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  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Oregon Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Microwave Tower Fire

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    “As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists in person and online so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Microwave Tower Fire that occurred July 22-Aug. 11, SBA’s Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced today. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Tina Kotek on Oct. 28.

    The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler counties in Oregon; and Klickitat County in Washington.

    “Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration.

    “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Sánchez continued.

    “When disasters strike, our virtual Business Recovery Centers are key to helping business owners and residents get back on their feet,” Sánchez added. “At these virtual centers, people can connect directly with our specialists to apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to rebuild and move forward in their recovery journey.”

    “Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 30, SBA customer service representatives will be available at the following virtual Business Recovery Center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each business owner complete their application,” Sánchez said. The virtual center will be open on the days and times indicated below. No appointment is necessary.

    VIRTUAL BUSINESS RECOVERY CENTER
    Monday – Friday
    8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
    (916) 735-1712

    Opens at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30

    Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day

    Closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving Holiday

    Eligibility is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for small businesses and 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

    Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 29, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Alford Demands Answers from Postmaster DeJoy on the Disenfranchisement of Service Members Overseas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — As first reported by Breitbart, U.S. Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) sent a letter this week to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to express his grave concern over reports that service members stationed abroad are being disenfranchised by the Postal Service’s delays in delivering their ballots to election authorities.

    Congressman Alford described voting as a fundamental right for all Americans and called on USPS to take urgent measures to address the issue and ensure that no service members are denied their Constitutional right to vote.

    “Election integrity is a key pillar in our democracy, and any actions that undermine free and fair elections are completely unacceptable,” said Congressman Alford. “The right to vote is a fundamental right for all Americans, enshrined in the United States Constitution. It is deeply concerning that members of our Armed Services stationed abroad could potentially be denied this right due to USPS errors.”

    “With Election Day fast approaching, I am concerned with how USPS plans to ensure the hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen stationed abroad can exercise their right to vote,” Congressman Alford continued. “The failure to meet the Congressionally mandated six-day delivery windows is troubling, and it poses a significant disservice to any Service Member whose vote is not counted.”

    In the letter, Alford described the current situation as unacceptable and condemned USPS’s inability to fulfill their duty.

    “There is no excuse for something as egregious as a failure to deliver our service members’ ballots. It is clear the USPS must take urgent measures to address this issue, and to prevent it from worsening. We cannot deny our servicemembers this Constitutional right, and it is your duty to ensure this does not continue,” Congressman Alford concluded.

    Text of the letter can be found HERE or below:

    Mr. Louis DeJoy

    Postmaster General

    United States Postal Service

    475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 10300

    Washington, DC 20260

     

    Dear Postmaster General DeJoy,

     

    I am writing to express my deep concern about a report I have received that servicemembers stationed abroad were disenfranchised by the United States Postal Service (USPS) failing to deliver their ballot in a timely manner. Election integrity is a key pillar in our democracy, and any actions that undermine free and fair elections are completely unacceptable.

     

    The right to vote is a fundamental right for all Americans, enshrined in the United States Constitution. It is deeply concerning that members of our Armed Services stationed abroad could potentially be denied this right due to USPS errors. With Election Day fast approaching, I am concerned with how USPS plans to ensure the hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen stationed abroad can exercise their right to vote.

     

    The failure to meet the Congressionally mandated six-day delivery windows is troubling, and it poses a significant disservice to any Service Member whose vote is not counted. The current situation is unacceptable and the USPS’s inability to fulfill their duty is worrying.

     

    I understand the USPS has attributed recent mail delays to major staffing shortages, an issue affecting various businesses nationwide. While I recognize the dedication of postal workers and mail carriers, there is no excuse for something as egregious as a failure to deliver ballots to our servicemembers. It is clear the USPS must take urgent measures to address this issue, and to prevent it from worsening. We cannot deny our servicemembers this Constitutional right, and it is your duty to ensure this does not continue.

    For these reasons, I request a timely response to the following questions:

     

    1. What specific strategies are the USPS implementing to assist Service Member’s abroad in voting?

     

    1. What measures are being taken to ensure that Military members ballots are processed in a timely manner?

    I appreciate your attention to this matter and the hard work of USPS employees in fulfilling their duties. Thank you for your prompt consideration of this urgent matter.

    I appreciate your attention to this matter and the hard work of USPS employees in fulfilling their duties. Thank you for your prompt consideration of this urgent matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gang member arrested after homemade firearm located

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attributable to Senior Sergeant Aimee Whitley, Hamilton City Area Response Manager:

    Two people, including a gang member, have been arrested and a homemade firearm seized following an incident in Hillcrest, Hamilton.

    Around 2pm yesterday, Police responded to Masters Avenue following a report of a disorder involving a firearm. No-one was injured.

    A person believed to be in possession of a firearm left the scene in a vehicle.

    Police swiftly responded, armed as a precaution, searching the Hillcrest area and locating the vehicle of interest further down Masters Avenue.

    The vehicle was stopped and two people from the vehicle were arrested without incident.

    A small home-made pistol, capable of firing .22 calibre rounds, was located and seized, along with 203 grams of cannabis also located in the vehicle.

    A 30-year-old Waikato man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Friday 1 November on charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm and unlawfully possessing ammunition.

    A 23-year-old Waikato man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday 5 November on a charge of possessing a cannabis plant.

    Thanks to the detailed and prompt report made by a member of the public, Police were able to swiftly locate the vehicle of interest, taking one more firearm off the street.

    Police work hard to hold offenders to account, especially those with the potential to cause serious harm in our communities, such as those unlawfully in the possession of firearms, or those who take it upon themselves to craft homemade firearms.

    Homemade firearms have the potential to cause serious harm, not only to officers and the community but also to those using them.

    If you witness any unlawful activity and it is happening now, please contact Police on 111 as soon as possible with as much information as possible, including descriptions of the offenders, their vehicles, and what direction they may have travelled in.

    Information can also be reported to Police online or by calling 105.

    Alternatively you can report any information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Four property owners fined over $104,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Four property owners fined over $104,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions
    Four property owners fined over $104,000 in total for failing to comply with fire safety directions
    ******************************************************************************************

         Four property owners were convicted and fined over $104,000 in total at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on October 17 for failing to comply with fire safety directions issued under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance (FS(B)O) (Cap. 572).      The Buildings Department (BD) issued fire safety directions under section 5(2)(a)(ii) of the FS(B)O to the respective owners of four domestic flats in a 70-year-old composite building on Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, requiring them to comply with the fire safety construction requirements by providing fire-rated doors at the unit entrances, which open directly to staircases.      Failing to comply with the statutory directions, the four owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted by the court. Each of them was fined $26,120.      “According to the FS(B)O, failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the ordinance without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The BD may instigate prosecution proceedings against the owner”, a spokesman for the BD said today (October 30).      Pursuant to section 5(8) of the FS(B)O, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a statutory direction, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000 at present) and to a further fine of $2,500 for each day of non-compliance. Upon conviction, an application may also be made to the court for a Fire Safety Compliance Order against the owner under section 6(1) of the FS(B)O directing the owner to comply with the requirements of the direction.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists extract world’s longest ice core outside polar regions

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An aerial drone photo shows members of Chinese scientific expedition team heading deep into the Purog Kangri Glacier in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese scientists announced Tuesday that they had successfully extracted a 324-meter ice core from the thickest glacier on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau — the longest ice core ever drilled on the plateau and the longest globally outside the polar regions.
    Braving the wind and snow, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) had worked tirelessly on the summit of the Purog Kangri Glacier in Tsonyi County, China’s highest county in altitude with over 5,000 meters above sea level on average in Xizang Autonomous Region, for over a month.
    The ice core surpassed the previous record set in 1992, when scientists from China and the United States drilled a 308.6-meter ice core from Guliya Ice Cap in Xizang’s Ngari Prefecture on the plateau, according to the CAS.
    Glaciers contain important information about the Earth’s climate history.
    “The longest ice core here has unique geographical and climatic characteristics, recording long-term climate and environmental information for the area,” said Xu Baiqing, deputy director of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, who led the extraction project.
    During the Purog Kangri Glacier scientific research project, which started in September, scientists identified it as the thickest glacier on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, following the discovery of an ice field with a maximum measured thickness of nearly 400 meters.
    Lonnie Thompson, a member of the American Academy of Sciences and a foreign academician of the CAS, joined the research in September.
    “Currently, glaciers worldwide are retreating. Once they melt, the historical records encapsulated within them will also disappear,” Thompson told Xinhua during his trip to the research site.
    “Therefore, extracting and preserving ice cores is crucial for retrieving historical information,” he added.
    The ice core drilling and thickness measurement of Purog Kangri Glacier are part of China’s second scientific expedition and research project on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, initiated in August 2017 and headed by Yao Tandong, an academician of the CAS.
    By measuring the thickness and extracting ice cores, scientists can better examine the changes occurring in this largest ice field in the mid-to-low latitudes and the environmental changes it has recorded, thereby gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of global warming on glaciers, Yao said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Intel unveils additional investment in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Workers set up the exhibition booth of Intel Corporation in preparation for the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 2, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. chip giant Intel on Monday announced the expansion of its packaging and testing base in southwestern China to boost local supply chain efficiency and better serve Chinese clients.

    With a capital increase of 300 million U.S. dollars, the added capacity at its base in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, will primarily focus on packaging and testing services for server chips to meet Chinese clients’ demand for customized packaging solutions. A new customer solutions center will also be established to enhance the efficiency of the local supply chain and increase support for Chinese customers, the company said in an announcement.

    China’s persistent pursuit of high-quality development and high-level opening-up serves as the foundation and driving force for Intel’s long-term development in the Chinese market. Intel’s strategy of being rooted in China and serving its customers remains unchanged, according to Wang Rui, senior vice president and chairman of Intel China.

    The Chengdu base, put into operation in 2003, is one of Intel’s largest chip packaging and testing centers globally.

    Amidst the challenging global economic recovery, preserving the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is crucial for fostering growth.

    Intel has been under considerable revenue pressure in the global market in recent years. Bai Ming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce, said Intel aspires to leverage the growth of the Chinese market to overcome business challenges and enhance its overall performance.

    Intel has been in China for nearly four decades, establishing its first representative office in Beijing in 1985. China has become the regional market where Intel has the largest investment and the most comprehensive organization outside the United States. Nearly a quarter of Intel’s global revenue of over 50 billion U.S. dollars comes from the Chinese market.

    The fresh move once again demonstrates the importance of the Chinese market to global chip players. Last year, executives of several chip giants visited China, seeking closer collaboration with the world’s largest semiconductor market. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, when visiting China in April 2023, said China plays an incredibly important role in Intel’s business strategy.

    While Washington in recent years has continuously imposed semiconductor trade restrictions on China and even attempted to cut off U.S. capital flow to the Chinese high-tech sectors, U.S. chipmakers have found it both impossible and unbearable to “decouple” from the world’s second largest economy. A 2021 report by the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association clearly stated that “access to this massive (Chinese) market is essential to the success of any globally competitive chip firm today and in the future.”

    “China’s steady economic fundamentals, coupled with the continuous improvement of its business environment, have helped bolster the confidence of foreign enterprises, including Intel, in their pursuit of growth in the country,” said Bai.

    A total of 42,108 new foreign-invested firms were established in China in the first nine months of 2024, up 11.4 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New direct air service links Guiyang with Singapore

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Tianjin Airlines announced on Tuesday that a direct flight route will be available starting Nov. 15, connecting Guiyang, the capital city of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, with Singapore.

    The new air service will operate with an Airbus A320 aircraft, offering four round-trip flights per week, with each flight lasting approximately four hours or more.

    This will be the only direct flight from the mountainous province to Singapore, further expanding the international air routes available from China’s southwestern region.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Alphabet reports 15% growth in Q3 revenue

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, on Tuesday reported its third-quarter revenue at 88.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 15 percent from a year ago.

    Announcing its financial results for the quarter ending Sept. 30, the company said its net income was 26.3 billion dollars, compared with 19.69 billion dollars a year earlier. Its diluted earnings per share were 2.12 dollars, up 37 percent year on year.

    Of the entire quarterly revenue, 76.51 billion dollars came from Google Services total including YouTube advertising, the company’s financial report showed.

    Google Cloud sales grew to 11.35 billion dollars from 8.41 billion dollars a year ago.

    “Our commitment to innovation, as well as our long-term focus and investment in AI, are paying off with consumers and partners benefiting from our AI tools,” said Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet and Google.

    YouTube’s total ads and subscription revenues have surpassed 50 billion dollars over the past four quarters for the first time, Pichai added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expresses disapproval for EU’s tariff ruling over Chinese EVs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China-made new energy vehicles await shipment to Europe in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China does not approve of or accept the European Commission’s decision to impose extra tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Typhoon Kong-rey expected to make landfall in Zhejiang, Fujian on Thursday

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Typhoon Kong-rey, the 21st typhoon of this year, is expected to make landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan between noon and evening on Thursday and will gradually shift northeast towards the coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, where it may weaken but still pose a risk of grazing the coast, the China Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday.

    Dai Kan, deputy director of the National Meteorological Center, said Typhoon Kong-rey formed in the Northwest Pacific on Friday. By Tuesday afternoon, its center was located approximately 780 kilometers southeast of Taidong, Taiwan with maximum winds of 13 levels near the center.

    Influenced by cold air, areas near the typhoon’s center could see wind speeds of 13 to 17 levels in the following days, with gusts exceeding 17 levels. From Wednesday to Friday, heavy to torrential rain is anticipated in Taiwan, eastern and northern Fujian, Zhejiang, Shanghai and southern Jiangsu province, the administration said.

    CMA statistics show that no typhoons have made landfall or grazed the coasts of Fujian and Zhejiang after Oct 25 since 1949.

    “Residents in these areas should closely monitor the typhoon’s trajectory and take precautions against wind and rain,” Dai said.

    In addition, Typhoon Trami, along with cold air, have brought strong winds and heavy rain in the coastal areas of Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces starting Monday, the administration said.

    This month, temperatures in most areas in China have remained close to or above average, with significant fluctuations between warm and cold conditions, said Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Center.

    “There have been two major rainfalls, alleviating drought conditions in the Sichuan province and Chongqing, as well as areas along the Yangtze River,” Jia said.

    The national average temperature was 11.8 C in October, 0.9 C higher than that in a normal year, while five cold air events affected the country, he added.

    From Sep 29 to Oct 3, a cold wave brought temperature drops of 8 to 14 C in central and eastern areas, causing frost and snow damage in parts of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and northern Gansu province.

    The average national rainfall reached 35 millimeters, a 6.3 percent above the usual level for the same period of the year. “Some weather stations reported daily rainfall that broke historical records for October,” Jia said.

    In the coming 10 days, China is expected to experience wind and rain from Typhoon Kong-rey and another round of strong cold air. From Nov 3 to 5, strong cold air will move from the north to the south, bringing winds and cooling temperatures, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China launched the Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship on Wednesday, sending three taikonauts to space.

    A Long March-2F carrier rocket blasted off with the spaceship at 4:27 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The Shenzhou-19 crew, comprising mission commander Cai Xuzhe and members Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, will stay in orbit for about six months.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Villagers air rice in Debao County, S China’s Guangxi

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Villagers air rice in Debao County, S China’s Guangxi

    Updated: October 30, 2024 10:19 Xinhua
    Villagers air rice at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers air rice at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 29, 2024 shows a villager airing rice at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 29, 2024 shows rice aired on the roofs of buildings at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 29, 2024 shows villagers airing rice at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 29, 2024 shows rice aired on the roofs of buildings at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 29, 2024 shows rice aired on the roofs of buildings at Nazao Village in Debao County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2nd ‘Smile of Cambodia’ event kicks off at famed Angkor Wat

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The second “Smile of Cambodia” event was held in front of the famed Angkor Wat here in northwest Siem Reap province on Tuesday, aiming at promoting culture and the world heritage site to tourists.

    Angkor Wat is a major ancient temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day event, Phoeurng Sackona, minister of culture and fine arts, said the event was designed to promote culture and enhance tourism to attract international visitors to the Angkor.

    “This event has not only promoted Cambodia’s arts, culture, tradition and custom, but also contributed to revitalizing the tourism sector, which is one of the key catalysts for the kingdom’s economic growth,” she said.

    Sackona said the event was hosted by the APSARA National Authority (ANA), a government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, in collaboration with the Khmer Artists Association.

    According to the ANA, activities during the two-day event include exhibitions of local cuisine and souvenirs, entertainment programs, and cultural shows, among others.

    The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, which is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples, built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

    The ancient park attracted almost 700,000 international visitors during the January-September period of 2024, earning a gross revenue of 32.5 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zhang Yiming tops the list of Chinese billionaires

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    ByteDance’s founder Zhang Yiming’s wealth value has topped 350 billion yuan ($49.15 billion) this year, increasing by 105 billion yuan from 2023, and nominated as China’s richest person of 2024, according to the Hurun Research Institute on Tuesday.

    This is his first time being nominated as China’s richest person, the first one to make the list who was born after the 1980s and an entrepreneur that started from scratch, the report said.

    ByteDance’s global revenue surpassed 850 billion yuan in 2023, up 30 percent year-on-year, according to the report.

    The Hurun Rich List report for 2024 based wealth calculations as a snapshot of Aug 30, 2024. It identified the threshold for top 10 at 165 billion yuan.

    A total of 1,094 entrepreneurs with a personal wealth of more than 5 billion yuan made the list this year, the institute said.

    Nongfu Spring’s Zhong Shanshan and Tencent’s Ma Huateng grabbed the second and third spots on the list, with wealth values of 340 billion yuan and 315 billion yuan, respectively.

    Moreover, the top five sectors of wealth for listed entrepreneurs are industrial products, consumer goods, general health, real estate as well as food and beverage.

    The top three cities with the highest concentration of entrepreneurs on the list are Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tse Chin-wan attends SZ seminar

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today attended a seminar in Shenzhen, hosted by the Ministry of Ecology & Environment, on ecological and environmental protection in the Greater Bay Area.

    The seminar was aimed deepening such protection, strengthening collaboration towards it matter among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and exploring measures to accelerate the building of “an international first-class beautiful bay area”.

    Mr Tse highlighted four relevant areas of focus for Hong Kong: enhancing environmental governance to build a beautiful Hong Kong; promoting green and low-carbon transformation; green transportation development; and advocating for the establishment of a “Zero-waste City”.

    Highlighting that the three places have in place effective co-ordination mechanisms to promote ecological and environmental protection, Mr Tse added that Hong Kong will continue to contribute to the development of picturesque landscapes and a beautiful bay area.

    He elaborated that Hong Kong is looking forward to collaborating with Mainland cities in the bay area to jointly promote a circular economy, facilitate green transformation and explore opportunities for the development of green industries. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Strive and Rise Programme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Martin Liao and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30):
     
    Question:
     
         Regarding the second round of the Strive and Rise Programme (the Programme), will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) given that the Strive and Rise Alumni Club (Alumni Club) under the Programme has organised a number of exchange tours to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and also offers local job tasting or internship programmes for Alumni Club members aged between 16 and 21, and it is reported that some Mainland multinational enterprises intend to hire mentee graduates of the Programme, whether the authorities will consider extending the job tasting or internship programmes of the Alumni Club to GBA, so that mentees may gain a deeper understanding of the development of GBA at an early stage and widen their horizons; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) as it is reported that some mentors in the first round of the Programme were unable to spare time and participate in the activities with their mentees due to their busy schedules, and remained unaware of the emotional issues among the mentees by the end of the first round of the Programme, whether the authorities will make appropriate adjustments to the mentorship mechanism in the second round of the Programme to accommodate mentees with special needs and arrange for the mentors to receive training first, so as to help the mentors identify and address the emotional needs of the mentees; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (3) as it is learnt that a number of interest classes offered to mentees under the basic training sessions of the Programme are very popular among the mentees, but the costs of the interest classes in sport, musical instruments, art, etc, are too high that it is difficult to meet mentees’ long-term learning needs despite a subsidy totalling $10,000 is provided to them in two phases under the Programme, whether the authorities will introduce measures and collaborate with schools and various sectors where practicable, so as to support mentees in continuing to develop their interests; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) as there are views that the Child Development Fund is similar to the Programme in nature and content, for example, both with the elements such as “personal development plan” and “mentorship”, whether the Government will consider reviewing their contents and make appropriate integration or project collaboration, so as to optimise resources; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The second cohort of the Strive and Rise Programme (the Programme) was launched in October 2023, with a number of enhancement measures introduced with reference to the results from the impact assessment conducted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University research team on the programme’s first cohort. The enhancement measures include increasing the number of mentees from 2 800 to 4 000 with the coverage expanded to Secondary 4 students, enriching the variety of group activities (such as organising more Mainland study and exchange tours), introducing mentorship groups, and establishing the Strive and Rise Alumni Club (the Alumni Club) for graduates.
     
         The reply to the question raised by the Hon Martin Liao is as follows:
     
    (1) Graduates of the first and second cohorts of the Programme will automatically become members of the Alumni Club established in November 2023. It organises different types of activities for the alumni, including exchange activities to the Mainland, with a view to broadening their social network and horizons, and sustaining the effectiveness of the programme. Also, the Alumni Club provides short-term five-day job tasting/internship opportunities for alumni aged 16 or above to assist them in identifying their talents and career aspirations. It will continue, in collaboration with supporting organisations, to line up Mainland study and exchange tours as well as various experiential activities, including visits to workplaces of different enterprises, to help alumni understand the development and prospects of different industries on the Mainland, widen their horizons and set goals for their future.
     
    (2) One of the enhancement measures implemented in the second cohort of the Programme is the introduction of mentorship groups on top of the one-to-one mentor-mentee pairing, under which two to three pairs of mentors and mentees would form a mentorship group to participate in group activities and exchanges for better interaction, sharing and support. When matching mentors and mentees, consideration will be given to the latter’s career aspirations and hobbies/interests, as well as their gender, language and special needs (e.g. special educational needs (SENs)). The programme also provided different kinds of training for mentors, including basic and advanced training, and skills for interacting with mentees with SENs or from ethnic minority groups and their parents. If mentors encounter difficulties in offering guidance to mentees, they may contact the respective District Organisers which will arrange social workers to render support as appropriate.
     
    (2) The enhanced Programme consists of a one-year intensive foundation programme and two years of activities in the Alumni Club. In the first year of the Programme, a start-up sum of $5,000 is awarded to student participants for implementing their personal development plans under the guidance of their mentors, whereas a scholarship of $5,000 is further awarded to student participants upon completion of the Programme for their own deployment by applying the financial planning skills acquired. Graduates will automatically become members of the Alumni Club and can continue to participate in its whole-person development activities covering six major aspects, namely Financial Education, Career and Life Planning, Leadership Development, Sports and Healthy Lifestyle, Arts and Cultural Expressions, and Social Networking and Civic Engagement, as well as job tasting/internship opportunities, with a view to broadening their social network and horizons while continuing to facilitate their development of talents and interests.
     
    (4) In 2023, the Social Welfare Department completed a review of the Child Development Fund Programme (CDF Programme) to enhance its uniqueness and ensure effective use of resources in supporting underprivileged children. Relevant enhancement measures have been introduced to the projects launched in March 2024. For example, target participants have been changed from students of Primary 4 to Secondary 4 to students of Primary 3 to Primary 6, so that underprivileged children can benefit at an early developmental stage from the CDF Programme, including development of savings habits, good characters and positive values through the three components of Personal Development Plan, Mentorship, and Targeted Savings. The enhanced CDF Programme complements the Strive and Rise Programme which focuses on supporting Secondary 1 to 4 students from underprivileged families. The two programmes complement each other in catering to the needs of Primary and Secondary students from underprivileged families at their different developmental stages.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Promoting digital nomadism

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ9: Promoting digital nomadism
    LCQ9: Promoting digital nomadism
    ********************************

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question:      It has been reported that digital nomadism (i.e. working remotely online while living abroad) has become a lifestyle with growing popularity in recent years. Some studies have estimated that the population of digital nomads worldwide would increase to 1 billion by 2035. There are views that hiring digital nomads is conducive to business operation by reducing employers’ costs and expenses, while the presence of digital nomads in the host communities will also contribute to local economic growth. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether the Government will or has estimate(d) and assess(ed) the economic benefits that can be brought to Hong Kong by implementing digital nomad policies to attract talents to work and live in Hong Kong; (2) as there are views pointing out that digital nomads can help expand the talent pool to a worldwide scale, and it is learnt that at present, about 60 countries and places across the globe have already introduced digital nomad visas (e.g. the digital nomad visa launched by Thailand this year has a validity of five years, permitting a stay of up to 180 days per visit, while the digital nomad visa introduced by Japan this year allows holders to bring along with them their family members), whether the Government will, by drawing reference from the relevant practices, issue digital nomad visas to overseas and Mainland talents, or even roll out related preferential policies (including temporary resident visas, accommodation allowance, family-friendly measures and tax incentives, etc) in order to attract specific types of digital nomads (e.g. talents related to Web 3.0, quantum computation and artificial intelligence), thereby attracting more talents to come to Hong Kong; if so, of the details of the plan and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and (3) whether the Government will, in the long run, consider launching an e-Residency programme to offer digital citizenship to foreigners, so as to attract more talents and enterprises from abroad to settle in Hong Kong? Reply: President,      In consultation with the Financial Secretary’s Office (including the Office of the Government Economist and the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises), the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, I give the reply on behalf of the Government as follows:           “Digital nomads” are essentially similar to visitors, who can live in one place but at the same time work remotely under an employment outside such place. “Digital nomads” will return to their places of origin or move to other places after a certain period of time.      In the case of Hong Kong, the Government has implemented a series of enhanced talent admission measures since the end of 2022 to entice global talents of diverse backgrounds and professions to settle and pursue development in Hong Kong. Talents will alleviate the post-pandemic manpower shortage in Hong Kong, fill local job vacancies and enrich the local talent pool for promoting economic development. As the objective of the Government’s talents policy is to alleviate manpower shortage, we hope that admitted talents can make Hong Kong their home, inject impetus and contribute to the development of Hong Kong. “Digital nomads” are mobile. Although they will spend on various aspects in daily living during their stay in Hong Kong, they are no different from ordinary visitors. They do not fit well under the Government’s talent attraction policy. The Government has no plan to introduce “digital nomad” visa arrangement under the talent admission regime.      At present, “digital nomad” visa arrangement is implemented in a small number of regions only. With limited statistics on relevant economic activities available, the Government is not able to estimate the potential economic benefits brought by adopting similar practice in Hong Kong. The “e-Residency programme” allows freelance workers to obtain some of the rights or facilitation granted to the citizens of the issuing place, or they may live and work in the issuing place. Such an arrangement involves complex issues such as taxation, civil rights and obligations, etc. It is currently implemented in a small number of regions only. The Government has difficulty in assessing its benefit and has no plan to implement such arrangement neither at present.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:05

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Domestic violence

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ19: Domestic violence
    LCQ19: Domestic violence
    ************************

         Following is a question by the Hon Lilian Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question:      There are views pointing out that domestic violence is of grave concern in the community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the respective numbers of requests for assistance and reported cases in relation to domestic violence received by the Government in each month of the past five years, as well as the number of persons convicted; (2) as it is learnt that when handling domestic conflict reports, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will refer cases in need to the Social Welfare Department for follow-up actions once consent is sought from the parties concerned, and for persons who refuse to accept the referral service, HKPF will provide them with a “Family Support Service Information Card” so that they can seek assistance on their own, whether the Government has continuously followed up and provided support for those persons who refused the referral service; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; (3) of the waiting time for and the average number of sessions of psychological counselling and emotional support services provided by the Government to victims in domestic violence cases; (4) given that the Police currently classify domestic conflict reports into “Domestic Violence (Crime)”, “Domestic Violence (Miscellaneous)” and “Domestic Incidents” based on their degree of seriousness, whether the Government will regularly review and update the relevant classification criteria and guidelines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (5) of the Government’s education and publicity efforts on the prevention of domestic violence in the past three years (set out by item); whether it has assessed the effectiveness of such work? Reply: President,      The reply to the Member’s question, in consultation with Security Bureau, is as follows: (1) In the past five years, the numbers of cases involving spouse/cohabitant battering and child protection received and handled by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) are tabulated below: 

    Case type
    Year

    2019
    2020
    2021
    2022
    2023

    Number of spouse/cohabitant battering cases
    2 920
    2 601
    2 715
    2 077
    1 938

    Number of child protection cases
    1 006
    940
    1 367
    1 439
    1 457

          The SWD does not have information on the monthly number of such cases.      As at September 2024, the respective numbers of cases of domestic violence (including Domestic Violence (Crime) and Domestic Violence (Miscellaneous)) and Domestic Incidents handled by the Police are set out at Annex. As domestic violence cases involve various criminal offences and different ordinances, the Police do not maintain statistics on the relevant number of convictions. (2) When handling domestic conflict reports, once consent is sought from the parties concerned, the Police will refer cases in need to the SWD for follow-up actions, including arranging for the persons in need for admission to refuge centres or immediate intervention by outreaching social workers, etc by the SWD. Depending on the circumstances, the Police refers the victims and/or assailants to other appropriate follow-up services, such as joining hands with the SWD to assist them in contacting relevant social welfare organisations for counseling and other supports, with a view to strengthening protection for victims and preventing recurrence of domestic violence. For persons who refuse to accept referral services, the Police provides a “Family Support Service Information Card” jointly produced with the SWD, to facilitate the persons concerned to contact service agencies direct for assistance. If a case is assessed as high-risk, the Police will take the initiative to refer the case to the SWD to ensure that the case receives timely follow-up. Upon receiving the Police’s referral, the SWD will make crisis intervention and provide necessary support having regard to the circumstances and welfare needs of the case. (3) The SWD provides a wide range of preventive, supportive and specialised services to victims of domestic violence and families in need through different service units. These services include Integrated Family Service Centres/Integrated Services Centres, Family and Child Protective Services Units, Clinical Psychology Units, Family Support Networking Teams, Refuge Centres for Women, Family Crisis Support Centre, Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre, Victim Support Programme for Victims of Family Violence, residential child care services and child care centres. The emergency support services provided by these service units to the victims of domestic violence cases do not require waiting. The SWD does not have the information on the average times of service for each case. (4) The Police have clear professional guidelines for the classification and handling of cases. Irrespective of the classification of a case, police officers will handle and investigate cases with empathy, understanding, professionalism, fairness, and impartiality.      The Police attach great importance to the problem of domestic violence. Through an inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary approach, the Police handle domestic violence cases with joint efforts, with a view to achieving the dual objectives of protecting the personal safety of the victims and their families as well as bringing the offenders to justice. The Police have formulated a set of policies and procedures for effective handling of domestic violence cases, ensuring that officers respond to all reports promptly and take appropriate enforcement actions, and ensure the immediate safety of victim and his/her children to prevent further harm. (5) The SWD has been launching the publicity campaign on “Strengthening Families and Combating Violence”, which include promotion through television, radio, various public transport network, online platforms and social media, to raise public awareness on the understanding of the problems of domestic violence and the prevention of domestic violence. The SWD also organises various mass events and diversified district-based public education programmes with a view to encouraging the persons in need to seek early assistance, preventing resorting to violence against family members and promoting the message of family harmony.      In addition, the Police have also effectively utilised various channels, including seminars, workshops and online platforms to provide training to different sectors such as social welfare and education, in order to raise public awareness and prevent domestic violence cases.      The Government would regularly review the effectiveness of the work and refine the promotion strategies at appropriate time.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:08

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Natural disaster connectivity boost for Torquay

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Locals and visitors to Torquay will be safer, better connected and informed thanks to mobile connectivity and resilience upgrades through the Albanese Government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP).
     
    Torquay will share in $40.9 million awarded nationally under PUMP Round 2 which will co-fund 47 projects in natural-disaster prone communities.
     
    The Albanese Government has awarded funding to Amplitel to address longstanding mobile coverage and reception issues in the area.
     
    The project will upgrade an existing Amplitel site to provide new and improved 4G and 5G coverage from TPG that will have back-up power supply of at least 12 hours. This will allow services to operate for longer in the event of a mains power outage caused by a natural disaster.
     
    The project is one of 16 successful projects in Victoria under Round 2 of PUMP. In total, Victorian projects will receive $15.7 million in Commonwealth funding, and $14.6 million in co-contributions from the telco industry.
     
    The 16 projects will deliver more than 800 square kilometres of 4G and 5G new improved coverage, to more than 35,000 homes and businesses.
     
    The peri-urban fringe is where the bush meets the suburbs, creating natural disaster risks for those living and working there. These areas have been historically underserved because of the high cost of deploying infrastructure, difficult terrain, planning challenges and lower population densities.
     
    Natural disasters across Australia have highlighted the need for more reliable mobile services during emergencies, which the Albanese Government is committed to delivering.
     
    The PUMP Round 2 projects were recommended by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts following a competitive, merit-based process.
     
    The PUMP complements other Albanese Government initiatives to improve telecommunications services across Australia, through the $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.
     
    For more information, visit: infrastructure.gov.au/pump
     
    Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
     
    “The Albanese Government understands how vital telecommunication services are for keeping communities safe, connected and informed during disruptions and natural disasters.
     
    “Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death.
     
    “This is why we are investing up to $100 million through our Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia to improve the resilience of networks against natural disasters.

    “The PUMP projects are part of this commitment. Better connectivity will allow communities, like those around Torquay, to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.
     
    “The Albanese Government is pleased to support this project, which will help ensure locals and visitors to Torquay can stay in touch and receive information when they need it most.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Corangamite, Ms Libby Coker MP: 
     
    “It’s fantastic to have the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP here to announce this project for Torquay. It reflects the Albanese Government’s whole-hearted commitment to improving the resilience of mobile networks across our region.
     
    “While no network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, our Government is determined to do what we can to boost the resilience of our telecommunications networks when local communities need them most.
     
    “Living on the Surf Coast, I know just how important good mobile coverage can be for keeping locals and visitors safe, especially during the peak summer months –  I look forward to seeing the connectivity boost this project will deliver for Torquay – it’s a great outcome for our region.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Royal Malaysian Navy Commence Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2024

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    LUMUT, Malaysia  –  

    The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Royal Malaysian Armed Forces commenced Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2024, Oct. 29. This marks the beginning of eight days of maritime engagements designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen security ties between the two nations.

    “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise series, which is a testament to the strength and longevity of the U.S.-Malaysia partnership,” said Capt. John Baggett, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and U.S. head of delegation for the opening ceremony. “Over the past three decades, we’ve built a strong foundation of trust and cooperation that has benefited both of our nations. Exercises like this underscore the excellent partnership between our militaries and emphasizes our respect for one another.”

