. This item consists primarily of amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discount because these expenses do not represent a cash outflow for Enphase Energy except in the period the financing was secured and such amortization expense is not reflective of Enphase Energy’s ongoing financial performance.

Non-GAAP income tax adjustment. This item represents the amount adjusted to Enphase Energy’s GAAP tax provision or benefit to exclude the income tax effects of GAAP adjustments such as stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangibles, and other non-recurring items that are not reflective of Enphase Energy ongoing financial performance.

Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted. Enphase Energy excludes the dilutive effect of in-the-money portion of convertible senior notes as they are covered by convertible note hedge transactions that reduce potential dilution to our common stock upon conversion of the Notes due 2025, Notes due 2026, and Notes due 2028, and includes the dilutive effect of employee’s stock-based awards and the dilutive effect of warrants. Enphase Energy believes these adjustments provide useful supplemental information to the ongoing financial performance.

Net IRA benefit. This item represents the advanced manufacturing production tax credit (AMPTC) from the IRA for manufacturing microinverters in the United States, partially offset by the incremental manufacturing cost incurred in the United States relative to manufacturing in Mexico, India, and China. The AMPTC is accounted for by Enphase Energy as an income-based government grants that reduces cost of revenues in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Free cash flow. This item represents net cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment.

Conference Call Information

Enphase Energy will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its fourth quarter 2024 results and first quarter 2025 business outlook today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time). The call is open to the public by dialing (833) 634-5018. A live webcast of the conference call will also be accessible from the “Investor Relations” section of Enphase Energy’s website at https://investor.enphase.com. Following the webcast, an archived version will be available on the website for approximately one year. In addition, an audio replay of the conference call will be available by calling (877) 344-7529; replay access code 3831590, beginning approximately one hour after the call.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to Enphase Energy’s expectations as to its first quarter of 2025 financial outlook, including revenue, shipments of IQ Batteries by megawatt hours, gross margin with net IRA benefit and excluding net IRA benefit, estimated shipments of U.S. manufactured microinverters, operating expenses, and annualized effective tax rate with IRA benefit; its expectations regarding the expected net IRA benefit; its expectations on the timing and introduction of new products and updates to existing products, including the IQ Meter Collar, fourth-generation IQ Battery, and new IQ Combiner products; its expectations regarding higher domestic content product offerings; and the capabilities, advantages, features, and performance of its technology and products. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Enphase Energy’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other documents on file with the SEC from time to time and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

A copy of this press release can be found on the investor relations page of Enphase Energy’s website at https://investor.enphase.com.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power—and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 80.0 million microinverters, and approximately 4.7 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, IQ8, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:

Zach Freedman
Enphase Energy, Inc.
Investor Relations
ir@enphaseenergy.com

ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023			December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Net revenues	$	382,713		$	380,873		$	302,570		$	1,330,383		$	2,290,786
Cost of revenues		184,420			202,702			155,908			701,245			1,232,398
Gross profit		198,293			178,171			146,662			629,138			1,058,388
Operating expenses:
Research and development		50,390			47,843			55,291			201,315			227,336
Sales and marketing		51,799			49,671			53,409			206,552			231,792
General and administrative		31,901			30,192			33,379			130,825			137,835
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		9,399			677			14,814			13,154			15,684
Total operating expenses		143,489			128,383			156,893			551,846			612,647
Income (loss) from operations		54,804			49,788			(10,231	)		77,292			445,741
Other income, net
Interest income		18,417			19,977			20,493			77,306			69,728
Interest expense		(2,252	)		(2,237	)		(2,268	)		(8,905	)		(8,839	)
Other income (expense), net		(1,270	)		(16,785	)		4,233			(25,534	)		6,509
Total other income, net		14,895			955			22,458			42,867			67,398
Income before income taxes		69,699			50,743			12,227			120,159			513,139
Income tax (provision) benefit		(7,539	)		(4,981	)		8,692			(17,501	)		(74,203	)
Net income	$	62,160		$	45,762		$	20,919		$	102,658		$	438,936
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.46		$	0.34		$	0.15		$	0.76		$	3.22
Diluted	$	0.45		$	0.33		$	0.15		$	0.75		$	3.08
Shares used in per share calculation:
Basic		133,815			135,329			136,092			135,167			136,376
Diluted		138,128			139,914			139,205			140,004			143,290

ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

	December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	369,110	$	288,748
Restricted cash		95,006		—
Marketable securities		1,253,480		1,406,286
Accounts receivable, net		223,749		445,959
Inventory		165,004		213,595
Prepaid expenses and other assets		220,735		88,930
Total current assets		2,327,084		2,443,518
Property and equipment, net		147,514		168,244
Operating lease, right of use asset, net		24,617		19,887
Intangible assets, net		42,398		68,536
Goodwill		211,571		214,562
Other assets		180,925		215,895
Deferred tax assets, net		315,567		252,370
Total assets	$	3,249,676	$	3,383,012
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	90,032	$	116,164
Accrued liabilities		196,887		261,919
Deferred revenues, current		237,225		118,300
Warranty obligations, current		34,656		36,066
Debt, current		101,291		—
Total current liabilities		660,091		532,449
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred revenues, non-current		341,982		369,172
Warranty obligations, non-current		158,233		153,021
Other liabilities		55,265		51,008
Debt, non-current		1,201,089		1,293,738
Total liabilities		2,416,660		2,399,388
Total stockholders’ equity		833,016		983,624
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,249,676	$	3,383,012

ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023			December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	62,160		$	45,762		$	20,919		$	102,658		$	438,936
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		20,665			20,103			20,841			81,389			74,708
Net accretion of discount on marketable securities		(7,490	)		(2,904	)		(2,950	)		(8,599	)		(15,561	)
Provision for doubtful accounts		2,206			2,704			(129	)		6,677			1,153
Asset impairment		4,702			17,568			9,700			28,843			10,603
Non-cash interest expense		2,188			2,173			2,126			8,650			8,380
Net loss (gain) from change in fair value of debt securities		(3,697	)		741			(2,670	)		(1,967	)		(8,078	)
Stock-based compensation		51,830			45,940			55,222			211,360			212,857
Deferred income taxes		(30,675	)		(5,276	)		(5,053	)		(58,319	)		(43,348	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		2,684			49,414			105,771			211,640			(12,478	)
Inventory		(6,167	)		17,231			(39,481	)		48,591			(63,887	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(16,487	)		(64,149	)		(2,401	)		(134,343	)		(59,777	)
Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities		(27,396	)		32,088			(139,277	)		(85,536	)		(22,149	)
Warranty obligations		8,657			7,053			221			3,802			57,641
Deferred revenues		104,112			1,690			12,611			98,847			117,780
Net cash provided by operating activities		167,292			170,138			35,450			513,693			696,780
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(8,064	)		(8,533	)		(20,075	)		(33,604	)		(110,401	)
Purchases of marketable securities		(93,138	)		(319,190	)		(337,757	)		(1,184,649	)		(2,081,431	)
Maturities and sale of marketable securities		351,843			215,241			433,869			1,346,520			1,840,477
Investments in private companies		—			—			—			—			(15,000	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		250,641			(112,482	)		76,037			128,267			(366,355	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Partial settlement of convertible notes		—			(5	)		—			(7	)		—
Repurchase of common stock		(199,666	)		(49,794	)		(99,998	)		(391,364	)		(409,998	)
Payment of excise tax on net stock repurchases		(2,773	)		—			—			(2,773	)		—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		4,719			14			12,555			12,688			13,870
Payment of withholding taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards		(5,012	)		(6,286	)		(27,546	)		(78,813	)		(120,646	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(202,732	)		(56,071	)		(114,989	)		(460,269	)		(516,774	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(7,410	)		2,638			2,175			(6,323	)		1,853
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		207,791			4,223			(1,327	)		175,368			(184,496	)
Cash and cash equivalents—Beginning of period		256,325			252,102			290,075			288,748			473,244
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—End of period	$	464,116		$	256,325		$	288,748		$	464,116		$	288,748

ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data and percentages)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023			December 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Gross profit (GAAP)	$	198,293		$	178,171		$	146,662		$	629,138		$	1,058,388
Stock-based compensation		3,678			2,948			3,582			14,538			13,357
Acquisition related amortization		1,784			1,904			1,894			7,469			7,580
Gross profit (Non-GAAP)	$	203,755		$	183,023		$	152,138		$	651,145		$	1,079,325

Gross margin (GAAP)		51.8	%		46.8	%		48.5	%		47.3	%		46.2	%
Stock-based compensation		0.9			0.8			1.2			1.0			0.6
Acquisition related amortization		0.5			0.5			0.6			0.6			0.3
Gross margin (Non-GAAP)		53.2	%		48.1	%		50.3	%		48.9	%		47.1	%

Operating expenses (GAAP)	$	143,489		$	128,383		$	156,893		$	551,846		$	612,647
Stock-based compensation ⁽¹⁾		(47,884	)		(42,992	)		(51,640	)		(196,554	)		(199,500	)
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		(2,884	)		(3,102	)		(3,888	)		(12,911	)		(15,317	)
Restructuring and asset impairment charges ⁽¹⁾		(9,399	)		(677	)		(14,814	)		(13,154	)		(15,715	)
Operating expenses (Non-GAAP)	$	83,322		$	81,612		$	86,551		$	329,227		$	382,115

⁽¹⁾Includes stock-based compensation as follows:
Research and development	$	20,951		$	19,790		$	23,839		$	85,501		$	88,367
Sales and marketing		15,893			14,237			16,472			65,092			65,703
General and administrative		11,041			8,965			11,329			45,962			45,430
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		267			—			—			267			—
Total	$	48,152		$	42,992		$	51,640		$	196,822		$	199,500

Income (loss) from operations (GAAP)	$	54,804		$	49,788		$	(10,231	)	$	77,292		$	445,741
Stock-based compensation		51,563			45,940			55,222			211,093			212,857
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		4,668			5,006			5,782			20,380			22,897
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		9,399			677			14,814			13,154			15,715
Income from operations (Non-GAAP)	$	120,434		$	101,411		$	65,587		$	321,919		$	697,210

Net income (GAAP)	$	62,160		$	45,762		$	20,919		$	102,658		$	438,936
Stock-based compensation		51,563			45,940			55,222			211,093			212,857
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		4,668			5,006			5,782			20,380			22,897
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		9,399			677			14,814			13,154			15,715
Non-cash interest expense		2,188			2,173			2,126			8,650			8,380
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(4,116	)		(11,156	)		(25,389	)		(34,891	)		(85,544	)
Net income (Non-GAAP)	$	125,862		$	88,402		$	73,474		$	321,044		$	613,241

Net income per share, basic (GAAP)	$	0.46		$	0.34		$	0.15		$	0.76		$	3.22
Stock-based compensation		0.39			0.34			0.40			1.56			1.56
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		0.03			0.04			0.08			0.15			0.17
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0.07			0.01			0.11			0.10			0.12
Non-cash interest expense		0.02			0.02			0.02			0.06			0.06
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(0.03	)		(0.10	)		(0.22	)		(0.26	)		(0.63	)
Net income per share, basic (Non-GAAP)	$	0.94		$	0.65		$	0.54		$	2.37		$	4.50

Shares used in basic per share calculation GAAP and Non-GAAP		133,815			135,329			136,092			135,167			136,376

Net income per share, diluted (GAAP)	$	0.45		$	0.33		$	0.15		$	0.75		$	3.08
Stock-based compensation		0.39			0.33			0.39			1.56			1.57
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		0.04			0.04			0.08			0.15			0.16
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0.07			0.01			0.10			0.10			0.11
Non-cash interest expense		0.02			0.02			0.01			0.06			0.06
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(0.03	)		(0.08	)		(0.19	)		(0.26	)		(0.57	)
Net income per share, diluted (Non-GAAP) ⁽²⁾	$	0.94		$	0.65		$	0.54		$	2.37		$	4.41

Shares used in diluted per share calculation GAAP		138,128			139,914			139,205			140,004			143,290
Shares used in diluted per share calculation Non-GAAP		134,053			135,839			137,187			135,641			139,214

Income-based government grants (GAAP)	$	68,040		$	46,552		$	32,887		$	157,538		$	53,470
Incremental cost for manufacturing in U.S.		(16,123	)		(11,396	)		(7,112	)		(38,351	)		(11,603	)
Net IRA benefit (Non-GAAP)	$	51,917		$	35,156		$	25,775		$	119,187		$	41,867

Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)	$	167,292		$	170,138		$	35,450		$	513,693		$	696,780
Purchases of property and equipment		(8,064	)		(8,533	)		(20,075	)		(33,604	)		(110,401	)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	159,228		$	161,605		$	15,375		$	480,089		$	586,379

(2) Calculation of non-GAAP diluted net income per share for the year ended December 31, 2023 excludes convertible Notes due 2023 interest expense, net of tax of less than $0.1 million from non-GAAP net income.

