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Category: MIL-Submissions

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Appointments – GridBeyond Appoints Chris O’Brien as Managing Director of Australia

    Source: GridBeyond

    Sydney, Australia – 18 March 2025 – GridBeyond, a global leader in energy optimization and AI-driven solutions for demand response and energy storage, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris O’Brien as the new Managing Director of Australia. Chris brings over 16 years of experience in the energy sector, having previously held leadership roles at Edge Zero as Executive General Manager and SunPower as Vice President of APAC & LATAM, where he played a key role in the establishment of SunPower’s business in Australia and Asia.

    As Managing Director of GridBeyond Australia, Chris will be responsible for overseeing the company’s operations, driving its expansion, and ensuring the successful delivery of its AI-powered energy solutions to Australian businesses. His leadership will focus on helping commercial, institutional, and industrial organisations maximise the value of their energy assets, reduce costs, and achieve their sustainability goals through advanced demand response and energy storage technologies.

    “I’m thrilled to join GridBeyond at this pivotal moment for the Australian energy market,” said Chris O’Brien. “GridBeyond’s technology is already making a significant impact in driving energy efficiency and grid stability, and I’m excited to help accelerate our growth in Australia. Our solutions not only help businesses optimise their energy usage but also enable them to actively contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.”

    GridBeyond’s platform uses cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and data analytics to enable organizations to reduce energy costs, generate new revenue streams, and support grid reliability through demand response and flexible energy storage. Under Chris’s leadership, GridBeyond Australia will continue to support the country’s energy transition by empowering businesses to take a proactive role in managing their energy consumption while helping utilities improve grid stability.

     

    About GridBeyond

    GridBeyond’s vision is to deliver a global zero carbon future. By leveraging AI, we innovate and collaborate with our customers to create optimal value from energy generation, demand and storage to deliver a zero-carbon future. By bridging the gap between distributed energy resources and electricity markets, GridBeyond’s technology means every connected asset – whether utility-scale renewables generation, battery storage, or industrial load – can be utilized to help maximize opportunities and enhance the grid. By intelligently dispatching flexibility into the right market, at the right time, asset owners and energy consumers unlock new revenues and savings, resilience, and management of price volatility, while supporting the transition to a Net Zero future.

    For more information, visit www.gridbeyond.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Helping Australia’s small businesses unlock value and reduce costs with CommBank Yello for Business – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    CBA Business Bank’s customer recognition program is now available to more than 340,000 small business customers.

    More than 340,000 small businesses across Australia now have access to a broad range of exclusive benefits and discounts with the rollout of CommBank Yello for Business.

    “It takes grit, determination and hard work to run a small business, particularly as a sole trader, but with some goods and services costing 20 per cent more today than five years ago, business owners are having to work harder and get even savvier when it comes to managing costs,” said CBA’s Group Executive Business Banking Mike Vacy-Lyle. 

    “We know that our customers count on us to be there for them, which is why we’re expanding our CommBank Yello for Business program to help more than 340,000 eligible small business customers across Australia access discounts and special deals from our partners,” Mr Vacy-Lyle said.

    “Through our customer recognition program, business owners can access a variety of offers ranging from discounted internet plans to better deals on equipment hire. No matter their industry, there’s an opportunity for business owners to unlock savings,” Mr Vacy-Lyle said.

    The expansion of CommBank Yello for Business means all eligible sole proprietor and single director corporate customers can unlock business benefits from our partners1including:

    Discounted pricing on More Business nbn®, SIM-only Mobile and Business Phone Systems for 12 months when paying with your CommBank Debit or Credit card
    Various discounts on Nine Ad Manager orders (minimum spend applies)
    Exclusive pricing on all Samsung products via the Samsung portal for CommBank Yello for Business2
    20% off BioPak certified compostable food packaging (for new BioPak customers only)
    20% off equipment hire with Kennards Hire (applicable to general hire products only)
    3 months free for new Doshii customers, then 10% off thereafter
    Various discounts on products from Workwear brands Hard Yakka, NNT, and KingGee (minimum spend applies)

    These benefits are available to eligible small business customers who hold a business transaction account with CBA and who meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligible business customers can access one of two benefit sets, based on the customer’s transaction volumes and lending relationship, with eligibility typically assessed in the second week of each month, for the previous month(s).

    CommBank Yello for Business is an extension of CommBank Yello, delivering even greater value to our customers.

    Find our more information here: commbank.com.au/business/latest/commbank-yello-for-business

    About CommBank Yello

    CommBank Yello, launched in 2023, is the bank’s customer recognition program where eligible retail customers can access benefits like cashbacks, discounts and prize draws simply by being a customer.
    Customers can check their eligibility status in the CommBank Yello hub within the latest version of the CommBank app by simply tapping ‘CBA Yello’, then ‘View all’ in the CommBank app to see their personalised offers. https://www.commbank.com.au/commbank-yello.html
    CommBank Yello for Business, an extension of CommBank Yello, rewards business customers for banking with us.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Advancing coastal data collection with satellite technology – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    Flinders University coastal experts are now finding more cost-efficient ways to capture crucial seascape elevation data (bathymetry), through current research projects that are monitoring environmental change across areas of South Australia’s coastline.

    “High-precision traditional technologies such as topographic profiling, boat-based echo sounders and sonar are currently the best available methods for providing accurate bathymetric data, but their use can be limited by cost and time restraints,” says Professor Patrick Hesp, head of Environmental Science at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering.
    The Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) method is a less costly and highly efficient tool for researchers examining the movement of sand in the nearshore, this new study highlights the enhanced accuracy of optical satellite-derived bathymetric datasets in a shallow, low-wave-energy coastal environment by identifying the best combination of input satellite imagery, spectral bands and empirical derivation techniques.
    This research, which ties into monitoring seagrass movement and coastal impact studies across Adelaide and South Australia, uses optical satellite observations that are cost-effective, less intrusive than traditional methods, and capable of extensive coverage – which is especially helpful in remote locations.
    “Our findings indicate that using satellite derived bathymetry improves the monitoring of seabed changes, which will improve our ability to map and monitor the dynamic sea floor and aid coastal management,” says Joram Downes, a student who recently completed his First-Class Honours thesis in the Beach and Dune Systems (BEADs) Laboratory at Flinders University.
    Mr Downes is lead author of a study that enhances the accuracy of optical satellite-derived bathymetric datasets for the Adelaide metropolitan coast by identifying the optimal combination of input satellite imagery, spectral bands, and empirical derivation techniques.
    “Satellite derived bathymetry will supplement existing methods of data collection, filling in gaps in data where seafloor elevation remains unknown” says Associate Professor David Bruce, an expert in remote sensing at Flinders University, and primary supervisor of Mr Downes.
    The study, part-funded by the Coast Protection Board, examined combinations of more than 100 bathymetric derivations that were calibrated and validated using more than 1 million ground observations. The results revealed an optimised method, achieving the best results with input spectral bands from the low-cost PlanetScope SuperDove constellation.
    The research was also supported by the use of a newly acquired drone-based bathymetric LiDAR.
    Flinders University’s Associate Professor Graziela Miot da Silva works with these systems in her scientific coastal surveillance projects and is delighted by the outcomes of this research.
     
     “It was exciting to see these technologies working seamlessly together, especially the LiDAR that captured excellent data in shallow waters which closely aligned with the sonar dataset, and provided a precision method to correlate with the satellite-based bathymetry,” says Associate Professor Miot da Silva.
    “This research not only optimises satellite derived bathymetry for use in the Gulf St Vincent, but it also provides valuable insights into how the number of input bands, their spatial resolution and their specific spectral properties influence the quality of satellite-derived bathymetry datasets,” says Mr Downes.
    The research – “Optimising Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Using Optical Imagery over the Adelaide Metropolitan Coast”, by Joram Downes, David Bruce, Graziela Miot da Silva and Patrick Hesp – has been published in Remote Sensing. doi.org/10.3390/rs17050849

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Supply – Gas to Europe from Halten East – Equinor

    Source: Equinor

    17 MARCH 2025 – Equinor has started production at the Halten East development in the Norwegian Sea, two years following approval from Norwegian authorities.

    “We are starting up Halten East at a time where piped gas from Norway is in high demand and important for energy security. In a challenging cost and inflation environment, the project has been delivered both on time and within our cost estimate,” says Geir Tungesvik, executive vice president for projects, drilling, and procurement in Equinor. The estimated pay-back time for the project is one year.

    Halten East is a tie-in development located in the Kristin-Åsgard area in the Norwegian Sea. Vår Energi and Petoro are partners. The development consists of six gas discoveries and flexibility for three prospects in addition, utilizing existing infrastructure and processing capacity at Åsgard B.

    The plan for development and operation (PDO) was approved by authorities in February of 2023. Now, gas from the first well Gamma is on stream two years later, on plan. The first phase consists of six wells from five discoveries. The second phase is planned in 2029. It will include a sidetrack and an additional three possible wells. The total investment of the project is around NOK 9 billion for both phases.

    The reservoirs of Halten East contain gas and condensate. The recoverable reserves are estimated to be around 100 million barrels of oil equivalent from the discoveries. The gas will be sent to Kårstø from Åsgard B, from where it will be exported to Europe via pipeline.

    “Halten East demonstrates the importance of area solutions and cooperation between licence owners and authorities to realise the full resource potential on the Norwegian continental shelf. Together, we can develop industrial solutions that will continue to deliver energy with low costs and low emissions. We have a large portfolio of projects that will connect discoveries to our producing hubs. Equinor expects to put over 30 such projects on stream at the NCS within 2035,” says Kjetil Hove, executive vice president for development and production on the Norwegian continental shelf.

    Around 90% of Halten East investments have gone to suppliers in Norway. The development phase of Halten East is estimated to provide around 3000 person-years of employment per year from 2022 to 2029.

    In November 2024, Equinor acquired Sval Energi’s 11,8% share in the Halten East Unit, increasing its ownership to 69,5%.

