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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Woking Borough Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ fourth report

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Woking Borough Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ fourth report

    Letter from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, in response to Commissioners’ fourth report.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Woking Borough Council: Ministerial response to Commissioners’ fourth report

    PDF, 153 KB, 1 page

    Details

    Copy of the letter from Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, to the Woking Commissioners in response to their fourth report. The Minister is reassured by Commissioners’ comments that the Council is committed to achieving the objectives that the Council have worked with Commissioners to set, which will radically overhaul the operation of the Council.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mining in Motion: Uniting Industry Leaders for a Sustainable Mining Future

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

    ACCRA, Ghana, March 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The inaugural Mining in Motion Summit (MiningInMotionSummit.com) – Ghana’s premier event bringing together small-scale gold miners, policymakers and global partners – takes place under the theme Sustainable Mining & Local Growth – Leveraging Resources for Global Impact. Taking place from June 2–4, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, the event will feature high-level panel discussions, project showcases and exclusive networking opportunities, spotlighting lucrative prospects within Ghana’s mining sector.

    Global industry leaders and sustainability experts, including the World Bank, World Gold Council, the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS, will explore how responsible mining practices can drive economic growth, enhance community well-being and support global economic stability. Discussions will focus on how mining investments create high returns, generate employment and strengthen key industries connected to the sector.

    Ghana is prioritizing mining as a key driver of socioeconomic development. The country seeks to enhance the contribution of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), in driving industry growth and economic expansion. The ASGM sector is a pillar of Ghana’s economy, generating over $5 billion (https://apo-opa.co/3F4IIPv) in export revenue in 2024 and accounting for 35% of the country’s total gold production. The sector supports over 1 million direct jobs and indirectly impacts 4 million people, making it one of Ghana’s largest employment sources. Mining in Motion will highlight Ghana’s success as a model for sustainable artisanal mining, emphasizing its role in economic stability and community development. Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom, will address the importance of traditional leadership in shaping the ASGM industry. The event will spotlight key topics within Ghana’s mining sector, including the newly established Gold Board which aims to maximize revenue from ASGM, responsible resource management and value addition.

    Apart from the contribution made by the ASGM sector alone, the role played by stakeholders across the entire mining value chain to GDP growth is immense. According to the International Monetary Fund (https://apo-opa.co/3XqoQwI), Ghana’s GDP is projected to grow by 1.5% in 2025, fueled by continued expansion in the mining sector. Research firm Deloitte predicts a 3% increase in Ghana’s gold output in 2025 compared to 2024 levels, a milestone that will cement the country’s role as a major gold exporter. To sustain this growth, the Ghanaian government has strengthened partnerships with global exploration and production firms and financial institutions, intensifying efforts to boost mineral exploration and production. Several major projects are set for commissioning in 2025 and 2026, including the 358,000 ounces per annum Cardinal Namdini Mine, the 325,000 ounces Ahafo North Project and the 163,000 ounces Black Volta Gold Project.

    As Ghana continues to expand its global mining footprint, Mining in Motion will highlight the industry’s contribution to economic growth, both locally and internationally. H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, will present the country’s socioeconomic vision, showcasing key achievements in mining sector growth and sustainability initiatives.

    Industry leaders will examine the collaboration between large-scale mining companies and ASGM players, fostering synergies that drive sector-wide growth.

    Stay informed about the latest advancements, network with industry leaders, and engage in critical discussions on key issues impacting ASGM and medium to large scale mining in Ghana. Secure your spot at the Mining in Motion 2025 Summit by visiting MiningInMotionSummit.com. For sponsorship opportunities or delegate participation, contact Sales@ashantigreeninitiative.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Private prosecutors face greater transparency and accountability over unregulated or unlawful activity following a consultation to overhaul the current system.

    • Consultation launched today (6 March) on reforming private prosecutions and Single Justice Procedure
    • Options include a mandatory code of practice, inspections and requirement to consider mitigating circumstances
    • Announcement follows systematic failures, including the Post Office Horizon scandal and builds on the Government’s pledge to restore confidence in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change

    Private prosecutions allow people to pursue justice where state prosecutors cannot, or choose not, to prosecute. However, the improper actions of some organisations have resulted in serious and often life-changing miscarriages of justice. Examples include the Post Office Horizon scandal, which saw failings in the prosecutorial practices leading to hundreds of innocent postmasters being wrongfully convicted.

    Thousands of people have also been handed criminal convictions for legitimate mistakes such as unpaid bills and purchasing the wrong train ticket. This includes situations where there have been strong personal mitigating factors, meaning the cases were not pursued in the public interest.

    The government is calling for views on reforms which will enable better oversight and regulation of these prosecutors to prevent such failures in the future. This builds on the government’s broader efforts to restore public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, said:

    Recent catastrophic failures in private prosecutions have highlighted that our current system is open to abuse. That cannot be allowed to continue.

    We will listen carefully to the feedback from this consultation and develop stronger safeguards for the public to restore confidence in our justice system.

    Following proposals made by the Justice Select Committee, the consultation aims to set consistent standards and ensure accountability to improve the behaviour and practice of prosecutors.

    Consultation proposals include the introduction of a mandatory code of practice, establishing an inspection regime, and putting in place a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    To make these prosecutions more transparent, measures could also include a requirement for organisations and agencies to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) before bringing a private prosecution, and to publish data on their prosecutions.

    The consultation will also look at how the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) can be improved to ensure all cases brought are in the public interest. Suggested changes include requirements for SJP prosecutors to engage with defendants to assess their vulnerability, and to consider their personal and mitigating circumstances before pursuing a prosecution that might lead to a criminal record.

    Justice Minister, Sarah Sackman KC, said:

    Fairness and transparency are at the heart of our justice system. However, certain organisations have been allowed to bring life-changing and unjust prosecutions affecting thousands of people, without robust checks and balances. 

    It is time to hold prosecutors to account and provide oversight which protects ordinary people. We will ensure that prosecutions are always fair and in the public interest.

    The consultation’s proposals will apply to all private and non-criminal justice agency prosecutors. This includes state-run agencies such as the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency and TV Licensing, as well as companies and private organisations such as Northern Rail.

    Further information

    • The consultation will close on 8th May.
    • Private prosecutors, as defined in the consultation, excludes those categorised as ‘criminal justice agencies’ – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), police (including British Transport Police), and the National Crime Agency (NCA). For the purposes of this consultation, all other organisations are referred to as ‘private prosecutors’. This includes public agencies that bring prosecutions as well as private or third sector bodies.
    • Individuals who bring private prosecutions on their own behalf are not within the scope of the proposals discussed in the consultation.
    • SJP sees a single magistrate, supported by a legally qualified adviser, try adult summary-only cases, and is important for a streamlined legal process and swift justice.
    • The Office for Rail and Road is conducting a separate independent review of train operators’ revenue protection enforcement practices, including the use of prosecutions. This will report back in May and will support the consultation announced today.

    The Government is consulting on the following policy options:

    • The introduction of a mandatory code of practice for private prosecutors, including requirements for private prosecutors to maintain separation of investigatory and prosecutorial functions, and a requirement to fully consider whether prosecutions are in the public interest.
    • The introduction of mandatory inspections of private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of additional requirements for prosecutors using the Single Justice Procedure to engage with the defendant and assess their vulnerability before commencing a prosecution.
    • The introduction of a requirement for all mitigation provided to the court to be sent to prosecutors before the case is decided by a magistrate.
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service when the number of prosecutions they bring per annum reaches a specified threshold
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors who bring a specified number of prosecutions per annum to publish their own data on these prosecutions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Commission on Children mtg held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired the 24th meeting of the Commission on Children, at which members were briefed about the medical and healthcare services for children as well as the city’s latest drug situation.

     

    The Health Bureau, Department of Health and related agencies have been providing a range of services to cater for the needs and development of children at different stages of growth, from infancy to adolescence.

     

    The Government will continue to enhance such medical and healthcare services to strive for children’s healthy growth, with a view to achieving the goal of “prevention is better than cure”. 

               

    Members also received an update by the Security Bureau’s Narcotics Division about the Government’s anti-drug strategies, the recent abuse situation of the “space oil drug”, and education and publicity programmes to raise students’ awareness about the harms of drugs.

     

    The division made it clear that it will continue its efforts to build an anti-drug culture in schools, together with government departments, non-government organisations and the community.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: With rain incoming, California takes action to protect fire-impacted communities in Los Angeles County

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 5, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom has directed his Office of Emergency Services to coordinate with key partners during this next round of winter weather to strategically preposition critical resources to protect the public. 

    Los Angeles, California – As another round of winter weather is forecasted to make its way across California starting today, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to coordinate with key partners to strategically preposition critical resources to protect the public. Bringing the potential for rain that could increase the likelihood of debris flow risk in the Eaton and Palisades fire areas in Los Angeles, Cal OES has prepositioned the following Fire and Rescue resources in the area:

    • 5 Local Government Engines
    • 1 Local Government Dispatcher
    • 4 Local Government Rescue swimmers

    Actively working to keep communities safe, the state continues coordinating with Los Angeles City Emergency Management Department and the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management to ensure their region has the resources it needs ahead of this inclement weather.

    The National Weather Service has forecasted light to moderate rain Tuesday through Thursday with a chance of isolated thunderstorms for areas near burn scars in Los Angeles County.

    As a new round of storms moves toward our state, California remains ever ready to protect lives and keep our communities safe.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    In addition to the prepositioned resources, state specialized staff have continued their recovery coordination efforts in the Los Angeles area since the start of the fires. Together with other state, local and federal partners, crews stand ready for any weather impacts and have additional storm fighting resources readily available for timely response. Actions to protect communities also include:

    • The California Conservation Corps has 35 regional crews ready to respond.
    • Watershed materials are staged and remain available for local government use, including: K-rail, muscle wall, sock wattles and sandbags.
    • Los Angeles County Public Works is conducting 24-hour operations to clear debris basins and flood channels and will conduct 24-hour storm patrols to monitor vulnerable areas.

    Previously, the Governor directed state agencies to ensure Los Angeles communities were prepared during this storm season. The California National Guard cleared debris basins near burn scars, proactively removed 298,335 cubic yards of debris and materials from the Sierra Madre Villa Basin and Eaton Canyon Reservoir which worked as intended to protect homes from debris runoff. Additionally, Cal OES deployed over 120 miles of protective measures in an unprecedented effort to protect vulnerable communities.

    As the incoming storm rolls in, the state encourages residents to reduce injury risks from falling limbs and trees by staying inside, not driving through flooded roadways and preparing in advance for power outages.
     
    Residents in the affected counties are urged to stay informed and listen to local authorities about actions they should take including evacuation orders or safety recommendations. In burn scar areas, officials recommend preparing for possible sudden debris flows by having a go-bag packed and knowing evacuation routes.
     
    Go to ready.ca.gov for tips to prepare for the incoming storm.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wales’s Clean Energy Industry boosted by Minister Nia Griffith’s visit to Copenhagen

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Wales’s Clean Energy Industry boosted by Minister Nia Griffith’s visit to Copenhagen

    Minister highlights Wales’s natural resources, world-class energy sector and skilled workforce on visit to Denmark.

    Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith and His Majesty’s Ambassador to Denmark, Joëlle Jenny

    • Wales at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy mission.
    • Minister highlights Wales’s natural resources, world-class energy sector and skilled workforce on visit to Denmark.
    • Expansion of the renewable energy sector in Wales will help kickstart economic growth and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    Wales Office Minister, Dame Nia Griffith highlighted Wales’s pivotal role in the United Kingdom’s ambitious clean energy mission to Danish companies and potential investors on a trade mission to Copenhagen this week.

    Dame Nia’s three-day visit to the Danish capital came just one week after a major £600m investment deal in Welsh green energy projects between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Bute Energy and Green GEN Cymru was announced. The development of new onshore windfarms planned across Wales by Bute Energy is planned to create up to 2,000 jobs.

    The visit highlighted collaboration between Wales and Denmark in renewable energy projects, including Danish companies already investing in offshore wind off the North Wales coast and in the construction of turbines used in onshore and offshore projects across Wales.

    Currently, 50 per cent of electricity in Denmark is supplied by wind and solar power while making Britain a clean energy superpower is one of the UK Government’s key missions.

    The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government and industry partners to develop floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. This would see wind turbines built on floating platforms to take advantage of the wind direction and would play a crucial role in the UK Government’s mission to make Britian at clean energy superpower.

    This technology could support up to 5,300 new jobs and generate up to £1.4bn for the UK economy, helping to kickstart economic growth and raise living standards as set out in the UK Government’s Plan for Change. 

    During her visit, Minister Griffith held a series of meetings designed to bolster cooperation on clean energy and explore investment opportunities. The itinerary included visits to leading Danish institutions and companies, discussions on renewable energy projects, and participation in events celebrating St. David’s Day with a focus on promoting Wales as a hub for clean energy innovation.

    Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith said:

    There are tremendous opportunities for partners and investors in Denmark to work with us to boost the clean energy sector in Wales.

    I am determined to make sure we achieve our clean energy mission which will bring energy security, drive down energy bills, create good jobs, and help to protect future generations from the cost of climate breakdown.

    Tim Morris, Head of Communications for Associated British Ports, said:

    Ports in Wales and Denmark share the ambition to play a foundational role in enabling the energy transition.

    It was great to sit down with other port operators and key stakeholders from the wider energy sector from both countries to share knowledge and insights. ABP has strong links with Danish organisations such as Orsted and the Port of Esbjerg and we look forward to deepening these relationships.

    The visit showcased Wales’s potential as a global leader in renewable energy, particularly in floating offshore wind, and set the stage for future collaborations and investments that will drive economic growth and environmental sustainability.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI attends Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SITI attends Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (with photos)
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    The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, leading a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, continued his visit in Barcelona, Spain on March 5 (Barcelona time) and attended the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025.     Delivering a keynote speech at the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Ministerial Programme “2025+: A Tech Odyssey”, Professor Sun said Hong Kong is actively building a smart city and a digitally inclusive society to bridge digital divide. “One of the best testimonies to a city’s I&T achievement is the degree of digitalisation. In Hong Kong, all submissions and payments to the Government have electronic options. More than three millions of people are enjoying the convenience and efficiency of accessing government services and online identity verification through a mobile application called ‘iAM Smart’. A corporate version of ‘iAM Smart’, nick-named CorpID, is upcoming too.”     He noted that on digital inclusiveness, Hong Kong’s household broadband penetration rate and smartphone penetration rate are both approximately 97 per cent. The internet usage rate among Hong Kong citizens aged 65 and above rocketed, from 56 per cent in 2018 to 84 per cent in 2023, slightly ahead of the European rate of around 78 per cent.     He added, “As society becomes so digitally knitted and increasingly mobile, we recently launched the ‘Smart Silver’ Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders, to address the challenges of an increasingly aging society. This programme fortifies our digital inclusive efforts by providing elders with community-based training and on-the-spot helpdesks to enhance elders’ knowledge on new digital technologies and support their navigation by common mobile applications.”     During the Congress, Professor Sun met with the Head of Greater China of GSMA, Ms Sihan Bo Chen, to learn about the international mobile industry association’s work in developing the mobile communications industry and ecosystem as well as promoting industrial innovation in Asia.     Professor Sun visited various exhibition pavilions on-site, including the EU Quantum Flagship, to learn about the latest quantum technologies and initiatives of companies under the flagship.     Professor Sun and the delegation also visited the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. They were briefed on the technology of MareNostrum 5, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Spain, and quantum computers, the establishment of AI factories, and the innovative achievements in promoting the development of high-performance computing in Spain and the whole of Europe as well as applications.     Members of the delegation include heads from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Cyberport, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, as well as representatives of 24 local I&T enterprises or institutions. The HKSTPC and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council co-ordinated the participation of the I&T representatives of the enterprises and institutions at the MWC 2025.     Professor Sun Dong will proceed to Lisbon, Portugal on March 6 (Lisbon time) to continue his visit.

    Ends/Thursday, March 6, 2025Issued at HKT 9:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: About 1 000 musicians to present all-time classics in 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras concert series

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    About 1 000 musicians to present all-time classics in 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras concert series
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    Organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras concert series in April and May will present a wide selection of favourite classics from various eras, performed by about 1 000 young musicians from 17 bands, choirs and orchestras under the Music Office.     The Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings and the Kowloon Youth Strings will perform at the first concert, “String Music Boutique”, to be held at 3pm on April 6 (Sunday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium. They will perform fascinating string classics, including the second and fifth movements of Dvořák’s “Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22”, “Allegro Moderato” arranged by Monday from Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3”, the first movement of Haydn’s “Symphony No. 101, ‘The Clock’” arranged by Sieving, and Mendelssohn’s “String Symphony No. 2”, to mark the commencement of the Fiesta.     The second concert, “The Animated Melodies – Our Nostalgic Memories”, will be held at 7.30pm on April 12 (Saturday) at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. The Music Office Youth Brass Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band and the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band will perform a number of familiar soundtracks from animations, including the vibrant theme song “Courage 100%” from Nintama Rantarō, the heartwarming theme from “The Lion King”, and “Akira Toriyama Sakuhin Medley”, encompassing beloved all-time favourites such as the theme music from “Dragon Ball Z”, “Dr. Slump”, and “Dragon Ball GT”. This concert is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025.       The Chinese orchestras’ concert “Ode to Chinese Music” will be held at 7.30pm on April 26 (Saturday) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena. The Music Office Children’s Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra will showcase the unique charm of Chinese culture with various music favourites, including Peng Xiuwen’s “The City that Never Sleeps” arranged by Tam Yat-sing, Lo Leung-fai’s uplifting “Yu Diao”, Kwok Hang-kei’s “Ah Li Li” inspired by folk music, and excerpts from Wang Danhong’s magnificent “Hymn to the Sun”. This concert is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. 　　​     The Hong Kong Children’s Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, and the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band will perform at the concert “Musical Soundscapes” to be held at 3pm on April 27 (Sunday) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena. The repertoire includes the imaginative Standridge’s “Darklands Legends”, the festive and joyful “Dance of the Yao Tribe” by Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan, and Joe Hisaishi’s widely acclaimed “Howl’s Moving Castle-Symphonic Fantasy for Band”, taking audiences on a colourful music journey.　　     The finale concert, “Contrasting Resonance-London and Beyond”, featuring the Music Office Children’s Choir, the Music Office Youth Choir, and the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, will be held at 3pm on May 4 (Sunday) at the Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium. The young musicians will present enchanting music works, including the first and fourth movements of Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104, ‘London’”, Coates’ “London Suite”, Gilpin’s “All My Heart Shall Sing with Joy!”, and Gershwin’s “Love is Here to Stay”, allowing audiences to experience the unique charm of music through choral and orchestral works.      Tickets of the first concert are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk), and tickets for the other concerts will be available one month before the concert dates. Tickets are priced at $55, $70 and $80. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 7523 or 3842 7784 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/traineesevents/musicnconcert/2025-Fiesta.html.      This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trend-setter of Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats, including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, library and outreach activities. Offering an insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter, but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.      The Chinese orchestras’ concert “Ode to Chinese Music” is one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccpo.gov.hk/en/.

    Ends/Thursday, March 6, 2025Issued at HKT 15:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European Commission and EIB Group sign €2 billion guarantee under Ukraine Facility to support country’s reconstruction and resilience

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The agreement further supports urgent recovery and reconstruction projects in Ukraine.
    • The financing will target critical infrastructure, including energy, transport, housing, water and heating, to sustain essential services and economic stability.
    • Part of the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility, this investment supports Ukraine’s priorities: to build back better and advance its EU integration.
    • Additionally, an agreement signed between the EIB and the Government of Ukraine will deploy experts under the EIB’s JASPERS advisory programme to help accelerate the projects on the ground.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the European Commission signed a guarantee agreement at the EIB Group Forum that will allow the EIB to invest at least €2 billion in urgent recovery and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. Aligned with the Ukrainian government’s needs and priorities, this funding is part of the European Union’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility for the period 2024-2027. 

    The funds will support public sector operations across key sectors. Investments will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s energy networks, including energy grids, expanding hydropower and renewable energy production, and improving energy efficiency. They will also go toward modernising railways, improving urban public transport, and upgrading transport connectivity, including EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes and border crossing points along key export routes. In addition, the financing will help restore municipal infrastructure, such as water and heating systems, public lighting, as well schools, hospitals and higher education institutions. The first projects under this Ukraine Facility guarantee were announced during EIB President Nadia Calviño’s recent visit to Kyiv.

    To further support the implementation of EIB investments under the Ukraine Facility, the EIB and the government of Ukraine have also signed an agreement to deploy a team of advisory experts on the ground in Kyiv. This team will provide hands-on expertise to accelerate the preparation and execution of critical projects and strategic documents – starting with energy, transport and housing and expanding to other sectors, including Ukraine’s public investment management reform. This initiative is being delivered by EIB advisory through a €20 million JASPERS advisory package for Ukraine, jointly financed by the European Commission and the EIB’s EU for Ukraine advisory programme in 2024, ensuring targeted and effective support for the country’s recovery.

    EIB President Nadia Calviño said: “Ukraine’s security is the European Union’s security. We stand by the country. Today, we express that commitment once again with the signature of agreements with the European Commission and the Ukrainian government to step up our support. This will allow us to make crucial investments in the recovery of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and key public services, reinforcing the country’s resilience and its path towards integration into the European Union.”

     “Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction are at the heart of the Team Europe approach, and we are working together to ensure that vital investments reach the areas where they are needed most in Ukraine. This is not just about today. We are helping Ukraine build back better and lay the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable future within the EU,” added EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who oversees the Bank’s operations in Ukraine.

    European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said: “This guarantee agreement with the EIB underscores the European Union’s important role in supporting Ukraine as it faces the fourth year of Russia’s brutal war of aggression. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary and with the intensity required. This new guarantee will help Ukrainians rebuild their country. It will help restore water and heating systems, schools and hospitals.”

    European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis said: “The European Commission and the EIB Group have been working hand in hand to provide crucial support to Ukraine since Russia began its brutal, full-scale invasion. Today, our commitment to Ukraine has never been stronger. With this €2 billion agreement, we are providing further support for Ukraine’s urgent recovery and reconstruction needs, which includes repairing critical infrastructure and ensuring essential public services are maintained. The EU’s support for Ukraine is, and will remain, steadfast.”

    Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, said, “The European Union and its institutions, particularly the EIB, remain steadfast partners in Ukraine’s recovery. We are accelerating investment projects that address our most pressing strategic needs, ensuring rapid reconstruction and modernisation. Each project brings Ukraine closer to the EU, strengthening our resilience and integration into the European family. We also welcome the deployment of JASPERS advisory support on the ground, which will help ensure the efficient implementation of these critical investments.”

    Background information  

    The Ukraine Facility is the European Union’s financial assistance programme for Ukraine. During the 2024-2027 period, €50 billion will be allocated by the European Union to finance the state budget, stimulate investment and provide technical support in the implementation of the programme.

    The Guarantee Agreement signed today is covered by the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF), as part of Ukraine Facility. The UIF is designed to attract public and private investments for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is endowed with financial instruments totalling €9.3 billion, with €7.8 billion in loan guarantees and €1.5 billion in blended finance.

    The aim of the UIF is to mobilise €40 billion of investments for the recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation of Ukraine.

    The EIB in Ukraine 

    The EIB Group has been supporting Ukraine’s resilience, economy and efforts to rebuild since the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with €2.2 billion disbursed since the start of the war. In 2024, the Bank supported projects aimed at securing Ukraine’s energy supply, repairing critical infrastructure that has been damaged, and ensuring that essential services continue to be delivered across the country.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament Press Kit for the Special European Council of 6 March 2025

    Source: European Parliament

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the special summit, where she will address the heads of state or government at 12.30.

    European Council President António Costa convened the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

    On 24 February 2025, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement, saying “Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population. We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed. We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.”

    The three Presidents highlighted that “Ukraine is part of our European family” and that “the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.”. They said “the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula. We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail.”

    On 11 February, Parliament’s Conference of Presidents issued a statement on continuing the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. EP leaders reaffirmed their “steadfast solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and courage in defending their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The European Union must remain united in its commitment to support Ukraine that includes political, military, economic, humanitarian and financial assistance. (…) . We call on the EU and its member states to increase and speed up the delivery of its support, in particular of its military support and establish a legal regime allowing for the confiscation of Russian-owned assets frozen by the EU.”

    Also on 11 February, the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal sitting of the European Parliament. Welcoming Mr Stefanchuk, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment – united, unwavering, and resolute. We will keep pushing for peace. Peace must be just, it must be dignified, and it must be based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’.”

    In a resolution adopted on 23 January, MEPs condemn the Russian regime’s systematic falsification of historical arguments to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The text rejects historical claims by the Russian regime used to undermine Ukraine’s history and national identity as futile attempts to justify its ongoing illegal war. Parliament issues a strong call for the EU and its member states to increase and better coordinate their efforts to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference. This is essential, they say, to protect the integrity of democratic processes and strengthen the resilience of European societies.

    The resolution also calls on the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation campaigns championing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It urges EU countries to implement these sanctions thoroughly and to dedicate sufficient resources to effectively addressing hybrid warfare. MEPs also want the EU to step up its support for exiled independent Russian media to facilitate diverse voices in the Russian-language media.

    On 28 November 2024, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for more military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea. They condemn Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other international partners to respond accordingly.

    Insisting that “no negotiations about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine”, MEPs urge the EU to work towards achieving the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and identifying a peaceful solution to the war. The resolution also demands the Council extend its sanctions against Russia, particularly against sectors of special economic importance, such as the metallurgical, nuclear, chemical, agricultural and banking sectors, and on Russian raw materials.

    Extraordinary plenary session with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    On 19 November 2024, Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 1000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Opening the sitting, EP President Roberta Metsola said Parliament would stand with Ukraine until it has “freedom and real peace, for as long as it takes.” She added that the Ukrainian people’s sacrifice over the previous 1,000 days was not just for themselves but for every European’s freedom and way of life.

    In his address, President Zelenskyy thanked the EU for its support and said that Ukraine, all of Europe, and our partners in America and around the world have succeeded not only in “preventing Putin from taking Ukraine” but also in defending the freedom of all European nations. “Putin remains smaller than the united strength of Europe. I urge you not to forget this, and not to forget how much Europe is capable of achieving. We can surely push Russia towards a just peace. Peace is what we desire the most,” he added. President Zelenskyy concluded by saying: “No one can enjoy calm water amid the storm. We must do everything we can to end this war fairly and justly. 1,000 days of war is a tremendous challenge. We must make the next year the year of peace.”

    Statement by EP leaders marking 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

    Also on 19 November 2024, Parliament’s President and political group leaders adopted a statement marking 1,000 days of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. “We have started EU accession talks with Ukraine as it moves towards taking its rightful place in our European family. The gradual integration of Ukraine into the Union will be a central task for all EU institutions in this legislature, along with providing long-term financial and military assistance and much-needed support,” they said. They said, “The ultimate goal remains to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine on Ukraine’s terms, ensuring the safety and dignity of its people within a peaceful and stable Europe. Together, the democratic world must send a clear, simple message: we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.”

    Measures against the Russian “shadow fleet”

    In a resolution adopted on 14 November 2024, Parliament calls for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, which provides a key financial lifeline for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. MEPs demand measures against these vessels in the next EU sanctions packages, including all individual ships as well as their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies. They also call for the systematic sanctioning of vessels sailing through EU waters without known insurance and urge the EU to enhance its surveillance capabilities, especially drone and satellite monitoring, and to conduct targeted inspections at sea. MEPs want EU member states to designate ports capable of handling sanctioned vessels carrying crude oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and to seize illegal cargo without compensation.

    Financial assistance to Ukraine

    On 22 October 2024, MEPs approved an extraordinary loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine, to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets. Parliament endorsed the new macro-financial assistance (MFA) to help Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. This loan is the EU’s part of a G7 package agreed last June, to provide up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion) in financial support to Ukraine. The final amount the EU will contribute could be lower, depending on the size of the loans provided by other G7 partners.

    The Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, a newly established framework, will make future revenues from the frozen Russian Central Bank assets located in the EU available to Ukraine. These funds will help Ukraine service and repay the EU’s MFA loan as well as loans from other G7 partners. While the mechanism’s funds can be used to service and repay loans, Kyiv may allocate the MFA funds as it sees fit.

    Further reading

    Joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    EP Conference of Presidents’ statement on EU support for Ukraine

    Ruslan Stefanchuk: “Peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we stay strong”

    MEPs condemn Russia’s use of disinformation to justify its war in Ukraine

    More military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea

    Zelenskyy to MEPs: “We must end this war fairly and justly”

    1000 days: Statement on Ukraine by European Parliament’s leaders

    Parliament calls for an EU crackdown on Russia’s ’shadow fleet’

    Parliament approves up to €35 billion loan to Ukraine backed by Russian assets

    MEPs: Ukraine must be able to strike legitimate military targets in Russia

    Newly elected Parliament reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine

    MEPs approve trade support measures for Ukraine with protection for EU farmers

    Joint Statement by the Presidents of the European Union Institutions on the occasion of the 2 year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

    Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia

    EU sanctions: new rules to crack down on violations

    MEPs: EU must actively support Russia’s democratic opposition

    Yulia Navalnaya: “If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang”

    Debate 12 March 2024: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024

    Debate 13 March 2024: Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia

    Parliament wants tougher enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia

    A long-term solution for Ukraine’s funding needs

    How the EU is supporting Ukraine

    EU stands with Ukraine

    European Defence

    At the informal European Council meeting on defence on 3 February 2025, European Parliament President Metsola outlined her vision for how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. “More action, more financing, and more cooperation,” must be the EU’s goals, she argued.

    “We need to do more, much more, to ramp up defence production and increase our defence industrial readiness” she said, stressing that “the best investment in European security is investing in the security of Ukraine.”

    President Metsola argued “investing in security, is not just about protection – it is about boosting European competitiveness, driving growth, creating quality high-skilled jobs and powering everyday breakthroughs that improve how we live, work and connect. The real incentive lies in addressing fragmentation within our markets. Different rules, standards, and systems are putting up barriers and risk holding us back. It makes no sense for Europe to have 178 different weapons systems, when the United States has 30.”

    “Fragmentation costs us billions: between €25 and €75 billion are lost due to duplication and inefficiencies. The answer to this is staring us right in the face. Now is the time to move forward with a single market for defence. Europe must be responsible for its own security. No one else will do this for us,” she added

    In a report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on 30 January, MEPs push for the EU to strengthen its defence capacity against a backdrop of multiple security threats. The report emphasises the absolute need for the EU to recognise and meet the current challenges posed by multiple and evolving security threats. The EU, they say, needs to engage in new and better policies that will enable the European Union and its member states to strengthen their defence in Europe. Noting the limited progress and underinvestment in common European defence capability development, industrial capacity, and defence readiness since the establishment of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 25 years ago, MEPs restate need for a truly common European approach, policies and joint efforts in the area of defence. They say a paradigm shift in EU CSDP is essential to enable the European Union to act decisively in its neighbourhood, and on the global stage, to safeguard its values, interests, citizens, and promote its strategic objectives.

    On 13 January, MEPs discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond, as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    Regarding EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs quizzed Mr Rutte on the EU’s contribution. Defence is not limited to military issues, MEP said, adding that it includes international relations, as well as social, economic and diplomatic relations. MEPs also asked about future cooperation with the incoming Trump Administration and expressed concern about the role of Türkiye in NATO.

    Other MEPs pointed out that there are differences between NATO allies on defence issues, but unity is necessary to secure a sustainable peace in Ukraine. They also highlighted the difficult security situation in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans.

    Several MEPs enquired about the avoidance of duplication in military production as well accelerating the development of weapons, and others raised the issue of the need to tackle hybrid threats, particularly on the eastern flank of Europe and in the Western Balkans.