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 04.02.2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Nokia Corporation
Stock Exchange Release
4 February 2025 at 22:30 EET

Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 04.02.2025

Espoo, Finland – On 4 February 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*

XHEL 1,221,522 4.52

CEUX – –

BATE – –

AQEU – –

TQEX – –

Total 1,221,522 4.52

* Rounded to two decimals

On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

Total cost of transactions executed on 4 February 2025 was EUR 5,526,288. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 238,124,606 treasury shares.

Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

On behalf of Nokia Corporation

BofA Securities Europe SA

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Inquiries:

Nokia Communications
Phone: +358 10 448 4900
Email: press.services@nokia.com
Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

Nokia Investor Relations
Phone: +358 931 580 507
Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

Attachment
- Daily Report 2025-02-04
The MIL Network –
February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s tariff gambit: As allies prepare to strike back, a costly trade war looms

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bedassa Tadesse, Professor of Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth

On Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to slap steep tariffs on imports from key American trading partners – 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% on imports from China. His stated reason? To curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Both Mexico and Canada managed to buy some time. After urgent phone calls with Trump on Feb. 3, their leaders each secured a one-month reprieve. But Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Justin Trudeau also made it clear to their U.S. counterpart: If these tariffs go through, they’ll hit back with their own trade restrictions. The world is watching the opening moves of what could become another costly trade war.

As a professor of economics, I can explain why this poses significant risks to the U.S. economy and American consumers. Economic theory suggests that tariffs distort market efficiency, raising production costs while limiting consumer choice and increasing prices.

Who really pays for tariffs?

While politicians often frame tariffs as a way to punish other countries, they actually hit domestic consumers and businesses hardest. Whether they’re facing higher grocery bills or disruptions in manufacturing, Americans will feel the strain.

When tariffs are imposed, companies must either absorb the additional costs – cutting into profits and potentially threatening jobs – or pass these costs to consumers through higher prices. Small businesses operating on thin profit margins are particularly vulnerable, as many lack the resources to quickly switch suppliers.

Tariffs trigger costly retaliation

Worse yet, such measures commonly set off a cycle of retaliation. During past trade disputes involving the U.S., affected nations have responded with counter-tariffs on American products, including textiles, steel and agricultural goods. Such retaliatory efforts have led to sharp declines in U.S. exports.

During the first Trump administration, for example, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports. As a result, the U.S. farmers lost billions of dollars, and the U.S. spent billions in government aid to offset those losses. China has already issued new tariffs on imports of U.S. goods and export controls on some of its exports to the U.S. to retaliate for Trump’s current move.

History also shows that trade wars are self-defeating. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which imposed tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods, prompted swift retaliation from trading partners and contributed to deepening the Great Depression.

Modern trade wars have other consequences

Modern trade wars hit closer to home than most Americans realize. The recent tariff threat against Colombia reveals why. In 2023, Colombian farmers supplied US$1.14 billion worth of fresh-cut flowers to U.S. florists. In a near-crisis that lasted a weekend, Trump threatened to slap steep tariffs on the South American nation, right when flower shops across America were stocking up for one of their busiest seasons: Valentine’s Day.

The same tariffs would have hit Colombian coffee too, affecting everything from neighborhood cafes to grocery store prices. This shows how modern trade disputes can instantly disrupt the everyday purchases Americans make.

Other key trading partners, including the European Union, have also come into the crosshairs. On Jan. 30, 2025, the president issued a stark warning to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the so-called BRICS nations – threatening 100% tariffs if they continued efforts to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar as their reserve currency.

These threats can do more than alienate strategic partners; they risk accelerating dedollarization – pushing nations to develop alternative financial systems that weaken U.S. influence in global trade.

A more effective approach

Beyond causing immediate economic pain, constant tariff threats risk damaging America’s credibility as a reliable trading partner. The U.S. helped establish the rules-based international trading system, but regular tariff threats erode global trust and push trading partners to seek alternatives to the U.S. market.

The reality is clear: No country in the modern era has successfully used tariffs to grow its economy or improve the well-being of its people. The countries that are most dependent on tariff revenues for their national budgets are among the world’s poorest and least developed economies.

I believe the path to maintaining America’s economic leadership lies in embracing a smarter, more strategic trade policy – one that builds alliances instead of breaking them. A strategy that prioritizes negotiation, fosters innovation and enhances competitiveness – and that doesn’t rely on protectionist tactics more often used by developing nations – would strengthen cooperation and stability, ensuring long-term economic prosperity.

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

– ref. Trump’s tariff gambit: As allies prepare to strike back, a costly trade war looms – https://theconversation.com/trumps-tariff-gambit-as-allies-prepare-to-strike-back-a-costly-trade-war-looms-248980

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Who are immigrants to the US, where do they come from and where do they live?
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Van Hook, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Demography, Penn State

Immigrants to the U.S. increasingly arrive like these people, seeking asylum at a formal border crossing, rather than trying to sneak across the border. Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Undocumented immigration is a key issue in American politics, but it can be hard to nail down the basic facts about who these immigrants are, where they live and how their numbers have changed in the past few decades.

I study the demographics of the U.S. immigrant population and have seen how the data has changed over time. Here are some basics to set the stage as President Donald Trump begins his second term in office vowing to crack down hard on immigrants, including by conducting mass deportations.

Immigration status

My analysis of the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey data, in collaboration with the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit immigration research group, finds that as of the middle of 2023, approximately 51 million foreign-born people lived in the United States.

Most immigrants are in the U.S. legally. About 49% have become U.S. citizens by a process known as naturalization. Another 19% hold lawful permanent resident status and are eligible to become U.S. citizens through naturalization. Still another 5% are in the country on temporary visas, like those for international students, diplomats and their families, and seasonal or temporary workers.

The remaining 27% – around 13.7 million people – are outside those categories and therefore generally considered to be undocumented.

My analysis shows that the number of undocumented immigrants held steady at around 11 million between 2007 and 2019. In the next four years, the numbers increased by nearly 3 million. This recent growth is mostly attributable to large increases in border crossings by migrants from Central and South America who were seeking asylum or other forms of humanitarian relief. Starting in June 2024, however, the number of people entering across the U.S.-Mexico border fell back to normal levels when the Biden administration implemented the Secure the Border rule, which suspends asylum applications at the border when crossings reach a seven-day average of 2,500.

These changes were accompanied by changes in the undocumented migration process itself. In the past, undocumented immigrants often entered the country by slipping undetected across the U.S. border with Mexico. But increased border enforcement made the journey more dangerous and expensive.

Instead of paying smugglers or risking their lives in the desert, growing numbers of undocumented immigrants now either directly approach immigration officials at airports or land-border crossings and seek asylum in the U.S. Others are initially admitted to the country legally on a temporary tourist, student or work visa – but then overstay the time period for which they have permission.

Additionally, growing numbers of undocumented immigrants occupy what might be called a “liminal” or “in-between” status. The Migration Policy Institute analysis estimates this encompasses a range of groups as of the middle of 2023, including:
- About 2.1 million people awaiting a decision on their asylum claims.
- 521,000 parolees, allowed into the U.S. for humanitarian or national security reasons, like those paroled recently from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
- 654,000 people who hold temporary protected status because it would be unsafe for them to return home due to armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies.
- 562,000 who are protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program because they were brought to the United States as children by their parents.
The report estimates that just over one-quarter of undocumented immigrants currently occupy this type of “in-between” status. These immigrants are protected from deportation. Some even have a legal right to work in the U.S. Yet they do not possess a durable legal immigration status, and their rights could be threatened by policy changes.

While Trump says he wants to deport as many as 11 million immigrants, analyses published by The New York Times and The Washington Post indicate that it may be difficult to remove many of them under existing U.S. law. The one group that is easy to remove – those with a criminal record – is relatively small, numbering about 650,000.

Shifting countries of origin

Since 1980, Mexicans have been the largest single national origin group in the United States. I found that 10.9 million Mexican-born individuals were living in the country in 2023, making up 23% of all immigrants. The second-largest group, immigrants from India, numbered just 2.9 million, or 6% of all immigrants living in the U.S.

However, immigrants’ origins have been shifting away from Mexico.

With the onset of the Great Recession of 2007-2009, work opportunities in U.S. construction and manufacturing evaporated. Many Mexican laborers had been working in construction at the time but went back to Mexico when the U.S. housing market collapsed.

At that same time, Mexico’s economic conditions improved, its population growth slowed, and many would-be migrants opted to stay home. For the first time in decades, from 2007 to 2022 the number of Mexicans who returned home exceeded the number coming to the United States.

This trend was especially pronounced among undocumented immigrants. I found that Mexicans made up about 51% of the undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country 10 or more years ago. Central Americans made up 20%, and the remaining originated from other regions.

However, undocumented migrants now come from across the globe. Among undocumented immigrants who arrived within the past 10 years, 19% came from Mexico. Larger shares came from Central America and South America. While some of these new migrants seek work, others flee crime, economic and ecological disasters, and political persecution in their home countries.

Duration of residence

Most immigrants, whether they are in the U.S. legally or illegally, have lived in the United States for many years. Just under half of foreign-born individuals have lived in the country for two decades or more, and more than two-thirds have lived in the country for at least 10 years. Only 20% arrived within the past five years.

This is a dramatic change from the early 2000s, when less than 10% of immigrants had been in the U.S. for more than two decades, and more than one-third had arrived within the previous five years.

That means many of the people who are likely to be targeted for deportation in the coming months are settled, long-term members of American society.

Place of residence

As of 2023, 6.6 million immigrants reported on the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey that they moved to the United States in the past five years.

However, the effects of these new immigrants on American communities has been uneven. Although most communities are more racially and ethnically diverse now than in the past, the numbers of newly arrived immigrants are relatively low in most places.

Fifteen states host fewer than 20,000 immigrants, and 33 states are home to fewer than 100,000. In contrast, over half of new arrivals live in just five states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas are the home of over half of new arrivals yet have only 37% of the U.S. population. Other states such as Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington also are home to large and growing immigrant populations.

The U.S. immigrant population is changing rapidly. In the early years of the 21st century, Mexican immigrants dominated undocumented immigration flows to the United States. Decades later, many of these people continue to live in the country.

In the past four years, however, the flow of undocumented people increased dramatically. These new arrivals tend to come from troubled nations in Central and South America, many of whom are protected from deportation and have a legal right to work in the U.S. Altogether, most undocumented immigrants either have lived in the country for decades or have legal protections.

Neither of these groups fit the profile of undocumented immigrants who are typically targeted for deportation.

Jennifer Van Hook receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. She is a nonresident fellow of the Migration Policy Institute.

– ref. Who are immigrants to the US, where do they come from and where do they live? – https://theconversation.com/who-are-immigrants-to-the-us-where-do-they-come-from-and-where-do-they-live-247430
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Answer Your Phone – FEMA May be Calling About Housing Resources

Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

EMA is calling eligible survivors in Georgia regarding the Home Key housing initiative.
The Home Key initiative provides rapid strategies for securing immediate housing for survivors of Hurricane Helene who have been displaced from their primary residence by using existing resources from various community partners.
The program’s top priority is securing long-term housing assistance for survivors in greatest need. FEMA will conduct a thorough review of your case to establish a need for housing. If eligible, you will have to complete and provide FEMA with some paperwork, including Release of Information forms. FEMA may refer you to available sheltering programs; provide assistance for securing Rental Assistance; or refer you to voluntary agencies or other FEMA programs.
Calls from FEMA may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers. It is important to answer the call as FEMA may call you regarding the Home Key initiative to help you with your immediate housing needs, provide you with additional assistance and give you general information about housing opportunities. Be aware of scammer calls; if you are uncertain of the validity of a call, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/georgia. Follow FEMA Region 4 @FEMARegion4 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Cameron Hamilton on X @FEMA_Cam.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Steps Taken to Provide Healthcare to Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Ask about Reparations for Victims and the Protect

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on sexual violence in armed conflict in the eastern part of the country, presented under its exceptional reporting procedure.

Committee Experts commended the State for the healthcare delivered to victims of conflict-related sexual violence, while asking about reparations for victims and how women seeking firewood and other resources in nature reserves could be protected

A Committee Expert congratulated the State party for steps taken in the areas of healthcare. The Committee hailed the adoption of decree 23/9, which provided for the creation of multisectoral care for survivors of sexual-related violence. The establishment of mobile clinics in internally displaced persons camps should be commended, as well as the distribution of post-rape kits by midwives.

Another Expert said the State party should be commended for enacting the fund for conflict-related sexual violence. How did it operate and how many victims had benefitted from it? What steps were being undertaken to ensure adequate resources to implement a victim-centred transitional justice mechanism?

A Committee Expert said as Goma was under siege, the most pressing issue was water. How would the State install water distribution centres while ensuring the protection of women collecting the water? Many women trekked from Goma in search of firewood, but instead were found by gunmen and faced rape. Were there park rangers trained in violence prevention who were gender-sensitive and conscious of the epidemic of violence? The proliferation of small arms and light weapons often claimed the lives of women and girls foraging for food and firewood; how was their illegal trading being addressed?

The delegation said victims were active participants in the reparation process. A law implemented in 2022, which provided protection and reparation to victims of sexual violence, mandated a three per cent fixed amount to be sent to organizations for female victims to provide reparations. Work was done with women at the local level to ensure their full participation. More than 220,000 victims had been identified, including displaced persons.

Regarding the situation in the nature reserves in the east of the country, the delegation said this had become a ground for armed groups operating in the area. Programmes were in place to address practical needs, including safe drinking water for persons in internally displaced persons camps, to ensure there was no need to forage further afield. Steps had been taken to strengthen protection in the park areas, with regular security patrolling the areas, and keeping note of where women were located. Awareness raising campaigns were being conducted to highlight the risks women faced when collecting firewood alone. Women were provided with micro-credits to generate alternative income streams, allowing them to pay for resources such as firewood and water, rather than searching for them themselves.

Introducing the report, Chantal Chambu Mwavita, Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and head of the delegation, called for a minute of silence to be observed for the victims of the conflict. The special report being presented today on sexual violence in armed conflict in the eastern part of the country had been drafted at the request of the Committee. The Congolese Government was committed to the prevention and suppression of sexual violence in times of conflict.

Since the submission of the report, at least 945 police staff members had been deployed in areas where the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) had withdrawn to protect the civilian population. The Government had adopted a national action plan, which included measures aimed at preventing violence against women in armed conflict. The Minister said the Committee should support the creation of an international criminal tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prosecute those responsible for sexual violence.

In closing remarks, Ms. Chambu Mwavita said it was an honour to be with the Committee to speak about the situation in the country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo needed support. The country had faced the aggression of its neighbour Rwanda for more than 30 years. The dialogue today presented an opportunity to ask for unity and for efforts to respect the United Nations Charter.

In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue despite the difficult situation being faced in the country. The Committee expressed its solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and commended the State party for the efforts it had already taken.

The delegation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Human Rights; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Gender; the National Assembly; the Coordination Body on Youth, Gender and Violence against Women and Trafficking in Persons; the High Military Court; the Superior Council of the Judiciary; the Secretary General for Human Rights; the Commission for Inter-Institutional Victim Assistance and Reform Support Organization; the Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Head of State and Focal Point for Sexual Violence; Gender and Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones Specialist; the National Assembly; the Directorate of Access to Justice; the Congolese National Police; the Head of State Security; and the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 5 February, to begin its consideration of the seventh periodic report of Nepal (CEDAW/C/NPL/7).

Report

The Committee has before it the report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo presented under the Committee’s exceptional reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/COD/EP/1).

Presentation of Report

CHANTAL CHAMBU MWAVITA, Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and head of the delegation, called for a minute of silence to be observed for the victims of the conflict. The delegation was presenting the report at a particular moment in time when the territory of North Kivu and South Kivu and Ituri was being torn apart by acts of violence, targeting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure, perpetrated by the Rwandan army and the M23 armed group. Rwanda was a party to the Convention and was directly responsible for these crimes.

Various reports from the United Nations and witness statements from survivors of sexual conflict showed that thousands of women and girls had been victims of rape, mutilation and other types of inhumane violence. These atrocities not only affected displaced persons, but were also taking place at homes, schools and in prisons. Now Goma and its surroundings had been taken by the M23 army and other parts of Kivu were being besieged. If the international community did not take urgent measures, there could be the spread of a cycle of violence against women and girls.

The special report being presented today on sexual violence in armed conflict in the eastern part of the country had been drafted at the request of the Committee. The Congolese Government was committed to the prevention and suppression of sexual violence in times of conflict. Since the submission of the report, at least 945 police staff members had been deployed in areas where the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) had withdrawn to protect the civilian population. They had been trained to protect people against sexual violence.

The Government had adopted a national action plan, which included measures aimed at preventing violence against women in armed conflict. In 2024, over 1,030 cases were reported and prosecuted by police in South Kivu. Rulings had been handed down, including under military jurisdiction, where reparations were provided for victims. The Ministry of Human Rights had pledged to conclude military amendments for transitional justice in the country.

The Government was making combatting violence against women the number one priority. National funds had been developed, providing reparation and health care to the survivors. Mobile clinics had established health care near areas controlled by the Rwandan army and the M23. The efforts to protect victims from sexual violence were being undermined by the increased attacks by the Rwandan army and M23, as they had stepped up their military efforts and attacks against civilians. Two weeks ago, a Rwandan military offensive backed by M23 had resulted in the escape of over 3,000 prisoners from Goma’s central prison, the proliferation of light arms, infrastructure damage, rapes of 163 women held in the prison who were set alight while alive, pillaging of legal buildings, attacks on women defending women victims of violence, and the bombing of the maternal hospital in Goma which led to the deaths of pregnant women and women who had just given birth.

The Minister said it was essential for the Committee to provide support without delay to women survivors of sexual violence who were in areas occupied by the Rwandan army and the M23. The Committee should strongly condemn the occupation of Congolese territory by the Rwandan army and the M23, and actively advocate for sanctions against them. The Committee should support the creation of an international criminal tribunal for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prosecute those responsible for sexual violence. The delegation was here to support the United Nations Charter and put an end to the war in the country.

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said the Committee stood with the delegation and the people of the Democratic of the Congo during this difficult time.

GISÈLE KAPINGA NTUMBA, National Human Rights Commissioner and head of the delegation of the National Human Rights Commission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, saluted the delegation, which had spared no effort to take part in the session, despite the situation in the country. The Commission welcomed the decisions taken by the Congolese Government to protect the civilian population from the risks of sexual violence and other related human rights violations committed by the parties to the ongoing conflict in the east of the country. However, it remained concerned about the implementation of the decisions taken and their deterrent nature, particularly with regard to armed groups and the Rwandan army, which were not concerned by these decisions.

One of the major challenges for the Government was the security of and humanitarian assistance for the civilian population, both in areas besieged by armed groups and in camps for displaced persons. The recent invasion and unprecedented assault on the city of Goma by the M23 rebels and the Rwandan army demonstrated the magnitude of the challenge and had led to systematic and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, with women and children as primary targets.

At least 700 people had died in Goma since the invasion, and about 500,000 people had been displaced, the majority of whom were women and children. Sexual violence had reached its peak and health care facilities were overwhelmed. The city had not been under the control of the Congolese Government, in violation of the principle of Congolese State sovereignty, since the invasion.

Taking into account the current context, the Commission recommended that the Congolese State use all its powers to restore peace in the east by favouring diplomatic channels and the peaceful settlement of the conflict. At the International Criminal Court, it was recommended that criminal proceedings be initiated against the leaders of the M23 and the Rwandan army for the various acts constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Goma and its surroundings. Finally, at the United Nations Security Council, the Commission recommended that targeted sanctions be taken against Rwanda and that everything be done to bring peace to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Questions by Committee Experts

BRENDA AKIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the Committee members extended their heartfelt condolences to the Democratic Republic the Congo, and condemned the violence being experienced by women and girls in the country. Ms. Akia commended the Government for the commitment to being part of the dialogue, the progress made in human rights, and the measures taken to tackle sexual violence. Could the State party provide specific information on the different forms of conflict-related sexual violence currently being committed against women and girls?

An urgent political response was needed to ensure peace and security in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Given the complexity of the conflict, fuelled by the exploitation of minerals and the existence of armed groups, what strategies was the State party undertaking to push for peace in the country, and ensure the protection of women and girls under international humanitarian law? What was being done to end the illicit exploitation of these minerals? The Committee commended the State party for the actions taken so far; what were the challenges faced in implementing these legal and policy frameworks? What resources would the State party require to implement these frameworks?

A Committee Expert said the Democratic Republic of the Congo was resource-rich, which was often a curse, having fuelled the conflict and sexual violence. Several pieces of legislation had been passed with the aim of regulating the trade of minerals and armed conflict in the area. How were extraterritorial actors, including businesses, being held accountable so they did not avoid impunity?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the illicit mining was one of the main causes of the crisis in the eastern part of the country. The Government had enacted several measures to turn this situation around, but the major challenge was that the mines were under the control of armed groups as well as foreign States that were involving themselves in the conflict. The Government was taking steps to ensure the certification of certain mining operations, but it was difficult to ensure this was a widespread approach. The Government was hindered by the conflict and its economic pressure and the difficulty of imposing Government initiatives in areas controlled by rebel groups and foreign States, due to the lack of administrative control.

The financial issues were a challenge, including for implementing transitional justice mechanisms, which was why an appeal had been made to States for support in this regard. Impunity needed to be tackled head on; the perpetrators of these crimes could not go unpunished. Steps needed to be taken to bear pressure on other States involved in the conflict, including by sheltering perpetrators. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was calling for an international criminal tribunal to ensure all involved, regardless of their location, could be apprehended. When rapes had occurred in Goma, any measures taken by the Government to deal with this were difficult to enact, as other parties were now in charge of Goma.

In the conflict areas, women were principally being used by armed groups and other combatants to serve as sexual slaves. This could result in forced pregnancies and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Women being held by these armed groups also did not have access to relevant and necessary health care. A coordination unit had tracked 10 forms of sexual violence, including rape, human trafficking, sexual mutilation, public sexual violence and humiliation, including women whose sons had been forced to rape them in public, public sexual violence against men and boys, gang rape, transmission of HIV/AIDS as a result of rape, and stigmatisation as a result of the sexual violence, among others.

There was also a form of sexual violence deliberately targeting children, particularly young girls. The State had also seen sexual violence used as a weapon of war, which had been ongoing since 2011, when the country was first described as “the world rape capital”.

To ensure a better management of its natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo participated in multiple inter-State cooperation efforts to ensure the tracing of natural resources, including those exploited via mining. One included the Kimberly Process for the tracing of diamonds. The difficulty lay in the application of these pieces of legislation, as the majority of the areas where these resources were found were occupied by Rwanda in the eastern part of the country. For this reason, it was difficult for the State to exercise its full sovereignty and ensure the traceability of resources.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert thanked the members of the delegation for their presence, despite the dire situation. Many women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo faced marginalisation from the peace and security processes. The weak rule of law, and the impunity for perpetrators of violence and gender-based violence, continued to undermine women’s involvement in the peace and security agenda. The Expert was happy to note that the third national action plan on women, peace and security had been adopted in 2024; when did it come into effect? How were women’s organizations and victims engaged in its implementation? What were the key objectives of the plan? What concrete plans existed to address the situation of impunity? What concrete measures were being undertaken to ensure the effective participation of women’s organizations and victims of sexual violence in policies and frameworks relating to women, peace and security?

The State party should be commended for enacting the fund for conflict-related sexual violence. How did it operate and how many victims had benefitted from it? What steps were being undertaken to ensure adequate resources to implement a victim-centred transitional justice mechanism? Given the withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), how would the Government’s transition plan fill this void? Was there any data on women’s direct participation in negotiation processes for peacebuilding?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said victims were active participants in the reparation process. A law implemented in 2022, which provided protection and reparation to victims of sexual violence, mandated a three per cent fixed amount to be sent to organizations for female victims to provide reparations. Work was done with women at the local level to ensure their full participation. More than 220,000 victims had been identified, including displaced persons. The situation of displaced persons had been catastrophic and required immediate assistance, with emergency measures implemented for this group, including holistic care, medical psychosocial care, and legal assistance and support; 49 per cent of people recorded came from North Kivu. The situation was constantly changing which made it difficult to respond to. Rigorous monitoring and management efforts were taken to ensure victims were at the heart of responses, with the majority of resources gathered being dispersed as reparations. Regular consultations were held with victims groups every three months.

The third national action plan on women, peace and security was approved in 2024 and included activities to improve the level of women’s participation. For the first time in the country, there was a female Prime Minister and 32 per cent of those occupying high-level positions in the Government were women. Awareness-raising campaigns were carried out to raise awareness of women’s rights, prevent sexual violence, and protect women and young girls from gender-based violence. The most recent plan had 26 million dollars earmarked, which had been provided by the Government, public and private partners and international partners, including Norway. Innovative aspects had been included within the plan, including an aspect of positive masculinity.

The withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in 2021. The withdrawal plan was supported by the Peace Consolidation Fund, to support the country when the Mission withdrew and bolster peace efforts. This approach was inclusive, involving civil society and actively promoting cohesion among women’s organizations.

Since 2018, there had been an increase in women in decision-making positions, due to an introduction of measures to promote gender equality, as well as this being enshrined within the country’s Constitution.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the Democratic Republic of the Congo had ratified the Convention almost 40 years ago. During this time, how had women’s participation in the political process changed? How many people were in top positions in the country? Women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remained underrepresented in all spheres, including in the private sector. Out of 500 members of Parliament, only 14 per cent of them were women.

A roadmap had been adopted up to 2028 to prevent violence in politics. What steps were being taken to guarantee more women taking part in legislative bodies? What was being done to eliminate violence in electoral processes? How were women candidates being protected? Taking into consideration the extreme violence in the eastern part of the country, it seemed difficult to foresee, but when would there be net parity in the representation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a campaign had been spearheaded for positive masculinity. There was now a female Prime Minister and women occupied key decision-making and ministerial posts within the Government, including as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This year, all party leaders were called upon to ensure 50 per cent of female candidates in their electoral lists in scheduled elections. These lists would be excused from having to pay the electoral fee, which was an incentive to guarantee more female candidates.

Steps had been taken at the electoral and appointed level to push for the stated goal of parity. However, it was another thing to ensure that the female candidates were elected as representatives or senators. The authorities had more control on appointing women to specific posts, rather than ensuring they were elected by voters. A rule had been enacted to ensure parity with Director-Generals and Deputy Director-Generals, whereby every time a man was appointed to this position, so was a woman, and vice versa. To ensure more female members of Parliament, women had to be able to persuade the local population to vote for them. Hearts and minds needed to be changed at the grassroots level, but this was happening gradually. Having more female leaders would go a long way to changing the electoral environment.

During the most recent elections, a programme was rolled out to address electoral violence in the eastern part of the country, and boost capacity for women who wanted to stand as electoral candidates. Programmes were also rolled out targeting key communities and regions at a grassroots level. Awareness-raising was being carried out in villages to address the entrenched views within the country. Women female candidates often lacked resources, so it was important to engage in capacity building so they could undertake fundraising. The process towards the drive towards parity was closely tied to the existence of legal instruments. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was making efforts to promote women’s participation at all levels.

Legal and regulatory frameworks were in place under Congolese electoral law to protect female candidates. A specialised police unit and the military were deployed to regions to ensure violence was not being inflicted on female candidates, and the police received special training in this regard. Special campaigns were carried out to raise awareness of gender-based violence in elections and encourage female candidates to report this phenomenon. The prevailing conflict hampered the opportunities to change the sociological and cultural mindsets within the country. Of the 5,000 judges in the country, around 25 per cent were now women, when previously it had been almost zero. To achieve this goal, women had been prioritised in recruitment drives. There was a lack of trust in women’s competence which needed to be addressed. The State was exhausted by the war which was standing in the way of the process.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said given the link between armed conflict and the climate crisis, could reparations be expanded to include climate-change related violence against women? In March 2021, the International Criminal Court had issued its first order for reparations for victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Did the reparation fund provide funds for children born out of rape? Last year, a member of the militia was sentenced to imprisonment for life for crimes against humanity, due to forced pregnancy, which was a global first and should be congratulated. Did the Penal Code address the 10 categories of sexual violence previously mentioned? How did the Code help shift the stigma from the victim to the perpetrator? As Goma was under siege, the most pressing issue was water. How would the State install water distribution centres while ensuring the protection of women collecting the water?

Many women trekked from Goma in search of firewood, but instead were found by gunmen and faced rape. Were there park rangers trained in violence prevention, who were gender-sensitive and conscious of the epidemic of violence? The proliferation of small arms and light weapons often claimed the lives of women and girls foraging for food and firewood; how was their illegal trading being addressed? It was estimated that the country faced acute food insecurity and was at the tipping point of famine. How was a humanitarian corridor for access to food, water and medical supplies being established? Unfortunately, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, food insecurity resulted in “famine brides”, particularly women and girls with disabilities, who were denied food and medicine and sold in sexual slavery.

Responses by the Delegation

One speaker from the delegation said she had been raped during the war, and hearing the recent news was triggering many emotions. At the time she had been a child; now she was 28 and it continued to haunt her. It was vital for the reparation fund and other programmes which aimed to provide reparations to victims, to target children born in conflict, children born from rape, and children who witnessed conflict. The Child and Youth Programme granted children who came from conflict or rape administrative documents. Medical care, psychosocial assistance and social support, including access to education, was provided to children. Laws were in place to ensure that those involved in the conflict would not be able to hold decision-making positions or receive any benefits.

M23 and the Rwandan Government had destroyed the displaced persons camps around Goma, depriving these people of their legitimate rights to protection. The Government, with international partners, had made great efforts to help people establish these camps and have the bare necessities, but they were being destroyed. It had become impossible to find a single shelter for displaced people in these areas. So many efforts had been made, with little results, as the Government could not control the area. The speaker asked the international community to speak on behalf of victims, so that their voices were heard.

The State was working with the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Kingdom and others to develop a tool to identify children born from rape. This would not just help children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also children born from rape in Sudan, Ukraine and other parts of the world. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was expecting a third wave of children born from rape, who would ask who their parents were. There needed to be measures to ensure this did not happen again. It was difficult to bring down the number of light weapons.

There was an undeniable link between sexual violence against women and economisation. Regarding the situation in the nature reserves in the east of the country, this had become a ground for armed groups operating in the area. One of the consequences of climate change was the energy crisis, meaning firewood and charcoal carbon were the energy resources sought by women and girls, who regularly fell victim to the armed groups, and were raped while seeking to meet their energy needs. There were units responsible for protecting the reserves, but the light weapons they were armed with were no match for the firepower of the armed groups, who could then wreak havoc on the nature reserves. The guards in the reserves were not equipped to protect the women searching for firewood and the Government did not have the ability to intervene as these areas were controlled by Rwanda. Many of these parks and forests were registered as national heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The impact of this part of the conflict needed to be properly understood and measured.

A programme had been developed to ensure youths were not tempted by the recruitment of the armed groups, and to provide for the needs of internally displaced persons and ensure their reintegration in their host communities. The programme also targeted ex-combatants but excluded those who had taken arms against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A woman was a member of the leadership board on this programme.

Programmes were in place to address practical needs, including safe drinking water for persons in internally displaced persons camps, to ensure there was no need to forage further afield. The war had hampered these endeavours, as many internally displaced persons were now fleeing from camps, and it was difficult to identify them. Steps had been taken to strengthen protection in the park areas, with regular security patrolling the areas, and keeping note of where women were located. The State was also seeking to address the issue of reforestation, by encouraging women to engage directly in sustainable forest management.

Awareness raising campaigns were being conducted to highlight the risks women faced when collecting firewood alone. Women were provided with micro-credits to generate alternative income streams, allowing them to pay for resources such as firewood and water, rather than searching for them themselves. A hotline was established, where women could call to report instances of rape or violence, and they were offered psychological assistance and support. Women were also taught how to have access to water and sustainably manage it, and water purification tablets were distributed to women, to ensure their water was drinkable. Work was being done with local and international partners to bolster women’s protection systems and their sustainable natural management systems.

Steps were being taken to tackle food insecurity which was prevalent in the eastern part of the country, including through establishing canteens for displaced persons. The Government placed special emphasis on tackling the trading of small arms and light weapons, but this was often disregarded by States. However, the Government sometimes had to disregard control measures themselves to ensure they were equipped to fight against the Rwandan army and M23. It was important to note that the State was not refusing dialogue with the armed groups, but they would not re-enter former rebel combatants into the armed forces. However, the State was willing to engage in dialogue with these groups, under the Nairobi agreement.

Questions by Committee Experts

An Expert said it was important that women were included in the Nairobi peace process. It was vital to document evidence and women’s narratives for women’s legal action. The Congo basin was “the lungs of Africa” and it was important that it was protected to ensure the Sustainable Development Goals. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had reintroduced the death penalty in January this year to address the wave of gang violence. It was hoped this would be reconsidered.

BRENDA AKIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, commended the State party for justice efforts taken to end impunity for conflict-related sexual violence, including the mobile courts which had led to the prosecution of numerous perpetrators. Given the high level of sexual violence, the number of convictions were not commensurate. Was the State party considering other jurisdiction methods to ensure perpetrators who passed through the porous borders in the regions would be prosecuted and held accountable?

The State party should emphasise in the Nairobi peace process negotiations the conflict-related sexual violence experienced by women and girls and the importance of gathering evidence for seeking justice. How was the State party investing in strengthening the rule of law to ensure access to quality and affordable justice, including access to legal aid for victims of conflict-related sexual violence? Could the State party provide data on the number of investigations, arrests, arrest warrants and successful convictions handed down against victims? Ms. Akia commended the State party for the commitment to the peace process

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that following some complaints received by the Government, a Commission was established to look into alleged violations by members of law enforcement. In Goma, around 30 members of law enforcement had been judged. Given the recent situation of the prison break, the whereabouts of these individuals was currently unknown. The difficulty was related to the international nature of the crisis; even if domestic mechanisms would be established, there were international elements which needed to be addressed. For the Government, the reinstation of the death penalty was an administrative deterrent measure for the situation in the eastern part of the country. No executions had been carried out so far.

Justice was provided free of charge for victims of conflict-related sexual violence, practically and legislatively. Many women did not want to present their cases before courts as they feared stigmatisation, and they also faced difficulty in access to justice, which explained the discrepancy between the number of cases of sexual violence reported and the number convicted. Often times, victims could not pay for legal proceedings and did not understand how the courts operated, which presented further challenges. The State party was aiming to remove some of these barriers, including by making access to the justice system free of charge. Now, in the east of the country, this was the situation. At the same time, legal assistance could be provided to victims.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert expressed solidarity and deep sadness for the tragic loss of life within the State party. Could the State party provide information on what measures were being taken to ensure adequate capacity to strengthen coordination among duty-bearers responsible for preventing conflict-related sexual violence, including judges and prosecutors, among others? What incentives had been applied to increase the recruitment of judges and prosecutors so that they could handle the backlog of conflict-related sexual violence cases, particularly in rural areas? How often were duty-bearers responsible for combatting conflict-related sexual violence? How often was training conducted and what did it entail? How often was the Convention incorporated in the training?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said according to the 2024 law on the status of judges, judges learned about several topics during their training, including sexual violence. From the moment Congolese judges were appointed, they could begin to work on repressing sexual violence. Following the ratification of the Convention, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had had to adapt its legal framework.

In areas of conflict, it would be difficult to provide statistical figures, as courts and legal buildings had been destroyed, meaning it was difficult to follow-up on written cases. The National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence had been rolled out initially in 2010, was revised in 2019, and was being reviewed currently to see if it needed to be tailored to the existing context. In 2019, the National Police drew up a national plan to tackle sexual violence, which contained a chapter outlining the modalities to be followed when it came to interviewing victims and witnesses.

The statue on the recruitment of judges covered lawyers who worked in the Attorney-General’s Office. Around two thirds of magistrates recruited by the Office in 2023 would be reappointed to serve as judges in district courts. There were more than nine instances of action criminalised as sexual violence, which were heard before the Peace Courts. These cases were being heard whenever possible in local district courts. This was a way used by the Government to address the backlog of cases. Female mediators were currently being trained by Member States of the Southern African Community.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said conflict-affected mining grounds saw high levels of sexual slavery, fuelled by money from the mineral trade. Human trafficking remained a worrying phenomenon in certain parts of the country. How did the State party ensure that complaints of trafficking were handled appropriately and that victims themselves were not penalised? How would the State party prevent trafficking of persons by members of the armed groups? Were there plans to increase the number of shelters for female victims of human trafficking?

Another Expert said the Committee encouraged the State party’s efforts in the face of the resurgence of conflict. Between January 2022 and March 2023, more than 100 schools had stopped operating due to the deteriorating security situation. The Committee understood that educational activities were extremely difficult during the ongoing situation. Was there an education policy for displaced women and girls? Was education considered part of the services provided to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence? What were the education plans for all levels of the system? Were school age pregnant girls and mothers able to attend schools and access education? The Expert was pleased to hear of the State party’s approach to positive masculinity. Young males were easy targets for recruitment into armed groups. Did gender-responsive education exist within the school and university systems, the armed forces, and State systems?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said as of last week, there were more than seven million internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who were lacking aid, which presented a major crisis for the country. Since 2019, the President had set up the National Agency to tackle the issue of human trafficking. An expanded Technical Commission had been established to engage in discussions and debate. In conflict zones, women and children were increasingly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. There was an increasing number of brothels in and around Goma, and in mining areas as well. Those who worked there were victims, who had no other choice. There was a significant amount of forced labour in the mines, with a substantial number being children. There were also many child combatants in the armed groups who had been tricked into joining them.

There was significant corruption surrounding human trafficking; the Government fully understood this issue and was attempting to tackle it head on. The current political instability and the mass of displaced persons gave traffickers cover to carry out their activities. The Government was doing its utmost to combat human trafficking and was working closely with the United Nations Office in Vienna. The State had managed to stabilise the situation, but recognised there was still significant work to be done.

The Government had been able to rebuild around 20 schools which had been destroyed. The approach to education always mainstreamed a gender dimension, and took into account the specific needs of women and girls. The major issue was the sheer number of displaced persons, with more than half of them women and children. The State was doing its utmost to ensure women and girls had access to education.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert congratulated the State party for steps taken in the area of healthcare. The Committee hailed the adoption of decree 23/9, which provided for the creation of multisectoral care for survivors of sexual-related violence. The establishment of mobile clinics in camps for internally displaced people should be commended, as well as the distribution of post-rape kits by midwives. Could more data be provided, including the number of health care facilities built, the number of victims treated, the number of kits being distributed, and the training rate of those trained?

Another Expert said in some contexts armed groups used child marriage as a weapon of war to hide human trafficking, with a very small percentage of cases brought to light. What special urgent actions was the State taking to counter this regrettable situation? What were legal institutions doing to prevent child and forced marriages? Was awareness being raised among the families to teach them about their rights? Was current legislation being enforced? How was security being provided to the victims?

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, asked about the mass displacement of people; how were these people documented?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the legal instruments on sexual violence, particularly the law on children, stipulated how the system was regulated. The Government did not have control over this part of the country, and it hurt that they could not answer questions about things happening on their land. The mechanisms existed, but the State could not enforce its own legal instruments because it did not have control over the territory.

Forced marriage carried a sentence of 20 years in prison for anyone responsible, including a parent or head of a tribe. There were also awareness campaigns being carried out on forced marriage and human trafficking. Institutions took cases of forced marriages very seriously. A State official would not grant a marriage license without verifying the age of those seeking marriage. A provincial action plan was in place for areas where there were high rates of early and forced marriages. The police had put together an action plan against sexual violence which considered the child. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had set up free programmes to provide education on child marriage.

The State did not have access to areas under control of the Rwandan army and armed forces. Rehabilitation had been provided to displaced persons, but there were seven million displaced persons, which meant that the Government could not look after everyone. Over 10,000 displaced persons had received medical care under a programme, but unfortunately the Government had to close this programme due to the war. There was a budget in place to assist displaced persons. Before the war, actions had been taken by the Government in land currently under Rwandese occupation.

This dialogue could be an opportunity to appeal to the international community for financial assistance to improve the State’s humanitarian response to the crisis.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert said due to the humanitarian crisis and high levels of poverty, high levels of food insecurity persisted, disproportionately affecting women and girls. In some cases, women were raped, mutilated, killed or burned. Data was needed for the State party to be able to take measures. Could disaggregated data be provided on the number of women and girls who were victims of conflict-related sexual violence in camps in the eastern part of the country? What actions were applied by the State party to upgrade gender-specific security measures in and around these protection sites? How did the State party sustain an emergency response for women and girls fleeing the conflict? What specific education and training had been provided for peace? How was awareness raising undertaken in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaffirming peace and tolerance?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Governments bore the responsibility of protecting their citizens. They should not be persecuting their people. The country had been caught up in a crisis for the past three decades. The programmes put in place demonstrated the commitment of the Government to restore children who had been educated in the culture of killing and war. Before Goma fell, the Government had enacted measures to ensure security of the internally displaced person camps, including preventing people with no business in the camps from entering and installing security controls around the camps. Unfortunately, these efforts had proven to be in vain. An action plan had been rolled out to bolster the humanitarian response, with a key component of the strategy focused on tackling gender-based violence.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert asked what proportion of the extractive industry was owned and led by women? What role did women play in supply chains in key sectors? How was legislation being reformed for companies investing and trading in the extractive industry? How was the State party providing necessary oversight through the licensing of the private sector? How did public and private partnership projects explicitly promote and protect women’s rights? How were appropriate social buffers provided to cushion the impact of war on women?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the State had begun the process of victim identification, and 54 per cent of victims identified were women. This meant these women could benefit from reparations if they arrived at the end of the process. No woman victim would be deprived of her right to reparation or remedy.

In the Congolese mining agreements and the forestry code, there was a legal mechanism in place, called the social clause. Whatever resources were being exploited, no part of the land escaped this principle. Anyone who wished to exploit resources needed to engage with the community, but the State was the sovereign owner. There were no clauses which prohibited women from working in the private sector or in the extractive industries. In the initiative on human rights, there was a voluntary principle which allowed the State to monitor and intervene in instances of mining to ensure there were no violations of human rights or cases of forced labour. Women played a full role in the private sector and there was a high rate of participation there.

Closing Remarks

CHANTAL CHAMBU MWAVITA, Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and head of the delegation, said it was an honour to be with the Committee to speak about the situation in the country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo needed support. The country had faced the aggression of its neighbour Rwanda for more than 30 years. The dialogue today presented an opportunity to ask for unity and for efforts to respect the United Nations Charter.

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue despite the difficult situation being faced in the country. This was an exceptional report, and the Chair thanked the State party for participating in the dialogue which gave the Committee a chance to better understand the situation faced by women and girls who were victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The Committee expressed its solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and commended the State party for the efforts it had already taken.

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

CEDAW25.002E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years?

Source: United Nations 4

By Fabrice Robinet

4 February 2025 Peace and Security

Regional conflicts, murderous militias, the exploitation of natural resources, innocent civilians forced to flee their homes; these recent developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are just the latest in the central African nation’s troubled history.

DRC gained independence in 1960 and since then the UN has played a crucial role in the country, notably through the deployment of three peacekeeping missions.

Here are four essential things to know:

1. A UN presence since independence

The UN intervened for the first time in DRC just a few weeks after the country gained independence on 30 June 1960, following 75 years of Belgian colonial domination.

UN Photo

UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld confers in Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) after talks with Katanga and Belgian representatives about withdrawing Belgian troops and deploying UN peacekeepers. (file)

During colonial rule the country was exploited for its natural resources and its workforce without any real preparation for political autonomy.

As early as July 1960, independence was threatened by the secession of two mineral-rich provinces – Katanga and South Kasai.

The latter benefitted from the support of Belgium and foreign economic interests, eager to maintain control over the country’s resources.

The country then sank into a major political crisis, marked by the assassination of its Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, in 1961.

Faced with this situation, the UN deployed the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC) in July 1960 .

The first large-scale peacekeeping mission, ONUC aimed to help the government in Leopoldville – the former name given to the capital, Kinshasa – to restore order and unity in the country and to ensure the withdrawal of Belgian troops.

The mission, which numbered 20,000 peacekeepers at its peak, played a key role in ending the Katanga secession in 1963 before withdrawing in 1964.

UN Photo

Ghana first deployed troops as part of a UN peacekeeping operation set up to help restore calm and order in the then Republic of Congo (ONUC). (file)

2. MONUC: A response to Congolese wars

After more than 30 years of dictatorship under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko, the country, then renamed Zaire, fell into two successive conflicts – the “first” (1996-1997) and the “second” (1998-2003) Congo Wars.

In 1996, Rwanda, supported in particular by Uganda and Burundi, intervened in eastern Zaire, officially to drive out Hutu militias responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, who had taken refuge in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

In May 1997, with military support from Kigali and Kampala, Laurent-Désiré Kabila seized power, forcing Mr. Mobutu into exile and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 1998, Mr. Kabila turned against his former Rwandan and Ugandan allies, who were supporting rebellions in the east of the country. For his part, he benefitted from the support of Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Following the signing of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in 1999, the UN deployed the UN Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC) to oversee its implementation.

Even after the official end of the war in 2003, DRC remains a strategic issue for regional powers due to its exceptional natural resources and its key role in the stability of the Great Lakes region.

UN Photo/Martine Perret

Weapons and ammunition collected during a demobilisation process in DRC.

3. MONUSCO: A mission still present

In 2010, MONUC became the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) with an expanded mandate, including the protection of civilians and support to the Congolese government in strengthening peace and stability.

Still recently deployed in the three eastern provinces of the country, namely North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, MONUSCO had proceeded, at DRC’s request, to withdraw its troops from South Kivu in June 2024 and was poised to completely disengage by the end of the year.

However, also at the government’s request, the Security Council extended in December MONUSCO’s mandate through the end of 2025.

Despite UN efforts, several armed groups continue to operate in the area, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the March 23 Movement, or M23 armed group, which defends the interests of Congolese Tutsi and benefits from the support of Rwandan forces.

Since the beginning of 2025, M23 and the Rwandan army have been responsible for the latest outbreak of violence in the east of the country, where they occupy several strategic towns in North and South Kivu.

UN Photo/Marie Frechon

A member of MONUC’s South African parachute battalion on patrol duties around the village of Ntamugenga. (file)

4. Natural resources: A major factor in conflicts

DRC benefits from immense natural resources, particularly in the three eastern provinces, including vast reserves of gold, diamonds and tin, which is used in electronic devices.

North and South Kivu are also rich in coltan, a metal highly coveted by the technology sector because of its use in the manufacture of capacitors found in mobile phones and laptops. DRC is also the world’s leading producer of cobalt, a strategic mineral used in the manufacture of almost all rechargeable batteries in the world today.

These natural resources attract interests in neighbouring countries and are at the heart of conflicts in the region.

Armed groups, such as M23, are accused of illegally exploiting these resources to finance their activities, with the complicity of companies inside and outside the country as well as DRC’s neighbours.

The UN has put in place several initiatives to combat the illegal trade in minerals, including mechanisms to sanction companies involved in this trafficking and an arms embargo to combat their proliferation in DRC.

However, combating illegal exploitation of resources remains a major challenge.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: APEDA’s financial assistance schemes boosts 47.3% surge in India’s fruit and vegetable exports

Source: Government of India (2)

APEDA’s financial assistance schemes boosts 47.3% surge in India’s fruit and vegetable exports

APEDA strengthens exporter growth with new schemes for infrastructure, quality, and market development

India’s fruit and vegetable exports reach 123 countries, with 17 new market added in 3 years

Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 7:58PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Commerce through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) provides financial assistance to its member exporters of APEDA from across the country, for export promotion of its Scheduled products, including for Fruits & vegetables, under Agriculture and Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme of APEDA for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) in following three broad areas:

Scheme for infrastructure Development – Financial assistance for setting up of packhouse facilities with packing / grading lines, pre-cooling unit with cold storage and refrigerated transportation etc., cable system for handling of crops like banana, pre-shipment treatment facilities such as irradiation, vapor heat treatment, hot water dip treatment and common infrastructure facilities, reefer vans and missing gap in the existing infrastructure of individual exporters.

Scheme for Quality Development – Financial assistance for purchase of laboratory testing equipment, installation of quality management system, handheld devices for capturing farm level coordinates for traceability and testing of water, soil, residues and pesticides etc.

Scheme for Market Promotion – The assistance covers participation of exporters in international trade fairs, organizing buyer seller meets and developing packaging standards for new products and upgrading the existing packaging standards.

The details of financial assistance guidelines are available at APEDA Website www.apeda.gov.in under the “Scheme” tab.

As a result of these initiatives, there has been a growth of 47.3%, in the volume of exports of fruits and vegetables between the period 2019-20 to 2023-24.

Export data of fruits and vegetables in last five years

Country: All

Product: Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Value In USD Million

Qty In Thousand MT

Products

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

1,282.43

1,342.13

1,527.63

1,635.95

1,814.58

2,659.48

3,148.08

3,376.25

4,335.68

3,911.95

Source: DGCIS

Growth in terms of Volume in the last five years =47.30%

Growth in terms of Value in the last five years= 41.50 %

The Government maintains the record of total exports of fruits and vegetables from India. The export figures of States are compiled on the basis of the State-of-Origin code reported by the exporters in the shipping bills. Thus, the state wise data of exports of Fruits and vegetables is not available as the same is not validated by DGCI&S. However, the major states producing Fruits and vegetables are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka.

India’s Export of Mango and Onion to World (By Variety)
Product	Variety	USD Million					Qty in MT
Product	Variety	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Mango	Other Mangoes	0.00	25.42	23.48	33.26	36.18	0.00	15795.09	17448.90	17257.28	23786.16
	Kesar	0.00	2.92	6.91	4.97	11.25	0.00	983.73	2319.08	1749.97	3787.01
	Alphonso (Hapus)	0.00	6.08	10.09	7.84	8.68	0.00	3195.86	5994.86	2829.76	2673.39
	Banganapalli	0.00	1.46	3.01	2.00	3.20	0.00	830.55	1674.04	856.91	1081.68
	Chausa	0.00	0.05	0.05	0.03	0.24	0.00	40.98	25.64	19.72	488.26
	Langda	0.00	0.08	0.16	0.12	0.19	0.00	48.99	122.16	70.02	81.94
	Dasheri	0.00	0.09	0.11	0.06	0.17	0.00	49.50	75.92	34.70	75.54
	Totapuri	0.00	0.07	0.17	0.20	0.16	0.00	47.47	151.01	116.60	91.95
	Mallika	0.00	0.03	0.09	0.06	0.07	0.00	41.40	61.16	28.81	38.17
	Mangoes , Fresh/Dried,	56.11	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	49658.68	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Total Mangoes	56.11	36.20	44.07	48.54	60.14	49658.68	21033.57	27872.77	22963.77	32104.10
Onion	Other Onions Fresh of Chilled	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	434.78	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	1606683.97
	Rose Onions Fresh of Chilled	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	38.94	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	110755.38
	Onions, Fresh/Chilled	324.20	378.49	460.56	561.38	0.00	1149896.84	1578016.57	1537496.85	2525258.35	0.00
	Total Onions	324.20	378.49	460.56	561.38	473.72	1149896.84	1578016.57	1537496.85	2525258.35	1717439.35
	Source: DGCIS
	Note :- ITC HS Code with () mark of the Commodity is either dropped or re-allocated*

In FY 2023-24, India’s exports of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables reached 123 countries. In the last 3 years, Indian fresh produce entered 17 new markets, some of which are Brazil, Georgia, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Czech Republic, Uganda, Ghana etc. This has been achieved through a host of measures such as participation in international trade fairs, actively pursuing market access negotiations, organizing buyer seller meets etc.

