NewzIntel.com

Category: Switzerland

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Economic forecast: below-average growth, high degree of uncertainty

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

    The Federal Government Expert Group on Business Cycles has slightly lowered its growth forecast for the Swiss economy. In 2025, GDP adjusted for sporting events is expected to grow by 1.4%, followed by 1.6% in 2026 (December forecasts: 1.5% and 1.7% respectively). [1] This would mean the Swiss economy would continue to grow below its historical average for another two years. These forecasts presuppose that there will be no escalating global trade war. In view of the considerable uncertainty, SECO has formulated two alternative scenarios to supplement the expert group’s forecast.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members agree on topics for experience-sharing sessions on services trade

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Members agree on topics for experience-sharing sessions on services trade

    Members also explored the linkages between services trade and environmental sustainability at an event organized by the WTO Secretariat on 12 March.
    Giving effect to ministerial mandate
    The agreement to organize informal experience-sharing sessions on good regulatory practices and recognition of professional qualifications stems from the February 2024 ministerial mandate to  reinvigorate work on trade in services and to facilitate the increased participation of developing members in services trade. Members will also continue discussions on the possibility of organizing sessions on the green transition and digitalization.
    Several members reiterated their call for not duplicating the work carried out in the Council’s subsidiary bodies and for having balanced deliberations.
    Participation of least-developed countries (LDCs) in services trade
    Members responded favourably – pending final discussions on technical issues – to a request by the WTO LDC group to collect information through a survey hosted on the WTO website on how their service suppliers are engaging with consumers and enterprises in other economies. Particular attention will be paid to the 51 WTO members that have notified preferences for LDC services and service suppliers. Members reiterated their commitment to support the participation of LDCs in services trade.
    Members have notified preferences for LDC service suppliers in line with a ministerial mandate to operationalize the “LDC Services Waiver”, which was adopted at the 8th Ministerial Conference in 2011.
    A total of 37 WTO members are classified as LDCs. More information on the waiver can be found here.
    Services trade concerns
    Members discussed three previously addressed specific trade concerns involving cybersecurity measures and mobile applications, among other services-related topics.
    Japan and the United States, supported by several other members, reiterated concerns about the cybersecurity measures of China and Viet Nam. China repeated concerns with certain services measures of the United States. China also reiterated its concerns regarding India’s measures in relation to mobile applications.
    Trade in financial services
    Members continued discussing how to reinvigorate work on trade in services in the Committee on Trade in Financial Services. A new proposal, bringing together three earlier submissions from China, the Philippines and India, calls for information-sharing sessions on digital payments, interoperability of payment systems and cost of remittance services. The proposal also refers to crisis preparedness as advocated by Pakistan. Details of previous discussions can be found here.
    The Committee is one of the Services Council’s subsidiary bodies.
    Classification of environmental services
    At a meeting of the Committee on Specific Commitments held on 11 March, members heard from Costa Rica and Switzerland about how the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability is helping its parties define, classify and make commitments in environmental services.
    In the Agreement, Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland set out the commitments they have made on 114 services ranging from environmental protection to resource management and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
    Members welcomed the presentation and agreed to engage further on this topic.
    The Committee is one of the Services Council’s subsidiary bodies.
    Recent developments in services trade policy
    An event held on 12 March entitled “Nexus between Trade in Services and Environmental Sustainability:  Evidence from Recent Research” looked at the role of services trade in promoting environmental sustainability and the impact of environmental policy on services trade.
    Introducing a forthcoming research paper titled “Services Trade and Environmental Sustainability: Conceptual Linkages and Empirical Patterns”, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted the important role that services trade can play in tackling environmental challenges. This is particularly important as services represent two-thirds of global output and are among the most dynamic sectors in international trade.
    The value that services trade adds to supply chains can support greener production functions and consumption patterns, the OECD noted. For example, engineering services can be used in the green hydrogen production supply chain and financial services can support carbon mitigation projects.
    The OECD paper makes the case for removing restrictions to services imports and for examining synergies with environmental policymaking. Countries at all levels of development stand to benefit from increased openness and participation in services trade as a result of increased domestic productivity, the OECD noted.
    This event was organized by the WTO’s Trade in Services and Investment Division as part of the “Simply Services” speaker series, an informal platform for sharing the latest information on trends in services trade. The webcast of the event can be watched here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Cyprus talks show ‘new atmosphere’ between divided island’s leaders: Guterres

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    UN-led efforts to kick-start talks on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus have resulted in agreements on new trust-building measures.

    There’s a positive “new atmosphere” surrounding the discussions, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday.

    Speaking in Geneva after a second day of informal talks, the UN chief underscored his commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of the Cypriots – the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots – “from the very start of my mandate…today was another attempt to find a way forward”.

    Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar, leader of the Turkish Cypriots, had gathered in Geneva along with guarantors Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom at the request of the UN chief.

    Common ground

    “Mr. Tatar and Mr. Christodoulides have agreed the following group of initiatives to build trust,” he said, listing “opening of the four crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas; solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries”.

    The UN has pushed for negotiations towards a settlement of the issues which led to the division of the island, with the Security Council authorising a UN peacekeeping force in 1964, UNFICYP.

    In the absence of a permanent agreement, the force remains on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, a buffer zone and to support humanitarian activities.

    Previous push for progress

    Mr. Guterres attempted to bring the two sides together in 2017 at the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana but talks ultimately broke down. A further push was made in 2021.

    In contrast, the latest discussions saw “meaningful progress”, the UN chief insisted. “I hope that the confidence-building measures or the initiatives to build trust, together with the decision to have very soon a next meeting and the acceptance by all of the appointment of a Special Envoy on Cyprus to prepare the next steps, demonstrates the sense of commitment and the sense of urgency that I believe were extremely important. It’s a new atmosphere.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Security News: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: United States Department of Justice 2

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wealthy Miami Man Pleads Guilty to Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the IRS

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    A Miami man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring with others to defraud the United States by concealing millions of dollars in assets and income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1985 and 2020, Dan Rotta hid more than $20 million in assets in dozens of secret Swiss accounts at five different Swiss banks, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Bank Bonhôte, and Bank Julius Baer. The accounts were held in his own name, in the names of sham structures, and, in one instance, a pseudonym. Over the years, Rotta earned tens of millions of dollars of income from these assets that he did not report on his tax returns and that he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. He caused a substantial tax loss to the IRS.

    Rotta employed increasingly elaborate schemes to keep his accounts hidden. Over the years, he kept his accounts open, in part, by falsely representing that he was not a U.S. citizen, leveraging his Brazilian citizenship to claim he was a Brazilian citizen residing in Brazil.

    Starting in 2008, after it was reported publicly that UBS and its bankers were under criminal investigation for helping U.S. taxpayers evade their taxes, Rotta closed his UBS account and moved his funds to Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte.

    In 2011, after the IRS obtained records related to one of Rotta’s Swiss accounts, Rotta nominally changed the documentation of his accounts at Credit Suisse and Bank Bonhôte to make it appear that his co-conspirator, a Brazilian national and resident, owned the assets in the accounts. Despite the change, Rotta continued to control the assets and transferred millions of dollars out of those accounts for his use.

    Shortly after Rotta changed the account documentation, the IRS began auditing Rotta. During the audit, Rotta falsely denied that he owned the assets in the foreign financial accounts and, instead, claimed that the millions of dollars he withdrew from the accounts were non-taxable loans from foreign nationals. Rotta provided the IRS with fake promissory notes and false affidavits from the foreign nationals to corroborate his claims. During the audit, Rotta continued to use the funds in his foreign accounts to fund his lifestyle in the United States, but to conceal his use of the funds from the IRS, he often routed transfers from his foreign accounts through nominee accounts and attorney trust fund accounts in the United States.

    The IRS did not believe Rotta’s story and assessed millions of dollars of additional taxes as well as penalties and interest against him. Rotta sought to reverse the assessments by filing a false petition in U.S. Tax Court. In that petition, Rotta, through his attorney, falsely denied having any foreign accounts and attached fictitious loan documents. Furthermore, the nominee account owners traveled to the United States to retell the false loan story to IRS attorneys.

    In 2017, after Rotta presented evidence that the purported loans had been repaid, the IRS reversed the deficiencies and agreed that Rotta owed no additional tax. Unbeknownst to the IRS, however, the “loan repayments” were fake: the funds that Rotta purportedly repaid went back into accounts that Rotta controlled shortly after the IRS dismissed the suit. Also as part of the conspiracy, Rotta had his U.S.-based attorneys create sham trust structures that he used to transfer his assets to the United States without alerting the IRS. On paper, it appeared that Rotta’s co-conspirator funded the trusts for Rotta’s benefit. In reality, Rotta funded the trusts with transfers from Swiss accounts.

    In 2019, Rotta became aware that the IRS would receive additional account records from Switzerland that contradicted the false claims that he had previously made. To avoid criminal liability, Rotta applied to participate in the IRS’s voluntary disclosure practice. Under that practice, taxpayers who failed to comply with their tax and reporting obligations can make timely, accurate, and complete disclosures of their conduct, which may offer a path to resolve their non-compliance and limit their criminal exposure. Rotta made false statements in his submission, including falsely claiming that the assets in the Swiss accounts mostly belonged to others, and that any funds provided to Rotta were non-taxable gifts. Rotta also claimed that the nominee account owner gifted Rotta money because the nominee had no children to benefit from the funds. In fact, the nominee had two children.

    Rotta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special Agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., and dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, is investigating the case.

    Senior Litigation Counsels Sean Beaty and Mark Daly and Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell and William Montague of the Tax Division, as well as Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida, are prosecuting the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sandoz signs landmark supply and manufacturing agreement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Sandoz signs 10-year agreement with partner Delpharm, a global pharmaceutical developer and contract manufacturer
    • Agreement will secure a reliable supply of affordable, quality sterile injectables made in Canada
    • With this decision, Sandoz solidifies its position as the #1 supplier of sterile injectables to Canadian hospitals

    BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sandoz Canada, the leader in generic and biosimilar medicines in Canada, has signed a 10-year, long-term supply agreement with its partner Delpharm, a global pharmaceutical developer and contract manufacturer. This partnership, along with financial backing from the Government of Canada, will allow Delpharm to carry out its modernization plan for its Boucherville plant.

    Michel Robidoux, President and General Manager of Sandoz Canada, said: “Almost every minor or major surgery in the country is performed with at least one Sandoz medicine that is manufactured in Boucherville. This is how we are continuing our Purpose of pioneering access for Canadian patients.”

    After Delpharm bought the Boucherville plant in 2022, Sandoz signed an exclusive partnership with the company to maintain its supply of sterile injectables for Canadian hospitals.

    The Boucherville plant is considered to be essential to the Canadian hospital network as it produces an essential range of molecules used in various surgical procedures and intensive care units. In addition, the site is responsible for producing 20 of Canada’s top 100 molecules, and has the country’s largest manufacturing capacity for injectable narcotics.

    The project mainly involves renewing and refurbishing production equipment and the laboratory to create a state-of-the-art plant. Over the next few years, the plan will be carried out in several phases so as not to compromise supply. This modernization will not only ensure continuity in meeting the highest quality standards, but also maintain cutting-edge local production of sterile injectables commercialized by Sandoz Canada.

    Disclaimer
    This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    About Sandoz Canada
    As a Canadian leader in off-patent medicines, Sandoz Canada has a product portfolio that includes over 700 generics and biosimilars spanning multiple therapeutic areas, such as anti-infective, cardiovascular, central nervous system, immunology and oncology. In 2024, 56 million Sandoz prescriptions were issued in Canada (source: IQVIA Compuscript TRx). Sandoz Canada employs 300 people across the country and at its head office in Boucherville, Quebec. It is a trusted partner for pharmacists, physicians and hospitals for quality medicine and outstanding customer service and is committed to ensuring a reliable supply. For more information about Sandoz Canada, visit www.sandoz.ca.

    About Sandoz AG
    Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: Pioneering access for patients. 20,000 people of more than 100 nationalities work together to bring Sandoz medicines to some 800 million patients worldwide, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger social impact. Its leading portfolio of more than 1,500 products addresses diseases from common colds to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to the year 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first oral penicillin in 1951, and the world’s first biosimilar in 2006. In 2022, Sandoz sales achieved USD 9.6 billion.

    Media relations contact    
    Sophie Levasseur
    Manager, Corporate Communications
    sophie-1.levasseur@sandoz.com
    (+1) 263-788-3835    		    
    Follow Sandoz on social media  
    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandozcanada

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46860583-a539-4025-a530-29a72250b652

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Participation in Singapore Defence Technology Summit 2025

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    From 18 to 20 March 2025, a delegation from the Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse led by Deputy National Armaments Director Thomas Rothacher will attend the “Singapore Defence Technology Summit 2025”. The conference will raise the topic of how modern defence technologies and partnerships can contribute to overcoming the challenges of an uncertain future. In addition, Ng Chad-Son, Director of the Singaporean Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), will sign the Memorandum of Understanding on the increased defence technology cooperation between Switzerland and Singapore, which the Federal Council approved on 14 March.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Swiss Re to sell 10.05% stake in Definity Financial for CAD 655 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Swiss Re announced an agreement to sell 11,647,217 common shares (“Common Shares”) of Definity Financial Corp. (TSX: DFY) (“Definity”) representing approximately 10.05% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as of March 17, 2025 (the “Offering”).

    The Common Shares are being sold by Swiss Re Investment Holdings Company Ltd on an underwritten block trade basis at a price of CAD 56.20 per Common Share for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately CAD 655 million. The Offering has been underwritten by CIBC Capital Markets and National Bank Financial Inc. (the “Underwriters”) and is expected to close on March 19, 2025.

    Immediately before the Offering, Swiss Re owned 11,647,217 Common Shares, representing approximately 10.05% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. After giving effect to the Offering, Swiss Re will no longer hold any Common Shares.

    “We are very impressed with the significant progress Definity has made since its IPO in November 2021 and continue to value the ongoing business relationship with the Company. Swiss Re continues to be a strong believer in Definity’s path towards becoming a leading P&C insurer in Canada,” said Andreas Berger, Swiss Re’s Group Chief Executive Officer. “The sale was done in the context of a regular review and rebalancing of Swiss Re’s investment portfolio and is consistent with the Group’s overall investment strategy across equity and alternative investments.”

    Swiss Re’s head office is located at Mythenquai 50/60 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. Swiss Re will file an early warning report with the securities regulators in each of the provinces and territories of Canada with respect to the foregoing matters pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, in connection with the Common Shares sold, a copy of which will be available under Definity’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information and/or a copy of the related early warning report to be filed, please contact James Raphael at +1 212 317 5428. Definity’s head office is located at 111 Westmount Road South, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 2L6.

    About Swiss Re
    The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 70 offices globally.

    Media Relations
    Zurich
    Telephone +41 43285 7171

    New York
    Telephone +1 914 828 6511

    Investor Relations
    Telephone +41 43 285 4444

    Swiss Re Ltd
    Mythenquai 50/60
    CH-8022 Zurich
    Telephone +41 43 285 2121

    www.swissre.com
    @SwissRe

    Contact person
    Mark Bonthrone
    Mark_Bonthrone@swissre.com
    +1 646 662 0212

    Additional information
    For press releases, logos and photography
    of Swiss Re executives,
    directors or offices go to
    www.swissre.com/media

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Forecast for public finances: uncertain outlook for federal finances and social security funds

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Finance

    The public sector’s financial development differs depending on the level of government. The latest forecasts of the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) through to 2028 show that the Confederation’s financial situation will depend heavily on the relief package in particular. The cantons are likely to continue to generate surpluses, while the municipalities are set to return to small structural deficits from 2026 onward. Due to the unresolved funding for the 13th monthly AHV pension payment, there is still considerable uncertainty for the social security funds.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 46th session of the joint FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The forty-sixth session of the joint FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management will be held from 14 to 15 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

    JWP preliminary programme (as of 07.03.2025): PDF

    Contact: Secretariat

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascom affected by cyber attack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Baar (Switzerland), 17 March 2025

    On 16 March 2025, a cyber-attack compromised Ascom’s technical ticketing system. Other IT systems and customer systems remain unaffected, and our business is fully operational as usual. Investigations against such criminal offenses were initiated immediately and are ongoing. Ascom is working closely with the relevant authorities.

    A group calling itself the “Hellcat ransomware gang” announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it had breached Ascom’s IT infrastructure. The Ascom IT Cybersecurity Team is investigating the incident and immediately closed the ticketing system. Determining the extent of the attack is part of the ongoing investigation.
    As mentioned, no other IT systems or customer systems have been affected. Our business is fully operational as usual. No preventive action from customers and partners is currently needed. Ascom keeps very close contact with its customers and partners through our regional leadership and we will keep them informed of the investigation and relevant developments in the coming days.

    Potential questions from media or other interested third parties can be sent to info@ascom.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Enforced Disappearances Opens Twenty-Eighth Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Enforced Disappearances this morning opened its twenty-eighth session, during which it will examine the reports of the Central African Republic, the Gambia and Malta on their implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

    The Committee will also review follow-up and addition information provided by Panama, Serbia and Belgium, as well as by Peru and Argentina, for the latter two States in the context of a special request made in the light of recent developments in these two countries.

    Opening the session, Antti Korkeakivi, Chief of the Human Rights Treaties Branch at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Representative of the Secretary-General, said the global landscape today was fraught with challenges that continued to highlight the urgency and necessity of eradicating the heinous crime of enforced disappearances. 

    Mr. Korkeakivi welcomed that, since the last session, Poland became party to Convention, which now had 77 States parties.  The holding of the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances, held in Geneva two months ago, was a pivotal step in joining forces to address enforced disappearances and to encourage ratification of the Convention.  Since the last session, the Committee had registered 120 new urgent actions, bringing the number of registered urgent actions to a total of 2,003 since 2012.  Out of these cases, 518 have been closed following the location of the disappeared person, including 410 alive.

    Olivier de Frouville, Committee Chairperson, in his opening statement, said the substantive work, the day-to-day work of the treaty bodies, was carried out by the members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and they should be recognised.  Investing in human rights was an investment in security and development.  However, the crisis in which multilateral organizations were experiencing, which also affected the human rights protection system, could not be ignored. 

    It was practically impossible for the Committee to carry out regular monitoring, with more than 2,000 cases now recorded.  Yet the victims were counting on the Committee.  The Committee looked forward to the evaluation process under Measure 46, from the Pact of the Future, on adequate, predictable, more substantial and sustainable funding to enable the treaty bodies to carry out their mandates efficiently and effectively.

    During the meeting, Obeida Dabbagh, recounted his family’s searched for justice after the arrest and subsequent enforced disappearance of his brother Mazen Dabbagh, and his son Patrick in November 2013 by the Syrian Air Force intelligence. 

    Committee Expert Fidelis Kanyongolo thanked Mr. Dabbagh for sharing his story and underlined the importance of extra-territorial jurisprudence in the Committee’s work. 

    Before closing the meeting, the Committee adopted its agenda for the session.

    All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 18 March, to review additional information on the report of Serbia (CED/C/SRB/AI/1).

    Statements 

    ANTTI KORKEAKIVI, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Representative of the Secretary-General, thanked the five Members of the Committee whose first mandate would come to an end next June.  In accordance with the Convention, some may be re-elected by the States parties. States parties were called on to nominate well qualified candidates, as the deadline had been extended. 

    The global landscape today was fraught with challenges that continued to highlight the urgency and necessity of eradicating the heinous crime of enforced disappearances. Enforced disappearances remained a pervasive violation of human rights, contributing to a climate of fear, despair and injustice.  It was therefore important to work towards universal ratification of the Convention. Since the last session, Poland became the seventy-seventh State party to the Convention, which should be celebrated. 

    The holding of the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances, held in Geneva two months ago, was a pivotal step in joining forces to address enforced disappearances and to encourage ratification of the Convention.  It gathered more than 620 participants in Geneva and 1,392 persons online, coming from 118 countries and all regions of the world.  The event concluded with a call to action and unveiling of key follow-up activities.  These initiatives included the creation of a victim-led regional network in Africa; the organization of regular meetings of women searchers; the promotion of civil society contributions to the sessions of the Committee; and the creation of a global youth network against enforced disappearances.  States were called on to support them without delay. 

    Enforced disappearances had a disproportionate impact on women.  During the session, the Committee would consider a draft concept note for the elaboration of a general comment on women and girls and enforced disappearances.  Since the last session in September, the Committee undertook a two week-visit to Colombia, the report of which would be considered during the session.  During the session, the Committee would address the situation of enforced disappearances in 14 other States parties to the Convention, and the consideration of an individual complaint. 

    Through the Committee’s work on urgent actions, the Committee could request a State party to take immediate action to search for a disappeared person and to investigate his or her disappearance.  Since the last session, the Committee had registered 120 new urgent actions, bringing the number of registered urgent actions to a total of 2,003 since 2012. Out of these cases, 518 have been closed following the location of the disappeared person, including 410 alive. This meant that 1,481 urgent actions remained active, requiring follow-up by the Committee.

    The periodic reports on urgent actions adopted at each session traced the general trends in the cases and the Committee’s jurisprudence on urgent actions.

    The Secretary-General’s latest report on the treaty body system highlighted the fact that due to insufficient staff resources, the Committee was facing challenges in handling urgent action requests and ensuring follow-up in a timely manner.  In addition to the chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis had hampered the planning and implementation of the Committee’s work.  While the Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the Committee and other treaty bodies could implement their mandates, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future. 

    Despite the challenging circumstances, the treaty body strengthening process remained active. It reached a key moment, with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly.  On the occasion of Human Rights Day last year, the Geneva Human Rights Platform, in cooperation with the Office and the Directorate of International Law of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, organised an informal meeting of the Chairs and focal points on working methods.  The meeting explored the latest developments on the treaty body system and sought to identify possible ways to improve harmonisation of procedures and brainstorm on the way forward. 

    Mr. Korkeakivi concluded by saying that the eradication and prevention of enforced disappearances demanded unwavering commitment and concerted action.  The work of the Committee was at the core of these efforts, despite the challenging circumstances.  The Office looked forward to continuing to support the Committee in implementing its imperative mandate. 

    OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Chairperson of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, said the substantive work, the day-to-day work of the treaty bodies, was carried out by the members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and they should be recognised. 

    Human rights currently faced particularly vicious rhetoric.  Ideologues were using the art of reversing arguments that totalitarian movements were already practicing in the 1930s.  All those who had worked alongside the families of the disappeared were familiar with this misleading rhetoric: the disappeared were often stigmatised as nuisances to society or even as criminals.  All over the world today, the return of this madness could be seen, and with it the return of enforced disappearance, torture and executions to bring society to heel and silence all dissent.  It was important to continue to bear witness to this, and for the Committee to continue to meet and organise.

    The First World Congress on Enforced Disappearances was an extraordinary demonstration of the strength and resilience of the global movement against enforced disappearances. The families of the disappeared came in large numbers from all continents to testify and exchange their experiences, their challenges, their struggles, the adversity they faced, and the means to overcome it.  The Congress underscored the commitment of the major international non-governmental organizations and regional human rights protection organs. 

    Sixteen States came publicly to the opening to announce their commitments and pledges; 86 per cent of attendees felt that the Congress would have a direct impact on their work, while 90 per cent expressed their wish to actively contribute to the implementation of the priority actions identified during the Congress.  This week the report of the Congress would be published; it would summarise all the activities that took place there, but also all the commitments made.  It was now important that all partners organised themselves to follow up on these commitments within the year, including a significant acceleration in the pace of ratifications of the Convention to achieve near-universality within a reasonable time.  To do this, resources were needed.

    Investing in human rights was an investment in security and development.  However, the crisis which multilateral organizations were experiencing, which also affected the human rights protection system, could not be ignored.  It was practically impossible for the Committee to carry out regular monitoring, with more than 2,000 cases now recorded.  Yet the victims were counting on the Committee.  The Committee looked forward to the evaluation process under Measure 46, from the Pact of the Future, on adequate, predictable, more substantial and sustainable funding to enable the treaty bodies to carry out their mandates efficiently and effectively.

    The General Assembly, in its last resolution on the Committee system, did not take into consideration the pragmatic and realistic proposals made by the treaty bodies, particularly with a view to reforming the reporting procedure.  However, all parties agreed on a necessary reform. But the States seemed undecided and were presenting difficult conditions.  The thirty-sixth official meeting of the Presidents was an opportunity for a constructive exchange with a view to reaching new proposals for action and improvements. 

    The Committee was ahead of the curve and did not have a periodic reporting system.  States must submit a report within two years of ratification.  This was the subject of constructive dialogue and concluding observations, as would be the case at this session for the Gambia, the Central African Republic and Malta. States were then called upon to come back to the Committee after a few years to take stock of the implementation of the recommendations made in the concluding observations.  Thus, at the session, the Committee would consider follow-up and additional information provided by Panama, Serbia and Belgium, as well as by Peru and Argentina, in the context of a special request, made in light of recent developments in these two countries.

    OBEIDA DABBAGH, said his brother Mazen Dabbagh, an educational advisor at the French Lycée Charles de Gaulle in Damascus, and his son Patrick, a psychology student at Damascus University, were arrested in November 2013 by Syrian Air Force intelligence. Their arrest, at first arbitrary, turned into an enforced disappearance, then into an ordeal marked by atrocious torture, as revealed by testimonies and court documents.  In 2018, the Syrian regime declared them dead, years after their disappearance, while putting forward false causes of death.  These arrests were not motivated by substantiated charges; neither Mazen nor Patrick were involved in protests against the regime, which underscored the indiscriminate and systemic brutality of a regime that preyed on entire families to establish its rule through terror.

    In November 2013, the family took steps with the Syrian, French and international authorities, including the President of the French Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as several parliamentarians and human rights organizations, including the Red Cross and European Union.  In 2016, in collaboration with the International Federation for Human Rights, a complaint was filed with the Paris Prosecutor’s office for crimes against humanity.  This was a turning point in the fight, allowing the French justice system to open an investigation and collect crucial testimonies, particularly from Syrian deserters.  This investigation led to an indictment order in March 2023, sending three senior Syrian regime officials to trial for complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes.

    There were many obstacles.  In Syria, asking for news of Mazen and Patrick exposed loved ones to serious reprisals.  The Syrian regime, in addition to torture and executions, extorted the family, eventually expelling Mazen’s wife and daughter from the family home in Damascus.  But despite these hardships, Mr. Dabbagh remained committed.  Through this legal action, he wanted not only to obtain justice for Mazen and Patrick, but to participate in the global fight against the atrocities committed by the Syrian regime.  The trial held in France from 21 to 24 May 2024 against Syrian officials was a historic step forward, which would hopefully inspire other families of Syrian victims to continue their quest for justice, despite the obstacles. 

    After the fall of the Assad regime, there was hope that the new authorities would take ownership of the issue of enforced disappearances, which concerned hundreds of thousands of people, through transitional justice.  The truth must be established, justice must be done, reparation must follow, without which reconciliation between communities could not be achieved.  Mr. Dabbagh hoped that in the near future the family would be able to know the place where his brother and nephew were buried, to give them a dignified burial, and to be able to finally mourn.

    FIDELIS KANYONGOLO, Committee Expert, conveyed sincere gratitude to Mr. Dabbagh for taking the time to present his testimony and for being willing to revisit painful memories.  The testimony reinforced the heavy responsibility that lay upon the shoulders of the members of the Committee.  The concept of extra-territorial jurisdiction was particularly important in the Committee’s work.  In a world where many States continued to demonstrate reluctance to ratify the Convention, the ability of courts of willing countries to punish human rights violations was critical.  In this case, it was important to note that Syria had not ratified the Rome Statute, no resolution from the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation to the International Criminal Courts, and the domestic justice system was neither independent nor accountable.  Extra-territorial jurisdiction affirmed the idea that human rights were universal.

    Mr. Dabbagh’s testimony showed that although the legal pathways existed for invoking extra-territorial jurisdiction, many practical hurdles continued to limit its potential as a tool for its application in specific cases.  It was hoped the testimony would act as a constant reminder for the Committee that they were dealing with the lives of real people who suffered the consequences of enforced disappearances, and that opportunities existed in jurisprudence to maximise the human rights protection extended to ordinary citizens of countries.

     

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

     

     

     

     

    CED25.001E

     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Syrian crisis: Switzerland pledges CHF 60 million to support future of Syria and countries in region

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    The direction of future developments in Syria remains uncertain since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 8 December 2024. In view of the scale of needs there, Switzerland reaffirms its support. At the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, held by the EU on 17 March 2025, the director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Patricia Danzi, announced a contribution of CHF 60 million.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Making power grids more flexible and stable: When buildings plan around their energy demands

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    In order to guarantee the security of supply of our future energy system, we need not only an expansion of renewable energies, but also sophisticated control mechanisms that efficiently manage production, distribution and consumption. Empa researchers have therefore developed a predictive control algorithm that optimizes energy management at building level – without compromising user comfort.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Workshop on Harmonization of Poverty Statistics

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    27 November 2024

    Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

    General

    68806 _ Report _ 397901 _ English _ 773 _ 429703 _ pdf

    A. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Data availability on poverty

    B. Measuring multidimensional poverty

    C. National measures of multidimensional poverty

    D. Subjective poverty (training session)

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE ModernStats World Workshop 2024

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

     

    Abstracts and papers for the different topics of this workshop can be found below.

    Background:

    Modern statistical production systems require standardization of the processes, information and architectures that are involved in producing statistics, so that those processes can be automated, and information (including data) can be seamlessly passed between different systems, perhaps using software components that have been developed by another organization for the same purpose.

    The need to do this has never been more pressing, due to the multiplicity of different sources of data, different outputs required, and different technologies that may be used to choreograph all of the required elements required to produce statistics.

    This workshop is organized by the Supporting Standards Group, which maintains a set of standards and models for processes, information, architectures and other activities needed to produce statistics, and supports collaboration activities for their implementation, to provide a foundation for modern production.

    This year’s workshop is focused on the objectives of interoperability, governance, and of transparency, traceability and provenance in production, discussing the role of various models and standards for achieving those objectives. There will also be sessions showcasing the use of models and the future of production.

    Abstracts:

    Title Document
    Information Note 1 pdf
    Information Note 2 pdf
    Timetable pdf
    Title Abstract Paper Slides

    Session: Interoperability using Standards and Models

    		      
    The DDI Cross-Domain Integration (DDI-CDI) Specification: Overview and Implementations, CODATA and DDI pdf   pdf
    The statistical production LEGO set: using standard models and tools to build metadata-driven pipelines at StatCan, Statistics Canada pdf   pdf
    Using standards to develop a system for coherent metadata for production and dissemination in Denmark, Statistics Denmark pdf   pdf
    Enhancing Interoperability and Transparency through Linked Open Data Standards: Lessons Learned from the ESS LOD Community of Practice, Eurostat pdf   pdf

    Session: Transparency, traceability and provenance

    		      
    From micro to macro data: ModernStats models for the conceptual modelling of statistical metadata in an interoperability perspective, Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) pdf   ppsx
    Unlocking data transparency: how improved metadata empowers IMF data users., International Monetary Fund pdf   pdf
    Describing and Querying Data Transformation Scripts: SDTL and SDTH, University of Michigan pdf   pdf

    Session: Governance

    		      
    Streamlining statistical and data production, Statistics Finland pdf   pdf
    The designed governance for a central metadata system, Istat pdf pdf pdf
    A reference framework for structural metadata governance, OECD pdf   pdf
    Simplifying the Reuse of Concepts Across Organisations, Federal Statistical Office (FSO) pdf   pdf

    Session: Using ModernStats models

    		      
    Tau-Argus: Lessons learned of sharing an IT-tool in Official Statistics, Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) pdf   pdf
    Applying GSBPM to processes based on new data sources, Istat pdf   pdf
    Using standards to direct the flow of data: Modernizing production processes at Statistics Iceland, Statistics Iceland pdf   pdf
    Adopting GSBPM in a national statistical institute, Statistics Denmark pdf   pdf
    Modeling of Business Process Activities and Data: GSBPM, GSIM, and BPMN, National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI, México) pdf   pdf

    Session: Modern production in 2025 and beyond

    		      
    Incorporating AI into statistical standards: Enhancing GSBPM with (generative) AI, Statistics Finland pdf pdf pdf
    Modernizing the BIS Data Bank: A Metadata-Driven Approach to Statistical Business Processes and SDMX Integration, Bank for International Settlements pdf   pdf
    A dataset catalogue as a tool for automated and metadata driven statistical production, Statistics Sweden          pdf pdf pdf
    Modernization and agility powered by Communities of Practice, Statistics Netherlands pdf   pdf
    Capabilities and Metadata Standards, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pdf   pdf
    Tools For Automating Metadata-Driven Processes In Statistics Poland, Statistics Poland pdf   pdf

    Other presentations

    		      

    Updates on the activities and plans of the Supporting Standards Group, Flavio Rizzolo, chair of SSG

    		   pdf pdf

    Update on the HLG Open-Source project, Carlo Vaccari, Project Manager

    		     pdf
    Soapbox presentation on Units of Measurement, OECD     pdf

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 March 2025 News release Nearly 50 million people sign up call for clean air action for better health

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In an unprecedented show of unity, more than 47 million health professionals, patients, advocates, representatives from civil society organizations, and individuals worldwide have signed a resounding call for urgent action to reduce air pollution and to protect people’s health from its devastating impacts.

    Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health and a major contributor to climate change. Around 7 million people die from air pollution each year, mainly from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

    This global call to action, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health organizations will be presented at the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, set to take place in Cartagena, Colombia, on 25–27 March 2025.

    “Forty-seven million people from the health community have issued a clarion call for urgent, bold, science-driven action on air pollution, and their voices must be heard,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Around the world, WHO is supporting countries to implement evidence-based tools to address air pollution and prevent the disease it causes. At the second WHO Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, we hope to see concrete commitments from countries to implement those tools and save lives.”

    Hosted by WHO and the Government of Colombia, the conference will bring together political leaders, representatives from civil society organizations, UN agencies and academia to drive a global clean air agenda which promises benefits for public health, climate change response and sustainable development, both globally and locally.

    Recognizing the heavy toll of air pollution, the health community is calling on governments to take immediate and ambitious steps to reduce emissions, enforce stricter air quality standards, and transition to cleaner energy sources, unlocking multiple benefits for the health of people and planet. The topic will also be a focus ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), where world leaders will be called upon to take stronger action.

    Key facts:

    • Air pollution in both cities and rural areas generates fine particulate matter which results in NCDs such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases as well as acute conditions such as pneumonia.  
    • Around 2.1 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while using polluting open fires or stoves for cooking.
    • Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), are among the leading causes of death, many are linked to air pollution exposure. The global NCD epidemic claims 41 million lives annually. Addressing air pollution is a key strategy in reducing the burden of NCDs and improving global health.
    • Sources of air pollution are varied and context-specific. The major pollution sources include polluting energy sources used in homes, energy production, industrial emissions, transport, agriculture, waste as well as natural sources such as desert and dust storms or wildfires.

    Improving air quality by implementing well-known and available solutions will prevent premature deaths, improve health, drive sustainable economic development, and mitigate climate change.

    At the conference, countries are expected to commit to concrete measures, including setting and enforcing stronger air quality standards aligned with the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines. WHO, in collaboration with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), has unveiled the updated 2025 Air Quality Standards database last month, which now includes data from approximately 140 countries, showcasing their air pollution regulatory efforts aimed at protecting public health.

    “While the challenge is immense, progress is possible. Many cities and countries have significantly improved air quality by enforcing stricter pollution limits,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health. “Clean air is not a privilege; it is a human right as recognized by the UN General Assembly. We need to work together urgently to scale up transitioning from coal-fired power to renewable energy, expanding public and sustainable transport, establishing low-emission zones in cities and promoting clean energy for cooking and solar power in healthcare facilities.”

    The commitments made at the upcoming Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health and the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs will play a crucial role in paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for all. Now is the time to take the call and step up efforts for cleaner air, everywhere.

    For interviews, please contact WHO Media Team.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Conference on the protection and promotion of national minorities in Switzerland

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Home Affairs

    On 17 March 2025, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider opened the fifth conference in Bern on the protection and promotion of national minorities in Switzerland. The event provided a platform for exchange between Swiss authorities, the Council of Europe, minority and non-governmental organisations plus the scientific community. The main focus was on embedding Italian and Romansh more deeply in everyday life, protecting the itinerant lifestyle of the Swiss Yenish and Sinti as well as stronger measures against racism and intolerance in education.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Enhancing Ammunition Safety: OSCE Fosters Regional Co-operation in Central Asia

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

    Headline: Enhancing Ammunition Safety: OSCE Fosters Regional Co-operation in Central Asia

    Participants of the regional seminar on methods for testing ammunition propellants, Bishkek, 12 March 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    On 12 March 2025, a regional seminar on methods for testing ammunition propellants, aimed at enhancing ammunition safety and strengthening regional co-operation, took place in Bishkek. Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in partnership with the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic and with support from the Ministry of Defence of Austria, the event brought together officers from the Ministries of Defence of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
    Participants discussed best practices for conducting stability testing of ammunition using the Qualitative Propellant Analysis Kit (QPAK), a Level 1 mobile laboratory. Experts from the Ministry of Defence of Austria shared their expertise on assessing propellant stability and mitigating the risks of accidental explosions at ammunition storage sites. 
    Konstantin Bedarev, Head of the Politico-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, highlighted the importance of regional co-operation: “Strengthening co-operation between our countries will help develop effective solutions that contribute to increased security and sustainable ammunition management in the region.”
    This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project “Improvement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Conventional Ammunition (CA) Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic,” supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A toolbox for quantum research: Quantum spin model made from nanographene molecules

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

    Empa researchers from the nanotech@surfaces laboratory have experimentally recreated another fundamental theoretical model from quantum physics, which goes back to the Nobel Prize laureate Werner Heisenberg. The basis for the successful experiment was a kind of “quantum Lego” made of tiny carbon molecules known as nanographenes. This synthetic bottom-up approach enables versatile experimental research into quantum technologies, which could one day help drive breakthroughs in the field.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Fall in admissions to American films in 2024

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Home Affairs

    The number of cinema admissions in Switzerland fell in 2024 compared with 2023 (‒2%). However, there were variations depending on language region (‒4% in German-speaking Switzerland, but +2% in French-speaking and Italian-speaking Switzerland) and production country (‒12% for American films and +11% for European films). These are some of the final results from the 2024 Swiss Film and Cinema Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: 4BIO Capital Portfolio Company Araris Biotech to be Acquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical for up to USD 1.14 billion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    4BIO Capital Portfolio Company Araris Biotech to be Acquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical for up to USD 1.14 billion

    • Araris will receive USD 400 million upfront, with the potential for additional near-term and long-term milestone payments of up to USD 740 million
    • 4BIO Capital led the Series A in 2022, following its first investment in the Seed in 2020

    London, United Kingdom, 17 March 2025 – 4BIO Capital (“4BIO” or “the Group”), an international venture capital firm unlocking the treatments of the future by investing in advanced therapies and other emerging technologies, today announces that its portfolio company, Araris Biotech AG (“Araris” or “the Company”), a Swiss oncology biotech company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (“Taiho Pharmaceutical”). The acquisition follows a research collaboration between Taiho Pharmaceutical and Araris signed in November 2023 and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Taiho Pharmaceutical will pay a USD 400 million upfront, with the potential for additional milestone payments of up to USD 740 million, and for a total amount of up to USD 1.14 billion.

    Araris has been an investment out of 4BIO Capital Fund II, and the 4BIO team is proud to have actively supported the fast development and acquisition since the initial investment in 2020. In early 2020, 4BIO Capital recognised the significant potential of next-generation ADCs, however came to the conclusion that linker technologies needed to be improved to take the field to the next level. The 4BIO team subsequently identified Araris as the best-in-class linker-payload ADC platform to address the shortcomings of current generation ADCs. The Company’s AraLinQ™ technology enables the attachment of multiple, synergistic cancer-fighting payloads to a single antibody in an efficient one-step process, whilst ensuring long-term stability and safety of the resulting ADC, as well as increased antitumour effect compared to conventional ADCs. 4BIO Capital supported the company in the development of AraLinQ™ and its proprietary pipeline, leading its Series A in 2022 and supporting the company through multiple large pharma partnerships both as an investor and from the Board with Managing Partner Dima Kuzmin as Chairman, and Brian McVeigh and Dr Therese Liechtenstein as Board Observers.

    Araris is advancing three products for the treatment of haematological and solid tumours developed using its unique AraLinQ™ technology, all of which are currently in the preclinical stage. These products are anticipated to enter into clinical trials between 2025 and 2026 and will benefit from Taiho Pharmaceutical’s clinical development expertise.

    Dr Dmitry (Dima) Kuzmin, Managing Partner at 4BIO Capital and Chairman of Araris, commented, “The success of Araris is a perfect example of the 4BIO Capital playbook. We identified the technological hurdle that needed to be overcome to empower an up-and-coming drug class, identified the best science and the people to solve it and, alongside Araris’ management team, supported the company to secure multiple pharma partnerships, develop its own pipeline and now become part of the Taiho group. This acquisition confirms Araris’ position as one of the most exciting ADC companies in the market and has the potential to return over two times the fund to 4BIO Ventures II investors, further validating our science-driven, high conviction seed investment strategy.”

    Dr Dragan Grabulovski, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Araris added, “We sincerely appreciate the support of Dima and the entire team at 4BIO in shaping our company, advancing our science, and helping us reach this important milestone. It’s the kind of investor that brings not only money to the table but also valuable strategic guidance, a network of industry connections, and a shared vision for transforming cancer treatment. Araris has developed a unique ADC technology that delivers different cancer-fighting drugs directly to tumours with high precision. This approach allows multiple treatment methods to work together at the same time while reducing harmful side effects. We are excited to join forces with Taiho Pharmaceutical whose deep expertise in oncology will be instrumental in accelerating the clinical development of our promising ADC candidates for both haematological and solid tumours.”

    Philippe Fauchet OBE, Venture Partner at 4BIO Capital added, “We are delighted to see a seed investment we made in Europe find a skilled partner in a pioneering Japanese pharma company and are very happy to have facilitated the closer partnership. This deal further validates our strategy of building strong bridges between the Japanese and European biotech and pharma companies, which we believe will bring significant benefits to both ecosystems.”

    Details of the acquisition can be found in the press release from Araris and Taiho Pharmaceutical here.

    – End –

    Contacts

    4BIO Capital +44 (0) 203 427 5500
    info@4biocapital.com
       
    ICR Healthcare
    Amber Fennell, Jonathan Edwards, Kris Lam    		 +44 (0)20 3709 5700
    4biocapital@icrhealthcare.com

    About 4BIO Capital

    4BIO Capital (“4BIO”) is an international venture capital firm focused on investing in advanced therapies, including genomic medicines and other emerging technologies, to unlock the treatments of the future. 4BIO’s objective is to invest in, support, and grow early-stage companies developing treatments in areas of high unmet medical need, with the ultimate goal of ensuring access to these potentially curative therapies for all patients. Specifically, it looks for viable, high-quality opportunities in cell and gene therapy, RNA-based therapy, targeted therapies, and the microbiome. The 4BIO team comprises leading advanced therapy scientists and experienced life science investors who have collectively published over 250 scientific articles in prestigious academic journals including Nature, The Lancet, Cell, and the New England Journal of Medicine. 4BIO has both an unrivalled network within the advanced therapy sector and a unique understanding of the criteria that define a successful investment opportunity in this space. For more information, connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter @4biocapital and visit www.4biocapital.com.

    About Araris Biotech AG

    Araris Biotech is a leading independent company pioneering the future of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and redefining the entire paradigm of targeted cancer therapy and beyond. Araris’ vision is a world without chemotherapy and its proprietary conjugation and groundbreaking multi-payload technology represents a quantum leap forward in ADC design, enabling the transformation of any antibody into an ADC with the goal of better safety and efficacy. By enabling the attachment of multiple, synergistic cancer-fighting payloads to a single antibody in an efficient one-step process, Araris is creating a new generation of smart missiles that deliver the potency of combination chemotherapy in a targeted fashion in order to tackle the persistent challenges of cancer resistance. Araris’ investors include 4BIO Capital, b2venture, Pureos Bioventures, Redalpine, Schroders Capital, VI Partners, Wille AG, Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation and Samsung Ventures.

    For more information about our science and pipeline, please visit https://www.ararisbiotech.com

    About Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. (https://www.otsuka.com/en/), is an R&D-driven specialty pharma focusing on the fields of oncology and immune-related diseases. Its corporate philosophy takes the form of a pledge: “We strive to improve human health and contribute to a society enriched by smiles.” In the field of oncology, in particular, Taiho Pharmaceutical is known as a leading company in Japan for developing innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, a reputation that is rapidly expanding through their extensive global R&D efforts. In areas other than oncology, as well, the company creates and markets quality products that effectively treat medical conditions and can help improve people’s quality of life. Always putting customers first, Taiho Pharmaceutical also aims to offer consumer healthcare products that support people’s efforts to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. For more information about Taiho Pharmaceutical, please visit https://www.taiho.co.jp/en/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 12/2025・Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 12 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 17 March 2025

    Trifork Group: Weekly report on share buyback

    On 28 Februay 2025, Trifork initiated a share buyback program in accordance with Regulation No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, (Safe Harbour regulation). The share buyback program runs from 4 March 2025 up to and including no later than 30 June 2025. The buyback program will not be active from 9 to 15 April 2025. For details, please see company announcement no. 7 of 28 February 2025.

    Under the share buyback program, Trifork will purchase shares for up to a total of DKK 14.92 million (approximately EUR 2 million).

    Prior to the launch of the share buyback, Trifork held 256,329 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.3% of the share capital.

    Under the program, the following transactions have been made:

    Date      Number of shares      Average purchase price (DKK)      Transaction value (DKK)
    Total beginning 8,540 81.66 697,337
    10 March 2025 1,468 79.71 117,014
    11 March 2025 2,280 79.62 181,534
    12 March 2025 2,300 79.88 183,724
    13 March 2025 2,300 79.95 183,885
    14 March 2025 2,300 80.80 185,840
    Accumulated 19,188 80.74 1,549,334

    Since the share buyback program was started on 4 March 2025, the total number of repurchased shares is 19,188 at a total amount of DKK 1,549,334.

    With the transactions stated above, Trifork holds a total of 275,517 treasury shares, corresponding to 1.4%.
    The total number of registered shares in Trifork is 19,744,899. Adjusted for treasury shares, the number of outstanding shares is 19,469,382.


    Investor and media contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director & Head of Investor Relations
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


    About Trifork
    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,229 professionals across 73 business units in 16 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Two disciplines in arts at AADTHU achieve record highs in QS World University Rankings

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Participants pose for a group photo after a forum during the 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE 2024) in Milan, Nov. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

    Tsinghua University ranked No. 1 in Asia and No. 14 globally for arts and design, and No. 2 in Asia and No. 3 worldwide for art history in the 15th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, released on March 12 by global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds.  

    Both disciplines are part of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU). Notably, the art and design discipline rose 10 places in the global rankings, while the art history climbed 2 places.

    In its largest-ever subject rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds compared over 21,000 academic programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities across 100 countries and regions, spanning 55 subjects and five faculty areas. The Chinese mainland ranked third globally with 1,230 subjects listed, trailing only the United States and the United Kingdom.

    According to AADTHU’s official website, the academy’s achievements are deeply rooted in its strong commitment to constructing an integrated interdisciplinary system and to pioneering internationalized education.  

    By leading the reform of global art education, AADTHU is crafting a new professional development blueprint with an open approach. It is deepening its strategy of integrating art and science, advancing the development of interdisciplinary talent, and fostering innovation in technology and design, cultivating professionals with expertise in both the sciences and humanities.  

    In 2024, the academy invited 44 professors from prestigious global institutions, alongside artists, designers and industry leaders, for short-term programs. These initiatives featured 30 lectures, eight courses and two workshops, drawing over 1,000 faculty and student participants. Beyond this, the academy hosted 42 distinguished international experts as keynote speakers at conferences it either organized or co-hosted.

    Notable events from 2024 include an opening forum on the integration of art design and industry innovation in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) at Milan Academic Week in Milan, Italy, in January, as well as the 6th Art and Science International Symposium held in Beijing in March. Meanwhile, the 2024 Tsinghua International Conference on Art & Design Education (ICADE 2024), themed “New Dimensions: Imagination Beyond the Horizon,” and the exhibition “From the Seine to Guanghua Road: Modernization of Art Deco” were successfully held in Milan and Beijing, respectively, in November.  

    Further highlights from last year include the “Arts and Crafts Artworks Exhibition of AADTHU” held in Wakayama prefecture, Japan, and a special exhibition and international symposium on Dunhuang art research, which opened at the China-France Fashion Week in Paris, France. “Brilliance of Cooperation: The Olympic Art Exhibition of Tsinghua University” was also held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in October.  

    Additionally, Tsinghua University’s doctoral degree authorization points for the first-level disciplines of both art studies and design studies successfully passed an on-site evaluation in October by experts from peer higher education institutions. Earlier this year in January, the China Scientometrics and Bibliometrics Research Center of CNKI also named 11 faculty members from AADTHU as “2024 CNKI Highly Cited Scholars.” CNKI stands for China National Knowledge Infrastructure, a leading online academic database.

    AADTHU offers a diverse range of disciplines across 10 departments, including textile and fashion design, ceramic design, visual communication design, environmental art design, industrial design, information art & design, painting, sculpture, arts and crafts, and art history. The academy also features specialized offices for research, international exchanges, and art galleries. 

    The academy’s website also showed in recent years, AADTHU has continued to enhance its international standards, strengthen global academic exchanges, and expand its influence in international art education. Its art and design discipline, among the earliest in China to grant master’s and doctoral degrees, consistently ranks first nationally, emphasizing interdisciplinary, innovative, and globally competent talent development. AADTHU’s Department of Art History has also ranked among the top in national evaluations, with over half of its graduates securing positions at universities, museums, and research institutions.

    AADTHU pledges to use its expertise to support a global community with a shared future. Guided by the principle of “art for life, design for livelihood,” it is contributing to addressing rural revitalization, livelihood development and global issues, making art a force for progress and contributing Tsinghua’s wisdom to world civilization.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

    Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Labour & Employment Leads Delegation and Makes Interventions on Key Global Labour and Employment Issues

    Secretary, L&E Holds Bilateral Discussions with Director-General and Senior Experts of ILO and Representatives of Other Countries

    India Reaffirms its commitment to Continue to Act as a Leading Voice on Advancing Labour Welfare, Quality Employment and Social Justice at Global Forum

    Social Protection, Responsible Business Conduct, Living Wages, AI and Future of Work, and Fair Global Migration Emerge as Key Areas of India-ILO Collaboration

    Posted On: 15 MAR 2025 12:34PM by PIB Delhi

    The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to March 20, 2025. The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO.

    The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India’s achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally.

    Second World Summit for Social Development

    India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development. India’s inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 percent, increasing the average global social protection coverage by over 5 percent.

    In this context, contribution of India’s flagship institutions and schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore contributing members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganized members), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries) and Targeted PDS (food security to 81.35 crore beneficiaries) was acknowledged.

    ILO Fair Migration Agenda and Action

    India, as one of the largest countries of origin of migrant workers and recipient of highest remittances, reiterated its support for greater global cooperation in promoting well-managed, skills-based migration pathways. ILO was urged to enhance efforts towards generating global momentum for securing social protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral labour migration and social security agreements. Support was extended for ILO’s proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the ILO based Global Coalition for Social Justice, by India as a leading partner of the Global Coalition.

    Global Framework on Chemicals

    India reaffirmed its commitment towards playing a leading role towards ensuring a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, safeguarding workers, communities and the environment. The actions being undertaken by ILO in follow up to the Bonn Declaration were acknowledged.

    Key initiatives taken by India towards safeguarding the health and safety of workers and communities including Factories Act, 1948 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, were underscored. Capacity-building measures under the Viksit Bharat 2047 Action Plan towards ensuring workplace safety in Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) units were highlighted.

    The Indian delegation also held several bilateral discussions with the Director General and senior experts of ILO, and representatives of other countries on labour and employment matters of keen interest to India.

    Bilateral Discussion with Director General-ILO

    Ms. Dawra met Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, the DG-ILO and congratulated him for his flagship initiative the Global Coalition for Social Justice, which has emerged as a robust platform for global collaboration to promote social justice. She also reiterated the need for ILO to consider in-kind benefits while assessing social protection coverage.

    This is crucial as India has commenced a State Specific Data Pooling exercise in collaboration with ILO to get a more accurate assessment of India’s social protection coverage.

    DG-ILO appreciated India for playing a leading role in the Global Coalition by championing the key Coalition intervention “Responsible business for sustainable and inclusive societies,” and successfully organizing the first ever “Regional Dialogue on Social Justice” at New Delhi last month. He added, “This has inspired other Coalition countries (partners) to enhance their contribution to the Coalition’s agenda”.

    Mr. Houngbo invited India to participate pro-actively in the upcoming Annual Forum on Social Justice, and showcase best practices of Indian industry in terms of Responsible Business Conduct, payment of Living Wages, and harnessing AI for a socially just Future of Work.

    The DG also expressed his appreciation for India’s first ever voluntary financial support to ILO towards conduct of a feasibility study on development of international reference classification of occupations by ILO and OECD. This India led initiative will facilitate in galvanizing global employment opportunities for Indian youth through benchmarking, and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. Development of the international classification is a historic commitment made by the G20 leaders under India’s G20 presidency of 2023.

    India discussed future collaborations in pipeline with ILO on shared priorities including determination and operationalization of living wages, gig and platform workers’ welfare and decent work in value chains. The Indian delegation included Shri Rakesh Gaur, Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour & Employment.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2111473) Visitor Counter : 155

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Review of Switzerland’s UN Security Council seat

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    At the Federal Council meeting of 14 March 2025, the FDFA reported on Switzerland’s first membership of the UN Security Council (2023–24), a two-year term of office marked by geopolitical tensions. In spite of these challenging conditions, Switzerland was able to make an impact and contribute to advancing its foreign policy goals.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic advances ammunition stockpile management with OSCE support

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

    Headline: Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic advances ammunition stockpile management with OSCE support

    Technical specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic evaluating the stability of nitrocellulose-based propellants, Bishkek, 14 March 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    From 3 to 14 March 2025, eight technical specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic completed a training course on propellant stability assessment. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic and with support from the Austrian Armed Forces.
    Participants gained hands-on experience operating specialized mobile laboratories equipped with QPAK and QPAK+ systems to evaluate the stability of nitrocellulose-based propellants, which is crucial for preventing accidental explosions at ammunition storage sites.
    With the tools and knowledge acquired, Ministry staff will be able to more effectively test and monitor propellant stability, contributing to risk mitigation and enhancing the overall security of ammunition stockpiles.
    “Arms control is one of our Organization’s priorities. By advancing Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Conventional Ammunition (CA) through-life management, we take a step forward in ensuring security across the broader OSCE area,” noted Konstantin Bedarev, Head of the Politico-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.
    This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project “Improvement of SALW and CA Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic,” supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Consultation launched on programme to expand high-speed internet throughout Switzerland

    Source: Switzerland – Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications

    The Federal Council’s gigabit strategy aims to provide access to high-speed internet throughout Switzerland. A temporary funding programme will drive forward the expansion of broadband via fibre optic and wireless infrastructure. At its meeting on 14 March 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the new Broadband Promotion Act.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Geneva & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (14 March 2025) | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Secretary-General/Bangladesh
    – Myanmar
    – Trip Announcement / Geneva
    – Trip Announcement / Brussels
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Central African Republic
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Syria
    – Global Trade 2025
    – Coffee Prices
    – Islamophobia
    – Commission on the Status of Women

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/BANGLADESH
    The Secretary-General today was in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, as part of his Ramadan solidarity visit with Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi host communities.
    The Secretary-General had the chance to meet with refugees, many of them young men and women, who told him about their experiences and concerns. He spoke to children who were grateful to be able to go to school in the camps, but missed their homes in Myanmar. And he met young people who still have hope to return to their homeland but are also worried about the impending funding cuts which would dramatically reduce their monthly food rations (from $12.50 to $6 per month). The Secretary-General also visited a jute center, where he had a chance to hear from women who are trying to build a livelihood inside the camps.
    The Secretary-General assured every one of the people he met that he would do everything he can to stop the funding cuts, and he apologized to them because the UN and the international community have not been able to stop the conflict in Myanmar.
    He later had a press encounter in which he said that he had heard two clear messages: first, Rohingyas want to go back to Myanmar; and second, they want better conditions in the camps.
    And at sunset, he shared an Iftar with some 60,000 refugees. He told them that sharing an Iftar with them is a symbol of his deep respect for their religion and their culture. He also said that we are facing a deep humanitarian crisis with the announced funding cuts, and he lamented that as a result, many people will suffer, and some people might die.
    “My voice will not end until the international community understands that they have the obligation to invest now in the Rohingya refugees,” he said.
    Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus was also present at the Iftar, and they met separately earlier in the day. 

    MYANMAR
    The World Food Programme today warned that more than one million people in Myanmar will be cut off from its food assistance starting in April – due to critical funding shortfalls.
    WFP says these cuts come just as increased conflict, displacement and access restrictions are already sharply driving up food aid needs.
    Without immediate new funding WFP will only be able to assist 35,000 of the most vulnerable people, including children under the age of five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with disabilities.
    The cuts will also impact almost 100,000 internally displaced people in central Rakhine who will have no access to food without WFP assistance, including Rohingya communities in camps.
    WFP urgently needs US$ 60 million to maintain its life-saving food assistance to the people of Myanmar this year.
    Optional – A staggering 15.2 million people are unable to meet their minimum daily food needs in Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan; this is up from 13.3 million last year. Of these, according to the plan, some 2.3 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger. Even with regular support, these families who rely solely on WFP food assistance, are already reporting skipping meals, selling properties or going into debt just to survive.

    TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT / GENEVA
    On Sunday, the Secretary-General will arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, where, as we announced a few days ago, he is convening the two Cypriot leaders and the Guarantor Powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom for an informal meeting on Cyprus at the United Nations Office in Geneva.
    The meeting will take place from 17 to 18 March and is being held in the context of the Secretary-General’s good offices efforts on the Cyprus issue and as agreed with the two leaders on 15 October 2024.
    The informal meeting will provide an opportunity for a meaningful discussion on the way forward on the Cyprus issue. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Cypriot leaders and all Cypriots.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=14%20March%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5yQOZfYG8

    MIL OSI Video –