    Further reading

    “Europe must be responsible for its own security”, Metsola tells EU leaders

    MEPs call on Europe to strengthen its defence capacity

    Rutte to MEPs: “We are safe now, we might not be safe in five years”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the white paper on the future of European defence – B10-0151/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    B10‑0151/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the white paper on the future of European defence

    (2025/2565(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

    – having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, in particular Chapter 2, Section 2 thereof, which includes provisions on the common security and defence policy,

    – having regard to the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe of 1975,

    – having regard to the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Russian Federation of 1997,

    – having regard to the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security of 1994,

    – having regard to the Charter for European Security of 1999,

    – having regard to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949,

    – having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

    – having regard to the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence of 2022,

    – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘A new European Defence Industrial Strategy: Achieving EU readiness through a responsive and resilient European Defence Industry’ (JOIN(2024)0010),

    – having regard to the report by Mario Draghi of 9 September 2024 on the future of European competitiveness, specifically Chapter 4 on increasing security and reducing dependencies,

    – having regard to the report of its Committee on Foreign Affairs of 10 February 2025 on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024,

    A. whereas the world is undergoing a significant transformation towards a multipolar order in which major powers such as the United States, Russia and China will play a decisive role;

    B. whereas the United States has signalled a strategic shift in focus towards its own continent and its immediate vicinity, with potential implications for its long-term commitment to European security and NATO;

    C. whereas for decades, the EU has unconditionally followed the United States in foreign and security policies, while the primary burden of defending the European continent has rested with the United States – an approach that is no longer sustainable given current geopolitical developments;

    D. whereas the EU and its Member States currently lack a coherent strategy and clear situational awareness in order to effectively shape their foreign and defence policy;

    E. whereas years of neglecting independent defence capabilities have created substantial gaps in the security and defence readiness of the EU and its Member States;

    F. whereas hybrid warfare remains one of the most significant threats to European defence, independence and sovereignty;

    G. whereas, in this regard, the US Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), has for decades invested significant amounts in media organisations that engage in global influence, such as Internews Network and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP);

    H. whereas the European External Action Service currently collaborates with USAID on multiple projects;

    I. whereas Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have taken steps to dismantle these deep-state operations in the US by defunding USAID, NED and OCCRP, leading to mass lay-offs within these organisations;

    1. Calls on the Member States to acknowledge the new geopolitical reality and take decisive steps towards ensuring their own security and defence capabilities independently of external actors;

    2. Stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive security assessment, followed by the development of a robust strategy that clearly defines the EU’s independent foreign and defence policy objectives;

    3. Calls for the development of a new continental European defence concept focused solely on protecting the interests and territories of the EU Member States, without advancing further supranational oversight of defence policy;

    4. Proposes initial steps towards building a European Defence Alliance;

    5. Supports the strengthening of the European defence industry, research and funding mechanisms to enhance European autonomy in defence production; notes that all funding and cooperation mechanisms must remain intergovernmental and respect the sovereignty of each EU Member State;

    6. Welcomes the proposal to establish a new permanent decision-making body composed of the defence ministers of the Member States in order to consolidate European decision-making processes on security and defence matters; emphasises that this forum must not be vested with supranational decision-making powers;

    7. Emphasises that consolidating defence capabilities should not lead to the Europeanisation of national armed forces, but rather to streamlining and mutual support in areas where individual Member States cannot act effectively alone;

    8. Calls for an open debate on the recommendations of the Draghi report with regard to enhancing security and reducing dependencies, stressing the urgency of initiating this discussion at EU level;

    9. Stresses that negotiations on the future security architecture of Europe must involve all the relevant actors; calls for the EU to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to establish a realistic and sustainable European security framework;

    10. Reaffirms that all states have legitimate national security interests that must be respected; emphasises that no state should strengthen its security at the expense of another, in line with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act;

    11. Calls for strict adherence to the principle of non-interference and other universal norms of international law as a guiding principle for EU foreign and security policy;

    12. Expresses deep concern over the substantial financial influence exerted by USAID, NED and OCCRP over European media organisations; condemns, in this regard, the targeted media attacks orchestrated against multiple European politicians by these organisations in an apparent effort to manipulate electoral outcomes;

    13. Calls for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the extent of the involvement of USAID, NED and OCCRP in EU Member States’ elections and policymaking processes; calls on the Commission to conduct a full audit of all financial transactions between the EU institutions and USAID, OCCRP, the Open Society Foundations and NED, and to make these findings public;

    14. Demands that the European External Action Service immediately terminate all collaboration with USAID and reassess any remaining cooperation agreements with foreign entities engaged in political influence operations;

    15. Stresses that financial influence exerted by foreign governments over EU Member States’ elections and media constitutes an act of hybrid warfare against European sovereignty;

    16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the President of the Commission, the relevant members of the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary General of NATO, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Commission on Children convenes 24th meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 6) chaired the 24th meeting of the Commission on Children.
     
         At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on medical and healthcare services for children. The Health Bureau, the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and the Primary Healthcare Commission have been providing a range of healthcare and health services to cater for the needs and development of children at different stages of growth, from infancy to adolescence. The Government will continue to enhance the services to strive for the healthy growth of children with a view to achieving the goal of “prevention is better than cure”.  
                
         The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau also updated members on the latest drug situation in Hong Kong, including the Government’s anti-drug strategies, the recent abuse situation of the “space oil drug”, and preventive education and publicity programmes for students to raise their awareness about the harms of drugs. The ND will continue to collaborate with government departments, non-government organisations and the community to build an anti-drug culture in schools together and strengthen students’ resolve to resist drug temptation. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses Winter Tourism Program at Harsil, Uttarakhand

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses Winter Tourism Program at Harsil, Uttarakhand

    Blessed to be in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand once again: PM

    This decade is becoming the decade of Uttarakhand: PM

    Diversifying our tourism sector, making it perennial, is very important for Uttarakhand: PM

    There should not be any off season, tourism should be on in every season in Uttarakhand: PM

    Our governments at Center and state are working together to make Uttarakhand a developed state: PM

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 12:54PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Winter Tourism Program after flagging off a trek and bike rally at Harsil, Uttarakhand. He also performed pooja and darshan at the winter seat of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa. Addressing the gathering, he expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic incident in Mana village and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. He said the people of the nation stand in solidarity during this time of crisis, which has provided immense strength to the affected families.

    “The land of Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, is imbued with spiritual energy and blessed by the Char Dham and countless other sacred sites”, said the Prime Minister, highlighting that this region serves as the winter abode of the life-giving Maa Ganga. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to visit again and meet the people and their families, calling it a blessing. He emphasized that it is by Maa Ganga’s grace that he had the privilege of serving Uttarakhand for decades. “Maa Ganga’s blessings guided me to Kashi, where I now serve as a Member of Parliament”, said Shri Modi, recalling his statement in Kashi that Maa Ganga had called him and shared his recent realization that Maa Ganga has now embraced him as her own. The Prime Minister described this as Maa Ganga’s affection and love for her child, which brought him to her maternal home in Mukhwa village and had the honor of performing darshan and puja at Mukhimath-Mukhwa. Remarking on his visit to the land of Harsil, expressing his fond memories of the affection shown by the local women, whom he referred to as “Didi-Bhuliyas”, Shri Modi highlighted their thoughtful gestures of sending him Harsil’s rajma and other local products. He expressed his gratitude for their warmth, connection, and gifts. 

    The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Baba Kedarnath, where he had declared that, “this decade would be the decade of Uttarakhand”. He remarked that the strength behind those words came from Baba Kedarnath himself and highlighted that, with Baba Kedarnath’s blessings, this vision is gradually becoming a reality. Emphasizing that new avenues for Uttarakhand’s progress are opening up, fulfilling the aspirations that led to the state’s formation, Shri Modi noted that the commitments made for Uttarakhand’s development are being realized through continuous achievements and new milestones. He added, “winter tourism is a significant step in this direction, aiding in harnessing Uttarakhand’s economic potential” and congratulated the Uttarakhand government for this innovative effort and extended his best wishes for the state’s progress.

    “Diversifying and making the tourism sector a year-round activity is important and necessary for Uttarakhand”, said the Prime Minister, remarking that there should be no “off-season” in Uttarakhand, and tourism should thrive in every season. He mentioned that currently, tourism in the hills is seasonal, with a significant influx of tourists during March, April, May, and June. However, he added that the number of tourists drops drastically afterward, leaving most hotels, resorts, and homestays vacant during winters. He pointed out that this imbalance leads to economic stagnation for a large part of the year in Uttarakhand and also poses challenges to the environment.

    “Visiting Uttarakhand during winters offers a true glimpse of the divine aura of Devbhoomi”, said Shri Modi, highlighting the thrill of activities like trekking and skiing that winter tourism in the region provides. He stressed that winters hold special significance for religious journeys in Uttarakhand, with many sacred sites hosting unique rituals during this time. He pointed out the religious ceremonies in Mukhwa village as an integral part of the region’s ancient and remarkable traditions. The Prime Minister noted that the Uttarakhand government’s vision for year-round tourism will provide people with opportunities to connect with divine experiences. He underlined that this initiative will create year-round employment opportunities, significantly benefiting the local population and the youth of Uttarakhand.

    “Our governments at Center and state are working together to make Uttarakhand a developed state”, said the Prime Minister, remarking on the significant progress achieved in the past decade, including the Char Dham All-Weather Road, modern expressways, and the expansion of railways, air, and helicopter services in the state. He also mentioned that the Union Cabinet had recently approved the Kedarnath Ropeway Project and the Hemkund Ropeway Project. He noted that the Kedarnath Ropeway will reduce the travel time from 8-9 hours to approximately 30 minutes, making the journey more accessible, especially for the elderly and children. Shri Modi emphasized that thousands of crores of rupees will be invested in these ropeway projects. He extended his congratulations to Uttarakhand and the entire nation for these transformative initiatives.

    Underlining the focus on developing eco-log huts, convention centers, and helipad infrastructure in the hills, Shri Modi said, “tourism infrastructure is being newly developed in locations such as Timmer-Sain Mahadev, Mana village, and Jadung village”. He added that the Government has worked to ensure the erstwhile emptied villages of Mana and Jadung in 1962, have been restored. He noted that as a result, the number of tourists visiting Uttarakhand has increased significantly over the past decade. He shared that before 2014, an average of 18 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham Yatra annually, which has now risen to approximately 50 lakh pilgrims each year. The Prime Minister announced that this year’s budget includes provisions to develop 50 tourist destinations, granting hotels at these locations the status of infrastructure. He emphasized that this initiative will enhance facilities for tourists and promote local employment opportunities. 

    Emphasising the Government’s efforts to ensure that border areas of Uttarakhand also benefit from tourism, the Prime Minister said, “villages once referred to as the “last villages” are now being called the “first villages” of the country”. He highlighted the launch of the Vibrant Village Program for their development, under which 10 villages from this region have been included. He noted that efforts have begun to resettle Nelong and Jadung villages and mentioned the flagging off of a bike rally to Jadung from the event earlier. He also declared that those building homestays will be provided benefits under the Mudra Yojana. Shri Modi appreciated the Uttarakhand government’s focus on promoting homestays in the state. He highlighted that villages deprived of infrastructure for decades are now witnessing the opening of new homestays, which is boosting tourism and increasing the income of local residents. 

    Making a special appeal to people from all corners of the country, particularly the youth, Shri Modi highlighted that while much of the country experiences fog during winters, the hills offer the joy of basking in sunlight, which can be turned into a unique event. He suggested the concept of “Gham Tapo Tourism” in Garhwali, encouraging people from across the country to visit Uttarakhand during winters. He specifically urged the corporate world to participate in winter tourism by organizing meetings, conferences, and exhibitions in the region, emphasizing the vast potential of the MICE sector in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. The Prime Minister remarked that Uttarakhand provides opportunities for visitors to recharge and re-energize through yoga and Ayurveda. He also appealed to universities, private schools, and colleges to consider Uttarakhand for students’ winter trips.

    Pointing out the significant contribution of the wedding economy, worth thousands of crores, the Prime Minister reiterated his appeal to the people of the country to “Wed in India” and encouraged prioritizing Uttarakhand as a destination for winter weddings. He also expressed his expectations from the Indian film industry, noting that Uttarakhand has been awarded the title of the “Most Film-Friendly State.” He emphasized the rapid development of modern facilities in the region, making Uttarakhand an ideal destination for film shootings during winters.

    Shri Modi underscored the popularity of winter tourism in several countries and emphasized that Uttarakhand can learn from their experiences to promote its own winter tourism. He urged all stakeholders in Uttarakhand’s tourism sector, including hotels and resorts, to study these countries’ models. He called on the Uttarakhand government to actively implement actionable points derived from such studies. He stressed the need to promote local traditions, music, dance, and cuisine. The Prime Minister remarked that Uttarakhand’s hot springs can be developed into wellness spas, and serene, snow-covered areas can host winter yoga retreats, urging the Yoga gurus to arrange a yoga camp in Uttarakhand annually. He also suggested organizing special wildlife safaris during the winter season to establish a unique identity for Uttarakhand. He emphasized adopting a 360-degree approach and working at every level to achieve these goals.

    The Prime Minister emphasized that alongside developing facilities, spreading awareness is equally important and appealed to the country’s young content creators to play a vital role in promoting Uttarakhand’s winter tourism initiative. Mentioning the significant contribution of content creators in boosting the tourism sector, Shri Modi urged them to explore new destinations in Uttarakhand and share their experiences with the public. He suggested the State Government to organize a competition of making short films by content creators to promote tourism in Uttarakhand. He concluded by expressing confidence that the sector will witness rapid growth in the coming years and congratulated Uttarakhand for its year-round tourism campaign.

    The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Ajay Tamta were present among other dignitaries at the event. 

    Background

    The Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism programme this year. Thousands of devotees have already visited the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The programme is aimed to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays, tourism businesses, among others.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2108742) Visitor Counter : 83

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International conference focuses on role of PLI Schemes, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy

    Source: Government of India

    International conference focuses on role of PLI Schemes, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy

    Panel discussions highlight industrial policy evolution and global competitiveness amid evolving geopolitics

    WTO experts underscore key insights on trade policy and industrial policy linkages

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 12:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Discussions around shaping the contours of India’s industrial policy in light of the evolving geopolitical landscape, the role of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in driving manufacturing competitiveness, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy and creating resilient global supply chains was at the central of the international conference organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL).

    The international conference was based on the theme “Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness” organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with the Centre for International Trade and Business Laws, NALSAR University of Law and the World Trade Institute, University of Bern, together with the WTO India Chairs Programme. The international conference was held during 17th to 19th January 2025 at the NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.

    Importantly, the conference discussed the role of WTO disciplines in ensuring that industrial policy measures do not negate the core principle of the ruled-based international trading system. The conference featured key insights into the current geopolitical landscape and energy transition.

    The central theme of the conference ‘Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness’ was explored through a series of panel discussions and technical sessions. The inaugural sessions featured discussions on the resurgence and evolution of industrial policy, metrics to measure its impact, and their compatibility with WTO rules in a changing global context. Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head, CTIL, in his welcome speech, highlighted the relevance of the conference theme and the importance of green industrial policy in fostering innovation and technology in the current global context. This was followed by the presidential address delivered by Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law. Shri. Ujal Singh Bhatia and Professor Peter Vanden Bosche, former members of the WTO Appellate Body, also emphasised the need for an in-depth examination of the linkages between trade policy and industrial policy.

    Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, during his address highlighted that emerging economies can play a catalyzing role in energy transition and pioneer an economic transformation. The Secretary emphasised the role that India can play in the global critical raw material supply chains and underscored that any strategy for value chain integration must be focused on creating value within India, including creating employment opportunities. 

    In the plenary session, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission highlighted the global shift from free trade to protectionism in response to challenges from China’s rise and evolving U.S. policies. Shri. Ahluwalia emphasized the need for clear, cost-effective interventions in critical sectors, transparency in initiatives like PLIs, and adherence to WTO rules, as part of a balanced approach to security and economic priorities.

    Several renowned scholars and policy experts of in the field of international trade and policy including Dr. Werner Zdouc, former Director of the Appellate Body, Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri, Head Trade Policy, CII, Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Head, Centre for WTO Studies, Prof. Henry Gao, Professor, Singapore Management University, Professor Abhijit Das, former Head, Centre for WTO Studies, Dr. Alicia Gracia, Senior Fellow at Brugel, Dr. Isabelle Van Damme, Director, World Trade Institute, Dr. Rosmy Joan, Associate Professor, NALSAR University, among others spoke in the programme.

    In the inaugural session, CTIL launched its monthly investment law newsletter, ‘Investment Law Compass: Navigating through the Global Investment Framework’ which aims to highlight the developments in the investment law landscape and transform it into an accessible and insightful journey for enthusiasts and professionals alike. The newsletter will be available online at www.ctil.org.in.

    At the valedictory address, Professor James J Nedumpara reflected on the rich discussions on industrial policy and its various dimensions over the three days and highlighted that the conference was enriched by global participation. He extended his felicitations to the co-collaborators NALSAR and WTI and congratulated them on the successful conclusion of the Conference.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2108731) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Lead Chintan Shivir on Olympic Preparation & Sports Governance

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Lead Chintan Shivir on Olympic Preparation & Sports Governance

    States, Experts, and Stakeholders to Strategize India’s Journey to Global Sporting Excellence

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 12:05PM by PIB Delhi

    With a strategic vision for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and India’s ambitious bid to host the 2036 Summer Games, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, will chair a high-level Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad on March 7-8.

    The two-day brainstorming session, hosted at Kanha Shanti Vanam, will bring together sports ministers from various States/UTs, senior sports administrators, key government officials, and domain experts to exchange ideas and craft a roadmap for India’s emergence as a global sports powerhouse. The deliberations will focus on enhancing sports governance, grassroots talent identification, infrastructure development, inclusivity, and fostering collaborations.

    Dr. Mandaviya, who is spearheading Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to elevate India’s sporting landscape, will engage in strategic discussions with stakeholders on India’s Olympic ambitions and strengthening the sports ecosystem. State representatives will present their best practices and innovative models during the Chintan Shivir.

    Key Focus Areas of the Chintan Shivir:

    • Overview of various schemes of Government of India and Co-ordination with States/UTs
    • Sports Development & Sports Infrastructure Partnership with Corporates
    • Talent Search and Nurturing of Grass-root Talent
    • Promoting Good Governance in Sports
    • Deliberations on expanding Khelo India & Fit India
    • Encouraging Inclusivity in Sports
    • Welfare of Sportspersons & Coaches

    Emphasizing the significance of a collaborative and result-oriented approach, Dr. Mandaviya remarked, “The success of Indian athletes at the recent Uttarakhand National Games highlights our immense potential. Our goal is clear, which is, achieving Olympic excellence and making India a global sports power. By sharing ideas and best practices, we can ensure a structured and sustainable sporting framework. Hosting the Olympics is a national mission, and we must move forward together.”

    A critical aspect of the discussions will be leveraging the expertise of former athletes. Dr. Mandaviya has urged states to identify top sportspersons who can transition into coaching roles, bridging gaps in the sporting ecosystem and strengthening the talent development pipeline.

    This Chintan Shivir will serve as a catalyst for transformative changes in Indian sports ecosystem, setting the stage for long-term success on the global stage.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2108723) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to lead the celebration on International Women’s Day

    Source: Government of India

    President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to lead the celebration on International Women’s Day

    National level conference on theme “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat” being organised by Ministry of Women & Child Development on March 8, 2025

    High Level Panel Discussion to follow inaugural session

    Three technical sessions to be organized bringing together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance

    Unique Digital Media & Interactive Zone to showcase contributions of women in shaping a progressive India through real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits & storytelling initiatives

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 11:48AM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India will be celebrating the International Women’s Day on 8thMarch, 2025.  The Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) is holding a national level conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on the theme “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat”.  The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the National Conference. The event will also be graced by Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, and Minister of State, Smt. Savitri Thakur, along with senior officials and distinguished guests. On this occasion, mega campaign through #SheBuildsBharat is also being organised.

    The event will witness the participation of women officers from the armed forces and para military forces and  Delhi police along with My Bharat volunteers, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA workers, Self Help Group members etc. Additionally, lady officers from various Ministries/ Departments have been invited to participate in the event. The event will also mark the presence of representatives from international organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA etc.

    After the inaugural session, the day will continue with a valuable high Level Panel Discussion.

    On the sidelines of the above event, three technical sessions will be organized to bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance.

    1. Trailblazers and Luminaries – Looking Back and Forging Ahead on the 50th Anniversary of International Women’s Day

    This session will bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance to share their experiences and inspire future generations.

    1. Capitalizing on Women Power – Breakthroughs in Financial Inclusion

    This session will focus on financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and empowering women in the economy.

    1. Women in Leadership – Panchayat to Parliament

    A dedicated discussion on policies and frameworks to accelerate gender equality through political leadership.

    A unique Digital Media and Interactive Zone will engage participants through real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits, and storytelling initiatives, showcasing the contributions of women in shaping a progressive India.

    The proceedings will be livestreamed on Doordarshan, Webcast link, the Ministry of Women, and Child Development’s social media platforms and World Bank Live for  widespread reach and engagement.

    The Government of India, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, remains steadfast in its mission to empower women through transformative policies and initiatives. As India moves forward on the path of development, Nari Shakti will continue to be the cornerstone of a self-reliant and prosperous Bharat.

    https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153866&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1

    *****

    SS/MS

    (Release ID: 2108717) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment organizes Inaugural Batch of Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 11:21AM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, successfully inaugurated the first batch of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme. The initiative, launched by Capacity Building Commission, aims at fostering a stronger sense of Seva Bhav (spirit of service) among government officials who are  solution oriented, compassionate, and citizen-focused.

    The programme features four short training sessions (approximately 1.5 hours each), designed to encourage open discussions, teamwork, and practical problem-solving through service-oriented narratives. The Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme at the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment will go on from 5th to 11th March 2025 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

    The programme was inaugurated by Shri Amit Yadav, Secretary, DoSJE, who, in his address, emphasized the fundamental purpose of government service. He stared, “Many of us enter public service with a passion to make a difference. However, over time, daily routines and limited citizen interaction can make us lose sight of that purpose. This programme serves as a reminder of why we serve – to bring meaningful change in people’s lives. Every action taken by public servants contributes to the nation’s progress”.

    Further, Shri Yadav highlighted the importance of personal development and self-fulfilment in public service. He emphasized that citizen interaction is at the heart of governance, and how officials engage with the public, address concerns, and resolve issues plays a pivotal role in effective administration. Speaking on the philosophy of the programme’s name, he added, “‘Karmayogi’ signifies our duty—towards our nation, our department, our citizens and ourselves. This initiative is an opportunity for every officer to develop leadership skills, adopt a solution-oriented approach, and embrace Seva Bhav in their roles.”

    The training sessions are led by Master Trainers – Ms. Kajal Singh (Director) and Shri Puspendra Singh (Deputy Secretary), DoSJE, with support from Ms. Shipra Singh (Program Coordinator), Capacity Building Commission. The session witnessed active participation from attendees, who gained a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and its critical contribution to nation-building. The Vision and Mission of the department were discussed.

    Insights from the successful implementation of the nationwide welfare initiatives and campaigns were referenced while discussing the training modules, providing participants with practical, real-world context. Additionally, key aspects of the department’s role in policy formulation, grievance redressal, legal frameworks, and enhancing ease of access to social justice schemes were deliberated in alignment with the programme’s objectives. This approach enabled participants to connect the learnings of the programme with their day-to-day responsibilities.

    *****

    VM

    (Release ID: 2108710) Visitor Counter : 7

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Women’s Day 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    International Women’s Day 2025

    Empowered Women Empower the World

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 9:39AM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world on 8th March. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements across national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political boundaries. The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This year’s theme calls for action to unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and an inclusive future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

    Further, the year 2025 is a pivotal moment as it marks the 30thanniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide, transforming the women’s rights agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in social norms, stereotypes, and ideas stuck in the past.

    In India, the government has been actively working towards women’s empowerment and gender equality through various policies, schemes, and legislative measures. The country is witnessing a transition from women’s development to women-led development, ensuring equal participation in national progress. Women are playing a crucial role in shaping India’s socio-economic landscape, breaking barriers in education, health, digital inclusion, and leadership roles.

    On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged women across India to share their inspiring life journeys on the NaMo App Open Forum ahead of International Women’s Day. He praised the remarkable stories already submitted, highlighting the resilience and achievements of women from different walks of life. As a special initiative, he announced that selected women would take over his social media accounts on March 8 to amplify their voices and experiences. This initiative aims to celebrate women’s contributions and inspire others by showcasing their journey of empowerment, perseverance, and success.

    Constitutional and Legal Framework

    The Indian Constitution guarantees gender equality through provisions in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, and Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 14 ensures equality before the law, while Article 15 prohibits discrimination based on sex. Article 51(a)(e) encourages citizens to renounce practices derogatory to women’s dignity. The Directive Principles, particularly Articles 39 and 42, emphasize equal livelihood opportunities, equal pay, and maternity relief.

    India is a signatory to international treaties such as:

    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966)
    • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979)
    • Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)
    • United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003)
    • Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development

     

    Government Schemes for Women’s Upliftment

    1. Education

    Education is the key to women’s empowerment and economic independence. India has undertaken several initiatives to ensure that girls have equal access to quality education from primary schooling to higher education. Gender parity in education has improved significantly, with female enrolment surpassing male enrolment in recent years.

    • Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 ensures schools are within reach for all children.
    • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Focuses on improving the child sex ratio and promoting girls’ education.
    • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Supports school infrastructure and girl-friendly facilities.
    • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 prioritizes gender equity and inclusion in education.
    • Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Promote quality education for tribal girls
    • Female Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) has overtaken Male GER since 2017-18.
    • Female enrolment in higher education: 2.07 crore (2021-22), which is nearly 50% of the total number 4.33 crore.
    • The female to 100 male faculty ratio has also improved to 77 in 2021-22 from 63 in 2014-15.
    • Women in STEM: 42.57% (41.9 lakh) of total STEM enrolment.
    • STEM Initiatives:
      • Vigyan Jyoti (2020) promotes STEM education for girls in underrepresented areas.
    • Overseas Fellowship Scheme supports women scientists in global research opportunities.
    • National Digital Library, SWAYAM, and SWAYAM PRABHA ensure access to online learning.
    • Over 10 lakh girl students benefitted under various scholarships for STEM fields.
    • Skill Development Initiatives:
      • Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Women Industrial Training Institutes provide vocational and technical training to women.
      • Women Technology Parks (WTPs) serve as hubs for training and capacity building.

     

    2. Health and Nutrition

    Access to healthcare services is crucial for improving the well-being of women and reducing gender-based health disparities. The government has introduced several policies to ensure maternal and child health, nutrition, and medical support for women across all sections of society.

    • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers, with ₹17,362 crore disbursed to 3.81 crore women, as of January 2025.
    • Improved Maternal Health:
      • Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduced from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per lakh live births.
      • Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) decreased from 43 (2015) to 32 (2020).
      • Life expectancy for women increased to 71.4 years (2016-20), expected to reach 74.7 years by 2031-36.
    • Nutrition and Sanitation:
      • Jal Jeevan Mission provided potable tap water to 15.4 crore households, reducing health risks.
      • Swachh Bharat Mission led to the construction of 11.8 crore toilets, improving sanitation and hygiene.
      • Poshan Abhiyaan: Strengthens maternal and child nutrition programs
      • Over 10.3 crore clean cooking gas connections distributed under the Ujjwala Yojana.

     

    3. Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion

    Women’s participation in the workforce is a key driver of economic growth. The government has launched multiple initiatives to promote financial independence, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for women.

    • Women’s participation in major household decisions: Increased from 84% (2015) to 88.7% (2020).
    • Financial Inclusion:
      • PM Jan Dhan Yojana: Over 30.46 crore accounts (55% belonging to women) opened.
      • Stand-Up India Scheme: 84% of loans under ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore sanctioned to women entrepreneurs.
      • MUDRA Scheme: 69% of microloans given to women-led enterprises.
    • Self-Help Groups under NRLM: 10 crore (100 million) women connected to 9 million SHGs.
    • Bank Sakhis Model: 6,094 women banking correspondents processed transactions worth $40 million in 2020.
    • Employment and Leadership:
      • Women in Armed Forces: Entry into NDA, combat roles, and Sainik Schools.
      • Civil Aviation: India has over 15% women pilots, higher than the global average of 5%.
      • Working Women’s Hostels (Sakhi Niwas): 523 hostels benefiting 26,306 women.
    • Women Entrepreneurs in Startups: 10% of funds in the Small Industries Development Bank of India reserved for women-led startups

     

    4. Digital and Technological Empowerment

    In the digital era, access to technology and digital literacy are crucial for women’s socio-economic progress. The government has been proactive in ensuring women are part of the digital revolution through various initiatives.

    • Digital India Initiatives:
      • PMGDISHA (Prime Minister’s Digital Saksharta Abhiyan): 60 million rural citizens trained in digital literacy.
      • Common Service Centres (CSCs): 67,000 women entrepreneurs running digital service centers.
      • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Bridging healthcare accessibility through digital solutions.
      • SANKALP Hubs for Women Empowerment: Functioning in 742 districts across 35 States/UTs
    • Financial Technology and Inclusion:
      • Digital banking and Aadhaar-linked services ensure financial security for women.
      • Government e-marketplaces encourage female entrepreneurship and online businesses.

     

    5. Safety and Protection

    Ensuring women’s safety is a top priority for the Indian government. Several legislative measures, dedicated funds, and fast-track courts have been established to curb crimes against women and provide legal and institutional support.

    • Key Legal Frameworks:
      • Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: Enhanced penalties for crimes against women.
      • Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
      • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
      • POCSO Act, 2012: Strengthened laws against child abuse.
      • Ban on Triple Talaq (2019): Criminalizing instant divorce practices.
      • Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Penalizes dowry-related offenses.
      • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Protects minors from forced marriages.
    • Nirbhaya Fund Projects (₹11,298 crore allocated):
      • One Stop Centres (OSCs): 802 centers functional, assisting over 1 million women.
      • Emergency Response Support System (ERSS – 112): 38.34 crore calls handled.
      • Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): 750 operational courts, 408 exclusively for POCSO cases.
      • Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and cyber forensic labs for digital safety.
      • Safe City Projects: Implemented in 8 cities to enhance women’s safety.
      • 14,658 Women Help Desks in Police Stations, 13,743 headed by women.
    • Institutional and Legislative Reforms
      • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Strengthens provisions for gender justice.
      • Marital rape (for wives under 18) criminalized.
      • Enhanced punishment for sexual offenses and trafficking.
      • Witness protection and digital evidence admissibility improved.
      • Women’s representation in CAPFs: 33% reservation in select forces.
      • Nari Adalat: Piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and J&K, now expanding.

     

    Conclusion

    India has made remarkable progress in women’s empowerment through comprehensive policies, targeted schemes, and legal frameworks. From economic participation to safety, digital inclusion to education, the government’s initiatives have led to significant improvements in women’s lives. On this International Women’s Day, it is crucial to reaffirm the commitment to building an inclusive, gender-equal society where women play a central role in shaping the nation’s future. Sustained efforts in policy-making, community engagement, and digital inclusion will ensure that women continue to drive India’s growth story in the years to come.

    References

    Ministry of Women and Child Development

    https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-encourages-women-to-share-their-inspiring-life-journeys/

    https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background

    https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day

    Click here to see PDF.

    *****

    Santosh Kumar | Ritu Kataria | Rishita Aggarwal

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: King scallop temporary closure decision

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    King scallop temporary closure decision

    Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has today announced its decision on a temporary closure to fishing with dredges for king scallops in ICES areas 7d and Lyme Bay (7e) in 2025.

    The decision, designed to protect stocks during spawning, is based on extensive analysis of the latest scientific and economic evidence, responses to a consultation last year and wider engagement with stakeholders. 

    The decision is for a temporary closure in 2025 in: 

    • ICES division 7d for UK and EU vessels over 10 m in length from 1 July to 30 September 2025. 

    • Lyme Bay area of 7e (ICES rectangles 29E6, 29E7, 30E6 and 30E7) for UK and EU vessels over 12 m in length from 1 July to 30 September 2025. 

    The latest scientific analysis reveals that the population levels and health of king scallops in the closure area are in a improved state than in preceding years and could support a shorter closure period to support spawning. 

    The length of the closure this year has also been designed to reduce risks of king scallop fishers moving more of their fishing effort to other grounds which may not be able to support the increase in fishing without potentially harming sensitive species.  

    This closure length has sought to balance the environmental needs of the spawning stocks, with the socio-economic impacts expressed by stakeholders during the 2024 extended closure.  

    MMO has continued to permit under 10m vessels to fish in 7d and under 12m vessels to fish in the Lyme Bay area of 7e.  This decision is based on levels of scallop landings observed from these vessels, which at existing levels do not introduce significant risk to the aim of protecting stocks, whilst considering the importance of the inshore fleet to the local communities. 

    The closure will be enacted through a licence variation. Further information on a summary of responses received and reasoning behind the decision is available here.

    Stakeholders can send questions to MMO’s Fisheries Management Team at sustainablefisheries@marinemanagement.org.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AAIB Report: Extra EA-200, G-EEEK, 13 July 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    AAIB Report: Extra EA-200, G-EEEK, 13 July 2024

    Report into fatal accident involving an Extra EA-200 (G-EEEK), Spanhoe Airfield, Northamptonshire on 13 July 2024

    G-EEEK accident site

    After flying to Spanhoe Airfield, Northamptonshire, the pilot of G-EEEK pitched the aircraft into a vertical climb and completed a manoeuvre from which the aircraft entered an upright flat spin to the left. The aircraft was not recovered before it struck the ground, and the pilot was fatally injured.

    The investigation was unable to establish why the pilot flew such manoeuvres, unapproved and at low level. It was not possible to exclude a control restriction or a pilot incapacitation for the lack of sufficient recovery before the aircraft struck the ground.

    Read the report.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New exhibition celebrating kinship care in the Capital opens at the Museum of Edinburgh

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Kinship Captured: Kinship Carer Journeys in Photographs, a powerful visual exploration of kinship stories and experiences in Edinburgh, has opened at the Museum of Edinburgh.

    This unique exhibition is the result of the Kinship Captured Project, which uses photography to delve into the journeys of kinship carers and the meaning of ‘wellbeing’ within this context.

    The exhibition features a selection of photo journals created by five Kinship Carers who have been actively involved in the project. Through the lens of their cameras, these carers have shared their personal experiences, providing a deeper understanding of the challenges, rewards, and the powerful connections formed through kinship care.

    Culture and Communities Convener, Val Walker said:

    The photographs on display offer a visual narrative of the kinship care experience, focusing on the joy, love, and resilience that often goes unspoken. Through their work, these carers are helping to shine a light on the vital role they play in the lives of the children they care for.

    We are proud to support this project, which highlights the important work that Kinship Carers do every day. The exhibition provides an opportunity for the community to engage with and understand the journey of kinship carers, and we hope it will inspire others to consider the profound impact of kinship care on both carers and the children they support.

    In addition to showcasing their photographs, the exhibition includes a short film that captures the essence of the project and the lasting impact it has had on the participants.

    The Kinship Captured exhibition will run in conjunction with Kinship Care Week, from 17-21 March 2025, a week dedicated to celebrating the vital role that Kinship Carers play in supporting children and young people. The exhibition highlights the importance of kinship care, not only for the children in need of support but also for the carers who provide it, emphasizing the collective power of community and shared experiences.