Department of Commerce is working in close coordination with the MoA&FW in prioritizing agriculture products for market access negotiations to reach new markets. As a result, India has achieved new market access in following commodities in the last three years:

Indian Potatoes and Onions in Serbia
Baby corn and fresh banana in Canada
Pomegranate arils in Australia, USA, Serbia, and New Zealand
Whole pomegranates in Australia via Irradiation treatment

The barriers in accessing new markets differ from product to product and are dynamic in nature. Some of the major barriers in accessing new markets for fruits & vegetables are:

Long geographic distance from India raising the costs of logistics.
Delay in grant of market access by importing countries for certain products.
Stringent Phyto-sanitary requirements imposed by some importing countries.
Delay in registration of enterprises in certain countries.

To address the above issues, various steps are being taken by the Department of Commerce:

For expand market access to our products, MoA&FW & APEDA have identified key products and key countries for intensifying market access negotiations.
Development of Sea protocols for horticulture products to reduce logistic expenses and to enable larger volume of exports.
Regular follow up with the counterpart authorities of importing countries with support of our Missions abroad for registration of facilities and market access negotiations.
For meeting stringent Phyto-sanitary requirements, setting up of traceability system and a system of farmer and facility registration.

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Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 5, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.4.25

Source: US State of California 2

Feb 4, 2025

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Mark Tollefson, of Rancho Cordova, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Tollefson has been Undersecretary of the California State Transportation Agency since 2022. He was Senior Counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs in the Office of Governor Newsom in 2022, where he was previously Deputy Cabinet Secretary from 2019 to 2022. Tollefson held several positions at the California Department of Finance from 2007 to 2019, including Assistant Program Budget Manager, Principal Program Budget Analyst, and Finance Budget Analyst. Tollefson earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Science degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $275,004. Tollefson is a Democrat.

Ken DaRosa, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. DaRosa has been the Chief Deputy Director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities since 2021. He was the Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery from 2012 to 2021. DaRosa held multiple positions at the California Department of Finance from 2004 to 2012, including Program Budget Manager from 2011 to 2012, Assistant Program Budget Manager from 2010 to 2011, Principal Program Budget Analyst from 2006 to 2010, and Staff Finance Analyst from 2004 to 2006. He earned a Master of the Arts degree in Literature, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Psychology from the California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $185,004. DaRosa is registered without party preference.

Sloane Viola, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Deputy Director at the California Conservation Corps, where she has been the Deputy Director of Legislative and External Affairs since 2024. Viola was the Acting Assistant Secretary of Climate Change at the California Natural Resources Agency in 2024. She has had several positions at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation from 2019 to 2024, including Council Program Manager from 2021 to 2024, Acting Deputy Director of Climate Resilience in 2022, and Legislative Director from 2019 to 2021. Viola held two positions in the Office of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom from 2017 to 2018, including Sea Grant Fellow in 2017 and Staff Scientist from 2018 to 2019. She held multiple positions at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 2010 to 2016, including Graduate Student Researcher from 2014 to 2016, Teaching Assistant from 2015 to 2016, and Laboratory Assistant I, Marine Science Institute from 2010 to 2014. Viola is a member of American MENSA. She earned a Master of the Arts degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $170,004. Viola is a Democrat.

Mandi Bane, of Redondo Beach, has been appointed Deputy Director of Hazardous Waste Management at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Bane has been an Environmental Protection Specialist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency since 2024. She has held multiple positions at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health from 2011 to 2024, including CENS Unit Manager, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control from 2021 to 2024, Staff Analyst, Environmental Health Division from 2015 to 2021, and Research Analyst II; Assistant Staff Analyst, Family Services Unit from 2011 to 2015. Bane earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of the Arts degrees in Sociology from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $199,128. Bane is registered without party preference.

Georgia “Pat” Urena, of Calexico, has been reappointed to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, where she has served since 2018. Urena was a Recreation Supervisor at the City of El Centro from 1982 to 2024. She is the Chair of the Calexico Wellness Center and the Juvenile Justice Commission, and a Board Member of Rite Track. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Urena is a Democrat.

Press Releases, Recent News

Recent news

Feb 4, 2025

News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order removing bureaucratic barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help LA fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly. LOS…

Feb 3, 2025

News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring February 2025 as Black History Month.The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONThis month, we pay homage to the rich history and contributions of…

Feb 2, 2025

News What you need to know: At Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, crews have been working around the clock to install nearly 60 miles of emergency protective materials in the recent Los Angeles-area burn scars. Los Angeles, California – As another storm system is…

MIL OSI USA News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy Meets Saudi Minister to Strengthen Cooperation in Critical Minerals Sector

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 7:16PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, today held a high-level meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, in New Delhi. The meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation in the critical minerals sector and exploring new avenues for investment and technological collaboration.

A significant development during the discussion is related to the designation of Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI) as a Centre of Excellence under the Future Minerals Forum. This initiative will facilitate specialized training programs for geologists from Saudi Arabia, Africa and Central Asia, contributing to capacity building in the global mining sector.

Key points of the meeting included:

Resilient Mineral Supply Chains: Both leaders emphasized the need to establish reliable and secure mineral supply chains to reduce dependency on imports.

Investment in Value-Added Processing: Focus was laid on promoting joint ventures for processing critical minerals to support clean energy technologies.

Technological Collaboration: Discussions also explored cooperation in adopting advanced mining technologies and innovation for sustainable mineral exploration and extraction.

The dialogue builds on India’s engagement at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2025 in Riyadh, where Shri Reddy highlighted India’s commitment to securing critical minerals essential for the energy transition and clean energy systems. At the FMF 2025, Shri Reddy also held discussions with representatives from Brazil, Italy, and Morocco to foster global partnerships.

This meeting marks a significant step in India’s efforts to develop international partnerships for mineral security and sustainable development, aligned with the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM).

India and Saudi Arabia are deepening cooperation in the critical minerals sector. Union Minister Shri @kishanreddybjp and Saudi Minister Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef discussed fostering resilient supply chains, investments in mineral value addition, and technological… pic.twitter.com/FuvDy9NhbW

— Ministry of Mines (@MinesMinIndia) February 4, 2025

Union Minister Shri @kishanreddybjp had a fruitful meeting today with Saudi Minister Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef in New Delhi. Discussions focused on designating GSITI Hyderabad as a Centre of Excellence under the Future Minerals Forum to train geologists from Saudi Arabia,… pic.twitter.com/6ik1KKtls6

— Ministry of Mines (@MinesMinIndia) February 4, 2025

******

Shuhaib T

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012 lays down the regulatory framework for pricing of drugs

Source: Government of India (2)

The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012 lays down the regulatory framework for pricing of drugs

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has signed agreements or memorandum of understandings on regulatory cooperation with other international agencies

Posted On: 04 FEB 2025 5:50PM by PIB Delhi

The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Policy, 2012 (NPPP, 2012) lays down the regulatory framework for pricing of drugs. The key principles for regulation of prices in the said policy are (i) regulation on the basis of essentiality of drugs, (ii) regulation of prices of formulations only, i.e., medicines used by consumers and not the upstream products such as bulk drugs or intermediates, and (iii) regulation through market-based pricing as against cost-based pricing under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. The details of the policy are available in the Gazette notification dated 7th December 2012 of the Department of Pharmaceuticals

[https://egazette.gov.in/(S(cjt0i1uouyc1bl3ozo3jx3qk))/ViewPDF.aspx].

As per the information provided by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has signed agreements or memorandum of understandings on regulatory cooperation with other international agencies, including with such agencies in Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Guyana, Japan, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Suriname, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States of America and the Drug Regulatory Authority of BRICS.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question today.

*****

MV/AKS

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong cinema celebrated at International Film Festival Rotterdam

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported the participation of Hong Kong films and filmmakers in the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) being held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from January 30 to February 9.

     This year, IFFR proudly presents four Hong Kong films, highlighting the city’s vibrant film industry and its global influence. A Hong Kong networking event was organised by the HKETO, Brussels during IFFR on February 1 when Hong Kong production “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” was screened in the same night.

     Celebrating Hong Kong’s dynamic cinema, the Hong Kong networking event brought together 150 Dutch and international filmmakers, industry professionals and film enthusiasts to an engaging exchange with renowned and emerging filmmakers from Hong Kong.

The Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Li highlighted at the networking event that Hong Kong films and long history in cinematography was one of the strongest testimony to the lively creativity and diverse yet blended cultures of Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is the destination that inspires and realises the storylines of your coming productions”, Miss Li said as she invited the audience to visit Hong Kong.

     Miss Li said that, “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region actively supports the industry through the Film Development Fund, focusing on nurturing new talent, enhancing local film production, expanding international markets and building an international audience”. Hong Kong spares no efforts in showcasing promising filmmakers and accomplished talents among the arts, cultural and creative sectors in Europe for more collaboration. “We aspire to strengthen the international visibility of our productions beyond this festival, to take our film industry to the next level, and to enhance Hong Kong as an international centre of arts, creativity and innovation”, she added.

     As one of the leading international film festivals, the IFFR in 2024 recorded 253 500 visits across its programme of 424 films, including 183 world premieres, complemented with a variety of multi-disciplinary and industry programmes. The four Hong Kong productions screened in IFFF 2025 were: The Last Dance (Dutch Premiere) by Anselm Chan, Possession Street (European Premiere) by Jack Lai, Last Song For You (European Premiere) by Jill Leung, and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Dutch Premiere) by Soi Cheang.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary, Canada, Korea and Poland suspended

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary, Canada, Korea and Poland suspended
Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary, Canada, Korea and Poland suspended
******************************************************************************************

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 4) that in view of notifications from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Hungary, Canada and Korea; and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in Poland respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. The relevant areas are as follows: Hungary—-(1) Heves County(2) Pest CountyCanada—-Province of Ontario(3) Wellington CountyKorea—-Jeollanam-do Province(4) Damyang-gunGyeongsangnam-do Province(5) Geochang-gunChungcheongnam-do Province(6) Dangjin-siPoland—-Podkarpackie Region(7) Ropczycko-Sędziszowski DistrictŁódzkie Region(8) Zgierski DistrictWielkopolskie Region(9) Kolski District(10) Kępiński District(11) Kalisz DistrictLubuskie Region(12) Nowa Sól District A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 300 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary; about 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Canada; about 80 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 21.9 million poultry eggs from Korea; and about 6 600 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland last year. ”The CFS has contacted the Hungarian, Canadian, Korean and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

Ends/Tuesday, February 4, 2025Issued at HKT 19:52

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Tifton, Georgia, Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

ALBANY, Ga. – A Tifton resident faces up to 40 years in federal prison for distributing kilograms of Mexico-sourced methamphetamine after he was caught with a pound of methamphetamine while wearing an ankle monitor for a prior drug trafficking charge and attempted to flee from deputies.

Travarious Deshawn Mike, 29, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Feb. 3. Mike faces a maximum of 20 years in prison per count, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The defendant was transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from an Atlanta source into the Tifton community. Even after his initial arrest, he willfully continued to violate the law and traffic dangerous drugs into Southwest Georgia,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “Our office collaborates closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure that repeat offenders who are causing significant harm in the Middle District of Georgia are stopped and held accountable for their actions.”

“This investigation resulting in the seizure of meth, heroin and firearms is a clear reminder of the dangerous networks we continue to dismantle,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI remains committed to disrupting drug trafficking and criminal activity, especially those tied to dangerous sources of supply. This is a significant step in protecting our communities.”

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, GBI agents recorded Mike providing methamphetamine during a controlled buy utilizing a confidential informant (CI) on Aug. 15, 2022, at the Church’s Chicken in Tifton. A court-authorized tracking device monitored by the GBI captured Mike departing Tifton for Atlanta on Aug. 30, 2022. GBI agents observed Mike travel to two Mexican restaurants for brief periods, then immediately begin to travel back down I-75 towards Tifton. Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies initiated a traffic stop on his vehicle after it observed a defective brake light and a window tint violation. A CCSO trained K9 made a positive alert on Mike’s car. During a search of the vehicle, agents seized 502 grams of heroin in Mike’s bookbag.

At the same time, GBI requested the Tifton Police Department’s (TPD) assistance to conduct surveillance on Mike’s Tifton residence. TPD initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Mike’s residence, locating 8,068 grams of 67.9% pure methamphetamine. The occupant was a drug courier delivering the narcotics from a Mexican source of supply near Atlanta to Mike and had made the trip before. GBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at Mike’s residence that same day and found four semiautomatic pistols, a revolver, rounds of ammunition, methamphetamine and a set of digital scales. A vehicle parked outside Mike’s residence and belonging to a co-defendant contained 783 grams of 80% pure methamphetamine, 168 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, 97 oxycodone/fentanyl pills, seven grams of crack cocaine, plastic baggies and a digital scale. Interviews, evidence and text messages on seized cell phones belonging to Mike and co-defendants revealed that Mike was purchasing methamphetamine from a Mexican source of supply based in the metro Atlanta area. Mike subsequently bonded out of jail.