    CARAT Malaysia 2024 builds on 67 years of close collaboration between the U.S. and Malaysia. It highlights our continued dedication to peace, stability and security in the region. Additionally, CARAT Malaysia serves as a symbol of the U.S. commitment to key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners to reinforce ASEAN Centrality, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    During the exercise, participants will engage in specialized training across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, legal operations, aviation, and force protection. Naval vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft, and specialized teams (including diving and explosive ordnance disposal units) will conduct high-intensity drills focusing on anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and maritime domain awareness.

    This year, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) personnel will engage in training events and expert exchanges with Royal Malaysian army and naval forces, focusing on amphibious operations planning, medical treatment in maritime environments, legal discussions, and security and cyber operations best practices.

    These events aim to enhance the collective interoperability and proficiency between U.S. and Malaysian forces while cultivating strong relationships as partners.

    “CARAT serves as a vital platform for our armed forces to engage in cooperative operations. It emphasizes our shared dedication to promoting stability and addressing shared challenges in our maritime domain,” said Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Hj Muhammad Rohdi bin Ariffin, assistant chief of staff, Joint Force Headquarters and Malaysian head of delegation for the opening ceremony. “We are privileged to host our friends from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. This exercise showcases the strength of our partnership and the spirit of collaboration… Together we can overcome challenges and ensure a stable future for all.”

    Participating U.S. assets include the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, staff and personnel from Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 72, 73, 75, and 76, Command, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and MRF-SEA personnel from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

    Royal Malaysian Navy participating assets include the Kedah-class offshore patrol vessel KD Terengganu (F 174), the Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Rencong (KD 114), a Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec helicopter, an F/A-18D Hornet multi-role fighter, and two Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters.

    As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore. DESRON 7 also functions as the CTF-76 Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.

    U.S. 7th Fleet is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts
    and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Forum reinforces US-Japan acquisition cooperation efforts

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TOKYO, Japan  –  

     Defense Contract Management Agency International’s Pacific Command continues to reinforce the growing defense cooperation between Japan and the United States.

    Navy Cmdr. Thomas Miyano, DCMA Japan’s commander, recently participated in Japan’s Ministry of Defense Industry Day alongside the U.S. Air Force’s 374th Contract Squadron. The event, which focused on supply chain resilience, co-sustainment of military assets, and co-production of missile systems, served as a continuation of efforts initiated by the U.S.-Japan Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition, and Sustainment, or DICAS, forum from earlier this year.

    Miyano discussed DCMA’s role in supporting the Japan Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet with Japan’s Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara and Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Hiroshi Miyake.

    “This event provided an invaluable opportunity to showcase DCMA’s contributions to maintaining the readiness and resiliency of both U.S. and Japanese forces,” Miyano said. “The DCMA Pacific team is committed to providing value throughout the acquisition lifecycle, and it was an honor to convey that dedication to our Indo-Pacific partners.”

    Industry Day bolstered the ongoing agenda discussed during the 2+2 meeting, a key bilateral defense dialogue between Japan and the U.S. to promote greater defense cooperation. The event followed the launch of the DICAS Forum in June, spearheaded by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante and his Japanese counterpart, Masaki Fukasawa, commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency.

    LaPlante and Fukasawa, who served as DICAS co-chairs, signed the Terms of Reference to restructure the former Systems and Technology Forum into the DICAS framework. The agreement, announced earlier this year, marked a commitment by both countries to advance co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment of defense systems, including missile systems and U.S. Navy and Air Force assets stationed in the Indo-Pacific.

    “When you’re talking about acquisition, there’s really three legs to the stool,” LaPlante said earlier this year. “One leg is acquisition, which is the contract. The second is the requirement, and this is about … getting what the department needs right for the warfighter, and the third is having money in the right year.”

    Defense officials and industry leaders from both nations explored how to strengthen joint capabilities and streamline cooperation between U.S. and Japanese defense contractors. Industry Day also provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of key initiatives under DICAS, such as co-production of missile systems and co-sustainment of U.S. military ships and aircraft. 

    “We discussed how our collaboration can further support the co-sustainment of forward-deployed U.S. Navy ships and how we can streamline the joint production of defense equipment,” Miyano said. “It’s clear that both nations are committed to working together to overcome challenges and strengthen the region’s security.”

    With the DICAS framework serving as a critical foundation for these collaborative efforts, both the U.S. and Japan are set to continue deepening their defense ties.

    “By enhancing co-sustainment and co-production efforts, our two nations are laying the groundwork for a more integrated and capable defense infrastructure, poised to meet the evolving challenges of this area,” Miyano said.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: How Cities Can Combat Extreme Heat Using Nature-Based Solutions

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Despite their broad potential, nature-based solutions are often overlooked in city cooling strategies. Key barriers include a lack of supportive policies, financial constraints, and limited institutional capacity.

    Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach that maximizes NbS benefits and integrates them into broader heat action plans. This must involve reducing waste heat (e.g., from transport and buildings), addressing cooling needs efficiently, and ensuring equitable access to thermal comfort. Key considerations for incorporating NbS into urban cooling strategies include:

    • Integrated planning: A systems approach ensures NbS are complemented by other solutions to maximize their benefits.
    • Equity: Cooling solutions must be distributed fairly, with heat equity embedded in planning to prevent future injustices.
    • Community participation: Involve women and vulnerable groups in designing and implementing cooling programs that deliver real benefits.
    • Local solutions: NbS should be tailored to local climates, needs, and traditional approaches (e.g., architecture).

    Studies suggest that 30% of cities should be dedicated to green or blue spaces. Achieving this requires enabling strategies like raising awareness, building institutional capacity, and securing financing. It also involves assessing current natural assets and identifying vulnerable communities. Partnerships with the private sector can help provide technical expertise and funding. In developing countries, protecting existing green spaces from development is the most effective way to maintain cooling.

    Creating a cooling-friendly urban form requires time and sustained effort. In the near term, practical, no-regret actions to build resilience to heat stress through NbS include:

    • Establishing champions and authorities to protect and enhance green and blue spaces
    • Conducting baseline assessments of green and blue spaces and identifying vulnerable communities
    • Investing in green and blue infrastructure, especially in public areas

    Tree planting is perhaps the simplest and most effective action to reduce urban heat—provided the right trees are planted in the right places as part of a coordinated city-wide greening effort. Steps taken today will help future generations benefit from NbS for cooling.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Certification success brings new momentum for Filipino vegetable growers

    Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

    In the past 2 years, an ACIAR-supported value chain project in the Philippines has seen the country’s first smallholder vegetable farmers certified through the Philippines Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) program.

    Although PhilGAP was first launched in 2006 by the Department of Agriculture, there have been few market or other incentives to drive uptake of certification. The program aims to ensure the safety and quality of agricultural products, environmental protection, and the health, safety and welfare of farm workers. 

    But with 43 vegetable growers now certified in the Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions, and more in progress, it has breathed new life into the PhilGAP program.

    The ACIAR-supported project driving this new momentum is a collaboration involving Applied Horticultural Research, Visayas State University (VSU), Landcare Foundation of the Philippines and the East West Seed Company Inc.

    The efforts of the VSU team in particular have been recognised, when they were awarded the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan (Public Service) Award in September by the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

    Research assistants test soil samples at the Philippine Root Crop and Research Training Center at the Visayas State University in Leyte, Philippines. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR

    Students from Visayas State University work on their experimental crops at a farm in Cabintan Livelihood Community Association (CALCOA) in Brgy Cabintan, Ormoc City. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR

    Students from Visayas State University work on their experimental crops at a farm in Cabintan Livelihood Community Association (CALCOA) in Brgy Cabintan, Ormoc City. Photo Veejay Villafranca/ACIAR

    Leader of the project Professor Gordon Rogers said the project’s primary focus was on demonstrating how smallholder farmers could complete the certification process and how they would benefit from a more consumer-focused approach to production.

    Professor Rogers said the research team developed a stepped process which has been the key to help farmers progress towards certification as they were able. There were 36 farms certified by the end of the project in June 2024, and more than 50 other farms had begun the process. By the end of August 2024, the number of certified farms had grown to 43. 

    ‘We divided the process into 4 steps. The first and second steps involve the sort of things that farmers can do easily and cheaply, and which actually have the greatest benefit in terms of improving the food quality and safety, and farm productivity,’ said Professor Rogers.

    Benefits for farmers undertaking certification have included reduced farm inputs, improved health with safer farming practices, improvements in the quality and safety of their produce and increased prices for certified produce.

    Mr Alvin Morales, one of the farmers who has received PhilGAP training, said, ‘The ACIAR project was really a big help to us and taught us many things. Before, we did not care so much about the proper way or methods of applying farm inputs, fertilisers, and pesticides, and how these impact people’s health and the environment. 

    ‘The PhilGAP program taught us to better understand our crops, the environment, the soil, and their inter-relationship. We were taught the more detailed and scientific-based approach to farming.

    Mr Alvin Morales
    PhilGAP program participant

    ‘It is high time that more farmers adopt good agricultural practices that will not harm the environment and produce healthier and safer food for people.

    Mr Alvin Morales inspecting tomatoes growing in a greenhouse at Cabintan, Leyte as part of the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR

    Rodelina’s Fresh Vegetable stand selling PhilGAP certified vegetables at the Baybay markets, Leyte. Photo: ACIAR

    Rodel Morales inspecting a carrot crop growing in a greenhouse at Cabintan, Leyte as part of the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR

    ACIAR project staff and farmers in BayBay, Leyte showing PhilGAP-certified yard-long beans and chillies. Photo: ACIAR

    Professor Rogers said the cost of certification ranged from about 30,000 to 300,000 pesos (A$800 to $8000). This depended largely on the materials used for construction of a storage shed and toilet required for certification. However, most farmers found the costs were recovered in less than 2 years, and in less than 6 months in some instances.

    The project helped farmers adopt a customer-focused approach and identify higher-value niche markets, including food service providers for the healthcare sector and modern food retailers. 

    ‘We also did consumer studies as part of our research and found that when consumers know GAP-certified produce is guaranteed safe to eat, they’re willing to pay a premium,’ added Professor Rogers.

    Professor Zenaida Gonzaga at VSU, was the Philippine project leader, coordinating much of the field research and training for farmers related to the project, as well as PhilGAP training more broadly.

    She said 221 farmers received PhilGAP training, and more than 350 farm extension workers have been trained to promote GAP practices. These extension officers would be key to continuing the moment the ACIAR-supported project has generated into the future.

    Professor Gonzaga highlighted Baybay City Government in Leyte province as being particularly proactive in supporting the project, providing funding for the purchase of materials needed for chemical sheds. It was also the first local government body to pass an ordinance requiring its agricultural extension officers to promote the program with growers.

    ‘Implementation of PhilGAP requires intervention like this at a policy level. Little by little we have increased the number of farms being certified and the support from local government. 

    ‘We now have support to promote certified produce through Baybayania Agriventures, which is a federation of farmers supported by Baybay’s government.’

    Professor Zenaida Gonzaga and Maricel Adelantar inspect new onion varieties at Visayas State University, which the project team identified as a new crop for the region under the PhilGAP program. Photo: ACIAR

    At a higher level, the Regional Development Council for Eastern Visayas – Region VIII – has now also passed a resolution requiring all 6 provinces within the region to implement the PhilGAP program as part of their research extension services.

    GAP practices are also gaining momentum at ground level, with farmers who have received training keen to share what they have learned with others. This includes pest identification and safe work practices on farm, through to the transport and marketing of produce. 

    ‘We’ve found that the project, and the PhilGAP training, have elevated technical farming practices,’ said Professor Gonzaga. ‘It has also significantly reshaped the values and attitudes of farmers who are stepping up to share their knowledge around working safely and producing better quality, safer produce.’ 

    ACIAR Project: ‘Developing vegetable value chains to meet evolving market expectations in the Philippines’  (HORT/2016/188)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 240-2024: Unplanned Service Disruption: Wednesday 30 October 2024 – Biosecurity directions

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    30 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients anticipating the receipt of biosecurity directions from the department.

    Information

    Detail:

    The department’s Agriculture Import Management System (AIMS) system is currently experiencing an unplanned service disruption. As a result, some clients anticipating the receipt of biosecurity directions from the department may experience delays.

    Action

    This issue is being…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: COVID Review a good start, but human toll must be recognised

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    The findings of a federal review into the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted more needs to be done by all levels of governments to acknowledge the human cost of the pandemic response and ultimately restore public trust, says Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay. 

    The COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report outlines nine guiding recommendations and 26 actions for change to improve Australia’s preparedness and response systems to manage future public health emergencies. The Federal Government has already moved to implement one recommendation, announcing a new Australian Centre for Disease Control. 

    “The Inquiry is a good first step in helping to improve Australia’s response to any future pandemic, but much more needs to be done to rebuild trust,” said Commissioner Finlay. 

    “While the review concludes that Australians should be proud overall of what we achieved during the pandemic, with rates of infection, hospitalisation and death among the world’s lowest in the first 18 months, we need to recognise that there was a substantial – and ongoing – human cost.  

    “The Report highlights the lack of transparency, fairness, compassion and proportionality in aspects of the response. This contributed to the suffering of many people; including those separated from loved ones – either by state border closures, being stranded overseas, or being unable to comfort elderly parents confined to aged care homes – and continuing impacts such as children still struggling to re-engage at school following lengthy lockdowns. 

    “If we only talk about Australia’s ‘successful’ response to the pandemic, we diminish the personal toll that it took on so many Australians.” 

    The Australian Human Rights Commission is currently developing a human rights emergency response framework that will put rights and freedoms at the heart of all future emergency and disaster responses.  

    To understand the impacts of the pandemic response on individual Australians, the Commission opened the ‘Your Story’ portal, which received more than 2300 submissions from people who shared how they were affected by COVID-19 measures. More than 3000 Australians were also surveyed as part of the project, with its findings to be released in early 2025. 

    “These voices need to be heard if we want to ensure that future responses are not only ‘successful’ in terms of public health and economic outcomes, but also in terms of fairness and compassion,” Commissioner Finlay said. 

    “The number one lesson should be that response measures do not operate in a vacuum. The full human impact needs to be understood. We need to put human rights at the heart of all future emergency responses in Australia to ensure that this never happens again.” 

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s speech at Green Tech Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST’s speech at Green Tech Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo)
    SFST’s speech at Green Tech Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo)
    *******************************************************************

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the Green Tech Summit 2024 today (October 30): Dr Hua Jindong (Vice-chairperson of the International Sustainability Standards Board), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,      It is a profound honour to join you at the Green Tech Summit 2024. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and GoImpact for hosting this important event. Today, we gather to explore how green finance, technology, and innovation converge to create a sustainable future. A call to action for our planet      Our planet is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change. These challenges encompass environmental, economic, and social dimensions, demanding our immediate attention. The statistics deserve attention: Global climate finance flows reached approximately US$1.3 trillion in 2021 and 2022. However, to meet our climate goals, we must significantly increase annual investments to around US$9 trillion by 2030 and US$10 trillion by 2050. This gap signals an immense demand for green finance and innovation – one that we must address with urgency and creativity.      At this Summit, we aim to showcase Hong Kong’s leadership in the green transition through five key strategies, and they altogether will significantly promote green transformation: the growth of green capital, recognition of sustainability standards, empowerment in carbon trading, encouragement of green financing, and nurturing green technology. Each of these strategies plays a critical role in shaping a sustainable future for our city and beyond. Growth of green capital      Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to lead the green transition. As Asia’s premier international financial centre, we have the infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory framework to channel international capital toward sustainable initiatives. As of June, over 230 ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds have been authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission, with assets under management exceeding HK$1.3 trillion. This represents a year-on-year increase of 19 per cent in the number of ESG funds and an 8 per cent increase in assets under management.      The Hong Kong SAR Government has been proactive in issuing government green bonds totalling HK$220 billion since 2019. These bonds have funded numerous local green projects and set benchmarks for potential issuers. In 2023 alone, the total green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong surpassed US$50 billion, with approximately US$30 billion being green and sustainable bonds – 37 per cent of the total market. This year, we expanded our Government Green Bond Programme to include sustainable projects and hence the programme is, renamed Government Sustainable Bond Programme, reinforcing our commitment to a greener future. Recognition of sustainability standards      Sustainability reporting is vital to our green finance ecosystem. In March, we published a vision statement outlining our approach to developing a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong. In the Chief Executive’s Policy Address, it was announced that our roadmap for adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) will be published within this year. Our aim is to position Hong Kong among the first jurisdictions to adopt the global standard, enhancing our credibility as a green finance hub.      To support our green transition, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance in May. This taxonomy raises awareness about green finance and promotes a common understanding of green activities. It aligns with the taxonomies of the Mainland and the European Union, currently encompassing 12 economic activities across four sectors. The HKMA is advancing to the next phase of developing the Hong Kong Taxonomy, which will broaden its scope to include more sectors and activities crucial for our sustainable future. Empowerment in carbon trading      We advocate for innovative approaches to enable decarbonisation and allocate green funding. A noteworthy initiative is the Core Climate platform, launched by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited in October 2022. This international carbon marketplace facilitates effective and transparent trading of carbon credits and supports transition towards net zero.      Core Climate is currently the only carbon marketplace that offers settlement in both Hong Kong dollar and Renminbi for international voluntary carbon credits. This platform enables participants to source, hold, trade, and retire voluntary carbon credits, ensuring robust and credible quality verified against international standards. Since its launch, the number of registered participants has tripled, reaching approximately 80 by the end of last year. Encouragement to green financing      To encourage even more green financing activities, we launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme back in 2021. This initiative provides funding support for eligible bond issuers and loan borrowers, covering expenses related to bond issuance and external review services. We have extended this scheme by three years, running until 2027, and expanded its scope to include transition bonds and loans.      As of early October, we have granted approximately HK$280 million to support 470 green and sustainable debt instruments issued in Hong Kong, involving a total underlying debt issuance of over HK$1 trillion. This financial backing is crucial in incentivising industries to utilise Hong Kong’s transition financing platform for decarbonisation. Nurturing green technology      A key focus of our green transition is our commitment to promoting green fintech. Integrating fintech with green finance is essential for accelerating our transformation. We are actively working to expand the green fintech ecosystem in Hong Kong, positioning our city as a green fintech hub.      In June, we launched the Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme. This initiative provides early-stage funding to technology companies and research institutes engaged in green fintech activities. Collaborating with local enterprises allows these innovators to co-develop projects that address challenges for the industry.      This scheme is not solely about financial support. It facilitates the completion of commercialisation and the proof-of-concept stages, paving the way for wider adoption of green and sustainable fintech solutions. Innovative fintech solutions will enhance our ability to mobilise capital for green projects and increase transparency in fund flows.      Against the backdrop of digitisation and global warming, fintech plays a crucial role in driving innovation in the financial industry and catalysing the low-carbon transformation of economic activities. The application of new technology can also help mitigate climate risk by forecasting environmental changes, improving supply chain efficiency, and identifying opportunities for innovation in low-carbon solutions.      This year, we launched the Prototype Hong Kong Green Fintech Map. Developed with various stakeholders, this tool provides a comprehensive overview of green fintech companies in Hong Kong and the services they offer. This map symbolises the integration of green finance and fintech, fostering the development of a robust green fintech ecosystem and accelerating the transition toward a green economy.      Finally, I want to emphasise the importance of nurturing talent for sustainable development. The future of green finance relies on the skills and knowledge of our workforce. To support the development of a green finance talent pool, we launched a three-year Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme. This initiative encourages practitioners, professionals, and students to participate in relevant training programmes.      As of mid-September, we have approved over 4 100 reimbursement applications, amounting to approximately HK$23.3 million. This investment in human capital is essential for equipping our workforce with the skills needed to navigate and thrive in the evolving landscape of green finance. Closing remarks      In conclusion, the path to a sustainable future is not just a challenge; it is an opportunity for innovation and growth. Green fintech will play a pivotal role in this transition, enabling us to mobilise capital, enhance transparency, and support the development of sustainable solutions.      As we approach COP29 (29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) next month, let us intensify our efforts to forge a new chapter in sustainability. By collaborating across sectors and embracing innovative solutions, we can pave the way for impactful changes that resonate with green finance and technology. Together, we can turn our commitments into actionable strategies, ensuring a resilient and sustainable world for generations to come.      Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to seeing you in the next Summit here. 

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:29

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ21: Illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ21: Illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars
    LCQ21: Illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars
    ******************************************************************************************

         ​Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (October 30): Question:      The Government released in July this year the preliminary findings on the study on combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward and regulation of online hire car hailing platforms. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether the aforesaid study has covered any study on the operation mode of illegal carriage of passengers for reward by van-type light goods vehicles (vans) and cross-boundary private cars (PCs); if so, of the preliminary findings, and whether any conclusion has been drawn on the factors affecting the regulation of online hailed cars; if not, the reasons for not including such study; (2) of the number of prosecutions and convictions involving illegal carriage of passengers for reward by vans in the past three years, and the penalty imposed in each of the convicted cases; (3) of the number of prosecutions and convictions involving illegal carriage of passengers for reward by cross-boundary PCs in the past three years, and the penalty imposed in each of the convicted cases; whether any unlawful employment was involved in such cases; if so, of the number; and (4) of the number of cross-boundary PCs in Hong Kong that may legally carry passengers for hire or reward; whether there are any measures to combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward by cross-boundary PCs? Reply: President,      Having consulted the Transport Department (TD), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Immigration Department, our reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam is as follows: (1) The Government strives to enhance personalised point-to-point transport services. As reported to the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council in July this year, the Government is proactively conducting a study with a view to formulating legislative proposals on the regulation of online hailed car platforms and improving the legislation to combat illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. The TD is studying and examining the overall demand and supply of local personalised point-to-point transport services, including conducting surveys on passenger demand and changes (which cover various types of online hailed cars); as well as considering relevant information including the current operation modes and regulatory arrangement in respect of the provision of personalised point-to-point transport services in Hong Kong and other places. After taking into account findings of the study in a holistic manner and listening to the views of stakeholders, the Government will formulate legislative proposals on the regulation of the types and number of vehicle for providing compliant services through online hailed car platforms, as well as the licensing requirements for the vehicles and drivers, etc. in 2025. (2) and (3) The numbers of convicted cases involving illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by light goods vehicles and cross-boundary private cars in the past three years (from mid-2021 to mid-2024) were 23 and four respectively. Subject to the circumstances of individual cases, the penalties imposed by the courts included fines and disqualifying the drivers involved from driving temporarily, as well as suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles involved following the statutory periods specified under the law. The Government does not maintain other information requested in the question. (4) As at September 2024, there were 524 cross-boundary hire cars holding regular quotas for cross-boundary hire cars, closed road permits (CRP) and private service (limousine) (cross-boundary service) hire car permits.      The HKPF will continue to combat the offences of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by cross-boundary private cars. Upon the public’s provision of information to report illegal activities , the HKPF will follow up and investigate in a serious manner, and take enforcement actions against relevant activities if there is sufficient evidence. To enhance the deterrent effect, the Government increased the penalties for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by motor vehicles in December 2023. These include increasing the maximum fine and term of imprisonment, as well as lengthening the period of suspension of vehicle licences and impoundment of vehicles. On the other hand, for cases of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward by cross-boundary private cars, the TD will revoke the CRP of the subject vehicle on the ground of breaching CRP conditions. Moreover, the TD has strengthened its publicity efforts since the second quarter of this year through displaying posters and notices at various land boundary control points and the airport, as well as sending e-mails and distributing leaflets, etc, to remind CRP holders and relevant operators not to engage in illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, and remind them of the consequences and penalties of engaging in such illegal activities.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2024Issued at HKT 11:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 148th Fighter Wing Completes PACAF Deployment

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    OKINAWA, Japan  –  

    Members and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard deployed to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan from July to October 2024. While deployed, the Minnesota Air National Guard members were known as the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

    “The 148th Fighter Wing provided a dynamic force employment package to the 18th Wing to provide combat air power adding an additional deterrence factor to the area of operations,” said 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Matt Zimniewicz.

    Having the 148th and other rotationally deployed fighters from across the globe highlights the importance of our strategic location in the Indo-Pacific. Not only does it provide a valuable opportunity for fourth and fifth generation fighters to integrate and train, but their presence also serves as a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries in the region, said Col. David Deptula, 18th Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

    During their time at Kadena Air Base, Airmen integrated themselves working alongside their 18th Wing counterparts, performing all the same job-specific skills as they would at home station, along with experiencing some unique aspects while deployed.

    “The deployment tempo is a little different than at home station. The crews worked two shifts: to support fighter presence in the Pacific, ensure the pilots continue their training, provide ready aircraft and pilots for Alert, respond to higher headquarters taskings as needed, and participate in large-scale flying exercises,” said Zimniewicz.

    In addition to integrating with the 18th Wing, 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flew with other deployed units; the 199th Fighter Squadron attached to the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard and the 27th Fighter Generation Squadron out of Langley Air Force Base, Va., integrating as wingmen and flying alongside the F-22 Raptor to enhance interoperability between platforms and units.

    “We are a combined force, so you get different experiences flying with the F-22 Raptor and local F-15 Eagles from the 18th Wing,” Zimniewicz said.

    1st Lieutenant Keegan Flaherty, a 148th aircraft maintenance officer explained, “most of our members operated under the structure of the 179th Fighter Generation Squadron. This incorporated specialists like crew chiefs, weapons, avionics, electric and environmental, tool crib, and supply to ensure day-to-day flying and maintenance operations run safe, smooth, and efficient.”

    During this deployment there were maintenance organization from the 148th that integrated with their 18th Wing counterparts. “The 148th Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) crew delivered equipment to the flightline in a timely manner, as well as lending a hand to their 18th Wing active-duty counterparts fixing mission-critical equipment,” Flaherty said. “Our munitions systems specialists were integrated with the 18th Munitions Squadron providing support delivering chaff or flare, missiles, 20MM rounds, and training bombs and munitions.”

    There is a lot about balance and having really good communication to remain mission ready, said Flaherty.

    “The people and the F-16s of the Minnesota Air National Guard provide added readiness and deterrence capabilities to the region,” said Flaherty. “Operating out of the strategic hub of Kadena Air Base, we are proud to play a role in the many missions being conducted out of the aptly named “Keystone of the Pacific.”

    Halfway through the three-month deployment, a smaller subset of 148th personnel and aircraft participated alongside 28 nations during India’s largest multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 2024. “Tarang Shakti is an opportunity to combine cultures and perspectives while building security and interoperability, with our participating and observing partners. The spirit of collaboration and embracing diversity is key to not only better executing flying maneuvers, but also to broaden people’s minds,” said Indian Air Marshal AP Singh, Indian Air Force Air Staff vice chief.

    For 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilots like Maj. Christopher Zeigler, the training, partnership, cultural events and problem solving provided by Tarang Shakti-24, enhanced operations for multinational partners supporting a common resolve to sustain and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    “We worked with a lot of different nations here,” said Zeigler. “The exercise was a great opportunity for us to run large force exercise events with the Indian Air Force. We enjoyed working with everyone and building relationships. We don’t get to do this very often with other countries, so I think it was a really beneficial experience for our unit. Building these partnerships and flying with different airframes like this, it puts us in a better position to support shared missions throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

    While at Kadena, the 148th, in coordination with allies and partners, projected decisive airpower to assist in ensuring regional stability.

    “Having the 148th and other rotationally deployed fighters from across the globe highlights the importance of our strategic location in the Indo-Pacific. Not only does it provide a valuable opportunity for fourth and fifth generation fighters to integrate and train, but their presence also serves as a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries in the region.” Said Col. David Deptula, Commander of the 18th Operations Groups.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on October 29, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,38,684.91 6.28 5.00-6.70
         I. Call Money 9,985.73 6.44 5.10-6.50
         II. Triparty Repo 3,89,946.80 6.26 6.16-6.40
         III. Market Repo 1,37,976.88 6.33 5.00-6.60
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 775.50 6.52 6.50-6.70
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 135.35 6.39 6.20-6.50
         II. Term Money@@ 651.50 – 6.65-6.95
         III. Triparty Repo 2,785.00 6.42 6.30-6.45
         IV. Market Repo 3,811.36 6.49 6.35-6.69
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 29/10/2024 1 Wed, 30/10/2024 4,514.00 6.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 29/10/2024 1 Wed, 30/10/2024 1,21,659.00 6.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,17,145.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 18/10/2024 13 Thu, 31/10/2024 20,073.00 6.49
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Fri, 25/10/2024 6 Thu, 31/10/2024 25,005.00 6.55
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    5. On Tap Targeted Long Term Repo Operations€ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 250.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 2,275.00 4.00
    6. Special Long-Term Repo Operations (SLTRO) for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)£ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 105.00 4.00
    Mon, 22/11/2021 1095 Thu, 21/11/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 29/11/2021 1095 Thu, 28/11/2024 305.00 4.00
    Mon, 13/12/2021 1095 Thu, 12/12/2024 150.00 4.00
    Mon, 20/12/2021 1095 Thu, 19/12/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 255.00 4.00
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,469.91  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     15,941.91  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,01,203.09  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on October 29, 2024 10,19,787.20  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending November 01, 2024 10,16,726.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ October 29, 2024 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on October 04, 2024 4,88,495.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    € As per the Press Release No. 2020-2021/520 dated October 21, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/763 dated December 11, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/1057 dated February 05, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/695 dated August 13, 2021.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    £ As per the Press Release No. 2021-2022/181 dated May 07, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/1023 dated October 11, 2021.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/1397

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We can’t solve family violence until we include violence between siblings in the conversation

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hayley Boxall, Research Fellow, Australian National University

    Shutterstock

    Domestic and family violence (DFV) has received increasing attention in recent years. It is most commonly associated with intimate partner violence between current and former partners, followed by abuse perpetrated against children by their parents and carers.

    But what about sibling violence?

    International estimates suggest that sibling violence (also known as sibling-to-sibling violence) is one of the most common forms of DFV globally. Yet in Australia and internationally, there is very little conversation or research about it. This means our understanding of when, why and how it occurs remains underdeveloped, and this in turn affects the development of effective policy and practice.

    To improve understandings of sibling violence in Australia, we analysed data collected as part of a national study of 16–20-year-olds’ use and experiences of DFV in the home. Of the 5,021 young people we surveyed, 4,340 said they had siblings.

    What is sibling violence?

    One of the biggest barriers to better understanding sibling violence is differentiating between sibling rivalry and conflict, and abuse. Research suggests abuse is often minimised by family members and clinicians, even when the behaviours are described as “extreme” and persistent.

    For our study, guided by the literature, we defined sibling violence as involving serious and high-harm behaviours. This includes:

    • threats to kill
    • threats to hurt someone close to the young person
    • non-fatal strangulation or sexual abuse
    • persistent and frequent forms of other abusive behaviour (for example, verbal, emotional physical, property damage and threats to harm/hurt a sibling).

    Overall, 303 young people in the sample self-reported they had been subjected to or used sibling violence by the time they were 18. Within this, 58% said they had used sibling violence, 60% said they had been subjected to it, while 18% said they experienced both victimisation and perpetration.

    Sibling violence is multifaceted

    The most common form of sibling violence reported by young people was verbal abuse. Of our respondents, 72% reported experiencing verbal abuse from a sibling, while 74% reported using verbal abuse against a sibling. Physical violence was the next most common form of sibling violence reported, with 64% reporting experiencing physical abuse from a sibling, and 73% reporting using physical abuse against a sibling.

    Although less common, a significant proportion of young people also reported experiences of:

    • threats to kill (victimisation: 26%; perpetration: 9%)
    • non-fatal strangulation (victimisation: 14%; perpetration: 3%)
    • sexual abuse (victimisation: 13%; perpetration: 2%).

    Almost all young people who had experienced sibling violence reported experiencing multiple and overlapping forms of abuse. Indeed, our study finds that sibling violence is rarely experienced as an isolated act of abuse. Rather, it is often experienced as part of a broader patterns of behaviours encompassing physical, sexual and non-physical abuse.

    More than half young people who had experienced sibling violence also experienced violence from another family member.
    Shutterstock

    Sibling violence is gendered

    The findings from our study highlight that like other forms of DFV, sibling violence is gendered.

    A significantly larger proportion of cis female (47%) and trans/non-binary young people (50%) reported they had been subjected to sibling violence, compared to cis males (25%).

    Meanwhile, a larger proportion of cis males (59%) said they had used sibling violence compared to cis female (35%) and trans/non-binary young people (32%).

    Sibling violence often co-occurs with other forms of DFV within families

    Over 90% of young people in our study reported they had experienced DFV between other family members, such as intimate partner violence between their parents.

    Also, over half of the young people who had been subjected to sibling violence reported they had experienced other forms of maltreatment by another family member, most frequently by their mothers and fathers.

    Sibling violence has significant impacts on young people

    Young people in our study reported that sibling violence and other forms of DFV had significant impacts on them. It affected their social, emotional and physical wellbeing, and education achievements.

    Relationships between siblings have important developmental implications for young people’s understandings of familial relationships. The strength of sibling relationships has been linked to longer-term health and social wellbeing outcomes. While our siblings can sometimes feel like our greatest enemies, they can also be our strongest supports in life.

    An emerging body of research has also found that young people who use sibling violence are at higher risk of perpetrating abusive behaviours against their intimate partner(s) and family members later in life.

    Sibling violence can have significant impacts, including trauma, anxiety and poor mental health, eating disorders, and the misuse of alcohol and drugs on those who experience it.

    What is needed?

    Our study builds new understandings of sibling violence in Australia. It highlights the importance of early interventions for young people who experience DFV during childhood. This includes ensuring effective responses for young people who use violence against their siblings.

    Without effective early intervention, we are missing opportunities to address the negative consequences of such experiences, including an increased risk of future perpetration of intimate partner violence.

    To facilitate improved identification and early intervention, frontline screening for DFV among individuals and families must include sibling violence.

    Given the substantial overlap of intimate partner violence, other forms of child maltreatment, child-to-parent abuse and sibling violence, we need holistic interventions that address the support needs of all family members.

    These responses must extend to supporting children and families’ recovery from DFV and seek to break the cycle of inter-generational violence in the home.

    Hayley Boxall currently receives research funding from the Queensland Law Reform Commission, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate.

    Kate has received funding for family violence-related research from the Australian Research Council, Australian Institute of Criminology, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Victorian, Queensland and ACT governments, the Commonwealth Department of Social Services and the Victorian Women’s Trust. This piece is written by Kate Fitz-Gibbon in her role at Monash University and is wholly independent of Kate Fitz-Gibbon’s role as Chair of Respect Victoria.

    Silke Meyer currently receives research funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Queensland Mental Health Commission, and the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (Qld).

    – ref. We can’t solve family violence until we include violence between siblings in the conversation – https://theconversation.com/we-cant-solve-family-violence-until-we-include-violence-between-siblings-in-the-conversation-242384

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –