MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

“We cannot outrun climate change, but we can address its impact on health”: How WHO is taking urgent action in the Western Pacific
MANILA – Across the Western Pacific Region and globally, climate change is no longer a distant worry, it’s an everyday emergency threatening lives and health. On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, we are reminded that building resilience saves lives.

When Typhoon Yagi tore through swathes of the Region last year, health facilities were among the structures severely damaged, with medical supplies and vaccines destroyed. In other corners of the Region, families displaced by floods struggled to find clean water as powerful winds, heavy rains and rising rivers destroyed sanitation and sewage systems and swept away roads and homes.

“These are not isolated stories; they are increasingly our new reality,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Every storm, every flood, every wildfire, every extreme summer and winter tell us the same thing: the climate crisis is a health crisis. We cannot outrun climate change, but we can address its impact on health. We must act more urgently to protect people by making health systems better prepared, stronger and safer. This is why we’re putting climate-resilient health systems within the broader ecosystem of climate and health high on the agenda at our upcoming 76th Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, urging Ministers of Health and other policymakers to find solutions that benefit health for all.”

Jeopardizing health on the front lines

The climate crisis amplifies existing health risks, including heatstroke during record-breaking heatwaves, triggering disease outbreaks after floods, exacerbating hunger from disrupted food systems. It’s undoing hard-won health gains, with the most vulnerable communities paying the highest price.

Small island developing states in the Pacific and globally, among the least responsible for global emissions, face the greatest danger. By 2050, sea levels could rise by up to 30 centimeters, putting many health facilities underwater.

A regional plan to save lives

To respond, WHO, in consultation with Member States across the Region, has developed a regional implementation plan for climate change and health system resilience. This roadmap, complementing the WHO Global Action Plan on Climate and Health 2025-2028, prioritizes urgent steps to:

·       Strengthen high-level national and regional mechanisms on climate change and health, and put health at the core of climate action.

·       Establish regionalized alliance (ATACH) networks and expand membership and participation.

·       Make health-care facilities climate-resilient and safe so they can function even during disasters.

·       Train health workers in sustainable practices without compromising care.

·       Strengthen disease surveillance and early warning systems for climate-sensitive diseases.

·       Secure financing for health sector adaptation and mitigation efforts.

To complement this framework is a new five-year wider strategy to address the nexus of climate and health, spearheaded by the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health (ACE), hosted in Seoul by the Republic of Korea. The ACE Strategy will also be launched at the Regional Committee, providing a holistic picture of how WHO can work with its 38 Western Pacific countries and areas to effectively tackle and mitigate the harms of the climate crisis from the perspective of health at the national, regional and community levels.  

“Health systems must heal, not harm, and lead by action,” said Dr Sandro Demaio, Director of ACE. “By making hospitals greener and more resilient, and by using clean energy, securing food systems, and preparing better for climate risks from rising sea levels to mounting weather-related disasters, we can save lives today and tomorrow.”

Next stop: Regional Committee Meeting

The draft plan on climate-resilient health systems has received strong support from countries. It will now be tabled for endorsement at the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, happening between 20 and 24 October in Nadi, Fiji, an annual gathering where WHO Member States come together to shape the future of health in the Region.

WHO remains committed to working with countries and partners to “weave health for all,” reflecting its regional vision that interlaces efforts, resources, and expertise to protect health, keep the  Western Pacific safer, and serve the more than 2.2 billion people who live in this vast region.  

For more on the 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, visit: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-76  

Source: University of Sydney

Vital steps made to stabilise next-generation renewable energy technology

A University of Sydney-led team has set a record for solar technology, creating the largest and most efficient triple-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell reported.

Led by Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience at the University of Sydney Nano Institute and School of Physics, the result demonstrates high efficiency and durability, important steps for overcoming barriers to the development of perovskite tandem solar cell technology.

The team’s 16 cm2 triple-junction cell achieved an independently certified steady-state power conversion efficiency of 23.3 percent, the highest reported for a large-area device of this kind. At the smaller scale, a 1 cm2 cell recorded 27.06 percent efficiency and set new standards for thermal stability.

The results are published today in the high-impact journal Nature Nanotechnology.

In a global first, the 1 cm2 cell passed the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) Thermal Cycling test, which exposes devices to 200 cycles of extreme temperature swings between -40 and 85 degrees. This cell retained 95 percent of its efficiency after more than 400 hours of continuous operation under light.

A triple-junction solar cell uses three interconnected semiconductors, each absorbing a different part of the solar spectrum to maximise conversion of the Sun’s energy into electricity.

HOW THE TEAM DID IT

Professor Ho-Baillie, also part of the University of Sydney Net Zero Institute, said this latest advance was achieved by re-engineering the chemistry of the perovskite material and the triple junction cell design.

“We improved both the performance and the resilience of these solar cells,” she said. “This not only demonstrates that large, stable perovskite devices are possible but also shows the enormous potential for further efficiency gains.”

The researchers replaced less stable methylammonium, commonly used in high-efficiency perovskite cells, with rubidium creating a perovskite lattice that is less prone to defects and degradation. They also replaced the less stable lithium fluoride with piperazinium dichloride for a new surface treatment.

To connect the two perovskite junctions, the researchers used gold at the nanoscale and, using advanced transmission electron microscopy, clarified that gold at this scale is in the form of nanoparticles, not as a continuous film as many perceived. The team used this knowledge to engineer gold nanoparticle coverage to maximise the flow of electric charge and light absorption by the solar cell.

These developments enabled the triple-junction cell to sustain high efficiencies over more time and under stress.

FUTURE SOLAR ENERGY

Perovskites are an emerging class of photovoltaic materials valued for their low-cost manufacturing and ability to capture more of the solar spectrum when stacked in multiple layers with silicon. Until now, however, scaling devices beyond the laboratory and ensuring their stability under real-world conditions have been major challenges.

“This is the largest triple-junction perovskite device yet demonstrated and it has been rigorously tested and certified by independent laboratories,” Professor Ho-Baillie said. “That gives us further confidence that the technology can be scaled for practical use.”

The research was carried out in collaboration with international partners from China, Germany and Slovenia, with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Australian Research Council.

The publication follows recognition of Professor Ho-Baillie’s leadership in solar research at the 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes for Science, where she was awarded the Eureka Prize for Sustainability Research for her pioneering work on perovskite solar technology.

“It is an exciting time for solar research,” Professor Ho-Baillie said. “Perovskites are already showing us that we can push efficiencies beyond the limits of silicon alone. These advances mean we are moving closer to cheaper, more sustainable solar energy that will help power a low-carbon future.”

RESEARCH

Zheng, J. et al ‘Tailoring nanoscale interfaces for perovskite-perovskite-silicon triple-junction solar cells’ (Nature Nanotechnology 2025) DOI: 10.1038/s41565-025-02015-x

DECLARATION

The researchers declare no competing interests. Funding was received from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Australian Research Council, Slovenian ARIS research program.

The authors acknowledge the scientific and technical assistance of the Research & Prototype Foundry Core Research Facility at the University of Sydney, part of the Australian National Fabrication Facility and Electron Microscopy Unit at UNSW.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will convene its 151st Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from 19-23 October 2025 under the theme: Upholding humanitarian norms and supporting humanitarian action in times of crisis.

Against a backdrop of 120 ongoing conflicts and 310 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world – as documented by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – hundreds of legislators will gather to advance parliamentary action that safeguards international humanitarian law, defends the independence of relief efforts and reinforces multilateral commitments.

The Assembly will shine a spotlight on the needs of the most vulnerable in conflicts — including displaced populations, women, youth, minorities and those affected by food insecurity and disease — while supporting broader goals in peacebuilding, development, gender equality and climate action.

Other themes and meetings

Throughout the Assembly, various IPU bodies will convene, including the four thematic Standing Committees, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians and the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians.

IPU bodies dedicated to parliamentary diplomacy will meet, including the Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine, the Group of Facilitators on Cyprus and the Committee on Middle East Questions.

The Standing Committee on United Nations will examine the process ahead for UN reform, as well as accountability and transparency in the election of the UN Secretary General.

Other subjects under discussion will include food security, migration and transnational crime, managing AI, fostering religious literacy, parliamentary oversight of defence spending, methane reduction, preventing corporate tax evasion, and the protection of children from illegal adoption.

Membership expansion

Brunei Darussalam is expected to be welcomed as the IPU’s 182nd Member Parliament, enhancing the Organization’s universality. Several international bodies are also expected to be recognized as permanent observers.

Cremer-Passy Prize

The Assembly will feature the announcement of the winner of the 2025 Cremer-Passy Prize, honouring a parliamentarian who has shown exceptional leadership in gender equality, the IPU’s theme of the year.

Practical details

Venue: The International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), 7 rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

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

Source: EUPD Group

Bonn, October 2025. This November, the who is who of the European corporate sustainability scene convenes for the ESG Summit 2025 to discuss the main drivers, challenges and opportunities in ESG and sustainability once again. As part of the European Sustainability Week, the third edition of the summit takes place at the historic Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel & Spa Petersberg near Bonn on November 26, 2025. The agenda includes a high-level conference with prominent speakers such as Dr. Robert Habeck, Ralph Thurm and Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg, an exhibition floor and various award ceremonies to highlight excellence in sustainability. Topics discussed will also come from the sectors renewable energy, corporate health and more.

A dynamic political landscape, subsequent regulatory uncertainty and various emerging trends in the ESG and sustainability sector paint a diverse and difficult to navigate picture for companies. Who needs to follow which regulations, and when? What are the best actions to take in implementing them? How can companies drive sustainability in all its aspects—environmental, social and governance—forward? These questions and more are at the center of the ESG Summit 2025.

After the success of the ESG Summit 2024, which welcomed hundreds of delegates from across Europe, the EUPD Group is bringing the Summit back to the historic Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel & Spa Petersberg on November 26, 2025. This year’s motto is “Built on Trust. Driven by Insight. Focused on Impact.”

The event is centered around a high-class conference spearheaded by leading experts from different areas of the European corporate sustainability sector. Several speakers have already been confirmed—such as Dr. Robert Habeck, German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (2021-2025) / Federal Chairman of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen [2018-2022]. Further key note speakers Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg and Ralph Thurm, each established thought leaders and experts in the sustainability sector, are set to return as well. All in all, the event will convene the who is who from the corporate sustainability sector.

The conference is set to cover a variety of the topics currently moving the industry: from sustainable financing, health and diversity, smart and intelligent data management, the importance of clean energy in the commercial and industrial segment, over to navigating and transparently communicating ESG reporting.

In addition to the conference, the ESG Summit provides a platform for solution providers with an exhibition area, as well as a stage for leaders in various areas of sustainability to be honored for their proven commitment in award ceremonies of the ESG Transparency Award and other award ceremonies from the renewable energy and social sustainability sector. Further, meetings of expert advisory boards and committees will take place, focusing on extensive exchange at the highest level.

The event is supported by companies such as Arvato Systems, BG prevent, DNV, Eva Service GmbH, OCELL GmbH, SolaX Power, Solinteg, Solplanet, Unternehmen Bewegung, F&F energyinnovation, Grubengold, GoodWe, Pylontech, and media partners Haufe Sustainability and zielNULL.

Markus A.W. Hoehner, CEO and Founder of the EUPD Group, is looking forward to the event: “The corporate sector plays a crucial role in driving the sustainable transformation of our society – by creating knowledge, shaping progress, ensuring accountability, and fostering dialogue. ESG is no longer a peripheral topic, but a strategic framework for future-proof corporate governance. The ESG Summit brings together Europe’s leading voices to provide guidance, set standards, and shape the future of responsible business.”

Tickets for the ESG Summit 2025 are available online: https://european-sustainability-week.com/shop/

About the EUPD Group
Since its foundation in 2000, the EUPD Group has been developing innovative, integrated solutions for sustainability-oriented companies. We lead companies to success with our data-based market research and consulting services in the areas of energy, social and ESG. On the one hand, we have specialized in technology sectors such as photovoltaics, energy storage, heat pumps and electromobility under the topic of “Energy”. In the “Social” category, we also offer services in areas such as occupational health management and equal opportunities, while “ESG” focuses on corporate sustainability and responsibility issues, including their transparency in reporting. Our aim is to help companies become and remain competitive, create optimal framework conditions and develop business opportunities.
https://eupd-group.com/

About the European Sustainability Week
The European Sustainability Week, organized by the EUPD Group, provides a unique platform to discuss the latest national and international sustainability developments with industry pioneers, expert councils and committees. The ESG Summit 2025 offers participants the opportunity to expand their knowledge, make valuable contacts and learn from industry leaders during a high-class conference, on the exhibition floor for solution providers and award ceremonies.
https://european-sustainability-week.com/

Sources: African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) – Joint Statement

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), and the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) welcome the conviction of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur.

Paris, The Hague, 7 October 2025. Yesterday, in a unanimous decision, ICC judges convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as “Ali Kushayb”, of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The former Janjaweed leader stood trial for 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, Sudan, between August 2003 and at least April 2004, including murder, persecution, forced displacement, rape, torture, and attacks against civilian populations.

A Historic First ICC Trial for International Crimes Committed in Darfur

This verdict marks a historic milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims and survivors of atrocities committed during the Darfur conflict. The trial in the case opened before Trial Chamber I on 5 April 2022, after Abd Al Rahman surrendered himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic. This was the first trial arising from the situation in Darfur, Sudan, referred to the ICC by the United Nations Security Council in 2005, and the first verdict from a referred situation. It also marks the first time a Janjaweed leader has been held individually accountable anywhere for the atrocities committed in Darfur.

The judgment is also significant for establishing the ICC’s first conviction for persecution on gender grounds. The Chamber found that males from the Fur community were targeted because of their ethnicity, political affiliation and gender, observing that “a victim can suffer a higher risk of victimisation because of the intersection of different factors of discrimination.”

A Long-Awaited Step Toward Justice for Victims

1591 victims participated in this trial, a powerful demonstration of their enduring hope for justice and accountability. “This conviction is a long-overdue recognition of the suffering endured by Darfuri victims and a resounding affirmation that impunity for atrocity crimes will not stand,” said Mossaad Ali, Executive Director, ACJPS.“After nearly two decades, survivors have finally witnessed a moment of accountability. It is a powerful step toward justice and healing.”

“We commend the courage of the victims and witnesses who came forward and urge continued international support to ensure further accountability for all perpetrators of crimes in Darfur,” said Magdi El Na’im, Executive Director, SHRM.

The conviction of Abd-Al-Rahman must pave the way for broader accountability efforts for international crimes committed in Darfur. Four individuals bearing the greatest responsibility for atrocities and under ICC warrants of arrest remain at large and must be brought to justice. The Sudanese authorities and the international community must redouble efforts to cooperate with the ICC and support international justice processes. FIDH, ACJPS, and SHRM call on the Sudanese authorities to cooperate fully with the ICC and surrender former officials wanted by the ICC, including former Sudan President Omar al Bashir wanted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. We also call on all ICC States Parties to cooperate fully with the ICC, execute outstanding arrest warrants and continue supporting justice efforts to pursue accountability for other ICC suspects and senior officials responsible for widespread crimes in Darfur. We further call on the ICC Office of the Prosecutor to expedite its investigations into the crimes committed in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan and apply for arrest warrants without delay.

Victims-Centred Reparations must Follow

Victims and survivors of the Darfur conflict continue to live with the physical, emotional, social, and economic consequences of the crimes committed. Millions remain displaced from their homes, lack access to healthcare, education, livelihoods, and basic services, and have never received official recognition or support for their suffering.

While this conviction marks an important step toward accountability, its full impact will depend on the outcome of any potential appeal. Justice must also include meaningful reparations that respond directly to the needs, rights, and dignity of victims. Future reparations must be inclusive, transparent, and community-driven, shaped on the basis of consultations with victims and affected communities.

FIDH is a century-old international federation composed of 188 of human rights organisations fighting for a fair and just world. Together we expose violations, hold perpetrators to account, advocate for the universality of human rights and protect human rights defenders' freedom to act.

Source: Amnesty International

Responding to reports of an aerial attack by the Myanmar military that is said to have killed upwards of 20 civilians, including children, when multiple bombs were dropped from motorized paragliders, Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher Joe Freeman said:

“The sickening reports emerging from the ground in central Myanmar following a nighttime attack late on Monday should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection.

“The international community may have forgotten about the conflict in Myanmar, but the Myanmar military is taking advantage of reduced scrutiny to carry out war crimes with impunity.

“It continues to kill civilians on a daily basis, using methods such as motorized paragliders, a disturbing trend that Amnesty International has documented in the same area that this attack occurred.

“This would be the latest in a long line of attacks that stretch back almost five years to the start of the 2021 military coup. As the military attempts to solidify power with a stage-managed election later this year, it is intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance.

“As it prepares to convene later this month, the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must increase pressure on the junta and revise an approach that has failed the Myanmar people for almost five years, since the coup deposed the country’s democratically elected government. The UN Security Council should also refer the situation in Myanmar as a whole to the International Criminal Court.”

Background

According to reports and information received by Amnesty International, people from communities in Sagaing Region’s Chaung-U Township gathered in a village on the evening of 6 October as part of a peaceful candlelight vigil to call for the release of arbitrarily detained prisoners, to oppose military conscription and to condemn a junta-organized election set for December. The vigil took place on the Full Moon night of Myanmar’s Thadingyut Festival, in an area where armed resistance groups are active.

According to people present at the scene, the first attack at around 8pm initially killed at least 17 people including at least one child under five years old. Dozens of people are said to be in critical condition in local hospitals. A follow-up attack reportedly occurred at around 11pm but did not cause as much damage. Both were said to be carried out with motorized paragliders, which make a distinctive chainsaw-like sound as they approach, with media reporting that more than 20 people were killed in total.

The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in September that these paramotor attacks typically involve 120mm mortar rounds dropped from the sky, an indiscriminate form of attack. Amnesty International interviewed witnesses to paramotor attacks in the same township in March in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar.

It is not known if the military’s use of paramotors is related to the lack of resources such as jet fuel which the military needs for fighter jets. In 2022, Amnesty International released a report, Deadly Cargo, about the supply chain of jet fuel to the Myanmar military, and has tracked its changing tactics to import the resource since then.

Source: deVere Group

October 7 2025 – France's latest political collapse has set the stage for a prolonged period of instability across Europe, with investors preparing for more volatility in the euro and European markets as confidence in France's ability to govern continues to erode.

This is the warning from the CEO of financial advisory giant deVere Group following Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's resignation on Monday after just 27 days in office, making it clear that France is trapped in a cycle of dysfunction.

With no majority in parliament and no workable budget, the eurozone's second-largest economy has lost direction at a critical time for Europe's fragile recovery.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, says: “Investors are now positioning for a drawn-out crisis.

“What comes next will not be defined by a single event but by an accumulation of uncertainty. France's political paralysis is becoming a structural feature of Europe's risk profile.”

The bond market has already delivered its verdict. Yields on French 10-year bonds have surged to near-decade highs, widening the gap with German Bunds and reviving fears of fragmentation within the eurozone. The euro has slipped against the dollar, while European banking and industrial shares have sold off sharply.

“These moves show that investors are rethinking the risk premium for Europe,” says Nigel Green. “France is too large to treat as an outlier — when it falters, the entire bloc feels it.”

He continues: “President Macron faces only unappealing choices. He could appoint another caretaker prime minister, but any new government will likely face the same gridlock.

“Fresh elections could deliver even greater influence to far-right parties, deepening market unease.

“The most probable outcome is that France will continue to operate under emergency spending rules into 2026, effectively putting fiscal policy on hold.”

Nigel Green warns: “Markets are already reading this as a loss of control. Running a major economy without a functioning budget undermines credibility, not only for France but for the entire eurozone.

“Unless political cooperation is restored, the consequences will extend far beyond Paris.”

He adds that the euro's decline should not be mistaken for a policy success.

“A weaker euro that results from instability offers no strategic advantage. It reflects capital flight and loss of trust. Investors understand the difference between tactical easing and systemic weakness.”

Over the coming months, portfolio managers are expected to keep reducing exposure to euro-denominated assets, rotating toward the dollar and Treasuries.

Risk-sensitive positions in European banks and cyclical sectors are likely to remain under pressure.

“Capital will move toward predictability,” comments the deVere CEO.

“Investors will reward jurisdictions that can deliver stability, transparency, and coherent fiscal management — attributes that Europe is struggling to project right now.”

He believes the more significant shift is psychological rather than technical.

“This is not a sudden crisis. It's a slow erosion of confidence, the kind that changes how investors think about Europe for the long term. When faith in governance fades, it takes years — not months — to rebuild.”

The wider European picture offers little reassurance. Germany's slowdown continues, Italy's fiscal position is deteriorating, and the European Central Bank has limited scope to respond without risking renewed inflation.

France's paralysis, layered on top of these challenges, strengthens the view that Europe is losing its ability to act decisively. “This moment will test whether the eurozone can still coordinate under pressure,” says the chief executive.

“If it can't, investors will start to treat Europe less as a single market and more as a collection of disconnected risks.”

He concludes: “What comes next is a period of grinding uncertainty. France's instability has become the prism through which global investors will judge Europe's credibility.

“Until a clear political and fiscal path emerges, volatility will persist — and stability will remain the continent's most scarce asset.”

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

Source: Amnesty International

Responding to the Singapore government scheduling the execution of Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman for Wednesday 8 October, Amnesty International’s Death Penalty Advisor Chiara Sangiorgio said:

“The Singapore government must immediately halt the execution of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, whose case has been marred by multiple layers of unfairness, including violations of international human rights law and standards.

“It is indefensible that Singapore continues to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control. So far in 2025, Singapore has executed 11 people, including nine convicted of drug-related offences. Yet there is no evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect or that it has any impact on the use and availability of drugs.

“Pannir’s case is emblematic of the many flaws in the use of the death penalty in Singapore. Under international law and standards, the imposition of the death penalty for drug-related offences as a mandatory punishment is unlawful.

“Singapore must end its use of the death penalty and instead offer effective protection from drug-related harm, such as by expanding access to health and social services for people who use drugs and addressing the underlying socio-economic causes that lead people to engage in the drug trade.  

“Pannir and his family have shown incredible determination and resilience in advocating for the commutation of his death sentence. We join them in asking the Malaysian government, including through its diplomatic relations with Singapore, to take every measure possible to ensure his execution is halted.

“We also renew our call on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to increase pressure on Singapore to reform its drug control policies in a way that respects human rights.”

Background

Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was convicted on 2 May 2017 of importing 51.84g of diamorphine (heroin) into Singapore and sentenced to the mandatory death penalty.

Following the Court of Appeal’s rejection of his appeal on 5 September 2025, his family received notification on 3 October that the President had rejected Pannir’s clemency request and his execution was set for the third time.

The judge found Pannir Selvam Pranthaman to have been involved only in transporting drugs, meeting the “courier” requirement under the law. However, the prosecution did not provide him with a certificate confirming that he substantively assisted investigations to disrupt further drugs trafficking activities – a second condition to qualify for sentencing discretion in these cases –  leaving no option to the judge but to impose the mandatory death penalty. This effectively shifted the decision on sentencing to the prosecution. His conviction also relied on unfair presumptions of guilt, which the prosecution can invoke at trial to infer knowledge or possession of the drugs, shifting the burden of proof on to the defendant.

While on death row in Singapore, Pannir has written poems and songs, including some that have resulted in collaborations with other Malaysian artists.

International law and standards prohibit the imposition of the mandatory death penalty, as it denies the possibility of taking into account the circumstances in the case. International law and standards require that the imposition of the death penalty be restricted to the “most serious crimes” involving intentional killing.

Singapore is one of only four countries, alongside China, Iran and Saudi Arabia, where executions for drug-related offences were confirmed in 2024. As of today, 113 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes and close to three quarters of all countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally, in all cases and under any circumstances.

Source: CloudMile

Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila – CloudMile, a leading AI technology group in Asia, has successfully concluded its marquee Southeast Asia event “AI in Action – CloudMile Solution Day” series in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The tour drew over 300 business and technology leaders from across the region. This strong turnout reinforced the market's demand for solutions that strategically integrate AI, cybersecurity, and FinOps to drive innovation and efficiency. The series also served as the official launch platform for CloudMile's new FinOps platform, LumiTure.ai.

A key highlight of the tour was the official launch of LumiTure.ai, CloudMile's new multi-cloud FinOps platform. Designed to help enterprises track and manage cloud spending, and cost allocation across multi-cloud. The launch reinforced the critical connection between AI-driven strategies, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and financial governance, showcasing how these three pillars are essential for a successful digital transformation.

Throughout the tour, CloudMile emphasized a “Secure by Design” approach towards AI, reinforcing that cybersecurity is a foundational element, not an afterthought, for any successful AI adoption. The events provided attendees with a clear look at how to build a resilient and secure data infrastructure while also ensuring AI responsibility and ethical AI behaviors. The discussions covered how to support high-value AI adoption, strengthen the digital economy through financial governance, and drive business competitiveness, all while upholding the principles of ethical and responsible AI.

“The Southeast Asian market is one of the most dynamic regions for AI adoption,” said Spencer Liu, Founder and Chairman of CloudMile Group. “The overwhelming turnout for this series demonstrates the strong appetite for solutions that combine AI with a robust framework for security and cost efficiency. With the introduction of LumiTure.ai, we are directly addressing these market needs.”

The success of the events was also a testament to CloudMile's collaborative AI ecosystem. Partners including Google Cloud, Bitdefender, Confluent, and JumpCloud contributed expertise on enterprise security, data management, and AI infrastructure, underscoring the importance of strategic alliances in enabling wider AI adoption.

“The “AI in Action” series was designed to urge businesses to look beyond the impressive results of AI agents and to instead focus on establishing a clear, secure, and cost-effective roadmap for their AI journey from the very beginning,” said Jeremy Heng, Southeast Asia Managing Director of CloudMile. “Our approach is simple: build a robust foundation where security and efficiency are not afterthoughts but are woven into the very fabric of the data journey.”

About CloudMile

CloudMile is a leading AI technology group in Asia, focused on driving enterprise growth through digital transformation powered by AI and data technology. With dual headquarters in Taipei and Singapore, and offices across Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, CloudMile provides end-to-end AI transformation solutions, from multi-cloud architecture design and technical integration to strategic AI consulting. For more information, please visit www.mile.cloud.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Shifting gears in the fight against tobacco in the Western Pacific Region  

MANILA, 20 October 2025 – Tobacco use remains one of the deadliest public health threats in the Western Pacific, killing more than 3 million people every year: one in five deaths across a Region covering 38 countries and areas. Despite decades of efforts to combat this scourge with significant progress on several fronts, more than one in five people still use tobacco products in this Region of over 2.2 billion people, and the industry continues to adapt with new tactics and products to keep profits flowing.

“Smoking remains the leading cause of tobacco-related deaths, but they are not the only danger,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “From conventional cigarettes to smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, every product is designed to hook people into a lifetime of addiction, and every delay in stronger action costs health and lives. With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) the greatest health burden in our Region and globally, and with tobacco-related illness linked to a range of often-fatal illnesses from heart diseases to cancer, it’s critical that Member States gathering at our upcoming Regional Committee Meeting step up urgent action to deliver our shared commitments.”

Progress and Challenges

Data from WHO in the Western Pacific shows that many countries have advanced tobacco control laws, expanding smoke-free environments and strengthening packaging and labelling requirements on cigarette packs. Some, like Viet Nam, have introduced landmark tax reforms, while Pacific nations including Palau and the Cook Islands have banned e-cigarettes.  

These measures, along with a number of others, are among WHO’s Best Buys – evidence-based and cost-effective approaches to decreasing the incidence and dangers of NCDs, including those that address key risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.  

But progress has been uneven:

• Cigarettes and other tobacco products remain widely available and affordable in many countries. 
• E-cigarettes and other new tobacco and nicotine products are gaining ground, particularly among children and youth. 
• Tobacco taxation, the most cost-effective Best Buy intervention, is still underused. 
• Industry interference continues to obstruct policies through lobbying; marketing, including to children and young persons; and outright disinformation. 
• Enforcement gaps exist even when strong laws are in place, due to resource gaps and limited multisectoral collaboration. 

Why it matters

The Western Pacific is home to over a quarter of the world’s population but nearly half of all global tobacco-related deaths. Unless countries accelerate action, most will fall short of the 2030 target of reducing tobacco use by 30% under the Regional Action Plan for Tobacco Control endorsed by the Member States in 2019.

Conventional products like cigarettes and smokeless tobacco continue to devastate health, also causing economic and environmental burdens. Meanwhile, new products often marketed as “less harmful” alternatives come in fruity flavours and sleek designs to appeal to younger people, creating a new generation of addicts.

Looking ahead

At the upcoming 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, being held in Fiji from October 20 to 24, governments will come together to discuss how to close gaps and take decisive and urgent actions to achieve the 2030 target.

“Governments have powerful tools at their disposal, but they must use them,” said Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office. “Bold action now can prevent millions of premature deaths, sharply reduce healthcare costs, benefit the economy and create a tobacco-free generation across Asia and the Pacific.”

WHO remains committed to working with countries and partners to “weave health for all,” reflecting its regional vision that interlaces efforts, resources, and expertise to protect health, keep the Western Pacific safer, and serve the more than 2.2 billion people who live in this vast region.

For more on the 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, visit:https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-76