On June 5, 2024, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) observed a white Dodge Charger driven by Mike commit a traffic violation in Monroe County, Georgia. MCSO deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Mike tried to escape and reached speeds over 125 mph. During the pursuit, Mike discarded a brick-shaped package out the window, which burst into a white crystal-like substance. Other MCSO officers secured the scene where the substance was discarded, finding approximately one pound of methamphetamine. Mike lost control of the vehicle and crashed onto the side of the highway. He attempted to flee on foot but was immediately apprehended. At the time of his arrest, Mike was wearing an ankle monitor and advised that he was out on bond for another drug trafficking incident.

The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Tifton Police Department, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.

MIL Security OSI –

February 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Graffiti removal isn’t the enemy of art. It’s part of a vibrant dialogue on life in the big city

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sabina Andron, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cities and Urbanism, The University of Melbourne

Thanks Radical Graffiti for informing me where my next job is!

This is the message I woke up to on January 26, as one of my research participants saw some anti-colonial graffiti in Melbourne posted on the popular Instagram page. The “job” he refers to is that of removing graffiti – a costly, relentless and largely overlooked maintenance operation in modern cities.

Graffiti removal is an ongoing practice in big cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.
Sabina Andron

You may have heard of various statues being defaced across the country to protest Australia Day. And if you live in Melbourne, you’ve probably come across the city’s iconic “Pam the Bird” graffiti. Pam’s creator was arrested on January 30, about a week after a massive image of the bird appeared on the Novotel hotel in South Wharf.

What you don’t see, however, are the groups of workers standing by to evaluate and repair the damage done by graffiti artists. These graffiti removal technicians, or “buffers”, often posses a more detailed knowledge of the urban fabric than many architects and planners.

With millions invested in graffiti removal in Australia, as part of a visual policing of surfaces, I argue “buff” deserves recognition as a cultural and aesthetic practice of its own.

Buff commonly appears as mismatched rectangular shapes.
Sabina Andron

What is “buff” and how does it work?

Graffiti removal is the practice of removing, erasing or obliterating unauthorised displays from publicly visible urban surfaces.

In graffiti culture, this removal is colloquially known as “buff”. The name comes from a chemical train washing facility deployed by the Municipal Transit Authority in New York City in the 1970s, when graffiti clean-up efforts first started.

Buff is typically conducted by authorised municipal officers or private contractors and businesses. It involves the chemical and mechanical treatment of urban surfaces, often underpinned by zero tolerance policies that have turned it into a global billion dollar industry.

Greg Ireland demonstrating his products inside his Graffiti Removal Chemicals training facility in Melbourne.
Sabina Andron

Whether they work for local councils through apps such as Snap Send Solve, run private businesses, or operate independently as anti-graffiti vigilantes, buffers either remove unwanted marks, or paint over them to obstruct them from view.

And with the removal of one image, comes the creation of another.

In this example chemicals are used to destroy the surface paint, leaving behind a ‘ghost’ image.
Sabina Andron

A symbiotic relationship

It’s a common misconception that buff is strictly an image removal process – a zero sum game aimed at returning public surfaces to a pristine material state. This assumption is the main reason it has been afforded little attention as a creative practice.

In fact, buff produces some of the most interesting visual forms within contemporary cities. It contributes to the visual cultures of cities worldwide, not just through maintaining visual order, but through delivering easily overlooked painterly compositions.

The visual forms of buff done by vigilantes can be even more jarring than the graffiti they cover.
Sabina Andron

Much like graffiti, buff is a widespread visual and symbolic feature of contemporary cities. These two practices need each other, and engage with cities in symmetrical and symbiotic ways.

Buff will sometimes closely follow the contours of the graffiti it obstructs.
Sabina Andron

Also, although they operate on different mandates, graffiti writers and buffers largely respect each others’ resourcefulness and creativity. As one buffer has repeatedly told me, “tagging and buffing are more related than people are prepared to see.”

Buffers and writers use walls collaboratively. Here, a graffiti writer acknowledges the abater with a message: ‘legendary buff’.
Sabina Andron

Graffiti removal as aesthetic practice

Keen urban enthusiasts have been documenting buff in many forms, from the early photographs of Avalon Kalin in the United States, to artist Lorenzo Servi’s The City Is Ours bookzine on graffiti removal, to Hans Leo Maes’ photographic collection of buff from the 2019 Hong Kong protests.

Most famously, buff made the object of a 2001 experimental documentary by Matt McCormick. This cult favourite popularised the idea of graffiti removal as a subconsciously creative act with aesthetics that resemble the works of abstract expressionists such as Mark Rothko or Agnes Martin.

The abstract expressionist aesthetics of repeated buff interventions.
Sabina Andron

A suite of other contemporary artists and photographers, many of who come from a graffiti background, also engage with buff in their practice. Mobstr, Germain Prévost (Ipin), Thierry Furger, Nelio Riga and Svetlana Feoktistova provide just some examples of buff-generated creativity.

Three different buff treatments of the same wall.
Sabina Andron

Others such as activist Kyle Magee have served prison sentences for buffing public ads, raising questions about not only the legitimacy of public images, but the legitimacy of their obstruction.

An example of activist buff on street posters.
Sabina Andron

Beyond visual order mandates

Involuntarily perhaps, creativity is everywhere. Urban surfaces are prized visual and material assets in cities, with the potential to generate huge symbolic and economic capital.

No matter how many millions of dollars are invested in removing graffiti, or pursuing criminal cases against its creators, public surfaces will always be contentious forums of visual production, obstruction and collaboration.

Textured surfaces resulting from visual dialogues between graffiti and buff.
Sabina Andron

Alongside graffiti, posters, stickers and myriad other inscriptions, buff adds new textures to the surfaces of our cities. Its aesthetic and cultural value should be celebrated.

Sabina Andron 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. Graffiti removal isn’t the enemy of art. It’s part of a vibrant dialogue on life in the big city – https://theconversation.com/graffiti-removal-isnt-the-enemy-of-art-its-part-of-a-vibrant-dialogue-on-life-in-the-big-city-248668

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Climate-affected produce is here to stay. Here’s what it takes for consumers to embrace it

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liudmila Tarabashkina, Senior Lecturer, The University of Western Australia

Joanna Dorota/Shutterstock, Zoom Team/Shutterstock, The Conversation

The economic cost of food waste in Australia is staggering. It’s estimated $36.6 billion is lost to the economy every year. Much of our fresh produce never even makes it to stores, rejected at the farm gate due to cosmetic reasons, such as its appearance, size or ripeness.

We’ve known about this problem for a long time, which has given rise to the “ugly” food movement. Once-rejected produce has been rebranded as “wonky” in the UK, “inglorious” in France, “naturally imperfect” in Canada or an “odd bunch” in Australia.

While the existence of these campaigns is commendable, there’s another major marketing challenge if we want to reduce food waste – acceptance of climate-affected produce.

Broadly speaking, this refers to produce affected by extreme or moderate weather events. Droughts are an example of such climate events, predicted to become more intense and frequent as a result of global climate change.

Climate-affected produce resembles “ugly” food as it is often smaller, misshapen or has surface imperfections.

Climate-affected produce often has a lot in common with ‘ugly’ fruit, but may also differ in taste and texture.
Alexey Borodin/Shutterstock

But in contrast to “ugly food”, the taste and texture of climate-affected produce can be quite different.

Under the effects of drought, apples may become sweeter and more granular, chillies hotter and onions more pungent. In the case of mild or moderate droughts, such produce is still edible.

Our recent research points to some uncomfortable truths. Many consumers prefer to avoid climate-affected produce altogether. And when price is a factor, they won’t choose it without a discount.

But our research also offers suggestions on how purchases of such produce could be encouraged – including marketing messages that highlight the “resilience” of climate-affected produce.

Our research

We carried out two discrete choice experiments with consumers who buy fresh fruit and vegetables. One sample was drawn from among Australian students, the other from members of the wider Australian population.

Participants were shown eight different apple options simulating a shopping environment, which were described with a range of different attributes including firmness, sweetness, appearance and size.

The apples were also labelled with a price tag and information on whether they were sold at a supermarket or farmers’ market. All climate-affected apples were presented with a “resilience” message: “resilient apple – survived the drought”.

We sought to examine how produce’s “organoleptic” properties – the way it impacts our different senses – as well as levels of empathy toward the farmers impact consumers’ willingness to choose climate-affected produce, and how much they’d pay for it.

Drought can make apples sweeter, smaller, and less firm.
The Conversation, Natthapol Siridech/Shutterstock, PickPik

A preference for perfect

We found when an apple’s firmness, size and aesthetics were important and empathy towards farmers was low, consumers tended to avoid climate-affected produce. They instead chose unaffected alternatives at higher prices (no such effect was observed for sweetness).

This finding might not be surprising, but it’s still cause for concern. If farmers cannot repurpose climate-affected produce into spreads, jams, smoothies or animal feed, it can’t enter supply chains and may end up as waste.

Previous campaigns for “ugly” fruit and vegetables may not offer much help with this problem, either. These campaigns emphasise the unaffected taste and texture of the produce. Marketing climate-affected produce needs a different approach.

Otherwise, we expect a discount

When price was important to consumers, they chose climate-affected produce, regardless of their levels of empathy toward farmers. But they were only willing to pay discounted prices for it.

That might seem like a more positive outcome. But consumer expectations that climate-affected produce will always be discounted may disadvantage farmers with lower profit margins and diminish its value as a still-usable resource.

Getting climate-affected (but still edible) produce into supply chains can help reduce food waste.
Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock

The power of “resilience” messaging

Importantly, we found when the “resilience” message resonated with consumers, they were more inclined to consider climate-affected apples. This was true even when their empathy towards farmers was low.

This suggests that when empathy fails, leveraging marketing messages that highlight “resilience” could be another avenue worth exploring.

Our research team is now exploring what types of “resilience” messages can encourage purchases of climate-affected produce.

Australians have been conditioned for many years to expect only aesthetically pleasing fruit and vegetables.

Given extreme weather events are unlikely to become less frequent in the future, climate-affected produce is likely here to stay. If we want consumers to embrace it, we need to have uncomfortable conversations around its different taste and texture, and rethink what we’re willing to accept.

This research was supported by the University of Western Australia Business School Future Fund Research Grant.

– ref. Climate-affected produce is here to stay. Here’s what it takes for consumers to embrace it – https://theconversation.com/climate-affected-produce-is-here-to-stay-heres-what-it-takes-for-consumers-to-embrace-it-248776

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Go Back to Where You Came From: Channel 4’s social experiment makes a spectacle of empathy for refugees

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fiona Murphy, Assistant Professor in Refugee and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University

The White Cliffs of Dover have become associated with irregular migration via small boat. DaisyKDesigns/Shutterstock

The new Channel 4 programme Go Back to Where You Came From is unsettling viewing, almost unbearable at times. It takes six British citizens – some staunchly anti-immigration, others more open – and drops them into lives shaped by conflict and displacement.

The premise is to cultivate understanding of the refugee experience, to make the unimaginable tangible. But in doing so, the show risks turning forced displacement into spectacle, reducing suffering to an immersive learning experience for those with the privilege of ignorance.

The show opens with participants offering their views – filmed in their homes or standing at the cliffs of Dover, where one man declares: “What I’d do is, I’d set landmines up, and then any boat that comes within 50m of this beach, they’d get blown up.”

Then, two teams, two journeys. One is sent to Somalia, the other to Syria.

In Mogadishu, Nathan, Jess and Matilda navigate a city carved up by checkpoints, escorted by an American security team. Nathan surveys the streets like a man assessing a lost cause: a “shithole”, he mutters. Jess, fiercely anti-immigration, feels exposed – her fear magnified by the weight of unfamiliar eyes, the choreography of a life not her own. She wants to leave.

At a camp for internally displaced people, women speak of gender-based violence, of female genital mutilation, of lives spent in spaces never built for them. Jess listens, nods and files their words neatly into the folder of convictions she brought with her. She does not question; she confirms. The mindsets of Somalian men, she concludes, are the problem.

In Raqqa, Bushra, Chloe and Dave pick their way through streets reduced to rubble. Chloe complains about the rubbish, as if it were neglect rather than obliteration. “They should stay and clean it up,” she says. The children sifting through debris do not register. In a bombed-out home, a father speaks of safety, the only thing he wants for his children. The children do not speak.

The violence of ‘refuge’

Watching the show, I thought of the conversations I’ve had with asylum seekers and refugees on the island of Ireland as part of my research. Many speak of the quiet violence of exclusion – how “welcome” is so often a hollow gesture, how refuge can feel like another form of exile.

Many recount racial hatred in the streets, the fear woven into daily movements, the gnawing sense that they are barely tolerated, not wanted. Some have told me, with devastating clarity, that had they known what awaited them here – homelessness, suspicion, a life in bureaucratic limbo – they might never have fled at all. Not because home was safe, but because this isn’t living either.

These experiences are not anomalies. They are built into the asylum systems in the UK and Ireland, where deterrence is policy. As of mid-2024, 122.6 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, yet the UK hosts just 1% of them.

And “hosting” often takes the form of offshore detention, indefinite waiting and policies designed to make seeking refuge as inhospitable as possible. In Ireland, the failure is just as insidious: asylum seekers sleeping rough, vulnerability assessments in name only, the quiet withdrawal of care until people simply disappear from view.

Read more:
‘When you get status the struggle doesn’t end’: what it’s like to be a new refugee in the UK

After the first episode of the Channel 4 show, I am left wondering: what is the point of each participant’s journey? The documentary trades in empathy – tracking transformation by how much the participants feel, learn and change. But empathy, when it stops at the self, is just another performance. It asks: how have I been altered? Instead of: what must I do with what I now know?

This is the trap of a genre that packages suffering into something neatly consumable. As film researcher Pooja Rangan argues, humanitarian documentaries often render asylum seekers passive, their worth measured by how much sympathy they can elicit. Go Back to Where You Came From follows this script, focusing not on the agency of the displaced, but on the moral awakenings of those who continue to look away.

The real question is not whether the participants feel something, but whether feeling will ever translate into action – by them, or by us as viewers. To hold governments to account. To insist that refuge is a right, not a privilege. To refuse the quiet, grinding violence of neglect.

“Go back to where you came from” is a phrase hurled not just at refugees, but at anyone deemed out of place. The programme inverts it, sending its wielders on a reckoning. But in the end, they return. To safety, to comfort, to homes untouched by war or exile. Or, as one put it, back to the pub.

And yet, for those seeking refuge, the journey drags on – through border camps, detention centres, doorways, the freezing cold and the bureaucracy of the asylum system – while the world watches, then turns off their televisions.

Fiona Murphy receives funding from British Academy and the Irish Research Council

– ref. Go Back to Where You Came From: Channel 4’s social experiment makes a spectacle of empathy for refugees – https://theconversation.com/go-back-to-where-you-came-from-channel-4s-social-experiment-makes-a-spectacle-of-empathy-for-refugees-248803

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Kenya Wicks Appointed Deputy Whip for the Democratic Caucus

Source: US State of Georgia

ATLANTA (February 4, 2025) — Freshman Senator Kenya Wicks (D– Fayette) was recently appointed Deputy Whip of the Senate Minority Caucus

Sen. Kenya Wicks expressed enthusiasm at the appointment: “Serving as Deputy Whip as a freshman Senator is truly an honor. I greatly appreciate this vote of confidence from my fellow party members, and I want to thank Minority Whip Sen. Kim Jackson for this appointment. I am ready to get to work for this caucus by assisting with advocacy, planning for the rest of session and following through with our priorities.”

The full leadership board for the Minority Caucus includes:

Minority Leader – Sen Harold Jones, II – District 22 (Augusta)

Minority Whip – Sen. Kim Jackson – District 41 (Stone Mountain)

Minority Caucus Chair – Sen. Elena Parent – District 44 (Atlanta)

Minority Caucus Vice Chair – Sen. Sonya Halpern – District 39 (Atlanta)

Minority Caucus Finance Chair – Sen. Jason Esteves – District 35 (Atlanta)

Minority Caucus Secretary – Sen. Nan Orrock – District 36 (Atlanta)

Minority Deputy Whip – Sen. Kenya Wicks – District 34 (Fayetteville)

Sen. Wicks was also elected as the Vice Chair of the Clayton County Senate Delegation. Senators representing Clayton County include Sen. Gail Davenport (D–Jonesboro), Sen. Elena Parent (D–Atlanta) and Sen. Kenya Wicks (D–Fayette). The Senate Delegation of Clayton County collaborates to serve the best interests of Clayton County Residents.

The full leadership board for the Clayton County Delegation includes:

Chair – Sen Gail Davenport – District 17 (Jonesboro)

Vice Chair – Sen. Kenya Wicks – District 34 (Fayetteville)

Secretary – Sen. Elena Parent – District 44 (Atlanta)

###

Sen. Kenya Wicks represents the 34^th Senate District, which includes portions of Clayton and Fayette Counties. She may be reached by email at Kenya.Wicks@senate.ga.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump wants Greenland – but here’s what the people of Greenland want

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gustav Agneman, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Kulusuk village in East Greenland. Shutterstock/Muratart

In 2018, a colleague and I, together with a team of Greenlandic research assistants, conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys to date on public opinion in Greenland. We travelled to 13 randomly selected towns and settlements across the island nation, conducting in-person interviews with a representative sample of adult residents.

The survey explored a wide range of topics. We asked for views on climate change, economic matters – and the prospect of independence from Denmark. Until recently, this was the latest poll on what the people of Greenland thought about this issue.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, is currently an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. This political arrangement grants Greenland extensive self-rule, including control over most domestic affairs, as well as its own prime minister and parliament. However, Denmark retains authority over foreign policy, defence and monetary policy.

While our survey results were covered in Greenlandic and Danish media upon their release, they received scant international attention. This changed abruptly on January 15, when newly re-elected US president Donald Trump reposted an old news article about our results. The headline stated that two-thirds of Greenlandic citizens support independence.

Trump posting the 2018 poll in 2025.
Truth Social

Trump did not add a comment in the post but the insinuation was clear given his recent statements about annexing Greenland from Denmark: Greenlandic residents want independence from Denmark, and therefore, they might be open to other political or economic arrangements with the US.

“I think we’re going to have it,” Trump recently said after a phone call with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who told him the land was “not for sale”. Trump has in the past spoken of somehow “purchasing” Greenland but has since moved on towards speaking in more assertive terms about taking control of the territory.

Back in 2018, when we conducted the survey, Trump had not yet revealed any plans to annex the island nation. It was a scenario we could hardly even have imagined and therefore did not ask our participants about. As such, regardless of how Trump framed them, the survey results in no way indicated that the population harboured a desire to join the US.

In fact, a recent survey conducted by Sermitsiaq (a Greenlandic newspaper) and Berlingske (a Danish newspaper) directly addressed this question and found that only 6% of respondents wanted Greenland to leave Denmark and instead become part of the US.

In the study I published based on the 2018 data collection, I reported that a majority of the Greenlandic population aspired to independence. Two-thirds of the participants thought that “Greenland should become an independent country at some point in the future”.

Opinions were more divergent regarding the timing of independence. When asked how they would vote in an independence referendum if it were held today, respondents who stated a preference were evenly split between “yes” and “no” to independence.

The Act on Greenland Self-Government, passed in 2009, grants the Greenlandic government the legal authority to unilaterally call a referendum on separating from the political union with Denmark. According to the law, “the decision regarding Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland”.

During the 15 years since its passage, the option to call a referendum has not been exercised. This is likely due to the potential economic consequences of leaving the union with Denmark.

Each year, Denmark sends a block grant that covers approximately half of Greenland’s budget. This supports a welfare system that is more extensive than what is available to most Americans. In addition, Denmark administers many costly public services, including national defence.

This backdrop presents a dilemma for many Greenlanders who aspire to independence, as they weigh welfare concerns against political sovereignty. This was also evident from my study, which revealed that economic considerations influence independence preferences.

For many Greenlanders, the island nation’s rich natural resources present a potential bridge between economic self-sufficiency and full sovereignty. Foreign investments and the associated tax revenues from resource extraction are seen as key to reducing economic dependence on Denmark. Presumably, these natural resources, which include rare earths and other strategic minerals, also help explain Trump’s interest in Greenland.

As Greenland’s future is likely to remain at the centre of a geopolitical power struggle for some time, it is crucial to remember that only Greenlanders have the right to determine their own path. What scarce information is available on their views suggests that while many aspire to independence, it is not driven by a desire to join the US.

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

– ref. Trump wants Greenland – but here’s what the people of Greenland want – https://theconversation.com/trump-wants-greenland-but-heres-what-the-people-of-greenland-want-248745

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Emilia Pérez: the film’s wildly unrealistic representation of Mexican narco-violence and trans lives is insulting

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ailsa Peate, Lecturer in Latin American and Museum Studies, University of Westminster

You would think that Jacques Audiard’s 13-time Oscar-nominated Emilia Pérez was the most watched film of the year given the discussion it has generated. The Mexican-set, French-made film’s opening weekend in Mexico tells a different story.

Emilia Pérez sees the eponymous antagonist-heroine experience a transformation, undergoing gender-affirming procedures in order to leave behind her former dangerous, violent life as a cartel leader in Mexico.

It came eighth at the box office in Mexico, which is hardly surprising. The effects of narco violence saw 613 murders and 626 disappearances between September and December 2024 in Sinaloa State in northwestern Mexico as its eponymous cartel’s factions fight for territory.

Considering the context in which it was released, little positive noise has been made about Emilia Pérez within Mexico given its sensationalist, reductive representations of violence. Internationally, its representation of trans experiences has been criticised.

Though well acted, it is thoughtless. The luxurious life Emilia lives as a trans woman is far detached from reality of most trans people in Mexico, where the average life expectancy for a trans person is 35.

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We follow Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldaña), an underappreciated lawyer who works hard only for men to take the credit. Rita is hired by cartel head Juan “Manitas” del Monte (Karla Sofía Gascón) to find a surgeon for her transition to start again as Emilia Pérez. After the transition, Emilia has Manitas declared dead, leaving behind her mourning wife, Jessi (Selena Gómez) and their two young sons who she has relocated to Switzerland for their safety.

After four years, Emilia tracks down Rita to have Jessi and the children moved back to Mexico, posing as Manitas’ distant relative. Emilia then works with Rita to launch a non-profit, “La Lucecita”, that helps the families of missing persons after Emilia becomes appalled by how many disappeared people there are in Mexico.

Emilia’s immediate reaction to such social injustice demonstrates a naivety on Audiard’s part. Despite Manitas having destroyed lives, Emilia wants to dignify them. We are asked to believe that she had no idea about these wretched, miserable souls. But thankfully, Emilia’s “La Lucecita” is here to rescue them. The NGO will find the remains of the disappeared, making them visible again. Good thing Emilia made all that (drug) money to fund the work…

Trailer for Emilia Pérez.

The sheer unbelievability of Pérez not knowing about the violent reverberations of her work aside, I was gratified to see the disappeared of Mexico centralised in the film. The stories of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Guatemala and Colombia usually dominate when it comes to the consequences of human rights abuses in the region.

Political prisoners, state terrorism, death flights and extrajudicial murders date back at least as far as the 1960s in Mexico, with the Indomitable Memory Museum in Mexico City doing fantastic work to highlight this history and dignify victims. In particular, the story of the Ayotzinapa 43, who were disappeared en route to Mexico City for an annual march against state corruption and human rights abuses in 2014.

But, considering its direction, Emilia Pérez takes on a white saviour narrative and our heroine simply throws (drug) money at the problem. Audiard’s (admitted) lack of serious thought given to violence ,wealth and power in this context is laughable. Ask “searcher” groups, who go looking for the remains of their disappeared loved ones, like Las Rastredoras de El Fuerte to conjure up money for their work at a fancy gala (and watch I Called for You in Silence, a heartbreaking documentary on their struggles) and see what the reaction is.

Emilia Pérez had the chance to add some nuance to the violence in Mexico today, to demonstrate that this does not exist in a vacuum. It had a chance to go beyond what the transfeminist philosopher Sayak Valencia and the expert in feminist visual culture Sonia Herrera Sánchez would term a kind of sensationalist, colonialist “pornomisery” to present gender fluidity and sexuality in a troubled and troubling context.

I was disappointed. I found it impossible to watch the film without seeing constant instances of what Sayak Valencia deems gore capitalism in action. “Death has become the most profitable business in existence,” according to Valencia.

She outlines that in the era of drug war Mexico (2006 to the present) power is the new capital in a moment where hyper-masculinity and levels of violence are out of control. The lifeless body signifies a capital of fear and power.

Rather than Emilia Pérez forming any coherent commentary on this, the film contributes to it – how much will Audiard make from a film about bodies, what is done to them and how they are destroyed by Mexico’s drug war? How many awards? How much (more) power gained?

Zoe Saldaña sings “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez.

Bodily transition – from living to dead; from male to female – is a motif in the film, and one used as a lazy plot device. Emilia is no longer Manitas; in fact, she’s Manitas’ antithesis, who, therefore, does good for society. This dichotomy between “giving woman” and “violent man” only serves to perpetuate outdated views of womanhood. Karla Sofía Gascón was strong in this role, though I must ask why a Mexican trans actress couldn’t have played Pérez. For instance, Nava Mau of Baby Reindeer.

We know that Emilia Pérez isn’t that bothered about nuance, being one reason the film has been so ripe for satire. It is a narco-telenovela-cum-queer musical from the perspective of a 72-year-old white French man.

If you are looking for a show or film that does what Emilia Pérez should have, I can only recommend the one-off series Somos, a thoughtful take on the 2011 Allende massacre to temper such thoughtless representation.

Ailsa Peate 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. Emilia Pérez: the film’s wildly unrealistic representation of Mexican narco-violence and trans lives is insulting – https://theconversation.com/emilia-perez-the-films-wildly-unrealistic-representation-of-mexican-narco-violence-and-trans-lives-is-insulting-249066

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 5, 2025

Trading venue (MIC Code)	Number of shares	Weighted average price / share, EUR*
XHEL	1,221,522	4.52
CEUX	–	–
BATE	–	–
AQEU	–	–
TQEX	–	–
Total	1,221,522	4.52

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