    Partners: Equinor Energy AS (69.5%, operator), Vår Energi ASA (24.6%), Petoro AS (5.9%)

    Contracts

    • Transocean Spitsbergen – Drilling contract
    • Aker Solutions/OneSubsea – Topside, SPS EPC and umbilical EPC
    • Technip Norge – Pipelay and marine installations
    • TFMC – Flow assurance simulator, leak detection system, and UTIS

    Facts

    • Halten East will be developed in two phases, planned for 2025 and 2029.
    • The six discoveries of Halten East: Natalia, Sigrid, Nona, Flyndretind, Gamma and Harepus.
    • The gas from Halten East will be sent to Åsgard B via five subsea templates.
    • CO2 intensity of Halten East is expected to be 3 kg per barrel of oil equivalent.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Pacific – Pacific island water security requires new approach – Flinders University

    Source: Flinders University

    Hydrology experts at Flinders University are calling for urgent investigations into the operation of bore-fields that access fresh groundwater on Pacific islands, including Kiribati, where rising sea levels are already putting local water supplies at risk.

    “These atoll islands have the most threatened fresh groundwater on earth, and are relied upon by some of the most remote communities,” says Flinders University’s Professor Adrian Werner.

    Modelling of a specialised form of fresh groundwater extraction, featuring horizontal wells, has the potential to reduce the risk of aquifer reserves being overused, and to provide drinking water of lower salinity.

    Such wells, also known as infiltration galleries or skimming wells, play a crucial role in extracting fresh groundwater on atoll islands. They typically comprise horizontal or slightly inclined slotted pipes, surrounded by a gravel pack and connected to an extraction well or sump.

    These infiltration galleries skim fresh groundwater from shallow depths while minimising the risk of saltwater intrusion beneath thin subterranean freshwater lenses, which typically range 3 to 21 metres in thickness. The design, construction and operation of these galleries need to be precise to avoid drawing seawater into the island’s water supply.

    Such galleries are currently in operation across several atoll islands, and Flinders researchers have focused on nine small islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiritimati Atoll and Bonriki Island in Kiribati, Lifuka Island in Tonga, and the Cocos Islands.

    While these systems provide crucial freshwater supplies, information is lacking about the optimal layout of infiltration galleries, pipe characteristics and pumping rates. There is also limited data on the performance of these galleries – specifically pumping rates and salinity levels – on small atoll islands.

    A research team from the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) at Flinders University, led by Professor Werner and Dr Amir Jazayeri, was commissioned by the Pacific Community (SPC), under the management of Mr Peter Sinclair, to address these research gaps and evaluate the performance of infiltration galleries across Pacific islands.

    They also performed modelling to assess how infiltration galleries on atolls will be affected by rising sea levels in the future.

    This comprehensive study involved collecting extensive data on the hydraulic properties of atoll island aquifers and analysing the design of infiltration galleries across the region.

    Valuable insights were gathered from infiltration gallery operators during Flinders University’s participation in the Pacific Groundwater Gallery Knowledge Exchange (PGGKE) workshop, held on Kiritimati Atoll (Kiribati) in November 2023.

    The research also incorporated computer modelling simulations and physical laboratory experiments conducted at Flinders University’s Sand Tank Laboratory, to gain a deeper understanding of infiltration gallery performance.

    The findings of this study have been published as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) scientific technical report, providing critical guidance for sustainable groundwater management in the Pacific.

    “While many studies have examined horizontal wells in other contexts, the specific conditions of small islands, especially atolls, places unique demands on infiltration galleries,” says Professor Werner.

    Dr Jazayeri says the research team continues to focus on solutions to protect freshwater resources and serve the demands of isolated communities across the Pacific, using a wide range of research techniques.

    “We believe that expanding the use of infiltration gallery systems in other coastal aquifers can significantly contribute to managing crucial coastal freshwater resources, both in Australia and globally,” says Dr Jazayeri.

    The review article – ‘Construction and performance of infiltration galleries (skimming wells): A review of applications to Pacific atoll islands’ (2025) by Amir Jazayeri and Adrian Werner – has been published in the Journal of Hydrology. DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132581

    Professor Werner is confident the findings will have wider applications across many countries.

    “The insights gained from applying infiltration galleries to Pacific atolls offers opportunities for more widespread applications within continental aquifers, especially to capture submarine fresh groundwater discharge that is otherwise lost through mixing with seawater and to mitigate seawater intrusion,” he says.

    “This all contributes to global groundwater management strategies.”

    Professor Werner says further research is now needed into optimal designs and wider application in continental aquifers.
    
    • This study was funded by the Pacific Community (SPC) under the Managing Coastal Aquifers in Selected Pacific SIDS project (Contract No. 23–5419).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Philippines: Duterte’s appearance at ICC a symbolic moment for ‘war on drugs’ victims – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s scheduled first appearance at the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International’s Southeast Asia Researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard said:

    “Rodrigo Duterte’s appearance at the International Criminal Court is a sight families of the thousands of victims of the ‘war on drugs’ in the Philippines feared they would never see. Today shows that those accused of committing the worst crimes may one day face their day in court, regardless of their position.

    “The very institution that former President Duterte mocked will now try him for murder as a crime against humanity. This is a symbolic moment and a day of hope for families of victims and human rights defenders who have for years fought tirelessly for justice despite grave risks to their lives and safety.

    “The Court must ensure that this process plays out with full transparency, including for people following it in the Philippines. It must also ensure that victims, witnesses and their relatives and representatives are fully supported and protected and can effectively participate in the proceedings.

    “Accountability must not stop here – the Philippines government must rejoin the ICC and cooperate fully with the court in this case. It must also initiate long overdue investigations of its own and, where there is evidence, ensure fair trials and prosecutions for all those suspected to be responsible for violations, regardless of their rank or status.”

    Background

    On 11 March, upon his return to Manila from Hong Kong, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him for the charge of murder as a crime against humanity in relation to the “war on drugs”, committed between late 2011 and March 2019.

    The Philippines had been a member of the ICC since 1 November 2011, but in 2018 gave a notice of withdrawal that took effect on 17 March 2019. Nevertheless, the ICC retained jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred in the Philippines while it was a state party, from November 2011 to March 2019.

    On 13 March, Duterte was detained in The Hague, Netherlands, where he will face trial. He will appear before the Court on 14 March, during which the chamber will, among others, ensure he is informed of the charges against him and of his rights under the Rome Statute and can follow the proceedings.

    The ICC has been carrying out investigations into possible crimes against humanity including murders committed in the context of the deadly “war on drugs” under the administration of President Duterte and also those in Davao City by the alleged Davao Death Squad while he was Mayor of Davao from 2011 to 2016.

    Amnesty International has published major investigations detailing extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations by police and their superiors. The organization has determined that the acts committed reach the threshold of crimes against humanity.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: East Europe – Startup Moldova Summit 2025: The Biggest Startup & Investment Event in Moldova

    Source: Startup Moldova

    Chișinău, Moldova – March 06, 2025 –The Startup Moldova Summit is the country’s premier and most highly anticipated event, serving as the largest gathering for the startup ecosystem and business innovation. Unique in its scale, it attracts a diverse mix of international and local participants, startup founders, investors and industry leaders, offering a platform to showcase Moldova’s entrepreneurial and innovation potential.

    This year, the Startup Moldova Summit, now in its 5th edition, is expanding to twice the scale of last year, anticipating over 800 in-person attendees, 10,000+ online participants, and speakers from over 30 countries who will present on two dedicated stages. Over 50 investors and VC funds will be present for high-quality matchmaking and networking with startups.

    Startup Moldova Summit 2025 will focus on three key pillars essential for startup success: Talent, Scaling, and Investment. Attendees will have access to:

    Keynote Speeches, Presentations & Panel Discussions: Insights from top international investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
    Masterclasses & Practical Workshops: Practical sessions on fundraising, product development, scaling, and market expansion delivered by industry experts from around the world.
    Reverse Pitching Sessions: Investors will take the stage to pitch their offers to startups, giving founders a unique opportunity to align with investors expectations.
    Matchmaking & Networking: Facilitated B2B meetings between startups, investors, government and corporate partners.
    Post-Event Party: An informal gathering of top ecosystem players to combine business and wine tasting.

    For the first time, the Summit will host the Startup World Cup regional competition in Moldova. The founders will pitch their startups to local and foreign investors, and the winner will represent Moldova at the global Startup World Cup event in San Francisco later this year, competing for a $1,000,000 prize.

    Startup Moldova Summit 2025 is the must-attend event for:

    Entrepreneurs – looking to scale their businesses and attract investments.
    Investors – seeking the next big opportunity in Moldova’s emerging tech ecosystem.
    Corporate leaders – looking to stay ahead of innovation trend and connect with the next generation of disruptive startups.
    Tech and startup enthusiasts eager to gain insights from industry leaders, expand their networks, and be part of Moldova’s growing innovation movement

    Summit’s speakers lineup:  

    Fonz Morris, Design Lead, Global Conversion & Monetization at Netflix
    Sasha Vidiborskiy, Partner at Atomico
    Vasile Tofan, Senior Partner at Horizon Capital
    Marius Ghenea, Managing Partner at Catalyst Romania, Board Director at SeedBlink, ex-Jury at Arena Leilor
    Marius Istrate, Chairman of the Board at TechAngels Romania, ex-CPO at UiPAth
    Ashot Arzumanyan, Partner at SmartGateVC
    Irina Misca, Investment Manager at Fortech Investments

    About Startup Ecosystem in Moldova:

    Despite being a relatively young, with most startups still in the pre-seed and seed stages, 80% have already expanded beyond Moldova, successfully operating in regional and global markets. While no specific vertical dominates just yet, we’re seeing growing clusters in HealthTech, FinTech, MarTech, and EdTech.

    In 2024, Moldovan startups in our ecosystem generated over $40 million in revenue, created over 1,000 new jobs, with teams averaging just over nine members. 17% of startup co-founders are women. Moldovan startups raised over $44.5 million in investments over the last several years, out of which  $7.9 million —double the amount raised in 2023, was raised in 2024 by 30 startups. Most startups that secured investments in 2024 have raised multiple rounds, with a median of 2 rounds per startup.

    Top Performers 2024:

    NodeShift: a cloud service provider that enables companies to create and run safe applications on a budget – raised $3.2 million
    Greeno: a tool that offers accurate agronomic, financial, and sustainability insights for any specific field or farm – raised $1.325 million
    Fagura: a P2P platform for individuals and SMEs who borrow from and lend to each other – raised $1.1 million
    Aspect Health: a digital health platform dedicated to improving women’s metabolic health through innovative technology and lifestyle interventions – raised $1 million

    About Startup Moldova:

    Startup Moldova, the organiser of the summit, is a private foundation established in 2021, governed by a board of independent members from the IT, startup, and investment community. As the leading organization supporting Moldova’s startup ecosystem, Startup Moldova is committed to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. The Foundation actively engages with over 250 startups, tracking their progress in this database, and providing them with necessary expertise, funding, international exposure and other opportunities they need to thrive and contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of our nation.

    Although Moldova is one of the smallest countries in Europe, it is home to some of the most ambitious, innovative, and entrepreneurial individuals. The startup ecosystem of Moldova is rapidly growing, fueled by visionary founders and strong community support.

    The development of Moldova’s startup ecosystem began over 14 years ago. The Startup Moldova Summit has always been an integral part of this journey, initially organized within the ICT Moldova Summit. Five years ago, in response to the expanding startup community, the Startup Moldova Summit became an independent event organized by Startup Moldova in collaboration with key ecosystem partners: Moldova Innovation Technology Park, Dreamups, Technovator, XY Partners, Yep! Moldova, ATIC, Mozaic, and BAM.

    Startup Moldova Summit 2025 is organised with support from EU4Innovation East project, implemented by Expertise France, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the French Government. The event is also supported by Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund.

    Save your spot:

     Location: Chișinău, Moldova / Mediacor

     More details & registration: https://summit2025.startupmoldova.digital

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Hidden challenges in paradise: report addresses threats to Palawan’s marine life and community – University of Sydney

    Source: University of Sydney

    Palawan archipelago in the Philippines: State of the Marine Environment

    A joint study for the Philippines and Australian governments led by researchers at the University of Sydney has highlighted threats to the outstanding marine environment of the Palawan Province, an archipelago of 1700 islands adjacent to the South China Sea.

    The Palawan State of the Marine Environment 2024 report – a collaboration between the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Geoscience Australia and the University of Sydney – was launched on Wednesday at an event in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.

    The Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency HK Yu, welcomed the report and thanked the University of Sydney for its academic leadership in providing the research into this ecologically important region. She said: “As strategic partners, Australia is committed to supporting the Philippines to manage its marine resources and uphold international law. We are pleased to provide this report to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), funded through Australia’s Southeast Asia Maritime Partnerships. We are proud of our strong cooperation with PCSD, and will continue to respond to their needs.”

    The report focuses on the marine ecosystems of Palawan, Philippines – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its stunning biodiversity and natural beauty. It highlights concerning developments regarding the health of its marine environment and the urgent need for sustainable management strategies, outlining 10 recommendations for action (summarised below).

    Dr Billy Haworth and Professor Elaine Baker, researchers from the School of Geosciences, played a pivotal role in the study. They coordinated expert assessments involving 59 local and regional marine environmental specialists to evaluate more than 165 indicators across six thematic areas. Their findings underscore that, despite advancements in understanding marine ecosystems, the degradation of these environments continues to rise, driven predominantly by climate change, pollution and human activities.

    “Palawan is home to over 1000 species of marine fish, as well as turtles, sea cucumbers and iconic marine mammals like dugongs, dolphins and whale sharks. However, many of these species and their habitats are in decline due to multiple stressors, including climate change, overfishing, tourism, urbanisation, pollution and microplastics,” Dr Haworth said.

    “Our report highlights the fragility of these ecosystems that are vital not only to the region’s biodiversity but also to the livelihoods of local communities that depend on them.”

    The report examines the alarming impacts of climate change, which are having profound effects on Palawan’s marine ecosystems. Issues such as rising sea levels, warming ocean temperatures, and increased frequency of extreme weather events are especially concerning. The study revealed that 58 percent of species examined are experiencing significant decline.

    “As home to two UNESCO World Heritage areas, Palawan holds not only ecological but also cultural significance,” Professor Baker said. “It is crucial that we understand the challenges facing its marine life. By implementing our recommendations, we can work towards a sustainable future that preserves this unique environment.”

    The report emphasises that the health of Palawan’s ecosystems is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of local communities. Immediate actions must be taken to reverse the ongoing trends of deterioration to protect not only this breathtaking archipelago but also the livelihoods of those who call it home.

    Tools and datasets developed during preparation of the report were handed over to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development to enhance its marine spatial data infrastructure capability, empowering its ability to publish authoritative information in the marine environment and make informed marine planning and management decisions.

    The following 10 recommendations emerged from the report to improve management and conservation efforts in Palawan’s marine environments:

    Prioritise Understudied Parameters: Focus on the least understood factors affecting marine health, especially deep-sea areas.
    Enhance Data Collection: Complement existing data with innovative techniques such as citizen science and remote sensing to track changes over time.

    Align with Existing Research Priorities: 
    • Future research should connect with established sustainable development goals in the region.
    • Conduct Multidisciplinary Research: Collaboration with various stakeholders is necessary for balanced conservation and economic development.
    • Incorporate Ecosystem Interconnectedness: Address the interrelations between ecosystems and livelihoods rather than viewing environmental factors in isolation.
    • Make Information Available: Improve access to research products to aid in broad-based marine environmental management.
    • Develop New Partnerships: Foster collaborative relationships among government, academic institutions and NGOs to enhance environmental governance.
    • Increase Education Campaigns: Launch initiatives to raise awareness about marine degradation and promote responsible practices within the community.
    • Emphasise Monitoring: Establish consistent monitoring mechanisms to facilitate timely responses to environmental changes.
    • Support Local Livelihoods: Create programs to support communities affected by environmental changes, ensuring that livelihood diversification is part of the strategy.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – IPU report: Parliamentary gender gap narrowed over the past 30 years but progress stalled in 2024

    Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union

    Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday 6 March 2025 – A new IPU report analysing three decades of women in national parliaments reveals that the percentage of seats held by women has risen from 11.3% in 1995 to 27.2% in 2025.

    The IPU report Women in parliament 1995-2025 commemorates 30 years since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the landmark UN framework which set out a roadmap for gender equality and women’s rights. (ref. https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/reports/2025-03/women-in-parliament-1995-2025 )

    The report shows that, from 2000 to 2015, the proportion of women in parliament rose steadily. However, in recent years, this progress has slowed.

    And in 2024, despite a high number of elections with 73 chamber renewals globally, women’s parliamentary representation increased by only 0.3 percentage points, marking the slowest rate of progress since 2017.

    Parity achieved in six countries

    In 1995, no parliament had achieved gender parity.

    In 2025, six parliaments have parity or more women than men in their single or lower chambers (Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, Andorra and the United Arab Emirates).

    Regional differences

    The Americas have seen the most significant increase in women’s parliamentary participation, with a 22.7 percentage point gain across all chambers combined over 30 years. The region now has the highest average, with 35.4% of seats held by women.

    From leading the world 30 years ago for gender equality in parliament, Asia now lags behind; the region recorded the slowest growth with a gain of just 8.9 points since 1995.

    2024 elections: More diversity and prominence for gender issues

    Despite the current pushback against diversity in the United States, the November 2024 elections saw two Black women elected to the Senate for the first time and the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.

    The United Kingdom Parliament elected in 2024 is also the most ethnically diverse in the country’s history with Black, Asian and ethnic minorities, both men and women, comprising around 13% of the House of Commons.

    The report notes that gender issues, particularly abortion rights and issues of gender identity, had a polarizing effect on many of the elections last year, in some cases spurring an anti-feminist backlash and in others serving to mobilize female voters.

    Violence against women in politics

    The report also points to political violence against women in 2024 elections:

    Mexico’s 2024 election was one of its most violent, with an estimated 130 candidates, including 30 women, allegedly attacked, according to Data Cívica.

    In the Republic of Korea, a woman MP was physically attacked during the election campaign.

    In the United Kingdom, the 2024 election saw an “alarming rise” in candidate abuse according to a report by the country’s Electoral Commission, disproportionately affecting women.

    However, some countries, with IPU support, have taken noteworthy steps to address gender-based violence in elections and parliaments, including Australia and the United Republic of Tanzania.

    Proactive steps towards gender parity

    Countries which have taken steps towards ensuring greater gender balance have seen the most laudable progress.

    These steps include implementing well-designed quotas, making parliaments more gender-sensitive and addressing violence against women.

    The report underlines that two factors have made a significant difference in the share of women elected to parliaments: electoral systems – especially proportional representation or mixed systems – and gender quotas in any form.

    In countries with gender quotas in place, the proportion of women elected or appointed was 31.2% in 2024 compared to 16.8% in countries without.

    Quotes

    IPU President, Tulia Ackson: “True progress in women’s political representation requires political will, intentional steps and a long-term commitment. At a time when women’s rights are on the backfoot in some regions of the world, women’s leadership is more important than ever.”

    President of the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians, Cynthia López Castro: “The journey from 11% to 27% women in parliaments over 30 years shows us that change is possible, but also that our work is far from done as we aim for gender parity. We need to encourage the next generation to come forward and continue the fight.”

    IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong: “IPU analysis shows that the gender glass ceiling in parliaments has cracked but is far from shattered. There has been progress but the backlash against women’s rights in some countries is extremely worrying. It will take both women and men to overcome these challenges and accelerate progress towards gender parity.”

    The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa and Sub Continent – The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and Mutual Trust Bank Sign Murabaha Agreement to Boost Trade Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the Private Sector in Bangladesh

    SOURCE: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)

    The Master Murabaha Agreement reflects the shared vision of ITFC and Mutual Trust Bank to drive economic growth by supporting SMEs and the private sector

    DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 6, 2025/ — The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) signed a Master Murabaha Agreement to strengthen trade finance support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the private sector in Bangladesh.

    The agreement will enable ITFC to provide trade financing facilities against Letters of Credit (LCs) issued by Mutual Trust Bank, enhancing the bank’s capacity to support cross-border trade and contribute to the growth of SMEs. This collaboration underscores both institutions’ commitment to fostering economic development and private sector growth in Bangladesh.

    The signing ceremony was held at Dhaka and attended by senior executives from both organizations. Mr. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank, and Mr. Nazeem Noordali, Officer-in-Charge, CEO of ITFC, led the signing on behalf of their respective institutions.