    Education, Children and Families Convener, Joan Griffiths said:

    This new exhibition offers a fantastic insight into the unique and rewarding, but often challenging, role of kinship carers. Stepping into this role can often be unexpected and these carers play a vital part in a child’s life, creating stability and helping them to maintain important family and community links. We offer a range of support mechanisms for those in this role, including help to navigate the formal aspects of looking after a child, access to local support groups, services and training as well as everyday help to explore any difficulties or concerns.

    The Kinship Captured exhibition will be open to the public at Museum of Edinburgh from Thursday 6 March until Sunday 6 April. Admission is free.

    Quotes from participants:

    This was a stimulating and therapeutic project which came along at just the right time for me.

    I found that using the camera and especially making the album was a wonderfully creative way to show some of the journey I have been on so far and I loved making it.

    Although it was sad and painful at times exploring all that has happened since I began my kinship journey, being involved in this project has ultimately been life affirming and enriching.

    I loved meeting everyone, and hearing everyone’s stories has been a privilege. Thank you to you for facilitating it all so gently and supportively.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: JD.com Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results, and Annual Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BEIJING, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: JD and HKEX: 9618 (HKD counter) and 89618 (RMB counter), the “Company” or “JD.com”), a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months and the full year ended December 31, 2024 and an annual cash dividend for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Net revenues were RMB347.0 billion (US$147.5 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 13.4% from the fourth quarter of 2023. Net revenues were RMB1,158.8 billion (US$158.8 billion) for the full year of 2024, an increase of 6.8% from the full year of 2023.
    • Income from operations was RMB8.5 billion (US$1.2 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB2.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Operating margin was 2.4% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 0.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP2income from operations was RMB10.5 billion (US$1.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB7.8 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP operating margin was 3.0% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 2.5% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Income from operations was RMB38.7 billion (US$5.3 billion) for the full year of 2024, compared to RMB26.0 billion for the full year of 2023. Operating margin was 3.3% for the full year of 2024, compared to 2.4% for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP income from operations was RMB44.0 billion (US$6.0 billion) for the full year of 2024, compared to RMB35.4 billion for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP operating margin was 3.8% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.3% for the full year of 2023.
    • Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was RMB9.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB3.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 2.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 1.1% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was RMB11.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to RMB8.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 3.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 2.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was RMB41.4 billion (US$5.7 billion) for the full year of 2024, compared to RMB24.2 billion for the full year of 2023. Net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 3.6% for the full year of 2024, compared to 2.2% for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was RMB47.8 billion (US$6.6 billion) for the full year of 2024, compared to RMB35.2 billion for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 4.1% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.2% for the full year of 2023.
    • Diluted net income per ADS was RMB6.47 (US$0.89) for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 203.8% from RMB2.13 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS was RMB7.42 (US$1.02) for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 40.0% from RMB5.30 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Diluted net income per ADS was RMB26.86 (US$3.68) for the full year of 2024, an increase of 76.4% from RMB15.23 for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS was RMB31.07 (US$4.26) for the full year of 2024, an increase of 40.1% from RMB22.17 for the full year of 2023.

    “We are pleased to report a strong quarter to close out 2024 amidst rebounding consumption. Our topline growth returned to double digits year-on-year, and bottom line also achieved healthy expansion. In addition, most of our product categories as well as key metrics such as our quarterly active users and shopping frequency saw strong double-digit growth year-on-year in Q4, reflecting our growing mindshare among consumers,” said Sandy Xu, Chief Executive Officer of JD.com. “We head into 2025 with more optimism, as consumption sentiment steadily picks up, and we continue to unlock high-quality growth potentials with our strong execution of strategic priorities.”

    “In the fourth quarter, our total revenues increased by 13.4% year-on-year. The momentum was broad-based across multiple categories and revenue streams, reflecting positive macro consumption trends and JD’s expanding market share,” said Ian Su Shan, Chief Financial Officer of JD.com. “Our profitability also continued to rise year-on-year throughout 2024, driven by our optimization in cost and operating efficiency. As we are confident to head towards our long-term profitability target, we are excited to announce an increased annual cash dividend for 2024 which, alongside our on-going US$5.0 billion share repurchase program, further demonstrates JD’s commitment to shareholder return.”

    Dividend Payment

    The Company announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) approved an annual cash dividend for the year ended December 31, 2024 of US$0.5 per ordinary share, or US$1.0 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively, as of the close of business on April 8, 2025 Beijing/Hong Kong Time and New York Time, respectively, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the dividend is expected to be approximately US$1.5 billion, as calculated on the current number of the Company’s total issued and outstanding shares, which may be subject to minor adjustment by the record date. The payment date is expected to be on or around April 23, 2025 and on or around April 29, 2025 for holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively.

    Updates of Share Repurchase Program

    The Company repurchased a total of approximately 255.3 million Class A ordinary shares (equivalent of 127.6 million ADSs) for a total of approximately US$3.6 billion during the year ended December 31, 2024. All of these ordinary shares were repurchased from both Nasdaq and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant to the Company’s share repurchase programs publicly announced. The total number of shares repurchased by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024 amounted to approximately 8.1% of its ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 20233.

    The Company has fully utilized the repurchase amount authorized under its US$3.0 billion share repurchase program announced in March 2024, with all of the 207 million Class A ordinary shares (equivalent of 104 million ADSs) repurchased under the program cancelled.

    In addition, the Company adopted and announced a new share repurchase program (the “New Share Repurchase Program”) in August 2024. Pursuant to the New Share Repurchase Program effective from September 2024, the Company may repurchase up to US$5.0 billion worth of its shares (including ADSs) over the next 36 months through the end of August 2027.

    Business Highlights

    • JD Retail:

      In January 2025, JD.com announced comprehensive upgrades to its PLUS membership, introducing a “Lifestyle Service Package” that allows members to redeem PLUS credits for seven services, including home cleaning, laundry, car wash and delivery, among other things. JD PLUS members will also enjoy a new “180-Day Replacement over Repair” policy for self-operated electronics and home appliances products in cases of any quality defects. Additionally, the “Unlimited Free Shipping” service has been expanded to cover the self-operated offerings on JD NOW, the on-demand retail business of the Company.

    • JD Health:

      In the fourth quarter of 2024, JD Health further boosted up its service offerings with the expansion of its “Express Test at Your Doorstep” program, safeguarding more people’s health during periods of high incidence of respiratory illnesses. As of the end of the quarter, JD Health had launched 149 express testing products, with the service available in 12 core cities in China, covering a total population of over 150 million.

    • JD Logistics:

      During the 2024 JD Singles Day Grand Promotion, JD Logistics’s (“JDL’s”) express delivery business celebrated the first anniversary of its upgraded offerings in Hong Kong and Macau. It provides seamless door-to-door delivery and other differentiated services in the regions, such as night-time pickups and intra-city delivery within as fast as four hours, significantly improving the online shopping and shipping experience for local customers. This in turn drives JDL’s rapid order volume growth in the regions.

      In the fourth quarter of 2024, JDL further outlined its overseas roadmap. In particular, it will drive simultaneous progress of building its global warehouse network, air freight network, and express delivery capabilities. These efforts will enable JDL to provide integrated supply chain solutions to overseas customers, China-based brands expanding overseas, and cross-border merchants, driving toward the ultimate in delivering hassle-free and efficient supply chain logistics services globally.

    Environment, Social and Governance

    • JD.com has been committed to providing admirable, fulfilling, and rewarding job opportunities for its workforce from day one. As of December 31, 2024, over 1,200 frontline employees have retired from JDL, with roles spanning from couriers to sorters, freight drivers and others from across China. These retirees have received comprehensive retirement benefits including elderly care, medical treatment, and injury compensation, and headed to post-career lives with safeguards.
    • As a testament to JD.com’s unwavering commitment to creating more jobs and making contribution to the society, the Company’s total expenditure for human resources, including both its own employees and external personnel who work for the Company, amounted to RMB116.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s total number of employees was approximately 570,000 as of December 31, 2024. Together with the Company’s part-time staff and interns, as well as the personnel of the Company’s affiliates, the total personnel under the JD Ecosystem4 was approximately 670,000.
    • In January 2025, JDL’s independently developed MRV-T digital carbon reduction technology (carbon footprint monitoring, reporting, verification, and tracking) was included in the “Green Technology Promotion Catalogue (2024 Edition)” issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other authorities, the only green technology that won the honor in the logistics industry with a focus on environmental sustainability.

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Net Revenues. Net revenues increased by 13.4% to RMB347.0 billion (US$47.5 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB306.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net product revenues increased by 14.0%, while net service revenues increased by 10.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased by 11.9% to RMB293.9 billion (US$40.3 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB262.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses, which primarily include procurement, warehousing, delivery, customer service and payment processing expenses, increased by 16.4% to RMB20.1 billion (US$2.8 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB17.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Fulfillment expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 5.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 5.6% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Marketing Expenses. Marketing expenses increased by 28.4% to RMB16.8 billion (US$2.3 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB13.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 4.9% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 4.3% for the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to the increased spending in promotion activities.

    Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses increased by 1.0% to RMB4.4 billion (US$0.6 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB4.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 1.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 1.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by 3.3% to RMB2.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 0.7% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 0.8% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Income from Operations and Non-GAAP Income from Operations. Income from operations increased by 319.3% to RMB8.5 billion (US$1.2 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Operating margin was 2.4% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 0.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP income from operations increased by 34.4% to RMB10.5 billion (US$1.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB7.8 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP operating margin was 3.0% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 2.5% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Operating margin of JD Retail before unallocated items for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 3.3%, compared to 2.6% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Non-GAAP EBITDA. Non-GAAP EBITDA increased by 29.7% to RMB12.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB9.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was 3.6% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 3.2% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Others, net. “Others, net” was a gain of RMB3.5 billion (US$0.5 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to a gain of RMB1.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023, the variance was primarily due to fluctuations in investment gains or losses from equity investments.

    Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Ordinary Shareholders and Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Ordinary Shareholders. Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders increased by 190.8% to RMB9.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB3.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 2.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 1.1% for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders increased by 34.2% to RMB11.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB8.4 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 3.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 2.7% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Diluted EPS and Non-GAAP Diluted EPS. Diluted net income per ADS increased by 203.8% to RMB6.47 (US$0.89) for the fourth quarter of 2024 from RMB2.13 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS increased by 40.0% for the fourth quarter of 2024 to RMB7.42 (US$1.02) from RMB5.30 for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Cash Flow and Working Capital

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled RMB241.4 billion (US$33.1 billion), compared to RMB197.7 billion as of December 31, 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2024, free cash flow of the Company was as follows:

        For the three months ended
        December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024    		     December 31,
    2024
        RMB
    		   RMB     US$
        (In millions)
         
    Net cash provided by operating activities   19,613     24,891     3,410  
    Add: Impact from consumer financing receivables included in the operating cash flow   251     1,243     170  
    Less: Capital expenditures, net of related sales proceeds        
    Capital expenditures for development properties   (4,596 )   (875 )   (120 )
    Other capital expenditures*   (1,969 )   (1,789 )   (245 )
    Free cash flow   13,299     23,470     3,215  

    * Including capital expenditures related to the Company’s headquarters in Beijing and all other CAPEX.

    Net cash used in investing activities was RMB12.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, consisting primarily of net cash paid for purchase of time deposits and wealth management products, cash paid for equity investments, and cash paid for capital expenditures.

    Net cash used in financing activities was RMB2.8 billion (US$0.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024, consisting primarily of net repayment of borrowings.

    Full Year 2024 Financial Results

    Net Revenues. Net revenues increased by 6.8% to RMB1,158.8 billion (US$158.8 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB1,084.7 billion for the full year of 2023. Net product revenues increased by 6.5%, while net service revenues increased by 8.1% for the full year of 2024, compared to the full year of 2023.

    Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased by 5.4% to RMB975.0 billion (US$133.6 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB925.0 billion for the full year of 2023.

    Fulfillment Expenses. Fulfillment expenses, which primarily include procurement, warehousing, delivery, customer service and payment processing expenses, increased by 9.1% to RMB70.4 billion (US$9.6 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB64.6 billion for the full year of 2023. Fulfillment expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 6.1% for the full year of 2024, compared to 6.0% for the full year of 2023.

    Marketing Expenses. Marketing expenses increased by 19.5% to RMB48.0 billion (US$6.6 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB40.1 billion for the full year of 2023. Marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 4.1% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.7% for the full year of 2023, primarily due to the increased spending in promotion activities.

    Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses increased by 3.9% to RMB17.0 billion (US$2.3 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB16.4 billion for the full year of 2023. Research and development expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained stable of 1.5% for the full year of 2024 and 2023.

    General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by 8.5% to RMB8.9 billion (US$1.2 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB9.7 billion for the full year of 2023. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 0.8% for the full year of 2024, compared to 0.9% for the full year of 2023.

    Income from Operations and Non-GAAP Income from Operations. Income from operations increased by 48.8% to RMB38.7 billion (US$5.3 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB26.0 billion for the full year of 2023. Operating margin was 3.3% for the full year of 2024, compared to 2.4% for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP income from operations increased by 24.2% to RMB44.0 billion (US$6.0 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB35.4 billion for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP operating margin was 3.8% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.3% for the full year of 2023. Operating margin of JD Retail before unallocated items was 4.0% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.8% for the full year of 2023.

    Non-GAAP EBITDA. Non-GAAP EBITDA increased by 22.3% to RMB51.9 billion (US$7.1 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB42.5 billion for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was 4.5% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.9% for the full year of 2023.

    Others, net. “Others, net” was a gain of RMB13.4 billion (US$1.8 billion) for the full year of 2024, compared to a gain of RMB7.5 billion for the full year of 2023, the variance was primarily due to fluctuations in investment gains or losses from equity investments.

    Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Ordinary Shareholders and Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Ordinary Shareholders. Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders increased by 71.1% to RMB41.4 billion (US$5.7 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB24.2 billion for the full year of 2023. Net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 3.6% for the full year of 2024, compared to 2.2% for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders increased by 35.9% to RMB47.8 billion (US$6.6 billion) for the full year of 2024 from RMB35.2 billion for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders was 4.1% for the full year of 2024, compared to 3.2% for the full year of 2023.

    Diluted EPS and Non-GAAP Diluted EPS. Diluted net income per ADS increased by 76.4% to RMB26.86 (US$3.68) for the full year of 2024 from RMB15.23 for the full year of 2023. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS increased by 40.1% for the full year of 2024 to RMB31.07 (US$4.26) from RMB22.17 for the full year of 2023.

    Cash Flow and Working Capital

    For the full year of 2024, free cash flow of the Company was as follows:

        For the year ended
        December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
        RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
        (In millions)
         
    Net cash provided by operating activities   59,521     58,095     7,959  
    Less: Impact from consumer financing receivables included in the operating cash flow   (492 )   (132 )   (18 )
    Less: Capital expenditures, net of related sales proceeds        
    Capital expenditures for development properties   (12,117 )   (7,286 )   (998 )
    Other capital expenditures*   (6,261 )   (6,937 )   (951 )
    Free cash flow   40,651     43,740     5,992  

    * Including capital expenditures related to the Company’s headquarters in Beijing and all other CAPEX.

    Net cash used in investing activities was RMB0.9 billion (US$0.1 billion) for the full year of 2024, consisting primarily of cash paid for capital expenditures and cash paid for equity investments, partially offset by net cash received from maturity of time deposits and wealth management products.

    Net cash used in financing activities was RMB21.0 billion (US$2.9 billion) for the full year of 2024, consisting primarily of cash paid for repurchase of ordinary shares and dividends, partially offset by net proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes.

    Supplemental Information

    From the first quarter of 2024, the Company started to report three segments, JD Retail, JD Logistics and New Businesses, to reflect changes made to the reporting structure whose financial information is reviewed by the chief operating decision maker of the Company under its ongoing operating strategies. JD Retail, including JD Health and JD Industrials, among other components, mainly engages in online retail, online marketplace and marketing services in China. JD Logistics includes both internal and external logistics businesses. New Businesses mainly include Dada, JD Property, Jingxi and overseas businesses.

    The table below sets forth the segment operating results, with prior periods segment information retrospectively recast to conform to the current period presentation:

      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    		   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
      (In millions, except percentage data)
    Net revenues:              
    JD Retail 267,646     307,055     42,066     945,343     1,015,948     139,184  
    JD Logistics 47,201     52,097     7,137     166,625     182,837     25,049  
    New Businesses 6,781     4,681     642     26,617     19,157     2,625  
    Inter-segment eliminations* (15,551 )   (16,847 )   (2,308 )   (53,923 )   (59,123 )   (8,100 )
    Total consolidated net revenues 306,077     346,986     47,537     1,084,662     1,158,819     158,758  
    Operating income/(loss):              
    JD Retail 6,937     10,036     1,375     35,925     41,077     5,628  
    JD Logistics 1,330     1,824     250     1,005     6,317     865  
    New Businesses (795 )   (885 )   (121 )   (329 )   (2,865 )   (393 )
    Including: gain on sale of development properties 802     1,527     209     2,283     1,527     209  
    Impairment of long-lived assets (1,123 )   (1,027 )   (141 )   (1,123 )   (1,027 )   (141 )
    Total segment operating income 7,472     10,975     1,504     36,601     44,529     6,100  
    Unallocated items** (5,447 )   (2,484 )   (341 )   (10,576 )   (5,793 )   (793 )
    Total consolidated operating income 2,025     8,491     1,163     26,025     38,736     5,307  
                   
    YoY% change of net revenues:              
    JD Retail 3.4 %   14.7 %       1.7 %   7.5 %    
    JD Logistics 9.7 %   10.4 %       21.3 %   9.7 %    
    New Businesses (8.9 )%   (31.0 )%       (10.7 )%   (28.0 )%    
                   
    Operating margin:              
    JD Retail 2.6 %   3.3 %       3.8 %   4.0 %    
    JD Logistics 2.8 %   3.5 %       0.6 %   3.5 %    
    New Businesses (11.7 )%   (18.9 )%       (1.2 )%   (15.0 )%    

    * The inter-segment eliminations mainly consist of revenues from supply chain solutions and logistics services provided by JD Logistics to JD Retail, on-demand delivery and retail services provided by Dada to JD Retail and JD Logistics, and property leasing services provided by JD Property to JD Logistics.

    ** Unallocated items include share-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, effects of business cooperation arrangements, and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, which are not allocated to segments.

    The table below sets forth the revenue information:

      For the three months ended  
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		 YoY%
    Change
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    		  
      (In millions, except percentage data)
    Electronics and home appliances revenues 150,353     174,149     23,858   15.8 %
    General merchandise revenues 96,148     106,829     14,636   11.1 %
    Net product revenues 246,501     280,978     38,494   14.0 %
    Marketplace and marketing revenues 23,626     26,634     3,649   12.7 %
    Logistics and other service revenues 35,950     39,374     5,394   9.5 %
    Net service revenues 59,576     66,008     9,043   10.8 %
    Total net revenues 306,077     346,986     47,537   13.4 %
      For the year ended  
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		 YoY%
    Change
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    		  
      (In millions, except percentage data)
    Electronics and home appliances revenues 538,799     564,982     77,402   4.9 %
    General merchandise revenues 332,425     363,025     49,734   9.2 %
    Net product revenues 871,224     928,007     127,136   6.5 %
    Marketplace and marketing revenues 84,726     90,111     12,345   6.4 %
    Logistics and other service revenues 128,712     140,701     19,277   9.3 %
    Net service revenues 213,438     230,812     31,622   8.1 %
    Total net revenues 1,084,662     1,158,819     158,758   6.8 %


    Conference Call

    JD.com’s management will hold a conference call at 7:00 am, Eastern Time on March 6, 2025, (8:00 pm, Beijing/Hong Kong Time on March 6, 2025) to discuss its financial results for the three months and the full year ended December 31, 2024.

    Please register in advance of the conference using the link provided below and dial in 15 minutes prior to the call, using participant dial-in numbers, the Passcode and unique access PIN which would be provided upon registering. You will be automatically linked to the live call after completion of this process, unless required to provide the conference ID below due to regional restrictions.

    PRE-REGISTER LINK: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10044957-x2nu4z.html

    CONFERENCE ID: 10044957

    A telephone replay will be available for one week until March 13, 2025. The dial-in details are as follows:

    US: +1-855-883-1031
    International: +61-7-3107-6325
    Hong Kong: 800-930-639
    Mainland China: 400-120-9216
    Passcode: 10044957

    Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the JD.com’s investor relations website at http://ir.jd.com.

    About JD.com

    JD.com is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. The Company’s cutting-edge retail infrastructure seeks to enable consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The Company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries.

    Non-GAAP Measures

    In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses non-GAAP measures, such as non-GAAP income/(loss) from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders, non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders, free cash flow, non-GAAP EBITDA, non-GAAP EBITDA margin, non-GAAP net income/(loss) per share and non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS, as supplemental measures to review and assess operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company defines non-GAAP income/(loss) from operations as income/(loss) from operations excluding share-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, effects of business cooperation arrangements, gain on sale of development properties and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets. The Company defines non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders as net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions, effects of business cooperation arrangements and non-compete agreements, gain/(loss) on disposals/deemed disposals of investments and others, reconciling items on the share of equity method investments, loss/(gain) from fair value change of long-term investments, impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and investments, gain on sale of development properties and tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments. The Company defines free cash flow as operating cash flow adjusting the impact from consumer financing receivables included in the operating cash flow and capital expenditures, net of related sales proceeds. Capital expenditures include purchase of property, equipment and software, cash paid for construction in progress, purchase of intangible assets, land use rights and asset acquisitions. The Company defines non-GAAP EBITDA as non-GAAP income/(loss) from operations plus depreciation and amortization excluding amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions. Non-GAAP basic net income/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the periods. Non-GAAP diluted net income/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive potential ordinary shares outstanding during the periods, including the dilutive effects of share-based awards as determined under the treasury stock method and convertible senior notes. Non-GAAP net income/(loss) per ADS is equal to non-GAAP net income/(loss) per share multiplied by two.

    The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. Non-GAAP income/(loss) from operations, non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders and non-GAAP EBITDA reflect the Company’s ongoing business operations in a manner that allows more meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Free cash flow enables management to assess liquidity and cash flow while taking into account the impact from consumer financing receivables included in the operating cash flow and the demands that the expansion of fulfillment infrastructure and technology platform has placed on financial resources. The Company believes that the use of the non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors to understand and evaluate the Company’s current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gain/loss and other items that are not expected to result in future cash payments or that are non-recurring in nature or may not be indicative of the Company’s core operating results and business outlook.

    The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the Company’s operations or not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages you to review the Company’s financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

    CONTACTS:

    Investor Relations
    Sean Zhang
    +86 (10) 8912-6804
    IR@JD.com

    Media Relations
    +86 (10) 8911-6155
    Press@JD.com

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as JD.com’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. JD.com may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in announcements made on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about JD.com’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: JD.com’s growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; trends and competition in China’s e-commerce market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of the Chinese e-commerce market; laws, regulations and governmental policies relating to the industries in which JD.com or its business partners operate; potential changes in laws, regulations and governmental policies or changes in the interpretation and implementation of laws, regulations and governmental policies that could adversely affect the industries in which JD.com or its business partners operate, including, among others, initiatives to enhance supervision of companies listed on an overseas exchange and tighten scrutiny over data privacy and data security; risks associated with JD.com’s acquisitions, investments and alliances, including fluctuation in the market value of JD.com’s investment portfolio; natural disasters and geopolitical events; change in tax rates and financial risks; intensity of competition; and general market and economic conditions in China and globally. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JD.com’s filings with the SEC and the announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided herein is as of the date of this announcement, and JD.com undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In millions, except otherwise noted)
         
        As of
        December 31,
    2023     		   December 31,
    2024     		   December 31,
    2024 
        RMB    RMB    US$ 
    ASSETS                  
    Current assets                  
    Cash and cash equivalents   71,892     108,350     14,844  
    Restricted cash   7,506     7,366     1,009  
    Short-term investments   118,254     125,645     17,213  
    Accounts receivable, net (including consumer financing receivables of RMB2.3 billion and RMB2.0 billion as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, respectively)(1)   20,302     25,596     3,507  
    Advance to suppliers   2,753     7,619     1,044  
    Inventories, net   68,058     89,326     12,238  
    Prepayments and other current assets   15,639     15,951     2,185  
    Amount due from related parties   2,114     4,805     658  
    Assets held for sale   1,292     2,040     279  
    Total current assets   307,810     386,698     52,977  
    Non-current assets                  
    Property, equipment and software, net   70,035     82,737     11,335  
    Construction in progress   9,920     6,164     845  
    Intangible assets, net   6,935     7,793     1,068  
    Land use rights, net   39,563     36,833     5,046  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets   20,863     24,532     3,361  
    Goodwill   19,980     25,709     3,522  
    Investment in equity investees   56,746     56,850     7,788  
    Marketable securities and other investments   80,840     59,370     8,134  
    Deferred tax assets   1,744     2,459     337  
    Other non-current assets   14,522     9,089     1,245  
    Total non-current assets   321,148     311,536     42,681  
    Total assets   628,958     698,234     95,658  
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In millions, except otherwise noted)
         
        As of
        December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
        RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    LIABILITIES                  
    Current liabilities                  
    Short-term debts   5,034     7,581     1,039  
    Accounts payable   166,167     192,860     26,422  
    Advance from customers   31,625     32,437     4,443  
    Deferred revenues   2,097     2,097     287  
    Taxes payable   7,313     9,487     1,300  
    Amount due to related parties   1,620     1,367     187  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   43,533     45,985     6,300  
    Operating lease liabilities   7,755     7,606     1,042  
    Liabilities held for sale   506     101     14  
    Total current liabilities   265,650     299,521     41,034  
    Non-current liabilities                  
    Deferred revenues   964     502     69  
    Unsecured senior notes   10,411     24,770     3,393  
    Deferred tax liabilities   9,267     9,498     1,301  
    Long-term borrowings   31,555     31,705     4,344  
    Operating lease liabilities   13,676     18,106     2,481  
    Other non-current liabilities   1,055     835     114  
    Total non-current liabilities   66,928     85,416     11,702  
    Total liabilities   332,578     384,937     52,736  
                       
    MEZZANINE EQUITY   614     484     66  
                       
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
    Total JD.com, Inc. shareholders’ equity (US$0.00002 par value, 100,000 million shares authorized, 3,188 million shares issued(2) and 2,903 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024)   231,858     239,347     32,791  
    Non-controlling interests   63,908     73,466     10,065  
    Total shareholders’ equity   295,766     312,813     42,856  
                       
    Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ equity   628,958     698,234     95,658  
                       
    (1) JD Technology performs credit risk assessment services for consumer financing receivables business and absorbs the credit risk of the underlying consumer financing receivables. Facilitated by JD Technology, the Company periodically securitizes consumer financing receivables through the transfer of those assets to securitization plans and derecognizes the related consumer financing receivables through sales type arrangements.
    (2) The number of ordinary shares issued as of February 28, 2025 was 2,981 million, with all of the 207 million Class A ordinary shares (equivalent of 104 million ADSs) repurchased under the US$3.0 billion share repurchase program announced in March 2024 cancelled.
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (In millions, except per share data)
     
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    Net revenues              
    Net product revenues 246,501     280,978     38,494     871,224     928,007     127,136  
    Net service revenues 59,576     66,008     9,043     213,438     230,812     31,622  
    Total net revenues 306,077     346,986     47,537     1,084,662     1,158,819     158,758  
    Cost of revenues (262,575 )   (293,869 )   (40,260 )   (924,958 )   (974,951 )   (133,568 )
    Fulfillment (17,283 )   (20,121 )   (2,757 )   (64,558 )   (70,426 )   (9,648 )
    Marketing (13,110 )   (16,832 )   (2,306 )   (40,133 )   (47,953 )   (6,570 )
    Research and development (4,341 )   (4,384 )   (601 )   (16,393 )   (17,031 )   (2,333 )
    General and administrative (2,377 )   (2,455 )   (336 )   (9,710 )   (8,888 )   (1,218 )
    Impairment of goodwill (3,143 )   (799 )   (109 )   (3,143 )   (799 )   (109 )
    Impairment of long-lived assets (2,025 )   (1,562 )   (214 )   (2,025 )   (1,562 )   (214 )
    Gain on sale of development properties 802     1,527     209     2,283     1,527     209  
    Income from operations(3)(4) 2,025     8,491     1,163     26,025     38,736     5,307  
    Other income/(expenses)              
    Share of results of equity investees 497     556     76     1,010     2,327     319  
    Interest expense (927 )   (926 )   (127 )   (2,881 )   (2,896 )   (397 )
    Others, net(5) 1,711     3,493     479     7,496     13,371     1,832  
    Income before tax 3,306     11,614     1,591     31,650     51,538     7,061  
    Income tax expenses (1,394 )   (750 )   (103 )   (8,393 )   (6,878 )   (943 )
    Net income 1,912     10,864     1,488     23,257     44,660     6,118  
    Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (1,477 )   1,010     138     (910 )   3,301     452  
    Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders 3,389     9,854     1,350     24,167     41,359     5,666  
                   
    Net income per share:              
    Basic 1.08     3.39     0.47     7.69     13.83     1.90  
    Diluted 1.07     3.23     0.44     7.61     13.43     1.84  
    Net income per ADS:              
    Basic 2.15     6.79     0.93     15.37     27.67     3.79  
    Diluted 2.13     6.47     0.89     15.23     26.86     3.68  
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (In millions, except per share data)
     
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
                   
    (3) Includes share-based compensation as follows:
    Cost of revenues (34 )   (26 )   (4 )   (133 )   (80 )   (11 )
    Fulfillment (127 )   (115 )   (16 )   (697 )   (424 )   (58 )
    Marketing (96 )   (50 )   (7 )   (426 )   (273 )   (37 )
    Research and development (169 )   (88 )   (12 )   (859 )   (599 )   (82 )
    General and administrative (554 )   (517 )   (70 )   (2,689 )   (1,623 )   (223 )
    Total (980 )   (796 )   (109 )   (4,804 )   (2,999 )   (411 )
                   
    (4) Includes amortization of business cooperation arrangement and intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions as follows:
    Fulfillment (103 )   (72 )   (10 )   (414 )   (288 )   (39 )
    Marketing (221 )   (229 )   (31 )   (880 )   (903 )   (123 )
    Research and development (66 )   (53 )   (7 )   (305 )   (205 )   (28 )
    General and administrative (32 )   —     —     (128 )   (64 )   (9 )
    Total (422 )   (354 )   (48 )   (1,727 )   (1,460 )   (199 )
            
    (5) “Others, net” consists of interest income; gains/(losses) related to long-term investments without significant influence, including fair value changes, acquisitions or disposals gains/(losses), and impairments; government incentives; foreign exchange gains/(losses); and other non-operating income/(losses).
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share and Per ADS
    (In millions, except per share data)
     
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
    		   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
                                       
    Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders 8,415     11,294     1,547     35,200     47,827     6,552  
                                       
    Weighted average number of shares:
    Basic 3,147     2,903     2,903     3,144     2,990     2,990  
    Diluted 3,166     3,041     3,041     3,171     3,076     3,076  
                                       
    Non-GAAP net income per share:
    Basic 2.67     3.89     0.53     11.20     16.00     2.19  
    Diluted 2.65     3.71     0.51     11.08     15.53     2.13  
                                       
    Non-GAAP net income per ADS:
    Basic 5.35     7.78     1.07     22.39     31.99     4.38  
    Diluted 5.30     7.42     1.02     22.17     31.07     4.26  
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Free Cash Flow
    (In millions)
     
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
                   
    Net cash provided by operating activities 19,613     24,891     3,410     59,521     58,095     7,959  
    Net cash used in investing activities (63,072 )   (12,483 )   (1,710 )   (59,543 )   (871 )   (119 )
    Net cash used in financing activities (745 )   (2,784 )   (381 )   (5,808 )   (21,004 )   (2,877 )
    Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (213 )   1,136     155     125     98     13  
    Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (44,417 )   10,760     1,474     (5,705 )   36,318     4,976  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period, including cash and cash equivalents classified within assets held for sale 123,868     104,956     14,379     85,156     79,451     10,884  
    Less: Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash classified within assets held for sale at beginning of period —     (2 )   —*     (41 )   (53 )   (7 )
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 123,868     104,954     14,379     85,115     79,398     10,877  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period, including cash and cash equivalents classified within assets held for sale 79,451     115,716     15,853     79,451     115,716     15,853  
    Less: Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash classified within assets held for sale at end of period (53 )   —*     —*     (53 )   —*     —*  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 79,398     115,716     15,853     79,398     115,716     15,853  
                   
    Net cash provided by operating activities 19,613     24,891     3,410     59,521     58,095     7,959  
    Add/(Less): Impact from consumer financing receivables included in the operating cash flow 251     1,243     170     (492 )   (132 )   (18 )
    Less: Capital expenditures, net of related sales proceeds              
    Capital expenditures for development properties (4,596 )   (875 )   (120 )   (12,117 )   (7,286 )   (998 )
    Other capital expenditures (1,969 )   (1,789 )   (245 )   (6,261 )   (6,937 )   (951 )
    Free cash flow 13,299     23,470     3,215     40,651     43,740     5,992  

    *Absolute value is less than RMB1 million or US$1 million.

    JD.com, Inc.
    Supplemental Financial Information and Business Metrics
    (In RMB billions, except turnover days data)
     
        Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024
    Cash flow and turnover days            
    Operating cash flow – trailing twelve months (“TTM”)   59.5 69.8 74.0 52.8 58.1
    Free cash flow – TTM   40.7 50.6 55.6 33.6 43.7
    Inventory turnover days(6) – TTM   30.3 29.0 29.8 30.4 31.5
    Accounts payable turnover days(7) – TTM   53.2 51.8 57.0 57.5 58.6
    Accounts receivable turnover days(8) – TTM   5.6 5.4 5.7 5.8 5.9
     
    (6) TTM inventory turnover days are the quotient of average inventory over the immediately preceding five quarters, up to and including the last quarter of the period, to cost of revenues of retail business for the last twelve months, and then multiplied by 360 days.
    (7) TTM accounts payable turnover days are the quotient of average accounts payable for retail business over the immediately preceding five quarters, up to and including the last quarter of the period, to cost of revenues of retail business for the last twelve months, and then multiplied by 360 days.
    (8) TTM accounts receivable turnover days are the quotient of average accounts receivable over the immediately preceding five quarters, up to and including the last quarter of the period, to total net revenues for the last twelve months and then multiplied by 360 days. Presented are the accounts receivable turnover days excluding the impact from consumer financing receivables.
    JD.com, Inc.  
    Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results  
    (In millions, except percentage data)
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
                   
    Income from operations 2,025     8,491     1,163     26,025     38,736     5,307  
    Add: Share-based compensation 980     796     109     4,804     2,999     411  
    Add: Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions 309     241     33     1,281     1,010     137  
    Add: Effects of business cooperation arrangements 113     113     15     446     450     62  
    Reversal of: Gain on sale of development properties (802 )   (1,527 )   (209 )   (2,283 )   (1,527 )   (209 )
    Add: Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets 5,168     2,361     323     5,168     2,361     323  
    Non-GAAP income from operations 7,793     10,475     1,434     35,441     44,029     6,031  
    Add: Depreciation and other amortization 1,868     2,054     281     7,011     7,894     1,083  
    Non-GAAP EBITDA 9,661     12,529     1,715     42,452     51,923     7,114  
                   
    Total net revenues 306,077     346,986     47,537     1,084,662     1,158,819     158,758  
                   
    Non-GAAP operating margin 2.5 %   3.0 %       3.3 %   3.8 %    
                   
    Non-GAAP EBITDA margin 3.2 %   3.6 %       3.9 %   4.5 %    
    JD.com, Inc.
    Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
    (In millions, except percentage data)
     
      For the three months ended   For the year ended
      December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024    		   December 31,
    2023
    		   December 31,
    2024
    		   December 31,
    2024
      RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$   RMB
    		   RMB
    		   US$
                   
    Net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders 3,389     9,854     1,350     24,167     41,359     5,666  
    Add: Share-based compensation 744     649     89     3,817     2,429     333  
    Add: Amortization of intangible assets resulting from assets and business acquisitions 144     116     16     669     458     63  
    Add: Reconciling items on the share of equity method investments(9) 69     563     77     1,071     1,227     168  
    Add: Impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets, and investments 4,430     2,971     406     6,202     5,667     775  
    Add/(Reversal of): Loss/(Gain) from fair value change of long-term investments 453     (611 )   (83 )   848     (1,083 )   (148 )
    Reversal of: Gain on sale of development properties (601 )   (1,145 )   (157 )   (1,721 )   (1,145 )   (157 )
    Reversal of: Gain on disposals/deemed disposals of investments and others (71 )   (574 )   (78 )   (126 )   (853 )   (117 )
    Add: Effects of business cooperation arrangements 113     113     15     446     450     62  
    Reversal of: Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (255 )   (642 )   (88 )   (173 )   (682 )   (93 )
    Non-GAAP net income attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders 8,415     11,294     1,547     35,200     47,827     6,552  
                   
    Total net revenues 306,077     346,986     47,537     1,084,662     1,158,819     158,758  
                   
    Non-GAAP net margin attributable to the Company’s ordinary shareholders 2.7 %   3.3 %       3.2 %   4.1 %    
                   
    (9) To exclude the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity method investments and share of amortization of intangibles not on their books.

    1 The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this announcement, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this announcement is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of December 31, 2024, which was RMB7.2993 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this announcement are calculated based on the RMB amounts.
    2 See the sections entitled “Non-GAAP Measures” and “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to in this announcement.
    3 The number of ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023 was approximately 3,138 million shares.
    4 JD Ecosystem is a closely integrated business network providing comprehensive service for customers and comprises the Company and certain affiliates who share the “JD” brand name, currently including Jingdong Technology Holding Co., Ltd. and Allianz Jingdong General Insurance Company Ltd..

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Winners of Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 APAC Final Announced

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Winners of Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 APAC Final Announced

    [Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 6, 2025] The awards ceremony for the Asia-Pacific Regional Final of the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025, jointly hosted by Huawei and the ASEAN Foundation, was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February 27. The competition attracted more than 8,000 students from over 20 countries and regions, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous year. After a rigorous selection process, over 110 students from 12 countries and regions succeeded in advancing to the Finals.
    Guests, teachers, and students stand for the national anthem of Malaysia and the ASEAN anthem

    Among the esteemed guests in attendance were YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia; Prof. Datuk Dr. Azlinda Azman, Director General of Higher Education; H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs; Mr. Kongsada Detvongsone, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Lao PDR to ASEAN; Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.
    Alex Zhang, Vice President of Huawei Asia Pacific Region, said in his speech that Huawei is honored to establish more ICT academies and organize ICT competitions to cultivate a learning ecosystem. “In this ecosystem, future leaders will be able to utilize technologies such as 5G, AI, and cloud computing to develop effective solutions. Whether it’s driving digital economic development, building sustainable cities, improving healthcare services, or enhancing education quality, these efforts are all crucial.”
    The team from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia won the grand prize in the Innovation Track of the competition. The judges highly praised their work for its technical innovation as well as its business and social significance. Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology from Vietnam won the grand prize in the Computing Track, Institut Teknologi Bandung from Indonesia won the grand prize in the Network Track, and the i-Academy from the Philippines won the grand prize in the Cloud Track. The grand prizes were presented by YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir and H.E. Nararya S. Soeprapto, and witnessed by Prof. Datuk Dr. Azlinda Azman and Alex Zhang.
    Grand prize winners of the Innovation Track

    Grand prize winners of the Computing Track

    Grand prize winners of the Network Track

    Grand prize winners of the Cloud Track

    35 teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Laos, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR (China), and Macao SAR (China) won first, second, and third prizes in the four competition tracks. Mr. Kongsada Detvongsone, Huawei Service Fellow Sun Hu, and Alex Zhang presented the awards to the winning teams. The top-ranked teams will represent the Asia-Pacific region at the Global Final in Shenzhen in May 2025.
    In this year’s newly introduced Teaching Competition, Dr. Husni Teja Sukmana from the Association of Higher Education in Informatics and Computer Science (APTIKOM) in Indonesia won the grand prize for his exceptional teaching skills.
    The competition also presented special awards to recognize participants who excelled in promoting digital inclusion and contributing to a sustainable, smart world. The team from the National University of Singapore won the TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Award, while the team from Universiti Teknologi Brunei won the Green Development Award. Additionally, in an effort to encourage more women to pursue careers in technology and innovation while supporting the expansion of the ICT industry, Huawei presented a special honor—the Women in Tech Award—which was claimed this year by Malaysia’s Universiti Malaya. The award was presented by Dr. Piti Srisangnam.
    One of Huawei’s key business slogans is “In the Asia Pacific region, for the Asia Pacific region.” Leveraging its robust technical capabilities, Huawei proactively collaborates with governments, universities, and enterprises to establish a thriving ecosystem that fosters the growth and development of ICT talent in the Asia Pacific region.
    In the last eight years, the Huawei ICT Academy has made significant progress. The program has grown from partnering with just two universities in two countries to collaborating with over 340 universities in 18 countries. In 2024, Huawei kept pace with the latest technology trends and industry developments, launching nine new courses in the Asia-Pacific Region focused on areas like AI, openEuler, Gauss, and cloud computing.
    Additionally, Huawei worked on integrating and creating localized courses in Thai and Indonesian languages to provide students with more cutting-edge, diverse, and applicable learning resources. In 2023, Huawei collaborated with the Ministry of Labor of Thailand and the Thailand Vocational Qualification Association to introduce PV installer certification and network engineer training. Huawei integrated its career certification system into Thailand’s arsenal of ICT education standards, partnering with universities and companies to establish training programs. To date, over 300 trainees have received dual certificates through these initiatives.
    These initiatives have helped boost the local digital talent ecosystem in Thailand. As part of its first vocational education project outside China, Huawei collaborated with the government and certification bodies to develop courses and qualifications, setting a positive example for nurturing ICT talent across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
    ICT competition fosters effective teamwork between contestants and helps them build their creativity and entrepreneurship. Later on, these qualities will help them succeed in their chosen careers. Considering both economic and social value, the competition promotes the adoption of the latest ICTs (such as the Internet, big data, and AI) in production, education, research, and application. Participating countries and regions recognize the importance of investing in the ICT talent ecosystem, which leads to faster digital transformation worldwide. In addition, the competition promotes equal access to quality education and global digital inclusion.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese beset by disruptors, from Cyclone Alfred to Donald Trump

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Issues sometimes “come at you”, Anthony Albanese declared on Thursday at the end of a news conference, held at Canberra’s National Situation Room, about Cyclone Alfred.

    The cyclone is a disaster for millions of people in its path. For the prime minister, it is a major political disruptor.

    Albanese cancelled his visit to Western Australia: he’d wanted to be there when Labor has its anticipated certain win at Saturday’s election.

    His own election planning – which seemed headed for an April 12 election called this weekend – has been thrown into some disarray (although this is contested by those involved).

    Then there was the good news that was crowded out. Wednesday’s national accounts finally showed some of the much hoped-for positive trends, especially an end to the per capita recession, which had been running for seven consecutive quarters. But with the cyclone naturally dominating attention, who noticed?

    Albanese’s response to the new circumstances was to place himself at the centre of the planning for the cyclone. He stood side by side with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at his news conference on Wednesday and was early to the Situation Room on Thursday morning, promising to give regular updates.

    To questions about whether he’d abandoned any thought of calling an election at the weekend, the PM insisted (unconvincingly) that politics was furthest from his mind. Though announcing an election would appear near impossible in the circumstances, and attention had already begun turning to a May date (and a budget beforehand), Albanese on Thursday wouldn’t be drawn. Basically, he was waiting to see what happened with the weather.

    The cyclone will be a passing disruptor. The disruption from the Trump administration will be with Australia (and the world) for the foreseeable future.

    Next week Australia will know whether its intense lobbying for an exemption from the US tariffs on aluminium and steel has been effective. Those around the government are not optimistic.

    More concerning than the immediate impact on Australia if we fail to win the exemption is the effect of US protectionism more generally.

    Reserve Bank deputy Governor Andrew Hauser confirmed this week that “from a macroeconomic perspective, Australia’s direct exposure to US tariffs levied on our exports is limited”.

    “[But] Australia is heavily integrated into, and reliant on, the global economy more broadly – and particularly China. Hence the bigger macroeconomic risk for us would be if the imposition of US tariffs on third countries triggered a global trade war that impaired our trade and financial linkages more broadly.

    “As Australia’s long history has shown, we thrive when trade, labour and assets flow freely in the global economy, but we suffer when countries turn inwards.”

    How disruptive this new world will be to the Australian economy can’t be known but it could make things very difficult for a second term Albanese government or a first term Dutton one.

    As Trump tries to force a settlement on Ukraine, there’s been increasing attention on the Europeans’ plans to boost their defence expenditure. This week, we started to feel the heat on Australia to do the same.

    Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby told the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, in a written answer during his confirmation hearing, that “Australia is a core U.S. ally. […] The main concern the United States should press with Australia, consistent with the President’s approach, is higher defense spending. Australia is currently well below the 3% level advocated for by NATO Secretary General Rutte, and Canberra faces a far more powerful challenge in China.”

    Presently Australia’s defence spending is about 2% of GDP, projected to increase to 2.4% by 2033–34.The Coalition has said it would spend more than Labor (but has not specified how much more).

    Defence Minister Richard Marles said he could “obviously understand the US administration seeking for its friends and allies around the world to do more. That’s a conversation that we will continue to have with the US administration. […] But it’s really important to understand we are increasing that spending right now.”

    It’s also important to understand that if Australia must ramp up defence further or faster than present plans, that will suck funds from other priorities, putting another squeeze on future governments.

    Trump’s bullying of Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky has not weakened the bipartisan support in Australia for Ukraine.

    But a difference has emerged over whether Australia should (if asked) take part in any peacekeeping force. Peter Dutton said this role should be left to the Europeans. But Albanese flagged his government would consider it, pointing to the many other peacekeeping operations we have participated in.

    Former prime minister Scott Morrison got on well with Trump during the president’s first term and has become even more signed up since. The Morrisons were at Mar-a-Lago for New Year’s eve.

    Morrison was distinctly sympathetic to Trump’s approach when talking this week about Ukraine. He told an Australian Financial Review dinner, “Do we just keep fighting this war every day? The alternative is to find a peace that can be secured.

    “There was no conversation, no real conversation, about peace in Ukraine up until now.” Zelensky had the “most to gain” from negotiating to end the war, he said.

    Morrison is affiliated with lobbying firm American Global Strategies, which has links to the Trump administration. Colby is listed as a senior adviser. The chairman and founder of the group, Robert C. O’Brien, was formerly a national security adviser to Trump.

    Morrison is one of a number of former senior Australian political figures who have a current professional or commercial lock-in to Washington politics.

    Former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey, who was close to the Trump White House when Hockey was ambassador in 2016-20, is founder and global president of Bondi Partners, a lobbying firm that operates between the US and Australia.

    Another former Australian ambassador to Washington, Arthur Sinodinos, is based in Washington as a partner in the Asia Group, a strategic advisory firm.

    Meanwhile former PM Kevin Rudd, as Australian ambassador in Washington, is trying to amplify Australia’s official voice with the administration.

    Speculation continues about Rudd’s future if the government changed. Dutton says that would depend on how effective Rudd was, saying his present instinct would be leave him in the job.

    Others are sceptical this would happen, and raise Morrison’s name as a possible replacement. Morrison has reportedly told people he would not want the post. But you couldn’t rule it out.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese beset by disruptors, from Cyclone Alfred to Donald Trump – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-anthony-albanese-beset-by-disruptors-from-cyclone-alfred-to-donald-trump-251258

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina local elections 2024: ODIHR election observation mission final report

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Bosnia and Herzegovina local elections 2024: ODIHR election observation mission final report

    Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2024 local elections were competitive and efficiently managed, but took place in an environment lacking social and political cohesion. Extensive legal reforms increased the integrity of the process, but the scope of the changes, combined with time pressure and inadequate resources, made its implementation challenging.
    Fundamental freedoms were respected during the campaign, but insufficient efforts to generate public engagement, and the limited and biased media coverage reduced voters’ opportunity to make an informed choice. Women were under-represented throughout the campaign, in particular as candidates in mayoral races. Election day was calm, but observers noted the secrecy of the vote was compromised due to polling station layouts and an inconsistent application of procedural safeguards.
    These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on the 6 October 2024 local elections, published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers recommendations to bring elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections.
    Key recommendations include:
    Reviewing the legal framework and eliminating discriminatory restrictions on the right to stand through an inclusive consultation process;
    Increasing efforts to facilitate women’s active participation in public and political life;
    Ensuring equal suffrage rights and autonomous voting for voters with disabilities;
    Strengthening freedom of expression by increasing protection of journalists and lifting criminal sanctions for defamation;
    Ensuring timely and effective remedy against electoral violations;
    Providing for adequate financing of election campaigns by revising expenditure limits and sanctioning violations;
    Further educating voters and election officials on protecting the right to vote in secrecy in a free atmosphere.
    The ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the 6 October 2024 local elections commenced its work on 28 August and remained in the country until 16 October.
    The ODIHR election observation mission also assessed the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the 2018 and the 2022 general elections, and concluded that 2 recommendations had been fully implemented, 3 were mostly implemented and 23 are partially addressed, while others are still outstanding. A full list can be found on p. 28 of today’s report.
    All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations. The ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database tracks the extent to which recommendations are implemented by states across the OSCE region.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders

    UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. Delivered at the 58th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you Mr President.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report and her ongoing work on what is a high priority mandate for the UK. We thank her for drawing attention to the work of human rights defenders in isolated, remote and rural contexts.

    We recognise the additional risks that these brave defenders face and deplore the exploitation of their geographical location to threaten and attack them.

    Human rights defenders make crucial contributions to human rights, sustainable development and the rule of law. We call on all States to provide a safe, accessible and supportive environment for individuals and organisations carrying out this work.

    At a practical level the UK continues to support human rights defenders and their work through our diplomatic network who regularly meet with them. We monitor cases and raise issues both directly with governments, as well as through multilateral organisations and bodies.

    Special Rapporteur,

    We would like to ask what further practical steps can States take to develop protection mechanisms for human rights defenders working in isolated, remote and rural contexts?

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK–Japan Economic Partnership to propel growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New UK–Japan Economic Partnership to propel growth

    Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary travel to Japan for the Economic 2+2, a new way for the UK and Japan to coordinate international economic policy.

    • Huge Japanese market to be further unlocked through new partnership between UK and Japan as Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Business and Trade visit to the world’s 4th largest economy  
    • Japan already invests £86 billion in the UK economy; a business delegation travelling alongside the ministers will drive more investment and opportunities for British companies in Japan.
    • UK and Japanese defence industrial cooperation will deliver jobs for Brits and security across the Indo Pacific – building our defence capability and our economy.

    A new partnership between the UK and Japan will unlock further growth for British business – advancing a relationship worth £27 billion annually and driving forward the government’s Plan for Change.

    It comes as the Foreign Secretary and Business Secretary travel to Japan today (6th March 2025), for the Economic 2+2, a new strategic way for the UK and Japan to coordinate international economic policy. The visit is part of the government delivering its Plan for Change, to boost growth, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

    Economic growth and future prosperity depend upon strong security foundations, a reliable trading system, resilient supply-chains, energy security, and an economy resilient to shocks.

    Japan’s decision to enter into an Economic 2+2 with the UK, a Dialogue that they only currently have with the US, demonstrates that Japan and other major world economies view the UK as an important partner for driving long-term sustainable growth and security. 

    UK-Japan joint defence industrial projects are driving jobs across the UK while providing new defence capabilities and protecting British security interests in the Indo-Pacific.  

    This is delivered through programmes like GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme), the UK, Japan and Italy’s joint future fighter jet programme. The programme currently employs more than 3,500 people, including engineers and programmers, across the UK, and British workers are building jets that will protect British security interests and international trade, whilst boosting jobs in the UK.  The 2+2 will encourage future opportunities to collaborate on growth and defence. The Foreign Secretary will see the impact these programmes are having first hand during a visit to Japan’s Ministry of Defence and meetings with UK companies actively engaged in GCAP.  

    This further builds on the Prime Minister’s announcement that defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027. Investments in defence like GCAP will protect UK citizens from threats at home but will also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive and increase jobs, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth. In 2023-24, defence spending by the UK Government supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, the equivalent to one in every 60. 

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: 

    This government is boosting growth to the UK by taking our relationships with major economies like Japan to new heights. It’s fantastic to arrive in Tokyo with a business delegation as we start a first of its kind economic dialogue.

    The UK and Japan’s interests have never been more closely aligned. From our shared understanding of the indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security, to our desire to grow more together as we embrace the opportunities of new technologies like AI.

    By working more closely with Japan, we will give UK firms more business, puts money in people’s pockets and help deliver our Plan for Change.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    I’m looking forward to having the chance to discuss how the UK and Japan can strengthen the many economic ties that bind our two countries together as we deliver on our Plan for Change.

    The UK and Japan share a proud, historic trading relationship that has only deepened in recent years, opening up new opportunities for businesses in both of our countries, and with our upcoming Industrial Strategy we will find even more common ground.

    The Economic 2+2 will strengthen UK and Japan cooperation in a range of areas– such as continued commitment to a fair-trading system, joint research into the technologies of the future and mutual investment to support growth, innovation and jobs in the defence industry. 

    The joint visit will also move forward work with Japan on our modern, ambitious Industrial Strategy. Japan is an incredibly important investment partner, with 1,000 Japanese companies supporting 160,000 jobs in the UK. The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) combined with the new economic partnership announced today will strengthen that relationship even further. 

    A business delegation, representing the key high growth sectors of the future, will travel alongside the ministers to see firsthand the opportunities for growth and development UK-Japanese collaboration will bring. The Foreign Secretary and Business and Trade Secretary’s discussions with Japan will give UK businesses access to Japanese industry and further open up trade. Japan is a manufacturing powerhouse – ranking third globally in terms of value added to the manufacturing industry.  

    Chief Economist at the CBI – member of the travelling business delegation – Lousie Hellem, said:

    Cooperation with like-minded partners like Japan will be critical to achieving the government’s Growth Mission.  

    As a significant and growing trading partner, Japan’s economy offers unique opportunities for UK firms looking to expand and internationalise. This delegation is an important next step in our relationship, enabling both governments to explore deeper collaboration across topics like digital and technology, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability. 

    As the voice of business, the CBI will continue to work closely with our Japanese sister federation – Keidanren – in the B7, B20 and bilaterally to promote a strong and mutually beneficial UK-Japan relationship.” 

    In Tokyo the Foreign Secretary and Business and Trade Secretary will host an AI Business Reception to promote the UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and discuss with Japanese AI leaders the scope for new growth opportunities between British and Japanese AI. 

    During the visit, the Business and Trade Secretary will announce plans to develop a new Industrial Strategy partnership – the first of its kind for Britain, as well as sign a UK-Japan Memorandum of Cooperation on Offshore Wind as the UK races ahead to net zero.  He will meet with global automotive manufacturers Nissan and Toyota, and with CPTPP Minister Akazawa – their first meeting since the UK’s accession to the trade group last year. 

    While in Tokyo Reynolds will also tour some iconic UK exporters, visiting major brands including Warhammer, Brompton and Burberry. UK exports to Japan totalled £14.7 billion in the 12 months to September 2024 – an increase of 5% from the previous year. 

    The Foreign Secretary will travel onto the Philippines, where he will drive forward cooperation with one of our key security partners in the region. Growth and security go hand in hand – a third of global maritime passes through the South China Sea – and so the Filipinos’ work to stand up for freedom of navigation and international law in the region is vital to ensure these trade routes remain safe and secure.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Looming famine in Rakhine signals wider crisis in Myanmar

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.

    In a report released on Thursday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) described the situation in the poverty-struck province as an “unprecedented disaster”.

    “A perfect storm is brewing,” it said, citing a combination of interlinked issues – restrictions on domestic and international flow of goods, hyperinflation, loss of livelihoods, dwindling agricultural production and lack of essential services.

    Without urgent action nearly the entire population (about 95 per cent) “will regress into survival mode”, UNDP warned.

    “They will be left to fend for themselves amid a drastic reduction in domestic production, skyrocketing prices, widespread unemployment and heightened insecurity.”

    Rakhine is home to the mostly-Muslim Rohingya community who fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017 in their hundreds and thousands, in what the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called ethnic cleansing.

    Today, nearly one million Rohingya refugees remain in neighbouring Bangladesh, where UN aid teams have had to cut food rations amid major funding shortages.

    Collective punishment

    Data collected across Rakhine in 2023 and 2024, also pointed to a virtual halt in the state’s economy, with critical sectors such as trade, agriculture and construction nearly at a standstill.

    “People’s incomes are collapsing because export-oriented, agrarian livelihoods in Rakhine are disappearing as the domestic and international markets are no longer accessible due to blockades,” UNDP said.

    It added that the restrictions put in place by the military’s State Administration Council were “clearly aimed at isolating Rakhine from the rest of the country and exacting ‘collective punishment’ on an already vulnerable population”.

    Repercussions beyond borders

    UNDP further warned that the recent escalation in manipulating ethnic identity along with an imminent economic catastrophe, will deepen marginalization, disenfranchisement and put intercommunal relationships at even greater risk than ever before.

    “As the crisis worsens, the lack of resources and opportunities will continue to fuel tensions and trigger a greater exodus of youth and families…this would have repercussions both within Myanmar and beyond its borders,” it said.

    “Without safe avenues for escape, we anticipate an increase in human trafficking, particularly among the vulnerable Rohingya population.”

    Knock-on effects

    The knock-on effects of the situation Rakhine are contributing to a pattern of internal migration across Myanmar.

    As the economic situation worsens, many families see relocation as their only option for survival, a separate UNDP report on migration patterns revealed. Many young adults are leaving their communities for urban centres in search of work and stability.

    However, what they find is often far from what they had hoped – jobs are scarce and those who migrate for safety rather than economic opportunity frequently encounter severe mental health challenges.

    Women face an additional burden: lower wages, higher rates of discrimination and greater obstacles in the job market.

    © UNDP

    A girl scavenges for recyclable materials at a garbage dump in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where impoverished families are often forced to search for items to sell for minimal income. (file)

    Brain drains

    The migration crisis extends beyond Myanmar’s borders, with comparisons revealing stark differences between internal migrants and those who flee to neighbouring countries, such as Thailand.

    Those who moved abroad often earned better wages, experiencing improved living conditions. This could potentially lead to labour shortages and hinder any future recovery, UNDP said.

    “With nearly 25 per cent of the population already living abroad, addressing these migration trends is essential to retaining a productive workforce within the country,” it added.

    Dwindling human capital

    Compounding this, the conflict and economic strife are accelerating the degradation of Myanmar’s human capital and prospects look equally bleak.

    Essential services like healthcare, education, and access to clean water and sanitation are becoming luxuries out of reach for many, according to data released by UNDP in September, with nearly 25 per cent of children no longer attending school.

    The dropout rates are climbing in regions hardest hit by violence and economic hardship, such as Rakhine and neighbouring Chin state.

    The healthcare systems are strained to the breaking point and basic medical needs remain unmet, UNDP said.

    “A mass exodus of skilled workers is depleting the nation’s productive capacity, exacerbating the long-term effects of this crisis.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Death toll rises in Darfur, Cyclone Chido latest, São Tomé and Príncipe takes development step

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    UN humanitarians expressed alarm on Monday at the rising numbers of civilian casualties in and around the besieged Sudanese city of El Fasher, in northern Darfur.

    According to news reports citing local sources, paramilitaries from the so-called Rapid Support Forces who have been battling the forces of the military Government for 18 months, launched a missile attack at the weekend which killed more than 30 people in the city, while a drone attack on Friday reportedly killed nine and wounded 20 at the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher.

    Attacks include the repeated shelling of the Zamzam displacement camp since the beginning of this month, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing correspondents in New York.

    “The camp hosts hundreds of thousands of people and famine conditions were confirmed there earlier this year.”

    In response to the deaths in the city in recent days, Mr. Dujarric condemned all civilian killings “wherever they occur”.

    ‘Deplorable’ attacks

    WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of the attack on the main hospital that it was no longer operational, describing all attacks on healthcare as “deplorable”, in a post on X. The hospital is no longer operational. (repeat)

    “This is part of a broader escalation of attacks across Darfur and in other areas of Sudan,” the Spokesperson added, reiterating the call from UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, for an immediate ceasefire

    “We reiterate that international humanitarian law must be respected. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, are not targets,” he added.

    Cyclone Chido: Humanitarians rush aid to affected areas

    After Cyclone Chido made landfall in the French island territory of Mayotte at the weekend, leaving an unknown number of dead and destruction on a massive scale, UN teams began aid distribution in Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique – following the deadly storm making landfall there.

    Around two million people are at risk in Mozambique, including 627,000 identified as being at “high risk”.

    In an alert, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that voluntary evacuation plans began to be circulated on 8 December, reaching more than 400,000 people.

    The UN agency reported that in less than 24 hours, emergency food assistance reached around 500 cyclone-affected families in temporary accommodation centres in Pemba district alone.

    Humanitarians have been on high alert since the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte experienced its worst cyclone in almost a century on Saturday. Media reports showed trees uprooted and houses smashed, while communities faced power cuts and fears over a lack of drinking water.

    Close cooperation

    The UN is working closely with the Government in Mozambique to assess the damage and humanitarian impact.

    For its part, UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and partners are providing water and sanitation supplies to mitigate disease risks as the region is already grappling with a cholera outbreak.

    Preliminary figures indicate that 140,000 people have been impacted across Cabo Delgado Province, where more than one million people are already in need of assistance due to the ongoing conflict, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

    “Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that in the most impacted districts – including Mecufi and Metuge – people urgently need shelter, they need water, they need sanitation, hygiene, health and protection assistance,” he added.

    Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, allocated $4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support early response efforts.

    São Tomé and Príncipe takes major development step

    The UN has congratulated São Tomé and Príncipe on its official graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category.

    The Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS) said the milestone “marks a significant achievement in the country’s development journey and reflects its sustained efforts to achieve robust economic growth, enhance human development, and improve resilience against vulnerabilities.”

    The graduation also underscores the international community’s collective push to support LDCs overall and is “the result of years of strategic planning, effective policymaking, and international partnerships,” added OHRLLS in a statement.

    The UN Committee for Development Policy recommended the country’s graduation after it met the necessary criteria based on per capita income, human assets, and economic and environmental vulnerability indices.

    Notable accomplishments include the increase in universal health coverage from 47 per cent in 2010 to 59 per cent by 2021 and being ranked 11th among 54 African nations in the 2021 Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

    “The graduation of São Tomé and Príncipe is a historic milestone that underscores the resilience, vision, and determination of its government and people,” said Rabab Fatima, High Representative for OHRLLS.

    “This achievement is a powerful testament to the impact of effective partnership and multilateral cooperation, offering both a model and an inspiration for other LDCs working to overcome structural challenges and achieve sustainable development.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World’s largest urban development forum concludes with Cairo Call to Action

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    SDGs

    The twelfth edition of the World Urban Forum wrapped up on Friday with the adoption of the Cairo Call to Action, after intense discussions focused on the global housing crisis and financing urbanization, all under the theme “It All Starts at Home.”

    Ahead of the closing ceremony, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anaclaudia Rossbach, emphasised the Forum’s timely emphasis on local action.

    “Over half of the world’s population now resides in urban areas,” she said, as she highlighted the pivotal role of local governments in shaping cities and human settlements.

    WUF12 was “a turning point in the journey of the World Urban Forum,” she declared.

    Record-breaking Forum

    Over the past five days, WUF12, convened biennially by UN-Habitat, explored urbanization through six main dialogues, roundtables, assemblies, and partner-led events.

    “We have broken many records and scaled new heights at this World Forum,” Ms. Rossbach stated, citing impressive metrics, including the attendance of over 24,000 participants from 182 countries.

    UN-Habitat head Rossbach addressing the closing of WUF12.

    In addition, four heads of state, 60 ministers, 45 deputy ministers and 96 mayors, attended more than 700 events from 1,500 organizers.  

    In all over 63,000 people, in person or online, attended dialogues, sessions and discussions. 

    Crucial issues tackled

    Discussions at WUF12, she said, highlighted key challenges central to promoting sustainable cities. These included the urgency of addressing the global housing crisis, recognizing that adequate housing is a human right and its links to climate and humanitarian crises.

    Alongside, finance for urban sustainability must be prioritizing, through tapping into unused financial resources in cities, as needed.

    Capturing, sharing, and learning from best practices to accelerate action effectively and at scale, is equally important, she said, as is leveraging the potential of coalitions and partnerships in the face of complex and unprecedented challenges. 

    UN News/Khaled Mohamed

    Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, Egypt presenting Cairo Call to Action.

    The Cairo Call to Action  

    On the final day, delegations adopted the Cairo Call to Action, pledging to act with urgency to address the global housing crisis as well as leveraging local action to achieving global goals and targets.

    The Cairo Call to Action also emphasized, among other points, the need for sustaining a systemic representation of local actors at all levels, sharing urban spaces and opportunities inclusively, urban planning to deliver better local outcomes, and unlocking finance for cities and communities.  

    Delegations also committed to ensuring equity and justice for sustainable cities, leveraging local and grassroots data for decision-making, harnessing culture and heritage as an asset for sustainability, and building coalitions and alliances to scale local impact.

    Ensuring a decent life

    Speaking at the closing, Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Sherif El-Sherbiny, reinforced the theme’s importance, stating, “everything starts locally, from where we live.”

    He pledged that Egypt’s government will continue to work toward providing a “decent life” and sustainable development for all citizens.

    “We are able. We can build a better future for us and for the next generation,” he added.

    UN News/Khaled Mohamed

    Sherif El-Sherbiny, Egypt’s Minister of Housing.

    Hard work continues

    Several non-governmental organization (NGOs) and civil society organizations emphasized safety and inclusivity, such as the Van Leer Foundation, which supports young children, caregivers and communities worldwide.

    Chief Programme Officer Rushda Majeed highlighted the foundation’s mission to foster inclusive communities, noting that WUF12 was valuable for showcasing actions from prior Forums.

    She highlighted the many conversations and presentations, building upon earlier outcomes.

    “We find this of great value in terms of not only meeting people and advocating for particular causes but really learning about what has been done.”

    On the closing day, discussions focused on creating safer spaces for future generations.

    One roundtable featured Professor Anna Barker from the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom, who shared her research on women’s and girls’ safety in public parks.

    “We spoke to a diverse range of women and girls,” she said, “and used their feedback to create new guidance.”

    This guidance has been implemented through the Green Flag Award programme across 17 countries.

    UN News/Khaled Mohamed

    Anna Barker is an associate professor in criminal justice and criminology at the University of Leeds.

    Looking ahead

    In the coming weeks and months, UN-Habitat will highlight the outcomes of WUF12 at key events, including COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.  

    Ms. Rossbach said the outcomes would inform discussions within UN-Habitat and the first open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Adequate Housing for All.  

    “We are excited about the journey to Baku,” she added, referencing the 2026 WUF13, as the Forum continues to address the challenges of urbanization. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –