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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s address at the Fourth P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

    It is an absolute privilege and an honour to deliver the 4th P. Parameswaran lecture organised by Bharatheeya Vicharakendram in Thiruvananthapuram.The memorial lecture in the honour, in the memory of one of the greatest sons of Bharat. He happens to be in the front league of idealogues and thinkers of Hindu thought process in this century. We are celebrating by way of this lecture one of the finest intellectuals committed to social work and such a son of the soil being honoured in the land of Kerala, North zone territory.

    It is a testament that our civilisational values thrive, A civilisation is known only by one fundamental consideration, does it really honour its great sons and that has been the theme in last few years. Our forgotten heroes, unsung heroes, we have remembered them.

     Kerala has been the cradle of intellectual discourse, cultural enlightenment, and spiritual pursuits. This is a land that birth legends for Adi Shankharacharya who expounded the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to Narayana Guru who led the modern message by his social reform and by his team of social reformers. We are celebrating the memory of one of them.

     This land is also home to some of the most revered temples, including Sabrimala, Padmanabhaswamy temple, and Guruvayur drawing millions of devotees, they get inspired and motivated. The faith and devotion that permeates these sacred spaces reminds us of the eternal values that hold our nation together.

     Our values are sublime, full of religiosity and spirituality, righteousness and self service. This fertile sacred geography also birthed Shri P. Parameswaran ji who received his values with birth. His unwavering commitment to Bharatiya values, his deep understanding of Indian ethos and his relentless pursuit of national unity continues to inspire generations.

     His vision for a self-reliant Bharat, culturally rooted and spiritually awakened, resonates profoundly across the nation. When we talk about the confluence of East and West, we remember Shri Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda and his historic address at Chicago that was rendered at the World Council of Religions in 1893. But who rekindled it? Who ignited the flame in us? Who inspired us in modern times? By the essence of that address that stirred global minds, it was none other than Shri P. Parameswaran.

     In 1993, hundred years after that event, it was Parameswaran ji who invited the world to reflect on Swamiji. His life, his legacy and his message. The Government of India has rightly recognised this great son of the soil, a great ideologue of Hindu thought process.

     A messenger of Bharatiya Sanskriti, an epicentre in a sense who disseminated sublimity of our values with Padma Shri in early 2000 and in 2018 with the second highest civilian award of Padma Vibhushan, but these decorations do not completely define the man in whose memory we are having this lecture.

     The tribute which we can pay to such towering figures who amplify our values, epitomise our cultural essence, the best of human values, is to follow what he exemplified. We must emulate the value system that he professed.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I greatly commend the subject or theme of this lecture, “Demography, Development and Democracy, Shaping the Future of Bharat”– Nothing could be more contemporaneously relevant than this theme, and this theme, when the theme is a tribute to Rashtriya Rishi who dedicated his journey to welfare of humanity through Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, an organisation spinally rooted in our cultural ethos and now in the centennial year, I appeal to everyone in two years we will be celebrating the birth centenary of this great son of the soil.

     I am sure steps will be taken by the organisers in concert with similar outfits so that his message goes around to the entire country and the world. If I have to put in summation the thought process of P. Parameswaran ji, we all are Bharatiya. भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है। राष्ट्रहित हमारा धर्म है, राष्ट्र कल्याण सर्वोपरि है। कोई भी हित व्यक्तिगत हो या राजनीतिक या सामाजिक, राष्ट्रहित से ऊपर नहीं है।

     And therefore, I commend the organisers for having so thought about it. The theme calls upon me to first reflect on the state of the nation. There was a time, and I had the occasion to see it, as a member of parliament in 1989, as a union minister in 1990-91, an atmosphere that did not

    inspire us. That was alarmingly worrisome, full of concern, and now our Bharat is brimming with positivity and possibility.

     It is full of hope and aspirations. All around, all pervasive, an ecosystem of hope and possibility we can see, and in global firmament, it is the brightest spot of investment and opportunity. The country has seen in the last decade exponential economic upsurge. Our rise from 11th position a decade ago, on the scale of economic size, we have traversed a long distance, facing headwinds, difficult terrain, overcoming hurdles created earlier, cleansing the system, making it transparent and accountable.

     We are the 5th largest global economy at the moment, on way to becoming 4 trillion economy in US dollars very shortly, and with average growth over this period of about 8%. Bharat happens to be the fastest growing global economy in last decade, acclaimed, accoladed and applauded by global institutions, the IMF and the World Bank.

     World Bank has appreciated our deep digitisation, technological penetration, and everyone sees it now as a ground reality. Next comes infrastructure. Phenomenal infrastructure growth has dotted our landscape. Be it on sea, deep sea, ground, sky or in space, all our accomplishments make us greatly proud, and I am happy to share with you, every year the country has added four new airports and one metro system, and on a daily basis, 14 kilometres of highways and 6 kilometres of railways are

    being added.

     If I reflect on scale of deep technological penetration, 85 million are benefiting with houses, 330 million with health coverage, and 29 million small businesses with loans annually. The government is hand-holding them by affirmative policies and innovative schemes. We now boast of beyond what we achieved in space. Lunar and Mars missions in medical science, vaccine production, and the nation is bound to be hub of semiconductors, engineering and manufacturing.

     India’s engagement with world in green energy, urbanisation, emerging disruptive technologies, we are in the front rank. It is for the first time that the country is in big league of nations on Artificial Intelligence, on Quantum computing, on Green Hydrogen mission, and all pervasive digitisation has generated transparency, Accountability, easy service affordability.

     Corruption has been neutralised from power corridors on account of technological inroads. Technological inroads have been no less than invasion on corruption and malpractices, and that is reflected in the scenario that almost half of digital transactions in the world are

    emanating from this country, 6.5 billion monthly.

     Let me recall what P. Parameswaran ji said on this occasion, on such an occasion, we need to reflect, remember, I quote, “The youth of Bharat are not merely inheritors of our civilisation, but the architects who will shape our nation’s future glory through their aspirations, innovations, and resilience.”

     Our demographic dividend, the youth component of it, is envy of the world. India’s greatest strength is its population. We are home to one-sixth of humanity, but look at our qualitative cutting edge demographic dividend.

    Sixty-five percent of the population is in working age. Our nation is an average age of 28.4 years. We are uniquely positioned as the world’s youngest major economy.

    Compare this to Japan, 48.7 years. Compare it to Germany, 44.3 years, and China, 38.4 years. People-centric policies and transparent accountable governance has given buoyancy to ecosystem. Imagine the scale of it, a nation of 1.4 billion. Look at the transformative change that has impacted the rural environment.

     Every house has a toilet, electric connection, water connection is on way, a gas connection.And look at the connectivity, internet, and road, rail, and handholding policies in health and education centre. These define our growth trajectory. India is no longer a nation with a promise. India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers. India is charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe.

     This economic renaissance, which was beyond imagination, beyond contemplation, beyond dreams, a few years ago, has generated

    what is essence of our Sanatana inclusivity. Non-discriminatory, uniform, even-handed, equitable development, results, and fruits for one

    and all. Effort has been made, irrespective of any qualification, race, religion, caste, colour, that the benefit must reach those who are in the last line, and this is being done with great success.

    Bharat is the only democracy in the world that has structured democracy at the village level. Constitutionally sanctified democracy at the Village level, Municipal level, State level, and the Central level. I want, on this great occasion, to everyone reflect on what is democracy.

     Democracy is defined by freedom of expression and dialogue. If we enjoy freedom of expression and do not lend our ears to the other point of view, do not enter into dialogue, do not appreciate the other point of view, expression becomes authoritarianism.

     प्रजातन्त्र में किसी भी व्यक्ति या संस्था के लिए अहं और अहंकार का कोई स्थान नहीं है। प्रजातन्त्र का मूल तत्व है समानता, समान अधिकार, समान अवसर।

     And I therefore appeal that those who do not believe in harmony, social harmony, national harmony, must get into the thought process of Shri P. Parameswaran ji.

    How can we countenance in this land that has 5,000 years of civilisational ethos? Someone says, मैं अकेला सही हूँ, मेरी बात का कोई विकल्प नहीं है, ऐसा नहीं है। These thoughts are antithetical to our civilisational ethos. They militate against the very concept of democracy, and therefore, we must focus, alongside expression, on dialogue, dialogue enables everyone to self-assess oneself, to self-audit oneself, to be open to the other idea.

     And that was what P. Parameswaranji was doing all throughout. Ideologic discourse, ideologic debate, ideologic brainstorming should be dominating our discourse, not violence. What does our culture say, हमारी संस्कृति क्या कहती है? अभिव्यक्ति, वाद-विवाद और अनंतवाद, अनंतवाद का स्रोत हमारी सांस्कृतिक विरासत में है। अनंतवाद का ही नतीजा है कि भारत ज्ञान का भंडार था, जानकारी का भंडार था।

     If India is today a cultural centre of the world, we owe to people like P. Parameswaranji for coming to this level. If in the past, about 1200 years ago, India was the world’s repository of knowledge and wisdom, it was on account of our institutions.

     आज के दिन, कुछ हालात भयावह हैं, चिंतन और मंथन के लिए विवश करते हैं।

    We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Politics has become polarised. We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Vertically divisive, temperatures are ever high. The core national values and civilisational values are not the central theme. In this country where diversity is reflected in unity, this country that prides in Sanatana values of inclusivity, we cannot afford ourselves to be distanced from these core values and engage in polarised, divisive activities.

    Time for us to fall in the groove of Sanatana Dharma as enlightened by Shri P. Parameswaranji, and let me reflect on that concern. As meaningful dialogue fades, so do the pillars of cooperation, collaboration and consensus.

     I must share with you my anguish, my pain. The largest democracy’s parliament must be role model for people. It is a platform to transform aspirations of the people into reality. It has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation. And these facets were exemplified by the Constituent Assembly that worked for about three years in eighteen sessions. And what we see today? Dialogue, deliberation and others have yielded to disturbance and disruption.

     Can there be sacrilege of more intense enormity when temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption and disturbance? Our democracy has to survive. And the first test is parliamentary functioning. We face situations where national interest is relegated. Anti-national narratives take wings.

     We are living in very dangerous times. Political intolerance and reckless stance promoting partisan and personal interests at the cost of nationalism needs to be moderated. There is need for social counselling. Young minds and senior citizens must converge to generate an ecosystem. By becoming influencers of our mindset, we have a Constitution that remarkably depicts Gurukul.

     That makes reference to Ramayana. What is the message? अधर्म पर धर्म की विजय, when in fundamental rights, Part- III of the Constitution, you have a picture of Ram, Sita and Lakshman coming to Ayodhya. अंधकार से प्रकाश, धर्म की जीत अधर्म की हार। मर्यादित आचरण का संदेश और यदि अगर कहें सबका साथ सबका विश्वास इसका अंश आपको रामायण में मिलेगा ।

     भारत के संविधान में, if we go to the next part, Directive Principles of State Policy. महाभारत का वह scene है, कुरुक्षेत्र का वह दृश्य है। श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन को उपदेश दे रहे हैं। What does it teach us? It says, लक्ष्य को ध्यान में रखो, छत को मत देखो, मछली को मत देखो, मछली की आँख को मत देखो क्योंकि आपका लक्ष्य नहीं है। आपको भेदन है। इसी तरीके से शासन का काम करते हुए, कर्तव्य निर्वहन करते हुए हमारी दृष्टि भाई-भतीजेवाद पर नहीं होनी चाहिए। The message is loud and clear. Patronism, nepotism, favouritism, are evils that cut into merit of the society. Fortunately, power corridors have been sanitised. It is obligation of every person, every Bharatiya, not only to believe in these values, but to disseminate them.

     Let me now come to demography. Demography does matter. Demography should not be confused with majoritarianism. We cannot have a society divided in these two camps. But ladies and gentlemen, the nation is faced with grim challenges when it comes to demography.

     The demography evolution must be organic. It must be natural. It must be soothing only then it reflects unity and diversity, but if demographic variations are brought about in the nature of virtual and earthquake, there is cause for concern.

     If inorganic demographic variations take place with intent to increase demographic component with the objective to secure progress, then we have to be alarmed. This is being done. This is noticeably being done. We are at a stage crossroads, where we can neither overlook nor countenance this highly destabilising development.

     We have to be extremely alert. All of you converge to preserve the pristine demographic sanctity of Bharat. The challenge is coming in varied ways. One is through allurements, temptations. Reaching out to the needy and vulnerable. Providing succour. And then, in a subtle way, suggesting change of religion which is labelled as conversions. The country allows everyone to have a religion of his or her choice. This is our fundamental right.

    This is handed to us from our civilisational wealth, but if this is tampered with, it is tweaked. ऐसा बर्दाश्त नहीं हो सकता. लालच, लोभ आधार नहीं हो सकता। कोई पीड़ा में है, दिक्कत में है,  जरूरतमंद है उसको hand-holding करते समय, धर्म परिवर्तन की तरफ मत खींचो. यह बर्दाश्त के लायक नहीं है, मैं कितनी ही कोशिश करूँ, I will not be able to express the gravity of the concern, enormity of the challenge that we are faced on account of these statized, orchestrated, financially fuelled misadventures to effect conversions.

     The third motive, which is ill-motivation towards our nation. How can a nation suffer millions of illegal migrants? Look at the number. Look at the danger they bring to this country. Everyone in this country is fired with the dream of nationalism. These people come, they demand on our employment, on our health, on our education sectors, and then become a factor in electoral politics. It is very urgent. This has to be addressed. We are cliffhanging. We must generate awareness. The mindset of the people must be activated.

     Every Bharatiya must be steered to face this challenge. And that flow is threatening our culture also. I would urge we must courageously thwart these demographic dislocations. I have indicated three. As of now in the country we have from electoral point of view areas where elections do not make much sense. We have fortresses in the country that have emerged in the last few years where the outcome of the election is always foreclosed by democratic demographic dislocations.

     Addressing these challenges which are very daunting, policy interventions alone are not sufficient. We have to appreciate and recognise these challenges as existential to our nationalism and also to our democracy. True devotion to Bharat Mata means not merely celebrating its spiritual heritage but actively protecting its erosion caused by demographic transformation. I am happy to share with you that Viksit Bharat is not a dream now. It is our object. The nation is regaining past glory. We are on way to it. Our youth will play a critical role. We must gear up to do that. Everything that is happening in the country is making us proud globally.

     I reflected on global institutions. Now look at what happened only a few days ago. More than twice the population of the US had footprint at Mahakumbh. The holy Mahakumbh. More than twice the population of the US. Imagine the size and scale of it. And look at the exemplary management, quick response, facilities everything for us to take pride. The world has not seen such organised handling of a situation at this mega scale. Nowhere on the planet this has been seen. Nowhere there has been congregation of humanity in that number on a daily basis. That defines Bharat. That surprises the world. Look at how the mobility was there.

     How health was taken care of. How public order was maintained. How hygiene was controlled. I was there. My entire family was there. That should make us proud. This is a glorifying facet of Indian civilisation. We must ever remember. From all considerations all I can say is भारत जैसा कोई दूसरा देश नहीं है। हम अत्यंत भाग्यशाली हैं परमपिता परमेश्वर के कि हमारा जन्म यहाँ हुआ। अब हमें कर्तव्य निर्वहन करना चाहिए और कर्तव्य निर्वहन का मार्ग परमेश्वरन जी ने जीवन पर्यंत सिखाया है। आदर्श प्रचारक के रूप में, देश और दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी ideological संस्था से जुड़कर– राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ और एक रास्ता दिखाकर अहिंसा विकल्प नहीं है।

     I am extremely grateful to the organisers for having made this great opportunity to me available. I feel blessed, I feel honoured, and I look forward to the centennial celebrations of his birthday be organised at the national level. I must recognise in the audience’s presence of another great son of Bharat, Padma Bhushan Dr. O. Rajagopal.

     My greetings to all of you. I am grateful for your patience.

     Jai Hind.

    ***

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2107567) Visitor Counter : 82

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs to organise ITEC Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights for senior-level functionaries of the NHRIs of Global South

    Source: Government of India

    NHRC, India in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs to organise ITEC Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights for senior-level functionaries of the NHRIs of Global South

    The 6-day programme will begin on the 3rd March at New Delhi

    The programme aims to provide insights into various dimensions of human rights, international perspectives and share the NHRC, India’s experience to enhance awareness among participants of various NHRIs

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 4:39PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India in collaboration with the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is organizing a six-day Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Executive Capacity Building Programme on human rights for senior-level functionaries of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of Global South at New Delhi from 3rd – 8th March, 2025. 47 participants from the NHRIs of 14 countries of Global South are likely to attend it. These are Madagascar, Uganda, Samoa, Timor Leste, DR Congo, Togo, Mali, Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Mauritius, Burundi, Turkmenistan, Qatar. This customized programme has been developed in accordance to the need of NHRIs of participating countries and feedback provided earlier. Eminent persons with domain knowledge and expertise in capacity building and imparting training, will be the resource persons. The programme will be inaugurated by Chairperson of the NHRC, India Justice V. Ramasubramanian on Monday, 3rd march, 2025.

    The programme aims to provide insights into various dimensions of human rights, international perspectives, and share NHRC, India’s experience over the past three decades to enhance awareness among participants of various NHRIs. It seeks to strengthen South–South cooperation, enhance collaboration and networking, and improve human rights protection mechanisms through comprehensive capacity building and experience sharing.

    The expected outcome includes developing a better understanding of international dimensions of human rights; a deeper understanding of NHRC, India’s work in the field of human rights protection, and its best practices, which can be adopted by the other NHRIs; improved networking among NHRIs, fostering collaborations and partnerships at regional and international levels; and enhanced capability to contribute towards the protection and promotion of human rights.

    The participants will engage in lectures and interactive sessions by eminent persons and practitioners in the field, cultural immersion and field visits. The initiative is a part of NHRC’s ongoing outreach efforts to enhance understanding and appreciation of various aspects of human rights and help in building capacity among senior functionaries of NHRIs.

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    NSK

    (Release ID: 2107554) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Warehousing Corporation celebrates 69th Foundation Day

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 4:28PM by PIB Delhi

    With Centre’s focus on infrastructure development, warehousing and logistics sector is seen as a key driver of economic growth: Union Food Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Government of India aims to cut logistics costs with National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti initiatives: Shri Joshi

    With the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the government’s focus on infrastructure development, the warehousing and logistics sector is seen as a key driver of economic growth. This was stated by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi on the 69th Foundation Day of the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) today in New Delhi. Recognising its pivotal role in India’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure since its inception in 1957, he further commended the corporation’s efforts in operational efficiency, transparency, and accountability through integration of digital initiatives.

    Shri Joshi emphasised CWC’s crucial role in government initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), ensuring efficient warehousing, handling, and transportation of essential commodities, including food grains, pulses, cotton, and groundnuts.

    Underlining the government’s commitment to reducing logistics costs, the Minister said, “With the launch of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and the PM Gati Shakti Programme, we aim to bring down logistics costs from the existing 13-14% to global standards of around 8%. CWC, as a leading warehousing organization, is poised to support these objectives through modern infrastructure development and efficiency enhancements.”

    Speaking on the occasion, the Minister highlighted CWC’s transformation from a conventional warehousing entity to a dynamic logistics service provider, stating, “CWC has evolved into a symbol of efficiency, innovation, and reliability, with an extensive network of over 700 warehouses and an operational storage capacity of 148.29 lakh metric tonnes.”

    Reflecting on India’s historical legacy in warehousing, Shri Joshi remarked, “India has a rich history of storage solutions, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization and Patliputra in the Mauryan and Gupta empires. Today, modern technology-driven warehousing has revolutionized the sector, with India’s warehousing market expected to grow at a remarkable 15% CAGR, reaching $35 billion by 2027.” The Minister acknowledged CWC’s significant contribution to infrastructure development and stated that CWC has expanded its storage capacity by an additional 21.65 lakh square feet in FY 2023-24 with a record capital expenditure of ₹613 crore. He added that its e-commerce capacity has grown twelvefold since 2021 to approximately 80 lakh square feet in 2025.

    He praised the asset monetization of CWC’s assets at 18 locations mobilizing an investment of ₹ 820 crores under the asset monetization plan. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission, CWC shall aim is to foster self-reliance by having an efficient and substantial supply chain by encouraging the private sector participation, investment in technology advancement and creating a conducive environment.

    Union Ministers of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri B.L. Verma and Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya also graced the event.

    Both Ministers during their address reiterated CWC’s commitment towards ensuring food security of the nation by enabling seamless storage supply. Noting the decision undertaken by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to raise the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season, they underscored the government’s efforts for the welfare of farmers.

    The event commenced with a presentation on the overview of CWC performance by Shri Santosh Sinha, Managing Director, CWC. He emphasized upon the modernization of conventional warehouses in Tier-I and Tier-II cities, development of cold storage facility under PPP model and emphasizing on leveraging partnership with stakeholders. CWC has added new capacities with more than 120 lakhs sq ft capacity hired during 2024-25, storage of 70 Lakhs Cotton Bales and 1.90 crore bags of groundnut in the current season. On account of superior performance and consistent team efforts, the Corporation has been recently awarded ‘Navratna Status’ during April, 2024.

     

     

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    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2107547) Visitor Counter : 53

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers but charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe-VP

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers but charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe-VP

    VP raises concern over orchestrated, financially backed misadventures aimed at affecting conversions

    We have fortresses in the country where outcome of the election is always foreclosed by demographic dislocations-VP

    Parliament has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation-VP

    VP delivers Fourth P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture at Thiruvananthapuram

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi

    The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that, “ India is no longer a nation with a promise. India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers. India is charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe”.

    Reflecting on the growth trajectory of Bharat in the recent decade, Shri Dhankhar underlined, “People-centric policies and transparent accountable governance has given buoyancy to ecosystem…..A nation of one 1.4 billion, look at the transformative change that has impacted the rural firmament. Every house has a toilet, electric connection, water connection is on the way, a gas connection….connectivity, internet and road, rail and handholding policies in health and education sector. These define our growth trajectory”.

     “This economic renaissance, which was beyond imagination, beyond contemplation, beyond dreams few years ago has generated what is the essence of our Sanatana, inclusivity, non-discriminatory, uniform, even-handed equitable development results and fruits for one and all. Effort has been made irrespective of any qualification, race, religion, caste, colour, that the benefit must reach those who are in the last line and this is being done with great success”, he emphasised.

     Delivering Fourth P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture on the theme ‘Democracy, Demography, Development and the future of Bharat’ at Thiruvananthapuram today, Shri Dhankhar said, “ [Shri P. Parameswaran] his unwavering commitment to Bharatiya values, his deep understanding of Indian ethos and his relentless pursuit of national unity continues to inspire generations. His vision for a self-reliant Bharat, culturally rooted and spiritually awakened resonates profoundly across the nation”.

    “The memorial lecture in the honour, in the memory of one of the greatest sons of Bharat. He happens to be in the front league of idealogues and thinkers of Hindu thought process in this century. We are celebrating by way of this lecture one of the finest intellectuals committed to social work….A civilization is known only by one fundamental consideration. Does it really honor its great sons? And that has been the theme in last few years. Our forgotten heroes, unsung heroes, not well so unseen heroes, we have remembered them”, he added.

     Expressing his concern over inorganic demographic transitions, Shri Dhankhar stated, “ Demography does matter. Demography should not be confused with majoritarianism. We cannot have a society divided in these two camps. But ladies and gentlemen, the nation is faced with grim challenges when it comes to demography. The demographic evolution must be organic. It must be natural. It must be soothing. Only then it reflects unity in diversity. But if demographic variations are brought about in the nature of virtual earthquake, there is cause for concern. If inorganic demographic variations take place with intent to increase demographic component with the object to secure prowess then we have to be alarmed. This is being done. This is noticeably being done. We are at a stage, crossroads where we can neither overlook nor countenance this highly destabilising development. We have to be extremely alert. All have to converge to preserve the pristine demographic sanctity of Bharat”.

     “As of now in the country we have, from electoral point of view areas where elections do not make much sense. We have fortresses in the country that have emerged in the last few years, where outcome of the election is always foreclosed by demographic dislocations. Addressing these challenges, which are very daunting, policy interventions alone are not sufficient. We have to appreciate and recognize these challenges as existential to our Nationalism and also to our Democracy……..How can a nation suffer millions of illegal migrants? Look at their number. Look at the danger they bring to this country. Everyone in this country is fired with a zeal of nationalism. These people come, make demand on our employment, on our health, on our education sectors and then become a factor in electoral politics. It is very urgent. This has to be addressed. We are Cliff hanging. We must generate awareness. Mindset of the people must be activated. Every Bharatiya must be skilled to face this challenge. Unchecked flow is threatening our culture also. I would urge we must courageously thwart these demographic dislocations”, he added.

    Drawing attention towards religious conversions he said, “ The challenge is coming in various forms: one is through allurements, temptations, reaching out to the needy and vulnerable, providing support, and then in a subtle way suggesting a change of religion, which is labeled as conversions. The country allows everyone to have a religion of his or her choice, this is our fundamental right, this is handed to us from our civilizational wealth but if this is tampered with, it is tweaked, it cannot be tolerated….Greed and temptation cannot be the basis for this. When someone is in pain, in difficulty, in need, while helping them, do not pull them towards conversion, this is intolerable. No matter how much I try, I will not be able to express the gravity of the concern, the enormity of the challenge we are facing due to these strategised, orchestrated, financially backed misadventures aimed at affecting conversions”.

     Reflecting on the politically divisive environment in the nation, VP said, “ We are fetched with alarmingly worrisome scenarios on certain aspects. Politics has become polarised, vertically divisive, temperatures are ever high. The core national values and civilisational values are not the central theme. In this country where diversity is reflected in unity, this country that prides its Sanatan values of inclusivity, we cannot afford ourselves to be distanced from these core values and engage in polarised, divisive activities…..As meaningful dialogue fades, so do the pillars of cooperation, collaboration and consensus”.

    Underscoring the significance of dialogue and deliberation, he said, “ I must share with you my anguish, my pain. Parliament must be role model for people. It is a platform to transform aspirations of the people into reality. It has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation and these facets were exemplified by the Constituent Assembly that worked for about three years in 18 sessions. And what we see today? Dialogue, deliberation, and others have yielded to disturbance and disruption.

    “Can there be sacrilege of more intense enormity when temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption and disturbance? Our democracy has to survive and the first test is parliamentary functioning.

     “We face situations where National interest is relegated. Anti-national narratives take wings. We are living in very dangerous times. Political intolerance and reckless stance promoting partisan and personal interest at the cost of Nationalism need to be moderated. There is need for social counseling. Young minds and senior citizens must converge to generate an ecosystem by becoming influencers of our mindset”.

    Dr. (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, Spouse of the Hon’ble Vice-President of India,  Shri R.V. Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, Shri V Muraleedharan, former Union Minister and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. 

    ***

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2107522) Visitor Counter : 57

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fostering Growth and Inclusivity

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Fostering Growth and Inclusivity

    The Strategic Impact of GeM on India’s Economy

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 1:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    Public procurement plays a crucial role in a nation’s economic growth, directly impacting the lives of its citizens. When governments purchase goods and services efficiently and transparently, it not only ensures the effective use of public funds but also stimulates economic opportunities for businesses of all sizes. This, in turn, drives employment, promotes innovation, and contributes to overall societal development. In India, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has emerged as a game-changer in public procurement, creating an open and inclusive platform that benefits not just government buyers but also local entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses.

     

    In alignment with the societal development of the nation, GeM has enabled startups to fulfil orders worth ₹ 35,950 Crore. Women entrepreneurs comprise 8% of the total seller base on GeM, with cumulative 1,77,786 Udyam-verified women micro, and small enterprises (MSE) registered on the GeM portal, having fulfilled a cumulative order value of ₹46,615 Crore.

    What is GeM?

    Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India which was envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative was launched on August 09, 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the objective to create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers.

     

    Core Principles of GeM

     

    GeM is characterized by three core elements:

    Openness: GeM shall be an open marketplace wherein it promotes access to information and transparency. Relevant information on sellers, goods, and services shall be easy to find and readily available for users. GeM shall provide databased insights to help users in decision-making and ascertaining price reasonability.

    Fairness: One of the platform’s key objectives is to allow sellers, big and small, to gain direct access to Government buyers. In doing so, all sellers shall be treated fairly and GeM shall not offer promotional treatment to one seller over the other. GeM shall support the intentions behind the preferential market access policies and ensure that all sellers are provided with a level playing field. This will ensure the health and competitiveness of the marketplace.

     

     

    Inclusiveness: GeM shall promote inclusiveness, which means that all Government buyers and sellers shall be accepted on the platform. GeM shall aspire to create a robust seller base and all sellers interested in conducting business with the Government shall be welcomed on the platform. For buyers and sellers that do not have the know-how of using GeM, additional assistance in the form of focused training, onboarding sessions and continued feedback and support shall be provided.

     

    Key Features of GeM

     

    SWAYATT: Promoting Ease of Doing Business

     

    SWAYATT is portal’s commitment to enhance ease of doing business and establish direct market linkages to annual public procurement for startups, women entrepreneurs, Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and youth, especially those from backward sections of the society. Since inception, the initiative is focused at facilitating the training and onboarding of last-mile sellers, developing women entrepreneurship and encouraging participation and small-scale businesses in government procurement.

     

     

    Startup Runway 2.0 is an opportunity for Startups to showcase their innovative products and services to Government buyers and engage in public procurement. GeM has created a dedicated marketplace category for all Startups to list their products and services, irrespective of their DPIIT-certification. The platform offers Startups all the marketplace functionalities that are available to regular sellers and the objective is to spur “Make In India” procurement from India Startups.

     

     

    “Womaniya” initiative seeks to showcase products made by women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups [WSHGs], and spur Women entrepreneurship by aligning them with opportunities to sell their products to various Government ministries, departments and institutions. GeM has specially categorized products such as handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, bamboo products, organic foods, spices, home décor and office furnishings for ease-in-procurement. Womaniya aligns with Government’s initiative of reserving 3 percent in public procurement from women MSME entrepreneurs and this offers immense potential for procurement.

     

     

    GeM is collaborating with various stakeholders from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises [MSME] ecosystem with special focus on entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Caste/ Schedule Tribes [SC/ ST]. The partnership is based on the objective of achieving the mandatory procurement goal of 25 percent from MSMEs and a sub target procurement of 4 percent goods and services from MSME entrepreneurs within SC/ ST communities, by all government departments and public sector enterprises [PSE]. This initiative seeks to encourage active participation of MSE sector in public procurement.

    The Saras Collection: Celebrating Handcrafted Excellence

    The SARAS Collection is a pristine handcrafted collection of handicrafts, handloom textiles, office décor, furnishings, accessories, event souvenirs, personal hygiene and care products from top of the line SHGs in India.

    GeM Statistics: A Snapshot of Growth and Impact

     

    The latest statistics reveal significant activity in the marketplace, showcasing a robust ecosystem with 162,985 primary buyers, 228,754 secondary buyers, and a diverse range of 11,006 product categories and 332 service categories. In the last financial year, the order volume reached 62,86,543, with an order value of ₹4,03,305 Crore. Continuing its momentum, the current financial year has already recorded 61,23,691 orders worth ₹4,52,594 Crore. Notably, 37.87% of the total order value is attributed to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), underscoring GeM’s role in empowering local businesses and fostering inclusive economic growth.

    Data as on 28 February 2025

    Conclusion

    Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has transformed public procurement in India by promoting transparency, efficiency, and inclusiveness. By empowering startups, women entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, GeM fosters economic growth and social equity. The platform’s strategic initiatives, such as SWAYATT, Startup Runway 2.0, and Womaniya, have significantly contributed to the ease of doing business and enhanced participation in government procurement. As GeM continues to evolve, it remains committed to its vision of creating a sustainable, open, and competitive marketplace, driving India’s progress towards inclusive and transparent public procurement practices.

     

    References

    https://gem.gov.in/

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2106076&reg=3&lang=1

    https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/pdf/GeM_handbook.pdf

    Click here to download PDF

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    Santosh Kumar/Sarla Meena/ Madiha Iqbal

    (Release ID: 2107510) Visitor Counter : 66

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Launch “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan” in a National Workshop on 4th March 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Launch “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan” in a National Workshop on 4th March 2025

    Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Smt. Annpurna Devi to grace the occasion

    1,200+ Panchayat Women Representatives to participate; Primer on Law on Gender Based Violence to be Launched

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 1:24PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organizing a National Workshop of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions wherein “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan” (सशक्त पंचायत–नेत्री अभियान) will be launched on 4th March 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The occasion will be graced by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel and Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse. Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with representatives from various Ministries/ Departments, SIRD&PRs, and international organizations like UNFPA, TRIF will also participate in the event.

    The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan (सशक्त पंचायत–नेत्री अभियान) is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity-building interventions for Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the nation. It focuses on sharpening their leadership acumen, enhancing their decision-making capabilities, and reinforcing their role in grassroots governance. Recognizing the crucial role of Women Elected Representatives in rural local governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has devised a strategic roadmap to enhance their leadership and ensure their active participation in decision-making. Ahead of the International Women’s Day, for the first time, elected women representatives from all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will convene at a national platform to engage in meaningful and action-oriented dialogue. Over 1,200 Panchayat women leaders from diverse backgrounds will participate in this historic initiative. A key highlight of the event will be the felicitation of outstanding women leaders from Panchayats across various States and Union Territories who have demonstrated exemplary work in rural local self-governance. The workshop will also witness launch of specific training modules for Capacity Building of Women Elected Representatives  along with a  Primer on Law Addressing Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices for Panchayat Elected Representatives.

    The National Workshop will feature carefully curated panel discussions on crucial themes addressing women’s participation in local governance like “Women’s Participation and Leadership in PRIs: Changing the Dynamics in Local Self-Governance”, examining how increased female representation is reshaping rural governance structures and “Women-Led Local Governance: Sectoral Interventions by WERs”, covering vital areas including health and nutrition, education, safety and security of women and girl children, economic opportunities, and digital transformation. Senior officials chairing these discussions include Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, bringing high-level expertise to these critical discussions. Cultural performances celebrating women’s achievements and resilience, organized by UNFPA, will add a vibrant dimension to the National Workshop, showcasing the rich cultural heritage that honours women’s contributions to society.

    This National Workshop aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, highlighted in the 119th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, emphasizing upon the role of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s power) in nation-building. The initiative reflects the Government’s dedication in creating Gram Panchayats that are safer, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and socially just, ensuring an environment conducive for the prosperity of women and girls in the country.

    ***

    Aditi Agrawal

    (Release ID: 2107502) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SCED at opening ceremony of Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2025 (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Opening remarks by SCED at opening ceremony of Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2025 (English only)
    Opening remarks by SCED at opening ceremony of Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2025 (English only)
    ******************************************************************************************

         Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2025 today (March 2):Winston (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Jewellery Advisory Committee, Mr Winston Chow), Lawrence (Chairman of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show Fair Organising Committee, Mr Lawrence Ma), Margaret (Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Margaret Fong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,     Good afternoon. Thank you for coming to the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show 2025. This is a signature event in Hong Kong. This year, we are welcoming some 4 000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions. They have all brought with them high-quality products to showcase. I hope that all exhibitors and buyers will find this event rewarding, and can make new friends, new business connections. In addition, I hope you would enjoy your stay in Hong Kong.     Convention and exhibition is a very important sector for us. Hong Kong is strategically right at the heart of Asia, and has superb transport connections with the rest of the world. The connections and the convenience make us a prime location for business activities.     Every year, we host hundreds of large-scale conventions and exhibitions. They in turn attract millions of visitors to Hong Kong, bringing business opportunities for the local tourism, retail, catering and entertainment industries. Of all the international trade shows held in Hong Kong, over 10 are the largest in Asia and globally for their respective trades, including electronics, jewellery, gifts, watches and clocks, lighting, among others.     To bring in more international exhibitions to our city, the Government will launch an incentive scheme later this year called the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions 2.0. The scheme will offer incentive support to attract new or recurrent large-scale international exhibitions to be held in Hong Kong, thereby driving further our economic growth.     The global business environment is facing a lot of uncertainties these days. Protectionism is rising again. It has caused disruptions to trade, supply chain, cash flow and sentiment in the investment market. While putting Hong Kong’s economic resilience to the test, these challenges also make us more determined to reform, to innovate and to improve. But as a matter of principle, Hong Kong is an international trade centre and we will continue to support free trade.     We do not agree with unnecessary tariffs and trade barriers. They affect global trade and capital flows, dampen investment confidence and slow down global economic development. We will continue to be a dedicated supporter of a rule-based multilateral trading system, for the benefits of the whole world.     We hope to see more and more trade shows and mega events in Hong Kong, and welcome you to our city many times in the future. I would also like to thank the organiser for bringing us all together for networking and to enjoy the wonderful jewellery designs on display. Thank you.

     
    Ends/Sunday, March 2, 2025Issued at HKT 16:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Hosts National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) Meet in Goa to Strengthen ESG Leadership in India

    Source: Government of India

    Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Hosts National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) Meet in Goa to Strengthen ESG Leadership in India

    Discussions underscored the need to align organizational strategies with evolving global frameworks, green technology adoption and the transformative power of technology

    IICA announces the 3rd edition of the flagship ESG annual conference of IICA, the National Conference on Responsible Business Conduct (NCRBC), scheduled to be held on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2025

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 12:38PM by PIB Delhi

    The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, proudly hosted the inaugural National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) Meet 2025 in the picturesque setting of Goa. This landmark event, attended by over 100 participants, served as a confluence of eminent ESG professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders, all brought together to exchange insights, deliberate on emerging sustainability trends, and chart the course for a resilient and responsible corporate future. The event was held under the esteemed guidance of Shri Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, DG & CEO, IICA and Chairman, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).

    Setting the stage for an intellectually stimulating discourse, the event commenced with a Welcome-and-Context-Setting session led by Prof. Garima Dadhich, Associate Professor and Head, School of Business Environment, IICA. She eloquently articulated the growing significance of ESG leadership in fostering corporate sustainability and underscored the need to align organizational strategies with evolving global frameworks.

    Further enriching the dialogue, Ms. Aruna C. Newton, Vice President, Infosys Limited, presented an illuminating perspective on how robust governance frameworks can accelerate green technology adoption, ultimately fostering a culture of corporate sustainability. Her insights paved the way for Public Relations Associate, Private Sector Engagement, UNICEF, who provided an in-depth analysis of the social dimensions of Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) Core, reinforcing the imperative of inclusive and ethical business conduct.

    Bringing a dynamic exchange of ideas to the fore, a panel discussion, expertly moderated by Prof. Garima Dadhich, engaged distinguished NAIL members, namely,  Mr. J P Dash from Batch I, Mr. Ashok Sethi and Mr. Sridhar L from Batch II, Ms. Shalini Verma and Mr. Paritosh Chauhan from Batch III, in an invigorating deliberation. This stimulating discourse delved into the far-reaching implications of regulatory transformations, including SEBI’s new norms, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the dissolution of Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), highlighting both challenges and opportunities for the corporate sector. Elevating this dialogue further, senior official from Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities (DDHS) – PoD, SEBI, offered a deep dive into the evolving ESG rating landscape, illuminating investor expectations and the strategic adjustments corporates must make to remain compliant and competitive. Complementing these insights, the official representative from the corporate finance department at SEBI, provided an authoritative overview of industrial benchmarks set for BRSR Core and their tangible impact on businesses striving to enhance ESG compliance.

    Highlighting the transformative power of technology, Senior Expert-ESG Practice from KPMG India, delivered a presentation on the role of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing ESG data analytics, reporting, and decision-making. This seamlessly transitioned into an engaging session led by Senior Expert WRI India, and Senior Expert CEEW-CEF, who provided a meticulous analysis of greenhouse gas accounting methodologies and underscored the critical role of carbon markets in facilitating a transition towards a net-zero future, respectively.

    The event culminated with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Prof. Garima Dadhich, expressing gratitude to all esteemed speakers, participants, and stakeholders for their invaluable contributions, which was followed by an enriching networking session, where attendees engaged in stimulating conversations on sustainable finance, ESG audits, decarbonization strategies, and business-biodiversity integration.

    During the event, IICA also announced the 3rd edition of the flagship ESG annual conference of IICA, organised with support from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the National Conference on Responsible Business Conduct (NCRBC), scheduled to be held on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2025. Registrations for the event will open in March 2025.

    National Association of Impact Leaders (NAIL) is poised to emerge as a premier platform for IICA Certified ESG Professionals and Impact Leaders, continuously driving knowledge-sharing, impactful leadership, and meaningful change in the realm of corporate sustainability. For more information on NAIL and the flagship programme for ESG in India, the IICA Certified ESG Professional Impact Leader Programme, please log in to https://iica.nic.in/esgcsr/.

    ****

    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2107494) Visitor Counter : 52

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: 9/2025・Trifork Group AG – Share-based Incentive Program 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 9 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 3 March 2025


    Share-based incentive program 2025

    Trifork Group AG (“Trifork”) has granted restricted share units (“RSUs”) under the existing employee long-term share-based incentive program (“ELTIP”) approved by the Board of Directors in 2021.

    The second ELTIP 2025 (“ELTIP 2025b”) is covering the grant in March 2025 to the Executive Managmeent of the Trifork Group.

    The ELTIP 2025b is based on RSUs and Executive Management variable remuneration for its performance in financial year 2024. RSUs granted will be subject to graded vesting over a three-year period.

    Further details about the ELTIP 2025b are stated below:

    Participants Executive Management of the Trifork Group eligible for variable remuneration for financial year 2024.
    Total 1 employee.
    Number of RSUs A total of 14,653 RSUs is allocated under the ELTIP 2025b.
    The number of RSUs is calculated by taking the respective variable remuneration amount and applying the weighted average share price for Trifork’s shares of the last three trading days of 2024.
    Granting RSUs comprised by the ELTIP 2025b are granted in March 2025.
    Vesting RSUs will vest over a three-year period with 1/3 of the RSUs vesting each year. Vesting is not conditional upon the achievement of any financial or non-financial targets but is conditional upon the participating employee remaining employed with the Trifork Group throughout the vesting period or becoming a good leaver during the vesting period as well as the participating employee having complied in all respects with the terms and conditions of the ELTIP 2025b.
    Objective Attraction and retention of employees in selected jurisdictions.
    Conversion Once vested and not lapsed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ELTIP 2025b, each RSU will entitle the holder to receive one Trifork share.
    Conditions RSUs are granted based on the conversion of the respective variable remuneration for each participating employee. 
    The ELTIP 2025b is subject to customary conditions.
    Allocation & theoretical value The allocation is based on the weighted average share price of the last 3 trading days of 2024 (DKK 75.08). Dividing the converting salary by this amount results in the number of RSUs to be granted. The converting total amounts to DKK 1,100,154 (EUR 147,477) and 14,653 RSUs.
      The theoretical value for the RSUs is the market price of the Trifork share at grant date minus the expected dividends for the portions vesting after one, two and three years.


    Information and questions
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


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

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 5G to drive APAC mobile services market during 2024-2029, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    5G to drive APAC mobile services market during 2024-2029, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Technology

    The total mobile communications services revenue in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% from $301.7 billion in 2024 to $346.1 billion in 2029, driven by continued rise in mobile subscriptions, as operators continue to roll out and expand their 5G networks, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s report, “Asia-Pacific (APAC) Mobile Broadband Market Trends and Opportunities, 2024 Update,” reveals that mobile data services will remain the largest revenue contributing segment to the overall mobile services market in the region over the forecast period, primarily driven by the expansion and increasing adoption of high-average revenue per user (ARPU) generating 5G services in the region.

    Srikanth Vaidya, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, says: “With 5G services launched in almost all developed markets including Australia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and set to be launched soon in countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the revenue prospects for mobile data services will remain strong through the forecast period.

    “Operators like Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk in Bangladesh and Dialog and Mobitel in Sri Lanka, for instance, have conducted 5G network trails in major cities of their respective countries and are gearing up for 5G service roll outs in 2025.”

    Government support for 5G expansion will also strengthen the mobile data services market in the region. Telecom regulatory bodies and governing authorities in countries like Australia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have launched national 5G strategies/action plans, outlining the vision and guidelines to establish 5G ecosystems and drive 5G coverage expansions. These action plans include supporting initiatives such as public sector investment in 5G applications, favorable tax incentives, forums for industry-government collaboration, promotion of 5G led-technological innovations, and license arrangements to enhance spectrum use and reuse.

    China will remain the largest 5G market in the world through the forecast period with 90% of its mobile subscriptions to be on 5G network by 2029, primarily driven by the telco investments and the regulator’s efforts to expand 5G service coverage to rural areas and industrial parks, and boost 5G adoption. For instance, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported that in 2024, China had deployed 4.19 million 5G base stations, and expected to increase to 4.5 million by end of 2025, further enhancing its network capacity and reach.

    Vaidya continues: “The average monthly data usage (excluding voice-only subscriptions) in the region is forecast to increase from 25.1GB in 2024 to 48.6GB in 2029, receiving a significant boost from 5G service launches and expansions across markets. Growing consumption of online video and social media content over smartphones, on the back of data-centric service plans offered by MNOs, will also drive the growth in mobile data usage levels through the forecast period.”

    APAC has become the center of the technological race for 5G+ supremacy. South Korea, Japan, and China have gone beyond just the deployment of 5G, to the development of the wider 5G ecosystem, thereby supporting the manufacturing and IT industries in these countries and driving IoT/M2M opportunities.

    Vaidya concludes: “While mobile data segment will continue with the growth trajectory, mobile voice service revenue will decline at a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period, as consumers continue to migrate towards OTT/internet-based communication services.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: BYD, DJI unveil intelligent vehicle-mounted drone system

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese automaker BYD and drone giant DJI have launched an intelligent vehicle-mounted drone system, aiming to transform cars into mobile entertainment and exploration platforms.

    The system, called “Lingyuan”, integrates a drone with the vehicle, offering a vertical field of view to capture travel moments in real time. It will be available across all BYD models, the company announced at a launch event on Sunday in Shenzhen, a major tech hub in southern China’s Guangdong Province.

    “Lingyuan” features a retractable car-mounted landing pad, enabling automated takeoff and landing, synchronized follow-shooting, and rapid storage and charging of the drone, according to Yang Dongsheng, BYD’s senior vice president.

    “The collaboration between BYD and DJI is far more than just placing a drone in a car,” said Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD at the launch event.

    Wang said they started from the ground up, integrating vehicle and drone technologies in a way that enhances both.

    Luo Zhenhua, president of DJI, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that technology should not be used to create toys for the few. “It should be a tool that benefits the world,” he said, calling the partnership a breakthrough in product innovation and a re-imagination of the mobility ecosystem.

    BYD, founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, has been at the forefront of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. In 2024, the company saw NEV sales soar 41.26 percent year on year to over 4.27 million units.

    Established in 2006 and headquartered in Shenzhen, DJI has grown into the dominant force in the global drone industry, with its products widely used in filmmaking, agriculture, search and rescue, energy infrastructure, and more.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – Contemplation and apostolate in Kalimantan: the Jubilee of the Augustinian Sisters of Divine Mercy

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    OSA Sisters Indonesia

    Ketapang (Agenzia Fides) – Their monastery is a place of prayer and spirituality, immersed in the green lungs of the rainforest. The Augustinian Sisters in the province of West Kalimantan have always considered prayer as the “breath of the soul”, as oxygen for personal and community life. For 75 years the sisters have been present in the heart of a remote province in Indonesian Borneo and for them this is the concrete expression of what oxygen does for an organism: it generates life. The Augustinian Sisters of Divine Mercy (OSA) began their mission in Borneo in 1949 with the arrival of a small delegation of five sisters from the Netherlands. Since then they have led a life of contemplation and active commitment here: they have combined prayer with the care of health and educational facilities and founded a boarding school for girls from the local population, the indigenous Dayak. Over the years, new vocations have emerged, and today there are many local nuns who continue the mission of the congregation, while the first Dutch sisters, now older, have returned to Europe. Their presence was and is valuable for the entire diocesan community of Ketapang, as Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi emphasized during a Eucharistic celebration to commemorate 75 years of missionary presence and to celebrate “the special anniversary year.” “The Augustinian sisters began their mission in an unknown and remote area, which is still characterized by impassable terrain, where you travel on rivers full of rapids and muddy roads,” said the bishop. But the sisters’ dedication and determination to do good in the name of the Gospel prevailed: they founded health facilities and schools in many rural and mountainous areas and “left a unique mark on the pastoral mission of the diocese of Ketapang.” Among the 21 Dutch nuns whose order has been active in the mission in Kalimantan for 75 years, Sister Dionne Appelman, now 84 years old, returned to Kalimantan to participate in the Jubilee Eucharist. For her, it was “an immersion in a past marked by the providence and grace of God”: “I am very happy that the seeds of religious vocations and apostolic works have sprouted and produced good fruit,” Sister Dionne Appelman told Fides. “We have been active in Indonesia for 75 years, especially in the diocese of Ketapang. It is a long history marked by joys and sorrows, great sacrifices and incessant struggles. But it has always been a history of salvation that continues to this day thanks to our Indonesian sisters.” “The work of God carried out by the Dutch missionary sisters has borne rich fruit,” says Sister Ignatia, Indonesian religious and Superior General of the Congregation of the Augustinian Sisters of Mercy in Indonesia, to Fides. Today the sisters are active in Indonesia in the regions of West Kalimantan (dioceses of Ketapang, Pontianak, Sintang and Sanggau), on the island of Java (in the dioceses of Jakarta, Malang and Surabaya) and in the region of Papua (diocese of Manokwari-Sorong). In total, there are 136 Augustinian sisters in Indonesia: 96 sisters with perpetual vows, 25 with temporary vows, 12 novices and 3 postulants. About 70 of them live in the West Kalimantan region. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/3/2025)
    OSA Sisters Indonesia

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In siding with Russia over Ukraine, Trump is not putting America first. He is hastening its decline

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matthew Sussex, Associate Professor (Adj), Griffith Asia Institute; and Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Has any nation squandered its diplomatic capital, plundered its own political system, attacked its partners and supplicated itself before its far weaker enemies as rapidly and brazenly as Donald Trump’s America?

    The fiery Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday saw the American leader try to publicly humiliate the democratically elected leader of a nation that had been invaded by a rapacious and imperialistic aggressor.

    And this was all because Zelensky refused to sign an act of capitulation, criticised Putin (who has tried to have Zelensky killed on numerous occasions), and failed to bend the knee to Trump, the country’s self-described king.

    The Oval Office meeting became heated in a way that has rarely been seen between world leaders.

    What’s worse is Trump has now been around so long that his oafish behaviour has become normalised. Together with his attack dog, Vice President JD Vance, Trump has thrown the Overton window – the spectrum of subjects politically acceptable to the public – wide open.

    Previously sensible Republicans are now either cowed or co-opted. Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is gutting America’s public service and installing toadies in place of professionals, while his social media company, X, is platforming ads from actual neo-Nazis.

    The FBI is run by Kash Patel, who hawked bogus COVID vaccine reversal therapies and wrote children’s books featuring Trump as a monarch. The agency is already busily investigating Trump’s enemies.

    The Department of Health and Human Services is helmed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine denier, just as Americans have begun dying from measles for the first time in a decade. And America’s health and medical research has been channelled into ideologically “approved” topics.

    At the Pentagon, in a breathtaking act of self-sabotage, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command to halt all operations targeting Russia.

    And cuts to USAID funding are destroying US soft power, creating a vacuum that will gleefully be filled by China. Other Western aid donors are likely to follow suit so they can spend more on their militaries in response to US unilateralism.

    What is Trump’s strategy?

    Trump’s wrecking ball is already having seismic global effects, mere weeks after he took office.

    The US vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia for starting the war against Ukraine placed it in previously unthinkable company – on the side of Russia, Belarus and North Korea. Even China abstained from the vote.

    In the United Kingdom, a YouGov poll of more than 5,000 respondents found that 48% of Britons thought it was more important to support Ukraine than maintain good relations with the US. Only 20% favoured supporting America over Ukraine.

    And Trump’s bizarre suggestion that China, Russia and the US halve their respective defence budgets is certain to be interpreted as a sign of weakness rather than strength.

    The oft-used explanation for his behaviour is that it echoes the isolationism of one of his ideological idols, former US President Andrew Jackson. Trump’s aim seems to be ring-fencing American businesses with high tariffs, while attempting to split Russia away from its relationship with China.

    These arguments are both economically illiterate and geopolitically witless. Even a cursory understanding of tariffs reveals that they drive inflation because they are paid by importers who then pass the costs on to consumers. Over time, they are little more than sugar pills that turn economies diabetic, increasingly reliant on state protections from unending trade wars.

    And the “reverse Kissinger” strategy – a reference to the US role in exacerbating the Sino-Soviet split during the Cold War – is wishful thinking to the extreme.

    Putin would have to be utterly incompetent to countenance a move away from Beijing. He has invested significant time and effort to improve this relationship, believing China will be the dominant power of the 21st century.

    Putin would be even more foolish to embrace the US as a full-blown partner. That would turn Russia’s depopulated southern border with China, stretching over 4,300 kilometres, into the potential front line of a new Cold War.

    What does this mean for America’s allies?

    While Trump’s moves have undoubtedly strengthened the US’ traditional adversaries, they have also weakened and alarmed its friends.

    Put simply, no American ally – either in Europe or Asia – can now have confidence Washington will honour its security commitments. This was brought starkly home to NATO members at the Munich Security Conference in February, where US representatives informed a stunned audience that America may no longer view itself as the main guarantor of European security.

    Vice President JD Vance delivers a strong message to European leaders.

    The swiftness of US disengagement means European countries must not only muster the will and means to arm themselves quickly, but also take the lead in collectively providing for Ukraine’s security.

    Whether they can do so remains unclear. Europe’s history of inaction does not bode well.

    US allies also face choices in Asia. Japan and South Korea will now be seriously considering all options – potentially even nuclear weapons – to deter an emboldened China.

    There are worries in Australia, as well. Can it pretend nothing has changed and hope the situation will then normalise after the next US presidential election?

    The future of AUKUS, the deal to purchase (and then co-design) US nuclear powered submarines, is particularly uncertain.

    Does it make strategic sense to pursue full integration with the US military when the White House could just treat Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul and Canberra with the same indifference it has displayed towards its friends in Europe?

    Ultimately, the chaos Trump 2.0 has unleashed in such a short amount of time is both unprecedented and bewildering. In seeking to put “America First”, Trump is perversely hastening its decline. He is leaving America isolated and untrusted by its closest friends.

    And, in doing so, the world’s most powerful nation has also made the world a more dangerous, uncertain and ultimately an uglier place to be.

    Matthew Sussex has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Atlantic Council, the Fulbright Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Lowy Institute and various Australian government departments and agencies.

    – ref. In siding with Russia over Ukraine, Trump is not putting America first. He is hastening its decline – https://theconversation.com/in-siding-with-russia-over-ukraine-trump-is-not-putting-america-first-he-is-hastening-its-decline-251140

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University

    In a year with few surprises in the awards categories, there was also a dearth of surprises on the red carpet. The sartorial themes included sparkling metallics, coloured menswear and bows, bows and more bows.

    Metallic gowns that resemble the Oscar statue are a familiar sight at the Academy Awards and this year was no different. Some of the standouts included best actress nominee Demi Moore in a magnificently glittering silver Armani Privé gown, Selena Gomez in custom Ralph Lauren encrusted with 16,000 individual blush-toned jewel teardrops, and Emma Stone in a minimalist Louis Vuitton sheath covered in iridescent fish scales.

    In the menswear category, tuxedos reign supreme. This year was notable only for the diversity of colours in which these suits came.

    Best actor nominee Timothée Chalamet lived up to his reputation for monochrome, richly hued ensembles in a custom butter yellow leather suit by Givenchy, paired with a matching silk shirt and delicate neck brooch in place of a tie. His best actor nominated compatriot, Colman Domingo (one of the best dressed men in Hollywood) was pristine in a double-breasted red silk jacket with black lapels, black trousers and matching red shirt by Valentino, similarly eschewing a tie in favour of a fine gold brooch. Andrew Garfield wore louche chocolate brown Gucci and Jeremy Strong wore a suit by Loro Piana in an unusual tone of olive green.

    Bows of varying size and stature were perhaps the strongest theme of the night.

    Best actress winner Mikey Madison in black and pink Dior, best supporting actress nominee Felicity Jones in shimmering liquid silver Armani, Elle Fanning in white and black Givenchy and Lupita Nyong’o in white Chanel were all adorned with bows at their waists.

    The most remarkable bow of the night though was best actress nominee Cynthia Erivo in a structured deep emerald-green velvet Louis Vuitton gown, the broad, wing-like sleeves of which were crafted as a bow.

    Notable mentions must also go to those attendees who do not fit neatly into any thematic category. Best supporting actress nominee Ariana Grande wore a meticulously crafted pale pink Schiaparelli confection and Lisa (of Blackpink and now White Lotus fame) perfected a feminine take on masculine suiting in a tuxedo dress by Markgong.

    The only real surprise was the lack of political statements on display. Unlike recent years, when pins and ribbons in support of Ukraine and Palestine were widely worn, this year only Guy Pearce was spotted wearing a Free Palestine pin, Conclave writer Peter Straughan wore a Ukrainian flag pin and Kayo Shekoni had “free Congo” emblazoned on the sole of her high heels.

    – Harriette Richards

    The best picture: Anora

    And the best picture Oscar goes to … Anora – the film that was favoured to win, so no surprises here.

    Though he had been working for more than a decade at the time, writer-director-editor Sean Baker came onto the independent movie scene with a bang with 2015’s Tangerine, a gimmicky film that was mainly celebrated for being shot on an iPhone. Why this would be celebrated is anyone’s guess. I suspect it’s because of the “I could do it too” factor – something the average person certainly couldn’t say if we’re talking 35mm celluloid.

    Since then, Baker’s films have relished in embracing the digital, neon world, but always in a kind of sentimental and shallow, rather than critical, register. None of his films are awful – and maybe that’s saying something in this day and age. Anora also is not awful, but it’s not particularly memorable either.

    Anora follows a run of the mill American dream-type story about a hard-working stripper who seems to strike fairytale gold when a young, fun Russian oligarch falls in love with her. Only the dream turns out to be more of a nightmare (kind of) when things don’t quite work out and the film ends with the titular character once again independent and free.

    The idea of undercutting the fairytale setup of the typical rom-com is not at all original, and the film strikes me as even more schmaltzy in its rejection of the fairytale dream than if it had embraced it and played like a tween-focused Nickelodeon film (it’s about as poignant as this).

    The film’s cardinal sin, however – and it’s certainly not alone in this – is its critical overlength. Each of the film’s sections could have had some 20 minutes cut and we would have had an enjoyably tight romp at 80 minutes. Instead, Anora drags on, swept up in its imagining of its own profundity – at times pretentious, but mainly tedious.

    – Ari Mattes

    Not the year to stick a neck out

    The speeches this year were conspicuously meek. No announcer majorly insulted anyone else. No winner assaulted anyone else. Even the James Bond retrospective lacked energy. What’s going on in Hollywood?

    There are clues that help explain this curious flatness. Host Conan O’Brien mentioned the pressure of “divisive politics” while reflecting on California’s wildfires. Several winners spoke about the importance of shared experience, of what unites us, of film as a medium that brings people together, a force for “good and progress in the world” and “a reminder not to let hate go unchecked”.

    The directors of No Other Land, receiving their Oscar for best documentary, shared the one clear critical voice. Palestinian Basel Adra wished his newborn daughter a life without the fear that governs daily life in his homeland. Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham agreed: “There is another way. It’s not too late for life and for the living. There is no other way.”

    However, that was the only moment people at the Oscars seemed willing to confront the political elephant in the room.

    Anora director Sean Baker used his last (of four!) acceptance speeches to compel more people to help keep cinema doors open. He made his point passionately: this was the best way to sustain an industry that could continue to make brilliant movies. That said, the most emotive speeches of past Oscars events went much further than just commenting on the bread and butter concerns of the film industry.

    This year, there were more clues in what people did not say. There were feints at Russian dictators – but nobody mentioned the war in Ukraine. There was no discussion of a certain election result, nor of filmmakers’ fears that Washington is now in the control of a governing faction that loathes them. Most revealing of all: nobody raised a peep about the President or his friends.

    Hollywood’s collective discipline was on show tonight – and 2025 is not the year to stick a neck out.

    – Tom Clark

    A banner year for independent film

    Independent films were the big winners for this year’s Oscars. While many of the technical awards went to the big budget films, such as Wicked (the US$145 million film won costume design and production design) and Dune: Part 2 (made at a budget of US$190 million, and winning sound and visual effects), the night’s major awards went to small productions.

    While the definitions of “independence” and “studio” films don’t exist in a neat binary when it comes to production and global distribution, we can distinguish between film juggernauts and smaller films.

    Three independent films won significant awards that are of note. Latvian film Flow was the first independent film to win best animated feature, up against major films Inside Out 2 (Pixar Films) and The Wild Robot (DreamWorks).

    The film follows a cat, a dog, a capybara, a secretary bird and a ring-tailed lemur navigating a post-apocalyptic world with rising sea levels. The film also only used free and open-source software Blender and mostly used sounds from real world counterparts of the various characters. It was made for a budget of just €3.5 million (A$5.9 million).

    The best documentary film nominees were dominated by independent films. Notably, the winner No Other Land has sadly been unable to find a distributor to release the film in the United States. (It is available for streaming in Australia on DocPlay, and in select cinemas.) The film was only eligible because the Film Lincoln Centre in New York facilitated a one-week, qualifying theatrical run.

    The night’s top glories went to Anora, made on a budget of just US$6 million (A$9.7 million) and taking home the awards for best film, director, actress, screenplay and editing.

    In his acceptance speech for best director, Sean Baker spoke of the importance of films getting a theatrical release. Films, he said, are about humanity – and that is best experienced in watching a film with other people.

    During awards season, Baker has often spoken about the importance of small budget films in the expression of core human experiences.

    The final message of the night went to Baker when he thanked the Academy for recognising a truly independent film: “Long live independent film!”

    Indeed, independent films ruled this year’s Oscars.

    – Stuart Richards

    Best actor and actress

    Mikey Madison, who won the best actress award for Anora, is quite good in the role. That said, it’s difficult to evaluate her performance in such a meandering film.

    She tries hard playing a stripper who falls for Prince Charming – a Russian oligarch (Hollywood’s anti-Russian sentiment has certainly grown in recent years) who turns out to be a bit of a weakling with meanie parents. But Madison never really convincingly embodies the character, and we’re ever aware as we watch the film that she’s an actress working her way through relevant emotions and intensities.

    That said, Madison is good at yelling and stripping, and this is the main way she shows her chops here. She screamed well in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019), too. The bar this year was admittedly pretty low, and truth be told Madison’s performance in Anora (aside from Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here) is probably the best out of the nominees.

    In contrast, Adrien Brody, who won the best actor award, is absolutely unforgettable in the flawed but magnificent The Brutalist – the best he’s been since The Pianist, and the deserved winner by a mile out of a similarly mediocre field. Brody is simply a pleasure to watch, and drives, in a wholly embodied way, this grandiose and exceedingly long film (the fact it doesn’t feel long is largely due to his magnetism).

    The screenplay, in which the character comes across as a combination of arrogant, sweet and at times comedic, allows Brody to display the full range of his talent, and he plays the whole thing with an endearing vulnerability. But, again, it’s unfair to compare Brody and Madison – The Brutalist is a spectacularly accomplished cinematic epic, while Anora feels as stylish and profound as a social media video (I know that’s the point, but that doesn’t make it any more compelling).

    – Ari Mattes

    A lacklustre year for music

    This was a strong year for music-based films, with three of the most nominated ones being musicals of various types: the big-budget Broadway adaptation Wicked, the original film musical Emilia Pérez, and the musician biopic A Complete Unknown.

    The music of the ceremony itself was nicely assembled, with a live orchestra (conducted by Michael Bearden) accompanying proceedings from above the stage.

    But the show was marred by an absence: the best song nominations were not performed live. The new songs this year were so bland, however – especially when compared to the Wicked score and Bob Dylan – that I can hardly blame the producers. The nominations included a dull Elton John song, some soft guitar rock from Sing Sing, Diane Warren’s 16th (!) nominated song (more soft rock), and two forgettable songs from Emilia Pérez (one of which, El Mal, was the winner).

    So little faith did the Academy have in the songs that only a few seconds were played from each, mostly covered by a montage of interviews with the songwriters.

    This year’s nominated best scores were not much more memorable, but Daniel Blumberg deserved his win for The Brutalist. It demonstrates a high level of composition and orchestration craft. It uses edgy instrumental textures to increase the feelings of uncertainty and imbalance that the film imparts.

    The show included a lot of Wizard of Oz. Ariana Grande sang Over the Rainbow from the 1939 film and Cynthia Erivo sang Home from The Wiz, the 1974 soul musical based on the book. Then they performed Defying Gravity from Wicked together.

    Another subtle Wizard of Oz nod was the music played during the commercial breaks: a loop based on Brand New Day from The Wiz, whose 1979 film version had its music produced by the late Quincy Jones. Queen Latifah and backup dancers brought some much needed energy to the last hour of the ceremony with Ease on Down the Road, also from The Wiz, as part of a Jones tribute.

    One surprise was an unnecessary but enjoyable James Bond sequence featuring Margaret Qualley dancing to John Barry’s famous theme, a performance of Live and Let Die by K-pop star Lisa, Doja Cat singing Diamonds Are Forever, and Raye’s rendition of Skyfall.

    This plus the various numbers from the Oz Musical Universe only highlighted how lacklustre this year’s nominated music was.

    – Gregory Camp

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down – https://theconversation.com/from-the-fashion-to-the-speeches-to-the-music-this-was-an-oscars-of-few-surprises-5-experts-break-it-down-251264

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: GRE System Selects Lumissil’s CG5317 for Its EV Charging Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MILPITAS, Calif., March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRE System, a leading provider of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), has chosen Lumissil’s CG5317 to enhance the connectivity and performance of its next-generation EV charging solutions. This collaboration strengthens GRE System’s ability to deliver efficient, reliable, and future-ready charging infrastructure for the growing EV market.

    Lumissil’s CG5317 is designed to meet stringent automotive and EVSE requirements, offering compliance with ISO15118 standard, DIN 70121, J3400 and all HomePlug Green PHY requirements. Its advanced capabilities ensure interoperability with every Electric Vehicles (EV) and the highest uptime. Additionally, Lumissil provides development tools to guarantee that customers meet all requirements and build the most efficient, highest-quality products. These features enable seamless communication between EV chargers and EV, ensuring a smarter and more connected charging experience.

    “GRE System’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to drive next-generation connectivity in the EV industry,” said Nadav Katsir, VP & GM Connectivity Unit at Lumissil. “We are excited to support their advanced EV charging solutions with our CG5317, enabling enhanced performance and seamless integration.”

    “Lumissil’s technology and expertise have been instrumental in advancing our EVSE solutions,” Seung Uk Lee, CEO at GRE System. “As we continue to expand our charging portfolio, we look forward to working closely with Lumissil to integrate their cutting-edge connectivity solutions into our designs.”

    About Lumissil Microsystems
    Lumissil Microsystems specializing in analog/mixed-signal products for automotive, communications, industrial, and consumer markets. Lumissil’s primary products are LED drivers for low to mid-power RGB color mixing and high-power lighting applications. Other products include audio, sensors, high-speed wire communications, optical networking, and application specific microcontrollers. Lumissil Microsystems has worldwide offices in the US, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, mainland China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Israel, and Korea. Website: https://www.lumissil.com

    About GRE System
    GRE System is a leader in EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) and specializes in real-time power metering and energy data analytics. GRE System’s product line covers all AC charging requirements for EV, from 3.5kW CP100 to 7 ~ 11kW CP700 series. The latest CP700P supports ISO 15118-2 AC charging and is being commercially deployed, partnering with Pluglink, a leading CPO (Charge point Operator) in Korea. Learn more at www.gresystem.co.kr.

    Contacts:

    Lumissil Microsystems:
    Raphi Zadicario
    rzadicario@lumissil.com
    www.lumissil.com 

    GRE System:
    Jeong Soo Hwang
    jshwang@gresystem.co.kr
    www.gresystem.co.kr 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Alm. Brand A/S share buy-back program is concluded – transactions week 9

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alm. Brand A/S share buy-back program is concluded – transactions week 9

    On 6 February 2025, Alm. Brand A/S announced a share buy-back program of up to DKK 52.2 million, as described in company announcement no. 10/2025.

    The share buy-back program is now concluded, during which 3,335,000 own shares were purchased with a transaction value of approximately 52.2 million DKK.

    The program was carried out in accordance with the Regulation No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, also referred to as the Safe Harbour Regulations.

    The following transactions were made under the share buy-back program during week number 9:

      Number of shares bought Average

    purchase price

    		 Amount (DKK)
    Accumulated, last announcement 2,510,000 15.59 39,121,000
    24 February 2025 210,000 15.55 3,265,500
    25 February 2025 220,000 15.77 3,469,400
    26 February 2025 140,000 15.94 2,231,600
    27 February 2025 130,000 16.07 2,089,100
    28 February 2025 125,000 16.18 2,022,500
    Total, week number 9 825,000 15.85 13,078,100
    Accumulated under the program 3,335,000 15.65 52,199,100

    With the transactions stated above Alm. Brand A/S holds a total of 46,069,925 own shares corresponding to 2.99 % of the total number of outstanding shares.

    Contact
    Please direct any questions regarding this announcement to:

            

    Head of IR, Rating and ESG reporting        
    Mads Thinggaard                 
    Mobile no. +45 2025 5469                

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Exabits Partners with GAIB to Simplify AI Access with New Cloud Infrastructure Through Tokenized Compute Resources

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exabits, the compute baselayer transforming GPU (graphic processing unit) clusters for enterprises and a supplier to decentralized cloud compute companies, and GAIB, the first economic layer for AI and compute financialization, creating a new type of yield bearing assets backed by real AI demands, today announced a strategic partnership to revolutionize how GPU infrastructure is acquired, scaled, and monetized. By combining Exabits’ high-performance AI compute technology with GAIB’s tokenized GPU investment platform, this partnership will unlock new capital flows, expand GPU accessibility, and provide investors with a direct stake in the growing AI compute economy.

    The collaboration addresses a critical challenge in AI and cloud computing—the high cost and limited access to high-performance GPUs. With demand for AI compute skyrocketing, Exabits and GAIB are introducing a scalable investment model that allows institutions, enterprises, and investors to participate in the growth of AI compute infrastructure through tokenized GPU assets.

    Transforming GPU Compute into a High-Value Investment Asset

    GPUs are the core infrastructure powering AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing, yet access remains concentrated among a few large cloud providers. The Exabits-GAIB partnership introduces a new financial model that enables:

    • Ownership of Tokenized GPUs and Their Yields: Investors gain fractional ownership and earn returns tied to real-world GPU utilization.
    • Cloud Compute Expansion: Exabits will scale its AI-ready GPU infrastructure, supplying more compute power to enterprises, DeSci, gaming, and AI-driven industries.
    • New Liquidity Channels: GAIB’s tokenization model and DeFi-based financial instruments enable Exabits to scale more efficiently without relying solely on traditional capital-raising methods.

    “The AI industry is experiencing an unprecedented demand for compute power, but access remains costly and centralized,” said Dr Hoansoo Lee, Co-Founder of Exabits. “By tokenizing GPU assets with GAIB, we’re introducing a new investment model that allows institutional and retail investors to participate in AI’s explosive growth while expanding our infrastructure to meet market needs.”

    “GAIB is building the AiFi economy, which signifies a paradigm shift in how we perceive and utilize computational resources, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence and machine learning., and this partnership with Exabits provides additional support for our vision,” said Kony, CEO of GAIB. “We’re making GPU investments more accessible, liquid, and scalable—bridging the gap between capital markets and the AI revolution.”

    How the Partnership Works

    GPU and Their Yield Tokenization: Transforming Compute Assets into Tradable Financial Products

    Exabits will acquire GPUs through GAIB’s tokenization platform, enabling investors to own a stake in real-world AI compute infrastructure.

    • Exabits’ Role: Identify GPUs for tokenization, ensure transparent asset registration, and deploy them into enterprise-ready cloud compute networks.
    • GAIB’s Role: Develop tokenization protocols, create GPU-based investment products, and manage regulatory compliance.

    Unlocking New Investment Opportunities in AI Compute

    The partnership will provide global investors direct access to GPU-powered cloud infrastructure through structured financial products.

    • Exabits: Establishes hardware procurement needs, enables fractional GPU ownership, and integrates with GAIB’s capital injection models.
    • GAIB: Provides a transparent investment ledger, implements a yield-bearing mechanism that allows investors to earn passive income simply by holding the asset and ensures regulatory compliance.

    Liquidity & Scaling: Expanding AI Infrastructure Without Traditional Funding Barriers

    By leveraging GAIB’s financial instruments, Exabits can scale its GPU infrastructure faster, reducing dependence on traditional VC or debt financing.

    • Exabits: Provides real-time GPU utilization and ROI insights, ensuring investors benefit from tokenized GPU revenues.
    • GAIB: Facilitates buying, selling, and staking of GPU-backed tokens, creating a liquid investment market for AI compute assets.

    Enterprise-Grade Cloud Infrastructure for AI Innovation

    Exabits’ cloud platform will power GAIB’s compute offerings, allowing enterprises to access AI-ready infrastructure at scale.

    Why This Matters: The Future of AI Compute is an Investable Asset

    This partnership is a breakthrough for AI, institutional investors, and the compute economy:
    ✔ For Investors: A new way to earn yield from real, high-demand AI compute assets.
    ✔ For Enterprises: Scalable, high-performance AI infrastructure without pure reliance on traditional cloud providers.
    ✔ For the AI Industry: A more efficient, market-driven model for GPU access and scaling.

    Join the AI Compute Revolution

    The Exabits-GAIB partnership sets a new precedent for how AI infrastructure is funded, scaled, and monetized. As demand for AI compute accelerates, this collaboration will ensure that GPU access is no longer a bottleneck but an investment opportunity for enterprises, investors, and the broader AI ecosystem.

    For more information on how to participate, visit: www.exabits.xyz or https://www.gaib.ai/

    About Exabits

    Exabits is the baselayer for AI compute, providing high-performance cloud infrastructure to enterprises, researchers, and developers. Through proprietary technology and GPU tokenization, Exabits is redefining the future of AI, DeSci, and machine learning compute.

    About GAIB

    GAIB is the first economic layer for AI compute, creating a new type of yield bearing assets backed by real AI demands. It tokenizes enterprise-grade GPUs and their yields, creating a decentralized liquid market for GPU financing, addressing the growing demand for high-performance computing while giving investors direct exposure to GPU assets. The platform enables a variety of DeFi use cases to be on top, including GPU backed stablecoins, lending and borrowing, options and futures, and various structured products.

    Contact:

    Exabits
    contact@exabits.ai

    GAIB
    contact@gaib.ai

    Press Contact: Ari
    ari@reblonde.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Exabits. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d9df3469-8ff4-46dc-a833-a2ed57a84953

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 8/2025・Trifork Group AG – Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 8 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 3 March 2025


    Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

    Pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation Article 19, Trifork Group AG (Swiss company registration number CHE-474.101.854) (“Trifork”) hereby notifies receipt of information of the following transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities in Trifork in connection with automatic vesting of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) granted under the terms of a long-term incentive program (the “LTIP“) in accordance with Trifork’s Remuneration Policy.

    1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
    a) Name Jørn Larsen
    2. Reason for the notification
    a) Position/status CEO
    b) Initial notification/
    Amendment    		 Initial notification
    3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
    a) Name Trifork Group AG
    b) LEI 8945004BYZKXPESTBL36
    4.1 Details of the transaction(s)
    a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

    Identification code

    		 Shares

    ISIN CH1111227810
    b) Nature of the transaction Automatic vesting of 19,990 RSUs granted under the terms of the LTIP. The 19,990 shares were previously held by Trifork as treasury shares.
    c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s)
    DKK 0 19,990
    d) Aggregated information
    —
    Aggregated volume —
    Price    		 N/A
    e) Date of the transaction 3 March 2025
    f) Place of the transaction Outside a trading venue
    1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
    a) Name Kristian Wulf-Andersen
    2. Reason for the notification
    a) Position/status CFO
    b) Initial notification/
    Amendment    		 Initial notification
    3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
    a) Name Trifork Group AG
    b) LEI 8945004BYZKXPESTBL36
    4.1 Details of the transaction(s)
    a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

    Identification code

    		 Shares

    ISIN CH1111227810
    b) Nature of the transaction Automatic vesting of 13,321 RSUs granted under the terms of the LTIP. The 13,321 shares were previously held by Trifork as treasury shares.
    c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s)
    DKK 0 13,321
    d) Aggregated information
    —
    Aggregated volume —
    Price    		 N/A
    e) Date of the transaction 3 March 2025
    f) Place of the transaction Outside a trading venue


    Information and questions
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


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

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Taimoor Sohail, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne

    Mongkolchon Akesin, Shutterstock

    Flowing clockwise around Antarctica, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on the planet. It’s five times stronger than the Gulf Stream and more than 100 times stronger than the Amazon River.

    It forms part of the global ocean “conveyor belt” connecting the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The system regulates Earth’s climate and pumps water, heat and nutrients around the globe.

    But fresh, cool water from melting Antarctic ice is diluting the salty water of the ocean, potentially disrupting the vital ocean current.

    Our new research suggests the Antarctic Circumpolar Current will be 20% slower by 2050 as the world warms, with far-reaching consequences for life on Earth.

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps Antarctica isolated from the rest of the global ocean, and connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
    Sohail, T., et al (2025), Environmental Research Letters., CC BY

    Why should we care?

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is like a moat around the icy continent.

    The current helps to keep warm water at bay, protecting vulnerable ice sheets. It also acts as a barrier to invasive species such as southern bull kelp and any animals hitching a ride on these rafts, spreading them out as they drift towards the continent. It also plays a big part in regulating Earth’s climate.

    Unlike better known ocean currents – such as the Gulf Stream along the United States East Coast, the Kuroshio Current near Japan, and the Agulhas Current off the coast of South Africa – the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is not as well understood. This is partly due to its remote location, which makes obtaining direct measurements especially difficult.

    Understanding the influence of climate change

    Ocean currents respond to changes in temperature, salt levels, wind patterns and sea-ice extent. So the global ocean conveyor belt is vulnerable to climate change on multiple fronts.

    Previous research suggested one vital part of this conveyor belt could be headed for a catastrophic collapse.

    Theoretically, warming water around Antarctica should speed up the current. This is because density changes and winds around Antarctica dictate the strength of the current. Warm water is less dense (or heavy) and this should be enough to speed up the current. But observations to date indicate the strength of the current has remained relatively stable over recent decades.

    This stability persists despite melting of surrounding ice, a phenomenon that had not been fully explored in scientific discussions in the past.

    What we did

    Advances in ocean modelling allow a more thorough investigation of the potential future changes.

    We used Australia’s fastest supercomputer and climate simulator in Canberra to study the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The underlying model, ACCESS-OM2-01, has been developed by Australian researchers from various universities as part of the Consortium for Ocean-Sea Ice Modelling in Australia.

    The model captures features others often miss, such as eddies. So it’s a far more accurate way to assess how the current’s strength and behaviour will change as the world warms. It picks up the intricate interactions between ice melting and ocean circulation.

    In this future projection, cold, fresh melt water from Antarctica migrates north, filling the deep ocean as it goes. This causes major changes to the density structure of the ocean. It counteracts the influence of ocean warming, leading to an overall slowdown in the current of as much as 20% by 2050.

    Far-reaching consequences

    The consequences of a weaker Antarctic Circumpolar Current are profound and far-reaching.

    As the main current that circulates nutrient-rich waters around Antarctica, it plays a crucial role in the Antarctic ecosystem.

    Weakening of the current could reduce biodiversity and decrease the productivity of fisheries that many coastal communities rely on. It could also aid the entry of invasive species such as southern bull kelp to Antarctica, disrupting local ecosystems and food webs.

    A weaker current may also allow more warm water to penetrate southwards, exacerbating the melting of Antarctic ice shelves and contributing to global sea-level rise. Faster ice melting could then lead to further weakening of the current, commencing a vicious spiral of current slowdown.

    This disruption could extend to global climate patterns, reducing the ocean’s ability to regulate climate change by absorbing excess heat and carbon in the atmosphere.

    Ocean currents around the world (NASA)

    Need to reduce emissions

    While our findings present a bleak prognosis for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the future is not predetermined. Concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could still limit melting around Antarctica.

    Establishing long-term studies in the Southern Ocean will be crucial for monitoring these changes accurately.

    With proactive and coordinated international actions, we have a chance to address and potentially avert the effects of climate change on our oceans.

    The authors thank Polar Climate Senior Researcher Dr Andreas Klocker, from the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, for his contribution to this research, and Professor Matthew England from the University of New South Wales, who provided the outputs from the model simulation for this analysis.

    Taimoor Sohail receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Bishakhdatta Gayen receives funding from Australian Research Council (ARC). He works at University of Melbourne as ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor. He is also A/Prof. at CAOS, Indian Institute of Science.

    – ref. Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound – https://theconversation.com/melting-antarctic-ice-will-slow-the-worlds-strongest-ocean-current-and-the-global-consequences-are-profound-251053

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

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

    Source:  University of Melbourne

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI: Seven in ten businesses want simplified customer experience from telecom providers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Florence Lievre
    Tel: + 33 1 47 54 50 71
    Email: florence.lievre@capgemini.com

    Seven in ten businesses want simplified customer experience from telecom providers

    Businesses expect customized, seamless, flexible, and secure experience when purchasing telecom services

    Paris, March 3, 2025 – The first edition of the Capgemini Research Institute’s new annual study ‘The B2B pulse: Top six expectations of telecoms’ business customers’, published today, reveals a significant shift in business customer expectations. Most organizations across sectors expect telecom companies to go beyond connectivity services. The convergence of AI, Cloud, and 5G marks a pivotal moment, requiring operators to transition from product-focused connectivity providers to being comprehensive and client-centric.
      
    The top expectations: industry-tailored solutions, simplification and ecosystem orchestration
    Two in three business customers (67%) expect their telecom partners to demonstrate a deep understanding of specific industry challenges and provide flexible and tailored solutions that fit their needs, rather than generic services.

    Business customers now seek solutions that operate across hybrid networks, edge computing, and cloud environments: around three in five organizations rely on their telecom providers to orchestrate a comprehensive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates IT, support systems, and industry-specific expertise, while seven out of ten expect simpler processes, along with more flexible purchasing and servicing experiences. However, only one in three organizations are currently satisfied with Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance and network performance/reliability.

    Most organizations (61%) are keen for their telecom provider to act as a source of innovation. Early access to cutting-edge technologies and joint efforts on pilots and prototypes is a top expectation (62%) while organizations are exploring advanced communications services to support a variety of use cases such as autonomous vehicles, smart city applications, cloud connectivity, and real-time industrial automation.

    “In today’s hyperconnected world, telcos are the backbone of the digital economy. Businesses expect telecom providers to move beyond connectivity services, and offer tailored, end-to-end and flexible solutions that power digitalization, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth,” said Praveen Shankar, Global Telecom Leader at Capgemini. “By forging strong partnerships with customers and industry peers, orchestrating an innovation ecosystem and prioritizing seamless customer experience, telecom organizations can enhance trust, simplify offerings, and differentiate themselves in a fast-moving landscape.”

    Customer experience, an untapped opportunity for telco provider growth
    While telcos’ customers are keen to access services beyond the core offerings, only 28% of organizations currently say that they purchase these services, from their provider. In their urgency to set up these value-added services only 27% of organizations say their telco providers currently deliver exceptional CX, while half are ready to pay a premium to improve it, highlighting that customer experience is still an untapped opportunity to accelerate growth and boost loyalty and innovation for telco providers.

    Businesses rely on telecom providers for robust and reliable security safeguards
    Among the various facets of telecom services, cybersecurity is a priority area for more than 70% of the organizations surveyed. With technological advancements, such as AI and Gen AI, cloudification, and wireless/5G networks, the threat landscape for organizations is evolving rapidly and businesses are increasingly concerned about protecting their data and systems. The report highlights that enterprises are looking for comprehensive security solutions from their telecom providers, with more than half of organizations (53%) willing to invest in telecom tech services, such as implementation of advanced cybersecurity solutions, in the next 1–2 years.

    For more information or to download the report, visit: Link

    Methodology

    The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 1,000 executives, at director level or above from telecoms’ business customers across 11 sectors and 13 countries in Asia–Pacific, Europe, and North America. To complement the survey findings, twenty in-depth discussions were conducted with executives from the telecom industry and customer industries. The global survey was carried out in December 2024 and January 2025.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first. Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Suggestions, proposals at NPC & CPPCC sessions deliver tangible benefits

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Chinese government has turned thousands of suggestions and proposals from national lawmakers and political advisors at the country’s top political meetings last year into concrete actions, benefiting people’s livelihoods and economic development, said a spokesperson of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on Friday.

    On Feb. 28, 2025, the State Council Information Office holds a policy briefing in Beijing on handling suggestions from deputies to the National People’s Congress and proposals of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in 2024. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]
    In 2024, government departments reviewed and acted on 8,783 suggestions from deputies of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and 4,813 proposals from members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), addressing key public concerns, said Xing Huina, a spokesperson of the SCIO.
    More than 5,000 recommendations were adopted by various government departments, leading to over 2,000 policy measures that tackled major economic and social issues, she said.

    Senior residents order a meal at Qingshuiwan community canteen in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Aug. 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    One standout area is eldercare, a growing priority as China’s population ages. Tang Chengpei, vice minister of civil affairs, highlighted how 87 suggestions and proposals from the “two sessions” shaped nationwide efforts to improve eldercare services. “Developing ‘near-home’ eldercare allows seniors to live comfortably in familiar surroundings, which aligns with both national conditions and public expectations,” Tang said.
    To this end, the government has expanded the national three-tiered eldercare network, establishing 446 demonstration centers at the county level and developing 367,000 community-based eldercare facilities.
    The ministry is committed to improving home-based services, having supported the establishment of 75,000 senior dining centers and the renovation of over 2 million homes to enhance accessibility in recent years, according to Tang. These initiatives aim to ensure seniors receive care at the doorsteps of their own homes.
    Efforts to renovate urban villages were also significantly accelerated following suggestions from NPC deputies. Jiang Wanrong, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, said the input from the deputies “played a crucial role in advancing urban village renovations.”
    “We worked closely with the deputies who submitted suggestions, conducting on-site inspections and holding multiple discussions to ensure effective implementation,” Jiang said. 
    At the news briefing, he highlighted key measures taken, including prioritizing projects in areas with urgent public demand and serious safety risks, as well as expanding policy coverage. “We have now extended urban village renovation efforts beyond 35 major cities to all prefecture-level cities,” he said. 
    In 2024 alone, 1,863 urban village renovation projects were launched, benefiting about 1.37 million households. 
    In addition, financial support policies were enhanced last year to address concerns raised by lawmakers, political advisors, and the public in key areas such as employment, healthcare, and education, according to Vice Finance Minister Guo Tingting.

    Job seekers attend a job fair held for the 2025 graduates of the Heilongjiang University in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Dec. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    To stabilize employment, the finance ministry extended reduced unemployment and work injury insurance rates and enhanced job retention and skill improvement subsidies in 2024. 
    Healthcare support has also expanded. In 2024, the per capita government subsidy for urban and rural residents’ medical insurance increased by 30 yuan (US$4.12) to 670 yuan annually.
    From the spring semester of 2024, China raised the national baseline for living subsidies for students from economically difficult families, benefiting around 20 million students who received compulsory education, Guo said. Higher education support has also been strengthened with expanded national scholarships and student loans, benefiting 23 million students, she added.
    To support vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Finance has enhanced the dynamic adjustment mechanism for subsistence allowances, ensuring the safety net for those in need, Guo said. By the end of 2024, the average minimum subsistence allowance reached 798 yuan per month in urban areas and 594 yuan in rural areas.
    In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China last year, a one-time subsidy of 1,000 yuan per person was also distributed to almost 11.54 million people living with difficulties, the vice finance minister said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese firm unveils more reliable, efficient battery

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    With the formal implementation of the new national standards, GB43854-2024 Safety Technical Specification of Lithium-ion Battery for Electric Bicycle and GB40559-2024 Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electric Self-Balancing Vehicle and Scooters — Safety Technical Specification, the electric two-wheeled vehicle market is advancing toward greater standardization and regulation.

    In response to these developments, BAK Battery has officially launched the PRO-M High-Safety Battery, which not only complies with the new standards but also delivers dual upgrades in safety and performance, providing a more reliable and efficient energy solution for short-distance travel.

    For instance, BAK said its PRO-M High-Safety Battery could pass the industry’s most stringent nail penetration tests, ensuring compliance with the safety and performance requirements of the new national standards.

    As the electric two-wheeled vehicle market trends toward higher-end, personalized, and intelligent designs, consumer demand for mid-to-high-end products and high-performance batteries continues to rise. The PRO-M 18650 High-Safety Battery boasts a capacity of 2.0Ah, an energy density of 170Wh/Kg, and supports 5C continuous discharge.

    Meanwhile, the same series’ 21700 battery offers a capacity of 3.0Ah, an energy density of 180Wh/Kg, and supports 4C continuous discharge. Both batteries exhibit exceptional performance with a wide temperature range and long cycle life, capable of stable discharge between -30 C and 70 C, with a cycle life exceeding 1,000 cycles.

    Looking ahead, the battery manufacturer said it plans to leverage its innovative capabilities to expand the applications of its cylindrical battery portfolio into broader safety-related sectors, including emergency security and specialized equipment.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NEV makers see sales surge in February

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Major new energy vehicle manufacturers in China saw robust sales growth last month, after a lukewarm start in January.

    BYD delivered 322,846 vehicles in February, marking a 164 percent year-on-year increase.

    The company’s Dynasty and Ocean series contributed 304,673 units, while its premium brands—Fang Cheng Bao, Denza, and Yangwang—sold 4,942, 8,513, and 105 vehicles, respectively.

    Notably, BYD’s overseas sales surged, with 67,025 vehicles sold, underscoring its growing global presence.

    Xpeng retained its position as the leader among startups, delivering 30,453 vehicles in February, a remarkable 570 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

    This marks the fourth consecutive month that the Guangzhou-based startup has surpassed the 30,000-unit delivery milestone.

    Xpeng also highlighted the growing adoption of its advanced driver-assistance systems. During the Spring Festival holiday, its ADAS usage saw significant growth, with total driving distance and duration increasing by 98.2 percent and 103.5 percent, respectively.

    Li Auto followed closely, delivering 26,263 vehicles in February, a 29.7 percent year-on-year increase. Li Auto’s CEO, Li Xiang, expressed confidence in the company’s first pure electric SUV, the Li i8, after receiving positive feedback on its design.

    Leapmotor continued its upward trajectory, delivering 25,287 vehicles in February, a 285 percent year-on-year increase. The launch of the new Leapmotor T03 in late February further boosted sales.

    Xiaomi’s entry into the automotive market has been met with overwhelming demand. The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, which went on sale recently, received 6,900 orders within 10 minutes and surpassed 10,000 orders in just two hours.

    In February, Xiaomi delivered over 20,000 SU7 vehicles, maintaining a streak of five consecutive months with deliveries exceeding 20,000 units. Cumulative deliveries have now surpassed 180,000 vehicles.

    Nio delivered 13,192 vehicles in February, a 62.2 percent year-on-year increase. Its namesake Nio brand accounted for 9,143 units, while its subsidiary brand, ONVO, delivered 4,049 units. Nio’s flagship electric sedan, the ET9, is in the final stages of preparation for deliveries, with test drives scheduled to begin in late March.

    Zeekr, following its recent restructuring, delivered 31,277 vehicles in February. The Zeekr brand contributed 14,039 units, an 86.9 percent year-on-year increase, while Lynk & Co delivered 17,238 units, with new energy vehicles making up 47.9 percent of sales.

    Voyah also saw significant growth, selling 8,013 vehicles in February, a 152 percent year-on-year increase. Cumulative deliveries for the first two months of 2025 reached 16,022 units.

    Voyah CEO Lu Fang attributed the growth to a surge in orders since the beginning of the year and emphasized the company’s commitment to meeting rising customer demand.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: NBPE Announces January Monthly NAV Estimate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    3 March 2025

    NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.3bn1, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces its 31 January 2025 monthly NAV estimate.

    NAV Highlights (31 January 2025)

    • NAV per share was $27.10 (£21.81), a total return of 2.5% in the month, after accruing the 1H 2025 dividend
    • Approximately 78% of fair value based on private company valuation information as of Q4 2024 or based on 31 January 2025 quoted prices
    • Based on information received so far, private company valuations increased by 2.8% (measured against the NAV of all private investments) during Q4 2024 on a constant currency basis
    • NBPE expects to receive additional updated Q4 2024 financial information which will be incorporated in the monthly NAV updates in the coming weeks
    • $281 million of available liquidity at 31 January 2025
    • ~21k shares repurchased during January 2025 at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by <$0.01 per share
    As of 31 January 2025 Year to Date One Year 3 years 5 years 10 years
    NAV TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 2.5% 2.1% 3.2%
    1.1%    		 70.1%
    11.2%    		 166.4%
    10.3%
    MSCI World TR (USD)*
    Annualised    		 3.6% 21.9% 33.4%
    10.1%    		 81.1%
    12.6%    		 186.7%
    11.1%
               
    Share price TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 0.2% (0.2%) 1.5%
    0.5%    		 59.3%
    9.8%    		 201.1%
    11.7%
    FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)*
    Annualised    		 5.5% 17.1% 25.5%
    7.9%    		 37.9%
    6.6%    		 87.1%
    6.5%

    * All NBPE performance figures assume re-investment of dividends on the ex-dividend date and reflect cumulative returns over the relevant time periods shown. Three-year, five-year and ten-year annualised returns are presented for USD NAV, MSCI World (USD), GBP Share Price and FTSE All-Share (GBP) Total Returns.

    Portfolio Update to 31 January 2025

    NAV performance during the month driven by:

    • 3.0% NAV increase ($37 million) from the receipt of private company valuation information
    • 1.7% NAV decrease ($22 million) attributable to the 1H 2025 dividend accrual
    • 0.4% NAV decrease ($5 million) from the value of quoted holdings (which now constitute 6% of portfolio fair value)
    • 0.2% NAV decrease ($3 million) attributable to expense accruals
    • Immaterial impact on NAV from changes in FX

    $3 million of realisations in 2025 to date

    • $3 million of realisations received during the month of January, consisting of partial realisation proceeds

    $281 million of total liquidity at 31 January 2025

    • $71 million of cash and liquid investments with $210 million of undrawn credit line available

    2025 Share Buybacks

    • ~21k shares repurchased in January 2025 at a weighted average discount of 29%
    • Buybacks were accretive to NAV by <$0.01 per share
    • On 19th February, NBPE’s board announced that it had reserved $120 million for buybacks over the next three years

    Portfolio Valuation

    The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 31 January 2025 was based on the following information:

    • 6% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 January 2025
      • 6% in public securities
    • 72% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 December 2024
      • 72% in private direct investments
    • 22% of the portfolio was valued as of 30 September 2024
      • 22% in private direct investments

    For further information, please contact:

    NBPE Investor Relations        +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
    Luke Mason        NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com  

    Kaso Legg Communications        +44 (0)20 3882 6644

    Charles Gorman        nbpe@kl-communications.com
    Luke Dampier
    Charlotte Francis

    Supplementary Information (as at 31 January 2025)

    Company Name Vintage Lead Sponsor Sector Fair Value ($m) % of FV
    Action 2020 3i Consumer 74.7 5.8%
    Osaic 2019 Reverence Capital Financial Services 70.6 5.4%
    Solenis 2021 Platinum Equity Industrials 60.0 4.6%
    BeyondTrust 2018 Francisco Partners Technology / IT 50.0 3.9%
    Business Services Company* 2017 Not Disclosed Business Services 40.1 3.1%
    Branded Cities Network 2017 Shamrock Capital Communications / Media 39.2 3.0%
    Monroe Engineering 2021 AEA Investors Industrials 38.2 2.9%
    Mariner 2024 Leonard Green & Partners Financial Services 34.8 2.7%
    GFL (NYSE: GFL) 2018 BC Partners Business Services 34.1 2.6%
    FDH Aero 2024 Audax Group Industrials 33.0 2.5%
    True Potential 2022 Cinven Financial Services 32.3 2.5%
    Staples 2017 Sycamore Partners Business Services 31.6 2.4%
    Marquee Brands 2014 Neuberger Berman Consumer 31.2 2.4%
    Auctane 2021 Thoma Bravo Technology / IT 28.8 2.2%
    Fortna 2017 THL Industrials 28.7 2.2%
    Viant 2018 JLL Partners Healthcare 27.1 2.1%
    Stubhub 2020 Neuberger Berman Consumer 26.5 2.0%
    Benecon 2024 TA Associates Healthcare 26.0 2.0%
    Agiliti 2019 THL Healthcare 25.3 1.9%
    Solace Systems 2016 Bridge Growth Partners Technology / IT 24.4 1.9%
    Engineering 2020 NB Renaissance / Bain Capital Technology / IT 24.1 1.9%
    Addison Group 2021 Trilantic Capital Partners Business Services 23.8 1.8%
    Kroll 2020 Further Global / Stone Point Financial Services 23.6 1.8%
    USI 2017 KKR Financial Services 22.2 1.7%
    Qpark 2017 KKR Transportation 22.0 1.7%
    Excelitas 2022 AEA Investors Industrials 21.9 1.7%
    CH Guenther 2021 Pritzker Private Capital Consumer 21.4 1.7%
    Exact 2019 KKR Technology / IT                            21.4 1.6%
    Bylight 2017 Sagewind Partners Technology / IT 19.5 1.5%
    AutoStore (OB.AUTO) 2019 THL Industrials 18.8 1.4%
    Total Top 30 Investments                             $975.2 75.1%

    *Undisclosed company due to confidentiality provisions.

    Geography % of Portfolio
    North America 79%
    Europe 20%
    Asia / Rest of World 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Industry % of Portfolio
    Tech, Media & Telecom 22%
    Consumer / E-commerce 21%
    Industrials / Industrial Technology 17%
    Financial Services 16%
    Business Services 11%
    Healthcare 8%
    Other 4%
    Energy 1%
    Total Portfolio 100%
       
    Vintage Year % of Portfolio
    2016 & Earlier 10%
    2017 18%
    2018 15%
    2019 13%
    2020 12%
    2021 17%
    2022 5%
    2023 2%
    2024 8%
    Total Portfolio 100%

    About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
    NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

    LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

    About Neuberger Berman
    Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $508 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The firm’s leadership in stewardship and sustainable investing is recognized by the PRI based on its consecutive above median reporting assessment results. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of 31 December 2024, unless otherwise noted.

    1Based on net asset value.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia partners with Carrix to introduce private wireless solutions in key U.S. container terminals #MWC25

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia partners with Carrix to introduce private wireless solutions in key U.S. container terminals #MWC25

    • Nokia DAC helps Carrix enhance operations at several leading marine terminals in the United States.

    3 March 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Carrix, one of the world’s leading independent marine terminal and rail yard operators, is partnering with Nokia to introduce Nokia DAC, a private wireless solution to help enhance the company’s operations at several leading marine terminals in the United States, including in Jacksonville, Florida; Long Beach, California; Oakland, California; and Seattle, Washington.

    Founded in 1949, Carrix operates more than 250 terminal facilities and rail yards in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Asia.

    Nokia DAC underpins Carrix’s operations providing highly reliable wireless connectivity built for the company’s industrial marine terminal environments, while enhancing security, providing greater scalability, and building a foundation for future digital innovations.

    Nokia is the leading global vendor of private wireless solutions to enterprises, with 850 customers in asset-intensive industries such as mining, manufacturing, and ports.

    Hugh Gallagher, Director of IT Services at Carrix, said: “Nokia DAC has greatly improved our network security, performance, and reliability while also simplifying the maintenance and support needed to sustain technical operations effectively. Simply put, the reliability provided by Nokia DAC has enhanced our efficiency and advanced our technology initiatives.”

    Harsha Bhat, Head of Enterprise Campus Edge Global Accounts at Nokia, said: “The marine terminals industry faces complex challenges to improving connectivity and security in asset-intensive industries. Nokia Edge Compute and AI platform for industrial sites provides private wireless connectivity as a digital foundation to quickly introduce new use cases and applications, driving innovation and collaboration in the port while ensuring data sovereignty and security.”

    Multimedia, technical information and related news
    Web Page: Port terminal operations | Nokia DAC
    Product Page: DAC private wireless | Nokia DAC

    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.

    About Carrix
    Carrix and its subsidiary SSA Marine are among the world’s leading independent, privately held marine terminal operators, with activities at more than 250 terminal facilities and rail yards in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Asia. Its subsidiary, Tideworks Technology, offers innovative technology solutions for the transportation industry. Founded in 1949, Carrix has continuously expanded its global footprint while always prioritizing customer interests, and now employs more than 20,000 people worldwide.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow Nokia on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ING to repurchase shares for employee compensation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ING to repurchase shares for employee compensation

    ING announced today the start of a share repurchase programme under which it plans to repurchase ordinary shares of ING Groep N.V., for a maximum total amount of €70 million. The purpose of the share repurchase programme is to meet obligations under ING’s share-based compensation plans.

    The share repurchase will commence on 3 March 2025 and is expected to end no later than 7 March 2025.

    The ECB has approved the repurchase, which will be executed in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation and within the limitations of the existing authority to acquire a maximum of 20% of the issued shares as granted by the general meeting of shareholders on 22 April 2024.

    More information on our share buyback programmes can be found on the Investor Relations section of the ING website: https://www.ing.com/Investor-relations/Share-information/Share-buyback-programme.htm.

    Note for editors

    For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via the @ING_news X feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

    Press enquiries   Investor enquiries
    Christoph Linke   ING Group Investor Relations
    +31 20 576 5000   +31 20 576 6396
    Christoph.Linke@ing.com   Investor.Relations@ing.com

    ING PROFILE

    ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

    ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

    ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

    IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

    Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

    ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. The Financial statements for 2024 are in progress and may be subject to adjustments from subsequent events. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

    Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets

    (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non- compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

    This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

    Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

    This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control.

    Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

    This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Boost Mobile becomes first mobile operator in world to deploy Nokia cloud-native 5G Voice Core on Public Cloud to accelerate new 5G services #MWC25

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Boost Mobile becomes first mobile operator in world to deploy Nokia cloud-native 5G Voice Core on Public Cloud to accelerate new 5G services #MWC25

    • Boost Mobile utilizes Nokia’s fully cloud-native 5G Voice Core to enable faster deployment of new 5G services, enhanced network automation, and more efficient cloud utilization.

    3 March 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Boost Mobile, the newest U.S. nationwide carrier, has deployed Nokia’s fully cloud-native 5G Voice Core to enable even faster delivery of advanced services, enhanced network automation, and more efficient cloud utilization than its Open RAN cloud-native network could before.

    The deployment includes the consolidation of several IMS voice 3GPP functionalities into a single cloud-native network function (CNF), called Nokia Cloud Native Communication Suite (CNCS). This migration, from Boost Mobile’s previous distributed IMS voice core by Nokia, provides automated deployment and configuration, reduced infrastructure and carbon footprint, and lower operational costs through streamlined life cycle management.

    “We anticipate Nokia’s 5G Voice Core to help reduce our network infrastructure costs by about 70 percent in addition to delivering new 5G services faster, with significantly streamlined network operations,” said Dawood Shahdad, Vice President of Core Engineering at Boost Mobile. “Boost Mobile continues to push boundaries with our Open RAN 5G network and the successful nationwide deployment of Nokia’s cloud-native next-generation voice core marks a pivotal moment in our network evolution, as this new network element advances our vision of end-to-end orchestration and dynamic scaling on our path toward 6G.”

    CNCS improves energy efficiency by about 10 percent to 20 percent, relative to a standard IMS Voice Core, according to Nokia data.

    “As the sole 5G Voice Core provider for Boost Mobile in the US, Nokia is extremely pleased to support Boost in this modernization project and the close partnering that enabled it. This is another demonstration of Nokia’s technology leadership in helping our customers solve problems, address their customer needs, and generate new revenue streams,” said Marcelo Madruga, Head of Technology and Platforms, Products & Engineering, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.

    Nokia had the most 5G Standalone Core operator customers, with 123 in total, at the end of 2024.

    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. 

    About Boost Mobile
    Boost Mobile offers the best value in wireless with simple, flexible and transparent plans starting at $25/mo. for unlimited 5G. Boost Mobile’s nationwide cloud-native O-RAN 5G network delivers lightning-fast speeds, reliability, and coverage on the latest 5G devices. Customers enjoy no annual service contracts and the freedom to upgrade their devices anytime without a trade-in. Experience Boost Mobile’s risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee and learn more about our services on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Boost Mobile is the nation’s newest nationwide mobile carrier in the U.S. and a brand under EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS).

    Media inquiries 
    Nokia Press Office 
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com  

    Follow us on social media 
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Brookfield Wealth Solutions Launches in the United Kingdom

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROOKFIELD, NEWS, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookfield Wealth Solutions (NYSE, TSX: BNT) is entering the UK insurance market to focus on delivering bulk annuity solutions for UK pension schemes. This follows a comprehensive approval process carried out by the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) and the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”).

    Brookfield Wealth Solutions will bring its capital and strong track record of servicing policyholders from its substantial North American operations as one of the first new entrants in the UK market. With over £500 billion of demand for pension buyouts expected over the next decade, the UK represents a significant opportunity to grow, create employment and invest domestically in the UK market.

    The entry for Brookfield Wealth Solutions, which was spun out of Brookfield Corporation in June 2021, will further extend Brookfield’s presence in the UK, where it is already a leading investor with over £63 billion of assets under management across infrastructure, real estate, and renewable power. Brookfield and its UK portfolio companies employ approximately 23,000 people across the UK.

    Sachin Shah, CEO, Brookfield Wealth Solutions said: “We are thrilled to launch Brookfield Wealth Solutions in the UK. With more than $140 billion in total assets, we look forward to serving the retirement needs of UK pensioners for the long term. Our group-wide commitment is to provide long-term financial security for our policyholders and clients, serviced by strong, well capitalized companies with high quality investment portfolios. The PRA and the FCA have been efficient, professional and highly constructive during our approval process, and we look forward to working further with them in the future.”

    Brookfield Wealth Solutions is expected to begin operations later in the first quarter subject to final regulatory approvals and will operate under the Blumont Annuity UK brand.

    About Brookfield Wealth Solutions

    Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. (NYSE, TSX: BNT) is focused on securing the financial futures of individuals and institutions through a range of retirement services, wealth protection products and tailored capital solutions. Each class A exchangeable limited voting share of Brookfield Wealth Solutions is exchangeable on a one-for-one basis with a class A limited voting share of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BN). For more information, visit bnt.brookfield.com.

    About Blumont Annuity UK

    Blumont Annuity Company UK Ltd., based in London, will be a provider of bulk annuity solutions in the United Kingdom.

    For more information, please contact:
     
    Media:   Investor Relations:
    Kerrie McHugh   Rachel Schneider
    Tel: (212) 618-3469   Tel: (416) 369-3358
    Email: kerrie.mchugh@brookfield.com   Email: Rachel.schneider@brookfield.com
         

    Notice to Readers

    This news release and any related oral statements made by our representatives may contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management’s current estimates, assumptions and expectations regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies, capital management and outlook of Brookfield Wealth Solutions and its subsidiaries, including Blumont Annuity UK, as well as the outlook for international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods.

    In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words such as “believes,” “thinks,” “expects,” “potential,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “foresees,” “forecasts,” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding the growth of our business, the status of regulatory approvals including the anticipated timing thereof, the size of the UK pension market and opportunities relating thereto.

    Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable estimates, assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Brookfield Wealth Solutions or Blumont Annuity UK to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

    Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) investment returns that are lower than target; (ii) the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business; (iii) the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; (iv) global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets (v) litigation; (vi) changes in tax laws; (vii) ability to collect amounts owed; (viii) catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and epidemics/pandemics; (ix) the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyberterrorism; (x) the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies; (xi) the failure of effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting and other risks; (xii) health, safety and environmental risks; (xiii) the maintenance of adequate insurance coverage; (xiv) the existence of information barriers between certain businesses within Brookfield’s asset management operations; (xv) risks specific to our business segments; (xvi) factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States; and (xvii) the failure to obtain and/or maintain required regulatory approvals.

    We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the foregoing risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Except as required by law, Brookfield Wealth Solutions undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Past performance is not indicative nor a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that comparable results will be achieved in the future, that future investments will be similar to the historic investments discussed herein, that targeted returns, growth objectives, diversification or asset allocations will be met or that an investment strategy or investment objectives will be achieved (because of economic conditions, the availability of investment opportunities or otherwise).

    Readers are urged to consider the foregoing risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VAALCO Energy, Inc. Acquires 70% Interest in and Becomes Operator of Offshore Côte D’Ivoire CI-705 Block

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (“Vaalco” or the “Company”) announced that it has farmed into the CI-705 block offshore Côte d’Ivoire. Vaalco will become operator of the block with a 70% working interest and a 100% paying interest though a commercial carry arrangement and is partnering with Ivory Coast Exploration Oil & Gas SAS and PETROCI. The CI-705 block is located in the prolific Tano basin and is approximately 70 kilometers (“km”) to the west of Vaalco’s CI-40 Block, where the Baobab and Kossipo oil fields are located, and 60 km west of ENI’s recent Calao discovery. Block CI-705 covers approximately 2,300 km2 and is lightly explored with three wells drilled to date on the block. The water depth across the block ranges from zero to 2,500 meters. Vaalco has invested $3 million to acquire its interest in the new block which it believes has significant prospectivity.

    “We are very excited to expand our footprint offshore Côte d’Ivoire,” said George Maxwell, Vaalco’s Chief Executive Officer. “When we announced our entry into country in 2024 as a non-operating partner in the CI-40 block, we noted our excitement to be expanding our West African focus in a well-established and investment-friendly country. We believe the CI-705 block is favorably located in a proven petroleum system, near existing infrastructure with access to a strong growing domestic market with attractive upside potential. Under the terms of the farm-in, we will operate the block with a 70% working interest and a 100% paying interest as we carry our partners at commercial terms through the seismic reprocessing and interpretation stages and potentially drilling up to two exploration wells. Our initial assessment is that there are both oil and natural gas prospects on the block and we plan to conduct a detailed, integrated geological analysis to assess and mature our understanding of the block’s overall prospectivity. We have demonstrated our ability to acquire, develop and enhance value with the accretive acquisitions we have executed in the past. We are also excited about the major projects that we have planned in 2025 and 2026, which are expected to deliver a step-change in organic growth across our portfolio. We are pleased to have yet another opportunity to add value and runway for Vaalco’s future.”

    Source: Vaalco Energy

    About Vaalco

    Vaalco, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, Texas, USA based, independent energy company with a diverse portfolio of production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Canada.

    For Further Information

       
    Vaalco Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Website: www.vaalco.com 
       
    Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Al Petrie / Chris Delange  
       
    Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000
    Ben Romney / Barry Archer Vaalco@buchanan.uk.com 
       

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws and other applicable laws and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “aim,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “likely,” “plan” and “probably” or similar words may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) estimates of future drilling, production, sales and costs of acquiring crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; (ii) expectations regarding Vaalco’s ability to effectively integrate assets and properties it has acquired as a result of the Svenska acquisition into its operations; (iii) expectations regarding future exploration and the development, growth and potential of Vaalco’s operations, project pipeline and investments, and schedule and anticipated benefits to be derived therefrom; (iv) expectations regarding future acquisitions, investments or divestitures; (v) expectations of future balance sheet strength; and (vi) expectations of future equity and enterprise value.

    Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Vaalco; the ability to generate cash flows that, along with cash on hand, will be sufficient to support operations and cash requirements; risks relating to the timing and costs of completion for scheduled maintenance of the FPSO servicing the Baobab field; and the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Vaalco’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

    Inside Information

    This announcement contains inside information as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 on market abuse which is part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“MAR”) and is made in accordance with the Company’s obligations under article 17 of MAR. The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Vaalco is Matthew Powers, Corporate Secretary of Vaalco.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ca96dfc-9a1c-4e43-a010-fc63848983f2

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