    Mr. Nazeem Noordali emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, “We are proud to partner with Mutual Trust Bank to provide trade financing facilities that will support SME growth and the import of essential commodities in Bangladesh. Private sector development is a cornerstone of the country’s economic progress, and enabling SMEs to access trade finance is central to ITFC’s strategy. This initiative will also help SMEs integrate into global value chains, fostering sustainable economic growth.”

    Mr. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank, expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, saying, “The partnership with ITFC under this trade finance facility agreement is significant, especially given the current economic challenges faced by Bangladesh. This collaboration will enhance MTB’s reputation among correspondent banks globally, highlighting its resilience, commitment to best practices, and dedication to sustainable growth. Furthermore, it will provide our SME customers with greater access to financing and help facilitate the import of essential raw materials and soft commodities”.

    The Master Murabaha Agreement reflects the shared vision of ITFC and Mutual Trust Bank to drive economic growth by supporting SMEs and the private sector. By facilitating access to trade finance, the partnership aims to empower businesses, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the sustainable development of Bangladesh.

    About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International, in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

    “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night” – The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment, documents how law enforcement agencies are using inherently abusive direct contact electric shock weapons – including stun guns and electric shock batons– on the street, at borders, in migrant and refugee detention centres, mental health institutions, police stations, prisons, and other places of detention.

    These inherently abusive devices, which deliver painful shocks at the press of a button, have been used against protesters, students, political opponents, women and girls (including pregnant women), children and human rights defenders, among others. Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma.

    The report also looks at the escalating misuse of Projectile Electric Shock Weapons (PESWs), which can have a legitimate role in law enforcement, but are often misused. Cases include the unnecessary and discriminatory use against vulnerable groups resulting in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

    “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability and psychological distress. Prolonged use can even result in death,” said Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing issues.

    “PESWs are being used against individuals who pose no risk of violence, simply for punishment or compliance with orders. They are also being used in direct contact ‘drive stun’ mode, which should be prohibited. Despite the clear human rights risks associated with their use, there are no global regulations controlling the production of and trade in electric shock equipment. Direct contact electric shock weapons need to be banned immediately and PESWs subject to strict human-rights-based trade controls.”

    The extensive report draws on research carried out by Amnesty International from 2014 to 2024 in over 40 countries across all regions across the world, where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented.

    Vulnerable groups targeted by electric shock weapons

    Testimonies gathered by Amnesty International are harrowing.

    During the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, the military unit IRGC Basij battalion forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genitals with stun guns.

    In another case, several schoolboys were abducted for writing the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom” on a wall. One of the boys told Amnesty International: “They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…”

    PESWs have often been used as de facto direct contact electric shock weapons when deployed in “drive stun” mode.

    Recounting a raid by border guards on the Medininkai detention centre in Lithuania on 2 March 2022, one detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa said: “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.” Another described being threatened by police officers who placed a “taser” on her forehead, telling her “‘Shut up or I will shoot you!’”

    “Even when used as a stand-off weapon, PESWs have been linked to serious injuries and deaths,” said Patrick Wilcken. “These include dart lacerations and penetration of the skull, eye, internal organs, throat, fingers and testis; electrical discharge induced burns, seizures and arrythmias; and a variety of injuries and deaths from falls.”

    Amnesty’s report reveals patterns of PESWs’ discriminatory deployment against racialized and marginalized groups, such as young Black men. In April 2024, police in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, were filmed using a TASER directly on the leg of a Black protester at a Palestine solidarity demonstration while he was pinned to the ground by three police officers and handcuffed.

    “Given the high risks of primary and secondary injuries, the use of PESWs must be set at a high threshold. These weapons should only be used only in situations involving a threat to life or risk of serious injury which cannot be contained by less extreme options,”said Patrick Wilcken.

    The urgent need for prohibitions and trade regulation

    At least 197 companies from all regions manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement between January 2018 and June 2023 – with most companies based in countries such as China, India and the USA.

    According to US-based Axon Enterprise, Inc., their TASER brand models are currently used by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.

    “There is an urgent need for a legally-binding treaty which would prohibit inherently abusive electric shock equipment and strictly control the trade in PESWs,” said Patrick Wilcken.

    “Companies should implement robust human rights due diligence and mitigation measures to ensure their products and services are not being systematically misused for torture or other ill-treatment. This includes ceasing production of direct contact electric shock devices and removing the ‘drive stun’ function from PESWs.”

    Amnesty International, along with a global civil society network of over 80 organizations worldwide, is campaigning for the negotiation of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty that would introduce global prohibitions and controls on a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including electric shock weapons and equipment.

    Background

    In September 2017, the EU, Argentina and Mongolia launched the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Alliance currently comprises 62 states from all regions of the world pledging to “act together to further prevent, restrict and end trade” in goods used notably for torture or other ill-treatment. In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture presented a thematic report on the torture trade at the UNGA which argued for a legally binding instrument to regulate the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment and included lists of goods considered prohibited and controlled.

    This is one of a series of in-depth research reports showing the devastating human rights impact of law enforcement equipment; previous reports include work on tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and the trade in less lethal weapons used to repress protesters.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Gebrüder Weiss: myGW successfully in use for five years

    Source: Gebrüder Weiss

    25,000 users already use the digital customer portal for their transport and logistics orders. myGW offers companies real-time information on all shipments and a transparent communication history.

    Lauterach, March 5, 2025. The digital customer portal myGW has proved to be very popular with Gebrüder Weiss customers: within five years, the number of users among customers has risen to 25,000. Functions have been continuously developed and adapted to the needs of shipping companies with the platform providing real-time information on all goods flows.

    “The decision to introduce our customer portal as part of our digital strategy was absolutely the right one. With myGW, we offer our customers easy access to their shipment data and cargo inventory at any time. Our clients appreciate this, and the usage figures speak for themselves,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.

    Digital shipment transparency in real time, delivery statistics overviews and, above all, myGW’s user-friendliness are benefits that customers value. This is also shown by the high demand for shipment tracking shared by customers with their recipients – a total of 5.6 million views in 2024. This represents an increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year. Simplified online communication and direct access to all documents for fast order processing are also popular.

    Gebrüder Weiss is continuously developing the platform to provide its customers with even more transparent monitoring and analysis of their transports. 

    Further information about the digital customer portal myGW is available here: https://www.gw-world.com/solutions/digital-solutions/mygw

    About Gebrüder Weiss

    Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a globally operative full-service logistics provider with about 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations. The company generated revenues of 2.46 billion euros in 2023. 

    Its portfolio encompasses transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. The twin strengths of digital and physical competence enable Gebrüder Weiss to respond swiftly and flexibly to customers’ needs. 
    The family-run organization – with a history going back more than half a millennium – has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Development – OPEC Fund supports Burkina Faso’s cotton industry with €26 million trade finance facility

    Source: OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund)

    March 5, 2025: The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is providing €26 million to support Burkina Faso’s strategic cotton sector. The financing is part of a €100 million trade finance facility arranged by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). It will enable Société Burkinabè des Fibres Textiles (SOFITEX), the country’s largest cotton company and a key player in the sector, to purchase seasonal seed cotton from local farmers at harvest point, ensuring timely payments and financial stability for smallholder farmers.

    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund is proud of its commitment to Burkina Faso’s cotton industry, a key economic driver that sustains millions of livelihoods. By enabling the timely purchase of cotton from smallholder farmers, this financing not only supports rural communities, but also promotes economic resilience and strengthens Burkina Faso’s position in global cotton markets.”

    Cotton is the backbone of Burkina Faso’s rural economy, generating 5 percent of GDP and providing income for millions. As Africa’s third-largest producer the country exports the vast majority of its cotton, making it a key driver of foreign exchange earnings and economic growth. The sector supports livelihoods from smallholder farmers to workers across the supply chain. Often referred to as “white gold,” cotton remains essential to Burkina Faso’s economic resilience and rural development.

    The OPEC Fund has a long-standing partnership with SOFITEX dating back to 2009. Since the inception of this partnership, the OPEC Fund has approved 11 operations to support cotton export financing for a combined net amount of US$373 million.

    The OPEC Fund’s recent financing is aligned with the institution’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and trade finance in Africa. Over four decades the OPEC Fund has supported Burkina Faso’s economic development, financing projects in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure with over US$800 million financing across public and private sector loans and trade finance.

    About the OPEC Fund

    The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively.

    The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world.

    The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

    To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – Tariffs are an act of economic war – The global fallout begins – deVere Group

    Source: deVere Group

    March 5 2025 – Tariffs are “an act of economic war,” and the latest US tariffs are a direct assault on the global economy, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial and asset management organizations.

    The comments from deVere Group’s Nigel Green comes as President Donald Trump’s joint congressional address made it clear: his administration is deploying tariffs as a weapon, not just a policy.

    The sweeping 25% duties on Canada and Mexico, an additional 10% on Chinese imports, and threats against the European Union mark an economic confrontation that will redefine global markets.

    Beijing wasted no time in firing back, saying they are prepared for a tariff war or “any other type of war,” signaling that the world’s second-largest economy is ready to retaliate with full force.

    Investors are now bracing for a prolonged and destabilizing economic war, with market volatility and financial uncertainty taking center stage.

    Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, warns: “Tariffs are an act of economic war.

    “This aggressive escalation could cause the most severe economic disruption since the global financial crisis, barring the pandemic.

    “The fallout will extend far beyond tariffs themselves, with ripple effects threatening corporate profits, inflation levels, and supply chains.

    “Trade barriers of this scale are not a pathway to strength. They’re self-inflicted wounds that create higher costs for businesses, dampen consumer spending, and erode economic resilience.

    “Tariffs are not a show of power; they are a tax on prosperity.”

    Despite Trump’s insistence that tariffs will restore America’s economic dominance, reality is painting a different picture.

    Increased costs on imports mean businesses will either absorb the financial hit or pass it along to consumers, leading to inflationary pressures that weaken household purchasing power. The result? A slowing economy disguised as a policy win.

    “From manufacturing to tech, industries are now forced to face a storm of rising costs and shrinking global competitiveness,” says Nigel Green.

    “This is not a win, it’s reckless brinkmanship with high stakes for the US and global economy.”

    Trump’s vow to roll out even more trade penalties by April 2 is triggering concern through global markets.

    Washington’s latest trade war salvos are setting off countermeasures from Beijing, Brussels, and beyond.

    China’s retaliatory tariffs are expected to hit US exports where it hurts—targeting agriculture, technology, and other key industries with strategic precision. The European Union is weighing its response, while Mexico and Canada have already signaled their intent to push back.

    “Trade conflicts don’t happen in isolation. They trigger chain reactions—capital flight, fractured supply chains, and heightened uncertainty for investors,” explains the deVere CEO.

    The notion that tariffs will fortify the US economy is fundamentally flawed.

    “The cost of this economic war will be borne by households, businesses, and investors worldwide. And unless there’s a change in course, the worst may still be ahead.”

    deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy – United Kingdom (UK) Looks to Deepen Energy Trade, Investment Ties with Africa

    SOURCE: African Energy Chamber

    Through new trade agreements, energy investments and development initiatives, the UK’s role in shaping the continent’s energy future will be a key focus at African Energy Week 2025 and within the G20 agenda

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 5, 2025/ — Trade relations between the UK and Africa are gaining momentum. Last month, UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander visited South Africa and Botswana to strengthen trade ties and create opportunities for businesses on both sides. The UK aims to expand trade and investment across the continent, fostering mutually beneficial growth by addressing trade barriers, facilitating exports and supporting trade-focused development programs. With South Africa as the UK’s largest trading partner in Africa and set to assume the G20 Presidency, this marks an important moment for deepening economic collaboration.

    This builds on the UK’s 2019 Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the Southern African Customs Union member states – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa – and Mozambique. This agreement eliminates tariffs and quotas on all goods imported from these countries into the UK, facilitating smoother trade relations and economic cooperation. The EPA aims to bolster economic ties and create a conducive environment for investments, including in the energy sector.

    The UK is expanding its engagement across Africa, including in West and North Africa. In February 2024, it signed the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria – the first such agreement with an African nation – marking a significant milestone. The partnership builds on a trade relationship valued at £7 billion in the year leading up to September 2023. The ETIP focuses on key sectors such as financial and legal services, fostering economic growth and attracting investment across industries, including energy.

    Globeleq, a UK government-backed independent power producer, has been instrumental in advancing gas-powered energy projects across Africa. Alongside its 153 MW Red Sands project in South Africa – set to become the continent’s largest standalone battery energy storage system – the company recently acquired a stake in a solar plant at Egypt’s Benban Solar Complex and secured $99 million in debt financing for Mozambique’s first wind project. Supported by shareholders such as British International Investment and Norfund, Globeleq continues to invest in upgrading existing assets and developing new utility-scale power projects, strengthening Africa’s energy infrastructure.

    In the oil and gas sector, bp achieved first gas from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project offshore Senegal and Mauritania at the start of this year, marking a major step in boosting regional energy production and supply. Shell is advancing its $5 billion Bonga North deepwater project in Nigeria and, alongside bp, has agreed to cover operational costs for the buyer of South Africa’s Sapref refinery – a move that could revitalize the country’s largest refinery and secure oil supply. Meanwhile, Harbour Energy, one of the UK’s largest independent oil and gas companies, is looking to expand into African markets following its acquisition of concessions in Egypt’s Nile Delta and the Mediterranean Sea.

    The UK is also a major investor in Africa’s clean energy sector and a key partner in the Mission 300 initiative to expand electricity access to 300 million people by 2030. Last month, British International Investment (BII) committed £5.3 million to UK cleantech firm MOPO to scale battery rental operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where over 80% of the population lacks electricity. In December 2024, BII and GuarantCo announced a $500 million renewable power deal with South Africa’s Etana Energy, providing $100 million in guarantees to support the country’s largest energy wheeling framework and unlock new projects. Beyond direct investments, the UK government continues to provide funding and technical assistance for energy infrastructure projects across Africa, aiming to improve energy reliability and efficiency, drive economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for local communities.

    As a G20 member, the UK plays a pivotal role in shaping global energy investment strategies, with Africa positioned as a key partner in its trade and energy agenda. The UK’s investments in oil and gas, renewables and energy infrastructure align with broader G20 goals of energy security, sustainability and economic growth.

    “These initiatives not only strengthen the UK’s economic ties with Africa, but also support the continent’s transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. With African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 set to convene global stakeholders, the UK’s role in advancing energy partnerships will be in focus, offering a platform to drive further investment, policy collaboration, and infrastructure development across Africa’s energy landscape,” says Johnson Kayode Obembe, Director of Sales and Partnerships, African Energy Week.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Andersen Global Strengthens Saudi Arabia Presence with Al-Sharif Law Firm

    Source: Andersen Global

    SAN FRANCISCO – Andersen Global continues to enhance its multidisciplinary capabilities in the Middle East through a Collaboration Agreement with Al-Sharif Law Firm, a full-service international law firm based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    Active in the Kingdom since 1978, the firm’s professionals offer a comprehensive range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, company formation, liquidation, corporate restructuring, corporate secretarial services, labor and employment law, intellectual property, construction and engineering, business intelligence and litigation. With a blended team of both U.S. trained and licensed attorneys and local talent, Al-Sharif Law is uniquely suited to provide comprehensive services for some of the largest companies in the world with deep experience in the finance, defense and oil & gas sectors.

    “The demand is high for a strong quarterback and local correspondent to support international companies and investors in Saudi Arabia,” said Chris Johnson, Managing Attorney for Al-Sharif Law. “Our approach combines Western-style service with deep local expertise, assuring clients practical and comprehensive legal solutions. By collaborating with Andersen Global, we broaden our reach and ability to offer seamless service that combines international standards of service with a deep understanding of Saudi Arabia’s legal and regulatory landscape.”

    “Al-Sharif Law Firm is one of the largest law firms in Saudi Arabia, with a reputation for serving major international companies,” said Andersen Global Chairman and CEO of Andersen Mark L. Vorsatz. “Saudi Arabia continues to grow as a significant global hub, with its economy rapidly diversifying and presenting new opportunities for businesses and investors. The addition of this firm reinforces our ability to provide a suite of integrated, seamless services through our member and collaborating firms in one of the region’s rapidly evolving markets.”

    Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax, legal, and valuation professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 19,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Environmental-economic accounts: Data to 2023

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Environmental-economic accounts: Data to 2023 – 6 March 2025 – Environmental-economic accounts show how our environment contributes to our economy, the impacts of economic activity on our environment, and how we respond to environmental issues.

    Stats NZ’s environmental-economic accounts show the interactions between the environment and the economy to provide a clearer understanding of environmental-economic pressures, dependencies, trade-offs, and impacts. It is done within the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework, which specifies how environmental data can be integrated coherently with economic data from the System of National Accounts.

    All accounts are expressed in monetary units and in current prices for the year to March.

    Key facts
    In the year to March 2023:

    • Total environmental taxes were $5.2 billion, most of which were transport (51 percent) and energy (45 percent) taxes. From 2022–2023, environmental taxes decreased 21 percent ($1.4 billion).
    • Marine economy contributed $4.6 billion to New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP). This was an increase of 7.9 percent compared with 2022. The contribution of the marine economy to GDP in 2023 was 1.2 percent.
    • The total asset value of renewable energy was $13.7 billion. Hydro generation made up 69 percent of total asset value, followed by geothermal (21 percent).
    • Central and local government expenditure on environmental protection (on a final consumption basis) increased 15 percent ($381 million) to total $2.9 billion. Local government contributed 68 percent ($1.9 billion) to this total, and central government 32 percent ($904 million).

    Files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Building activity down 4.4 percent in December 2024 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: Value of building work put in place: December 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Building activity down 4.4 percent in December 2024 quarter – 6 March 2025 – The seasonally adjusted volume of building work in New Zealand was $7.4 billion in the December 2024 quarter, down 4.4 percent compared with the September 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    “There has been a downward trend in building activity volume since the most recent peak in the September 2022 quarter,” economic indicators spokesperson Michael Heslop said.

    Residential building work fell 4.9 percent to $4.5 billion and non-residential building work fell 3.1 percent to $2.8 billion (seasonally adjusted) in the final quarter of 2024.

    “Residential building activity volume reached its lowest level in over four years, in seasonally adjusted terms,” Heslop said.

    Files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Sector – Gas discovery in the Norwegian Sea – Equinor

    Source: Equinor

    05 MARCH 2025 – Equinor and its partners, Okea and Pandion Energy, have proven gas and condensate in the “Mistral Sør” exploration well in the Halten area, situated in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea.

    Preliminary estimates indicate that the discovery contains 3-7 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalent (o.e.), which corresponds to 19-44 million barrels of recoverable o.e.

    “Norwegian gas is in high demand and is crucial to Europe’s energy security. That’s why it’s important for us to continue exploring and making new discoveries so we can maintain a high level of deliveries. This discovery was made in an area where gas infrastructure is already in place, and which we’re also continuing to develop. We have active exploration efforts under way in this area, which have resulted in several discoveries in recent years,” says Grete B. Haaland, Equinor’s senior vice president for Exploration & Production North.

    The licensees’ assessment is that this is a commercial discovery, and they will consider tie-back to existing infrastructure or development together with other discoveries in the area.

    The discovery was made in the Åsgard and Kristin area in the Norwegian Sea. Mistral Sør is situated just a short distance north of Linnorm, the largest gas discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) that has yet to be developed. Equinor took over the operatorship for Linnorm in 2023. A discovery was also made in 2024 in the Lavrans field. Lavrans is currently being developed with a tie-back to the Kristin Sør field.

    Mistral Sør was drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic (Odfjell Drilling) rig in production licence 1119. The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in Middle Jurassic sandstone in the Garn Formation, with a secondary target in the Ile Formation.

    Well 6406/6-7 S encountered an approx. 45-metre hydrocarbon column in the Garn Formation, with good reservoir properties. The well was drilled to a vertical depth of 4024 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Ror Formation in the Lower Jurassic. Water depth at the site is 256 metres. Extensive data acquisition and sampling have been carried out.

    The well will be permanently plugged, and the Deepsea Atlantic will leave the location to commence drilling on 15/8-G-4 Utgard.

    No hydrocarbons were proven in the secondary exploration target.

    Facts

    The Mistral Sør licence was awarded in APA 2020
    Equinor Energy ASA is the operator (50 per cent)
    The other licensees are Okea (30 per cent) and Pandion Energy (20 per cent).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Economy – Trump’s Congress address triggers alarm: Biggest economic shift since 2008 crash, full-blown trade war? – deVere Group

    Source: deVere Group

    March 5 2025 – The global economy could now be on the brink of “its most severe disruption since the 2007-2008 financial crisis, besides the pandemic,” warns the CEO of global financial advisory giant, deVere Group.

    The comments from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes after in his highly anticipated address to Congress, US President Donald Trump doubled down on the most aggressive tariff policies seen since the 1940s in some respects, delivering a speech that, despite its rhetoric of economic strength, is set to cause concern through financial markets.

    He argued that “tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs, they’re about protecting the soul of our country,” but admitted they would cause “disturbance”.

    “Tariffs are about making America rich again, and making America great again,” he said. “And it’s happening, and it will happen rather quickly.”

    “There will be a little disturbance, but we’re okay with that,” he continued.

    In response, deVere Group’s Nigel Green says: “This is no longer just a warning sign. This is seemingly turning into an all-out trade war.

    “The immediate market reaction to Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada and Mexico was stark, with declines across major indices, reflecting investor fears of a prolonged and damaging standoff.

    “The true extent of the fallout, however, has yet to be fully realized, especially as wider reciprocal tariffs are set to be rolled on April 2, according to Trump in his address.”

    Donald Trump said “countless” nations charge the US “tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them”. The president said China’s average tariff on US products were twice what America charges Beijing.

    He added the average South Korean tariff was four times higher than what the US imposes on Seoul.

    The deVere CEO comments: “History has proven that protectionist policies of this magnitude don’t end in prosperity, but in economic isolation, slower growth, and inflationary pressures that ultimately hit consumers and businesses hardest.”

    “Tariffs are not a win for American workers or businesses—they’re taxes.”

    Companies across industries, from manufacturing to tech, are expected to bear the brunt of these costs, leading to price hikes, squeezed margins, and reduced competitiveness.

    “Trump’s assertion that these measures will strengthen the US economy is, at best, disingenuous.

    “The reality is that higher costs on imported goods will ripple through supply chains, forcing firms to either absorb the added expense or pass it onto consumers.” Either way, the result is likely economic pain.

    “The global repercussions cannot be overstated. Tariffs on key trading partners set off a chain reaction—retaliatory measures, shifting supply chains, capital flight, and a decline in investor confidence,” notes Nigel Green.

    Emerging markets, already grappling with tighter financial conditions, will be particularly vulnerable.

    The world is entering a period of heightened economic uncertainty, and with central banks already stretched in their policy responses, there is no easy fix on the horizon.

    Despite Trump’s assurances of an economic renewal, his trade war stance directly undermines long-term stability.

    “The lessons of past crises should serve as a stark reminder: economic nationalism and aggressive tariffs do not fuel growth; they suffocate it. The financial landscape is shifting rapidly, and businesses and investors must now brace for a turbulent period ahead.”

    What happens next will depend on how global markets, policymakers, and businesses react in the coming weeks.

    “It can be reasonably assumed that the fallout from Trump’s trade war is only just beginning. Households, businesses and investors need to buckle up,” concludes Nigel Green.

    deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $12bn under advisement.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy – Africa’s Oil & Gas Sector hires lobbying firm to push African issues in Washington and the Trump administration

    SOURCE: African Energy Chamber

    Stryk Global Diplomacy will coordinate efforts between African and U.S. players to attract greater investment across the African oil and gas value chain

    SANDTON, South Africa, March 4, 2025/ — The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) – representing the voice of the African energy sector – has enlisted international consulting firm Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD) to support oil and gas engagement between the U.S. and Africa. This collaboration will not only ensure that Africa’s energy interests are effectively represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions, but also aims to facilitate greater capital and technology injection by U.S. firms into African oil and gas projects.

    The strategic partnership will strengthen U.S. understanding of Africa’s vital role in enhancing global energy security, while fostering greater investment and cooperation. SGD will also advise the AEC on fostering a more inclusive and constructive approach to G20 energy dialogues in the lead-up to and during the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3, 2025. The collaboration will address ongoing challenges such as financing and policy issues that impact African oil and gas projects. Led by Founder and Chairman Robert Stryk, SGD offers strategic diplomatic solutions, making it a strong partner for the AEC as it works to accelerate energy development across the continent.

    “Africa needs to produce energy for its people, its development and meet global demand so we avoid volatile energy markets that hurt both American and African consumers,” stated Stryk. “Vilifying Africa’s energy industry – the economic engine of multiple nations – because it is based on fossil fuels, although the proportion of renewables is growing, is not justified. Africans need energy to fix energy poverty issues and spur economic growth. They should be allowed to make their own choices. Our firm will work to bring energy matters of Africans to the important decision markets globally.”

    As Africa’s oil and gas industry faces increasing pressure from climate groups and stringent Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) regulations, this collaboration will tackle critical challenges, with finance and climate policies being the most pressing. In recent years, regulations restricting oil and gas financing have limited Africa’s ability to develop its natural resources. Notably, the European Union has sought to reduce or eliminate funding for fossil fuel projects, while environmental organizations such as Greenpeace continue to oppose lending. Up to 11 European banks have cut access to financing for upstream oil and gas projects, despite rising demand across the EU and broader global economy.

    In this context, the U.S. – with its extensive network of major oil and gas companies and financial institutions – stands to play a key role. African national oil companies, indigenous firms, independents and international energy companies are struggling to secure the financing needed to develop new oil and gas projects and combat energy poverty. However, strengthened collaboration with the U.S. could reverse this trend. The U.S. is not only one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers but, under its new administration, is expected to have an increased presence in Africa’s energy sector. There are significant opportunities for U.S. oil and gas companies in Africa.

    In the oil sector, Africa’s mature producers including Angola, Libya and Nigeria are launching licensing rounds in 2025 to attract fresh investment in exploration projects. Emerging markets such as Senegal, Namibia and Ivory Coast are also seeking increased upstream investment following billion-barrel offshore discoveries. Countries like Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Algeria – some of the continent’s largest oil producers – are facing potential phase-out of finance and production, which could devastate these economies and leave their populations in the dark.

    Meanwhile, Africa’s natural gas sector, with over 620 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, offers the promise of increased energy supplies and reduced emissions. With over 600 million lacking access to electricity and 900 million relying on traditional biomass for cooking, Africa’s energy future must be driven by pragmatic, Africa-centric solutions. As a cleaner-burning fuel, natural gas offers a sustainable pathway to industrialization and economic empowerment. Major projects like Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin developments, Senegal and Mauritania’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG, Tanzania LNG and the Republic of Congo’s Marine XII permit have the potential to transform the continent’s energy matrix, but more investment is needed to address energy poverty effectively.

    “Stryk is a super Lobbyist. He understands Africa and he gets results. He is adaptive and forward-thinking. He achieves results by building consensus. I am confident he is going to help give the African energy sector a voice in Washington,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

    “Given that 600 million people on the continent lack access to electricity and 900 million people lack access to clean cooking technologies, it’s impossible — even inhumane — to discuss climate change without addressing energy poverty. The notion that producing energy in Africa will lead to a ‘carbon bomb’ is misleading and ignores the critical need for energy access across the continent. Our partnership with SGD is a crucial step in ensuring U.S. policymakers understand the importance of oil and gas in Africa’s economic development. Energy poverty remains one of the biggest threats to Africa’s future, and we must work with partners who recognize that natural gas is not the problem – it is part of the solution,” concluded Ayuk.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Tech and VPPs – Flexibility is crucial to maintain grid stability, says GridBeyond latest white paper

    Source: GridBeyond

    In a market with high renewable penetration and unique geographical challenges, flexibility is crucial to maintaining grid stability in Australia. In recent years, the concept of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) has emerged as a transformative solution. By integrating numerous Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) into one network, VPPs are changing the way electricity is generated, managed, and utilised says GridBeyond’s report Virtual power plants in Australia – A bright future ahead.

    Australia is a leader in renewable energy adoption, with solar and wind constituting a significant share of its energy mix. Renewables are becoming an increasingly critical part of the global energy system, but their intermittent nature means there is a need for a significant increase in flexible resources to manage an increased volatility. In addition, adoption of flexible devices such as heat pumps, Electric Vehicles (EVs), and battery storage is accelerating, while regulators and utilities are looking for solutions to reliability and affordability challenges.

    The energy sector is facing major challenges to meet the demands of global warming mitigation and adaptation, which require the decarbonisation of multiple sectors of the economy.  VPPS have emerged as a transformative solution offering a flexible and decentralised approach. By integrating numerous Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) into one network, VPPs are changing the way electricity is generated, managed, and utilised and can offer a wide array of benefits across energy system that can be managed by AI-powered technologies supporting businesses in managing their energy consumption and support grid stability.

    About GridBeyond

    GridBeyond began commercially trading in 2010 and is home to the world’s first hybrid battery and demand network. Now a global player in the energy transition, GridBeyond provides a powerful combination of technological excellence, consultative approach and unrivalled AI expertise that enables its clients to maximize energy services, while supporting the wider electricity grid’s leap to a greener future through renewable generation expansion.

    GridBeyond delivers energy services, new revenues, enhanced savings, strengthened operations and sustainability to over 900 I&C customer sites worldwide, including some of the planet’s most recognized brands in just about every commercial sector.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Home consents up in the month of January 2025 – Stats NZ media and information release: Building consents issued: January 2025

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Home consents up in the month of January 2025 – 4 March 2025 – There were 2,203 new homes consented in January 2025, up 11 percent compared with January 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    “While January 2025 saw an increase in homes consented compared to January 2024, it still remains below the levels seen in January 2022 and 2023,” economic indicators spokesperson Michael Heslop said.

    Of the 2,203 new homes consented, there were 1,077 stand-alone houses consented, up 20 percent compared with January 2024, and 1,126 multi-unit homes consented, up 3.1 percent.

    Multi-unit homes include townhouses, apartments, retirement village units, and flats.

    Files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) launches Call for Applications for its Growth Accelerator programme with support from African Guarantee Fund and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited

    SOURCE: Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)

    The tri-party collaboration between AWIEF, AGF, and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited was created with the aim to increase access to finance for WSMEs who are driving solutions in different catalytic sectors in Nigeria

    LAGOS, Nigeria, March 3, 2025/ — The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org/home-awief/) has partnered with African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited to implement its flagship AWIEF Growth Accelerator programme in Nigeria and is excited to announce the call for applications.

    Background

    Limited access to finance remains a significant barrier for women entrepreneurs in Africa, with a staggering financing gap estimated at USD 49 billion. To address this challenge, the Growth Accelerator Programme leverages the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, which aims to unlock up to USD 3 billion in financing for women-owned/led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (WSMEs) across the continent.

    AGF, a leading non-bank financial institution whose objective is to promote economic development, increase employment and reduce poverty in Africa, serves as the implementing partner for AFAWA. AGF’s commitment extends into providing technical assistance to partner financial institutions, enhancing their capacity to serve women-owned businesses effectively. By addressing both supply and demand-side constraints, AGF and AFAWA work in tandem to create a more equitable landscape for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

    FSDH Merchant Bank Limited partnership with AGF is backed by AFAWA to enable the Partner Financial Institution (PFI) provide loans to WSMEs in Nigeria. FSDH Merchant Bank Limited is dedicated to empowering women in business across Nigeria and drives its gender strategy through its Women in Business Initiative (WIBI).

    The tri-party collaboration between AWIEF, AGF, and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited was created with the aim to increase access to finance for WSMEs who are driving solutions in different catalytic sectors in Nigeria. This will be achieved by making the WSMEs credit and investment-ready and eligible to access business loans and financing from FSDH Merchant Bank Limited. The programme will provide a stream of businesses that are adequately prepared to meet the FSDH Merchant Bank’s credit requirements.

    Call for Applications

    Applications are open to qualifying businesses. The programme will attract and select a cohort of 100 beneficiaries, comprising women entrepreneurs and founders with businesses registered and operating in Nigeria who will participate in the 12-month Growth Accelerator and will benefit from a wide range of tailored and refined business development mentorship, training, and advisory services.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Businesses must meet ONE of the following criteria:

    Entrepreneurship & Ownership:

    51% share of women ownership OR Business founded by a woman.

    OR

    Leadership:

    At least 20% share of women in senior management or 10% share of women on the Board.

    OR

    Products & Services:

    Product(s) or service(s) enhance(s) well-being of women/girls and/or drive(s) gender equity.

    Additionally, businesses must be:

    Based and operating in Nigeria.
    In post-revenue stage.
    Highly innovative and scalable ventures.
    In operation for not less than three years.
    Owned and/or led by ambitious and committed entrepreneurs.
    Seeking for investment, credit or financing to scale and expand.

    What Are the Benefits for Participants?

    Access to high-level training, mentorship, and business advisory.
    Improved technical, managerial, leadership, and interpersonal skills aligned with the priority needs of their businesses.
    Increased creditworthiness and capacity to meet the AGF PFI’s financing requirements.
    Post-capacity building and loan application support.
    Enhanced access to other financing opportunities.
    Effective integration of the WSMEs into the financial ecosystem.
    Expanded peer networks in Nigeria and across the African continent.

    Applications Open Now!

    Applications are officially open for qualifying candidates for the AWIEF Growth Accelerator, in partnership with AGF and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.

    To submit your application and for more programme details, please follow this link: https://apo-opa.co/3DgIuo0

    The deadline for submission is Monday, 31 March 2025 at 11:59pm West Africa Time (WAT).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: University Research – Melting Antarctic ice sheets will slow Earth’s strongest ocean current – Melbourne University

    Source:  University of Melbourne

    Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world’s strongest ocean current, researchers have found.

    This melting has implications for global climate indicators, including sea level rise, ocean warming and viability of marine ecosystems.

    The researchers, from the University of Melbourne and NORCE Norway Research Centre, have shown the current slowing by around 20 per cent by 2050 in a high carbon emissions scenario.

    This influx of fresh water into the Southern Ocean is expected to change the properties, such as density (salinity), of the ocean and its circulation patterns.

    University of Melbourne researchers, fluid mechanist Associate Professor Bishakhdatta Gayen and climate scientist Dr Taimoor Sohail, and oceanographer Dr Andreas Klocker from the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, undertook the research. They analysed a high-resolution ocean and sea ice simulation of ocean currents, heat transport and other factors to diagnose the impact of changing temperature, saltiness and wind conditions. (ref. https://www.norceresearch.no/en/ )

    Associate Professor Gayen said: “The ocean is extremely complex and finely balanced. If this current ‘engine’ breaks down, there could be severe consequences. These could include more climate variability, with greater extremes in certain regions, and accelerated global warming due to a reduction in the ocean’s capacity to act as a carbon sink.”

    The ACC works as a barrier to invasive species, like rafts of southern bull kelp that ride the currents, or marine-borne animals like shrimp or molluscs, from other continents reaching Antarctica.

    As the ACC slows and weakens, there is a higher likelihood such species will make their way onto the fragile Antarctic continent. This will potentially have a severe impact on the food web, which may, for example, change the available diet of Antarctic penguins.

    The ACC is a crucial part of the world’s “ocean conveyor belt” and is more than four times stronger than the gulf stream. It moves water around the globe – linking the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ACC is the main mechanism for the exchange of heat, carbon dioxide, chemicals and biology across these ocean basins.

    The researchers used Australia’s fastest supercomputer and climate simulator, GADI, located at Access National Research Infrastructure  in Canberra. The underlying model (ACCESS-OM2-01) has been developed over a number of years by Australian researchers from various universities. (ref. https://www.access-nri.org.au/ )

    The projections explored in this analysis were conducted by a research team based at UNSW, who found that the transport of ocean water from the surface to the deep may also slow in the future. (ref. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05762-w )

    Dr Sohail said it is predicted the slow-down will be similar under the lower emissions scenario, provided ice melting accelerates as predicted in other studies.

    “The 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Many scientists agree we have already reached this 1.5 degree target, and it is likely to get hotter, with flow-on impacts on Antarctic ice melting,” Dr Sohail said.(ref. https://theconversation.com/earth-is-already-shooting-through-the-1-5-c-global-warming-limit-two-major-studies-show-249133 )

    “Concerted efforts to limit global warming (by reducing carbon emissions) will limit Antarctic ice melting, averting the projected ACC slowdown.”

    Published in Environmental Research Letters today, the research reveals the impact of ice melting and ocean warming on the ACC is more complex than previously thought.

    “The melting ice sheets dump vast quantities of fresh water into the salty ocean. This sudden change in ocean ‘salinity’ has a series of consequences. These include the weakening of the sinking of surface ocean water to the deep (called the Antarctic Bottom Water), and, based on this study, a weakening of the strong ocean jet that surrounds Antarctica,” Associate Professor Gayen said.

    Associate Professor Gayen said this new research contrasts with previous studies, which suggested the ACC may be accelerating.

    “Ocean models have historically been unable to adequately resolve the small-scale processes that control current strength. This model resolves such processes, and shows a mechanism through which the ACC is projected to actually slow-down in the future. However, further observational and modelling studies of this poorly-observed region are necessary to definitively discern the current’s response to climate change,” he said.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Higher meat export prices boost terms of trade – Stats NZ media and information release: International trade: December 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Higher meat export prices boost terms of trade – 3 March 2025 – Export prices increased more than import prices in the December 2024 quarter, which led to a 3.1 percent rise in the terms of trade, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    The terms of trade represent the ratio of export prices to import prices. They can be interpreted as a measure of New Zealand’s purchasing power on the international stage and as an indicator of the relative strength of the New Zealand economy.

    The total export price index rose 3.2 percent and the import price index rose 0.1 percent in the December 2024 quarter, compared with the September 2024 quarter.

    Export prices for meat products, which are New Zealand’s second largest export commodity by value, rose 6.8 percent in the December quarter. Lamb prices rose 7.0 percent, while beef and veal prices rose 6.1 percent.

    Files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Pacific – On Marshall Islands Remembrance Day, Greenpeace calls for nuclear justice and reparations from the United States

    Source: Greenpeace

    Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1 March 2025 – Seventy-one years since the most powerful nuclear weapons tests ever conducted were unleashed across the Marshall Islands by the United States, Greenpeace is calling for the US government to comply with Marshallese demands for recognition and nuclear justice.
    On 1 March 1954, the Castle Bravo nuclear bomb was detonated on Bikini Atoll – the explosion 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. On Rongelap Atoll, 150 kilometers away, radioactive fallout rained onto the inhabited island, with children mistaking it as snow.
    Today, communities continue to endure the physical, economic, and cultural fallout of the nuclear tests; compensation from the US has fallen far short of expectations for the Marshallese people who are yet to receive an apology; and the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis threaten further displacement of communities.[1]
    “The Marshall Islands bears the deepest scars of a dark legacy – nuclear contamination, forced displacement, and premeditated human experimentation at the hands of the U.S. government.
    To this day, its people continue to grapple with this injustice, all while standing on the frontlines of the climate crisis – facing yet another wave of displacement and devastation for a catastrophe they did not create,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Shiva Gounden.
    “But the Marshallese people and their government are not just survivors-they are warriors for justice, among the most powerful voices demanding bold action, accountability, and reparations on the global stage. Those who have inflicted unimaginable harm on the Marshallese must be held to account and made to pay for the devastation they caused. Greenpeace stands unwaveringly beside Marshallese communities in their fight for justice. Jimwe im Maron”
    To mark the Marshall Islands’ Remembrance Day, the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior is flying the Marshall Islands flag at half-mast, in solidarity with those who lost their lives and are suffering ongoing trauma as a result of the US government’s nuclear weapons testing.
    The Rainbow Warrior is currently in transit to the Marshall Islands where a mission led by Greenpeace will conduct independent scientific research across the country, the results of which will eventually be given to the National Nuclear Commission to support the Marshallese government’s ongoing legal proceedings with the US and at the UN.[2] The trip also marks 40 years since Greenpeace’s original Rainbow Warrior evacuated the people of Rongelap after toxic nuclear fallout rendered their ancestral lands uninhabitable.
    “The immediate effects of the Bravo bomb on 1 March were harrowing. Hours after exposure, many people fell ill – skin peeling off, burning sensation in their eyes, their stomachs were churning in pain. Mothers watched as their children’s hair fell to the ground and blisters devoured their bodies overnight,” says Ariana Tibon Kilma, Chairperson at Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission.
    “Without their consent, the United States government enrolled them as ‘test subjects’ in a top secret medical study on the effects of radiation on human beings – a study that continued for 40 years. Today on Remembrance Day the trauma of Bravo continues for the remaining survivors and their descendents – this is a legacy not only of suffering, loss, and frustration, but also of strength, unity, and unwavering commitment to justice, truth and accountability.”
    The new Rainbow Warrior will arrive in the Marshall Islands in early March. Alongside the government of the Marshall Islands, Greenpeace will lead an independent scientific mission into the ongoing impacts of the US weapons testing program. Travelling across the country, Greenpeace will reaffirm its solidarity with the Marshallese people – now facing further harm and displacement from the climate crisis, and the emerging threat of deep sea mining in the Pacific.
    Notes

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – KOF Economic Barometer declines but remains above its medium-term average

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    In February, the KOF Economic Barometer decreases. After an increase in the previous months, it remains above its medium-term average. While faced with headwinds, the Swiss Economy shows a robust outlook.

    The KOF Economic Barometer decreases by 1.3 points to 101.7 in February (after revised 103 in January). Except for the construction industry, all production-side indicator bundles included in the KOF Economic Barometer are under pressure, with the indicator bundles for manufacturing and other services weakening in particular. However, the demand-side indicator bundles for foreign demand and private consumption are able to slightly cushion the negative developments.

    In the producing industry (manufacturing and construction), the sub-indicators for stockpiling of intermediate products and for the general business situation show negative developments. The sub-indicators for production activity, for the assessment of production barriers, and for profits are slowing down slightly. Positive developments are signaled by the sub-indicators for order backlogs, for the competitive situation, as well as for exports.

    Within the manufacturing industry, particularly the paper and printing industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, the wood, glass, stone and earth segment, as well as machinery and equipment manufacturing all experience a setback. A more favourable outlook, however, is shown by both the electrical industry and the metal industry.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Korea Expert Jean Lee Named East-West Center’s Inaugural Presidential Chair

    Source: East-West Center

    HONOLULU (Feb. 27, 2025) – The East-West Center (EWC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean H. Lee as the Center’s inaugural Presidential Chair. This prestigious position is funded through the Charles Morrison Endowed Fund, made possible by a private donor in recognition of former EWC President Charles E. Morrison’s exceptional service to the Center.

    The establishment of the Presidential Chair underscores EWC’s commitment to seeking out exceptional leaders who will drive transformative discoveries and inspire innovation across the Center’s endeavors. In this role, Lee will work closely with the EWC president to pursue interdisciplinary initiatives that advance the Center’s federally mandated mission of fostering cooperative study, research, and dialogue centered on US relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Lee, who first joined EWC in 2023 as a visiting fellow, brings a distinguished career as an award-winning journalist, commentator, and expert on North Korea. Co-host of the Peabody Award-nominated podcast The Lazarus Heistfor the BBC World Service, Lee’s extensive experience includes her tenure as the Associated Press bureau chief for the Korean Peninsula, where she became the first American reporter to join Pyongyang’s foreign press corps. Her groundbreaking work includes opening AP’s Pyongyang bureau in 2012, producing exclusive, award-winning coverage of North Korea.
     
    Lee’s career reflects her commitment to fostering global understanding, with reporting assignments spanning Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Africa and North America. As a policy expert, she has held leadership positions at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where she served as director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy, and is an active member of the Council of Korean Americans and the National Committee on North Korea. A respected analyst and sought-after speaker, she has been invited to testify before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and speak at the Aspen Security Forum, and regularly provides analysis to major media outlets and documentaries exploring Korea issues.

    “This appointment is a testament to the importance of private philanthropic support in advancing EWC’s mission during a pivotal time,” said EWC Interim President Dr. James K. Scott. “We are grateful to the private donor whose dedicated support has enabled Center to recruit an internationally known authority of Jean Lee’s caliber as our inaugural Presidential Chair. Her experience and expertise will be vital in helping the Center fulfill our collaborative mission while rising to meet the needs of a fast-changing region and world.”

    For more information about the East-West Center and its programs, please visit www.EastWestCenter.org

    For more information about the East-West Center Foundation, please visit Give.EastWestCenter.org
     
    The EAST-WEST CENTER promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: University Research – SMART Researchers Pioneer First-of-its-Kind Nanosensor for Real-Time Iron Detection in Plants

    Source: Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)

    • This is the first nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between two different forms of iron, Fe(II) and Fe(III), in living plants with high spatial and temporal resolution 
    • This innovation enables real-time, non-destructive iron tracking within plant tissues across different plant species, optimising plant nutrient management, reducing fertiliser waste, and improving crop health
    • The new nanosensor also has potential applications beyond agriculture, in environmental monitoring, food safety, and health sciences, particularly in studying iron metabolism, iron deficiency, iron-related diseases in humans and animals.

    Singapore, 28 February 2025 – Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have developed a groundbreaking near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between iron forms – Fe(II) and Fe(III) – in living plants.

    Iron is crucial for plant health, supporting photosynthesis, respiration, and enzyme function. It primarily exists in two forms: Fe(II), which is readily available for plants to absorb and use, and Fe(III), which must first be converted into Fe(II) before plants can utilise it effectively. Traditional methods only measure total iron, missing the distinction between these forms – a key factor in plant nutrition. Distinguishing between Fe(II) and Fe(III) provides insights into iron uptake efficiency, helps diagnose deficiencies or toxicities, and enables precise fertilisation strategies in agriculture, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving crop productivity.

    This first-of-its-kind nanosensor by SMART researchers enables real-time, non-destructive monitoring of iron uptake, transport, and changes between its different forms, such as Fe(II) and Fe(III) – providing precise and detailed observations of iron dynamics. Its high spatial resolution allows precise localisation of iron in plant tissues or subcellular compartments, enabling the measuring of even minute changes in iron levels within plants – these minute changes can inform how a plant handles stress and uses nutrients.

    DiSTAP researchers develop sensors for rapid iron detection and monitoring in plants, enabling precision agriculture and sustainable crop management. Credit: SMART DiSTAP

    Traditional detection methods are destructive or limited to a single form of iron. This new technology enables the diagnosis of deficiencies and optimisation of fertilisation strategies. By identifying insufficient or excessive iron intake, adjustments can be made to enhance plant health, reduce waste, and support more sustainable agriculture. While the nanosensor was tested on spinach and bok choy, it is species-agnostic, allowing it to be applied across a diverse range of plant species without genetic modification. This capability enhances our understanding of iron dynamics in various ecological settings, providing comprehensive insights into plant health and nutrient management. As a result, it serves as a valuable tool for both fundamental plant research and agricultural applications, supporting precision nutrient management, reducing fertiliser waste, and improving crop health.

    “Iron is essential for plant growth and development, but monitoring its levels in plants has been a challenge. This breakthrough sensor is the first of its kind to detect both Fe(II) and Fe(III) in living plants with real-time, high-resolution imaging. With this technology, we can ensure plants receive the right amount of iron, improving crop health and agricultural sustainability,” said Dr Duc Thinh Khong, DiSTAP research scientist and co-lead author of the paper.
    “In enabling non-destructive real-time tracking of iron speciation in plants, this sensor opens new avenues for understanding plant iron metabolism and the implications of different iron variations for plants. Such knowledge will help guide the development of tailored management approaches to improve crop yield and more cost-effective soil fertilisation strategies,” said Dr Grace Tan, TLL Research Scientist and co-lead author of the paper.
    The research, recently published in Nano Letters and titled, “Nanosensor for Fe(II) and Fe(III) Allowing Spatiotemporal Sensing in Planta”, builds upon SMART DiSTAP’s established expertise in plant nanobionics, leveraging the Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe) platform pioneered by the Strano Lab at SMART DiSTAP and MIT. The new nanosensor features single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) wrapped in a negatively charged fluorescent polymer, forming a helical corona phase structure that interacts differently with Fe(II) and Fe(III). 
    Upon introduction into plant tissues and interaction with iron, the sensor emits distinct NIR fluorescence signals based on the iron type, enabling real-time tracking of iron movement and chemical changes.
    The CoPhMoRe technique was used to develop highly selective fluorescent responses, allowing precise detection of iron oxidation states. The NIR fluorescence of SWNTs offers superior sensitivity, selectivity, and tissue transparency while minimising interference, making it more effective than conventional fluorescent sensors. This capability allows researchers to track iron movement and chemical changes in real-time using NIR imaging. 
    “This sensor provides a powerful tool to study plant metabolism, nutrient transport, and stress responses. It supports optimised fertiliser use, reduces costs and environmental impact, and contributes to more nutritious crops, better food security, and sustainable farming practices,” said Professor Daisuke Urano, TLL Senior Principal Investigator, DiSTAP Principal Investigator, NUS Adjunct Assistant Professor, and co-corresponding author of the paper.
    “This set of sensors gives us access to an important type of signalling in plants, and a critical nutrient necessary for plants to make chlorophyll. This new tool will not just help farmers to detect nutrient deficiency but also give access to certain messages within the plant. It expands our ability to understand the plant response to its growth environment,” said Professor Michael Strano, DiSTAP Co-Lead Principal Investigator, Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, and co-corresponding author of the paper.
    Beyond agriculture, this nanosensor holds promise for environmental monitoring, food safety, and health sciences, particularly in studying iron metabolism, iron deficiency, and iron-related diseases in humans and animals. Future research will focus on leveraging this nanosensor to advance fundamental plant studies on iron homeostasis, nutrient signaling, and redox dynamics. Efforts are also underway to integrate the nanosensor into automated nutrient management systems for hydroponic and soil-based farming and expand its functionality to detect other essential micronutrients. These advancements aim to enhance sustainability, precision, and efficiency in agriculture.
    The research is carried out by SMART, and supported by the National Research Foundation under its Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –