Category: India

MIL-Evening Report: Opinion-Analysis by Keith Rankin – Invoking Munich, ‘Appeasement’, and the ‘Lessons of History’
Opinion-Analysis – by Keith Rankin.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Former ambassador Phil Goff is the latest (so far) and (probably) the least of many ‘statesmen’ who have invoked Munich and the ‘resolute’ Winston Churchill (a backbench MP in 1938) in the cause of good-war mongering. (Refer Winston Peters sacks Phil Goff as UK High Commissioner RNZ 6 March 2025, and What Was Actually Wrong With What Phil Goff Said?, Giles Dexter, RNZ and Scoop, 7 March 2025.)

The Munich narrative is central to the ‘Good War’ morality trope, through which democracies (especially the United States) justified wars of aggression; what used to be called ‘gunboat-diplomacy’ in the British days of empire. It’s the now-commonplace narrative that frames any putative war to be fought by a ‘liberal democracy’ against an ‘autocracy’ (ie fought by us against them) as a contest between Good and Evil; and if we don’t “stand up to” Evil – anywhere and everywhere – then Evil goes on to ‘win’, and subsequently to dominate and exact tribute as a regional or global hegemon.

The corollary of the Munich narrative is that Good should never give up, even if Evil is winning on the battlefield; Good neither surrenders to Evil nor negotiates with Evil. Not ‘at any cost’. The logical conclusion of this is that, if that’s what it requires for Good to prevail, life on Planet Earth could be forfeit; better Dead than Red or Black. Earth’s tombstone, left for a future intergalactic explorer to discover, might read: “At Least ‘Atila the Hun’ [substitute any Eurasian ‘Devil’] Did Not Win”. Peter Hitchen (see below, p.27) notes: “one day, this dangerous fable of the glorious anti-fascist war against evil may destroy us all [through our rulers’ vanity]”.

Phil Goff is an example of persons who know just enough fragments of popular history to think they can use a historical argument to substantiate their rhetoric. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, meaning that superficial knowledge may be more problematic than ignorance. On the Munich question, Phil Goff is in good company. Peter Hitchens, in The Phoney Victory (p8, p20), cites the former Prince of Wales (now King) as making the same mistaken views about World War Two and the Ukraine-Russia War, as moral crusades.

(Meanwhile, as well as trying to cut disability benefits as a result of boxing itself into a corner, Keir Starmer UK government – unlike the political leadership of Canada and the European Union – is doing everything it can to appease Donald Trump on international trade and other matters.)

For readers’ interest, Stevan and Hugh Eldred-Grigg have written a New Zealand take on World War Two that does not follow the ‘Good War’ trope: Phoney Wars: New Zealand Society during the Second World War, Otago University Press 2017.

Were Neville Chamberlain’s actions at the September 1938 Munich Conference wrong?

No, neither with foresight nor hindsight. If Britain and/or France had signed a pact with Czechoslovakia similar to the one they signed with Poland in 1939, they would have been committed to declaring at most a phoney war. Neither had the capacity to wage war on Germany nor to come to Czechoslovakia’s aid. At best, British hostilities against Germany in 1938 would have been as ineffective as they were in Archangel, Russia, in 1918.

Popular sentiment was absent in 1938 in the United Kingdom towards war with Germany. That situation had changed by March 1939 after Germany fully annexed Bohemia and Moravia, the territories that make up twenty-first century Czechia. Due in part to changed popular sentiment, the British and French responded differently when Poland was similarly threatened in 1939. The western ‘powers’ declared war on Germany following the first attack on Poland, but did almost nothing to fight Germany or to protect Poland during what became known as the ‘Phoney War’. (The phoney war ended with the German conquest of France in May 1940.)

The 1939 declaration of war was arguably more duplicitous than the 1938 declaration of peace. Poland’s half-century-long tragedy – far worse than anyone today, except for a few professional and amateur historians, realise – began to unfold. (France briefly invaded Germany’s Saarland in 1939, southeast of Luxembourg, before withdrawing. Nowhere near Poland.) The war in 1939 in Poland, remote to the United Kingdom, was far from ‘phoney’.

Examples of invoking or evoking ‘appeasement’ and /or ‘Munich’ and/or Churchill on behalf of ‘democracy’:

Peter Hitchens gives these post-WW2 examples (pp.13-17):
- President Harry S Truman, in December 1950, re the continuation of the Korean War
- Anthony Eden, 1956, to justify the Suez War (which first brought Israel into an external war of aggression)
- President Lyndon Johnson in July 1965, justifying the escalation of the Vietnam War
- US Secretary of State George Shultz in February 1984, re conflict in Nicaragua
- US Deputy Secretary of State, Lawrence Eagleburger, in August 1989, before the US invasion of Panama
- George Bush (senior) in June 1990, re the first war against Iraq (noting that the initial response to the immanent invasion of Kuwait was not unlike Churchill’s lesser-known response in 1938, to the German reoccupation of the Rhineland [“more talks”])
- Bill Clinton’s 1999 comparison of Slobodan Milosevic to Hitler, in the context of the probable secession of Kosovo from Milosevic’s Serbia
- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, in 2003, justifying the second invasion of Iraq
- President Trump’s aids in June 2017, referring to Barack Obama’s Cuba initiative
Winston Churchill’s worst Appeasement, and Atrocities

The worst act of appeasement that I can think of was Winston Churchill’s kowtowing to Joseph Stain at Yalta (Crimea) in the second week of February 1945 (ref Hitchens p.6 and Wikipedia citing Leo McKinstry, “Attlee and Churchill: Allies in War, Adversaries in Peace”, Atlantic Books, 2019, Ch 22). According to McKinstry “When Churchill arrived at Yalta on 4 February 1945, the first question that Stalin put to him was: ‘Why haven’t you bombed Dresden?’.”

Ten days later, Churchill did indeed firebomb Dresden, immolating 25,000 people – mostly civilians and refugees. Stalin (metaphorically) said “jump”, Churchill said “how high?”. And Churchill delivered.

Dresden was far from Churchill’s only actual or intended atrocity. Operation Gomorrah, on Hamburg at the end of July 1943, was a worse 24-hour atrocity than Dresden. The malevolent intent of that ‘raid’ lies in the biblical name given to the operation. While it was largely a test-run and forerunner for later bombings – including a forerunner of the firebombing of Tokyo exactly 80 years ago – it killed more than 35,000 mostly civilians “in their homes”.

(As a single event the firebombing of Tokyo on the night of 9 March 1945 – Operation Meetinghouse – caused easily more deaths [100,000] than Dresden, Hamburg, Hiroshima [70,000] or Nagasaki [35,000]. In the mainstream media, I saw no 80th-anniversary commemoration stories of this ‘worst-ever in the history of the world’ attack on civilians. Now is a timely time for us to be reminded about this kind of aerial megadeath.)

The third Churchill atrocity to mention was the Bengal famine of 1943, which killed three million people. Encyclopedia Britannica says that “the 1942 halt in rice imports to India did not cause the famine, and the 1943 crop yield was actually sufficient to feed the people of Bengal. It was ultimately special wartime factors that caused this difficult situation to become a disastrous famine. Fearing Japanese invasion, British authorities stockpiled food to feed defending troops, and they exported considerable quantities to British forces in the Middle East”. Churchill’s atrocities have been justified on the basis that the casualties were to them while saving some of our lives. But the people of Bengal were, at least notionally part of us, citizens and civilians of the British Empire.

In Wikipedia: “Madhusree Mukerjee makes a stark accusation: “The War Cabinet’s shipping assignments made in August 1943, shortly after Amery had pleaded for famine relief, show Australian wheat flour travelling to Ceylon, the Middle East, and Southern Africa – everywhere in the Indian Ocean but to India.” Indeed, Bengal was required to export rice to Ceylon to support British naval operations there. Of Churchill’s major atrocities, this was the only one to be mentioned in Netflix’s recent over-the-top account Churchill at War.

The Netflix ‘docuseries’ does at least mention Churchill being sidelined by the Americans in late 1943 and 1944. Churchill was sidelined from the top table of war-command largely on the basis of his penchant for atrocities and his unwillingness to confront Germany head-on (an unwillingness that could have been interpreted as ‘appeasement’, and probably was understood as such by the Americans). Churchill indulged in a number of side-wars, including a successful invasion of Madagascar in 1942; an invasion that put paid forever to the 1940 German fantasy of resettling Eastern European Jews there.

The Americans took much longer than Churchill to become convinced about the merits of holocaust-scale bombing than did the British. It would seem that the British burning of Hamburg – which was bombed because it was there, easily accessible from Britain – left quite a bad taste upon some American commanders, and indeed upon President Roosevelt himself. (We note that the atrocious American incendiary bombings of Japan in March 1945 were undertaken after Harry Truman became Vice President, and in the context that Roosevelt was seriously ill, and died soon after the February Yalta ‘Peace’ Conference.)

Churchill’s final atrocity to mention here never actually happened, except to create an environmental disaster on a Scottish Island (Gruinard, Britain’s mysterious WW2 ‘island of death’ Myles Burke, BBC, 22 April 2024). It partly explains some of Churchill’s reticence towards the D-Day invasion of Occupied France. Churchill had another plan, which he seems to have kept secret from his Allies: biological warfare, Anthrax.

“The plan was to infect linseed cakes with Anthrax spores and drop them by plane into cattle pastures around Germany. … The proposed plan would have decimated Germany’s meat supply, and triggered a nationwide anthrax contamination, resulting in an enormous [civilian] death toll. … The secret trials carried on until 1943, when the military deemed them a success, and scientists packed up and returned to Porton Down. As a result, five million linseed cakes laced with Anthrax were produced but the plan was ultimately abandoned as the Allies’ Normandy invasion progressed, leading the cakes to be destroyed after the war.” The test programme on Gruinard was cynically called ‘Operation Vegetarian’. “Gruinard was not the only site where the UK conducted secret biological warfare tests, but it was the first. The consequences of what happened there stand as a grim testament to both the dangers of biological warfare and humanity’s capacity for destruction.”

Have Bill Clinton and subsequent US presidents drawn inspiration from Brezinski’s 1997 essay as a clarion call for world domination?

Zbigniew Brezinski’s call for US world hegemony seems not much different to what Richard Evans claims was Hitler’s aim: “Hitler’s obvious drive for European and eventually world conquest.” (Zbigniew Brzezinski, “A Geostrategy for Eurasia,” Foreign Affairs, 76:5, September/October 1997; review of Peter Hitchens’s Eurosceptic take on the Second World War, by Richard J Evans, New Statesman, 26 Sep 2018.)

Evans’ claim about Hitler is obvious hyperbole; Germany never could have had the capacity to “conquer” the world. (Think of the socio-geographic limits to the Roman Empire.) But the Nazi imperial vision for Germany was to create a mega-state in Central Eurasia that would have hegemony over the rest of the world. Is there any country in the twentieth or twenty-first century which has sought such ‘unipolarity’; sought to be the world’s one-and-only superpower, which expects other countries to say “how high?” whenever it says “jump”?

Perhaps there is? Did Brezinski – Henry Kissinger’s 1970s’ foreign policy rival – spell it out in 1997?

Finally

‘Appeasement’ is like ‘Antisemitism’; the powers-that-be only have to say either word to silence commonsense debate about peace and war and genocide. As Hitchens points out (p.27): “We have mythologised the experience so completely that [politicians] only have to say the word ‘appeasement’ to silence opponents and bring legislators and journalists to their side, on any wild adventure.” Phil Goff is a hapless victim of what Joseph Mali and Shlomo Sand have called “mythistory”.

Wars since the 1930s are no more ‘moral’ than were wars before that time. (Indeed, if we wish to personalise it, WW2 at its core was a war between Hitler and Stalin; neither men are commonly described as ‘moral’.) In fact, recent wars are less moral. WW2 became the first major war in which civilians were actively targeted as a predominant military gambit. This approach to war is now becoming entrenched, with drones replacing soldiers, and civilians evermore in the firing line.

We should not be coerced into supporting wars on the basis of narratives by powerful know-not-much persons or cliques dropping words like ‘appeasement’, ‘Munich’, ‘Churchill’ or ‘Hitler’. Wars are very costly, but the costs are not usually paid – at least in the short term – by those elites who promote them from far away.

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Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
March 18, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Keith Rankin Analysis – Geopolitical fractures, and untidy yet workable solutions
Analysis by Keith Rankin.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

As most of us appreciate, there is a whole geopolitical world that overlays the formal political world of about 200 ‘nation states’ (aka ‘polities’). Geopolitical fractures – a result of the ‘big games’ over and above the ‘rules-based order’ – occur in all sorts of places, sometimes through provinces, even counties. Their significances wax and wane, as geopolitics itself is a dynamic game of changing exceptions and allegiances, and the expansions or contractions of ‘real estate assets’.

How about this one, given the apparent detaching of the United States of America from the liberal democratic western alliance? (Is the western alliance – which includes Canada – in the process of becoming a set of American proxies, like certain Latin American countries, rather than a partnership? Or is it a process of divorce?) Point Roberts is a United States enclave within the Greater Vancouver urban area. Should Canada – or British Columbia – file for Point Roberts? It would be the tidy thing to do, as part of the divorce settlement.

Geopolitics operates on at least two levels. There are the big fractures, where potential world wars – hot and cold – are simmering. Then there are the smaller fractures, such as those between the European Union and its neighbours: Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Cyprus. And those within the world’s mini-empires: Denmark vis-à-vis Greenland; Australia vis-à-vis Norfolk Island; New Zealand vis-à-vis Cook Islands; France vis-à-vis New Caledonia.

At an intermediate level are boundary disputes between Japan and Russia (Kuril Islands), India and Pakistan (Kashmir), India and China (Himalayas), and Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). Then there are new hot-fractures being created through civil wars; such as that between the Arabic and African worlds within Sudan, Islamic and Buddhist populations within Myanmar, and different ethno-cultural minorities within (and on the edges of) Syria and in the west of China.

There’s also a growing north-south sectarian divide in Nigeria (reflecting complex geopolitical game-playing in the Sahel, to Nigeria’s north and northwest), Africa’s most populous country. And there are geopolitical pushes and pulls in the non-EU Balkans. Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina (European countries with majority Islamic populations) have become effective proxies of the United States; the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina is fractured almost fifty-fifty, the other part being the autonomous though unrecognised Russian-aligned Republika Srpska. (China is currently building a north-south railway through the Balkans from Piraeus in Greece to Budapest in Hungary, while the European Union is sponsoring a new railway from Albania in the Adriatic Sea to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.)

Finally, there’s a big geopolitical tension within the core Islamic world, which has led to the long-running civil war in Yemen; the two sides being proxies for Iran and for Saudi Arabia; for Tehran and for Riyadh.

The players – the ‘Great Powers’

At present, it would seem, the United States of America, which sees itself as the world’s preeminent geopolitical player, is impatient for conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine to end, so that it can get on with its ‘game of choice’, namely the ‘new cold war’ conflict with China.

We should note that, in Geopolitics, the players are typically identified by the countries’ capital cities. Thus, the United States becomes Washington, the United Kingdom becomes London, and the European Union becomes Berlin or Brussels. Sometimes the players are or have been referred to by power-centres within cities, such as the Kremlin (Moscow), or the Quai d’Orsay (Paris). (The New Zealand equivalent might be ‘Bowen Street’!)

Beijing and Taiwan; and Washington

I saw this Daily Telegraph story in the New Zealand Herald last weekend: Chinese navy practices amphibious landings with new barges in South China Sea. To this end Taiwan is the American proxy through which the conflict may be waged; just as Ukraine and Israel are American proxies; proxies in the most visible of the world’s current geopolitical hot wars.

From the story: ‘Emma Salisbury, a sea power research fellow at the Council on Geostrategy’ says “The fact Beijing has permitted details of these barges to become public signals the threat China poses in the region.” No, it doesn’t. It indicates that China is – had has been for decades – playing the geopolitical game of ‘optics’. Beijing is saying to Washington “don’t mess with us”, rather than “we are going to mess with you”.

Kinmen and Lienchiang Counties, Fujian. But what country?

Is this the world’s least understood geopolitical faultline?

The central piece of geography in the New Cold War is understood to be the Taiwan Strait; indeed we routinely see pictures of that Strait on our news bulletins. Usually, they look like these BBC versions:
- How China is fighting in the grey zone against Taiwan, 5 Oct 2023
- China and Taiwan: A really simple guide, 8 Jan 2024
- Taiwan country profile, 15 Jan 2024
The clear tale being told here in these maps is that there is a simple border in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China, and that there are two countries, Taiwan and China. The constitutional reality is that there are two regimes claiming constitutional sovereignty over a single estate. We may call these regimes China-Taipei and China-Beijing. (In the Olympic Games and other sports, Taiwan competes as Chinese-Taipei.) The official name of the two regimes are Republic of China (RoC), and Peoples Republic of China (PRC). (I once watched a story on TV3 News involving some Beijing-Chinese people in New Zealand. TV3 mistakenly showed pictures of a China Airlinesaircraft, when it should have been Air China.)

The BBC’s two-country optics are neat and tidy (compared to the one-territory two-regime reality), but is negated by the presence of two Taiwanese counties in the territory of Fujian province, PRC; Kinmen and Lienchiang (although Kinmen is sometimes called Jinmen or Quemoy, and in China Lienchiang is spelt ‘Lianjiang’). At its closest point, Kinmen (Taiwan) is 4km from the large Chinese city of Xiamen (and 190 km from the Taiwanese mainland); indeed Kinmen is located in Xiamen harbour, just as Rangitoto Island is in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. (Xiamen has the same population size as New Zealand, just over five million people.) Lienchieng is the Taiwanese portion of Lianjiang county, a subdivision of Fujian. (We note that Taiwan still uses the ‘postal’ style of anglicisation of Chinese names that was generally used before the 1970s; eg Peking instead of the Pinyin form, Beijing.)

From the inception of the United nations in 1945, until 1971, China-Taipei (aka Taiwan) held a permanent seat on the Security Council, with the right of veto). This only changed in 1971 after US President Nixon, committing to reality over narrative, moved towards rapprochement towards China (although the United States was not ready for the UN recognition switch in 1971); while at the same time fudging the issue of the status of Taiwan. That fudge remains the official status quo in the international ‘rules-based-order’.

We should also note that Taiwan (RoC) withdrew from the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, due to its erosion of status as a recognised nation-state, with particular note that Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, had led the realpolitik move, recognising China in 1970.

This map correctly shows all of Taiwan, noting the black dashed lines. And this shows Taiwanese Fujian. This huge geopolitical boundary between West and East passes through the Chinese province of Fujian.

Geopolitical Implications

Presumably the people in these counties, for the most part, prefer the status quo and hope that it can be maintained indefinitely, and without military hostilities.

If there was a push for Taipei to repudiate its constitutional claim to all of China – for example as a means to de jureindependence as its own sovereign state – it is difficult to see how this could happen without Taipei ceding Kinmen and Lienchiang counties to Beijing. That would indeed be the minimum price Taipei would have to pay for Beijing to abandon its claim over all of Taiwan.

In effect, these two counties are hostages to both regimes. If the United States or any other United States’ aligned nation-state invaded China, then it would be realistic to expect that Kinmen and Lienchiang would be snaffled-up by Beijing; maybe one county immediately and, for leverage, the other staying on as a hostage.

On the other hand, if the United States was to escalate its optical war against Beijing into a fully-fledged ‘cold war’, it might install threatening military equipment into Kinmen or Lienchiang, much as the Soviet Union did in Cuba in 1962. Thus these counties represent leverage of Taipei (acting as a proxy for the United States) over China.

It would be hard to see China not-responding to such provocation. Further, in such a hostile context, China would be tempted to activate its claim over the whole of Taiwan, and not just the two counties in Fujian.

So, the untidy one-country two-regime status quo should be simply left as it is. Speculative political rhetoric against Beijing or Taipei should be treated by the international community as tantamount to diplomatic ‘hate-speech’. And simplistic media stories which represent Taiwan only as an island 100 kilometres away from China, should be corrected. Responsible media – unlike the BBC or the Daily Telegraph – do not distort the known truth.

We don’t want to end up in a major geopolitical conflict as a result of politicians and political journalists not even knowing or understanding the location of the China/Taiwan border. The border anomalies result from the pragmatic settlement of a military conflict between the two Chinese regimes; a conflict that took place in the decade after 1949.

Lessons for the Ukraine-Russia conflict

The present military boundary between Ukraine and Russia passes inside three recognised provincial boundaries of Ukraine: Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. (The provinces of Luhansk and Crimea should be off the negotiating table; the world has to accept that they are now, for better or worse, de facto or de jure, territories of Russia; albeit unrecognised in the same way that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are Russian territories unrecognised by the United Nations. (And Northern Cyprus for that matter, as an unrecognised Turkish territory inside the European Union nation of Cyprus; a territory which untidily passes through the Cyprus’s capital, Nicosia.)

Successful negotiations to end wars have to take account of military realities. China’s 1950s’ concessions to Taiwan over Kinmen and Lienchiang show that such splits need not impede a long-lasting and workable peace. What does impede a transition to peace is the insistence on substantial one-sided deviations from the military reality at the time of a ‘cease-fire’; certainly, the side that is at a military disadvantage should not be demanding one-sided concessions from the other side.

Lessons for Palestine-Israel conflict

In 1967 and 1973, there were major wars between, in essence, Israel and Egypt. The lands most under contention were those that we call ‘Occupied Palestine’ (and ‘Occupied East Jerusalem’) today; though other lands were captured (especially the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria). The 1967 War was started by Israel under the pretext that Egypt was about to invade Israel. Israel unambiguously won this war. (In 1967, Israel even attacked – deliberately – an American naval vessel: USS Liberty.)

Israel had not thought-through the strategic consequences of its annexation (from Egypt and Jordan) of Gaza and the West Bank. Israel was working towards an acceptable way of incorporating Palestinian Israelis into the ‘Jewish State’. Now, all of a sudden, they found themselves with an enlarged country with a majority (or near-majority) Palestinian population. A legal fiction – replacing the language of ‘annexation’ with that of ‘occupation’ – enabled the non-Jewish populations of the ‘occupied territories’ to be treated as, at best, third -class citizens.

The 1973 War – started by Egypt, principally to regain its Sinai territory – triggered changes to the global architecture of capitalism. After the advantage switched from Egypt to Israel, Israeli troops crossed the Suez Canal and were heading towards Cairo when the cease-fire was called. Subsequent negotiations, over six years, saw Israel’s military successes eroded into something like the present situation in which Palestinians living in Palestine are citizens of nowhere.

After two military victories, through the 1978 Camp David Accords, Israel found that it had forfeited almost all its military gains; for Israel it felt like they had won the war but lost the peace. The result of the process was a substantial and unfortunate switch to the Right in Israeli politics. Since then, especially since the 1990s, Israel has been looking for ways to annex a Palestine free of Palestinians; to cleanse Palestine of Palestinians as part of an unapologetic annexation process undertaken with the full blessing of its geopolitical patron.

Proxy Warfare

Most wars today, including ‘civil wars’, are proxy-wars funded (on one side at least) by external patrons. While Ukraine has been a proxy of the United States for most of this century, Ukraine is now morphing into a proxy of Brussels and London; of the barely-elected Starmer (one-third of the vote in a low turn-out election) and an unelected Ursula von de Leyen (a bureaucrat who’s not even a Member of the European Parliament).

On Al Jazeera News (6am New Zealand summer time, 18 March 2025), it was reported that Donald Trump posted this message on his favoured social-media platform: “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!” (See this quote on U.S. Air Campaign Against Houthis Continues Into Third Day, TWZ, The War Zone.)

This is a clear statement that the United States President, at least, believes that the patrons of proxies are the real antagonists, and should be deemed responsible – indeed ‘criminally responsible’ for misdeeds of aggression – for acts performed by their proxies. It should be quite easy to apply this dictum, at least allegorically, to the big hot wars of the moment: Ukraine and Palestine.

Conclusion

We can avoid most wars by finding pragmatic solutions to geopolitical conflicts, accepting realities as they stand, and avoiding inflammatory rhetoric towards others. We have avoided violent conflict in and around the Fujian geopolitical faultline by not, so far, trying to find and impose final tidy solutions.

Likewise, to find peace in the world’s current military hotspots, we have to accept and negotiate around the current realities of those situations. Most importantly, we follow the ‘first law of holes’: ‘if you are in a hole, stop digging’. Inflaming sensitive situations through speculative assertions about the other side’s escalating malevolence are unhelpful.

In today’s wars the western ‘liberal democratic’ side is not even close to being the ‘good guys’ in wars framed as good-versus-evil. The conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine demonstrate that these wars – like most past wars – represent the ‘hot’ phases of geopolitical game playing; wars are ‘bad guys’ versus ‘bad guys’, and such wars end through transactional deals. (The antagonists may be different shades of bad; and there are always good victims, though many of these are not ‘perfect victims’.) The ‘bad guys’ include the patrons of the proxies. Further, contemporary warfare targets civilians rather than soldiers.

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Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: In Seattle, Cantwell Draws Contrast Between PNW’s Innovation Strategy and Trump’s Trade War

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
03.17.25
In Seattle, Cantwell Draws Contrast Between PNW’s Innovation Strategy and Trump’s Trade War
Cantwell joins Washington Council on International Trade for Q&A with former USTR head on how the current admin’s tariffs harm the Pacific Northwest In WA state, 2 out of every 5 jobs are tied to trade-related industries; Trump’s actions are “a threat to our ethos,” Cantwell says
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined the Washington Council of International Trade (WCIT) for a Q&A session on the whiplash caused by the administration’s chaotic tariff policies – and how they particularly harm the Pacific Northwest, which is among the most trade-dependent regions in the country.
The Q&A was moderated by WCIT President Lori Otto Punke and joined by former U.S. Trade Representative and current National Foreign Trade Council President Demetrios Marantis. Sen. Cantwell said that the current administration’s approach to trade – with a focus on punitive tariffs, even with America’s largest trading partners and closest allies, as opposed to innovation and alliance-building– is fundamentally at odds with how the Pacific Northwest has historically built its trade economy.
“The consequences to us in the Pacific Northwest is really a threat to our ethos. We are one of the most trade-dependent states in the country, and we just see the world differently. We believe that innovation matters more than the tariffs in a fight [on] who’s going to win in aerospace or agriculture or software or any of these issues. It is like we are in this horse race, but the President wants to put 25 pounds on our horse and make it harder.
“And what do we want to do in the Northwest? We like opening markets. We like building alliances. We like innovating our way to success.
“So make no mistake about it — one of the states that could see the biggest economic impacts from this is ours. And we have to be very loud about how foregoing an alliance approach of building more opportunities is really what we should be doing, if we want to win in an economy that changes in the blink of an eye,” Sen. Cantwell said.
WCIT is the Northwest’s premier organization advocating for trade and investment policies that increase the competitiveness of Northwest workers, farmers, and businesses. In addition to Sen. Cantwell, speakers at the Summit included U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D,WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Emily Randall (D, WA-06).
In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information on how President Trump’s tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. Nationwide:
A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would add an estimated $144 billion a year to the cost of manufacturing in the United States.
Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase U.S. car prices by as much as $12,000.
According to the Yale Budget Lab, Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in the highest U.S. effective tariff rate in more than 80 years, and depending on the level of retaliation by other trading partners, will result in increased costs of between $1,600 and $2,000 per household. According to their analysis, food, clothing, cars, and electronics will all see above-average price increases.
Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of increased trade to grow the economy and keep prices in check in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: Apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023. In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.
For the past six weeks, President Trump has been sowing economic chaos across the country with unpredictable and ever-changing tariff announcements. His back-and-forth announcements and actions, which have whipsawed American businesses and consumers, as well as close neighbors and allies, include:
On January 31 — citing punishment for failing to crack down on fentanyl trafficking — the Trump administration announced plans to impose a 25% tax on many goods imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on goods imported from China, then abruptly postponed those tariffs.
Last month, he doubled down, announcing an additional 25% tax on all steel and aluminum imports.
At 12:01 a.m. ET on March 4, President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, causing stock prices in the United States to plummet.
Then, on March 5, he announced that automobiles from Canada and Mexico would be exempt from his tariffs for one month.
The morning of March 6, he announced that he would suspend the tariffs for some products from Mexico. Then, later that same afternoon, he announced he was suspending most new tariffs on products from both Mexico and Canada until April 2.
On March 11, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum – increasing them to 50% – before reversing himself later the same day.
On March 13, he threatened 200% tariffs on alcoholic products from the European Union, including all wine and Champagne.
Video of Sen. Cantwell’s Q&A today is HERE; audio is HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dusty Inferno Hits Oklahoma

Source: NASA

An area of low pressure over the U.S. Southwest began to collide with humid air flowing north on March 14, 2025. The combination powered a destructive weather front that unleashed a chaotic weekend of winds, thunderstorms, hail, dust, and wildfires as the front pushed east through several U.S. states.
Dust streamed northeast across Texas and Oklahoma behind a line of thunderstorms when the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite captured this image on March 14, 2025. Amidst the blanket of dust, smoke plumes are visible streaming from wildland fires burning near several towns in Oklahoma, including Camargo, Iconium, Langston, Leedey, Maramec, Merrick, Orlando, Pawhuska, and Stillwater.
In Oklahoma, hurricane-force winds gusted up to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour, triggering a massive dust storm and fanning fast-moving grass fires that caused the state’s governor to declare a state of emergency in 12 counties. The high winds and fires damaged more than 400 homes and structures, including at least 70 homes in Stillwater that were destroyed. The extreme weather also caused tens of thousands of power outages and triggered deadly traffic accidents.
More than 170,000 acres of land burned, according to The Oklahoman. Many fires raged in parched grasslands that had been abnormally dry and drought-prone in recent weeks, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
“Wildfires are really many hazards at once,” said Doug Morton, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, citing dangers including the direct threat to life and property, health hazards posed by the smoke, and issues of visibility that make road and air travel dangerous. “In Oklahoma, the mixture of dust and smoke compounded the problem and led to treacherous conditions,” Morton said.
The same storm system generated dozens of tornadoes, some of which touched down in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, taking dozens of lives and flattening homes in several communities.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Story by Adam Voiland.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand & India strengthen horticultural ties

Source: New Zealand Government

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector.
“Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our commitment to deepening this strategic partnership,” Mr McClay said.
The MOC aims to foster closer ties between the two countries’ horticultural industries, focusing on areas such as technical exchanges, harvest and post-harvest management, training, and the sharing of technological expertise.
“By working together, we can unlock new opportunities for both nations, supporting the growth and diversification of our horticultural industries while benefiting rural communities on both sides,” Mr McClay added.
A key milestone under the MOC is the mutual development of New Zealand’s and India’s kiwifruit sectors.
“Kiwi fruit will be the first significant achievement under this partnership, already worth $600 million. And this agreement has the potential to create up to $1 billion in reciprocal horticultural benefits over the next decade,” Mr McClay stated.
This marks the culmination of years of collaboration between the industries and governments. New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry has built a global reputation for producing high-quality fruit, and this agreement is expected to drive further growth and innovation in both markets.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand & India strengthen forestry ties

Source: New Zealand Government

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector.
“Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our commitment to deepening this strategic partnership,” Mr McClay said.
The MOC includes the development of bilateral forestry cooperation to continue mutual growth. New Zealand’s forestry exports to India have increased from $9.5 million in 2023 to an estimated $76.5 million in 2024.
“Many of our forestry exporters have long-standing relationships in India and are keen to expand. This agreement will lay the groundwork for cooperation in sustainable forest management, agroforestry, research and innovation, education, and capacity building,” Mr McClay explained.
These arrangements are part of New Zealand’s broader strategy to double the value of its exports in the next decade, with strong partnerships like this one playing a vital role.
“The agreements signed today reflect the strong foundation of our trade relations with India and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead,” Mr McClay concluded.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: PMs Luxon & Modi deepen NZ-India ties

Source: New Zealand Government

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today.
Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across a range of areas.
That included the announcement of a new Defence Cooperation Arrangement.
“In today’s world, security is the foundation of prosperity – and India is a key partner of New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr Luxon says.
“This arrangement will open up new areas of collaboration between our defence forces and facilitate closer defence ties.”
The Joint Statement also outlined opportunities to work more closely around political relations, trade, science and technology, people-to-people and sporting links, and cooperation in regional and international settings.
New Zealand will increase its diplomatic footprint in India, establishing additional roles in New Delhi and Mumbai to further New Zealand’s profile and promote interests on the ground.
“My meetings today have allowed us to unlock new opportunities and potential partnerships that will serve the people of New Zealand and India.”
While in Delhi, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Indian President, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, and gave the opening address as Chief Guest at the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier defence and security conference.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: RAISINA DIALOGUE 2025: KĀLACHAKRA – PEOPLE, PEACE AND PLANET

Source: New Zealand Government

Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, kia ora and good afternoon everyone.
What an honour it is to stand on this stage – to inaugurate this august Dialogue – with none other than the Honourable Narendra Modi.
My good friend, thank you for so generously welcoming me to India and for our warm discussions this morning.
I am a great admirer of your extraordinary achievements as Prime Minister.
In the almost 11 years that you’ve occupied the Prime Minister’s office, you have weathered the COVID crisis and still managed to expand India’s economy by 50%.
You have lifted 250 million of your countrymen out of poverty and eliminated extreme poverty.
Today, India is at the leading edge of technology with massive innovative potential.
You were the first country to land on the moon’s South Pole. In the process drawing the world’s attention to India’s extraordinary technological prowess.
And Prime Minister, during your tenure, the Men in Blue have been the most dominant side in cricket’s white ball competitions, most recently winning the Champions Trophy last week against my Men in Black and breaking many New Zealanders hearts – including mine – in the process!
Congratulations!
Among this catalogue of achievements is the reason we gather today: the Raisina Dialogue. A forum that provides a moment every year for thought-leaders from across the world to focus their collective minds on the contemporary strategic challenges being navigated right here in the Indian Ocean.
I applaud Dr Jaishankar and Samir Saran for the intellectual leadership they have shown driving this Dialogue over the past 10 years.
It has grown into a hugely influential forum. Look no further than the luminaries you attract: 6 former Heads of Government and Ministers from over thirty countries.
I hope my remarks today, add to the debate in some small way.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s more than 200 years since Indians and New Zealanders first began living side-by-side.
At the beginning of the 19th century – well before we became a nation – Indian sailors jumped ship in New Zealand, with some meeting locals and marrying into our indigenous Māori tribes. A few years later, Māori traders began travelling to Kolkata to sell tree trunks used in sailing ships.
An exchange that echoes down the ages.
Just as they were 200 years ago, Kiwi-Indians today are fully integrated into our multicultural society. New Zealanders of Indian heritage comprise 11% of the people living in Auckland, our biggest city.
I’ve brought with me to New Delhi a selection of Kiwi-Indian community leaders. Members of Parliament, captains of industry, professional cricketers and even an online influencer who has revolutionised investment for women the world over. In short, a selection of Kiwi-Indians who get up every single morning to make New Zealand a better place to live.
And our trade has diversified considerably from wood thanks to the increased sophistication of your economy. India today is a critical source of pharmaceuticals and machinery for us. While we are a great tourism and education destination for you.
India has become an ever more significant feature of our society.
And yet, while there has been much that has developed and changed, there has been something missing at the core of our relationship.
With a country as consequential as India, we need rich political interaction, engaged militaries, strong economic architecture, and connections that support a diaspora that bridges between our two great nations.
Prime Minister Modi and I sat down today and charted out the future of our two countries’ relationship.
A future that builds from where we have been. One that is wholly more ambitious about what we will do together in the future.

We agreed to our Defence Forces building greater strategic trust with one another, while deploying together and training together more.
We want our scientists collaborating on global challenges like climate change and on commercial opportunities like space.
We are supporting our businesses to improve air links and build primary sector cooperation.
We will facilitate students, young professionals and tourists to move between our countries.
And we’ve instructed our trade negotiators to get on and negotiate a free trade agreement between our two great nations.

A comprehensive agenda to underpin a comprehensive relationship. As we look to the future, the opportunity for both our governments is to sustain that momentum.
Not only to follow through on the commitments we have made to one another. But to proactively build on that platform, by exploring new opportunities and creating new architecture.
To ensure that we are creating strategic trust and commercial connection between two countries at the bookends of our wide Indo-Pacific region.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is to the Indo-Pacific that I now turn. There are many reasons to be excited about our region. I want to single out the two biggest opportunities.
First, India and New Zealand are fortunate enough to live in the world’s most economically dynamic region.
The Indo-Pacific will represent two-thirds of global economic growth over the coming years. By 2030, it will be home to two-thirds of the world’s middle-class consumers.
And India itself lies at the heart of this exciting economic future. It’s easy to focus on the troubles the world faces, but its worth reflecting for a moment on what economic development at this scale means at a human level.
Here in India, you’ve gone from only the very few in rural areas having a water or power connection to almost everyone. It means people with better health and education outcomes. And that creates hope and optimism about the future for individuals and their families.
Replicated across literally hundreds of millions of people, that process of development generates dynamic economies. Growth that offers massive opportunities for every country in the Indo-Pacific, and families and individuals within them.
The second big opportunity is technological change. We are on the cusp of a transformation of our economies and societies in a way that we can barely now imagine.
I’m talking about artificial intelligence, which is within reach of achieving the cognitive powers of a human being. But I’m also thinking of a range of other technologies – quantum, biotech, advanced manufacturing – that are going to have profound impacts on our economies.
It has felt like this technological transformation has been long-heralded, but never quite arrived. Well, it seems to me that a series of innovations – the always online world, big data, powerful computing, machine learning – are cumulating in ways that are going to tip over into a dislocation that is new and altogether different.
The game is about to change. We are on the cusp of an explosion in the application of AI, a technology that will have an impact across the whole economy, not just in one or two sectors. A technology that will transform the way we work, study and entertain ourselves. A technology that will force governments to think in entirely different ways about how they deliver public services and secure their nations.
Certainly, this presents risks that will need to be managed. For example, militaries are already using AI, which means the international community is going to need to develop new norms about how this is done in a way that ensures compliance with the rules of war and ensures human responsibility in conflict.
But my message is that, while we need manage change, we cannot allow ourselves to be paralysed by the risks. For those who believe they can outcompete through this period of technological dislocation, the opportunities are there. The citizens, the companies, and the countries that embrace the coming change will be the ones that reap the dividends.
Yet, there’s also no doubt that there are fundamental trend lines in the Indo-Pacific that present geo-strategic risks to growth and prosperity.
These have long-term drivers that are not going away, and have been amplified by recent events.
Past assumptions – that underpinned the previous generation’s geopolitical calculations – are being upended.
A fortnight ago, the Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, put this change eloquently when he said: “the world is now shifting from unipolarity to multipolarity, from free trade to protectionism, from multilateralism to unilateralism, from globalisation to hyper-nationalism, from openness to xenophobia, from optimism to anxiety”.
This is a global change, not isolated to one region. Certainly, though, we live today in an Indo-Pacific navigating contest and rivalry, with a period of strategic uncertainty. I would highlight three big shifts that make for challenging times ahead.
Fist, we are seeing rules giving way to power.
Previously, we could count on countries respecting the UN Charter, the Law of the Sea and world trade rules. That sadly cannot be assumed in an age of sharper competition.
Instead, we risk dangerous miscalculation at flashpoints. These range from the militarisation of disputed reefs to dangerous air movements. From land border incursions to breakout nuclear capabilities.
Of course, it is not just flashpoints, but a slow shift in Indo-Pacific realities that change calculations. Recent demonstrations of naval force near New Zealand’s maritime surrounds, for example, sent a signal that alarmed many of my fellow citizens.
Second, we are witnessing a shift from economics to security.
After the Cold War, the dominant paradigm in relations between Indo-Pacific countries was a sustained effort to raise material living standards by tending to our economies.
Make no mistake, “bread and butter” issues still loom very large, and are a priority for governments all around the region. Indeed, economic growth is my Government’s highest priority.
But across the Indo-Pacific, we also see Governments dedicating increased attention and resource to military modernisation. Military build-ups reflect a need to prepare against uncertainty and insecurity. Some military build-ups, however, are underway without the reassurance that transparency brings.
National security demands are expanding. Governments need to protect their people and assets against foreign interference, cyberattacks, and terrorism.
In the last few months, a new threat has emerged, with damage to critical infrastructure, like sub-sea cables. You can’t have prosperity without security, not least when the tools of commerce themselves require protection.
The third geo-economic shift is from efficiency to resilience.
Where previously, Indo-Pacific economies saw ever deeper interdependence as a dynamo for growth, that can no longer be assumed in an age of decoupling.
Onshoring, protectionism and trade wars are displacing best price, open markets, and integrated supply chains.
And so we find ourselves in a world that is growing more difficult and more complex, especially for smaller states.
However, we must engage with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. So, like most countries across the region, New Zealand’s strategic policy is being shaped by our assessment of these trends.
We have agency to shape the Indo-Pacific that we want, but we must do so with energy and with urgency.
Ladies and gentlemen, as New Zealand looks to protect and advance our interests in the Indo-Pacific, we can only do so alongside partners. Partners like India that have a significant role to play in the Indo-Pacific.
In an increasingly multipolar world, India’s size and geo-strategic heft gives you autonomy. At the same time, your democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific offer you a force multiplier for our convergent interests.
For at a time when democracy is in decline with less than half the world’s adults electing their leaders, it is an inspiration that 650 million Indians turned out to vote last year in the largest election in history.
Your national election is a triumph of logistics and a triumph of legitimacy. An election that means your leaders serve their people, rather than your people serving their leaders.
Now, I don’t advocate arbitrary divisions between democracies and autocracies. And just because we are democracies, we won’t always see eye-to-eye.
Nonetheless, there’s truth in the fact that our democratic governance means we share a belief in the freedom to choose, giving everyone a voice and respect for the rules. Our interests increasingly converge around seeing these three ideas as an aligned set of organising principles for our Indo-Pacific region.
First, we want to live in an Indo-Pacific where countries are free to choose their own path free from interference.
A region where no one country comes to dominate.
It is a sign of the times that I stand here defending respect for sovereignty. Yet, New Zealand’s approach is increasingly shaped around that objective.
Just on Saturday, I joined a call led by Prime Minister Starmer focused on what more those contributing to Ukraine’s defence can do to support a just and lasting peace. To help a country whose sovereignty and territorial integrity has been so flagrantly attacked.
In my home region, our fellow Pacific neighbours are navigating geo-strategic dynamics that are their sharpest in nearly 80 years.
In a deeply contested world, Pacific partners are being asked to make choices that may undermine their national sovereignty. They risk falling into over-indebtedness, they must make choices about dual-use infrastructure, and they face pressure to enter new security arrangements.
New Zealand invests in working alongside Pacific countries to boost their capacity to make independent choices free from interference.
Yet, size alone cannot inoculate a country from these dynamics. Building strong and diversified relationships is the key to mitigating the risks of dependence on a few.
That is why my Government is investing in our key relationships, from traditional partners to thickening and deepening our relationships across Southeast Asia, and in a serious way with India, too.
And we have a responsibility to invest in our own security as a downpayment on our future ability to choose our own path. That is why New Zealand will be scaling up and doing more to support our own defence.
We plan to better resource and equip our Defence Force to ensure we can continue to defend our interests. Whether in our near region, in our alliance with Australia, or in support of collective security efforts with partners like India.
Alongside this investment in capability, we are making tangible contributions across the Indo-Pacific. When I was in Japan last year, I saw firsthand the work our aviators do to detect and deter North Korea’s sanctions-busting activities.
The New Zealand Navy is leading Combined Task Force 150 responsible for multinational activities to protect trade routes and counter smuggling, piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. We are fortunate indeed that India has agreed to take up the Deputy Command. Underlining these naval connections, one of our frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha, is in Mumbai later this week.
As we seek an Indo-Pacific in which countries are free to choose their own path, I’m determined New Zealand plays its role. Whether through our work with Pacific Islands partners, our relationships in the Indo-Pacific, or through our defence efforts.
A second principle both India and New Zealand subscribe to is the criticality of Indo-Pacific regional institutions, even as these evolve.
Regional architecture scaffolds our region’s security and its prosperity.
ASEAN continues to promote regional peace and economic development. Through its convening power and its centrality, it also provides a place for the region’s players to come together to discuss strategic issues.
ASEAN sits at the centre of the East Asia Summit, which for twenty years now has enabled political dialogue across the region, a forum that builds understanding, reduces the risk of miscalculation and contributes to strategic trust.
Yet, the Indo-Pacific architecture is not static as it adapts to new realities. Mini-lateral groupings are important new pieces of the puzzle.
The Quad has emerged as an important vehicle promoting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. India’s contribution to that evolution has of course been vital. While New Zealand has no pretensions to Quad membership, we stand ready to work with you to advance Quad initiatives.
We ourselves are strengthening our work with Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as Australia. Last year, I convened the Indo-Pacific Four to discuss Ukraine and North Korea.
And with serious headwinds buffeting the global trade system, New Zealand is seriously invested in Indo-Pacific trade and economic integration groupings.
From CPTPP, the gold standard of FTAs internationally, to RCEP, perhaps the world’s most inclusive.
And we welcome India’s engagement in the regional economic architecture, with our work together in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), important in an era in which we seek to build one another’s resilience.
The third Indo-Pacific principle we align around is a region in which respect for the rules is foundational.
Globally, rules are being undermined: whether those around territorial integrity, freedom of navigation, or laws of war. Yet, these are the very rules that preserve an Indo-Pacific order that is not “might is right” alone.
And, as I have said before, there is no prosperity without security. The rules that underpin our security also allow our businesses to operate with certainty. Those rules deliver daily in meaningful ways for our people.
For example, one in four jobs in New Zealand rely on exports and our exporting businesses being able to depend on the predictability that those rules deliver. And in a miracle, that’s only possible thanks to globally-accepted aviation standards, 120,000 flights carry 12 million passengers and operate safely between their destinations every day.
These rules shape the character of our region. We remain committed to this rules-based system, even while acknowledging its shortcomings. It is a truism that the world of 2025 is vastly different from 1945, and yet global institutions sadly have been slow to adapt.
We are not talking about “starting over” by remaking the global order. Instead, I tend to agree with Dr Jaishankar when he says we want an order in which change is evolutionary – at a pace that is comfortable and steady.
That’s why New Zealand supports reforming global governance frameworks to better reflect today’s realities. Rather than casting them aside, they should give greater voice to the developing world and under-represented regions.
Countries like India – that play such a central role in the global community – should have a seat at the table. We’ve therefore long supported India having a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council.
Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen.
It has been a privilege to speak to you today, at this important forum for global dialogue.
The geostrategic picture I’ve painted is stark. Rules are giving way to power; economics to security; and efficiency to resilience.
The tectonic shifts unfolding highlight that we – working alongside partners and friends – must navigate disruption, uncertainty, and sharpening pressure on our national interests.
Yet, we will not be overwhelmed by complexity and challenge. We must go forward with confidence.
We live at the heart of the world’s most exciting and dynamic region – the Indo-Pacific.
We live in an era of technological transformation that offers outsized opportunities.
We are countries with solid underlying democratic institutions, which will underpin our societies’ future success.
India and New Zealand have extraordinarily talented people.
Both our countries have a clear plan that reflects and reinforces the connections between our security and prosperity.
We cannot afford to be thrown by the rapid pace of change – we must grapple with shifting realities and capitalise on these for all our peoples’ benefit.
We will create and seize opportunities. Invest in our capabilities.
This is our region. Its future will be shaped by the choices we make—together.
Thank you, ngā mihi nui, and dhanyavaad .

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Airman Stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base Charged with Murder of Missing Woman

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged an airman stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, with Second Degree Murder.

Quinterius Charles Chappelle, age 24, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on March 17, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to a federal Criminal Complaint.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.

The complaint charges Chappelle with killing Sahela Toka Win Sangrait on Ellsworth Air Force Base in August 2024. Sangrait’s body was found earlier this month in a wooded area near Hill City, South Dakota.

“This charge, filed just ten days after the victim’s remains were discovered, reflects the dogged work of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who seamlessly collaborated to run down every lead with absolute expediency and care,” said Alison Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “Under the criminal justice system, this charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty; the facts and evidence in this case will be litigated before a federal judge and jury. At this time, our hearts are with the victim’s family and friends, who after many agonizing months of searching for answers, are now grieving the tragic death of their loved one.”

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Benjamin Schroeder are prosecuting the case.

Chappelle was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

MIL Security OSI –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI: iQor CXBPO™ Appoints First Filipina Country Leader in the Philippines

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iQor CXBPO™, an award-winning customer experience business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Fleurette (Flo) Navarro as Regional President – Philippines, marking a historic leadership milestone as the first Filipina executive to lead the company’s Philippines’ organization. This appointment is part of a broader leadership realignment aimed at enhancing local decision-making, agility, and strategic growth across global markets.

Country leaders will now oversee administration, facilities, human resources, and recruiting functions within their respective regions, enabling localized execution, streamlined decision-making, and seamless integration of local policies and cultural priorities. Sonia Goyal will lead Global Human Resources Operations, driving strategic HR initiatives and overseeing a Center of Excellence dedicated to transforming people practices through technology and AI.

“These strategic leadership realignments reinforce our commitment to excellence, innovation, and employee engagement,” said Chief Administrative Officer Art DiBari. “Flo is the first Filipina executive to lead our Philippines organization—a milestone that brings immense pride to our team. We are confident these changes will enhance our ability to deliver world-class CX solutions while fostering an agile, collaborative, and people-centric culture.”

As Regional President – Philippines, Navarro will oversee human resources, recruiting, and administrative functions in the Philippines, while managing external relationships with industry bodies, government agencies, and academic institutions. With 17 contact centers spanning the Philippine archipelago and a workforce of 31,000 in-country solutionists, this new role will drive continued growth in the region. Navarro will report to DiBari.

With more than 25 years of experience in the BPO industry, Navarro has held senior leadership positions at HSBC, CapitalOne, and Tata Consultancy, gaining deep expertise in operations, account management, training, quality assurance, and human resources. Since joining iQor in 2017, she has played a pivotal role in reshaping the company’s talent strategy, earning Great Place to Work® Certifications™ in the Philippines, India, and Colombia. Most recently, as Global Chief People Officer (2023–2025), she led human resources, recruiting, payroll, compensation, and benefits strategies, significantly impacting iQor CXBPO™’s workforce and business outcomes.

“I am honored to take on this role and excited to continue elevating iQor CXBPO™’s Philippines organization,” said Navarro. “Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and I look forward to strengthening our presence, fostering innovation, and driving meaningful results for our employees, clients, and stakeholders.”

Goyal will lead Global Human Resources Operations, overseeing human resources and recruiting functions outside Colombia, India, the Philippines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Since joining iQor in 2014, Goyal has implemented transformative human resources strategies that have enhanced performance, profitability, and employee engagement. She has also led major global hiring initiatives, including the launch of iQor CXBPO™’s Trinidad sites and the expansion of bilingual operations in Medellín, Colombia.

“I’m excited to lead our global HR operations at such a pivotal time for iQor CXBPO™,” said Goyal. “This realignment strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent while driving excellence in HR practices worldwide.”

For more information about iQor CXBPO™ and its leadership, visit www.iqor.com.

About iQor CXBPO™
iQor CXBPO™ is a trusted partner in intelligent customer experience solutions, delivering exceptional results for global brands. With 40,000 employees across 10 countries, we combine 30 years of industry expertise with cutting-edge AI-driven innovations to optimize customer interactions at every stage. Our agile, scalable solutions ensure seamless omnichannel engagement, driving loyalty and measurable business success. Recognized as a Great Place to Work® and a leader in CX excellence, we elevate performance through a people-first approach, operational expertise, and secure, technology-enabled solutions. Learn more at iQor.com.

The MIL Network –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Giving Women Jobs ‘Smartest, Fastest’ Way to Grow Economy, Commission Told

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

The Commission on the Status of Women entered its second week today with an interactive dialogue on inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work. Speakers emphasized the urgency of turning gender equality commitments into concrete, actionable policies to ensure women have equal opportunities to improve their employment prospects and livelihoods.

The Commission’s two-week annual session focuses on accelerating the implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at the 1995 conference on women in Beijing, where world leaders pledged to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights. Discussions also focus on contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Women Friendly Tax Administration

Diane Elson, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex, England, said that systemic barriers to women’s enjoyment of decent work include discrimination in hiring, misogyny, sexual harassment, violence in the workplace and lack of investment to reduce and redistribute unpaid work. “Unfortunately, some of these barriers are actually intensifying in some countries, where there are now attempts to wipe from the record the gains that women and ethnic minorities and other minorities have made,” she said. However, there are many things that can be done. While inclusive development policies tend to garner wide support, there are many forms of inclusion that are impoverishing and exploitative. It is therefore important to focus on “rights at work as well as the right to work, and to understand that economic growth does not necessarily create more jobs,” she stressed. To that end, it is critical to improve women friendly tax administration systems for filing taxes. “We need the elimination of tax breaks that do not increase investment and productivity and serve only to reduce tax payments for well off people and businesses,” she said.

Access to Technology Training Key to Empowering Women

Corina Rodriguez, researcher at the National Council of Research and the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Public Policy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, said that artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization presents many opportunities to reduce gender disparities but also creates challenges and presents risks. Technology might lead to a displacement of the working population to get cheaper labour, particularly in certain sectors where women are overrepresented, and those perhaps where the qualifications are lower. Technology creates new employment opportunity in design, in goods and services, technological services, logistics, customer care — opportunities that women can seize. “But it depends, of course, on whether they’re able to first access training in these careers,” she said. “Women are under much more time pressure, because in addition to work, they have to very often care for other members of the family,” she said. It is essential to ensure that women do not “fall into the work trap” and take on additional hours without additional pay while also having to balance numerous other responsibilities.

Lekha S. Chakraborty, Professor at National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) in New Delhi, India, called on Governments to “move beyond the paradigm” of the gross domestic product (GDP). “The fiscal policy space is shrinking,” she went on to underscore, noting that funds to women’s programmes have been substantially cut in the post-pandemic landscape. However, it still remains true that the “smartest and fastest” way to increase GDP is to have women involved in economic growth through employment and empowerment. “There are challenges with the care economy infrastructure,” she emphasized, spotlighting a sector of the economy where women are overrepresented. In the post-pandemic paradigm “conscious public policy decisions are crucial”, she added. Gender-responsive budgeting should not be confined solely to “what is specifically targeting women”. She discussed the connection between gender bonds and fiscal policy, stating that in countries with high fiscal deficits, internal bond financing could be tied to gender equality outcomes. However, she cautioned against linking bond financing to external funding, as it is subject to external factors, which carry inherent risks. She emphasized that there are innovative approaches to addressing this issue. “Public financial management reforms for climate change are currently under way without being tied to a job guarantee,” she added.

Gender Mainstreaming

Barbara Ky, director of gender at the West African Economic and Monetary Union, discussed how the Union is working to translate gender perspective and gender equality commitments into practical public policies that can be implemented by Governments and thereby enhance women’s employment prospects and livelihoods. The Union has developed guidelines, digital tools and information technology procedures that are carried out by the sectoral ministry in each of the Union’s member country. Public policy is based on goals that will integrate a gender perspective. “This requires mainstreaming the gender perspective and integrating it into every stage of planning, programming, budgeting and implementation,” she said. At the highest level all documents prepared by Government ministries should include a gender-related aspect “so that public policy is truly permeated by an awareness of these issues and gender has to be taken into account from the initiative of the process,” she said. For example, to address the issue of women’s unpaid employment, the hours that women spend bringing water to the household, compared with men, has been assessed. Planning programmes need to be aware of women’s contributions.

Women Spend 4.5 Hours Daily on Unpaid Care Work

Marija Babovic, a professor affiliated with the University of Belgrade, shared her perspective on the sustained negative impact that unpaid work has on women’s employment, income and economic security. These negative impacts are increasing as more women work in unpaid care and in unprotected domestic work. She noted that while in developed countries many women have entered the formal labour market since the 1970s, women and girls still provide more than three fourths of the unpaid care work around the world. For example, women spend 4 hours and 25 minutes each day on these activities while men spend 1 hour and 23 minutes each day on the same type of activities. More than 600 million women are working outside the paid labour force because of their care responsibilities, compared with 41 million men. “Unpaid work lowers women access to the labour market and paid work and is a factor in their higher financial poverty and time poverty,” she said. The paid care economy accounts for 11.5 per cent of the global economy, including jobs in such areas as childcare, disability care, aged care and paid domestic work. However, “across the world, paid care work remains characterized by a lack of rights, benefits or protections, low wages or non-compensation,” she said, adding that some women are subject to physical, mental and even sexual harassment.

The discussion was moderated by Anita Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a leading non-profit organization that addresses the prevalence of sexual violence in Nigeria and Africa.

The Commission also held a second interactive dialogue this afternoon on poverty eradication, social protection, and social services.

__________

* The 12^th meeting was not covered.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: UniSA champion of multiculturalism takes out top SA Governor award

Source: University of South Australia

18 March 2025

One of UniSA’s most passionate advocates for Aboriginal communities and marginalised groups has won the 2024 SA Governor’s Multicultural Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement.

Dr Jelina Haines, a practitioner-academic who has collaborated with Aboriginal Elders for more than 21 years and used art, storytelling and digital technologies to empower marginalised communities, was among nine winners and 31 finalists who attended the awards ceremony at Government House on 5 March.

The award, presented by the Governor of South Australia Frances Adamson AC, honoured Dr Haines’ extensive body of work over two decades championing social cohesion, intercultural understanding and the revitalisation of Aboriginal arts.

A Filipino-born Australian with an ancestral link to Indigenous Americas-Mexico, Dr Haines migrated to South Australia in 1997. Since then, she has spearheaded 52 minor programs, five major projects, and three international educational initiatives.

Her work has provided crucial income opportunities for Aboriginal artists while fostering a strong sense of identity within communities.

One of her most notable artistic collaborations has been with the Ngarrindjeri Cultural Weavers at Camp Coorong. Through this mutual partnership, she has helped create intricate woven sculptures representing Ngarrindjeri totems, including a life-sized whale exhibited at the SA Museum and the Le Havre Museum in France.

Dr Jelina Haines with her SA Governor’s Multicultural Award.

Other remarkable pieces, such as the Pelican and Murray Cod sculptures, have found homes in the National Australia Gallery, the SA Maritime Museum, and Ngarrindjeri Totems at the Department of Infrastructure, and Uniting Communities. These projects have not only united Aboriginal families and storytelling traditions but have also reinforced deep connections to ancestral landscapes.

Beyond her artistic contributions, Dr Haines has made an international impact through her research on the impact of digital technologies on marginalised communities, particularly Aboriginal groups.

Her award-winning studies have also shaped policies and practices that bridge digital gaps and create inclusive opportunities for underrepresented groups.

She currently serves as a Policy Advocacy Lead at Catalyst Now Oceania and Co-Chair of Catalyst Now Australia Chapter, and as SIG-Cabinet Deputy Director at the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), USA. She has also played a pivotal role in student mentorship, bringing exchange students from Japan, Asia, Europe, and America to South Australia while guiding students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan in visual arts, archiving, information science and anthropology.

UniSA Associate Professor David Radford was also a finalist in the Outstanding Individual Achievement category, recognising his extensive research and ongoing work to support the settlement and integration of Hazara Afghan refugees in Australia.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

Other articles you may be interested in

MIL OSI News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Leads Legislation to Extend Reporting Deadline for Emergency Tribal Care

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, reintroduced legislation to extend the reporting deadline for Indian Health Service (IHS) patients who seek emergency care outside of IHS facilities. The IHS Emergency Claims Parity Act would extend the emergency notification requirements of IHS’s Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) program from within 72 hours to 15 days.
“Medical emergencies are emergencies – people can’t choose when and where they occur,” said Cortez Masto. “In a crisis, IHS patients should be able to seek care at the closest hospital without worrying about having to fill out burdensome paperwork after an emergency.”
IHS beneficiaries are subject to a number of restrictive rules when seeking outside care; however, few of these rules are as problematic as the emergency reporting deadline. Currently, in emergency cases, the patient must notify the PRC office within 72 hours of receiving outside care. Native American patients determined to be elderly or disabled are given 30 days to notify the IHS of emergency medical care received from non-IHS medical providers or at non-IHS medical facilities.
The IHS Emergency Claims Parity Act would increase the window for timely consideration of emergency care payments to 15 days for all IHS beneficiaries. This excludes reporting requirements for patients considered to be elderly or disabled, which will stay at 30 days.
You can find the full text of the legislation here.
Senator Cortez Masto has long been a champion for Tribal communities and led efforts to provide Native American communities across Nevada with access to quality health care. Last year, the Senate passed her legislation to make it easier for IHS to recruit and retain medical workers. She helped secure over $1 billion in coronavirus relief funding for the Indian Health Service to combat the pandemic and $125 million in additional funding for Tribes and urban Indian health organizations within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address the mental health needs of Native communities. She has also cosponsored legislation to help address health disparities for Native Americans in urban areas and expand access to physician training to address the state-wide doctor shortage. The Senator has continuously highlighted the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), and she was instrumental in passing Not Invisible Act and Savanna’s Act into law.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 18, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-February2024-25 is estimated at USD 750.53 Billion, as compared to USD 706.43 Billion in April-February2023-24, an estimated growth of 6.24%

Source: Government of India (2)

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

The cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-February2024-25 is estimated at USD 750.53 Billion, as compared to USD 706.43 Billion in April-February2023-24, an estimated growth of 6.24%

The cumulative value of merchandise exports during April-February2024-25 was USD 395.63 Billion, as compared to USD 395.38 Billion during April-February2023-24, registering a positive growth of 0.06%

The cumulative Non-Petroleum exports in April-February2024-25 valued at USD 337.01Billion registered an increase of 6.43% as compared to USD 316.64Billion in April-February2023-24

Major drivers of merchandise exports growth in February2025 include Electronic Goods, Rice, Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals, RMG of all Textiles and Coffee

Electronic Goods exports increased by 26.46% from USD 3 Billion in February2024 to USD 3.79 Billion in February2025

RMG of all Textiles exports increased by 3.97 % from USD 1.48 Billion in February 2024 to USD 1.53 Billion in February 2025

Rice exports increased by 13.21% from USD 1.05 Billion in February2024 to USD 1.19 Billion in February2025

Marine products exports increased by 3.40% from USD 0.49 Billion in February 2024 to USD 0.51 Billion in February 2025

Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals exports increased by 24.25% from USD 0.40 Billion in February2024 to USD 0.50 Billion in February2025

Coffeeexports increased by 22.32% from USD 0.15 Billion in February2024 to USD 0.18 Billion in February2025

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for February2025* is estimated at USD 71.95 Billion, registering a positivegrowth of 3.16 percent vis-à-vis February2024.Total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) for February2025* is estimated at USD 67.52 Billion, registering a negative growth of (-)11.34 percent vis-à-vis February2024.

Table 1: Trade during February2025*

		February2025 (USD Billion)	February2024 (USD Billion)
Merchandise	Exports	36.91	41.41
Merchandise	Imports	50.96	60.92
Services*	Exports	35.03	28.33
Services*	Imports	16.55	15.23
Total Trade (Merchandise +Services) *	Exports	71.95	69.74
	Imports	67.52	76.15
	Trade Balance	4.43	-6.41

* Note: The latest data for services sector released by RBI is for January2025. The data for February2025 is an estimation, which will be revised based on RBI’s subsequent release. (ii) Data for April-February2023-24 and April-September2024 has been revised on pro-rata basis using quarterly balance of payments data.

Fig 1: Total Trade during February2025*

India’s total exports during April-February2024-25* is estimated at USD 750.53 Billion registering a positive growth of 6.24 percent. Total imports during April-February2024-25* is estimated at USD 839.89 Billion registering a growth of 7.28 percent.

Table 2: Trade during April-February2024-25*

		April-February2024-25 (USD Billion)	April-February2023-24 (USD Billion)
Merchandise	Exports	395.63	395.38
Merchandise	Imports	656.68	621.19
Services*	Exports	354.90	311.05
Services*	Imports	183.21	161.71
Total Trade (Merchandise +Services) *	Exports	750.53	706.43
	Imports	839.89	782.90
	Trade Balance	-89.37	-76.47

Fig 2: Total Trade during April-February2024-25*

MERCHANDISE TRADE

Merchandise exports during February2025 were USD 36.91 Billion as compared to USD 41.41 Billion in February2024.
Merchandise imports during February2025 were USD 50.96 Billion as compared to USD 60.92 Billion in February2024.

Fig 3: Merchandise Trade during February2025

Merchandise exports during April-February2024-25 were USD 395.63 Billion as compared to USD 395.38Billion during April-February2023-24.
Merchandise imports during April-February2024-25 were USD 656.68 Billion as compared to USD 621.19 Billion during April-February2023-24.
Merchandise trade deficit during April-February2024-25 was USD 261.06 Billion as compared to USD 225.81 Billion during April-February2023-24.

Fig4: Merchandise Trade during April-February2024-25

Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in February2025 were USD 28.57Billion compared to USD 29.99Billion in February2024.
Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in February2025 were USD 35.02Billion compared to USD 33.96Billion in February2024.

Table 3: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during February2025

	February2025 (USD Billion)	February2024 (USD Billion)
Non- petroleum exports	31.10	33.19
Non- petroleum imports	39.07	44.03
Non-petroleum & Non-Gems & Jewellery exports	28.57	29.99
Non-petroleum & Non-Gems & Jewellery imports	35.02	33.96

Note: Gems & Jewellery Imports include Gold, Silver & Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones

Fig 5: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during February2025

Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in April-February2024-25 were USD 310.09 Billion, compared to USD 286.55 Billion in April-February2023-24.
Non-petroleum, non-gems & jewellery (gold, silver & precious metals) imports in April-February2024-25 were USD 415.85 Billion, compared to USD 388.82 Billion in April-February2023-24.

Table 4: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during April-February2024-25

	April-February2024-25 (USD Billion)	April-February2023-24 (USD Billion)
Non- petroleum exports	337.01	316.64
Non- petroleum imports	489.96	458.80
Non-petroleum &Non Gems& Jewellery exports	310.09	286.55
Non-petroleum & Non Gems & Jewellery imports	415.85	388.82

Note: Gems & Jewellery Imports include Gold, Silver & Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones

Fig 6: Trade excluding Petroleum and Gems & Jewellery during April-February2024-25

SERVICES TRADE

The estimated value of services export for February2025* is USD 35.03 Billion as compared to USD 28.33Billion in February2024.
The estimated value of services imports for February2025* is USD 16.55 Billion as compared to USD 15.23Billion in February2024.

Fig 7: Services Trade during February2025*

The estimated value of service exports during April-February2024-25* is USD 354.90 Billion as compared to USD 311.05 Billion in April-February2023-24.
The estimated value of service imports during April-February2024-25* is USD 183.21 Billion as compared to USD 161.71 Billion in April-February2023-24.
The services trade surplus for April-February2024-25* is USD 171.69 Billion as compared to USD 149.34 Billion in April-February2023-24.

Fig 8: Services Trade during April-February2024-25*

Exports ofTobacco (26.76%), Electronic Goods (26.46%), Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals Including Processed Minerals (24.25%), Coffee (22.32%), Rice (13.21%), Jute Mfg. Including Floor Covering (12.41%), Other Cereals (11.65%), Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products (6.7%), Carpet (4.87%), Rmg Of All Textiles (3.97%), Marine Products (3.4%), Spices (0.98%) and Fruits & Vegetables (0.87%) record positive growth during February2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
Imports of Silver (-75.04%), Gold (-61.98%), Pearls, Precious & Semi-Precious Stones (-41.61%), Coal, Coke & Briquettes, Etc. (-35.63%), Petroleum, Crude & Products (-29.59%), Iron & Steel (-23.37%), Transport Equipment (-16.93%), Newsprint (-12.43%), Artificial Resins, Plastic Materials, Etc. (-6.21%), Professional Instrument, Optical Goods, Etc. (-5.01%), Machine Tools (-3.68%), Fruits & Vegetables (-0.93%) record negative growth during February2025 over the corresponding month of last year.
Services exports is estimated to grow by 14.10percent during April-February2024-25* over April-February2023-24.
Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in February2025 vis a vis February2024 are U S A (10.37%), Australia (76.19%), Japan (26.55%), Brazil (10.85%) and Nigeria (10.75%).
Top 5 export destinations, in terms of change in value, exhibiting positive growth in April-February2024-25 vis a vis April-February2023-24 are U S A (9.1%), U Arab Emts (5.19%), U K (12.47%), Japan (21.67%) and Netherland (3.68%).
Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in February2025 vis a vis February2024 are Thailand (145.45%), China P Rp (7.83%), Brazil (162.18%), Ireland (117.17%) and Oman (30.24%).
Top 5 import sources, in terms of change in value, exhibiting growth in April-February2024-25 vis a vis April-February2023-24 are U Arab Emts (29.21%), China P Rp (10.41%), Thailand (42.4%), U S A (7.23%) and Russia (4.9%).

*Link for Quick Estimates

***

Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan

(Release ID: 2111954)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Quantum Mission: India’s Quantum Leap
Source: Government of India

National Quantum Mission: India’s Quantum Leap

Unleashing the power of quantum technology and creating jobs of tomorrow

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:42PM by PIB Delhi

Introduction

With technology taking over the world, India is stepping into the future with the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a major initiative by the Government of India to propel the nation to the forefront of quantum technology research and development. Approved on 19th April 2023 by the Union Cabinet, the mission the mission is set to span from 2023–24 to 2030–31, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore.

National Quantum mission, is not just a mission, but it is a bold step through which India aims to harness the power of quantum technology to drive innovation, strengthen security, and boost various industries, positioning itself as a global leader in this cutting-edge field.

What is Quantum Computing

Quantum computers use special units called qubits to store and process information. Unlike regular computers, where bits can only be 0 or 1, qubits can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. This ability to be in multiple states at once makes quantum computers different and potentially much more powerful than traditional ones.

Many countries are actively working on quantum computing and other quantum technologies, and India has a great opportunity to make significant contributions. The national quantum mission offers India a chance to play a key role, especially with favourable conditions right now. The outcomes of this mission could impact healthcare, clean energy, climate change, job creation, and much more, affecting every citizen’s life.

Objectives of the National Quantum Mission

With the broader aim to harness quantum technologies in India to bolster sectors like communication, cryptography, and computing, National Quantum Mission has outlined specific objectives to advance India’s capabilities in the quantum realm:
- Quantum Computing Evolution: Develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 20-50 physical qubits (3 years), 50-100 physical qubits (5 years), and 50-1000 physical qubits (8 years) across platforms like superconducting and photonic technologies to advance computational capabilities.
- Satellite-Based Quantum Communication: Establish satellite-enabled quantum-secured communication between two ground stations over 2000 km within India and extend this technology for long-distance secure quantum communication with other countries.
- Inter-City Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Implement quantum-secured communication spanning 2000 km using trusted nodes and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) on existing optical fiber infrastructure, enhancing secure data transmission.
- Multi-Node Quantum Networks: Develop a multi-node quantum network incorporating quantum memories, entanglement swapping, and synchronized quantum repeaters at each node, enabling scalable and robust quantum communication (2-3 nodes).
- Advanced Quantum Sensing & Clocks: Design highly sensitive quantum devices including magnetometers with 1 femto-Tesla/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity in atomic systems and better than 1 pico-Tesla/sqrt(Hz) in Nitrogen Vacancy centers, gravity sensors with better than 100 nano-meter/second² sensitivity, and atomic clocks with 10⁻¹⁹ fractional instability for precision timing, navigation, and secure communication.
- Quantum Materials & Devices: Develop and synthesize next-generation quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials for the fabrication of qubits, single-photon sources/detectors, entangled photon sources, and quantum sensing/metrological devices for applications in computing and communication.
The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is one of the nine initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC), aimed at positioning India as a global leader in quantum technology. By fostering advancements in secure quantum communication, quantum computing, and precision sensing, the mission is poised to transform sectors such as telecommunications, defense, finance, and healthcare, delivering a profound societal impact.

Implementation Strategy: Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs)

The National Quantum Mission is a nationwide initiative driving cutting-edge advancements in quantum technology. As part of this mission, four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) have been set up, bringing together 14 Technical Groups across 17 states and 2 Union Territories. These hubs focus on technology innovation, skill development, entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, and global collaborations, ensuring a truly national impact. Women scientists from every corner of the country are actively encouraged to participate and benefit from the mission’s exciting programs.

The four T-Hubs have been established across leading institutions in India:
1. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru
2. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras along with the Centre for Development of Telematics, New Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay
4. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.
These hubs were selected through a rigorous competitive process and each hub focuses on a specific quantum domain, driving advancements in Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices.

Quantum Domains of Four Thematic Hubs

Hub-Spoke-Spike Model

Each T-Hub will follow the Hub-Spoke-Spike model, fostering a cluster-based network where research projects (Spokes) and individual research groups (Spikes) operate alongside central hubs. This structure enhances collaboration among research institutions, allowing them to share resources and expertise more effectively.

State-wise Funds Allocation

The four T-Hubs selected under NQM collectively involve 152 researchers from 43 institutions nationwide, fostering a collaborative ecosystem to drive research and innovation in quantum technologies. The activities carried out by these hubs include Technology Development, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship Development, Industry Collaborations, and International Collaborations.

State-wise Funds Released During 2024-2025

Initiatives under National Quantum Mission

Under NQM, dedicated efforts are underway to develop quantum-resilient encryption techniques and post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) frameworks, ensuring India’s critical database systems remain secure in the quantum era. Key initiatives include:
- Quantum-Safe Ecosystem Framework: A concept paper has been developed to outline a strategic roadmap for securing and strengthening India’s digital infrastructure against quantum threats.
- DRDO Initiatives: The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is leading projects focused on designing and testing quantum-resilient security schemes, along with quantum-safe symmetric and asymmetric key cryptographic algorithms.
- Advancements by SETS: The Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), is accelerating Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) research. It has implemented PQC algorithms for applications such as Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) authentication tokens and Internet of Things (IoT) security.
- C-DoT Innovations: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has developed cutting-edge solutions, including Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), and Quantum Secure Video IP Phones.
These initiatives are crucial for safeguarding India’s digital infrastructure against emerging quantum-era cybersecurity threats.

Global Competitiveness and Strategic Impact

The NQM has the potential to transform the country’s technology development ecosystem, making it globally competitive. It will drive advancements across key sectors such as communication, healthcare, finance, and energy, with applications in drug discovery, space exploration, banking, and security. Moreover, the mission will play a crucial role in advancing national initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-Reliant India, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Conclusion

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is more than just a technological initiative—it is a strategic step towards securing India’s future in the quantum era. With significant investments, world-class research collaborations, and dedicated innovation hubs, the mission is set to propel India to the forefront of the global quantum revolution.

This initiative underscores India’s commitment to scientific excellence, economic resilience, and national security in a world where quantum technologies are poised to reshape industries and societies.

References:

Kindly find the pdf file

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Priya Nagar

(Release ID: 2111953) Visitor Counter : 44

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ‘India 2047: Building a Climate Resilient Future’ Conference to be organized by MoEFCC in collaboration with Two Institutes at Harvard University USA, in New Delhi from 19th – 22nd March 2025
Source: Government of India

‘India 2047: Building a Climate Resilient Future’ Conference to be organized by MoEFCC in collaboration with Two Institutes at Harvard University USA, in New Delhi from 19th – 22nd March 2025

Four days Conference to focus on Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with two institutes at the Harvard University, USA, is organizing a Conference on ‘India 2047: Building a Climate-Resilient Future’, from 19th – 22nd March 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and the Salata Institute For Climate and Sustainability at the Harvard University, USA are the organising partners for the event. This event will serve to identify the key challenges in adaptation and fine tune India’s response in terms of policies, programmes and action at the field level geared towards a climate-resilient India@2047.

Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog and Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh will grace the inaugural session of this conference. The event would also be addressed by distinguished speakers from Government of India, academia, research institutions, private sector and the Harvard University. Notable amongst these are Prof. Tarun Khanna, Director, The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at the Harvard Business School; Prof. Jim Stock, Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, Prof. Daniel P. Schrag, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University, amongst others.

The Conference will be organized over a period of four days, where multiple breakout sessions with several technical sessions focusing on adaptation and resilience under the following themes: (i) Climate Science and its implications on Water & Agriculture, (ii) Health, (iii) Work, and (iv) Built Environment.
1. The theme on Climate Science and its implications on Agriculture and Water will explore the scientific, policy, and practical dimensions of adapting to heatwaves, changing monsoon patterns, and water distribution issues.
2. The theme on Health convenes leading health professionals and health system experts, from India and the world to address essential questions on the impact of heat.
3. The theme on Work will focus on impact of climate change on labour productivity.
4. The theme on Built Environment seeks to examine how built environment should be prepared for rising temperatures over the coming decades.
There will be several crosscutting issues across these themes, such as governance, traditional knowledge, livelihood and skilling, gender, and financing. The workshops aim to generate tangible outputs such as research papers, technical documents, and policy briefs, as agreed upon by participants to contribute scientific evidence to global initiatives. This event will be a special opportunity to discuss adaptation and resilience to climate change amongst a receptive and influential audience in a location where this issue is an immediate concern.

This Conference will bring together government, academia, civil society, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change. It will enable stakeholders to develop strategies for a sustainable and climate-resilient future for India, which will require multipronged interdisciplinary planning.

With a focus on policy integration, scientific advancements, and localized adaptation strategies, the Conference aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps that hinder effective climate planning. This is not just another Conference —it is a crucial opportunity to engage with influential stakeholders in the region where climate adaptation is an urgent priority. The insights gathered here will directly contribute to shaping India’s upcoming National Adaptation Plan, ensuring that it is evidence-based, inclusive, and aligned with India’s broader development goals.

As India approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, this upcoming Conference will be a significant step toward ensuring a climate-resilient future, backed by innovation, collaboration, and actionable policy insights.

About The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute is a university-wide research institute at Harvard that engages in interdisciplinary research to advance and deepen the understanding of critical issues in South Asia and its relationship with the world.

About The Salata Institute For Climate and Sustainability

Established in 2022, The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability is an interdisciplinary hub dedicated to accelerating climate research, education, and action. Since 2023, the Salata Institute has supported the South Asia Adaptation Research Cluster, which comprises leading climate scientists, epidemiologists, planners, and experts. The cluster is dedicated to advancing climate adaptation research in the Indian subcontinent, focusing on the impacts of extreme heat and changing weather patterns. It aims to identify at-risk populations and inform targeted intervention strategies. The cluster collaborates with regional and international partners to ensure that adaptation strategies are both scientifically robust and aligned with local needs.

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VM

(Release ID: 2111922) Visitor Counter : 179

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cuba Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz Calls on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh: Focus on Biomanufacturing and Strengthening Science Collaboration

Source: Government of India (2)

Cuba Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz Calls on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh: Focus on Biomanufacturing and Strengthening Science Collaboration

Strengthening Science Diplomacy: India, Cuba Eye Collaboration in Vaccine Development, Bioeconomy

Cuba Deputy PM Invites Dr. Jitendra Singh to Bio-Habana 2026 at Havana; Talks Focus on Biotech, Ayurveda, and R&D

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:07PM by PIB Delhi

India and Cuba reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in science and technology, particularly in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, as Cuba Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh here today.

The meeting, held on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, explored avenues to deepen collaboration in medical research, vaccine development, and sustainable biomanufacturing.

During the discussions, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that collaborative research is indispensable for a science-driven society to have a global influence at scale. He noted that joining hands with the best in the world and pursuing complementary, targeted research will propel India’s scientific community to the next level of innovation, transformation, and skill development.

The Indian Minister also stressed that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is increasingly focusing on collaborative research to tackle socio-economic and environmental challenges with long-term benefits.

Highlighting India’s progress in biotechnology, Dr. Jitendra Singh spoke about DBT’s initiatives, including its role as the nodal agency for the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB). He noted that DBT played a key role in defining the bioeconomy framework within the GIB, contributing policy measures such as Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), the BioE3 Policy, and the National Biofuels Policy.

These initiatives align with India’s vision of Green Growth and a Net-Zero carbon economy, underscoring India’s commitment to sustainable development, said Dr Jitendra Singh.

The Indian side also highlighted the country’s achievements in biomanufacturing, with the BioE3 Policy aiming to revolutionize the production of bio-based high-value products. The bioeconomy, which currently contributes 4.25% to India’s GDP, has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $151 billion in 2023, achieving this milestone two years ahead of the 2025 target.

Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz provided insights into Cuba’s success in biotechnology, particularly its achievements in developing low-cost vaccines and pioneering cancer treatments. He highlighted Cuba’s focus on biomanufacturing and expressed interest in partnering with India to advance research and production capabilities.

Both sides discussed strengthening existing agreements in health, medicine, and biotechnology, building upon previous MoUs on traditional medicine, homeopathy, and scientific collaboration. Given Cuba’s growing interest in Ayurveda and Indian naturopathy, both nations expressed optimism about expanding engagement in this sector.

The Department of Biotechnology also emphasized its role in accelerating vaccine development and manufacturing through initiatives such as “Mission COVID Suraksha,” launched under Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0. Additionally, DBT’s Public Sector Enterprise, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), continues to promote and nurture India’s biotech startup ecosystem, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.

Cuba extended an invitation to Dr. Jitendra Singh to visit Havana and lead an Indian delegation to Bio-Habana 2026, a global biotechnology conference.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries. From the Cuban side, the delegation included Ambassador H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera, First Deputy Minister of Health H.E. Mrs. Tania Margarita Cruz Hernández, and key officials from Cuba’s biotechnology and research sectors. From the Indian side, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, and other senior officials participated in the discussions.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2111926) Visitor Counter : 16

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ‘India 2047: Building a Climate Resilient Future’ Conference to be organized by MoEFCC in collaboration with the Harvard University USA, in New Delhi from 19th – 22nd March 2025
Source: Government of India (2)

‘India 2047: Building a Climate Resilient Future’ Conference to be organized by MoEFCC in collaboration with the Harvard University USA, in New Delhi from 19th – 22nd March 2025

Four days Conference to focus on Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the Harvard University, USA, is organizing a Conference on ‘India 2047: Building a Climate-Resilient Future’, from 19th – 22nd March 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This event will serve to identify the key challenges in adaptation and fine tune India’s response in terms of policies, programmes and action at the field level geared towards a climate-resilient India@2047. The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and the Salata Institute For Climate and Sustainability at the Harvard University, USA are the organising partners for the event.

Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog and Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh will grace the inaugural session of this conference. The event would also be addressed by distinguished speakers from Government of India, academia, research institutions, private sector and the Harvard University. Notable amongst these are Prof. Tarun Khanna, Director, The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at the Harvard Business School; Prof. Jim Stock, Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, Prof. Daniel P. Schrag, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University, amongst others.

The Conference will be organized over a period of four days, where multiple breakout sessions with several technical sessions focusing on adaptation and resilience under the following themes: (i) Climate Science and its implications on Water & Agriculture, (ii) Health, (iii) Work, and (iv) Built Environment.
1. The theme on Climate Science and its implications on Agriculture and Water will explore the scientific, policy, and practical dimensions of adapting to heatwaves, changing monsoon patterns, and water distribution issues.
2. The theme on Health convenes leading health professionals and health system experts, from India and the world to address essential questions on the impact of heat.
3. The theme on Work will focus on impact of climate change on labour productivity.
4. The theme on Built Environment seeks to examine how built environment should be prepared for rising temperatures over the coming decades.
There will be several crosscutting issues across these themes, such as governance, traditional knowledge, livelihood and skilling, gender, and financing. The workshops aim to generate tangible outputs such as research papers, technical documents, and policy briefs, as agreed upon by participants to contribute scientific evidence to global initiatives. This event will be a special opportunity to discuss adaptation and resilience to climate change amongst a receptive and influential audience in a location where this issue is an immediate concern.

This Conference will bring together government, academia, civil society, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change. It will enable stakeholders to develop strategies for a sustainable and climate-resilient future for India, which will require multipronged interdisciplinary planning.

With a focus on policy integration, scientific advancements, and localized adaptation strategies, the Conference aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps that hinder effective climate planning. This is not just another Conference —it is a crucial opportunity to engage with influential stakeholders in the region where climate adaptation is an urgent priority. The insights gathered here will directly contribute to shaping India’s upcoming National Adaptation Plan, ensuring that it is evidence-based, inclusive, and aligned with India’s broader development goals.

As India approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, this upcoming Conference will be a significant step toward ensuring a climate-resilient future, backed by innovation, collaboration, and actionable policy insights.

About The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute

The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute is a university-wide research institute at Harvard that engages in interdisciplinary research to advance and deepen the understanding of critical issues in South Asia and its relationship with the world.

About The Salata Institute For Climate and Sustainability

Established in 2022, The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability is an interdisciplinary hub dedicated to accelerating climate research, education, and action. Since 2023, the Salata Institute has supported the South Asia Adaptation Research Cluster, which comprises leading climate scientists, epidemiologists, planners, and experts. The cluster is dedicated to advancing climate adaptation research in the Indian subcontinent, focusing on the impacts of extreme heat and changing weather patterns. It aims to identify at-risk populations and inform targeted intervention strategies. The cluster collaborates with regional and international partners to ensure that adaptation strategies are both scientifically robust and aligned with local needs.

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VM

(Release ID: 2111922) Visitor Counter : 33

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:01PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (March 17, 2025).

Welcoming Prime Minister Luxon and his delegation at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that India and New Zealand have close and friendly relations, based on shared values rooted in democracy, rule of law, and strong people-to-people ties.

The President recalled fond memories of her State Visit to New Zealand in August last year, and said that the natural beauty of New Zealand and the cultural diversity of its people left an indelible mark on her mind.

The President said that educational exchange is an important aspect of India-New Zealand relations. She highlighted the immense potential for enhancing educational cooperation between the two countries through institutional exchanges, setting up of campuses by New Zealand universities in India, and dual degrees. She also expressed satisfaction about the growth of bilateral trade and economic relations between India and New Zealand, including new opportunities for cooperation in the areas of customs, horticulture, forestry, disaster management and traditional medicine.

The President appreciated the significant contribution of the talented and hardworking Indian community to the progress of New Zealand.

The two leaders agreed that the historic State Visit of the President to New Zealand in August 2024, and the significant outcomes announced today during Prime Minister Luxon’s visit will impart positive momentum to the India-New Zealand partnership.

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MJPS/SR/BM

(Release ID: 2111916) Visitor Counter : 58

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 5:28PM by PIB Delhi

“It shall be the Duty of Every Citizen of India to Value and Preserve the Rich Heritage of Our Composite Culture”

— Constitution of India

Introduction

India is one of the largest repositories of tangible heritage, with monuments, sites, and antiquities spanning from prehistoric times to the colonial era. While various organizations like the ASI, State Archaeology Departments, and INTACH have documented parts of this heritage, much remains scattered or undocumented. The absence of a unified database makes research, conservation, and management challenging. To address this, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) was launched to systematically document and digitize built heritage, sites, and antiquities. Through standardized documentation, training programs, and public awareness, NMMA aims to create a comprehensive national database, ensuring the preservation of India’s rich cultural legacy.

National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA)

Established in 2007, the NMMA is responsible for the digitization and documentation of India’s built heritage and antiquities. It has made significant progress in compiling national registers for monuments and antiquities.

Achievements of NMMA:
- Digitization of Antiquities: 12,34,937 antiquities have been digitized, including 4,46,068 from ASI Museums/Circles/Branches and 7,88,869 from other institutions.
- Built Heritage & Sites: 11,406 sites and monuments have been documented.
- Budget Allocation: Rs. 20 lakh were allocated for NMMA in the FY 2024-25.
Objectives of NMMA:
- Documenting and creating a national database of built heritage, monuments, and antiquities for better management and research.
- Ensuring uniform documentation of antiquities across central, state, private institutions, and universities.
- Raising awareness about cultural heritage preservation.
- Providing training and capacity building for state departments, local bodies, museums, NGOs, and universities.
- Enhancing collaboration between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), state departments, and other stakeholders.
- Publication and Research
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (AMASR Act 1958) was enacted by the Parliament with an aim “to provide for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance, for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for the protection of sculptures, carvings, and other like objects.

As per the AMASR Act 1958, the following are the definitions of ancient monuments:

“Ancient monument” means any structure, erection, or monument, or any tumulus or place of internment, or any cave, rock sculpture, inscription, or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological, or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years, and includes:

· The remains of an ancient monument

· The site of an ancient monument

· Such portion of land adjoining the site of an ancient monument as may be required for fencing, covering, or otherwise preserving such monument

· The means of access to, and convenient inspection of, an ancient monument

The scope of documentation of Built Heritage by the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) has been enhanced by defining any structure that belongs to the pre-independence period, and the year 1950 has been considered as the cut-off date keeping in view of historical importance.

Antiquity & Art treasure

As per the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, the following are the definitions of antiquity and art treasure:

(a) “antiquity” includes
i) Any coin, sculpture, painting, epigraph, or artistic/craftsmanship work.
(ii) Any object detached from a building or cave.
(iii) Any item reflecting science, art, literature, religion, customs, or politics of bygone eras.
(iv) Any historically significant object.
(v) Any item declared an antiquity by the Central Government, existing for at least 100 years.
(b) any manuscript, record, or other document which is of scientific, historical, literary, or aesthetic value and which has been in existence for not less than seventy-five years;

(c) “art treasure” means any human work of art, not being an antiquity, declared by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, to be an art treasure for the purposes of this Act having regard to its artistic or aesthetic value.

Digitization Guidelines

To create a national digital database, NMMA has set standards for uniform documentation:
- Photographs of built heritage/sites (from secondary sources) should be in uncompressed TIFF format (300 dpi resolution).
- Antiquities should be photographed in uncompressed TIFF (300 dpi). If taken in NEF/RAW format, they must be converted to TIFF without alterations.
- Miniature paintings can be either photographed or scanned in TIFF (300 dpi) with a suitable background.
- All documentation should be stored in MS Excel format with separate sheets for each antiquity, heritage site, or built structure.
- Photographs should be included in the documentation sheet and also stored separately as master images.
Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) Research

The IHDS initiative focuses on utilizing modern digital technologies to preserve and share India’s heritage beyond mere documentation. It aims to create immersive experiences and analytical tools for scholars and the general public.

Objectives of IHDS:
1. Promoting research in digital heritage technologies with an emphasis on Indian cultural assets.
2. Developing a crowdsourcing framework to engage the public in building digital heritage collections.
3. Establishing a storage, curation, and distribution mechanism for multimedia heritage resources to support interdisciplinary research.
The Role of Digital Technologies in Heritage Preservation

Digital tools such as 3D scanning, virtual reality, computer vision, and artificial intelligence have transformed heritage preservation. These technologies allow for:
- The creation of high-resolution digital archives of manuscripts, monuments, and artifacts.
- Virtual reconstructions of lost or damaged heritage structures.
- Interactive experiences for education and tourism.
- Enhanced research capabilities for historians, architects, and scientists.
Conclusion

The digitization and documentation of India’s cultural heritage are crucial for its preservation and accessibility. The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) plays a vital role in this effort by standardizing records, training stakeholders, and promoting public awareness. By leveraging technology and collaboration, NMMA ensures that India’s vast heritage is systematically documented, protected, and made available for research and education. A unified and comprehensive database will not only aid in conservation but also strengthen cultural identity for future generations.

References

Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Anchal Patiyal

(Release ID: 2111884) Visitor Counter : 59

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSC Academy collaborates with Shoolini University to offer quality online higher education to aspiring students across India
Source: Government of India

CSC Academy collaborates with Shoolini University to offer quality online higher education to aspiring students across India

CSC Academy leverages operators (Village Level Entrepreneurs -VLEs) to boost student registrations, strengthening India’s workforce and economy

From business to literature, CSC Academy Offers BBA, BCA, MBA, MCA, and MA (English) for aspiring students

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi

CSC Academy partners with Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, one of the top ranked universities in India to enhance the access to quality higher education in India. The collaboration aims to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs through online mode to students across country. This initiative of CSC Academy will bridge the education gap, providing industry-relevant skills and better career prospects, particularly for first-generation learners, especially in rural and disconnected areas.

Through this initiative, Common Services Centre (CSC) operators (Village Level Entrepreneurs -VLEs) will facilitate student registrations, ensuring higher education is more accessible to aspiring students, even in remote areas. The objective of this program is to empower thousands of learners, strengthening India’s workforce and economy.

Programs Offered:
1. BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
2. BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)
3. MBA (Master of Business Administration)
4. MCA (Master of Computer Applications)
5. MA (English Literature)
Students can visit their nearest CSC Centre to enroll and take the first step towards a brighter future.

Empowering students with affordable quality education nationwide

Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV, expressed his enthusiasm about the initiative:
“This collaboration between CSC Academy and Shoolini University is a significant milestone in democratizing higher education. By leveraging the CSC network, we are making affordable quality learning opportunities accessible to students in every corner of the country.”

Ashish Khosla, President, Shoolini University, added:
“At Shoolini University, we are committed to academic excellence and innovation. Through this partnership, we aim to provide top-quality online education at affordable fees and equip students with the necessary skills to excel in their careers.”

This partnership underscores a shared vision of expanding educational access and nurturing future-ready professionals. Together, Shoolini University and CSC Academy are set to redefine online higher education in India.

About Shoolini University

Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, located in Solan, is one of India’s top-ranked universities. It is featured in the top 500 global universities in the Prestigious THE 2025 World University Rankings and in the top 251 to 500 in several subjects in the QS World Subjects Rankings 2024 and 2025 and has consistently featured in top 100 Universities and Institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). With over 500 patents granted and an H-Index of 150 Shoolini University is a leader in research and innovation, boasting a research quality that matches some of World’s best-known institutions.

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Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2111882) Visitor Counter : 61

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Research Milestones: M.Sc. and M.Tech. Postgraduate Presentations at ICAR-IARI’s 63rd Convocation in New Delhi

Source: Government of India (2)

Research Milestones: M.Sc. and M.Tech. Postgraduate Presentations at ICAR-IARI’s 63rd Convocation in New Delhi

63rd Convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute-ICAR, New Delhi starts today

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 6:00PM by PIB Delhi

The 63^rd Convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute-ICAR, New Delhi today started with academic fervor. Today, the presentations of the Post Graduate Students Research (M.Sc./M. Tech.) representing various discipline (Agricultural Chemicals, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Physics, Agronomy, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Floriculture & Landscaping, Fruit Science, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Plant Genetic Resources, Plant Pathology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Seed Science & Technology, Soil Science and Vegetable Science) were held about the significant achievements for IARI Merit Medals and Best student of the year Award.

In this session the shortlisted students presented the achievements and salient features of the research. The major thematic areas of the research includes status of glyphosate residues in waters of NCR region and its sorption behavior in soil; gender-based study on varietal adoption, trait preference and value addition by paddy farmers: A case of selected stress prone districts of Odisha; Ergonomic assessment of powered cylindrical lawn mower; Rural women leadership in climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihood; Drone-based water stress monitoring under different irrigation and nitrogen levels in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); Analyzing the yield gap of rice in a hilly-ecosystem using bio-physical modelling for different nitrogen levels; Development and validation of glucose nano sensor for predicting inherent glycemic response; Integrating Genome Wide Association Studies-module with HtP-DAP for SNP-trait associations mining; Identification of agriculturally important insects associated with cruciferous crops (Brassicaceae) using artificial intelligence; Isolation, characterization of biosurfactant and their effect on hydrocarbons’ degradation in different soils; Screening of marigold genotypes (Tagetes spp.) against Alternaria leaf spot under in vitro and in vivo conditions; Insights into the nut and food qualities of selected walnut (Juglans regia L.) genotypes; Genetic variability and molecular analysis of folate accumulation in maize kernels; Prospecting bacterial exopolysaccharides for plant growth stimulation; Exploring biocontrol potential by unraveling presence of chitinase genes and antifungal activity in Bacillus thuringiensis isolates representing diverse agroclimatic zones of India; Deciphering nutritional and molecular diversity in Luffa acutangula L. Roxb.; Characterization of virus associated with shoe-string disease affected tomato plant and management through exogenous application of dsRNA; Characterization of Tilletia indica, assessment of bioagents and identification of resistant sources for Karnal bunt of wheat; Physiological and biochemical characterization of common bean genotypes in reproductive stage under drought and heat stress; Prediction of seed vigour in rapeseed and mustard using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS); Impact of natural farming on carbon fractions and properties in an alfisol under rice-rabi maize system; Assessing genetic diversity in brinjal genotypes for resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Melongenae.

The Chairman and jury members complimented the quality of post-graduate research and motivated to generate quality information for the advancement of agricultural sciences.

The sessions were convened by Dr. Anil Dahuja, Professor, Division of Biochemistry and the co-convener was Dr. Atul Kumar, Associate Dean (PG) ICAR-IARI.

The session was Chaired by Dr. B.M. Prasanna, Distinguished Scientist, CIMMYT and Regional Director, CIMMYT-Asia, NASC Complex, New Delhi. The esteemed Jury Members includes Dr. J.P. Sharma, Former Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J, Jammu & Former Joint Director (Ext.), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; Dr. R.K. Jain, Former Dean & Joint Director (Edn.), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; Dr. Bimlesh Mann, ADG (EP & HS), ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. V.B. Patel, ADG (Fruits & Plantation Crops), ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. S.K. Sharma, ADG (HRM), ICAR, New Delhi.

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MG/RN/KSR

(Release ID: 2111913) Visitor Counter : 56

Read this release in: Hindi

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: JAL JEEVAN MISSION IN TAMIL NADU

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

Since August 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, in partnership with States/ UTs including Tamil Nadu, to make provision of safe and adequate tap water supply to every rural household of the country.

As reported by the state of Tamil Nadu, as on 15.08.2019, only 21.76 lakh (17.37%) rural households had tap water connections. Since then, around 89.08 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 13.03.2025, out of 1.25 crore rural households in state, the provision of tap water supply is available to approximately 1.10 crore (88.48%) rural households. The details of fund allocation, fund drawn and reported fund utilization during the last five years (2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24) and current financial year 2024-25 (as on 13.03.2025) in respect of Tamil Nadu are as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

Year	Central					Expenditure under State share
Year	Opening Balance	Allocation	Fund Drawn	Available Fund	Reported utilization	Expenditure under State share
2019-20	1.49	373.87	373.10	378.67	114.58	99.14
2020-21	264.09	921.99	690.36	954.45	576.87	399.57
2021-22	377.58	3,691.21	614.35	991.93	457.63	496.16
2022-23	534.30	4,015.00	872.96	1,407.26	593.71	664.36
2023-24	813.55	3,615.56	2,617.10	3,430.65	2,617.49	2,612.30
2024-25*	813.15	2,438.89	731.67	1,544.82	1,297.67	1,452.63

Source: JJM-IMIS *as on 13.03.2025

As reported by Tamil Nadu, the state has faced several challenges in implementation of JJM which includes absence of perennial rivers, presence of extensive hard rock strata with less ground water sources and 57% of the blocks falling under over-exploited, critical and semi-critical categories. To address these challenges and for sustainable water supply, the state government plans to connect every village in the state through a Combined Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) / Multi Village Schemes (MVS) with river and dam-based sources. In addition, regular review meetings are being conducted by state officials with the field engineers and contractors to speed up the progress of works under JJM.

As informed by the state government of Tamil Nadu, following measures are being taken to ensure long-term sustainability of rural water supply systems, especially in terms of maintenance and quality monitoring:

Performance based operations and maintenance (O&M) contract is implemented to ensure proper maintenance and supply of earmarked quantity of water upto tail end habitations. As per the performance-based contract, maintenance of CWSS including chemicals, attending the leaks, bursts and ensuring the supply of earmarked quantity to be beneficiaries will be responsibility of the contractor.
To ensure quality monitoring, TWAD PMS software is used for O&M schemes in which details such as daily pumping quantity, beneficiary wise supply, leaks and bursts, etc., are being reported and monitored at the highest level.
The O&M monitoring cell has been established at the Head Office of TWAD Board to collect feedback from five randomly selected village panchayats each day, in order to ascertain the field reality in maintenance of water supply schemes.
An Emergency Information Response Centre (EIRC) is constituted at the TWAD Board, Head office to receive any complaints related to Bulk Water supply.
Single village schemes and in-village components of Multi Village Schemes are maintained by the village panchayats / VWSC concerned with the technical guidance from RD&PR Department.
One candidate per village panchayat are being trained under Nal Jal Mitra Multi skilling programme so as to maintain the SVS / in-village components by the VPs.

Further, as reported by state of Tamil Nadu on JJM-IMIS, there are 113 drinking water quality testing laboratories in the state to encourage water quality testing to ensure potable drinking water supply. Also, to empower the communities to monitor the water quality, States/ UTs have also been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality. So far, the state of Tamil Nadu has trained 62,898 women for FTK testing.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI, SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Rajya Sabha US Q1840)

(Release ID: 2111864) Visitor Counter : 129

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025

MIL-OSI: Hallador Energy Company Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial and Operating Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

– Q4 2024 Total Revenue of $94.2 Million; FY’24 Total Revenue of $404.4 Million –
– Q4 2024 Operating Cash Flow up Materially to $32.5 Million; FY’24 Operating Cash Flow of $65.9 Million –
– Q4 2024 Adjusted EBITDA up ~3x YoY to $6.2 Million; FY’24 Adjusted EBITDA of $16.8 Million –

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) (“Hallador” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

“2024 was a transformative year for Hallador as we continued our evolution from a bituminous coal producer to a vertically integrated independent power producer (“IPP”), while also advancing our products and services up the energy value chain,” said Brent Bilsland, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This deliberate transition aligns with market trends and reflects our conviction in the superior economics of the IPP business model. In fall 2024, we reached an important milestone in our transformation by signing a non-binding term sheet with a leading global data center developer on a transaction that would, if completed, sell a majority of our power production and accredited capacity at enhanced margins for more than a decade to come. We are making meaningful progress toward finalizing definitive agreements for this transaction within the exclusivity period that runs from January through early June 2025, further strengthened by our partner’s commitment to pay up to $5 million during this period. While navigating these complex transactions requires coordination across multiple stakeholders and while there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be entered into, we remain encouraged by our partner’s commitment and believe this strategic partnership will drive long-term value for our shareholders.”

“The ongoing industry shift from dispatchable generators, such as coal and natural gas, to non-dispatchable resources like wind and solar, has increased the value of our Hallador Power subsidiary due to the enhanced reliability, resilience and consistency that we provide over the less predictable non-dispatchables. At the same time, the retirement of coal-based generation has reduced demand for coal supply, impacting the value of our Sunrise Coal subsidiary. In anticipation of these market dynamics, we proactively reduced production volume and shifted our focus away from the higher cost coal reserves, which lowered our operational cash costs in the fourth quarter. These strategic actions along with lower long-term coal price projections resulted in a fourth-quarter non-cash write-down of Sunrise Coal’s carrying value by approximately $215 million, which underscores the foresight of our transition to power generation in the coming years.”

Bilsland continued, “Looking ahead, our focus remains on maximizing the value of our Merom Power Plant while actively pursuing opportunities to acquire additional dispatchable generators that can add durability, scale, and geographic expansion to our electric operations. Additionally, we are forging strong relationships with sophisticated counterparties to secure favorable collateral terms and effectively manage our forward power sales in 2025 and 2026, which we believe will enhance our financial flexibility in the short to medium term. During 2024, we also reduced our bank debt by more than 50% to $44 million at year-end. We are excited about our continued transformation from a commodity-focused coal producer to an IPP with a secure fuel supply, a strategy we believe will unlock expanding energy market margins, drive sustainable growth, and enhance cash flow generation for our shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter 2024 Highlights

Hallador advanced its restructuring efforts for its subsidiary Sunrise Coal, focusing on production optimization and cost reductions to strengthen its operations.
- During 2024, the Company reduced its coal production volume by approximately 40% and shifted its focus away from the higher cost portions of its coal reserves. This optimization of coal production reduced Hallador’s operational cash cost structure to better align its coal strategy to support its internal electric generation.
- As a result of reducing coal production, optimizing its reserve base, and the declining price of contracted coal sales, Hallador realized an approximate $215 million non-cash write down in the fourth quarter associated with the carrying value of its Sunrise Coal subsidiary.
The Company continues to shift its revenue mix to prioritize electric sales as an independent power producer.
- Fourth quarter electric sales were $69.7 million or 74% of total Q4 revenue, compared to $37.1 million or 31% of total Q4 revenue in the year-ago period.
- Fourth quarter Coal sales were $23.4 million or 25% of total revenue, compared to $81.3 million or 68% of total revenue in the year-ago period.
Hallador continues to focus on forward sales to secure its energy position.
- At year-end, Hallador had total forward energy, capacity and coal sales to 3rd party customers of $1.1 billion through 2029, up from $937.2 million at the end of the third quarter.
- Subsequent to year end, Hallador signed an exclusive commitment agreement with a leading global data center developer, effective January 2, 2025. This agreement is in furtherance of the previously announced non-binding term sheet signed during the third quarter of 2024, reflecting an important milestone as both the Company and the developer seek to finalize a definitive transaction agreement to support the delivery of energy and capacity (through a utility partner) to a potential data center development within the State of Indiana. The completion of this proposed transaction is subject to, among other matters, the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be entered into or that the proposed transaction will be consummated on the terms or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all.
The Company continues to strengthen its balance sheet.
- Total bank debt was $44.0 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $70.0 million at September 30, 2024 and $91.5 million at December 31, 2023.
- Total liquidity was $37.8 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $34.9 million at September 30, 2024 and $26.2 million at December 31, 2023.


Financial Summary ($ in Millions and Unaudited)

	Q1 2024			Q2 2024			Q3 2024			Q4 2024
Electric Sales	$	60.7		$	59.4		$	71.7		$	69.7
Coal Sales– 3^rd Party	$	49.6		$	32.8		$	31.7		$	23.3
Other Revenue	$	1.3		$	1.0		$	1.4		$	1.8
Total Operating Revenue	$	111.6		$	93.2		$	104.8		$	94.8
Net Income (Loss)	$	(1.7	)	$	(10.2	)	$	1.6		$	(215.8	)
Operating Cash Flow	$	18.5		$	26.1		$	(11.2	)	$	32.5
Adjusted EBITDA*	$	6.8		$	(5.8	)	$	9.6		$	6.2

_________________________________

_*_{Non-GAAP financial measure, defined as operating cash flows} _{less effects of certain subsidiary and equity method investment activity, plus bank interest, less effects of working capital period changes, plus other amortization}

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, income from operations, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Our method of computing Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same method used to compute similar measures reported by other companies.

Management believes the non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, is an important measure in analyzing our liquidity and is a key component of certain material covenants contained within our Credit Agreement, specifically the minimum quarterly EBITDA. Noncompliance with the covenants could result in our lenders requiring the Company to immediately repay all amounts borrowed. If we cannot satisfy these financial covenants, we would be prohibited under our Credit Agreement from engaging in certain activities, such as incurring additional indebtedness, making certain payments, and acquiring and disposing of assets. Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA is critical to the assessment of our liquidity. The required amount of Adjusted EBITDA is a variable based on our debt outstanding and/or required debt payments at the time of the quarterly calculation based on a rolling prior 12-month period.

Reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA, to Income (Loss) before Income taxes, the most comparable GAAP measure, is as follows (in thousands) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.


Reconciliation of GAAP “Income (Loss) before Income Taxes” to non-GAAP “Adjusted EBITDA” (In $ Thousands and Unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2024			2023
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	(226,138	)	$	44,793
Interest expense		13,850			13,711
Income tax expense (benefit)		(9,404	)		4,465
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		65,626			67,211
EBITDA		(156,066	)		130,180
Other operating revenue		(275	)		10
Stock-based compensation		4,454			3,554
Asset impairment		215,136			—
Asset retirement obligations accretion		1,628			1,804
Other amortization		(46,310	)		(30,613	)
(Gain) loss on disposal or abandonment of assets, net		(50	)		398
Loss on extinguishment of debt		2,790			1,491
Equity method investment (loss)		746			552
Settlement of litigation		2,750			—
Other reclassifications		(8,043	)		—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	16,760		$	107,376


Solid Forward Sales Position – Segment Basis, Before Intercompany Eliminations (unaudited):

	2025		2026		2027		2028		2029		Total
Power
Energy
Contracted MWh (in millions)		4.25		3.36		1.78		1.09		0.27		10.75
Average contracted price per MWh	$	37.24	$	44.43	$	54.66	$	52.94	$	51.33
Contracted revenue (in millions)	$	158.27	$	149.28	$	97.29	$	57.70	$	13.86	$	476.40

Capacity
Average daily contracted capacity MWh		773		727		623		454		100
Average contracted capacity price per MWd	$	201	$	230	$	226	$	225	$	230
Contracted capacity revenue (in millions)	$	55.95	$	61.12	$	51.40	$	37.33	$	3.47	$	209.27

Total Energy & Capacity Revenue

Contracted Power revenue (in millions)	$	214.22	$	210.40	$	148.69	$	95.03	$	17.33	$	685.67

Coal
Priced tons – 3rd party (in millions)		2.95		2.50		2.50		0.50		—		8.45
Avg price per ton – 3rd party	$	51.04	$	55.49	$	56.74	$	59.00	$	—
Contracted coal revenue – 3rd party (in millions)	$	150.57	$	138.73	$	141.85	$	29.50	$	—	$	460.65

TOTAL CONTRACTED REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) – CONSOLIDATED	$	364.79	$	349.13	$	290.54	$	124.53	$	17.33	$	1,146.32

Priced tons – Intercompany (in millions)		2.30		2.30		2.30		2.30		—		9.20
Avg price per ton – Intercompany	$	51.00	$	51.00	$	51.00	$	51.00	$	—
Contracted coal revenue – Intercompany (in millions)	$	117.30	$	117.30	$	117.30	$	117.30	$	—	$	469.20

TOTAL CONTRACTED REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) – SEGMENT	$	482.09	$	466.43	$	407.84	$	241.83	$	17.33	$	1,615.52

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act“), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act“). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “guidance,” “target,” “potential,” “possible,” or “probable” or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “will,” “should,” or “could” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to our ability to execute definitive agreements with respect to the non-binding term sheet with a leading global data center developer. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by Hallador and its management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances that involve various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those set forth in Hallador’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Hallador undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Conference Call and Webcast

Hallador management will host a conference call on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial and operational results, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. Eastern time
Dial-in registration link: here
Live webcast registration link: here

The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.halladorenergy.com.


Hallador Energy Company Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of December 31, (in thousands) (unaudited)

	2024			2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,232		$	2,842
Restricted cash		4,921			4,281
Accounts receivable		15,438			19,937
Inventory		36,685			23,075
Parts and supplies		39,104			38,877
Prepaid expenses		1,478			2,262
Assets held-for-sale		—			1,540
Total current assets		104,858			92,814
Property, plant and equipment:
Land and mineral rights		70,307			115,486
Buildings and equipment		429,857			537,131
Mine development		92,458			158,642
Finance lease right-of-use assets		13,034			12,346
Total property, plant and equipment		605,656			823,605
Less – accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization		(347,952	)		(334,971	)
Total property, plant and equipment, net		257,704			488,634
Equity method investments		2,607			2,811
Other assets		3,951			5,521
Total assets	$	369,120		$	589,780

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of bank debt, net	$	4,095		$	24,438
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		44,298			62,908
Current portion of lease financing		6,912			3,933
Contract liabilities – current		97,598			66,316
Total current liabilities		152,903			157,595
Long-term liabilities:
Bank debt, net		37,394			63,453
Convertible notes payable		—			10,000
Convertible notes payable – related party		—			9,000
Long-term lease financing		8,749			8,157
Deferred income taxes		—			9,235
Asset retirement obligations		14,957			14,538
Contract liabilities – long-term		49,121			47,425
Other		1,711			1,789
Total long-term liabilities		111,932			163,597
Total liabilities		264,835			321,192
Commitments and contingencies (Note 22)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.10 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; none issued		—			—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 42,621 and 34,052 issued and outstanding, as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		426			341
Additional paid-in capital		189,298			127,548
Retained earnings (deficit)		(85,439	)		140,699
Total stockholders’ equity		104,285			268,588
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	369,120		$	589,780


Hallador Energy Company Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations For the years ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)

	2024			2023
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Electric sales	$	261,527		$	267,927
Coal sales		137,448			361,926
Other revenues		5,419			5,025
Total sales and operating revenues		404,394			634,878
EXPENSES:
Fuel		49,343			103,388
Other operating and maintenance costs		118,364			199,855
Cost of purchased power		10,888			—
Utilities		15,914			17,730
Labor		116,164			152,417
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		65,626			67,211
Asset retirement obligations accretion		1,628			1,804
Exploration costs		260			904
General and administrative		26,527			26,159
Asset impairment		215,136			—
(Gain) loss on disposal or abandonment of assets, net		(50	)		398
Settlement of litigation		2,750			—
Total operating expenses		622,550			569,866

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS		(218,156	)		65,012

Interest expense (1)		(13,850	)		(13,711	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,790	)		(1,491	)
Equity method investment (loss)		(746	)		(552	)
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(235,542	)		49,258

INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT):
Current		(169	)		(164	)
Deferred		(9,235	)		4,629
Total income tax expense (benefit)		(9,404	)		4,465

NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	(226,138	)	$	44,793

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE:
Basic	$	(5.72	)	$	1.35
Diluted	$	(5.72	)	$	1.25

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		39,504			33,133
Diluted		39,504			36,827


Hallador Energy Company Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the years ended December 31, (in thousands) (unaudited)

	2024			2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	(226,138	)	$	44,793
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income tax (benefit)		(9,235	)		4,629
Equity method investment (loss)		746			552
Cash distribution – equity method investment		—			625
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		65,626			67,211
Asset impairment		215,136			—
Loss on extinguishment of debt		2,790			1,491
(Gain) loss on disposal or abandonment of assets, net		(50	)		398
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,747			3,233
Asset retirement obligations accretion		1,628			1,804
Cash paid on asset retirement obligation reclamation		(1,407	)		(3,384	)
Stock-based compensation		4,454			3,554
Amortization of contract asset and contract liabilities		(70,203	)		(97,018	)
Director fees paid in stock		150			—
Change in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		4,499			9,952
Inventory		(13,610	)		15,548
Parts and supplies		(227	)		(10,582	)
Prepaid expenses		784			1,186
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(14,580	)		(18,992	)
Contract liabilities		103,181			33,804
Other		643			610
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	65,934		$	59,414


Hallador Energy Company Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the years ended December 31, (in thousands) (continued) (unaudited)

	2024			2023
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	$	(53,367	)	$	(75,352	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		4,239			62
Proceeds from held-for-sale assets		3,200			—
Investment in equity method investments		(542	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(46,470	)		(75,290	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on bank debt		(147,000	)		(59,713	)
Borrowings of bank debt		99,500			66,000
Payments on lease financing		(5,633	)		—
Proceeds from sale and leaseback arrangement		5,134			11,082
Issuance of related party notes payable		5,000			—
Payments on related party notes payable		(5,000	)		—
Debt issuance costs		(673	)		(6,013	)
ATM offering		34,515			7,318
Taxes paid on vesting of RSUs		(277	)		(2,101	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(14,434	)		16,573
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		5,030			697
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of year		7,123			6,426
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of year	$	12,153		$	7,123

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,232		$	2,842
Restricted cash		4,921			4,281
	$	12,153		$	7,123

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	$	10,511		$	9,966

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Change in capital expenditures included in accounts payable and prepaid expense	$	356		$	1,882

About Hallador Energy Company

Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) is a vertically-integrated Independent Power Producer (IPP) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Company has two core businesses: Hallador Power Company, LLC, which produces electricity and capacity at its one Gigawatt (GW) Merom Generating Station, and Sunrise Coal, LLC, which produces and supplies fuel to the Merom Generating Station and other companies. To learn more about Hallador, visit the Company’s website at http://www.halladorenergy.com/.

Company Contact

Marjorie Hargrave
Chief Financial Officer
(303) 917-0777
MHargrave@halladorenergy.com

Investor Relations Contact

Sean Mansouri, CFA
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
HNRG@elevate-ir.com

The MIL Network –

March 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Is Delivering Needed Economic Relief

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
Americans are continuing to see the benefits as the economic agenda of President Donald J. Trump and his administration comes into focus. After years of soaring prices and economic pain, the Trump Administration’s focus on cutting regulations and unleashing American energy is leading to stability for Americans’ bottom lines.
EGGS: The average wholesale price of eggs recorded another huge drop today as the Trump Administration fulfills its plan for long-term affordability by reversing the previous administration’s flawed approach.
On January 21, 2025, the wholesale price for eggs was $6.55/dozen; today, it’s $3.45/dozen — a $3.10/dozen (–47.3%) decrease.
The average wholesale price for eggs has declined for three straight weeks.
GAS: The nationwide average for gas continues falling as the Trump Administration implements its American energy agenda.
The nationwide average for gas has declined for four straight weeks — down ten cents from one month ago and 42 cents from one year ago.
More than two-thirds of gas stations in the U.S. have gas at $2.99/gallon or less, according to GasBuddy.
Average gas prices are currently at their lowest level for March in four years. At this point in Biden’s presidency, gas prices had already gone up 49 cents.
Average prices are below $3/gallon in a majority of states.
Alabama: Today: $2.74; One year ago: $3.18; Record: $4.63 (6/14/22)
Alaska: Today: $3.39; One year ago: $3.80; Record: $5.61 (6/19/22)
Arizona: Today: $3.34; One year ago: $3.71; Record: $5.39 (6/17/22)
Arkansas: Today: $2.72; One year ago: $3.08; Record: $4.54 (6/14/22)
California: Today: $4.66; One year ago: $4.90; Record: $6.44 (6/14/22)
Colorado: Today: $2.93; One year ago: $3.06; Record: $4.92 (6/21/22)
Connecticut: Today: $3.00; One year ago: $3.36; Record: $4.98 (6/14/22)
Delaware: Today: $2.87; One year ago: $3.29; Record: $4.99 (6/14/22)
District of Columbia: Today: $3.20; One year ago: $3.61; Record: $5.26 (6/13/22)
Florida: Today: $3.10; One year ago: $3.47; Record: $4.89 (6/13/22)
Georgia: Today: $2.89; One year ago: $3.36; Record: $4.50 (6/15/22)
Hawaii: Today: $4.52; One year ago: $4.69; Record: $5.62 (7/9/22)
Idaho: Today: $3.18; One year ago: $3.37; Record: $5.25 (7/1/22)
Illinois: Today: $3.24; One year ago: $3.71; Record: $5.56 (6/13/22)
Indiana: Today: $2.93; One year ago: $3.53; Record: $5.24 (6/9/22)
Iowa: Today: $2.88; One year ago: $3.19; Record: $4.76 (6/15/22)
Kansas: Today: $2.79; One year ago: $3.16; Record: $4.67 (6/15/22)
Kentucky: Today: $2.68; One year ago: $3.14; Record: $4.80 (6/11/22)
Louisiana: Today: $2.71; One year ago: $3.13; Record: $4.56 (6/15/22)
Maine: Today: $3.03; One year ago: $3.28; Record: $5.09 (6/16/22)
Maryland: Today: $3.02; One year ago: $3.51; Record: $5.02 (6/14/22)
Massachusetts: Today: $2.96; One year ago: $3.25; Record: $5.05 (6/12/22)
Michigan: Today: $3.03; One year ago: $3.64; Record: $5.22 (6/11/22)
Minnesota: Today: $2.96; One year ago: $3.21; Record: $4.76 (6/15/22)
Mississippi: Today: $2.63; One year ago: $3.03; Record: $4.53 (6/12/22)
Missouri: Today: $2.79; One year ago: $3.21; Record: $4.68 (6/16/22)
Montana: Today: $3.11; One year ago: $3.48; Record: $4.98 (6/19/22)
Nebraska: Today: $2.93; One year ago: $3.19; Record: $4.79 (6/17/22)
Nevada: Today: $3.73; One year ago: $4.18; Record: $5.68 (6/16/22)
New Hampshire: Today: $2.92; One year ago: $3.18; Record: $5.00 (6/13/22)
New Jersey: Today: $2.91; One year ago: $3.25; Record: $5.06 (6/13/22)
New Mexico: Today: $2.83; One year ago: $3.25; Record: $4.83 (6/15/22)
New York: Today: $3.11; One year ago: $3.37; Record: $5.04 (6/14/22)
North Carolina: Today: $2.75; One year ago: $3.32; Record: $4.67 (6/13/22)
North Dakota: Today: $2.99; One year ago: $3.30; Record: $4.80 (6/15/22)
Ohio: Today: $2.90; One year ago: $3.22; Record: $5.07 (6/9/22)
Oklahoma: Today: $2.66; One year ago: $3.08; Record: $4.67 (6/15/22)
Oregon: Today: $3.72; One year ago: $4.06; Record: $5.55 (6/15/22)
Pennsylvania: Today: $3.21; One year ago: $3.58; Record: $5.07 (6/12/22)
Rhode Island: Today: $2.92; One year ago: $3.21; Record: $5.02 (6/13/22)
South Carolina: Today: $2.72; One year ago: $3.24; Record: $4.61 (6/12/22)
South Dakota: Today: $2.93; One year ago: $3.23; Record: $4.80 (6/16/22)
Tennessee: Today: $2.70; One year ago: $3.09; Record: $4.64 (6/12/22)
Texas: Today: $2.65; One year ago: $3.07; Record: $4.70 (6/15/22)
Utah: Today: $3.03; One year ago: $3.34; Record: $5.26 (7/1/22)
Vermont: Today: $3.13; One year ago: $3.30; Record: $5.06 (6/14/22)
Virginia: Today: $2.89; One year ago: $3.37; Record: $4.87 (6/14/22)
Washington: Today: $4.08; One year ago: $4.30; Record: $5.56 (6/16/22)
West Virginia: Today: $2.85; One year ago: $3.26; Record: $4.93 (6/15/22)
Wisconsin: Today: $2.87; One year ago: $3.32; Record: $4.92 (6/12/22)
Wyoming: Today: $3.01; One year ago: $3.11; Record: $4.90 (7/1/22)

And it hasn’t even been 60 days since President Trump began his second term.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister attends Raisina Dialogue 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 10:29PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today attended Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister, Shri Modi wrote on X;

“Attended the @raisinadialogue and heard the insightful views of my friend, PM Christopher Luxon.

@chrisluxonmp”

***

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2112061) Visitor Counter : 40

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon visit Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 10:26PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon visited Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi. Sharing some glimpses about this visit, Shri Modi said that the Sikh community’s unwavering commitment to service and humanity is truly admirable across the world.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and I visited Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, a place of profound faith and history. The Sikh community’s unwavering commitment to service and humanity is truly admirable across the world.

@chrisluxonmp”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and I visited Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, a place of profound faith and history. The Sikh community’s unwavering commitment to service and humanity is truly admirable across the world.@chrisluxonmp pic.twitter.com/RNLfuz5ul2

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2025

“Some more glimpses from Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.

@chrisluxonmp”

***

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2112060) Visitor Counter : 51

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, calls on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Source: Government of India (2)

U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, calls on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

PM warmly recalls his extremely productive discussions with President Trump in Washington D.C.

PM reflects on his interaction with Ms. Tulsi Gabbard during his visit to the U.S. and appreciates her role in strengthening cooperation

PM notes the special significance of her visit as the first visit to India from the U.S. in President Trump’s second term

PM conveys warm greetings to President Trump and says that he looks forward to welcoming him to India later this year

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 8:52PM by PIB Delhi

U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.

Prime Minister warmly recalled his visit to Washington D.C. last month and his extremely productive discussions with President Trump.

Prime Minister also reflected on his interaction with Ms. Tulsi Gabbard during his visit to the U.S. and appreciated her crucial role in strengthening cooperation in defence, critical technologies, counter-terrorism and addressing global challenges.

Prime Minister noted the special significance of her visit as the first high-level visit to India from the U.S. in President Trump’s second term.

Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he and 1.4 billion people of India looked forward to welcoming him to India later this year.

***

MJPS/VJ

(Release ID: 2112036) Visitor Counter : 79

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves acquisition of steel-making coal portfolio of Anglo American plc in Australia by Peabody MNG Pty Ltd and Peabody SMC Pty Ltd

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 8:35PM by PIB Delhi

The Competition Commission of India has approved acquisition of steel-making coal portfolio of Anglo-American plc in Australia by Peabody MNG Pty Ltd and Peabody SMC Pty Ltd.

The proposed transaction involves the acquisition by Peabody MNG Pty Ltd (Peabody MNG) and Peabody SMC Pty Ltd (Peabody SMC) (collectively, Acquirers), of a portion of assets and businesses associated with Anglo American plc’s (Anglo) steel-making coal portfolio in Australia (Proposed Combination).

The Acquirers are newly incorporated special purpose vehicles formed for the purposes of the Proposed Combination. Each of them is ultimately owned by Peabody Energy Corporation (Peabody). Peabody, [together with its affiliates, (the Peabody Group)], the ultimate parent company of the Peabody Group, is a global producer and supplier of metallurgical and thermal coal. The Peabody Group’s activities in India are primarily focused on the sales of coal by way of imports.

The assets being acquired as part of the Proposed Combination consist of a portion of Anglo’s assets and businesses associated with its steel-making coal portfolio in Australia (Target Business). The Target Business is currently owned and controlled by Anglo and its subsidiaries, which is a global mining company. In India, the Target Business supplies coal by way of imports.

Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

*****

NB/AD

(Release ID: 2112022) Visitor Counter : 27

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves the proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding of O2 Power Midco Holdings Pte. Ltd. and O2 Energy SG Pte. Ltd. by JSW Neo Energy Limited.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 MAR 2025 8:34PM by PIB Delhi

The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of 100% shareholding of O2 Power Midco Holdings Pte. Ltd. and O2 Energy SG Pte. Ltd. by JSW Neo Energy Limited.

The Proposed Combination involves the acquisition by JSW Neo Energy Limited of 100% shareholding of O2 Power Midco Holdings Pte. Ltd. (O2 Midco) and O2 Energy SG Pte. Ltd. (O2 Energy).

JSW Neo Energy Limited (JSW Neo/Acquirer), is a wholly owned subsidiary of JSW Energy Limited (JEL) (a listed entity) which belongs to the JSW Group. JEL (through its subsidiaries) is inter alia engaged in power generation and transmission through conventional and nonconventional sources.

O2 Power Midco Holdings Pte. Ltd. and O2 Energy SG Pte. Ltd. (collectively, referred as Targets), through their subsidiaries, are engaged in renewable power generation (wind and solar power generation).

Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

*****

NB/AD

(Release ID: 2112020) Visitor Counter : 32

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 18, 2025

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