Category: Trade

MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced for Sweepstakes Scam Targeting Elderly

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

SAN DIEGO – Fabrisio Arias was sentenced in federal court today to 41 months in prison for his part in an international scam that tricked seniors into believing they’d won a sweepstakes prize, but first they had to pay a fee or tax to release their winnings.

At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta also ordered Arias to pay $395,536.05 in restitution to 22 victims.

According to his plea agreement, between November 2020 and September 2022, Arias was a member of an international conspiracy that defrauded victims in the United States and laundered large amounts of money.

The conspiracy involved scammers who contacted victims by phone and convinced them to send thousands of dollars to Arias’ home in Fontana, California; and Arias, who laundered the proceeds through his U.S.-based bank accounts. Arias received and transferred most of the ill-gotten gains to coconspirators in Costa Rica, and in the process concealed the nature, source, location, ownership and control of the proceeds.

The phone scammers in Costa Rica made unsolicited calls to elderly victims in the United States using spoofed numbers. This allowed callers to conceal their identity and make it appear as if the calls originated from locations in the United States.

During calls with victims, the scammers purported to be with the Internal Revenue Service or the Federal Trade Commission, and made victims believe they’d won a sweepstakes award or prize and had to pay a fee or tax to release the winnings. The scammers instructed victims to send cashier’s checks, blank money orders or cash to Arias, who scammers falsely identified as a government CPA.

In reality, there was no sweepstakes prize or award. Arias simply received the fraud proceeds, deposited them into his U.S.-based bank accounts, and notified his co-conspirators in Costa Rica when he received the proceeds. Co-conspirators then contacted the victims again, attempting to convince and pressure them to send more money to release the purported winnings.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Arias received 200 cashier’s checks and blank money orders from at least 22 victims throughout the U.S. Arias concealed the proceeds and made them appear legitimate by writing false payor names, signatures, and memo line entries on money orders and by commingling the proceeds with funds from his nightclub and used-car businesses. Arias also concealed the proceeds he sent to his co-conspirators in Costa Rica and made them appear legitimate by placing false information on at least 30 wire transfers, claiming the payments were for used cars, a house, or family support.

The victims – many of whom were in their seventies, eighties, or nineties – suffered financial hardship as a result of the scheme. To make ends meet, one victim had to obtain a reverse mortgage on his home; another had to take money from a family member’s college fund; and another had to return to work after retirement. Several victims lost their life savings, including a victim whose entire 401(k) retirement account was drained.

Arias received and laundered more than $395,000 in fraud proceeds over the course of nearly two years and sent more than $237,000 of proceeds to his co-conspirators in Costa Rica. Arias kept a substantial portion of the remaining $157,000 as profit.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes can be difficult to identify and very appealing – when in doubt, hang up the phone and report suspicious callers to law enforcement.”

“Victimizing taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Knarr. “TIGTA and our law enforcement partners will do everything within our power to ensure that those involved in the impersonation of IRS employees are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The consequences of this type of fraud scheme are far reaching, affecting not only people in the United States, but also across the world,” said Los Angeles Division U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Matt Shields. “This investigation is just another example of how effective law enforcement agencies can be when they join forces. By working together, we can keep our communities and our vulnerable populations safe from financial exploitation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to be at the forefront of the fight against fraud and Postal Inspectors will continue to adapt to the ever changing landscape to stop the scammers and protect our customers.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan.

If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report it quickly to the FBI at IC3.gov. There is a team standing by. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to stop the transaction and recover your money.

For other non-life-threatening emergencies, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, or go to the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative website for more information: www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

DEFENDANT Case Number 22-cr-2745-JO

Fabrisio Arias Age: 46 Fontana, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a term of supervised release up to 3 years

Concealment Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greatest

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA)

U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Los Angeles Division

MIL Security OSI –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Schmitt Applaud Committee Passage of Legislation to Increase Transparency in Ticket Sales

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Washington (February 7, 2025) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) celebrated Wednesday’s passage of their Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act out of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, a major step toward increasing transparency and consumer protections in ticket sales. This bipartisan legislation ensures fair pricing in the ticketing marketplace by requiring upfront price disclosures, banning speculative ticket sales, clarifying refund policies, and strengthening enforcement against deceptive practices.

“Consumers across the country are sick of the high prices and hidden fees for concerts, sports, and other event tickets, making entertainment expensive and inaccessible. The TICKET Act would make purchasing tickets straightforward and stop sellers from leaving people scrounging for cash when they are ready to check out. It’s time to stop the ruse and keep costs transparent right from the start,” said Senator Markey.

“Consumers deserve to know exactly what they are paying for when they purchase tickets to their favorite sporting events or concerts. The TICKET Act will put an end to hidden fees and misleading resale practices by requiring sellers to display the total cost upfront,” said Senator Schmitt.

The TICKET Act now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

The TICKET Act establishes consumer protections for ticket sales. This bill requires ticket sellers for concerts, sporting events, and similar activities to clearly disclose fees at the beginning of the transaction with an itemized list of the base ticket price and each additional fee. This includes displaying the total cost, including all fees, in any advertising or sales listing. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing these requirements.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Nicaragua

Source: IMF – News in Russian

February 7, 2025

Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Nicaragua.

Nicaragua’s economic performance remains robust, underpinned by prudent macroeconomic policies and very strong remittance flows. The economy continues to be open and resilient, on a backdrop of transfers of private property to the state, international sanctions, and a reorientation of official financing. Real GDP growth accelerated to around 4½ percent in 2023 and the first half of 2024, from about 3.8 percent in 2022, on the back of robust domestic demand, while inflation declined. Twin fiscal and external account surpluses are leading to a decline in the public debt-to-GDP ratio and the accumulation of strong buffers.

Real GDP growth is projected to moderate to 4 percent in the near term and to 3.5 percent in the medium-term, amid a slower pace of remittances growth, limited labor contribution to growth due to recent emigration, and cautious private sector investment decisions. International reserves are expected to grow at a slower pace than in the recent period, with narrowing of fiscal and current account surpluses as the authorities’ increase public investment.

Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced in the short-term and to the downside in the medium term. Upside risks include stronger domestic demand, while downside risks include lower global growth, a deterioration in the terms of trade, natural disasters, stricter and wider international sanctions, and a change in immigration policies in the U.S. In addition, going forward, domestic and international political developments, and deterioration of the rule of law may also impact economic performance by potentially increasing the cost of doing business.

Executive Board Assessment[2]

Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Nicaragua’s robust growth, declining inflation and public debt, and fiscal sector and current account surpluses, supported by prudent macroeconomic policies and high remittances. While noting the positive outlook, Directors stressed that risks are to the downside, including from natural disasters, international sanctions, and U.S. immigration policies. They underscored the importance of continued efforts to safeguard macroeconomic stability, strengthen buffers, and support higher and more inclusive growth.

Directors welcomed the authorities’ commitment to preserving fiscal sustainability, while supporting growth. Efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization, enhance spending efficiency, and support higher capital and social spending are important. Noting the limited availability of concessional financing, Directors highlighted the importance of prudent debt management to safeguard debt sustainability. They underscored the need to mitigate fiscal risks by strengthening fiscal transparency, enhancing oversight of state owned enterprises, and reforming the pension system.

Directors agreed that monetary policy should remain focused on supporting price stability and the exchange rate regime and highlighted the criticality of policy coordination. They recommended that the Central Bank of Nicaragua adjust monetary and exchange rate policies, as needed, enhance communication, and strengthen monetary policy transmission. Directors encouraged steadfast implementation of the 2021 safeguard assessment recommendations.

Directors welcomed the commitment to maintaining financial stability. Noting the vulnerabilities, they encouraged proactive provisioning of distressed assets, close monitoring of consumer credit growth, enhanced foreign exchange risk monitoring, and aligning the crisis preparedness framework with international best practice. Measures to increase financial inclusion and deepening, including developing local bond and capital markets, would support medium term growth.

Directors stressed the need for efforts to promote higher medium term growth and enhance climate resilience. Important measures include increasing human capital investment, targeted social spending, and promoting labor force participation, particularly for women. Directors also called for efforts to enhance the business climate and strengthen government institutions and frameworks to support increased private investment.

Directors noted the steps taken to enhance governance, anti corruption, and AML/CFT frameworks, and emphasized that further efforts are needed to ensure their effective and appropriate application. They stressed the need to significantly improve the rule of law and safeguard judicial independence. Publishing asset declarations of politically exposed persons and supporting property rights are important. Directors welcomed the authorities’ commitment to enhancing the quality and consistency of statistics.

It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Nicaragua will be held on the standard 12 month cycle.

Table 1. Nicaragua: Selected Social and Economic Indicators, 2023-25

I. Social and Demographic Indicators
GDP per capita (current US$, 2023)	2,606	Income share held by the richest 10 percent (2014)		37.2
GNI per capita (Atlas method, current US$, 2023)	2,270	Unemployment (percent of labor force, 2023)		3.4
GINI Index (2014)	46.2	Poverty rate ($3.65/day line, 2017 PPP, percent, World Bank, 2023)		12.5
Population (millions, 2023)	6.8	Adult literacy rate (percent, 2015)		82.6
Life expectancy at birth in years (2022)	74.6	Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births, 2022)		14.0
II. Economic Indicators
	2023		2024	2025
			Projections
Output	(Annual percentage change; unless otherwise specified)
GDP growth	4.6		4.0	4.0
GDP (nominal, US$ million)	17,843		19,204	20,771
Prices
Consumer price inflation (period average)	8.4		4.0	4.0
	(Percent of GDP)
Gross domestic investment	23.0		25.0	26.5
Private sector	15.1		15.8	15.5
Public sector	7.9		9.2	11.0
Gross national savings	30.8		31.8	32.9
Private sector	21.5		22.5	22.9
Public sector	9.3		9.3	10.0
Exchange rate
Period average (Córdobas per US$)	36.4		36.6	…

Fiscal sector	(Percent of GDP)
Consolidated public sector balance^1/	2.8		1.8	1.1
Revenue (including grants)	32.9		33.2	33.1
Expenditure	30.1		31.4	32.0
of which: Central Government overall balance^2/	2.6		2.1	1.3
Revenue	21.7		21.6	21.6
Expenditure	19.1		19.5	20.3
Cash payments for operating activities	14.6		14.5	13.8
Net cash outflow: investments in NFAs	4.5		5.0	6.5
Money and financial	(Annual percentage change)
Broad money	11.9		12.2	11.2
Credit to the private sector	18.1		18.3	11.2
Net domestic assets of the banking system	-8.0		5.8	1.3
Non-performing loans to total loans (ratio)^3/	1.2		1.7	…
Regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets (ratio)^3/	19.1		19.2	…
External sector	(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)
Current account	7.7		6.7	6.4
Remittances	26.1		27.2	26.1
Capital and financial account	4.1		2.5	3.0
Gross international reserves (US$ million)^4/	5,190		5,907	6,729
In months of imports excl. maquila	7.0		7.4	7.7
Net international reserves (US$ million)^5/	4,249		4,979	5,724
In months of imports excl. maquila	5.7		6.3	6.7
Non-financial public sector debt^6/	49.6		46.9	44.9
Domestic public debt	10.3		8.0	6-9
External public debt	39.3		38.9	38.0
Private sector external debt	31.0		28.6	26.2
Sources: National authorities; World Bank; and IMF staff calculations.
1/ The consolidated public sector comprises the central government, the municipality of Managua, the state-owned enterprises, social security system (INSS) and the central bank.
2/ Include transfers to cover the INSS deficit for 2023-25, 0.5 percent of GDP per year, and payment for historical debt (0.7 percent of GDP in 2023).
3/ 2024 data is as of September 2024.
4/ Excludes resources from the Deposit Guarantee Fund for Financial Institutions (FOGADE).
5/ Excludes FOGADE and reserve requirements for FX deposits.
6/ Assumes that HIPC-equivalent terms were applied to the outstanding debt to non-Paris Club bilaterals. Does not include SDR allocation.

[1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

[2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/06/pr-2532-nicaragua-imf-executive-board-concludes-2024-article-iv-consultation-with-nicaragua

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Young, Coons, Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply Chains

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
STRATEGIC Minerals Act would increase U.S. supply of critical minerals essential for energy and national security technologies
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Todd Young, Chris Coons, and John Cornyn reintroduced their bipartisan Securing Trade and Resources for Advanced Technology, Economic Growth, and International Commerce (STRATEGIC) Minerals Act to strengthen America’s critical minerals supply chain by expanding trade with international partners.
This December, China announced that they would immediately block the export of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the U.S. These minerals are essential to the U.S. defense industry, clean energy, and advanced technologies like microchips.
“Critical minerals are key to our clean energy future and American innovation,” said Hickenlooper. “China currently controls the supply chain for many of these essential resources. Our international allies will help us diversify our critical mineral supply and strengthen our national security.”
“Our nation depends on critical minerals for everything from consumer goods to defense technologies, and relying on foreign adversaries for these materials is a national security vulnerability we cannot afford,” said Young. “Negotiating more trade agreements specific to critical minerals with trusted partners will help shore up our supply of these resources, protect American interests, and strengthen our national security.”
“If America is to remain a superpower, we need resilient supply chains for critical minerals— and that means strong relationships with reliable trading partners around the world,” said Coons. “The STRATEGIC Minerals Act will help us achieve that goal, and it’s one more way Congress is doing its part to position the U.S. to produce the technologies that will define the rest of the 21st century.”
“China dominates the critical minerals supply chain, which leaves America vulnerable to national security risks,” said Cornyn. “By shoring up America’s critical minerals supply chain, this legislation would increase our competitiveness on the world stage, reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries, and foster greater trade with trusted allies.”
Critical minerals are essential for U.S. technologies including smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Experts warn that U.S. dependence on China for these critical minerals poses a significant risk to national security. This legislation addresses these challenges by building up domestic processing and establishing a diverse network of trade alliances that protect U.S. critical mineral supply chains.
Specifically, the Strategic Minerals Act would:
Authorize the president to negotiate specialized trade agreements for critical minerals
Set trade negotiation objectives aiming to reduce or eliminate trade barriers with allies
Prohibit critical minerals negotiations with countries designated as non-market economies unless approved by a joint resolution of Congress
Require the president to consult with Congress before negotiations, detailing objectives, potential impacts, and ensuring legislative oversight
Expand U.S. funding access to foreign critical minerals projects by amending the Defense Production Act
In the 118th Congress, Hickenlooper introduced several bills to bolster U.S. energy independence and support the transition to renewable energy, including:
Critical Materials Future Act, which seeks to establish a pilot program for the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical mineral processing projects.
National Critical Minerals Council Act, which establishes a National Critical Minerals Council to develop and implement a national critical mineral strategy and coordinate our federal investments and research.
Unearth Innovation Act, which creates a Mining and Mineral Innovation Program within the Department of Energy to drive the responsible production of domestic critical minerals, with a focus on minimizing the environmental impact of mining.
Global Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Act, which works to ensure that the U.S., its allies, and global partners can count on a diverse and secure end-to-end supply of critical minerals.
Enhancing Public-Private Sharing on Manipulative Adversary Practices in Critical Minerals Projects Act, which directs the intelligence community to develop a strategy to improve information sharing with private sector companies regarding foreign adversaries’ attempts to thwart U.S. involvement in critical minerals, energy generation, and storage projects.
Critical Minerals Security Act which directs the Department of the Interior to evaluate the global supply and ownership of critical minerals and make it easier for the U.S. to establish stable supply chains with international allies.
Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Responsible Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence Critical, Speakers Say, as Economic and Social Council Concludes Its Coordination Segment

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

Amid the fourth industrial revolution, responsible global governance of artificial intelligence (AI) is paramount, the Economic and Social Council heard today as speakers at its 2025 coordination segment explored the transformative potential of data, science, technology and innovation to advance sustainable development.

The first of the four panel discussions held today — moderated by Mahlet Zeleke Redi, Focal Point of Global Youth Caucus on Decent Work and Sustainable Economies Major Group for Children and Youth — focused on “Creating employment and decent work opportunities for all”.

It began with a fireside chat featuring José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United Nations.

Mr. Salazar-Xirinachs, spotlighting the challenge of job creation, said that in the era of technological and AI revolutions, one of the key drivers of investment flows to countries is not just cheap but skilled labour. Therefore, he stressed, the quality of education and vocational training systems and the digital skills of the labour force are essential for people to get good jobs and for countries to thrive.

Ms. Samuel-Olonjuwon underscored that prioritizing decent work for young people pays back “sustained and multifaceted dividends” for their families and nations. Technological transformation is rapidly driving change in the world of work and beyond, she observed, adding that “skills have become a priority”. Noting the importance of education, training and entrepreneurship for young businesses, she said that policy actions should be guided by the actual needs of young people and “put them in the driver seat”.

The panel began with Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), who underscored — via video message — that “creating decent jobs is the core of our mission” to fight poverty and hunger worldwide. While spotlighting AI’s massive opportunities — including to improve productivity and competitiveness — he underlined the need to “close the existing digital divides”. More specifically, it is crucial to address the potential downsides of digitalization and automation, including the risk of job losses and shifting production away from developing countries, he stressed, pointing to UNIDO’s projects which equip young people and women in developing countries with technical skills for decent jobs.

Abdulaziz M. Alwasil (Saudi Arabia), Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women on its sixty-ninth session, stressed that an inclusive society cannot be built without gender equality. The empowerment of women and girls is paramount, he said, adding that in many countries, women and girls are deprived of equal access to economic opportunities and leadership roles. “This undermines the resilience of societies,” he stated, underscoring the need to push for policy outcomes that are “not just ambitious in rhetoric but transformative in practice”.

“We gather here at a moment of profound reckoning” — from the devastating impacts of conflict and rise of authoritarianism to the assaults on fundamental human rights, said Veronica Brown, Women’s Major Group Coordinator for the Women’s Environment and Development Organization. Warning against forces that aim to roll back hard-won gains in gender equality, she observed: “Gender equality is too often treated as an add-on rather than a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

Echoing her concerns, Jemimah Njuki, Chief of the Economic Empowerment section at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), said the empowerment of women and girls is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for achieving all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring a resilient economy. Nevertheless, women face a 20 per cent gender pay gap and, in many countries, informal employment — where mostly women are to be found — is as high as 90 per cent. Accordingly, she called for sustainable financing, ensuring that “gender equality remains at the heart of financial systems”.

Georges-Simon Ulrich, Director General of the Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland and Chair of the Statistical Commission on its fifty-fifth session, speaking via videoconference, called for comprehensive data and statistical systems which permit evidence-based decision-making and detailed the Commission’s work towards supporting inclusive growth strategies and building resilient economies.

The second panel, moderated by Quintin Chou-Lambert, Senior Adviser to the Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, focused on “Harnessing data, science, technology and innovation to advance digital progress”.

The fireside chat included Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, and Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Ms. Fraser-Moleketi said public administration is responsible for ensuring that AI is used to improve lives. Governance frameworks must leverage scientific expertise to do this, she said, calling for targeted interventions to address the digital divide and technological exclusion.

Mr. Lamanauskas said: “Done right, [AI] can mitigate 5-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030”, and highlighted the “AI for Good summit” which showcases responsible innovation and spotlights AI solutions for each SDG. He also drew attention to the UN System White Paper on AI Governance, which identifies pre-existing instruments that could also cover AI, from broad ethics to sector-specific technical guidelines.

The panel began with Muhammadou M.O. Kah (Gambia), Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development on its twenty-eighth session, who stressed that “when we establish transparent and consistent data governance frameworks, we create an environment of legal certainty that empowers innovators, businesses and consumers alike”. It is also crucial to establish clear avenues for redress, he said, underscoring the importance of interoperability — “by aligning our legal and technical standards, we could create pathways for seamless data flows that enhance cooperation and facilitate the global exchange of ideas and best practices”.

Next, Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), highlighted its efforts to facilitate trade by streamlining trade-related processes and digitalizing the exchange of information. ECE hosts the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, which develops interoperable data exchange standards and policy recommendations, enabling seamless data exchange across systems, borders and value chains. “Today, many products have AI embedded. Ensuring their conformity and safety presents new challenges,” she said, adding that ECE has released guidance for regulatory compliance of products and services using embedded AI or other digital technologies.

Julia Glidden, Group President of Ipsos Public Affairs, said that “it is easy to talk about sexy data-driven topics like GenAI, Edge Computing [and] geospatial intelligence”, but it is also essential to combine established technologies with sophisticated data analytics. As an example, she said, her organization worked with Mondelez, a multinational food producer, to use data to understand cocoa farmers’ working conditions and economic growth. Collecting reliable data meant reaching communities in remote areas, often traveling by foot, donkey and canoe to capture and transmit data from areas that often lack electricity, let alone Wi-Fi. They did so “by using tablet devices enabled by Ipsos’s iField” technology, she added.

Fernand Bale, Director of the Geographic and Digital Information Center of Côte d’Ivoire, said that because geospatial information integrates diverse data and scientific approaches, it “enables policymakers to process large amounts of data, thereby strengthening the interface between policy and science”. Communities and Governments can use geospatial information and maps to visualize locations where critical infrastructure is needed, or areas affected by disasters, pollution or biodiversity loss. By enhancing policies and capacities related to geospatial information, “we democratize access to data and knowledge”, he said.

Moderated by Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council and co-facilitator of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the sixth panel focused on “Financing and investment solutions for sustainable development in countries in special situations”.

The speakers for the fireside chat were Jose Antonio Ocampo, Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, and Robert Powell, Special Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Mr. Ocampo noted that levelling the playing field is not enough for countries in special situations. Debt and tax cooperation are “pressing problems”, he said, calling for interaction between regional and global institutions and urging the fulfilment of historical commitments for developing countries. He observed that interaction with Governments and monitoring of graduating countries will uncover systemic inequalities on the ground.

Mr. Powell, stating that coordination and trust are critical for efficiency across the UN system, said that Member States in New York are responsible for ensuring that “messaging remains consistent”. Noting that major financial reforms are already taking place, he spotlighted the Fund’s “historic” special drawing rights (SDRs) allocation of $650 billion and the creation of the Resilience and Sustainability Trust.

The panel began with Rabab Fatima, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, stressing that the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development must deliver a renewed global financing framework.

For her part, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), pointing to the term “countries in special situations”, observed that States’ perseverance and transformation potential make them “truly special”. However, there is nothing “special” about small island developing States defaulting on their development to not default on their debt, she said, calling for maximizing the impact of development on technological progress.

Mathew Gbonjubola, Co-Chair of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, said that developing countries widely adopt the UN Model Double Taxation Convention. The Committee also supports capacity-development activities and reviews standards — designed from the point of view of developed economies — through the prism of developing countries. He added that giving the developing countries the ability to sit at the table in designing the world tax system is key.

“Although Africa has integrated into the global financial system, its economies remain constrained by limited access to stable financing,” observed Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The continent’s debt exceeds $1 trillion, and its countries annually spend millions in debt servicing — “resources that could have been invested in other development priorities”, he noted. Through the African High-Level Working Group, the Commission works to scale up bank financing and ensure better returns.

“Over the past two days, we have witnessed the [Economic and Social Council] ecosystem in action, providing ideas and solutions on how to turbocharge implementation as we approach the 2030 deadline of the SDGs,” said Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in his closing remarks. Noting that this year’s coordination segment was the first since the adoption of the Pact for the Future, he said it has delivered “a clear call to strengthen coordination within the UN system, reduce duplication and address misalignment of partnerships”.

Anatolio Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council and Chair of the Coordination Segment, said that this year’s meeting has demonstrated that political will can elevate international cooperation to new heights and deliver concrete solutions. “The coordination segment is not just about reflection; it is about action and charting the way forward”, he stated, urging those present to carry forward the momentum and translate discussions into action. He added: “We have a responsibility to the people we represent. The time for bold and coordinated leadership cannot be postponed anymore.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Nicaragua

Source: International Monetary Fund

February 7, 2025

Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Nicaragua.

Executive Board Assessment[2]

It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Nicaragua will be held on the standard 12 month cycle.

Table 1. Nicaragua: Selected Social and Economic Indicators, 2023-25

I. Social and Demographic Indicators
GDP per capita (current US$, 2023)	2,606	Income share held by the richest 10 percent (2014)		37.2
GNI per capita (Atlas method, current US$, 2023)	2,270	Unemployment (percent of labor force, 2023)		3.4
GINI Index (2014)	46.2	Poverty rate ($3.65/day line, 2017 PPP, percent, World Bank, 2023)		12.5
Population (millions, 2023)	6.8	Adult literacy rate (percent, 2015)		82.6
Life expectancy at birth in years (2022)	74.6	Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births, 2022)		14.0
II. Economic Indicators
	2023		2024	2025
			Projections
Output	(Annual percentage change; unless otherwise specified)
GDP growth	4.6		4.0	4.0
GDP (nominal, US$ million)	17,843		19,204	20,771
Prices
Consumer price inflation (period average)	8.4		4.0	4.0
	(Percent of GDP)
Gross domestic investment	23.0		25.0	26.5
Private sector	15.1		15.8	15.5
Public sector	7.9		9.2	11.0
Gross national savings	30.8		31.8	32.9
Private sector	21.5		22.5	22.9
Public sector	9.3		9.3	10.0
Exchange rate
Period average (Córdobas per US$)	36.4		36.6	…

Fiscal sector	(Percent of GDP)
Consolidated public sector balance^1/	2.8		1.8	1.1
Revenue (including grants)	32.9		33.2	33.1
Expenditure	30.1		31.4	32.0
of which: Central Government overall balance^2/	2.6		2.1	1.3
Revenue	21.7		21.6	21.6
Expenditure	19.1		19.5	20.3
Cash payments for operating activities	14.6		14.5	13.8
Net cash outflow: investments in NFAs	4.5		5.0	6.5
Money and financial	(Annual percentage change)
Broad money	11.9		12.2	11.2
Credit to the private sector	18.1		18.3	11.2
Net domestic assets of the banking system	-8.0		5.8	1.3
Non-performing loans to total loans (ratio)^3/	1.2		1.7	…
Regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets (ratio)^3/	19.1		19.2	…
External sector	(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)
Current account	7.7		6.7	6.4
Remittances	26.1		27.2	26.1
Capital and financial account	4.1		2.5	3.0
Gross international reserves (US$ million)^4/	5,190		5,907	6,729
In months of imports excl. maquila	7.0		7.4	7.7
Net international reserves (US$ million)^5/	4,249		4,979	5,724
In months of imports excl. maquila	5.7		6.3	6.7
Non-financial public sector debt^6/	49.6		46.9	44.9
Domestic public debt	10.3		8.0	6-9
External public debt	39.3		38.9	38.0
Private sector external debt	31.0		28.6	26.2
Sources: National authorities; World Bank; and IMF staff calculations.
1/ The consolidated public sector comprises the central government, the municipality of Managua, the state-owned enterprises, social security system (INSS) and the central bank.
2/ Include transfers to cover the INSS deficit for 2023-25, 0.5 percent of GDP per year, and payment for historical debt (0.7 percent of GDP in 2023).
3/ 2024 data is as of September 2024.
4/ Excludes resources from the Deposit Guarantee Fund for Financial Institutions (FOGADE).
5/ Excludes FOGADE and reserve requirements for FX deposits.
6/ Assumes that HIPC-equivalent terms were applied to the outstanding debt to non-Paris Club bilaterals. Does not include SDR allocation.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

MIL OSI Economics –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Reverend Warnock Presses USTR Nominee for Commitments to Protect Georgia’s Green Energy Economy

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

Senator Reverend Warnock Presses USTR Nominee for Commitments to Protect Georgia’s Green Energy Economy

During a Thursday Finance committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Jamieson Greer during his nomination to be the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
Senator Reverend Warnock highlighted the importance of Georgia’s clean energy economy and the thousands of jobs that support it
Greer is a partner in the International Trade team at King & Spalding, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m excited about the investments in solar energy in Georgia. I’m also proud that Georgia, in many ways, is leading the country in building electric cars entirely in the United States, employing thousands of Georgians”

Watch video of Senator Reverend Warnock’s questioning HERE
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, during a Senate Finance committee hearing on Jamieson Greer’s nomination to be the United States Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pressed Greer on his commitment to protecting and bolstering Georgia’s clean energy economy.
During Senator Warnock’s line of questions, he also highlighted the importance of the boon to Georgia’s economy that the clean energy market provides.
“Down near my hometown where the Kia plant opened, we’ve got about 9,000 more jobs that have been created in that area. A major economic boon,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.
Senator Warnock has continuously fought to deliver robust clean energy investments to communities across Georgia. Last year, heannounced over $700,000 in federal investments to help farmers, ranchers, and rural business owners upgrade their energy systems with sustainable solar and electric energy alternatives to help lower their energy costs. Additionally, the Senator played an instrumental role in securing landmark investments to expand the nation’s fleet of clean electric school buses, including delivering over $60 million for electric school buses for Georgia. In the Inflation Reeducation Act, Senator Warnock secured incentives for domestic solar manufacturing, which will help create more clean energy jobs, as well his plan to promote the creation of sustainable aviation fuel.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks and line of questioning HERE.
See below a transcript of key exchanges between Senator Warnock and nominee Jamieson Greer:
Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “In our meeting, we discussed the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and its clean energy investments in Georgia. I enjoyed our conversation very much. Welcome and congratulations to you, and to your family.”
“We talked about these provisions in the IRA. The state of Georgia has seen growth in our advanced manufacturing sector, with both domestic companies and foreign companies making significant investments, due in large measure to the IRA’s clean energy investments, bringing a lot of jobs to Georgia.”
“One of the things I’m very proud of as a lifelong native of Georgia is that little Dalton, Georgia known as the carpet capital of the world. If you are walking on a floor anywhere, there is a good chance you are walking on something that was created in Dalton, Georgia. But who would have imagined that Dalton, Georgia would become such a leader in the manufacturing of solar panels? This is due to the Korean solar manufacturer, Qcells, bringing thousands of jobs to Georgia, creating a domestic solar industry, almost entirely free of Chinese supply chains.”
“However, it needs trade protections to compete against a heavily subsidized Chinese industry. If confirmed as the nation’s trade representative, how would you work to protect and grow domestic solar and clean energy manufacturing to ensure our supply chain does not depend on China?”
Jamieson Greer (JG): “Thank you, senator. I’m glad to hear you express concern and interest in this, these are things I am concerned about too.”
“To the extent that there is going to be energy products manufactured and used in the United States, it would be great to have them made here. And that we’re not using panels that come from China, and in some instances might include products of subsidies or forced labor. The first Trump Administration did a safeguard tariff. The Commerce Department for many years has had other tariffs in place and I think that those can be effective tools.”
“You have testified to this, that we have new protections in the United States. Europe did not have these protections in place and they saw their solar industry go away. I’m very interested in maintaining and exploring those possibilities to ensure we have that production here.”
SRW: “I appreciate that, and I look forward to continuing to have that conversation. I’m excited about the investments in solar energy in Georgia. I’m also proud that Georgia, in many ways, is leading the country in building electric cars, entirely in the United States, employing thousands of Georgians. Down near my hometown where the Kia plant opened, we’ve got about 9,000 more jobs that have been created in that area. A major economic boon.”
“President Trump and congressional Republicans have bragged about repealing federal investments in the green economy that have created these jobs. Jobs that have bipartisan support in my state. I support what we’re doing there, the Republican Governor supports it. This is a top bipartisan economic issue in Georgia. It’s about American manufacturing.”
“If confirmed, how will you use your position to protect the investments and thousands of jobs, jobs that foreign car companies have brought to Georgia?”
JG: “My role and my jurisdiction in the administration is to negotiate trade deals where appropriate and do trade enforcement as necessary which is certainly an area where I want to make sure any manufacturing you have doesn’t have to compete unfairly with foreign product.”
“With respect to other incentives or other legislation, that is something that I believe the Treasury Department and the Energy Department, the President and Congress will determine the path forward.”
SRW: “Would you agree that if we seed that space, that it is not a net positive result for American businesses?”
JG: “We need to have advance manufacturing in the United States as much as possible whether it is traditional or electric vehicles or solar panels.”
SRW: “So ideology around clean energy should not stop us from doing what is necessary.”
JG: “If we are going to have manufacturers making clean energy, that makes sense, and broader energy policy, we should be making those things here.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces new Special Envoy for Syria
Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, its rule has come to an end, starting a new chapter for Syria. The Syrian people have endured unimaginable hardship, and during this period of transition, Canada will continue to stand by them in their pursuit of a just and inclusive society.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre, as Canada’s new Special Envoy for Syria.

In this role, Mr. Alghabra will advise the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, on Canadian efforts to support the Syrian people in addressing their pressing needs and transition toward an inclusive and peaceful future. To do this, he will consult with a range of stakeholders, including subject matter experts, regional actors, and international partners, to promote inclusive governance and ensure the protection of human rights.

Mr. Alghabra was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006. He then held several parliamentary roles, including Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Diversification and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Minister of Transport. A Syrian Canadian with deep ties to the country, he brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the role. Throughout his career, Mr. Alghabra has been a passionate advocate for Syrian refugees, working tirelessly to support those displaced by the devastating civil war that plagued Syria for over a decade.

Canada remains committed to supporting the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance in Syria and the development of a stable and inclusive government in the country. By working together, we can help turn the page on this dark chapter in Syria’s history and promote peace and prosperity for generations to come.

Quote

“Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people of Syria. With the appointment of Mr. Alghabra as Canada’s new Special Envoy for Syria, we are strengthening our efforts to promote dialogue, deliver critical humanitarian aid, and build a future where all Syrians can live in safety and dignity for years to come.”

Quick Facts
- Since 2016, Canada has committed more than $4.7 billion in funding for Syria and countries hosting refugee populations, including Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
- Last month, Canada announced $17.25 million in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of the Syrian people. This funding will be delivered through experienced humanitarian partners, such as United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Canada remains committed to working with partners to investigate, document, and preserve all evidence of crimes committed by the Assad regime, including its use of chemical weapons.
- Over 16 million people in Syria, approximately 70 per cent of the country’s population, urgently require humanitarian assistance. It is estimated that well over 250,000 people have died in the Syrian civil war, with hundreds of thousands more wounded.
- Since fall 2015, Canada has helped to resettle more than 100,000 Syrian refugees.
Associated Links

MIL OSI Canada News –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Young reintroduce legislation to strengthen critical minerals supply chains
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) reintroduced the Securing Trade and Resources for Advanced Technology, Economic Growth, and International Commerce in (STRATEGIC) Minerals Act to strengthen America’s supply chain of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs).

Critical minerals and REEs are essential for the production of many 21st century technologies, from cell phones to supercomputers to military weapons. Unfortunately, they are highly vulnerable to supply chain disruption, and China’s aggressive effort to control these resources presents a significant national and economic security risk. This bill would empower the president to negotiate and enforce sector-specific trade agreements exclusively focused on critical minerals and REEs with trusted partners and allies. Successful agreements would bolster cooperation, reduce trade barriers, and enhance the economic security of the U.S. and its partners.

“If America is to remain a superpower, we need resilient supply chains for critical minerals—and that means strong relationships with reliable trading partners around the world,” said Senator Coons. “The STRATEGIC Minerals Act will help us achieve that goal, and it’s one more way Congress is doing its part to position the U.S. to produce the technologies that will define the rest of the 21st century.”

“Our nation depends on critical minerals for everything from consumer goods to defense technologies, and relying on foreign adversaries for these materials is a national security vulnerability we cannot afford,” said Senator Young. “Negotiating more trade agreements specific to critical minerals with trusted partners will help shore up our supply of these resources, protect American interests, and strengthen our national security.”

“China dominates the critical minerals supply chain, which leaves America vulnerable to national security risks,” said Senator Cornyn. “By shoring up America’s critical minerals supply chain, this legislation would increase our competitiveness on the world stage, reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries, and foster greater trade with trusted allies.”

“Critical minerals are key to our clean energy future and American innovation,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “China currently controls the supply chain for many of these essential resources. Our international allies will help us diversify our critical mineral supply and strengthen our national security.”

Specifically, the STRATEGIC Minerals Act would:
- Authorize the president, through the U.S. Trade Representative, to negotiate, enter into, and enforce specialized trade agreements focused on critical minerals and REEs, subject to congressional approval.
- Set trade negotiation objectives to strengthen supply chains of critical minerals and REEs, aiming to reduce or eliminate trade barriers with trusted allies to ensure reliable access and reduce dependence on adversarial nations.
- Exclude nonmarket economies like China and prevent foreign entities of concern from benefiting, allowing only trusted partners to participate in order to safeguard our national security.
- Require the president to consult with Congress before initiating negotiations, providing details on objectives and potential impacts and ensuring legislative oversight.
- Amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to include certain businesses from countries party to such agreements in the definition of domestic sources under strict conditions, strengthening U.S. access to critical minerals essential for national security while prioritizing American interests.
The STRATEGIC Minerals Act was originally introduced in the 118th Congress. This legislation builds on Senators Coons’ earlier efforts to reduce our reliance on China for critical minerals essential to national security. Last year, Senator Coons joined a group of his colleagues on the bipartisan Global Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Act, which would ensure that the United States, its allies, and global partners can count on a diverse and secure end-to-end supply of critical minerals. In October, Senators Coons and Young introduced the Critical Minerals Future Act, which would establish a pilot program within the U.S. Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical mineral processing projects.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.
MIL OSI USA News –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 07.02.2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 07.02.2025

Espoo, Finland – On 7 February 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

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

XHEL 1,400,000 4.64

CEUX – –

BATE – –

AQEU – –

TQEX – –

Total 1,400,000 4.64

* Rounded to two decimals

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

Total cost of transactions executed on 7 February 2025 was EUR 6,492,780. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 242,303,874 treasury shares.

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

On behalf of Nokia Corporation

BofA Securities Europe SA

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

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

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

Inquiries:

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

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

Attachment
- Daily Report 2025-02-07
The MIL Network –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Luxembourg for Eliminating the Gender Pay Gap, Ask about Pension Payments for Women and Penalties for Traffickers

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Luxembourg, with Committee Experts congratulating the State on eliminating the gender pay gap, and raising questions about pension payments for women and penalties for human traffickers.

Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, congratulated Luxembourg on becoming the first country in the European Union to have eliminated the pay gap between men and women. One Expert said Luxembourg’s wage gap was the lowest in the world.

One Expert called for further efforts to achieve wage equality for women in part-time work and in the informal sector. Almost one-third of women worked part time; this affected the pension gap. How was the State party working to address this gap?

A Committee Expert said the State party’s sentences for trafficking were often lenient and judges rarely took away traffickers’ profits. How would the State party ensure that penalties for trafficking reflected the gravity of the crime? The Expert said the State party had not identified child trafficking victims for three years. Would the State party include civil society in efforts to identify child victims?

Introducing the report, Yuriko Backes, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Defence, Mobility and Public Transport of Luxembourg, said the Luxembourg Government remained determined to stand up for women’s and girls’ rights, safety, freedom and access to equal opportunities. The Committee could count on Luxembourg’s determination and support.

On wage equality, Marc Bichler, Permanent Representative of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Luxembourg was the only country in the European Union to have eliminated wage inequality, but there was still a pay gap in favour of men for annual wages. More efforts were needed to address this economic inequality, particularly regarding the high proportion of part-time work among women. The role of equality officers in private companies with more than 15 employees was particularly important.

The delegation added that the gender pension gap was large; to address this, a major reform of the pension system was underway.

On trafficking, the delegation said that training had been provided to State officials and non-governmental organizations to improve the identification of and support for trafficking victims. Victims were officially identified by a specialised unit of the police, but non-governmental organizations could help identify victims.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Bichler said the dialogue had been a valuable exercise that helped the State party to make progress in implementing the Convention and upholding the rights of women and girls. There were pushbacks against women and girls’ rights globally, but Luxembourg was resolute in defending these rights.

In her concluding remarks, Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair of the meeting, said that the dialogue with Luxembourg had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party. The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and called on it to implement the Committee’s recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls of Luxembourg.

The delegation of Luxembourg consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity; Chamber of Deputies; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade; Ministry of Education, Children and Youth; Ministry of Internal Affairs; and the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Luxembourg at the end of its ninetieth session on 21 February. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Monday, 10 February to hold an informal meeting with representatives from non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions from Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein, whose reports will be considered by the Committee next week.

Report

The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Luxembourg (CEDAW/C/LUX/8).

Presentation of Report

YURIKO BACKES, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Defence, Mobility and Public Transport of Luxembourg, said women’s rights, gender equality and diversity were essential to the wellbeing and healthy functioning of society. Ms. Backes said she tried very hard to make sure that both gender and diversity aspects were considered throughout her Government portfolios. She was the first woman to hold the positions of Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance in Luxembourg. This demonstrated that there was work ahead when it came to shaping a world where equality was a reality on all levels.

Women and girls were differently and disproportionally affected by climate disasters, armed conflicts and pandemics. The only way to sustainably change this was to opt for gender-responsive policymaking across all fields. The empowerment of women and girls and Sustainable Development Goal five needed to be front and centre across all areas of action. The Luxembourg Government remained determined to stand up for women’s and girls’ rights, safety, freedom and access to equal opportunities. The Committee could count on Luxembourg’s determination and support.

MARC BICHLER, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Luxembourg had had a Ministry in charge of equality issues for 30 years. It had adapted over time, expanding its mandate to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and diversity. The 2023-2028 coalition agreement maintained the promotion of equality between women and men as a cross-cutting priority of the Government’s political action. This work would be guided in the coming years by the national action plan for equality between women and men.

Luxembourg was currently placed seventh in the European Union in the Gender Equality Index. The proportion of women on the management boards of public institutions was 38.64 per cent, an increase of more than 10 points since 2015. The rate of women representing the State on these boards stood at 43.61 per cent in 2024, exceeding the initial target of 40 per cent. The private sector had only 23 per cent women on the boards of large companies, but the trend was upward and indicated improvements to come. The Government remained firmly committed to continuing its efforts to promote balanced representation. It was also working with civil society to include men as actors and beneficiaries of equality policies.

Luxembourg was the only country in the European Union to have eliminated wage inequality, but there was still a pay gap in favour of men for annual wages. More efforts were needed to address this economic inequality, particularly regarding the high proportion of part-time work among women. The role of equality officers in private companies with more than 15 employees was particularly important.

The fight against domestic violence and gender-based violence remained priorities of the Luxembourg Government. Despite political and legislative progress, this was a daily reality in Luxembourg, affecting women and girls, as well as men and boys in all their diversity. The total number of victims had increased significantly over the years, from 2,882 in 2015 to 4,793 in 2023. Women accounted for an average of 71 per cent of victims each year. In 2023, their number reached 3,218, which represented an increase of more than six per cent compared to 2022. Luxembourg adopted a strategy in November 2021 to improve the protection against domestic violence and to strengthen the national machinery. It had created an integrated national centre for victims of all forms of violence, which would facilitate their holistic care, bringing together legal aid, medical aid and psychological assistance. The centre would open in April and would provide assistance to victims 24/7.

Luxembourg was in the process of developing a national action plan on gender-based violence, which would support more comprehensive care to victims of different forms of gender-based violence. It was, in collaboration with civil society, convening several awareness raising campaigns on this topic, including the annual “Orange Week” event, which brought together many actors to stand in solidarity with women and girls who were victims of violence. A specific system had also been set up to provide consultations and therapeutic care to perpetrators to break the cycle of violence. Since ratifying the Istanbul Convention, Luxembourg had been firmly committed to monitoring its implementation in a cross-cutting manner.

A new Grand-Ducal regulation of 2023 strengthened the role of the “Prostitution Commission” to monitor prostitution and to combat pimping and trafficking in human beings. The inclusion of State experts as well as civil society would allow the commission to carry out timely and comprehensive follow-up. Luxembourg had approved a bill on the prohibition of virginity examinations and certificates, the ban on hymenoplasty, and the abolition of the reflection period for the voluntary termination of pregnancy. In addition, in 2023, an adaptation to the Penal Code introduced a new definition of rape based on the notion of consent. The State was currently finalising its second action plan on women, peace and security.

Luxembourg aimed to uphold a modern and egalitarian society in which every citizen could find their place, regardless of their gender.

MANDY MINELLA, Deputy Head of the Committee Department, Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, said the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg was a crucial actor in combatting discrimination against women. The Chamber supported Orange Week, lighting its buildings in orange during the week. Meetings on gender equality were held regularly. A working group on gender equality had been set up to develop a strategy for promoting gender equality within the Chamber. The status of members of parliament had been reformed to recognise the status of pregnant members. The Chamber needed to represent and respect the rights and opinions of all and meet the expectations of its people.

LAURA CAROCHA, Human and Social Sciences Expert, Consultative Commission of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on Human Rights, welcomed the efforts made by the Luxembourg State to combat discrimination against women since the last report, while noting persistent shortcomings, including a social system that kept women in a subordinate position to men. Luxembourg’s policy favoured a “neutral” approach that was not gender sensitive. Ms. Carocha urged politicians to openly acknowledge this systemic patriarchal domination and to make the deconstruction of this mechanism a priority.

It was imperative that the Government implemented the principle of gender mainstreaming in a cross-cutting manner in all its policies. Luxembourg’s equality efforts lacked an intersectional approach and the Government rarely addressed multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. To implement such an intersectional approach, it was essential to have detailed data, disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, disability and education level. This would allow the State to identify shortcomings in policies and better understand and target the needs of women.

Questions by a Committee Expert

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, said that Luxembourg ranked twentieth in the Human Development Index and was the first country in the European Union to have eliminated the pay gap between men and women. The State party had ratified the Istanbul Convention and the International Labour Organization Convention on forced labour, and introduced legislation to combat multiple forms of discrimination over the reporting period. However, the revised Constitution of 2021 drew a distinction between Luxembourg nationals and non-nationals and lacked protections against forced labour and trafficking. How did the State party justify the amendments to the Constitution? Would the State party eliminate the distinction between Luxembourg nationals and non-nationals?

Luxembourg had adopted a law creating the position of a family judge, an act on the provision of legal aid, and an act amending the Criminal Code to strengthen the response to sexual abuse of minors. The Committee was concerned about the barriers inhibiting access to justice for women. What measures were in place to overcome these barriers? Why had the Centre for Legal Treatment not been given the power to initiate legal proceedings on behalf of victims?

The Committee commended the State party’s national action plan on business and human rights. However, funds deposited in certain banks in Luxembourg may have come from the exploitation of human beings overseas, particularly women. What rules were imposed on companies domiciled in the State party? How did the State party address extraterritorial violations?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Luxembourg adopted a neutral approach in its legislation on discrimination. The State believed that women’s rights were human rights. The neutral approach was grounded on the principle of gender equality.

Each person in Luxembourg who was subject to criminal proceedings benefited from procedural guarantees, regardless of their residence status or nationality. These guarantees covered access to a lawyer, the presumption of innocence and, to an extent, legal aid.

Civil suits could be filed in Luxembourg by victims of discrimination by private enterprises. Luxembourg was transposing European Union guidelines on its supply chains, promoting due diligence for companies and organising public events related to business and human rights. Since 2017, Luxembourg had been working to implement and align with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, conducting consultations with private entities and civil society. Companies in the banking and insurance sector had provided positive feedback regarding the implementation of the Guiding Principles. The financial sector was aware of its obligations. The State was working to address its extraterritorial obligations to provide remedies to the victims of human rights violations occurring overseas.

The revised Constitution stated that people in Luxembourg were equal before the law. Non-Luxembourg nationals could not vote in legislative elections but could vote in municipal elections.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert commended Luxembourg’s commitment to gender equality, human rights, and to dismantling stereotypes. The State party had demonstrated its commitment to the women, peace and security agenda through its women, peace and security national action plan. What was the status of the second iteration of the plan? Was feminism still a part of foreign policy?

Various sources had criticised the Ministry of Gender and Equality’s neutral approach. The Committee hoped that its policies would address structural gender inequalities. There were concerns regarding the depth of the analysis of the Observatory for Gender Equality. What measures were in place to increase the depth of its analysis?

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, said that the State party had established voluntary quotas in some areas, including minimum quotas of 40 per cent representation of one sex on political bodies and 30 per cent representation on the boards of State agencies. There were concerns that these measures were gender-neutral and not mandatory, and that they did not encourage the representation of vulnerable groups of women. What efforts were being taken by the State party to improve its temporary special measures and to make its quotas mandatory?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the State party was striving to eliminate gender equality with ad-hoc programmes targeted at underrepresented genders. There were programmes targeting violence against women and preparing women to defend themselves. The legal framework was neutral but the actions taken by the Government were not.

Luxembourg would work proactively on gender mainstreaming in the field of defence. The second iteration of the women, peace and security national action plan would be adopted this year in March. It would promote the role of women in peace and security initiatives.

If political parties did not meet the 40 per cent representation quota for each sex, their funding was reduced. The State party was raising the awareness of political parties and candidates on the importance of equality. A database with profiles of women who wished to become board members of associations would soon be launched to promote women’s representation.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on its plan to launch the second iteration of the women, peace and security initiative this March. No non-governmental organizations from Luxembourg had interacted with the Committee during this review process. How would the State party encourage civil society to provide alternative reports in future sessions?

Another Committee Expert said that gender stereotypes in the media had not been sufficiently addressed, and women accounted for only around one fourth of all media workers. How was the Government addressing these issues? How was the State party conducting gender impact assessments, as recommended by the Committee in 2018? How did legislation and policies address sterilisation and irreversible medical procedures against intersex children? Had the State party considered broadening the statute of limitations for rape, which was limited to 10 years? Did the State party plan to establish psychological violence as a stand-alone crime? Training on gender-based violence was not provided to judges. How would the State party improve data collection on court cases involving gender-based violence? Why had retrospective analysis of femicides not been conducted?

One Committee Expert said that the State party’s definition of trafficking in persons did not align with international standards. Would it amend this legislation? Sentences were often lenient and judges rarely took away traffickers’ profits or granted remedies to victims. How would the State party ensure that penalties for trafficking reflected the gravity of the crime and ensure that victims received adequate compensation? What was the timeline for implementation of the national action plan on trafficking in persons? How would the plan integrate gender-specific aspects of trafficking? The State party had not identified child trafficking victims for three years. Would the State party include civil society into efforts to identify child victims, and prevent the inappropriate penalisation of trafficking victims? The Committee welcomed the State party’s policies addressing prostitution. Were there plans to decriminalise prostitution?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that the State party valued permanent collaboration with civil society. The Ministry of Equality paid 80 per cent of its budget to civil society to promote the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women. Luxembourg hosted around 100 non-governmental organizations, despite its small population of 600,000, and these groups had contributed to various Government policies. Non-governmental organizations did not always have the resources needed to travel overseas to participate in dialogues with the Committee.

An internal assessment of the first women, peace and security national action plan had been conducted and lessons learned would be included in the second plan. The second plan would place greater emphasis on cooperation with civil society.

The Government was engaging in dialogue with the media sector to improve the representation of women. The Advertising Ethics Commission received complaints related to discrimination and sexism. Awareness raising campaigns were being carried out on sexism, discrimination and violence in the media. A working group on hate speech had been set up that cooperated with the police force and associations working with perpetrators. The digital service act strived to combat illicit content and encouraged platforms to delete such content swiftly.

The law on femicide was revised in 2023. There had yet to be any rulings handed down based on this legislation. There were plans to collect statistics on femicide. The national action plan on gender-based violence was based on the Istanbul Convention and had been developed to strengthen protections and services for victims, as well as training on gender-based violence. The State party would address psychological violence in the national action plan on all forms of gender-based violence and would consider establishing a law on this form of violence.

The Government was working to protect the gender identity of intersex persons and was following Council of Europe regulations on the prevention of irreversible medical procedures against intersex persons.

In Luxembourg, it was enough to prove that a person had the potential of exploiting an individual to hold them criminally liable for trafficking. Training had been provided to State officials and non-governmental organizations to improve the identification of and support for trafficking victims. Victims were officially identified by a specialised unit of the police, but non-governmental organizations and the labour inspectorate could help identify victims. Street walks were carried out to identify victims of trafficking and provide support to women in prostitution. Sex workers were not criminalised; clients were criminalised if they knew that the sex worker was a minor or a victim of trafficking.

Questions by Committee Experts

Another Committee Expert commended the efforts Luxembourg had made to promote gender equality, including its quota of 40 per cent representation in political bodies. Despite high representation at the national level, women’s representation in municipal governments was around 20 per cent. What measures were in place to bridge the gender gap in municipalities? The 2022 law aiming to enhance the participation of foreign nationals in elections was note-worthy. How did the State party ensure that foreigners were meaningfully included in public life? Were there targeted initiatives encouraging women to pursue careers in Luxembourg’s foreign service? Women only made up around 12 per cent of Luxembourg’s military. What measures were in place to increase their representation in security and military sectors? Women also accounted for just 23 per cent of board members of private companies. Were there plans to extend quotas to private sector boards?

One Committee Expert commended the State’s progress in advancing the rights of women and girls in education. Primary and secondary education was free for all children in Luxembourg, and compulsory education had recently been extended to 18 years. Could the State party provide disaggregated data on women working in science, technology, engineering and maths fields? How was the State party encouraging study in these subjects? The Committee welcomed that the State party had endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration. How was the State party supporting the international community in the effective implementation of the Declaration? What measures were in place to support vulnerable women in education? How was the State preventing online violence, ensuring the responsible use of digital technology, and working to close the digital gender gap?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said underrepresentation of women in decision making fora was a key challenge for the Government. Funding was reduced for political parties that did not uphold quotas. Individuals could nominate themselves to political positions in smaller municipalities; this led to greater gender imbalances. The State party aimed to achieve gender parity in Government, and better representation of women and wage equality in the private sector, and recruitment campaigns for the armed forces targeted at women. The diplomatic corps was made up of around 150 agents, 76 per cent of whom were men. In recent years, the number of female diplomats had increased and this trend was likely to continue.

The State had a service providing training for children on cyberbullying. When it identified sexual harassment material online, it referred the material to legal services. Raising awareness about online risks was a priority for the Government.

Questions by a Committee Expert

A Committee Expert commended the State party for eliminating the pay gap between men and women. Luxembourg’s wage gap was the lowest in the world. The Committee called for further efforts to achieve wage equality for women in part-time work and in the informal sector. Almost one-third of women worked part time; this affected the pension gap. How was the State party working to address this gap? The Committee was concerned that the act on persons with disabilities excluded persons with disabilities who did not meet requirements for support to access the labour market. Had Luxembourg criminalised workplace sexual harassment and adopted measures to implement appropriate sanctions? Would it ratify International Labour Organization Convention 190?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Luxembourg considered sexual harassment to be a serious form of violence. It would be addressed in the national action plan against gender-based violence. Victims of gender-based violence and discrimination in the workplace could seek support from a specialised service within the labour inspectorate. Measures were in place to support single parents, who were prioritised in the provision of affordable housing. The gender pension gap was large; to address this, a major reform of the pension system was underway.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said Luxembourg had an admirable universal healthcare system. To access free services, individuals needed to prove their identity and that they had lived in Luxembourg for at least three months. How many applications were objected to and on what grounds? The Expert welcomed the national programme for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health. What progress had been made in strengthening this programme? The Committee welcomed the national action plan on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, but was concerned that involuntary surgeries continued to be imposed on intersex persons. When would the State party abolish this practice?

The high rate of tobacco use among women was a major issue in the State party, leading to various health complications. What public health measures had been taken to discourage smoking, especially for women?

One Committee Expert commended the State party’s financial support for women and support for women investors. What measures were in place to educate self-employed women on the pension regime? Were there digital tools that facilitated women’s integration in pension programmes? More than one in seven workers in Luxembourg was at risk of poverty. How was the State party addressing this? Were there measures to help unemployed women to access benefits and training? Did the State party have regulations on safeguarding women’s rights in investments? How did the State party ensure adequate reparation for human rights violations by companies? What steps had been taken to promote women-owned businesses? What strategies were planned to boost women’s access to financial services, bonds and loans? What percentage of businesses were owned by women? How was the State party helping women and girls to strengthen their digital competencies, collecting disaggregated data on access to loans and credit, and providing financial support services that reached women who lacked digital skills?

The State party was commended for promoting women’s participation in sports entrepreneurship. What measures were in place to prevent gender stereotypes in sport?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said all individuals in Luxembourg had access to the universal health coverage system. The Government worked to streamline gender in all healthcare policies. It was raising awareness amongst healthcare practitioners regarding differences in treatment between men and women.

The national action plan on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons would address the issue of involuntary sterilisations. The State party would assess legal provisions that addressed this issue in other countries. A national action plan to prevent smoking that considered the specific needs of women was being drafted.

Sport was an area in which there was inequality between men and women in terms of renumeration and presence in the media. The Government was drafting a national strategy on equality in sport. Violence against women in sport was being addressed by the National Centre for Victims of Violence.

A gender finance taskforce had been set up to support women to access the finance sector and loans. Schools were educating girls on the financial sector. The Ministry of the Family funded a project that supported women’s incorporation into business networks and entrepreneurship support programmes.

Luxembourg had around 20 observatories collecting disaggregated data on various topics. The Government was stressing the importance of collecting data disaggregated by sex. A digital gateway had been setup that promoted women’s and girls’ digital skills. An annual day of digital inclusion was also held to promote the inclusion of women and girls in the digital sphere.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert thanked the State party for its legal advocacy on behalf of Afghan women. Luxembourg was Europe’s first financial centre. Several businesses in Luxembourg continued to make investments in the fossil fuel industry. Would the State party adopt stricter environmental regulations for businesses? The State party had thus far contributed eight million euros to the Loss and Damage Fund. Investments needed to be made with a human rights approach, including investments in green bonds. The State party needed to contribute more to the Loss and Damage Fund in a way that addressed the needs of women.

Women in solitary confinement had meagre access to education and work, despite legislation enshrining the rights of such women to State services. How would the State party address this?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the financial sector was one of the biggest contributors to Luxembourg’s gross national income. It was one of the first sectors to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Government had called on the Union of Luxembourg Businesses, which included businesses from the financial sector, to implement the Guiding Principles. The European Union had adopted a directive on business and human rights that Luxembourg was transposing into law. Employers in the financial sector were aware of regulations related to women’s rights and sanctions that were implemented when those regulations were not respected.

The Government was committed to supporting climate action in developing countries; it had pledged 120 million euros toward this at a recent Conference of the Parties. Funds dedicated to climate action included a gender perspective. In 2016, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange decided to open a “green exchange”, which applied stringent criteria for green investment. This exchange today had over one trillion United States dollars’ worth of sustainable climate assets. Many sustainable assets addressed the protection of women’s rights. The Stock Exchange had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Women in 2022 to advance projects and investments that promoted women’s empowerment.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert asked how many women had requested the grant provided to women divorcees. Had the State party conducted studies into the effectiveness of shared custody agreements? Same-sex couples experienced barriers to accessing adoption services. How was the State party addressing this? The practice of surrogacy was not sufficiently regulated. How did the State party protect surrogate mothers and children? How did the State party support such children to investigate their origins?

The legal distinction between “legitimate” and “natural” children created discrimination. Were there plans to remove this distinction?

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, asked how many children of Luxembourg lived in institutions and foster families in the State and abroad.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a draft bill on adoption was currently being assessed. It addressed adoptions by cohabiting couples and investigations into the lineage of children who were abandoned by their parents. There were around 1,000 children and adolescents of Luxembourg in institutions and foster families, including 76 children and adolescents who had been placed in institutions abroad. The distinction between legitimate and natural children still existed in legislation but in reality, there was little difference between these. The draft bill on the right to lineage removed the distinction. Assessments of this bill were still underway.

Concluding Remarks

MARC BICHLER, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the interactive dialogue. This had been a valuable exercise that helped the State party to make progress in implementing the Convention and upholding the rights of women and girls. There were pushbacks against women and girls’ rights globally, but Luxembourg was resolute in defending these rights. The State party would continue to work to implement the Convention.

MARYSE FISCH, First Government Counsellor, Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thanked the Committee for its advice, which helped the State party to improve. Luxembourg highly valued the Convention, which was mentioned in the coalition agreement and the national action plan on equality.

MANDY MINELLA, Deputy Head of the Committee Department, Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, said the Chamber of Deputies was committed to equality and would conduct a gender audit and develop a strategy to promote gender equality, inclusive language, and gender mainstreaming. The Chamber was discussing issues, including childcare and provisions for breastfeeding women. There were plans to overhaul the Chamber’s regulations with a gender perspective. The Committee’s recommendations would be carefully reviewed in the Chamber.

CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair of the meeting, said that the dialogue with Luxembourg had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party. The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and called on it to implement the Committee’s recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls of Luxembourg.

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.

CEDAW25.005E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Inaugural Event to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS) Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi – 7th February 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 07 FEB 2025 8:03PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India celebrated the 75^th anniversary of the National Sample Surveys (NSS) with a special event at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 7^th February 2025. This milestone marks the start of a series of initiatives across the country, aimed at highlighting the vital role NSS data plays in evidence-based policymaking, raising awareness about the importance of data for nation-building, and engaging stakeholders from all walks of life.

The event started with welcome address by Smt. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General (NSS), followed by testimonials from eminent personalities, Dr. C. Rangarajan, Former RBI Governor, Dr. Rajiv Laxman Karandikar, National Statistical Commission (NSC) Chairman and Dr. S.P. Mukherji, Centenary Professor, University of Calcutta. A documentary was presented, highlighting the journey of NSS surveys over the past 75 years and its evolution.

The event was inaugurated by Rao Inderjit Singh, Hon’ble MoS for Statistics & PI. In his inaugural speech, Hon’ble Minister, highlighted how crucial NSS has been in shaping India’s development through data-driven policymaking. He pointed out how NSS surveys have influenced key areas like employment, consumption, health, and education, driving critical policy decisions. He emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to advancing NSS, integrating new technologies, and ensuring it remains relevant in the years to come. The Minister also called for more innovation and collaboration within the statistical system for more inclusive, data-driven policy formulation.

Shri Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, delivered an inspiring keynote address on celebrating NSS’s 75 years of impact on India’s growth. He emphasized the importance of data in driving informed policymaking and national progress. Shri Kant highlighted how NSS data has shaped India’s economic and social policies and called for continued innovation in the statistical field to keep data a powerful tool for growth, inclusivity, and competitiveness. He urged that innovation and adoption of new technologies will make India globally more relevant.

In the opening remarks, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI congratulated NSS for its role in providing the reliable data that drives India’s policymaking. He recognized the National Statistical Office (NSO) for its tireless efforts in improving data access and reducing delays in survey results. Dr. Garg highlighted the major initiatives of NSO, MoSPI, like generating monthly labour market indicators from PLFS and incorporating provision for providing data at district level. Also initiative of short duration surveys for catering the specific needs of various stakeholders was also emphasized.

During the event, the Hon’ble Minister unveiled two Diamond Jubilee publications on the Journey of NSS 75 Years for Household/Enterprise Surveys. These publications highlight the evolution of survey methodologies and are invaluable resources for researchers, policymakers, and academics. The event also recognized outstanding performers from the National Statistics Office (NSO) with the Karmayogi awards. A Nukkad Natak performed by the NSS team has given the glimpses of field work for NSS surveys

After the inaugural session, the event featured expert-led discussions on two important topics. The first panel, titled “Future Ready Indian Statistical System for Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” was moderated by Dr. Dalip Singh, ADG, ESD, MoSPI with panelists: Prof. Chetan Ghate, Director, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), Dr. Shalabh, Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, IIT Kanpur, Ms. Aditi Chaubal, Associate Professor, IIT Bombay and Mr. Marcin Piatkowski, Program leader, Prosperity, The World Bank. The discussion tackled key issues like data gaps, the role of AI and Machine Learning in surveys, real-time data generation, and the need for stronger public-private sector partnerships. From the discussion it is emerged that NSS should adopt newer technologies in the field of survey and explore alternative data to leverage demographic dividend to achieve the target of Viksit Bharat.

The second discussion, “The Importance of Alternative Data Sources in Shaping Economic Policies,” was moderated by Shri. Praveen Srivastava, Former Secretary & CSI, MoSPI with panelists Ms. Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog, Dr. Ashish Kumar, Former DG, MoSPI, Dr. Himanshu, Associate Professor, JNU, Prof. Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay, ISI, Delhi and Dr. Rajesh Shukla, MD&CEO, PRICE. The discussion explored the growing role of alternative data in policymaking and how it can be integrated into India’s national statistical system. The discussion emphasized the importance of creating a centralized architecture to integrate data from various stakeholders. It also highlighted the need to improve engagement with academic institutions and researchers. For better data utilization, the focus was on enhancing the interoperability of different data sources. Additionally, there was a suggestion to enrich the NSS (National Sample Survey) data by calibrating it with alternative data sources.

Around 1200 participants attended the event, including policymakers, researchers, officers from State DES, NSS officers including field officials from across India and representatives from international organizations. The event truly showcased how crucial NSS data is to India’s statistical framework and its role in shaping the nation’s path toward becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Suggestions and feedback are welcome at nssocpd.coord@mospi.gov.in

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Samrat/Dheeraj

(Release ID: 2100818) Visitor Counter : 107

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: London ETO welcomes Year of Snake with joyous celebrations (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

London ETO welcomes Year of Snake with joyous celebrations (with photos)
London ETO welcomes Year of Snake with joyous celebrations (with photos)
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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) greeted the Year of the Snake in the United Kingdom (UK) by hosting an evening reception in London on February 6 (London time) and supporting a large-scale London Chinatown celebration at Trafalgar Square, Chinatown, and Charing Cross Road on February 2. The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, welcomed over 450 guests at a Year of the Snake reception on February 6 at The Orangery, Kensington Palace, in London. Among the guests were UK government officials, parliamentarians, borough mayors in London, senior diplomats, leading figures in the business sector, academics, media representatives, and members of the Chinese community. Speaking at the reception, Mr Law introduced the latest developments in Hong Kong on its economic and cultural fronts. Mr Law elaborated, “Hong Kong continues to flourish as a global business hub. Ranked the world’s freest economy, the city welcomed a record 9 960 non-local companies last year, including 720 from the UK, surpassing pre-COVID levels. This reaffirms Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super connector’ for British businesses. Beyond the economic sphere, we also saw the bilateral ties between Hong Kong and the UK reinforcing and deepening, from enhanced government-to-government dialogue to cultural and creative collaboration.” On February 2, the London ETO supported the grand annual Chinese New Year celebration in London’s Chinatown, drawing audiences in the hundreds in some places and in the thousands in others, along the streets of Central London. Mr Law, alongside esteemed guests such as the Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice of London, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard; Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster Ms Rachel Blake; and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Robert Rigby, greeted the crowds in London from an open-air double-decker bus and onstage. Furthermore, a range of cultural and music performances took place at Trafalgar Square. The London ETO will organise further events to celebrate the Year of the Snake in the countries under its purview in the coming weeks.

Ends/Friday, February 7, 2025Issued at HKT 22:05

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Reducing Coal Imports and Increasing Domestic Production in Focus of Coal Ministry: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 FEB 2025 6:31PM by PIB Delhi

Reducing Coal Imports and Increasing Domestic Production is the focus of the Coal Ministry, said Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, minister said that coal ministry is progressing in the path of achieving ‘Atmanirbharta’ in the sector. Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Director General, PIB Shri B Narayanan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal Smt Vismita Tej and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal Shri Sanjiv Kumar Kassi were also present at the Press Conference.

The coal sector remains a cornerstone of India’s energy security, playing a vital role in the country’s industrial and economic growth. With the fifth-largest geological coal reserves globally and as the second-largest consumer, coal continues to be an indispensable energy source, contributing to 55% of the national energy mix. Approximately 74% of power generation in India relies on Thermal Power Plants (TPPs), reaffirming the need for a robust and sustainable coal sector, said the Minister. Addressing the media, minister highlighted the progress made by the Ministry.

Reducing Imports and Strengthening Domestic Production

Coal Ministries efforts has significantly reduced reliance on imported coal. Between April and November 2024, coal imports declined by 5.35%, saving approximately $3.91 billion (₹30,007.26 crore). Notably, coal imports for domestic power plant blending fell by 23.56%.

The Ministry’s ‘Mission Coking Coal’ aims to increase domestic coking coal production to 140 MT by FY 2029-30, thereby reducing dependency on imports in the steel sector.

Record-Breaking Production and Policy Reforms

India’s coal production has reached an all-time high of 997.82 million tonnes (MT) in FY 2023-24, marking a significant rise from 609.18 MT in FY 2014-15, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.64% over the past decade. In FY 2023-24 alone, production has surged by 11.71% compared to the previous year.

A landmark policy reform came with the introduction of commercial coal mine auctions in 2020, encouraging private sector participation and modern technological adoption. As of January 2025, the Ministry of Coal has allotted 184 mines, with 65 blocks receiving Mine Opening Permissions. Total production from these blocks has reached 136.59 MT, registering a 34.20% year-on-year increase. This is expected to exceed 170 MT target in FY 2024-25.

Coal Sector’s Contribution and Growth

Among the eight core industries, coal has exhibited the highest growth rate, recording a 5.3% increase in December 2024 compared to the previous year. Additionally, the coal sector accounts for about 50% of freight revenue for Indian Railways and provides direct employment to nearly 4.78 lakh individuals.

State Governments also benefit significantly from coal revenues, with royalty, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) contributions, and State GST collections amounting to ₹31,281.7 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24.

Strengthening Coal Supply Chains

To ensure uninterrupted coal supply, robust institutional mechanisms have been put in place, including an Inter-Ministerial Committee and coordination meetings with Railways and power sector stakeholders. As a result, coal stock at TPPs now stands at 49 MT—sufficient for nearly 21 days, even amidst logistical restrictions during the Maha Kumbh period.

To further enhance supply efficiency, the Ministry has launched the First Mile Connectivity (FMC) initiative, commissioning 39 projects with a total capacity of 386 MTPA. Additionally, the Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) mode has successfully doubled coal movement from 28 MT in FY 2022 to 54 MT in FY 2024.

Sustainability and Diversification Efforts

The coal sector is embracing sustainability with large-scale afforestation efforts, with over 54.06 lakh saplings planted across 2,372 hectares in 2024. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, over 1 million saplings were planted at 332 locations in 11 states.

Additionally, 4,695 hectares of land have been identified for Accredited Compensatory Afforestation, and a total of 18,513 LKL of treated mine water has been provided to over 18.63 lakh people across 1,055 villages over the past five years.

Technological Advancements and Future Readiness

Coal gasification is emerging as a key strategy for energy security, with a target of 100 MT by 2030. The Government has approved an ₹8,500 crore incentive scheme to support coal gasification projects across public and private sectors. The introduction of the National Coal Mine Safety Report Portal and the Mine Closure Portal ensures responsible and transparent mining practices.

The Ministry is also considering the establishment of a Coal Trading Exchange to create a competitive and transparent market, further modernizing the sector.

Commitment to Responsible Growth

The coal sector’s transformation is marked by policy-driven reforms, sustainable initiatives, and technological advancements, ensuring energy security while prioritizing environmental responsibility. Through these efforts, India is paving the way for a resilient, self-sufficient, and sustainable future in coal production and energy supply.

The Ministry of Coal is committed to ensuring a robust, efficient, and sustainable coal sector that supports India’s economic growth and energy security. Through policy reforms, production enhancements, and environmental initiatives, the Ministry continues to drive progress towards a self-reliant coal industry.

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Shuhaib T

(Release ID: 2100763) Visitor Counter : 65

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $1 million (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $1 million (with photo)
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $1 million (with photo)
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Hong Kong Customs detected a case involving etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil drug”), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about one kilogram of suspected “space oil drug” with an estimated market value of about $1 million on February 5. Through risk assessment, Customs officers on the aforementioned date inspected one air parcel, declared as lactose, arriving in Hong Kong from India. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected “space oil drug” concealed inside a carton box of the parcel. After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers today (February 7) conducted a controlled delivery operation in Cheung Sha Wan and arrested a 39-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case. The arrested man has been charged with one count of importing prohibited articles not under and in accordance with an import licence. The case will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 8). Customs will continue to step up enforcement against “space oil drug” through intelligence analysis and maintain close contact with the logistics industry. The department reminds logistics companies to remain vigilant and report to Customs any suspicious activities. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, importing prohibited articles not under and in accordance with an import licence is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Friday, February 7, 2025Issued at HKT 21:00

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates National IP Moot Court Competition

Source: Government of India

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates National IP Moot Court Competition

Students selected for international moot court competition to be sponsored by Centre: Shri Piyush Goyal

Posted On: 07 FEB 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi

Shri Goyal calls for strong AI regulatory framework to ensure ethical use and effective deployment
Competition to take place from 7th February 2025 to 9th February 2025, has prize money of Rs 3.25 lakh
Theme of the moot court competition is “Artificial Intelligence and Copyright”

Students selected for an international moot court competition on International Property Rights (IPR) will be sponsored by The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM). This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal during his address at the inaugural ceremony of Vidhi Pragati: National IP Moot Court Competition, 2025 today in New Delhi.

DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Competition (CIIPC) and IPR Chair, National Law University Delhi is organising the Vidhi Pragati: National IP Moot Court Competition, 2025. This competition is designed for participants to increase their advocacy skills, work on contemporary legal issues, and gain comprehensive knowledge of Intellectual Property Laws, its enforcement, and the latest case laws.

There is a need to create a robust regulatory framework with legal and policy assistance to withstand the unethical use of AI and also support effective deployment of modern technology, he said. Shri Goyal noted that Artificial Intelligence is as good as the person who utilises its potential. He stated that technology can become a tool but can never substitute the human mind.

Speaking of the Moot Court Competition, the Minister highlighted the format’s practicality in helping the students refine their legal acumen and open their minds. He also noted that participation in this format will enable the scholars to become thinkers, thinkers into innovators and innovators into leaders.

Shri Goyal highlighted that copyright and Artificial Intelligence is at the crossroads of an uncertain future. We can either ethically use AI to our advantage in regulating copyright or unethical means can be used to violate copyright protection. AI can either add to creativity or it can disrupt the authorship of genuine innovators and their rights, he said. Minister Goyal noted that the Government is planning to engage with experts and young minds for suggestions on changes in regulations to adapt with modern technology.

Elucidating on the innovation boost received in the Union Budget 2025, the Minister noted that 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) have been announced and Rs 20,000 crore announced as part of the Centre’s contribution in Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Fund. He also highlighted the Rs 10,000 crore announced in the Budget for the Fund of Funds for startups and entrepreneurs to boost innovation. Shri Goyal also mentioned the Government academic initiative, One Nation One Subscription, to provide country-wide access to scholarly research e-journals to students. He also spoke about the AI for Education fund of Rs 500 crore allotted in the Budget 2025 for the academia, government and the private sector to collaborate to promote innovation.

The Minister during his address suggested IPR to be made a mandatory subject in law colleges across the country. Law also needs to be understood by concepts of right and wrong in which AI can play an important role, he added.

Justice Shri Prathiba M. Singh, Judge, High Court of Delhi and Shri Himani Pande, Additional Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) graced the event as guests of honor.

The theme of the competition is “Artificial Intelligence and Copyright.” This theme is of paramount importance in today’s digital landscape, where the rapid advancement of AI technologies are fundamentally transforming the creative industries. As AI-generated content

becomes increasingly prevalent, crucial questions arise regarding authorship, originality, and the extent of copyright protection. This competition aims to nurture young legal minds, promote innovative thinking in intellectual property law, and underscore the importance of adapting copyright regulations in the context of artificial intelligence advancements. This competition presents an opportunity for the participants to critically engage with the challenges and opportunities that AI presents to the realm of copyright.

Scheduled to take place from 7th February 2025 to 9th February 2025, this premier event will witness participation from law schools across the nation, thus fostering a vibrant spirit of mooting and scholarly discourse. In anticipation of reassuring responses from across the law schools, a total of 26 teams are lined up to exhibit a battle of the best showcasing a sheer competitive spirit. With a prize pool of Rs. 3.25 lakh, this moot will sufficiently reward the investment of time and resources in the participation.

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Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

(Release ID: 2100727) Visitor Counter : 11

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Advancing Mental Healthcare in India

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 FEB 2025 5:26PM by PIB Delhi

“India’s vision of good health implies not just being free of disease but to ensure wellness and welfare for everyone. The goal is to ensure physical, mental and social wellbeing.”

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

What is Mental Health

Mental health refers to an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how people think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects decision-making, stress management, and relationships. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

Impact of Poor Mental Health

Impact on Productivity: Poor mental health leads to lower workplace performance, increased absenteeism, and reduced efficiency.
Social and Emotional Well-being: Mental well-being affects interpersonal relationships, self-confidence, and social interactions.
Economic Impact: According to WHO, mental disorders contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, and untreated conditions can lead to high economic costs.

Mental Health Scenario in India

WHO Data Insight
- India contributes to 18% of the global population. WHO estimates that the burden of mental health problems in India is 2443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10000 population; the age-adjusted suicide rate per 100000 population is 21.1. The economic loss due to mental health conditions, between 2012-2030, is estimated at USD 1.03 trillion.
Prevalence:
- The National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16 by NIMHANS found that 10.6% of adults in India suffer from mental disorders.
- The lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in India is 13.7%.
- National studies reveal that 15% of India’s adult population experiences mental health issues requiring intervention.
- Urban areas have a higher prevalence (13.5%) compared to rural (6.9%).
Treatment Gap
- 70% to 92% of people with mental disorders do not receive proper treatment due to lack of awareness, stigma, and shortage of professionals.
- According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry India has 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, whereas WHO recommends at least 3 per 100,000.

Insights from Economic Survey 2024-25

Mental wellbeing is the ability to navigate life’s challenges and function productively. Recognising its importance, Economic Survey 2024-25 highlighted that Mental well-being encompasses all our mental-emotional, social, cognitive, and physical capabilities. This can also be construed as the mind’s composite health. It emphasised a whole of community approach to tackling mental health problems and stated that it is about time to find viable, impactful preventive strategies and interventions. India’s demographic dividend is riding on skills, education, physical health and, above all, mental health of its youth.

The Economic Survey 2024-25 suggested:

Enhance Mental Health Education in Schools: Early intervention strategies to address anxiety, stress, and behavioural issues in students.
Improve Workplace Mental Health Policies: Address job stress, long working hours, and burnout.
Expand Digital Mental Health Services: Strengthen Tele MANAS and integrate AI-based mental health solutions.

Mental Health Infrastructure in India

As part of the National Mental Health Programme, in 2024, 25 Centres of Excellence were sanctioned set up to train more postgraduate students in mental health and provide advanced treatment.
47 PG Departments in mental health have been established or upgraded in 19 government medical colleges. Mental health services are also being introduced in 22 newly established AIIMS.
47 Government-Run Mental Hospitals including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi.
Integration of Mental Health Services in Ayushman Bharat – Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs)

Under Ayushman Bharat, the government has upgraded more than 1.73 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. These HWCs provide:

Basic counselling and psychiatric medication at PHC levels.
Training for general physicians to handle mild-to-moderate mental health conditions.
Linkages to district hospitals for advanced psychiatric care.

This initiative ensures that mental healthcare is available in both urban and rural areas, reducing dependence on specialized hospitals and making psychiatric care more community-centric.

Policies and Schemes Undertaken by the Government of India

National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) – 1982

Recognizing the growing burden of mental disorders and the shortage of mental health services, India launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982. The primary goal was to ensure that mental healthcare becomes an integral part of the general healthcare system, rather than being confined to specialized hospitals.

Key components include:

District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) was introduced under NMHP to expand community mental health services.

Covers 767 districts
Provides counselling, outpatient services, suicide prevention programs, and awareness initiatives.
10-bedded inpatient mental health facilities at the district level.

NIMHANS Act, 2012

The NIMHANS Act, 2012, was a significant step towards enhancing mental health education and research in India. Under this act, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, was declared an Institute of National Importance. This recognition allowed NIMHANS to expand its academic and research capabilities, making it the premier institution for psychiatry, neuropsychology, and mental health sciences in India.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act which replaced the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995, expanded the definition of disability to include mental illness and introduced stronger legal protections for individuals with psychosocial disabilities. The Act aligns with India’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and aims to ensure equality, dignity, and non-discrimination for persons with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions.

National Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, was enacted to ensure the right to mental healthcare services, protect the dignity and rights of individuals with mental illness, and align India’s mental health laws with international standards, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Act replaced the Mental Health Act of 1987 and introduced several progressive changes to mental health care and services in India like the Right to affordable and quality mental healthcare services and the decriminalization of suicide in India.

National Health Policy, 2017

The National Health Policy (NHP), 2017 was a landmark that acknowledged mental health as a national health priority. This policy aimed to address mental health issues through a multi-pronged approach, integrating mental healthcare into primary healthcare, strengthening human resources, and improving treatment accessibility.

By placing mental health at the center of India’s healthcare framework, NHP 2017 aimed to bridge the treatment gap by making psychological services available at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat.

iGOT-Diksha Collaboration for Mental Health Training

The government has also collaborated with the iGOT-Diksha platform, a digital learning initiative in 2020, to train healthcare professionals, frontline workers, and community health volunteers in mental healthcare. This program focuses on:

Building capacity for mental health care at the grassroots level.
Equipping doctors and nurses with skills to diagnose and treat mental disorders.
Promoting mental health awareness in rural areas.

Through iGOT-Diksha, India has expanded its mental health workforce, ensuring better early intervention strategies and community support mechanisms.

National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS), 2022

Launched on October 10, 2022, the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) was a game-changer in India’s digital mental health infrastructure. Tele MANAS provides free, 24/7 mental health support to individuals through a national toll-free helpline (14416 / 1800-89-14416). Available in 20 Indian languages.

As of February 7, 2025, the Tele MANAS helpline has handled over 1.81 million (18,27,951) calls since its launch in 2022, providing essential mental health support across India. There are 53 Tele MANAS Cells across various states, ensuring local access to mental health services. The program is supported by 23 Mentoring Institutes nationwide, along with 5 Regional Coordinating Centers, ensuring efficient service delivery and expert guidance in mental healthcare.

Tele MANAS services include:

Immediate tele-counselling by trained professionals.
Referral support to psychiatrists for severe cases.
Mental health awareness campaigns via digital platforms.
Mobile-based mental health interventions, ensuring accessibility in rural and remote areas.

Tele MANAS Mobile App & Video Consultation

The Tele MANAS App was launched in October 2024.
Offers self-care strategies, stress management tools, and direct access to mental health professionals.
Video consultation services introduced in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and J&K.

WHO Recognition

The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Tele MANAS as an effective and scalable mental health solution, making mental healthcare more inclusive and affordable.

KIRAN Helpline Merged into Tele MANAS

The KIRAN Helpline (1800-599-0019), initially launched in 2020, was merged into Tele MANAS in 2022 to enhance the efficiency of mental health support services. This transition streamlined mental health helpline operations, making it more accessible and better integrated with India’s healthcare system.

During COVID-19, the government took crucial steps to support mental health. A 24/7 helpline provided nationwide psychosocial assistance, while health workers received online training through the iGOT-Diksha platform. Public awareness campaigns spread stress management strategies via media, and official guidelines and advisories were issued to promote mental well-being. These interventions played a vital role in addressing the psychological challenges of the pandemic.

National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2022

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2022, with the goal of reducing suicide mortality by 10% by 2030. Recognizing suicide as a public health concern, the strategy focuses on early intervention, crisis management, and mental health promotion.

Key components of NSPS include:

Mental health screenings for students in schools and colleges.
Establishing crisis helplines and psychological support centers.
Community awareness programs to break the stigma around mental illness and suicide.
Stronger implementation of workplace mental health programs.

By focusing on high-risk populations, such as students, farmers, and young adults, the strategy ensures targeted intervention to prevent self-harm and improve overall well-being.

Conclusion

India has made notable progress in mental healthcare through policy reforms, digital initiatives like Tele MANAS and expanding access to services under programs such as NMHP, Ayushman Bharat HWCs, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Moving forward, India must strengthen awareness campaigns, expand workforce training and invest in digital mental health solutions. A mentally healthier India is vital for individual well-being, economic growth, and national development, requiring a whole-of-society approach to make mental healthcare accessible, inclusive, and stigma-free.

References

Kindly find the pdf file

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Santosh Kumar / Sarla Meena / Vatsla Srivastava

(Release ID: 2100706) Visitor Counter : 49

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 8, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall in USTR Nominee Hearing: How Can We Build on President Trump’s Trade Success?

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. participated in the nomination hearing for President Trump’s U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Nominee, Jamieson Greer, in the Senate Finance Committee this week.
Senator Marshall questioned Mr. Greer on President Trump’s history of tariffs and trade, and how he will properly utilize United States trade relations to prioritize American interests.
Jamieson Greer has a storied career dedicated to the military, trade, and international relations. He also served in Kansas as an officer in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps and was deployed to Iraq as Chief of Military Justice. He worked in private firms focusing on trade law and international trade. As Chief of Staff to the previous USTR, Robert Lighthizer, he has the experience and the record of playing a pivotal role in President Trump’s successful trade negotiations across the world.
[embedded content]
You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full line of questioning.
Highlights from Mr. Greer’s nomination hearing include:
On Joe Biden’s vs. President Trump’s history of fair, reciprocal trade agreements:
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D.: “…Under President Trump, he gave us [the United States-Mexico-Canada] Agreement. He gave us South Korea to improve Japanese trade agreement, so important to American beef and China Phase One. Mr. Greer, what trade agreements were accomplished under Joe Biden?”
Mr. Jamieson Greer, Nominee, U.S. Trade Representative: “Senator, I’m not aware of any.”
Senator Marshall: “Okay, I want to compare and contrast a little bit here more. Let’s talk about Mexico. I think it’s one of the simpler ones to understand…Under Joe Biden, Mexico undermined American farms. He harmed commerce. He bullied U.S. companies. He shut down the GMO corn exports, forcing a huge dispute. Mexico hampered U.S. energy protection under Joe Biden, and Mexico seized a U.S. mining company operation near Cozumel. What can you do? What can we do to reverse this behavior?”
Mr. Greer: “…any trade agreement we have is only as valuable as the enforcement behind it. And so my view is, all these issues you talked about with Mexico, whether it be energy or corn, et cetera, we need to enforce that. I know that, you know, there’s a case that was done on the corn issue. I’m going to enforce that. I know that there were consultations open on energy. We’re going to we’re going to bring that up with the Mexicans as well. Listen, good fences make good neighbors. If we want to have good, ongoing trade relations with folks, we have to hold them accountable.”
On leveling the global trade playing field for American biofuels:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s talk about biofuels for a second. I’ve never seen such an uneven playing field for American biofuels. The U.S. is subject to 18% tariffs going into Brazil with biofuels, yet Brazil enjoys virtually free access to the U.S., and in many cases, thanks to some scientific voodoo, they’re actually giving Brazil a preference over American biofuels as well.”
“The EU continues to be protectionist against us, ethanol. Chinese used cooking oil exports. You’re familiar with how they’re abusing that. You would think that if we’re going to give tax credits, we would make sure they’re not going to benefit foreign entities, especially those who wish to harm us. What can you do to help the biofuels industry and try to level that playing field?”
Mr. Greer: “Well, Senator, this is the specific kind of unfairness that drives me crazy. And it’s not just me. The President himself, he sees these kinds of unfairnesses and the unlevel playing field. And it’s so it’s so obvious, it’s so blatant. It’s gone for so long. You know, again, in the first instance, you can certainly go to somebody like the Brazilians and say, you need to fix this, but it has to be followed up with or else, right? I mean, that’s a little crude, but we need to have leverage, and if we need to gain leverage by taking investigatory actions or other actions, we’ll do that. It would be much better to do this on a negotiating basis, but we’ll do whatever we need to do to try to fix the situation.”
On ensuring Chinese compliance with President Trump’s Phase One trade deal:
Senator Marshall: “Let’s talk about China for a second…How can we build on President Trump’s success under Phase One with China?”
Mr. Greer: “We need to start by reviewing it and actually assessing whether or not the Chinese have complied with it, or to what degree. In fact, the President has already directed the office of the USTR to do this…We want to be able to very clearly see where they did or did not comply. And then from there you move to dispute settlement, and you move to enforcement if you need to. And again, hopefully, this is an area where countries will understand the unfairness and change because they know that President Trump is serious about this, that I’m serious about this. If they don’t, then you move for that last part of enforcement.”
On utilizing tariffs as a tool to advance American interests:
Senator Marshall: “…You know, under President Trump, he used tariffs, but we saw minimal inflation – so at the end of the day, those tariffs were not passed on to Americans in the big picture… the big picture is for one reason or another, those tariffs were used properly, and we were able to not pass that on to American consumers. Mr. Greer, is there a way to do that going forward as well, to effectively use, these tariffs as a weapon, as a tool?”Mr. Greer: “I agree 100% with that. What we learned from the first term is that President Trump and his economic team are very good at managing the economy. And we saw real median household income go up by $7,000 over three years before the pandemic hit – and this was at a time when we were imposing tariffs in a way we hadn’t done in many years. And when we look at inflation under the Biden administration that happened in 2022, it wasn’t about tariffs. It was about health care and housing and food, things we don’t import from China, right? So we know that we can manage this. We know we have a strong economic team, and if I’m confirmed, I expect to be able to take strong trade action while helping ensure that the economy is growing for average Americans.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – World Trade Organization’s concerns regarding the EU’s F-gas Regulation – E-000401/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000401/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Miriam Lexmann (PPE)

Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gas Regulation) envisages a complete phaseout of F-gases in several industrial applications by 2035. As F-gases are important for numerous industries within global supply chains, this Regulation prompted concerns from several World Trade Organization (WTO) members, including the United States, Australia, Japan and Canada. These concerns highlighted the EU’s duty to avoid creating unnecessary trade barriers under the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement.

With the new Trump administration in the United States, the risk of protectionist policies, including retaliatory trade measures against the EU, is rising. New tariffs, for example on cars, would have a devastating impact on Europe’s automotive industry, including in Slovakia.

1.Is the Commission willing to remove full bans on F-gases for certain applications from Annex IV before these bans enter into force in the 2030s, respecting the principle of technological neutrality?

2.Regarding Article 35(5), will the Commission consider carrying out a review of F-gas restrictions earlier than 2030, maybe in 2025, in order to alleviate the concerns of WTO members?

3.Would the review consider the specific role of HFOs as an alternative to the previous generation of F-gases (HFCs), especially given their low global warming potential and the fact that no impact assessments on their full ban have previously been carried out?

Submitted: 29.1.2025
Last updated: 7 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Cross-border enforcement of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive – 07-02-2025

Source: European Parliament

The 2019 Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive sought to address imbalances in bargaining power between suppliers and buyers of agricultural products. The directive was primarily aimed at protecting farmers, as a weaker party, selling their products to big supermarkets and food processing companies. However, experience has shown that the directive does not always provide a sufficient legal basis for mutual assistance in cross-border investigations. The Commission’s proposal for a new regulation on cross-border cooperation among authorities responsible for the enforcement of the UTP Directive is part of EU efforts to improve farmers’ position in the agri food supply chain. It would enable cooperation between enforcement authorities in cases of unfair trading practices where suppliers and buyers are in different Member States. Farmer associations have welcomed the proposal but are calling for a more substantial revision of the directive, in particular a ban on buying agricultural products below production cost. Retailers meanwhile are highly critical, saying that the proposal risks fragmenting the single market.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE Homeland Security Investigations supports seizure of Venezuelan aircraft involved in violations of US export control and sanctions laws

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations played a key role, alongside the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and other partners, in an announcement Feb. 6 by the Justice Department that Dominican Republic authorities, working in coordination with U.S. federal law enforcement and based on violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws, seized a Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft used by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company.

“This seizure demonstrates HSI’s unwavering commitment to enforcing U.S. export control and sanctions laws around the globe,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Santo Domingo Country Attaché Edwin F. Lopez. “By working closely with our partners in the Dominican Republic and across the U.S. government, we successfully prevented the violation of U.S. laws designed to protect national security and foreign policy interests. HSI will continue to collaborate with domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law.”

The Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from ICE HSI Santo Domingo.

The Justice Department previously announced in September 2024 the seizure of a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft in the Dominican Republic that was owned and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros and persons affiliated with him in Venezuela.

“The seizure of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft provides yet another example of this office’s commitment to enforcing America’s export control laws against Venezuelan-owned PdVSA and other sanctioned entities,” said Southern District of Florida U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne. “Asset forfeiture is a powerful law enforcement tool, which we will continue to use aggressively to deter, disrupt, and otherwise combat criminal activity.”

“The use of American-made parts to service and maintain aircraft operated by sanctioned entities like PdVSA is intolerable,” said Devin DeBacker, head of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department, along with its federal law enforcement partners, will continue to safeguard our national security by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling schemes aimed at procuring American goods in violation of our sanctions and export control laws.”

“Today’s announcement — the seizure of a sanctioned aircraft used by the Maduro regime — clearly shows that sanctions and export control laws have teeth,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Kevin J. Kurland of the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security. “BIS will continue to aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who violate our regulations.”

According to the U.S. investigation, in July 2017, PdVSA purchased the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft from the United States and exported it to Venezuela, where it was registered under tail number YV-3360. Following the imposition of sanctions on PdVSA and identification of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft as blocked property of PdVSA, the aircraft was serviced and maintained on multiple occasions using parts from the United States. The servicing

included a brake assembly, electronic flight displays, and flight management computers — all in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

President Trump issued Executive Order 13884 in August 2019, which, among other things, prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with persons who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of PdVSA. Pursuant to the EO, on Jan. 21, 2020, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified 15 aircraft as blocked property under U.S. law, which generally prohibits transactions by U.S. persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in blocked property.

According to a public statement issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, since at least January 2019, the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft has transported Venezuelan Oil Minister Manuel Salvador Quevedo Fernandez, who is also sanctioned by the U.S. government, to an Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting in the United Arab Emirates and has been used to transport senior members of the Maduro regime in a continuation of the regime’s misappropriation of PdVSA assets.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and ICE HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami provided significant assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jorge Delgado and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Stratton and Ajay J. Alexander for the Southern District of Florida also assisted.

The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce Antitrust Legislation To Take On Algorithmic Price Fixing, Bring Down Costs
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

February 07, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined their Senate colleagues in introducing the Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act to prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. As recent reporting, a Justice Department lawsuit, and multiple private lawsuits have shown, big corporations are using algorithms to raise prices and limit competition, including companies like RealPage that have facilitated collusion to increase rents by more than $3 billion in 2023 alone. This legislation would make such collusion illegal to lower costs for families and support small businesses.

“These pricing algorithms are just one more tactic corporations use to get around the law and screw regular people. It’s how the poultry industry colludes to keep the price of chicken high,” said Murphy. “If we really care about lowering costs and disrupting the corrupt status quo, this is the kind of bill that Congress should pass.”

“Predatory algorithms significantly suppress competition in today’s markets and allow companies to collude to raise prices to unaffordable levels. The Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act will eliminate coercive anticompetitive software and empower consumers,” said Blumenthal.

Price fixing and other forms of collusion are illegal under current antitrust laws. However, current antitrust laws may be insufficient when competing companies delegate their pricing decisions to an algorithm without agreeing to fix prices. Current law requires proof of an agreement to fix prices before condemning the conduct. When pricing decisions of multiple competitors are delegated to a single algorithm, that agreement may not exist even though the use of the algorithm may have the same effect as a traditional agreement to fix prices. This type of conduct has already occurred in rental housing, and we must ensure that it does not spread to other sectors of our economy with the proliferation of algorithmic pricing.

To strengthen current price fixing law, this legislation would:

Close a loophole in current law by presuming a price-fixing “agreement,” when direct competitors share non-public information through a pricing algorithm to raise prices;

Increase transparency by requiring companies that use algorithms to set prices to disclose that fact and give antitrust enforcers the ability to audit the pricing algorithm when there are concerns it may be harming consumers;

Ban companies from using non-public, competitively sensitive information from their direct competitors to inform or train a pricing algorithm; and

Direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study pricing algorithms’ impact on competition.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also cosponsored the legislation.

The Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act is endorsed by Consumer Reports, the Open Markets Institute, and Accountable.US.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
MIL OSI USA News –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on January Labour Force Survey results

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for January 2025:

“We’re standing strong and defending British Columbians, workers, and industries against tariff threats from the United States. We are encouraged by the news that there will be a 30-day pause on the tariffs. Now, it’s full steam ahead on strengthening our economy to defend B.C. from this threat.

“We are fast-tracking major economic projects to deliver good paying, family-supporting jobs throughout the entire province and we are working hard to get B.C. goods to new markets, including the ongoing push to knock down trade barriers within Canada. So many people are coming together to buy B.C. and support Canadian products first.

“As B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic development and innovation, I met with my ministerial counterparts on the federal Committee on Internal Trade on Jan. 31 in Toronto to discuss expediting negotiations to reduce barriers to trade across the country. Increasing trade across the country is a key part of B.C.’s tariff-response strategy.

“B.C. has continued to show strength with a gain of 10,300 private-sector jobs in January – the third largest increase among provinces. B.C. has gained 178,900 private-sector jobs since July 2017.

“B.C. has also gained 19,900 full-time jobs since December 2024, the second-highest increase in full-time jobs among provinces.

“B.C.’s unemployment rate is 6.0%, one of the lowest unemployment rates among provinces and below the national average of 6.6%. B.C.’s average hourly wage is $37.53, the highest among provinces.

“Today’s Labour Force Survey data shows a growth of 8,700 jobs in manufacturing, 6,100 in retail trade and 5,200 in construction, among other types of jobs. Construction has gained 24,500 jobs, compared to this time last year.

“The current global uncertainty posed by potential tariffs from the United States puts all of this at risk. That’s why we’re taking action to defend B.C. jobs in the face of this threat. The Committee on Internal Trade meeting last Friday provided an opportunity to boldly move forward to unlock markets and the flow of goods and services between provinces and territories.

“Right now, the provinces have conflicting regulations and rules, causing barriers to trade across the country. B.C. is working with our provincial counterparts to create a list of regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction, with the intention of achieving an agreement where regulations can be mutually recognized that will cover all goods and services sold or used in Canada.

“British Columbia has been a leader in reducing internal trade barriers and is one of the founding parties of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, a regional trade enhancement agreement that surpasses the Canadian Free Trade Agreement in terms of ambition, coverage of economic sectors and lack of exceptions.”

Learn More:

To learn more about Clean and Competitive: A Blueprint for B.C.’s Industrial Future, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Clean_and_Competitive.pdf

To find out more about the Stronger BC Economic Plan, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/plan/

MIL OSI Canada News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement on the Japan – UK Women’s Economic Empowerment Seminar
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Japan hosted a virtual seminar for British women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to increase trade and investment with Japan
On 6 February 2025, with the support of the Department for Business and Trade, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a virtual seminar for UK women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to increase trade and investment with Japan.

This continues an ongoing series of collaborative activities between the UK and Japan to uphold the commitments set out in the Women’s Economic Empowerment chapter of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It supports the delivery of the joint commitment to enhancing women’s ability to fully access and benefit from the opportunities created by this Agreement, and to reduce the systemic barriers faced by women seeking to trade internationally.

During the seminar, participants heard from Japanese government and non-government led organisations about programmes and initiatives that support women in trade. These included the Japanese Cabinet Office, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization. They shared valuable information on the Japanese market and the support and tools available to British women entrepreneurs, business owners and investors interested in growing their businesses by expanding, exporting to and investing in the Japanese market.

The audience also heard from the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan on the support it can provide on navigating differences in business customs, as well as from two Japanese venture capital firms: ANRI, focused on seed stage investments, having a track record of supporting female-founded startups in IT and DeepTech, and NEXTBLUE, dedicated to empowering women founders in the field of women’s wellbeing. These venture capital firms offered their support for the expansion of UK female-led companies.

The audience also heard directly from two British women business owners and entrepreneurs. The CEOs of Celtic English Academy and Evolve Organic Beauty shared valuable insights on their experiences of entering and successfully trading in the education and retail markets in Japan.

Increasing women’s participation in the economy not only strengthens gender equality but also holds huge potential in boosting economic growth. Through the effective implementation of the women’s economic empowerment provisions in the UK’s trade agreement with Japan, we seek to uphold gender equality by ensuring that women business owners and entrepreneurs interested in expanding their business by entering new markets have sufficient knowledge of the opportunities and benefits on offer to them.

The UK has successfully included trade and gender equality provisions in newly negotiated Free Trade Agreements including with Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and will continue working with trading partners to explore and develop the best strategies and practices to break down barriers to trade for women, support the fair and open trade and benefit the wider UK economy.

In the lead up to the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the UK will continue a programme of engagement with Japan. Further, the UK will be showcasing its work on diversity and inclusion at the UK Pavilion, including the work we are doing on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

For more information on the first UK-Japan Women’s Economic Empowerment seminar, please follow this link.

For more information on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, please follow this link.

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Published 7 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Trading volume on the Moscow Exchange’s SFI market increased by 70% in 2024

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

Trading volumes on the Moscow Exchange standardized derivatives market increased by 77% in 2024, from 8.3 trillion to 14.7 trillion rubles.

Today, 85 Russian financial sector companies conclude transactions on the DFI market, of which 20 companies entered the market in 2024. In particular, non-state pension funds and insurance companies received the opportunity to conduct transactions with over-the-counter derivatives with a central counterparty (CCP) last year.

Today on on the Moscow Exchange’s SPF market Interest rate swaps, currency swaps, currency-interest rate swaps, currency forwards with a maturity of three days to 10 years depending on the type of instrument are traded. The instruments of the SPFI market provide the opportunity for the most flexible management of currency and interest rate risks in transactions on the markets of the underlying asset.

Transactions on the SFD market are concluded with the CCP, which allows combining the flexibility of over-the-counter derivatives and the reliability of the Moscow Exchange settlement infrastructure. This also frees financial market participants from the need to assess the risks of each counterparty and sign general agreements with all of them, reduces capital costs and takes advantage of unified clearing and collateral with other Moscow Exchange markets.

Since its launch in 2013, the SFI market has developed in two directions – exchange and over-the-counter. Since 2019, the trading activity of participants has been concentrated exclusively in over-the-counter transactions with a central counterparty. In connection with this, a decision was made to terminate the functioning of the exchange segment of the SFI market., and May 13, 2022 was set as the last trading day on which exchange contracts could be concluded on the SFD market.

Moscow Exchange will continue to develop tools for managing various types of risks. In December 2024, the SFI market was launched new trading and clearing system “SAPFIR”, which combines advanced trading and clearing solutions, as well as technological and methodological services in the field of risk management of the NCC. The peculiarity of the new TCS is the ability to quickly launch new over-the-counter instruments at the request of participants, which allows for an effective response to changes and market needs. Thanks to this opportunity, participants will be able to hedge credit, commodity and other types of risks in the future.

The Moscow Exchange Group operates the only multifunctional exchange platform in Russia for trading shares, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Group includes a central depository and a clearing center that acts as a central counterparty in the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to provide its clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.

Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.MOM/N77485

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: High-level visit from Canada

Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, to the WTO on 7 February. During their meeting, they discussed Canada’s strong commitment to multilateral trade and the importance of a rules-based trading system in supporting businesses and workers.

Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOK4jTEs_Cs

MIL OSI Video –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China

Source: The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:

   Section 1. Amendment. Regarding the Executive Order of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties to Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China), the following shall replace subsection (g) of section 2:
     “(g) Duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321 is available for otherwise eligible covered articles described in subsection (a) of this section, but shall cease to be available for such articles upon notification by the Secretary of Commerce to the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue applicable pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for covered articles otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment.”

Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    February 5, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Announces Crypto CEO Forum to Launch Digital Asset Markets Pilot

Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

CFTC Announces Crypto CEO Forum to Launch Digital Asset Markets Pilot | CFTC

/PressRoom/PressReleases/9049-25
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February 07, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will hold a CEO Forum of industry-leading firms to discuss the launch of the CFTC’s digital asset markets pilot program for tokenized non-cash collateral such as stablecoins. Participants will include Circle, Coinbase, Crypto.com and Ripple. Further information on the CEO Forum will be released once details are finalized.

“I’m excited to announce this groundbreaking initiative for U.S. digital asset markets,” said Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham. “The CFTC is committed to responsible innovation. I look forward to engaging with market participants to deliver on the Trump Administration’s promise of ensuring that America leads the way on economic opportunity.”

Acting Chairman Pham has previously proposed a CFTC pilot program as a U.S. regulatory sandbox to provide regulatory clarity for digital asset markets and ensure that robust guardrails are in place. The CFTC has had success with pilot programs dating back to the 1990s. 

The CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee, sponsored by Acting Chairman Pham, released a recommendation last year by its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee on expanding the use of non-cash collateral through distributed ledger technology. 

-CFTC-

MIL OSI USA News –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to Public Accounts Committee report on Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) Technologies

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

February 7, 2025

Scientists comment on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) technologies.

Prof Hannah Chalmers, Personal Chair of Sustainable Energy Systems, Institute for Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, said:

“CCUS technologies can play a unique role in tackling carbon dioxide emissions. They can be used at large industrial sites to ensure that most of the carbon dioxide produced by activities like iron and steel production is not emitted to the atmosphere. Instead, the carbon dioxide is permanently stored in geological formations (rocks). In the UK, CCUS projects are developing plans to store carbon dioxide in layers of rock that are deep underneath the sea.

“There is also ongoing work to develop and deploy cost-effective approaches to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air. This provides an important option to respond to the widely reported increases in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere that are causing significant concern.

“There is significant evidence that including CCUS in a mix of technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will be the most cost-effective way to address climate change. Several large-scale projects have been operating in other countries for many years. Experience from these projects is being used to ensure that the CCUS projects that are being developed in the UK are designed to be reliable and cost-effective.”

Dr Stuart Gilfillan, Reader in Geochemistry, University of Edinburgh, said:

What is CCUS technology, how does it work, does it have limitations?

“CCUS stands for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage, which is a developing technology which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere. It works by capturing CO2 at the point source, transporting it and then burying it for safe storage in rocks over a kilometre below the ground surface. Like any technology, it has pros and cons, and costs more than simply releasing the CO2 directly to the atmosphere, which is currently free. CCUS is the only currently available technology that can directly reduce CO2 emissions from sources like power plants and industrial processes. Given that global temperature records are now being broken on an almost daily basis and yesterday’s announcement of the hottest January on record, it is essential tool in the urgent fight against runaway climate change.

What is the existing evidence around the efficacy of CCUS?

“CO2 capture technology has proven successful in capturing up to 90-95% of CO2 emissions from point of sources from power stations and industrial facilities. Successful examples include the Boundary Dam power station in Saskatchewan, Canada, where a large-scale CCUS unit has been operational since 2014, capturing about 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

“The long-term storage of CO2 is proven by natural CO2 reservoirs around the world and engineered projects like Sleipner in the North Sea, which have been injecting CO2 beneath the seabed since 1996 without significant issues. Research over the past two decades has developed monitoring technologies that can detect and mitigate potential leakage and to ensure that CO2 remains securely buried in rocks deep underground.

What more evidence may be needed to be confident in its applications?

“No more evidence is required, as exemplified by the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), which is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act who advise the government on emissions targets and report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The CCC is clear that CCUS is a critical technology for the decarbonisation of the UK economy, particularly in sectors that are hard to decarbonize directly, such as heavy industry (steel, cement, chemicals) and power generation.

“CCUS is not only as a standalone technology but is an essential part of a broader strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It compliments energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and electrification. CCUS is a clear driver for regional economic development, particularly in regions with suitable geological storage sites and industrial bases, such as the East Coast of Scotland, the Humber region, and North East England, areas that have been ‘left behind’ in recent times.”

Dr Tim Dixon, IEA Greenhouse Gas, Director and General Manager, said:

“Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a necessary technology for the UK and other countries to achieve net-zero, and we need all low-carbon energy technologies. The science case for the role of CCS is provided by the UK’s Climate Change Committee, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) and cannot be disputed if climate change is to be taken seriously. The key aspect of CCS is the secure long-term retention of CO2 in deep geological formations, and we have decades of experience in this from around the world. With over 40 large scale projects in operation injecting millions of tonnes every year and many pilot-scale projects, this has allowed us to test the science, the monitoring and the practicalities of geological storage of CO2. Hence CO2 geological storage is a proven technology and the regulations to enable and to ensure that it is safe and secure are based upon this sound science and experience. ”

Professor Paul Fennell FIchemE, Professor of Clean Energy, Imperial College London, said:

“The idea that Carbon Capture and Storage is an unproven technology is simply untrue. There are projects ongoing around the world, and millions of tonnes of CO2 have been safely stored over the last couple of decades. This has not happened in the U.K. because of our sclerotic inability to develop public infrastructure, not because the technology is unproven.”

Dr Greg Mutch, Researcher in Carbon Capture and Storage, Newcastle University, said:

“Carbon capture and storage is a technology that prevents carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, by capturing it and storing it underground in ‘empty’ oil & gas reservoirs or saline aquifers. According to the world’s foremost experts on the subject, gathered to contribute the International Panel on Climate Change, carbon capture and storage processes are necessary to achieve climate change mitigation goals at lowest cost. Without scalable CCS technologies by the end of the century, climate change mitigation will cost between 29 and 297% (mean value 138%) more.[1] Moreover, CCS is predicted to provide tens of thousands of jobs in the UK, add several billion pounds in terms of gross value added per year by 2050,[2] and enable other important technologies (hydrogen production etc) that will come with further jobs and economic value.”

[1] IPCC, 2018: Global Warming of 1.5 °C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty, ed. V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, H.-O. Portner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P. R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Pean, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J. B. R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M. I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor and T. Waterfield, Cambridge University Press, 2018.

[2] Energy Innovation Needs Assessment Sub-theme report: Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, Vivid Economics, Carbon Trust, E4tech, Imperial College London, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Energy Systems Catapult. Commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, 2019.

Professor Peter Styring, Director of the UK Centre for Carbon Dioxide Utilization, Professor of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, University of Sheffield, said:

What is CCUS technology, how does it work, does it have limitations?

“CCUS is carbon capture and storage. This has been primarily focused on CCS as the main driver. It aims to capture carbon dioxide from emitters such as power stations and industries. The current technology temperature swing absorption (TSA) using a chemical reaction with an aqueous amine solvent to capture the CO2 from the mixed waste gas and then to release it in a purified form by increased temperature chemical desorption and then further drying and purification to get a gas that can be in theory transported to a site where the gas can be stored underground. It works but at a high energy cost and the production of amine decomposition products that need to be removed and more amine added. It costs a lot!

“Limitations are the energy and financial costs, permitting regulations on solvent disclosure and the large physical footprint. Full system lifecycle analysis is required but this is not always reported.”

What is the existing evidence around the efficacy of CCUS?

“This is not proven using current technologies. The problem is that the current government funded projects use old technologies to achieve CCS and what is actually needed is a step change to new, lower cost more efficient processes such as solid based pressure swing adsorption (PSA). The whole system tends to be simpler and the energy costs and land use is significantly reduced.”

What more evidence may be needed to be confident in its applications?

“Full evaluation of new technologies and rapid acceleration from proof of concept to capture at scale. The Innovate UK funded Flue2Chem project is a good example of how this is being addressed using mid-TRL technologies. The UK also needs to move away from a single minded storage approach to adding value through the use of CO2 in the production of chemicals that would otherwise be sourced from virgin fossil carbon. SUSTAIN project is making synthetic fuels from captured CO2 and Flue2Chem is making FMCG components, including surfactants and precursors from the CO2.”

Dr Stuart Jenkins, Net Zero Fossil Fuel Fellow, University of Oxford, said:

“The Public Accounts Committee are wrong to have labelled CCUS as ‘unproven’, there are many commercial scale projects around the world, but they are right to question the current model for funding it. We need to make sure the CCUS industry becomes self-sustaining, without the need for major taxpayer funding. One option — asking fossil fuel suppliers to contribute to these costs via a carbon storage mandate — is a fair and responsible approach going forward.

In a recent report we published working with researchers at the University of Oxford and Carbon Balance Initiative [1] we looked at the use of Carbon Storage Mandates, which place an obligation on fossil fuel producers to capture and store a rising fraction of the CO2 they produce, to support the UK’s CCUS industry.

Carbon storage mandates, in tandem with carbon pricing and other mechanisms, could deliver subsidy-free CCUS to the UK and provide investment certainty for companies.”

[1]- https://www.carbon-balance.earth/briefs-reports/report-markets-and-mandates

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/205139/carbon-capture-high-degree-of-uncertainty-whether-risky-investment-by-govt-will-pay-off/#:~:text=In%20a%20report%20published%20today,and%20the%20cost%20of%20living

Declared interests

Dr Stuart Jenkins Our report was funded by the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, and consulted regulators, fossil fuel companies, capture and storage entities, UK Government, and academics on models for CCUS sector support packages.

Professor Paul Fennell: No conflicts other than being involved in CCs research.

Dr Tim Dixon: “Tim is a Director of IEA Environmental Projects Ltd (UK), a Non-Executive Director on the Board for The International CCS Knowledge Centre (Canada). He is also proud to be an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas in Austin, and an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Geosciences at University of Edinburgh. He was an original Board Member of the UK CCS Research Centre. Previously he worked in CCS, emissions trading, clean energy technologies and related areas for AEA Technology (ETSU), for the UK Government‘s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and for the Global CCS Institute. He was the EU’s Lead Negotiator for getting CCS in the CDM in UNFCCC in 2011, and a UK negotiator for getting CCS in the London Convention 2004-7, in OSPAR 2006-7, in the EU Emission Trading Scheme 2004-8, and inputting to the EU CCS Directive 2007-8. He gives talks on climate and CCS to schools and public organisations and supported the start of Oxford Climate Society at the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the UK Energy Institute, and member of the UK Institute of Physics and the UK Environmental Law Association.”

Dr Stuart Gilfillan “I have received funding from TotalEnergies in the past, for research related to CO2 origins in the subsurface and reservoir connectivity and Equinor on CO2 dissolution in natural CO2 reservoirs. I currently receive funding from the Natural Environment Research Council and Carbfix on CO2 mineralisation.”

Prof Hannah Chalmers “I work collaboratively with industrial partners who are developing CCUS projects in the UK (e.g. as a member of the Advisory Board for the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre). I currently receive no funding from industry, but have received funding from industrial partners who are actively developing CCUS projects in the UK in the past (e.g. SSE plc).”

Professor Peter Styring: Peter is Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Sheffield (an investigator on Flue2Chem and SUSTAIN) and a Co-founder and Director of CCU International.

For all other experts, no response to our request for DOIs was received.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: The first programs for digital transformation of departments for 2025 have been approved

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dmitry Grigorenko’s meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

February 7, 2025

Dmitry Grigorenko’s meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

February 7, 2025

Dmitry Grigorenko at a meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

February 7, 2025

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Dmitry Grigorenko’s meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

Digital transformation programs for 2025 and the planning period 2026–2027 have been adopted for 11 federal ministries and departments. They were reviewed at a meeting of Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies.

The meeting approved development programs for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Russian National Guard, the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science, the Federal Archives Agency, the Federal Reserve Agency, the Federal Fisheries Agency, the Federal Bailiff Service, and the Federal Mandatory Medical Insurance Fund. Their projects provide for all the main planning parameters with established target indicators: funding volumes; key results (e.g., harmonizing departmental information resources, increasing the speed of processing interdepartmental requests); infrastructure development (e.g., transferring systems to Russian software and Russian information security tools).

“In total, we have to approve 60 departmental digital transformation programs. Their implementation is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the departments themselves and public administration as a whole. This includes the quality of decisions made based on data received online, and the transparent implementation of key functions, and the speed of providing public services,” commented Dmitry Grigorenko.

For example, the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund plans to introduce a system of personalized accounting of information on medical care provided in 2025. This will allow receiving information about insured citizens online, reducing errors in medical organizations’ bills, generating information about everyone who is subject to dispensary observation, creating individual medical examination routes for them, etc. Based on this information, personal risks of insured persons will be calculated, and forecasts of medical care consumption will be built.

Taking into account the implementation of the tasks set within the framework of departmental digital transformation programs, a number of additional priorities were also identified at the meeting. Thus, among the tasks for 2025 is to introduce artificial intelligence technologies into the feedback platform. This will allow for the fastest possible classification of citizens’ requests by issue and assessment of the quality of responses to them. Also, special attention will be paid to ensuring information security in 2025.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 8, 2025

Trading venue (MIC Code)	Number of shares	Weighted average price / share, EUR*
XHEL	1,400,000	4.64
CEUX	–	–
BATE	–	–
AQEU	–	–
TQEX	–	–
Total	1,400,000	4.64

Category: Trade

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Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates National IP Moot Court CompetitionStudents selected for international moot court competition to be sponsored by Centre: Shri Piyush Goyal

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February 7, 2025

Dmitry Grigorenko’s meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

Dmitry Grigorenko’s meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

Dmitry Grigorenko at a meeting with heads of digital transformation of federal executive bodies

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates National IP Moot Court Competition

Students selected for international moot court competition to be sponsored by Centre: Shri Piyush Goyal