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  • MIL-OSI Security: KAMANDAG 8: Multinational Teams, 15th MEU Recon Train Together in Manila

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    MANILA, Philippines  –  

    Marines with Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, partnered with the Philippine Marine Corps’ Force Reconnaissance Group and other multinational recon and special forces units for combined training events at Marine Base Gregorio Lim near Manila, Philippines, Oct. 17-23, 2024, during Exercise KAMANDAG 8.

    KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise taking place Oct. 15-25 aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the eighth iteration of this exercise, with participants from the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Marine Corps; including continued participation from the Australian Defense Force, British Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

    Training at MGBL included Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard special operations units that also participated in some of the events.

    The events included: jungle survival and patrolling; live-fire exercises; competitive sniper shoots; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training; small boat operations; and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations. Each event focused on improving interoperability and sharing tactics, techniques, and procedures among the training units to enhance their readiness to respond to a wide range of threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

    “This type of training alongside our Philippine FRG counterparts and other multilateral units during KAMANDAG enabled us to all learn from one another,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jon Bender, commanding officer of Reconnaissance Company, 15th MEU. “Collectively, these training events allowed us to refine common tactics, work together in complex and dynamic environments, and build trust between our units. The level of cooperation we’ve shared here is key to maintaining readiness and improving our operational capabilities.”

    The first training event involved jungle tactics in the dense terrain surrounding MGBL. The combined units focused on surviving and operating in a challenging jungle environment. This included techniques for building shelters, capturing or finding food, starting a fire, as well as moving through thick vegetation while maintaining tactical awareness, communications, and conducting reconnaissance in an area known for its difficult terrain and unpredictable weather.

    “The jungle presents unique challenges,” said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexis Gonzales, a team leader with Security Platoon, Reconnaissance Company, 15th MEU, and a Dallas native. “Learning from the Philippine Marines, who have extensive experience operating in this environment, enhances our ability to succeed in similar conditions.”

    Several live-fire ranges were conducted during KAMANDAG training at MBGL. Sniper teams from each multinational element worked together, using spotters to guide the shooters in hitting distant targets. The live-fire portion also included a combined medium machine gun range, unknown-distance target range and competitive sniper shoots.

    During CBRN training, participants donned M50 gas masks as they trained to respond to a CS gas threat. This rehearsal tested their ability to quickly don protective equipment while remaining calm, effective and able to continue to operate in a contaminated environment.

    “The CBRN training allowed the forces to be comfortable operating in adverse environments,” said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Tiago Nunes, a CBRN specialist with the 15th MEU, and a native of Boston. “Everyone involved in the training is now better equipped with the knowledge and expertise needed to stay safe and lethal.”

    Another key component of the training included explosive breaching operations, where Marines practiced breaching doors and barriers with controlled explosive charges. This training, essential for small tactical units conducting rapid entry during urban operations or raids, was facilitated by Marines from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon, Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 15th MEU.

    On the water, the combined units used small boats during a raid course focused on scout swimmer operations, infiltration and extraction. The training included formation maneuvers moving quickly through coastal waters, stealthily approaching targets, and withdrawing after completing their missions.

    “The amphibious raid training shows our ability to insert forces from the sea and maintain the element of surprise,” said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Donald Wernick, a reconnaissance Marine with Reconnaissance Company, 15th MEU, and a native of Virginia. “We conducted drills with numerous repetitions on the basics, which allowed the force to all know their roles and operate as a fluid and cohesive team.”

    Two of the final exercises involved a gas and oil platform (GOPLAT) and a VBSS maritime interdiction using small boats. The GOPLAT training was simulated at Fort Drum, an island fort near Manila, where the combined Marines walked through their actions during a raid, including securing the platform, eliminating threats and securing key infrastructure. During the at-sea VBSS, U.S. and Philippine Marines approached in small boats to rapidly board a target vessel. The VBSS tested the coordination and timing between the forces, as they boarded the vessel simultaneously, secured key areas and neutralized simulated threats.

    The week of multilateral training during KAMANDAG reinforced a shared commitment to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. By sharing knowledge, refining common tactics, and strengthening bonds, participating forces are better prepared to conduct joint multilateral operations across a spectrum of challenges.

    “Exercises like this enhance the strength and common skills that already exist, especially between 15th MEU’s Recon Marines and Philippine FRG,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Thomas Zahn, a platoon commander with Reconnaissance Company, 15th MEU. “This training ensures that we are ready to face threats or respond to crises, together, wherever they arise.”

    As Exercise KAMANDAG 8 concludes Oct. 25, U.S. and Philippine Marines, along with their multinational like-minded partners, remain committed to advancing their capabilities and enhancing their ability to operate as a cohesive, combined force.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KAMANDAG 8: Philippine 3rd Marine Brigade, 15th MEU Conduct Integrated Live-fire Coastal Defense

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    PALAWAN PROVINCE, Philippines  –  

    Philippine Marines with 3rd Marine Brigade and U.S. Marines with elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit established defensive positions at Apurawan Beach to conduct a combined live-fire coastal defense Oct. 22, 2024, during Exercise KAMANDAG 8.

    The training scenario on Palawan’s western shores integrated Philippine and U.S. forces as they coordinated close air support, air defense systems, guided missiles, artillery, mortars, rockets, machine guns, and command-detonated mines to repel a simulated amphibious landing to defend key maritime terrain.

    Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Alfonso Torres, commander of Western Command, and Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen Arturo Rojas attended the event, along with other key commanders and staff.

    KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise taking place Oct. 15-25 aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the eighth iteration of this exercise and includes participants from the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Marine Corps; including continued participation from the Australian Defense Force, British Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

    “Today, Philippine and U.S. Marines are integrating our respective emerging doctrines for coastal defense and counter-landing operations,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th MEU. “We’re training to maneuver and mass effects to attrite, block, fix and destroy a force that attempts to land. Here, Philippine guides would bring in our forces to rapidly establish an area defense of this landing site. Our engagement area would extend from the beach’s exit routes out to the launch points for enemy landing craft, with a plan for fires integrating both Philippine and U.S. Marine weapons systems.”

    On the day prior to the coastal defense, Charlie Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, landed on Palawan’s eastern shores from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Sulu Sea. The unit then infiltrated their M777 155 mm towed howitzers across 45 miles of mountainous terrain to firing positions covering the engagement area. Although the M777s did not fire live artillery during the exercise, their participation marked a significant milestone in quickly positioning defensive fires capabilities on the island.

    “This was the longest U.S. military tactical movement, bearing the most fires capability to date, across Palawan,” said Freeman. “This is the first time we have moved this much firepower from one side of the island to the other, and they did it safely, swiftly, and realistically from a ship to objective.”

    In just over 24 hours, the dirty work of digging in by hand along hundreds of yards of coconut palms was completed by approximately 150 Philippine Marines from 3rd MDBE and 150 U.S. Marines from 15th MEU, mainly from BLT 1/5’s Weapons and Bravo Companies. From their camouflaged positions, some Marines commented that the tropical landscape reminded them of the island battles during World War II, such as Guadalcanal and Wake Island.

    “This is the environment that we try to simulate back in California, but it’s difficult to do that because we often train in the desert,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Graham Clark, the battalion fires officer of BLT 1/5 who synchronized each of the elements conducting the live-fire. “This was valuable training with a very important partner force since we are developing these tactics to fight in an environment like Palawan.”

    The first event in the scenario was the detection of an approaching unmanned aircraft system threat. FIM-92 Stinger gunners with the Low Altitude Air Defense detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th MEU, unmasked from their positions and sighted their missiles.

    When the target drone was grounded due to high winds, the Stinger gunners took direct aim at target boats bobbing just above the surface hundreds of yards away. The Stingers, typically used against aircraft, fired and scored direct hits, sending pieces of orange-painted wood scattering into the bay.

    Next, radio calls alerted the defense that amphibious landing craft were approaching from over the horizon. Two F-35B Lightning II aircraft attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th MEU, quickly launched from the Boxer and roared overhead. They dropped two 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bombs to destroy boats a few kilometers from shore before disappearing over the ocean.

    From the tree line, Philippine Marines then opened fire with 105 mm artillery cannons, supported by BLT 1/5’s 81 mm and 60 mm mortars, providing steady fires and suppression on the next set of targets.

    Meanwhile, a mixed section of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters with VMM-165 (Rein.) launched from Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa, where the squadron had established an aviation spoke ashore. They made multiple attack runs and fired rockets, 20 mm cannons, and 2.75-inch rounds.

    As the remaining closer-in boats were targeted, BLT 1/5 Marines emerged from the tree line with Javelin anti-tank missiles, sending wood flying as their strikes echoed across the bay.

    The entire beachfront then erupted as Philippine Marines fired 90 mm rounds from atop an armored personnel carrier. The combined forces also employed heavy machine guns, including Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine guns and .50-caliber machine guns, as well as medium machine guns.

    When the remaining enemy force crossed the surf, individual Philippine and U.S. Marines repelled the final wave with small arms, accurately engaging paper silhouette targets at close range. A claymore anti-personnel mine detonated, signaling a final blow and ceasing fires across the beach.

    “This was part of KAMANDAG, but really it’s part of a larger transformation in the concept and tactics for coastal defense strategy in this region – something that has not been employed or tested at scale for decades in the Indo-Pacific,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th MEU. “Having the commander of WESCOM and the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps attend showed the value and interest in developing this doctrine by both of our militaries. We, along with our Filipino counterparts, will take the lessons learned and continue to refine these concepts.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group leads Task Force 70 surface, air forces into Keen Sword 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    PACIFIC OCEAN  –  

    The USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is leading a contingent of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70 ships, aircraft and personnel participating in exercise Keen Sword 25 from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, 2024.

    Keen Sword is the latest in a series of joint-bilateral field training exercises designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and U.S. forces.

    In addition to Carrier Air Wing 5 and the strike group staff, embarked aboard the flagship Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), CTF 70 is represented in the exercise by the expeditionary Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134, as well as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), both operating under Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15.

    “The George Washington Carrier Strike Group’s presence is crucial in Keen Sword 25,” said Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, commander of Task Force 70 and the carrier strike group. “In Keen Sword, our strike group rehearses complex, high-end warfighting with the joint force and allies. This type of exercise showcases the range, agility and lethality of our unified force and reestablishes the George Washington Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations with emphasis.”

    George Washington, returning in its second stint as the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier forward-deployed to Japan, departed the San Diego area on Oct. 8 to begin operations in the Indo-Pacific.

    The carrier was previously forward-deployed to Yokosuka from 2008 to 2015, and will return there in late fall after completion of its current patrol. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) served as the forward-deployed carrier from 2015 until earlier this year.

    “Keen Sword 25 provides the George Washington CSG an arena to flex its considerable capability in the air, surface and information domains,” said Newkirk. “Not only is the strike group conducting dynamic flight operations and complex expeditionary logistics during this exercise, it is also serving as a hub for tactical decision-making, driving action and reaction among forces throughout the region.”

    The CSG team, with DESRON 15, is coordinating with Lake Erie, operating with allies in the Philippine Sea near Okinawa, as well as Preble, which is in Yokosuka providing a platform for bilateral Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile (TLAM) training with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force specialists.

    Keen Sword is a biennial exercise designed to help promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. This exercise, and others like it, are an opportunity to demonstrate to the world the will of the U.S. and allies to defend Japan, as well as the ironclad nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has stood for more than 70 years.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: 48 officials held accountable for fatal chemical plant blast

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Forty-eight officials have been held accountable for a 2023 chemical plant blast that claimed 13 lives in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, according to the provincial emergency management authorities.
    The blast occurred at the chemical plant in the city of Panjin on Jan. 15, 2023, leading to 13 deaths and 35 injuries, as well as about 87.99 million yuan (12.34 million U.S. dollars) in direct economic losses.
    The company involved in the accident has resumed production following a thorough rectification process. Fourteen responsible individuals, including the president of the company, have been handed criminal sentences. A total of 59.57 million yuan worth of fines had been meted out to three responsible entities and 11 individuals.
    Additionally, disciplinary and administrative measures have been taken against the 48 officials, including the Party secretary and the mayor of Panjin, with varying degrees of punishment.
    These measures include criticism and education, admonishment, warning, recording of demerits, removal from office and demotion. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCED at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by SCED at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 (English only)
    Speech by SCED at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 (English only)
    ************************************************************

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the second day of the Main Conference of Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 today (October 29): Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,      Good morning.      Welcome to day two of the Main Conference of Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024. It is my pleasure to join you all here this morning.        Hong Kong has all along attached great importance to developing fintech businesses, with a view to developing our city as an ideal destination for fintech firms from around the world. As a symbol of this goal, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) has been organising the flagship Hong Kong FinTech Week since 2016 to gather the global fintech stakeholders, including investors, professionals and practitioners, in Hong Kong to discuss the latest developments and explore new opportunities.       Being the premier annual international fintech event in Asia, this mega event has been receiving overwhelming support and serving as a great platform over time for Hong Kong’s expanding fintech business. With its theme “Illuminating New Pathways in Fintech”, Hong Kong FinTech Week this year is expected to attract more than 30 000 visitors, and over 800 speakers and 700 exhibitors from over 100 economies. In fact, such a scale can hardly be matched by other similar fintech events. I am glad that you are in the right place today, and I can assure you of an exciting series of events in the rest of Hong Kong FinTech Week.      Being a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”, Hong Kong acts as an important gateway between the Mainland and the overseas markets. Our city is a place where we advocate entrepreneurship and innovation, and also a perfect launch pad for fintech companies to be groomed locally and globally.        Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong continues to maintain our uniqueness as one of the most liberal and easiest places to do business in the world. In terms of foreign direct investment, Hong Kong remains the world’s fourth largest destination as revealed in the World Investment Report 2024; Hong Kong is once again ranked in 2024 as the freest economy by the Fraser Institute; and we are ranked the third globally, the first in the Asia-Pacific region as well as one of the top 10 fintech hubs around the globe according to the recent Global Financial Centres Index report.      These recognitions are attributed to our institutional advantages including a robust common law legal system, an independent judiciary, a simple and low tax system, world-class professional services, and many others, which are the very foundation of Hong Kong’s success as an ideal place for fintech companies to thrive.      Coupled with an array of new business-friendly initiatives announced in the 2024 Policy Address this month, all businesses in Hong Kong, including the fintech sector, could benefit from them. For example, the updated Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) provides more flexibility and convenience for Hong Kong companies to invest and do business on the Mainland. All companies based in Hong Kong, regardless of their place of origin, can all benefit from the latest CEPA enhancements. My friends, I strongly recommend that you set up your fintech and related financial operations in Hong Kong in order to enjoy these advantages.        Apart from companies, we also have good news for individuals. For non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents, they are now eligible for the Mainland travel permit since July this year. This groundbreaking measure provides unprecedented convenience for visits to the Mainland for various purposes, including business, leisure or family trips, multiple times within a validity period of five years. Additionally, if you are a non-permanent Hong Kong resident who is also a foreign staff member of a Hong Kong-registered company, the validity period of your multiple-entry visa has now been extended to a maximum of five years to facilitate your Mainland trips. To experience the convenience brought by the two new measures, I would suggest that our overseas friends apply for the permit or multiple-entry visa, if eligible.       In fact, we note that Hong Kong’s competitiveness and business-friendly environment, which I have mentioned above, has already been highly recognised by many fintech companies. In 2024, we are home to over 1 100 fintech companies, representing a 14 per cent year-on-year increase according to InvestHK’s statistics. In the first nine months of this year, InvestHK has helped 470 overseas and Mainland enterprises to establish or expand their business in Hong Kong, and over 23 per cent of them are from the fintech, financial services and related sectors. The above encouraging results have explained Hong Kong’s attractiveness to the global fintech community.     As always, InvestHK, being the Government’s investment promotion agency and your best business partner in Hong Kong, will assist your companies to set up or expand business here. With InvestHK’s extensive and sophisticated global network, you will have no difficulty in receiving their valuable advice and unfailing support even if your companies are located outside Hong Kong. Taking the golden opportunity today, I would encourage you all approach InvestHK and see what advice they can offer you from the investment promotion perspective.      Finally, I would like to give my big thanks to our fintech friends here today for your participation in and strong support for FinTech Week and confidence in Hong Kong, especially those who have joined the event for years. I hope you enjoy today’s conference and explore more business opportunities. And don’t forget to take a walk through our city to enjoy the delicious food and beautiful scenery in Hong Kong.        Thank you.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024Issued at HKT 12:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $4 million extra funding for improved access to advice and advocacy for tenants as part of plan to make renting fairer

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 29 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading

    The Minns Labor Government is further supporting tenants across NSW when they need it most, with a funding boost to the Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services.

    The network of 21 local not-for-profit organisations, help tenants to understand their rights, support them during negotiations and in resolving disputes, and assist and advocate for them at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

    Funded by NSW Fair Trading, these services will be boosted by $1 million extra a year until 2028. In 2024-25, funding has increased to $16.2m.

    The funding boost follows the Minns Labor Government’s recent passage of the most significant rental reform package to assist renters in over a decade. The new reforms will:

    • Ban no grounds evictions;
    • Limit rent increases to only one per year;
    • Make it easier to have pets in rentals;
    • Ensure fee-free ways to pay rent; and
    • Ban renters paying for background checks.

    In addition to these historic new reforms to help tenants across the state, last financial year, NSW Fair Trading responded to 393,000 rental enquiries. Where tenants required greater help, they could access the free assistance of a local Tenants Advice & Advocacy Service.

    The network responds to around 30,000 requests a year for tenancy advice from renters in private and social housing, boarders, lodgers, and land lease community residents.

    The service also provides ongoing assistance to approximately 10,000 tenants annually.

    Find out more information about the Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services.

    Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said:

    “NSW has millions of renters who come from diverse backgrounds and communities spread right across the state.

    “The Tenants Advice & Advocacy Service provides local support through a network of highly-skilled  advocates who work to ensure quality advice and advocacy is available to all renters in NSW.

    “The funding boost will mean the services can reach even more renters and keep this critical information service free.

    “This is another step forward to get renters a fairer deal.

    “This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a fairer system for renters.”

    NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said:

    “This funding will provide critical support to the millions of people renting in NSW.

    “The tenant advice program supports people in their own communities helping Fair Trading to increase our reach and support for renters.

    “This funding is another example of how the NSW Government is taking action to support renters across the state.”

    Chief Executive Officer of Tenants Union of NSW Leo Patterson Ross said:

    “We welcome this additional funding which will make it easier for renters to seek the expert, free advice, and practical advocacy that the Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Program provides.

    “This funding increase will ensure services can continue to provide the same high quality advice we have for the past 30 years.

    “Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Services are an important part of resolving disputes fairly. We help ensure renters know where they stand and help avoid prolonged disputes and unnecessary tribunal applications.

    “We look forward to continuing to work with the NSW Government to cover funding needs that have emerged with the growing renting population and as important tenancy reforms come into effect.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Key Worker Accommodation arrives in Narrandera

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 29 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Health

    Three new key worker accommodation units have been delivered to Narrandera Health Service as part of the NSW Government’s $45.3 million Key Worker Accommodation Program.

    Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park announced installation of the units is now underway off Adams Street on the north side of the campus.

    The modern and fit-for-purpose units will be fully furnished and self-contained. Each unit features a light-filled living and dining area, modern kitchen, bedroom with ensuite, an internal laundry and a screened verandah. One of the three units has also been designed to support accessibility needs.

    Secure access to the units will be provided and there will also be landscaping surrounding the units.

    The new units will assist the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) with the recruitment and retention of health workers in the area, with staff expected to move into the new accommodation before the end of the year.

    MLHD is one of three regional local health districts to benefit from a $45.3 million investment to deliver accommodation for health workers across rural and regional NSW, under the Key Worker Accommodation Program, which is being delivered in partnership with Health Infrastructure NSW.

    Narrandera is the fourth site in NSW to receive new prefabricated units built off-site and modelled on a prototype unit completed earlier this year.

    An additional $200.1 million has been committed by the NSW Government to increase key health worker accommodation across rural and regional areas of the state as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget. 

    Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

    “It’s great to see the rollout of the key worker accommodation program throughout the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, and Narrandera being one of the health services to benefit.”

    “Recruitment and retention of staff in rural and regional hospitals is a priority for the Minns Labor Government, which is why we are committing a further $200.1 million to increase key health worker accommodation in the state.”

    “Securing suitable accommodation in regional areas can be difficult, so the new units will assist to remove one of the barriers preventing health care workers looking at making the move to a regional town to live and work.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor spokesperson for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence MLC:

    “Narrandera is such a great community, and with the Murrumbidgee River and natural beauty of the town, healthcare workers should really consider it as a potential place to live and work, especially with this new accommodation available.”

    “The accommodation units are a positive attribute to the local hospital and the town of Narrandera, and we are looking forward to move-in day soon.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urged to seize growth opportunities

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China should seize the current window of improving expectations and rising confidence to build momentum going into 2025, economists said, calling for a forceful and extraordinary combination of macro policies next year.

    Given the recently announced stimulus package, China’s economy will likely pick up in the fourth quarter, providing strong support for meeting the annual growth target of around 5 percent, they said.

    Huang Hanquan, head of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, which is affiliated with the National Development and Reform Commission, said the Chinese economy is likely to register a “U-shaped” recovery for the full year, with consolidated momentum in the fourth quarter amid strengthened social expectations, bringing the annual economic and social development goals within reach.

    He said the recent incremental policies, ranging from reducing interest rates and banks’ required reserves to lowering existing mortgage rates, have been extraordinary and strong in intensity, demonstrating the government’s “determination and courage to promote economic recovery”.

    “Looking ahead, we must seize the current window of stabilizing expectations and growing confidence to capitalize on the momentum. We need to launch a forceful and extraordinary combination of macro policies and initiate iconic reform measures,” Huang added.

    Zong Liang, chief researcher at Bank of China, said that China’s economy is poised to pick up in the fourth quarter, with the stimulus policies gradually taking effect.

    Sino-US communication

    Their remarks came after Vice-Minister of Finance Liao Min highlighted the powerful package of stimulus policies that China recently introduced during a meeting between economic working groups of China and the United States in Washington, DC, on Friday.

    The two sides had in-depth, practical and constructive communication on macroeconomic situation and policies of the two countries, the ministry said.

    During the World Bank’s 110th Development Committee meeting on Friday, Liao said that China will intensify countercyclical adjustments of fiscal policy, with a series of strong measures implemented to resolve local government debt risks, stabilize the real estate market, increase the income of key groups, enhance people’s livelihoods, and drive equipment upgrades and trade-in deals for consumer goods.

    Zhang Bin, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of World Economics and Politics, said that expectations and confidence have been significantly boosted by the incremental policies, which sent a clear, strong signal that more policies will be announced to enhance economic vitality and tackle the immediate challenge of insufficient demand.

    “The focus now is on how these policies will be implemented and whether their intensity is sufficient. In this regard, I believe the year 2025 is very much worth looking forward to,” said Zhang, who is also a senior researcher at the China Finance 40 Forum, a leading think tank.

    “I think policymakers need to further increase the intensity of (macroeconomic) policies. It’s like a race — policies need to precede the market (expectations) to effectively reverse sentiments and kick off a positive economic cycle,” he said.

    As for fiscal policy, Zhang said it “deserves anticipation” if next year’s fiscal expansion could be further strengthened based on recent policy signals, although specific plans still await legislative procedures. He added that government spending should outpace GDP expansion to drive growth.

    If the country’s GDP growth target stays unchanged at about 5 percent for 2025, it may necessitate a reasonable increase in government debt by about 11 trillion to 12 trillion yuan ($1.5 trillion to $1.7 trillion) to ensure adequate government spending and policy-oriented financial bonds worth 3 trillion to 5 trillion yuan, he said.

    On the monetary policy front, Zhang said there remains a large scope for interest rates to decline, as the rate cut should be significantly bigger than the slide in price levels to ensure easing real financing costs and spurring investment and consumption.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Palestine denounces Israeli law banning UN operations

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Palestinian child is seen at a food distribution center in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, on Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Palestine on Monday condemned the Israeli parliament’s legislation banning the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Israel.

    “We reject and condemn this decision, emphasizing that it violates international law and challenges United Nations resolutions that uphold international legitimacy,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh, official spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, said in a statement, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

    He stressed that the decision seeks to eliminate the refugee issue and their rights to return and compensation, emphasizing that it is “not only against the refugees but also against the United Nations and the international community that established” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

    “Without continuous American political, financial, and military support for the occupation, Israel would not have dared to challenge the international community or adopt policies that have plunged the region into violence and instability,” he added.

    The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday passed a law prohibiting the UNRWA from operating in Israel.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s CAS launches program on synthetic cells

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Monday that it has launched an international program on synthetic cells in Shenzhen, south China to promote frontier research in life sciences and biotechnological innovation on a global scale.

    Leveraging the scientific prowess of the CAS Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, the program aims to tackle groundbreaking research questions in the field of synthetic biology. Additionally, the initiative seeks to pool expertise worldwide and establish a cooperative paradigm to tackle common challenges faced by humanity, according to the CAS, China’s top institution in terms of natural sciences.

    Synthetic biology is the science of building systems that mimic the structure and function of living cells from scratch. Researchers combine tools from chemistry, materials science and biochemistry to develop functional and structural building blocks for constructing synthetic cell-like systems.

    In recent years, the CAS has been committed to international collaborations in the field of synthetic cells.

    In October 2023, the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, together with universities and research institutions from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, established the Asian alliance for synthetic cells. A memorandum of cooperation was signed in April to lay the foundation for broader international collaborative relationships. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Gang related funeral, Hutt Valley and Porirua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have been present today as a funeral procession travelled between Hutt Valley and Porirua and can report that attendees are now dispersing.

    Hutt Valley Prevention Manager Inspector Shaun Lingard says: “We acknowledge that the procession caused disruption to traffic flows in the area, and we’d like to thank members of the public for their patience while the funeral procession made its way through our District.

    “A significant Police attendance helped ensure public safety around this event. While there were no arrests made today, we will be following up on information gathered relating to unlawful behaviour, to determine what further enforcement action will be taken.

    Police will continue to monitor the event as attendees disperse and will take action as required.

    If you are concerned about your safety, or witness illegal behaviour happening now, please call 111 immediately.

    To report, or send in any footage of the unlawful behaviour, we encourage you to file a report online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-nz.org 

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Property owner fined over $90,000 for not complying with removal order

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Property owner fined over $90,000 for not complying with removal order
    Property owner fined over $90,000 for not complying with removal order
    **********************************************************************

         ​A property owner was convicted and fined over $90,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts this month for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).     The case involved an unauthorised structure with a total area of about 34 square metres on the roof of a residential building at Yuen Long On Ning Road. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $93,620 in total by the Court, of which $73,620 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on October 18.     A spokesman for the BD said today (October 29), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as to ensure building safety.”     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. 

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024Issued at HKT 12:37

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten doorstop interview at Services Australia Newmarket, Melbourne

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    SUBJECTS: Integrating Organ Donor card into the myGov app

    BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning, everybody. It’s fantastic to be at Services Australia Newmarket offices in the electorate of Maribyrnong. We’ve got a great announcement to make, but before I do that, just introduce some people, with me is the new Labor candidate for Maribyrnong, Jo Briskey. Also, we have Assistant Minister for Health, Ged Kearney, who’s got some exciting news to talk about organ and tissue donation. And we’ve also got Kristy, who’s got an amazing story to tell us all. So, I might hand over to Ged, then I’ll say some words about new developments with Services Australia and organ donation, and then we might hear from Kristy and then take questions. Ged?

    GED KEARNEY, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AGED CARE AND INDIGENOUS HEALTH: Thanks, Bill. Good morning, everyone I’m Ged Kearney. I’m the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, I’m the Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, and we are here on Wurundjeri land, and I pay my respects to elders, past and present. This is an exciting day. Organ donation is such an incredibly important thing. It saves lives. It gives life back to people who need organ transplants. And we know that the vast majority of Australians agree that organ donation is important, but just over 30% of Australians actually register as organ donors. We need more Australians to register as organ donors, and it’s really easy right now to do that. You can go to myGov and it’s three quick clicks on there, or you can go to DonateLife.gov.au and register to be an organ donor. It’s very important. One organ donor can save up to seven lives. So, it’s great to have Kristy with us today who is a transplant recipient.

    But I’m extremely excited to be here with Minister Shorten as the Minister for Services Australia. He has done an amazing thing in that he has allowed us to have a digital ID card. A digital card that will go in your myGov Apple Wallet, to let everybody know that you are an organ donor and that you have registered. For the first time ever in Australia, we will have that available quick and easily as a digital ID card so that everybody knows that you have you intend to be an organ donor. It’s easy to identify, easy to find, easy for you to show people. Because even though you register as an organ donor, what we know, the most successful thing, the thing that is the most enabling for organ donation at that, if indeed you are in a position where you can donate your organs, is that your family knows. If your family doesn’t know that you intended to be an organ donor, they are less likely to give that all important consent at that very difficult time. If they do know that you want it to be an organ donor, they are vastly more likely to give consent, and that’s important. So, this is a great development for organ donation. I congratulate Minister Shorten for this development and it’s very exciting news. Back to you, Bill.

    SHORTEN: Thanks, Ged. You can’t overstate how important today’s announcement actually is. Organ and Tissue Australia are doing a great job encouraging people to be organ donors. I’ve seen close hand, a family friend, when she suffered a traumatic road injury, because she was an organ donor there’s three other people who had valuable lifesaving surgeries as a result of my friend’s passing, so it really does make a difference. Four in every five Aussies say that they are up for donating their organs, but only one in every three Australians is actually registered to do it. So, what’s really great is that the Albanese government, through Services Australia, and I thank Services Australia for working with Organ and Tissue Australia, what we’ve done is that you have a myGov app, 6 million Australians have already downloaded the app, and you have a digital wallet. And you know, at the moment you can link it with your Medicare card, or your pension card, or your health card. Now, what you can do is it’s a very simple, very quick process to be able to link it to an organ donor card.

    What that means is, it’s going to change lives, literally, the ability to save lives. And so, it is really super, super easy. And what we want to do is encourage Australians, through the use of our myGov app, to be organ donors, just to close the deal between a good intent and a good act. Now we’re really privileged today to be able to hear from Kristy. Kristy has got an amazing story about the importance of organ donation and how that changes lives and, and the ripples of the generosity of organ donation that give life to other people. So maybe let’s hear from Kristy and then we could answer some questions.

    KRISTY, TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: Hi, I’m Kristy. I’m a kidney recipient. And like what the Minister said, this is a bit about my journey that saved my life and changed my life. I was 14 when I was diagnosed with kidney disease, and throughout high school I had to go through a lot of hospital visits. By the time I was 22, I was in hospital and my doctors have told me my kidneys failed. And being 22, I wasn’t sure what that really meant. And then, everything moved so quickly. All I remembered was having tubes in me, and I was going through this machine, and this machine made me feel so cold. And I quickly learned that means it’s dialysis. So, you have to wash your blood through this machine. And that’s why your body feels so cold. And I had to do this three times a week, and it’s from 4 to 5 hours. But my body is so little, and every time after a session, I feel so washed out. My day, I would be at home, I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t walk just because I felt so dizzy.

    Then they moved me into peritoneal dialysis. It’s when you have this tube called the Tenckhoff, inserted into your belly. So, I had another operation, and they removed my Permacath, which was for haemodialysis, the taking of the blood. And then to suit my lifestyle style, I had the peritoneal dialysis, and I was able to do dialysis at home, which felt a lot nicer than being in the hospital. I was able to do that for a year. I even went overseas with my dialysis machine for a week. And then later I learned that it wasn’t for me. I went back into hospital. I was in intensive care. My heart was failing. My lungs were failing. I had blood clots in my lungs. It was so because this dialysis wasn’t working for me. And, um, then they put me on haemodialysis again, washing through the blood and this time in a hospital. And I had to stay overnight, and I did it for eight hours, three times a week as well.

    Then one day, I got a call after work. I was at McDonald’s eating, eating my meal, getting ready for dialysis. I had my sleep pack. And the call was, we found your kidney, and everything just stopped for me at that moment. And then, they told me the kidney is from a young man from Perth. And I had a minute to decide if I want this or not. And you know what’s there to lose? I said yes, and I was so excited about the news that I kept crying, and on my way home to put my dialysis bag away and go into hospital, I was crying on the tram. Then I realised I took the wrong tram. People were eavesdropping, but after I got off the phone, people were congratulating me. Then I took the taxi to my hospital, Saint Vincent’s hospital. They had nurses waiting for me downstairs because they’ve known me since I was 16, and it just felt like a royal treatment from then.

    I had my last dialysis session before I had my transplant, because they want your body to be in good shape before you have your transplant. And it took two weeks for my kidney to start. It didn’t start straight away, so I was feeling a little bit glum. But once it started working and I was doing my last half an hour of dialysis, I asked them to stop it because I felt like I needed to wee, which was the first time I would have weed in the past four years. It’s very, very weird. When you’re on dialysis, you don’t go to the toilet anymore. So, something so small I felt like I took for granted, just going to the toilet. And that’s what I felt like I really needed to do, first thing, when my kidneys started working. Um, and that also meant I didn’t need to drink water – I limited my water intake to one litre, so that was really hard for me when I was on dialysis during summer and being in Australia, we have very harsh summers and yeah, and just drinking up to one litre, that was my limit. And I’m aware some dialysis patients, but they can’t really drink up to half a litre, so I can’t imagine what they had to go through. But for me, one litre was very hard.

    So, a year after my transplant, nothing was wrong with my transplant. I told my doctors I’m ready to start a family because I wasn’t, I couldn’t – my body was not able to prior to transplant. So, post-transplant, we’ve changed my medication. I got the okay. And now I have two beautiful children. They’re 18 months and four years old. And I think that’s the biggest gift from the donors – giving me my life back, giving me a career back and letting me have a family.

    SHORTEN: Are there any questions for Kristy or Jed or myself?

    JOURNALIST: I’m wondering how the process works. Obviously, if someone’s passing away and could potentially donate their organs, will the hospital be able to access the myGov record? How does that process sort of work, to notify someone? And will that make things smoother now rather than just having a card in a wallet?

    SHORTEN: Yeah, What you’ll to be able to do is the family will be able to tell. I mean, making these decisions at the time where they’re there’s been a death or the organ’s available is very difficult. This will just provide easily accessible information for the authorities to be able to understand the intent of the donor. The best reasons to upload your myGov app and connect it to your Medicare and then get your organ donors cards, the best reasons really, I’ve heard, are 18 months and four years old. Kristy’s children. And so, yes, this just makes it a heck of a lot easier for everyone to identify the intent and the action.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, do you expect organ donation numbers to increase following this policy change? Have you got any research on that or expectations?

    SHORTEN: I’ll get Ged to supplement this, but yes, I do expect numbers to increase. Australians are a pretty generous bunch of people, but sometimes we have an idea, but we don’t get around to doing it. What we want to do is take the degree of difficulty out of the process of converting your general aspiration to be an organ donor into a reality. When people go on the myGov app and as I said, 6 million people have the app, they’ll realise, and when they’ve connected their Medicare card up, it is really, really quick. It is just a couple of steps and you’re done.

    So, what we are doing is taking the red tape and the bureaucracy out of it. By the way, if you still want a physical card, you can still get a physical card. But once you’ve got it on your digital wallet, you just – life’s just that much easier. We’re all used to tap and go, and what we do with the organ donor card is going to just be a lot quicker. So, I expect there to be an uptake and we will of course be promoting it. Maybe Ged might have some comments she’d like to make.

    KEARNEY: Sure. Thanks, Bill. I think the beauty of this is that it will be a prompt. You have your myGov app there. It might be a prompt for people to say who’ve always intended to donate or to, to register as a donor, to say, oh yeah, I should do that. And it makes it really quick and easy. So that’s the first step, is that we hope that more people will register by that, that simple prompt that the app might give them. But the most important thing, the thing that we know increases our donation, is your family knowing. Because it doesn’t matter what. It doesn’t matter how many people actually register as donors, at that time when there’s the possibility that you could be a donor, your family or your next of kin will be the ones asked to give consent. And your family are the ones that have to say yes.

    So, we know all the data shows that if your family knows that you wanted, that was your intent to donate your organs, they will say yes, and it increases the donation rates dramatically. So, having the evidence there for the family to see loud and clear every, every now and then when you open up your myGov app, you’ll say, oh, remember mum, remember dad, remember to your wife, that I’m registered. It might be a little prompt for that all important conversation. I think that is the beauty of having it right there all the time on your phone for everyone to see. It might just prompt that conversation. It’s not an easy conversation to have, but it’s an important conversation to have. So yeah, I think that this will go a long way, hopefully to increasing donation rates. So, thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Bridgewater Bridge reaches the high water mark

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Work on the once-in-a-generation New Bridgewater Bridge Project is a significant step closer to delivering faster travel times and less congestion.

    The pouring of the final pair of the 42 bridge piers this evening (October 29) will mark the completion of the bridge’s substructure and bring the project a step closer to having traffic on the bridge.

    The Australian and Tasmanian governments are investing $786 million into project, with the Australian Government committing $628.8 million, and $157.2 million from the Tasmanian Government.

    The four-lane bridge will fix the missing link between the Brooker Highway and Midland Highway.

    The 1.2-kilometre-long bridge will include two lanes of traffic in each direction, a safe shared path for cyclists and pedestrians, and clearance for boats.

    The 46 piles that make up the bridge’s foundations were completed in July 2024, ranging between 30-90 metres below the river. One of the final piles to be poured is believed to be the largest ever poured in Australia, reaching 88 metres below the surface.

    Each pier is the starting point for the construction of the superstructure, which is made up of 1,082 concrete bridge segments produced at the project’s purpose-built precast yard at Bridgewater.

    The 21 pairs of piers range in height from eight to 16 metres to provide the navigation clearance under the bridge.

    Made up of between 190-310 tonnes of concrete and 25-35 tonnes of steel, each pier is constructed using specially designed steel forms, which allow them to be poured in one piece on site.

    The project remains on track to be delivered on time and within budget, with the new bridge due to be completed by July 2025.

    For more information about the project and to see the latest flythrough footage, visit the project website at https://bridgewaterbridge.tas.gov.au/.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “We know how important it is to deliver infrastructure that gets people home quicker and safer.

    “This much-needed bridge replacement will also boost economic opportunities including ensuring tourists have a more enjoyable experience getting to and from the north and south of the state.

    “We continue to deliver our commitments to priority projects right around Australia.”

    Quotes attributable to Premier Jeremy Rockliff:

    “Anyone who has driven through the area recently would have seen the hive of activity as we move closer to having traffic on the new bridge.

    “The project site is changing daily, and Tasmanians are rightly excited to see the new bridge taking shape so quickly.

    “Completing the bridge’s substructure is a major milestone and is a significant step towards seeing the deck of the new bridge finished. 

    “Not only will a new Bridgewater Bridge remove the bottlenecks people have been experiencing at each end of the bridge, but it will provide more reliable travel times so people know how long their journey will take.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent:

    “Seeing so many outstanding Tasmanian businesses come together to deliver this once-in-a-generation project is something special and something all Tasmanians should be proud of.

    “The project is providing increased capacity and capability in local skills within the state’s civil construction industry.

    “This means we can keep the skills and knowledge created on the project in the state and will benefit future major projects.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell:

    “Creating jobs, upskilling workers, and supporting Tasmanian industry has been a key focus of the New Bridgewater Bridge, with more than 25 per cent of the new jobs on the project filled by people from the Brighton, Derwent Valley, and Glenorchy municipalities.

    “The steady progress being realised on this nationally significant project is big news for Bridgewater and other communities north of Hobart, where people rely on reliable and safe road links over the Derwent river.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Inquiry warns distrustful public wouldn’t accept COVID measures in future pandemic

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The government-appointed inquiry into Australia’s COVID response has warned public trust won’t be so high in a future pandemic and people would be unlikely to accept again many of the measures taken.

    “That means there is a job to be done to rebuild trust, and we must plan a response based on the Australia we are today, not the Australia we were before the pandemic,” the report released on Tuesday said.

    The inquiry was conducted by former NSW public servant Robyn Kirk, epidemiologist Catherine Bennett, and economist Angela Jackson. It examined the health and economic responses; while it did not directly delve into the state responses, it did cover the federal-state interface.

    The overall takeout from the inquiry is that “Australia did well relative to other nations, that experienced larger losses in human life, health system collapse and more severe economic downturns”.

    But “the pandemic response was not as effective as it could have been” for an event for which there was “no playbook for pivotal actions.”

    The inquiry said “with the benefit of hindsight, there was excessive fiscal and monetary policy stimulus provided throughout 2021 and 2022, especially in the construction sector. Combined with supply side disruptions, this contributed to inflationary pressures coming out of the pandemic.”

    The inquiry criticised the Homebuilder program’s contribution to inflation, as well as Jobkeeper’s targeting, and said blanket access to superannuation should not be repeated.

    The government – which might have originally expected the inquiry to have been more critical of the Morrison government – quickly seized on the report’s economic criticisms.

    The panel has made a set of recommendations to ensure better preparation for a future pandemic.

    It highlighted the “tail” the pandemic has left, especially its effect on children, who suffered school closures.

    “Children faced lower health risks from COVID-19; however, broader impacts on the social and emotional development of children are ongoing. These include impacts on mental health, school attendance and academic outcomes for some groups of children.”

    The report noted that the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee had never recommended widespread school closures.

    A lack of clear communication about risks had created the environment for states to decide to go to remote learning.

    The impacts on children should be considered in future pandemic preparations, the inquiry said.

    It strongly backed making permanent the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control. The government will legislate next year for the CDC, to start on January 1 2026, as an independent statutory agency.

    The CDC would be important in rebuilding trust, the report said, as well as “strengthening resilience and preparedness”. It would provide “national coordination to gather evidence necessary to undertake the assessments that can guide the proportionality of public health responses in future crises”.

    The report said trust in government was essential for a successful response to a pandemic.

    At COVID’s outset, the public largely did what was asked of them, complying with restrictive public health orders.

    But the initial strengthening of trust in government did not continue through the pandemic. By the second year, restrictions on personal freedom were less accepted.

    Reasons for the decrease in trust included a lack of transparency in decision making, poor communication, the stringency and duration of restrictions, implementation of mandated measures, access to vaccines and inconsistencies in responses across jurisdictions.

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Inquiry warns distrustful public wouldn’t accept COVID measures in future pandemic – https://theconversation.com/inquiry-warns-distrustful-public-wouldnt-accept-covid-measures-in-future-pandemic-242383

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: China’s medtech market growth to exceed global average over 2023-33 despite headwinds, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    China’s medtech market growth to exceed global average over 2023-33 despite headwinds, says GlobalData

    Posted in Medical Devices

    Prominent medical technology market experts who gathered at the MedTech Conference 2024, which was held recently in Toronto, Canada, expressed an optimistic outlook for the future of the medical devices market in China. While the global medical devices market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2023 to 2033, China’s medical devices market is forecast to expand at a faster CAGR of 5.0% over the same period despite some challenges, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Tina Deng, MSc, Principal Medical Device Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The key drivers of growth in China’s medical devices market include the country’s aging population, an increasing number of chronic conditions, rising penetration of medical devices at all levels of healthcare, and growing coverage by Chinese health insurance funds.”

    The overall economic slowdown in China has resulted in tighter budgets for healthcare expenditures. This financial strain may negatively impact the growth of the medical devices market as hospitals and healthcare institutions struggle to manage costs. While volume-based procurement (VBP) aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs in healthcare spending, it poses challenges for manufacturers that could affect the long-term landscape of the medical devices market in China.

    Global supply chain issues, which were exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, hinder production, and distribution. Additionally, China’s increasing protectionist policies are aimed at bolstering its domestic medical device industry, which poses challenges for international companies.

    Deng concludes: “Multinational companies need to consider differentiated strategies to reduce operational cost and offer affordable products in China. It is essential to emphasize the overall value of products rather than just their price. Highlighting superior quality, reliability, and post-sales support can differentiate products in a competitive landscape.

    “Additionally, multinational companies can collaborate with local companies or distributors to enhance their market knowledge, navigate regulatory environments, and improve access to procurement opportunities. Flexible pricing models that can adapt to different procurement requirements and buyer preferences can also be developed, ensuring competitiveness in various segments.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asthma crisis in US marginalized communities from redlining requires more than just healthcare interventions, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Asthma crisis in US marginalized communities from redlining requires more than just healthcare interventions, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    Decades after the discriminatory practice of redlining was banned in the US, its lasting impact is still driving significant health disparities, particularly in asthma prevalence, according to recent studies. These findings highlight how the combination of poor housing conditions and environmental pollutants in historically redlined neighborhoods continues to fuel the asthma crisis, particularly among children. Addressing this crisis requires more than just healthcare interventions, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Redlining, a practice that historically denied financial services to predominantly minority neighborhoods, labeled these areas as “risky” and prevented necessary investments. Though outlawed in 1968, its effects persist, exposing these neighborhoods to higher pollution levels, poor housing conditions, and entrenched poverty.

    Many redlined neighborhoods remain disproportionately exposed to harmful pollutants from industrial sites and high-traffic roadways, exacerbating respiratory issues. Poor housing quality in these areas, rife with mold, pests, and other asthma triggers, further worsens the condition for residents, making it an issue of environmental justice.

    Sravani Meka, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The legacy of redlining is a multifaceted public health crisis. The intersection of environmental hazards, poor housing conditions, and healthcare access gaps has created a perfect storm for chronic asthma in these communities.”

    Efforts are underway to address these disparities, with initiatives focusing on improving air quality, housing standards, and healthcare access. However, experts warn that systemic barriers remain.

    Meka continues: “While policy reforms are being implemented, convincing decision-makers to prioritize these vulnerable communities and ensuring healthcare providers are equipped to manage the complex needs of these patients will be crucial for long-term change. If successful, these reforms could significantly reduce asthma rates and improve quality of life in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods.”

    Meka concludes: “It’s essential that these communities receive sustained attention, not just short-term interventions, to truly dismantle the structural inequalities that drive these health disparities.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends congratulations on 20th anniversary of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni’s enthronement

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

    Xi extends congratulations on 20th anniversary of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni’s enthronement

    BEIJING, Oct. 29 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday congratulated Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on the 20th anniversary of his enthronement.

    In his congratulatory message, Xi said that since being enthroned 20 years ago, King Sihamoni has made important contributions to Cambodia’s peace, stability, development and rejuvenation, and international exchanges, and has long been committed to carrying forward the traditional friendship between the two countries.

    Under the joint guidance from leaders of both countries, the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future has entered a new era featuring high quality, high level and high standards, he said.

    The “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework has made solid progress, the building of the “Industrial Development Corridor” and the “Fish and Rice Corridor” has made positive headway, and the China-Cambodia people-to-people exchange year has achieved great success, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.

    Depicting China and Cambodia as iron-clad friends who stand together through thick and thin and extend assistance to each other, the Chinese president said he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations, prizes the traditional friendship with the Cambodian Royal Family, and stands ready to work with King Sihamoni to strengthen the strategic guidance of bilateral relations, so as to push for more fruitful results in the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Astronauts of China’s Shenzhou-19 mission meet press

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

    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 — Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, the three Chinese astronauts for the upcoming Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, met the press on Tuesday.

    The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced earlier at a press conference on Tuesday.

    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Cai Xuzhe, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Song Lingdong, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Wang Haoze, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Wang Haoze, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Song Lingdong, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Cai Xuzhe, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze, who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Wang Haoze, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Cai Xuzhe, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Song Lingdong, one of the three astronauts who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission, meets the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China fully advances manned lunar landing program

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

    JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 — China is pressing ahead with its mission to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, moving quickly with development and construction to turn this goal into reality, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

    The production and ground tests of prototypes of the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the manned spacecraft Mengzhou, the lunar lander Lanyue, the space suit and the manned lunar rover are underway as planned, said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for the CMSA.

    A series of major tests have been completed, including the integrated airdrop test for the spacecraft, the separation test for the two modules of the lander, the test firing of the three-engine power system for the rocket’s first stage, and the high-altitude simulation test for the hydrogen-oxygen engine.

    Ground systems including the launch site, telemetry and control communications, and the landing site are being developed and constructed, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sets to select, train astronauts from partner nations: spokesperson

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

    JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 — China is engaging in discussions to select and train astronauts from partner nations to participate in its space station missions, a spokesperson with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference on Tuesday.

    The CMSA welcomes its international counterparts to join in the flight missions of the country’s space station, spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told the press conference in Jiuquan, northwest China, ahead of the launch of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission scheduled for early Wednesday morning.

    “Regardless of which country participates, it is humanity’s collective quest to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos,” said Lin, noting that manned space missions are “the most immediate human endeavor in harnessing the space resources.”

    Currently, the first batch of payloads selected under cooperation between China and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs are conducting experiments in orbit, said Lin, adding that more international collaborative experimental research initiatives are in the pipeline.

    China’s space station Tiangong boasts a wealth of scientific application resources and comprehensive support capabilities, and the Shenzhou manned system and Tianzhou cargo system can ensure reliable and stable round-trip transportation for personnel and supplies between Earth and the space, said Lin. “It is an excellent platform for international collaboration.”

    China has conducted international collaborations with the world’s major space-faring nations and developing countries, spanning various areas including astronaut selection and training, space science applications, in-orbit facilities, space debris protection and ground support, which have yielded abundant outcomes, Lin said.

    China’s space station serves not only as a national asset but also as a platform for advancing space technology and bringing benefits to all of humanity, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Kai Tak test events will be useful: CE

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    (To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

    Chief Executive John Lee said today that test events will take place at the Kai Tak Sports Park in a progressive manner, allowing improvement measures to be put in place prior to its opening.

    Mr Lee spoke to reporters about the sports park this morning, after the first test event – a football match – was held at the venue on Sunday.

    He said the drills staged at the park will be used to train up staff working there and facilitate visitor flows.

    “It is very important (that) we do all the drills necessary. It has to be progressive so that it will train up, first of all, departmental staff, those who work (for) Kai Tak Sports Park Limited, and those who are involved, especially those in the transport industry.

    “The challenge, of course, is the dispersal of crowds after an event, which will comprise 50,000 spectators. That is a challenge we must take up boldly.”

    The Chief Executive added that the forthcoming test events will be useful.

    “I do want the drills to progress fast, but is it also important for reviews and improvement measures to be designed so that we can put them in.

    “I envisage there will be at least 20-plus drills, and depending on the experiences we will gain through the drills, then we will decide whether more will be necessary.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Address to AFR Super and Wealth Summit, Sydney

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Introduction

    I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on.

    I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and I acknowledge any First Nations Australians in attendance.

    At this very forum 2 years ago, I made a promise –

    A promise that the Albanese government will deliver a stronger superannuation system that provides the best outcomes for members.

    A stronger system where workers are paid what they are owed.

    A system where funds deliver strong investment performance.

    A system where the member is at the centre.

    A system that is fair.

    On current trends, the superannuation sector will exceed $4 trillion in the next term of government.

    As the stewards of the system, we are committed to ensuring that translates to a dignified retirement for all Australians.

    To do that, we have been improving every interaction with the system.

    From the first dollar of superannuation accumulated –

    To the final dollar drawn down –

    We want to ensure Australians share in the dividend of the nation’s prosperity.

    Every dollar of superannuation needs to be paid

    Superannuation relies on the premise that wealth will accumulate over your working life to be drawn down upon in retirement.

    This all falls over from the outset if workers are not paid what they are owed.

    In the most recent data available, in a single year, it is estimated that workers had $3.6 billion stolen from them through unpaid super.

    Not good enough.

    We don’t accept workers being underpaid wages.

    We shouldn’t accept workers being underpaid super.

    So we have acted decisively.

    We enshrined the right to super in the National Employment Standards.

    We’ve criminalised the theft of superannuation.

    And we’re fulfilling our election commitment to set new targets for the Tax Office to recover unpaid super.

    Yet the most important policy in this regard is our commitment to payday super.

    From 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay their employees’ super at the same time as their salary and wages.

    Workers will benefit by getting their super earlier and more frequently.

    The Tax Office will have greater ability to track employers meeting their obligations.

    And it will help prevent the build‑up of debts of unpaid super, which are too often lost forever if a business becomes insolvent.

    This is one of the biggest reforms to the payment of superannuation since it was introduced over 30 years ago.

    And it will deliver for workers.

    Funds must deliver strong investment returns

    We need to make sure super is paid on time.

    And we need to make sure super is invested in the best financial interests of members.

    Upon coming to government, the annual superannuation performance test only applied to around 70 MySuper products.

    It has now been expanded to around 650 products, including the choice sector.

    The test now covers around 80 per cent of benefits held in the accumulation phase.

    This drives accountability for trustees to deliver good investment returns.

    And it delivers transparency for members to know how their fund is performing.

    And it’s working.

    The tail of underperformance is being cleaned up.

    After almost 100 products failed last year, that number is down to 37 this year.

    But this is not a policy that is set and forget.

    We have had a look under the hood of the test to ensure that it is delivering for members.

    That it is not limiting the returns that funds can achieve.

    And to ensure that it is fit‑for‑purpose as the system continues to mature.

    As we work through the views and feedback we have received, you can judge our record to decipher what the future of the test looks like.

    How do we ensure funds invest in the best financial interests of members.

    And how do we help more Australians retire with dignity.

    Superannuation will be increasingly judged by its member service

    Now for a long time, the superannuation system has been judged simply by how well it accumulates wealth.

    And this is a key metric for its success.

    A metric – might I add – that it has generally hit out of the park.

    But more and more, this is not going to be the only marker against which success is judged.

    The superannuation industry will be judged by the standard of member service received throughout a person’s working life and retirement.

    And members are not judging their superannuation fund against another fund.

    They’re judging their fund against the service they receive from their bank or their insurer.

    And if they don’t receive an acceptable level of service, members might just start to question the value proposition of superannuation.

    There are plenty of bad answers to the question of what superannuation should be used for.

    In fact, you can spot these bad ideas when they put forward an answer that is anything but retirement income.

    In recent weeks, the Opposition have revealed their true colours when it comes to the superannuation system.

    The Shadow Treasurer let the cat out of the bag – they don’t believe in a universal superannuation system.

    And they don’t want superannuation to be kept for retirement as they continue to promote using super to buy a house.

    It’s an idea that is both bad retirement policy and bad housing policy.

    The entry price for a good idea is that it has to work.

    But this one doesn’t build a single home.

    And in a supply‑constrained market, it will only push house prices up and up.

    Their sales pitch to a young person is to drain your super, while pushing home ownership further away.

    And housing is just the tip of the iceberg.

    There is not a policy problem that the Opposition believe can’t be met by ripping open super.

    Like when they encouraged $38 billion in retirement savings to be drained during the pandemic.

    However, if the superannuation system doesn’t meet the members’ needs, these ideas become more attractive.

    Let’s be clear – the expectation on funds is only going to increase.

    The government has made its views clear.

    And this is a key strategic priority for ASIC as well and they will continue to work across industry to hold funds to account.

    Members are going to want help to meet their retirement goals.

    To be in the right products.

    And to be supported when things go wrong.

    Upon coming to government, the standard was not good enough.

    Pleasingly, this has started to turn around as funds have dedicated time and resources to lifting their performance.

    And I welcome the recent guidance note that ASFA has published –

    And I acknowledge the collaboration from others in the sector, including the Super Members Council and Financial Services Council.

    This is trending in the right direction, with more to be done to serve the members of the system.

    Reforming the financial advice laws will improve member outcomes

    While superannuation funds can do a lot more to meet their members’ expectations and needs –

    There is one area of the law that funds have almost unanimously said is holding them back and leading to bad outcomes for members.

    The financial advice laws in the country are not fit‑for‑purpose.

    It’s too expensive.

    Too hard to access.

    And too strangled by red tape to be helpful.

    4 in 5 Australians aged 45 to 54 said they needed financial advice, but did not have the capacity to pay for it.

    74 per cent of Australians aged 18 to 34 have been found to have unmet advice needs.

    Funds have to hang up on members or turn them away because the laws prevent them from providing answers to, often, simple questions.

    This means members might get no advice or information, which means they are likely not able to maximise their savings.

    Treasury analysis shows around 50 per cent of accounts have a balance of at least $100,000 in the year before a person’s passing.

    But worse still, if members cannot get advice from regulated sources, they may be led by ‘finfluencers’ and ‘armchair’ commentators to expose themselves to the dangerous world of scammers.

    No one can defend the current financial advice laws when presented with these outcomes.

    This is an acute challenge for the superannuation industry.

    We have over 5 million Australians at or approaching retirement.

    And they are hungry for advice and information.

    And so we have set out to implement the most significant reforms to the financial advice laws in a decade.

    We are committed to improving the retirement phase of superannuation.

    And the foundation stone for this project is helping more Australians access quality and affordable financial advice.

    We have delivered the first tranche of reforms.

    And the next tranche of reforms is being drafted and prepared for introduction.

    In this tranche of reforms, we will modernise the best interests duty and remove the safe harbour steps.

    We will reform statements of advice so that they are actually usable by the consumer who paid for it to make informed decisions.

    And we will create a new class of adviser who will be able to provide simple and safe advice.

    Advice will be safe – so that we protect Australians from bad advice.

    Advice will be helpful – so that it is useful and fit‑for‑purpose.

    And advice will be quality – so that it delivers the best outcomes for Australians.

    An Australian retirement system must be fair

    Strengthening the system also means that we need to ensure it reflects society’s expectations around fairness.

    In just the past week, the Tax Office revealed that there are 42 self‑managed superannuation funds with assets in excess of $100 million.

    No one is decrying that success.

    But you’ll have a hard time convincing me that these accounts need their current level of taxpayer support.

    The top 10 per cent receive over 40 per cent of the current earnings concessions.

    And the cost of superannuation concessions will exceed the cost of the Age Pension by the 2040s.

    So we think it is a fairer outcome if we modestly reduce the tax concessions for some of these accounts with very high balances.

    We’re not capping how much can be held in superannuation.

    And the tax concessions will still be generous for everyone.

    But budgets are about trade‑offs.

    If you think the current tax concessions are appropriate, then you will need to find those savings by cutting services somewhere else.

    Our decisions mean we can go further to improve the equity of the system.

    Where we believe more support has been needed is in paid parental leave.

    By 2026, we will have expanded the government‑funded scheme to a full 6 months, an extra 6 weeks of paid leave.

    And we don’t think this time off work should impact your retirement income.

    For births and adoptions from 1 July next year, all parents who receive PPL will be eligible for an additional 12 per cent payment directly into their super fund.

    This is a landmark reform for families that could see them up to $3,000 better off.

    That’s a fairer outcome.

    Conclusion

    Our superannuation policy agenda is comprehensive.

    But the thread that binds it together is what we have proposed as the objective of superannuation.

    That savings would be preserved to deliver income for a dignified retirement – alongside government support – in an equitable and sustainable way.

    So we are committed to a system where every dollar of super is paid.

    A system that maximises performance.

    And a system that puts the member’s needs at the centre.

    This is the vision for better retirement incomes for all Australians.

    That’s the objective of super.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: WTW expands Japan’s Corporate Risk & Broking business with new insurance brokerage service

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TOKYO, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WTW, (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory and broking solutions company, today announced the expansion of its Corporate Risk & Broking (CRB) business in Japan with the launch of an insurance brokerage service. The new service will offer insurance solutions to commercial clients, as well as wholesale facultative reinsurance placement services to partner brokers or agencies in Japan under the entity, WTW Broker Japan Co., Ltd.

    Ryohei (Roy) Nakazawa, Head of WTW Japan, said: “We’re excited with the expansion of our additional service in Japan, introducing specialty broking solutions to Japanese companies. Working closely with the international and domestic insurance markets, we will focus on the speciality segments, particularly for large corporates and Japanese companies with overseas business interests. These include those in Natural Resources, such as Power Plants, Renewables and Mining, Marine, Construction, Aviation, Crisis Management, Rep & Warranty, Captive and reinsurance business.

    At the same time, our existing agency company will continue to focus on the domestic corporate business and Japanese companies with global programmes, where we can support them in collaborating with their corporate in-house agencies.”

    Luke Ware, Head of CRB Asia, WTW commented: “This underscores our commitment to support the evolving needs of our clients and strengthen our position in the market – to be Japan’s best risk advisor, specialty broker and client partner, with world-class analytical capability. Japanese businesses face increasing technology, cyber, supply chain and climate transition risks. In response, we offer deep industry knowledge and insights to help them mitigate these risks and optimize business performance.”

    Headed by Tetsuro Nakazawa, Representative Director and Chief Operating Officer, WTW Broker Japan, the new retail brokerage operation will consist of over 10 brokers and risk advisors by the beginning of next year.

    Tetsuro recently joined WTW and brings with him 25-years of insurance industry experience in Japan, Singapore and London. An industry veteran in facultative reinsurance broking, Tetsuro has dedicated himself to property and facultative reinsurance placements for large and complex Japanese corporate risks, having worked at leading international broking companies with agency and broking operations in the past.

    Tetsuro said: “Japan’s corporate insurance market is undergoing a phase of transformation, and the role of independent international brokers is expected to grow in importance. WTW Broker Japan is positioned to work with corporate clients and insurance partners or agencies to support companies in securing insurance and fac reinsurance for complex risks. I am confident that our new broking business, armed with our group of specialists, can draw on the experience of our brokers and risk advisors globally, as well as our extensive network internationally to ensure that our clients and partners get the right insurance cover.”

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.

    Media contact

    Clara Goh: +65 6958 2542
    clara.goh@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Notice on Public Offering of Subordinated Bonds of LHV Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AS LHV Group (hereinafter LHV) hereby announces a public offering of LHV’s subordinated bonds. The offering is conducted on the basis of the prospectus affirmed by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (FSA) on 28 October 2024, that has been disclosed on the date of this announcement on the web pages of LHV and the FSA. The public offering of the subordinated bonds will be carried out in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

    This is the second issue of subordinated bonds, in the amount of up to EUR 20 million, under the bond programme confirmed in 2023. Under the bond programme EUR 35 million worth of subordinated bonds have previously been issued and altogether it is possible to raise up to EUR 200 million.

    Main Terms of Offering

    LHV offers publicly up to 20,000 subordinated bonds of LHV „EUR 6.00 LHV Group subordinated bond 24-2034” with the nominal value of EUR 1,000, the maturity date of 15 November 2034 and a quarterly paid fixed interest rate offered to the investor at the rate 6% per annum. Subordinated bonds will be offered at a price of EUR 1,000 per one bond. Subordinated bonds will be issued in a dematerialised book-entry form and registered in Nasdaq CSD SE under ISIN code EE3300004993.

    The subscription period for the bonds will start on 29 October 2024 at 10:00 and will end on 12 November 2024 at 16:00. The subordinated bond offering is intended for retail and institutional investors operating in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and made possible for the clients of account-managing financial institutions that are members of the Estonian securities settlement system.

    A subordinated bond represents an unsecured debt obligation of LHV before the investor. The subordination of the bonds means that upon the liquidation or bankruptcy of LHV, all the claims arising from the subordinated bonds shall fall due and shall be satisfied only after the full satisfaction of all unsubordinated recognised claims in accordance with the applicable law. Among other things, with subordinated bonds, the risk of conversion of liabilities and claim rights (bail-in risk) must be considered.

    Timetable of Offering

    29.10.2024 at 10:00 Start of the subscription period for the subordinated bonds
    12.11.2024 at 16:00 End of the subscription period for the subordinated bonds
    On or about 13.11.2024  Disclosing the allocation results of the subordinated bonds
    On or about 15.11.2024 Transfer of the subordinated bonds to investors’ securities accounts
    On or about 18.11.2024 Expected listing of the subordinated bonds and admission to trading on the regulated market operated by Nasdaq Tallinn AS (on the Baltic Bond List of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange)

    Submitting Subscription Undertakings 

    In order to subscribe for the subordinated bonds an investor has to submit, during the subscription period, a subscription undertaking to the custodian who holds the investor’s securities account opened at Nasdaq CSD SE, with the format accepted by the custodian and in accordance with the prospectus and offer conditions. The subscription undertaking must be submitted before the end of the subscription period. The investor may use any method that such investor’s custodian offers to submit the subscription undertaking (e.g., physically at the client service venue of the custodian, over the internet or by other means). The subscription undertaking will be forwarded to Nasdaq CSD SE.

    Listing and Admission to Trading

    LHV intends to submit an application to Nasdaq Tallinn AS for the listing and admission to trading of the LHV’s subordinated bonds on the Baltic Bond List of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. The expected date of listing and admission to trading is on or about 18 November 2024.

    While every effort will be made and due care will be taken in order to ensure the listing and the admission to trading of the subordinated bonds, LHV cannot ensure that the subordinated bonds will be listed and admitted to trading.

    Availability of Prospectus and Terms of Offering

    The Prospectus has been published and can be obtained in electronic format from LHV’s website https://investor.lhv.ee/en/ and from the website of the FSA https://www.fi.ee/en. Additionally, the Estonian translation of the Prospectus has been disclosed and made available together with the Prospectus on the LHV website https://investor.lhv.ee/en and is also available through the information system of Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. The terms and conditions of the subordinated bonds and the final terms of the offering together with the summary of the prospectus and their translations to Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian have been published and can be obtained in electronic format from LHV’s website https://investor.lhv.ee/en.

    Before investing into LHV’s subordinated bonds we ask you to acquaint yourself with the prospectus, the terms and conditions of the bonds, the final terms and if necessary consult an expert.

    LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. The LHV Group’s key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, LHV Kindlustus, and LHV Bank Limited. The Group employs nearly 1,200 people. As at the end of September, LHV’s banking services are being used by 445,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 116,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 169,000 clients. LHV Bank Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, holds a banking licence in the United Kingdom and provides banking services to international financial technology companies, as well as loans to small and medium-sized enterprises.

    Priit Rum
    Communications Manager
    Phone: +372 502 0786
    Email: priit.rum@lhv.ee

    Important information:
    This information is an advertisement of securities within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and does not constitute an offer of bonds of AS LHV Group or an invitation to subscribe for or acquire bonds. The offer of the bonds will be made on the basis of the Terms and Conditions of the Prospectus published on the day of the public offer of the bonds and approved by the Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority), and the Final Terms of the First Issue. The Prospectus is available on the websites of the Finantsinspektsioon and AS LHV Group at fi.ee and investor.lhv.ee, respectively, where the Terms and Conditions referred to and the Summary of the Prospectus are also available. Investors should read the information published in the Prospectus, its Terms and Conditions, and the Final Terms of the First Issue before making an investment decision in order to understand all the facts relating to the investment. The approval of the prospectus by the Finantsinspektsioon does not constitute an approval of AS LHV Group or the securities offered. The bonds are publicly offered in the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa Group reports an operating profit of 1.3 billion euros for the third quarter following a strong summer travel season

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG:

    “Today, we are reporting on another strong summer travel season, with a record seat load factor of 88 percent in August. Particularly in view of the fact that global air traffic again reached its capacity limits this summer, I would like to thank our employees for their efforts and our customers for the patience we sometimes had to ask for.
    Global demand remains intact and bookings for the fourth quarter are also at a high level compared to the previous year, particularly in the premium classes.

    With all passenger airlines operating at a profit, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines even generated record results in the third quarter. Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo also remain on track. 
    At the same time, delayed aircraft deliveries, punctuality issues at our hubs in Germany and regulatory disadvantages are impacting our core brand. Lufthansa Airlines has therefore launched the “Turnaround” program to address these and structural internal challenges.

    Across the group, we are continuing to invest in the largest fleet modernization in our history, in premium offers for our guests and in an even more international positioning. These three central pillars of our strategy will enable us to further expand our role as the leading airline group in Europe.”

    Results
    The Group increased its revenue by five percent year-on-year to 10.7 billion euros (previous year: 10.3 billion euros) in the third quarter due to the higher number of flights and the revenue growth at Lufthansa Technik. This was the strongest quarter in terms of revenue in the history of the Lufthansa Group. The Group generated an operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) of 1.3 billion euros (previous year: 1.5 billion euros), resulting in an operating margin of 12.5 percent (previous year: 14.3 percent). The year-on-year decline was due to significant cost increases, particularly in fees, MRO expenses and personnel. Net profit fell to 1.1 billion euros (previous year: 1.2 billion euros).

    Lufthansa Group Passenger Airlines expand capacity

    The Lufthansa Group airlines welcomed more than 40 million guests on board their aircraft in the third quarter, an increase of six percent over the previous year. At 94 percent of available capacity (prior-year period: 88 percent), the seat load factor rose to 87 percent in the third quarter (previous year: 86 percent). In terms of the seat load factor, August was the strongest month in the company’s history, with a load factor of 88 percent.

    Due to the industry-wide capacity growth, average yields fell by 3.5 percent compared to the previous year, although the development in the various traffic regions was mixed: While average yields in continental traffic in the third quarter remained almost at the previous year’s level (-0.4 percent), they fell significantly by 14 percent in the Asia/Pacific region. Due to the improved passenger load factor, the decline in unit revenues (RASK) was less pronounced at minus 2.7 percent. Unit costs increased by 4.5 percent compared to the previous year due to higher fees, as well as higher material and personnel costs. 

    Overall, the Group’s passenger airlines generated an Adjusted EBIT of 1.2 billion euros in the third quarter (previous year: 1.4 billion euros). The decline in the operating profit of the passenger airlines is mainly driven by the 234 million euros decline in the result of Lufthansa Airlines. Delays in the delivery of new aircraft and the associated need to continue operating older aircraft, increased location costs, higher staff costs and expenses for compensation payments following flight irregularities had an above-average impact on the result of Lufthansa Airlines.

    Turnaround program at Lufthansa Airlines is making progress

    Lufthansa Airlines is consistently implementing its Turnaround program. The aim is to increase efficiency, reduce complexity and improve product quality, thereby making the airline fit for the future. Among other things, the Turnaround plan envisages shifting more short-haul traffic to more cost-efficient flight operations. Further efficiency gains are to be achieved by optimizing the network and increasing flexibility and automation. By 2026, the measures will have a gross EBIT effect of around 1.5 billion euros.

    Till Streichert, Chief Financial Officer of Deutsche Lufthansa AG:

    “The Lufthansa Group will continue to focus on generating cash flow and creating value for our shareholders. For this, the Turnaround program at Lufthansa Airlines and the fleet modernization are core elements. I am confident that on this basis we will position all our passenger airlines to be sustainably efficient and profitable.”

    Lufthansa Technik’s result on par with last year, positive performance at Lufthansa Cargo

    In the third quarter, Lufthansa Technik continued to benefit from the high demand for air travel and the associated increase in demand from airlines worldwide for maintenance and repair services. Lufthansa Technik generated an Adjusted EBIT of 167 million euros in the third quarter (previous year: 168 million euros).

    The airfreight business continued to recover in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter. Lufthansa Cargo achieved an operating profit of 38 million euros (previous year: 1 million euros) in the traditionally seasonally weak third quarter for air freight. This trend confirms the anticipated normalization in the air freight market. Furthermore, Lufthansa Cargo is optimally positioned to benefit from strong e-commerce business with Asia, which has prompted Lufthansa Cargo to shift capacity from the transatlantic to the Asia/Pacific region. 

    Adjusted free cash flow clearly positive, balance sheet further strengthened

    The Lufthansa Group generated an operating cash flow of 635 million euros in the third quarter of 2020 (previous year: 1.2 billion euros). After deducting net capital expenditure, primarily for new fuel-efficient aircraft, the Group recorded an Adjusted free cash flow of 128 million euros in the quarter. In the first nine months, the Adjusted free cash flow was 1.0 billion euros (previous year: 1.7 billion euros).

    The Group continued to strengthen its balance sheet during the first nine months of the year, supported by the positive cash flow. At 5.1 billion euros, net debt was below the year-end level 2023 (December 31, 2023: 5.7 billion euros). Net pension liabilities decreased to 2.6 billion euros (December 31, 2023: 2.7 billion euros). Compared to the beginning of the year, available liquidity increased by around 1 billion euros to 11.4 billion euros and was therefore well above the target range of 8-10 billion euros as of the reporting date.

    Outlook

    The Lufthansa Group expects demand for air travel to remain strong in the remaining months of the year. The load factors booked for November and December are well above the levels observed at the same time last year. Demand remains particularly high in the premium classes, i.e. Business Class and First Class.

    The Lufthansa Group plans to increase its capacity in the fourth quarter further compared to the previous year. For the full year 2024, it expects a capacity of around 91 percent compared to the pre-crisis level.

    The Group also expects to report a positive operating result in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Lufthansa Group is therefore confirming its expectation of achieving an Adjusted EBIT of 1.4 to 1.8 billion euros for the full year.

    Further information

    Further information on the results of individual business segments will be published in the report for the third quarter of 2024. This will be published at the same time as this press release on October 29, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. at

    https://investor-relations.lufthansagroup.com/en/investor-relations.html.

    The traffic figures for the third quarter of 2024 will also be published at 7:00 a.m. at https://investor-relations.lufthansagroup.com/en/financial-reports-publications/traffic-figures.html

     
     
    Jan. – Sept.
    2024
     
    Jan. – Sept. 2023
     
    Change in %
     
    July – Sept.
    2024
     
    July – Sept. 2023
     
    Change in %
    Revenue and result
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Total revenue
     
    €m
     
    28,137
     
    26,681
     
    5
     
    10,738
     
    10,275
     
    5
    Of which traffic revenue
     
    €m
     
    23,578
     
    22,583
     
    4
     
    9,246
     
    8,832
     
    5
    Adjusted EBIT
     
    €m
     
    1,177
     
    2,280
     
    -48
     
    1,340
     
    1,468
     
    -9
    Adjusted EBIT margin
     
    %
     
    4.2%
     
    8.5%
     
    -4.3%p
     
    12.5
     
    14.3
     
    -1.8%p
    EBIT
     
    €m
     
    1,249
     
    2,218
     
    -44
     
    1,461
     
    1,441
     
    1
    Net profit / loss
     
    €m
     
    830
     
    1,606
     
    -48
     
    1,095
     
    1,192
     
    -8
    Earnings per Share
     
    €
     
    0,69
     
    1,34
     
    -49
     
    0,92
     
    1,00
     
    -8
    Key balance sheet and cash flow statement figures
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Total assets
     
    €m
     
    46,439
     
    46,591
     
    0
     
    –
     
    –
     
    –
    Cash flow from operating activities
     
    €m
     
    3,423
     
    4,320
     
    -21
     
    635
     
    1,220
     
    -48
    Net capital expenditures
     
    €m
     
    1,815
     
    2,421
     
    -25
     
    61
     
    550
     
    -89
    Adjusted free cash flow
     
    €m
     
    1,006
     
    1,663
     
    -40
     
    128
     
    592
     
    -78
    Employees
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Employees as of 30 September
     
    Number
     
    100,518
     
    117,187
     
    -14
     
    –
     
    –
     
    –

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AIIB Commits EUR75 Million to Support ENGIE’s Global Renewable Energy Expansion, Decarbonization

    Source: Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank

    The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed EUR75 million to a EUR500 million sustainability-linked green loan facility to support ENGIE’s global renewable energy portfolio expansion and decarbonization efforts.

    The ENGIE Sustainability Linked Green Loan Project has been co-financed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco). This is AIIB’s second engagement with ENGIE, one of the world’s largest multinational electric utilities and independent power producers, following the financing of the 400MW Gujarat Solar Project earlier this year.

    AIIB joins IFC and Proparco to provide a green sustainability-linked loan facility to support the expansion of the group’s clean energy assets in Poland and South Africa, both AIIB members. Proceeds will finance the acquisition, development and construction of over 550MW of installed capacity. In line with sustainability-linked principles, remuneration of the loan will be linked to ENGIE’s global performance in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy expansion and occupational health and safety.

    “This project reinforces AIIB’s global mandate, strong partnership and innovative focus on climate finance,” said Najeeb Haider, AIIB Director General, Project and Corporate Finance Clients, Global. “With its agility and international presence in strategic markets, AIIB is uniquely placed to support multinational energy groups like ENGIE to advance the energy transition in Asia and beyond with their investments. We congratulate ENGIE and our cofinancing partners on their respective achievements.”

    Through the loan, AIIB is supporting its members by leveraging ENGIE’s global leadership in green energy and climate transition. ENGIE aims to invest EUR22-25 billion in renewable energy and low-carbon energy solutions between 2023 and 2025. The projects are aligned with AIIB’s Energy Sector Strategy, which directs the Bank to support traditional energy conglomerates and state-owned enterprises as they shift their corporate strategies and business modalities to redirect investments toward the energy transition.

    “To accelerate the energy transition, considerable resources and efforts are needed from many stakeholders,” said Jean-Marc Turchini, Group Head of Corporate Finance at ENGIE. “Our partnership with AIIB is certainly a meaningful contribution and we feel grateful for what they achieved with this financing. We are also proud to highlight the innovative structure of this most recent corporate loan, which includes climate-related targets for scope 3 emissions and a health and safety performance indicator that covers ENGIE employees and subcontractors on all sites, reflecting ENGIE’s sustainability and social ambitions.”

    About AIIB

    The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank whose mission is Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond – infrastructure with sustainability at its core. We began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 110 approved members worldwide. We are capitalized at USD100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients’ needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public online voting for EDB’s Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The public online voting for the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) commences from today (October 29) to November 4. Parents, students, teachers and members of the public are welcome to vote for the winning entries of the Most Liked Award among the outstanding submissions selected by the adjudication panel.

         A spokesman for the EDB said, “The sticker design competition was well received with the submission of over 4 000 creative entries, through which participants used different ways to convey the message of developing healthy lifestyle. To encourage public participation and enhance interaction of the competition, the EDB has specially set up the Most Liked Award for the Kindergarten Group, Primary Group and Secondary Group, and 15 outstanding entries from each group have been selected by the adjudication panel. Parents, students, teachers and members of the public can vote for their favourite entries through the activity website (www.parent.edu.hk/en/smart-parent-net/topics/article/ppc-competition2024). The entry with the most likes in each group will be presented with the Most Liked Award. The results of the competition will be announced through the activity website on November 13, and the awards will be presented at the Positive Parent Campaign Activity Day cum Prize Presentation Ceremony on December 15.”

         The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 to promote positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels with a view to fostering parents’ positive thinking and promoting proper ways and attitudes of nurturing children, thereby developing in parents a positive and optimistic mindset that contributes to the effective learning and happy development of children. The Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition aims to encourage parents and children to develop a healthy lifestyle together, including adequate sleep, daily exercises and participation in leisure activities, so that both parents and children can relax appropriately and maintain their physical and psychological well-being to facilitate happy and healthy development of children. 

         The EDB aims to raise the awareness of the Positive Parent Campaign among students, parents and the public through the activities under the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series, and to complement the promotion of the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) implemented by the EDB in the 2024/25 school year. Parents are encouraged to support the 4Rs Charter and uphold the four essential elements in fostering mental health, namely Rest, Relaxation, Relationship and Resilience, and work together with schools to create an environment conducive to the healthy development of students. For the updated information of the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the EDB Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en). 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Voluntary Return of 131 Togolese Migrants from Libya: A Joint Effort by IOM and the Togolese Government

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Lomé, Togo – The International Organization for Migration, in collaboration with the Togolese Government, facilitated the voluntary return of 131 migrants (77 men, 54 women, including 28 children) from Libya via a charter flight on Tuesday, 22 October 2024.

    Upon their arrival in Lomé, the migrants were welcomed by H.E. Madame Kossiwa Zinsou-Klassou, Minister of Social Action, National Solidarity, and Women’s Promotion, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Togolese Abroad, along with representatives from the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, and Madame Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, Chief of Mission of IOM for Benin, Togo, and Ghana. IOM provided immediate assistance to the migrants, including food, water, and hygiene kits.

    In a message on behalf of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, H.E. Madame Kossiwa Zinsou-Klassou welcomed the migrants and reassured them of the Togolese Government’s commitment to establish necessary services to facilitate their social reintegration, in line with the policy of inclusion under the leadership of President Faure Essozimna. “No one will come to build Togo in our place. We must all contribute to building the Togolese nation,” she conveyed to the migrants.

    IOM continued the registration and profiling process initiated in Libya, allowing reintegration measures to be tailored to the specific needs of the migrants. In collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, IOM also provided psychological and health-care support to migrants in need.

    Mme. Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, IOM Togo Chief of Mission, expressed gratitude to IOM Libya, which, through emergency funding, enabled the smooth facilitation of the profiling and reintegration process for migrants returning voluntarily to Togo. She emphasized that protection and assistance activities for migrants, such as voluntary return assistance provided by IOM, ensure vulnerable, stranded migrants a safe and dignified journey home if they choose, allowing them to reunite with their families. She also thanked the Togolese Government for its ongoing collaboration in organizing the voluntary return of Togolese migrants.

    IOM and its partners will continue to support returnees by developing comprehensive reintegration plans that address economic, social, and psychosocial needs. These plans will include initiatives such as identifying income-generating activities, housing, education, vocational training for small business development, and strengthening professional skills acquired before and during the migration journey.

    Quote from Mr. Lare Nadijoua (Returning Migrant):

    “Returning home is a tremendous relief. When the plane landed, you could hear everyone’s shouts of joy. Words truly fail to describe my happiness. Now, I have the opportunity to rebuild my life and reunite with my family. I thank the Togolese Government and IOM.”

    ***

    For more information, please contact:

    Mr. Etienne Banga, Head of IOM Togo Office, ebanga@iom.int

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japanese animation ‘Look Back’ debuts in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s “Look Back,” a Japanese animated film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga, premiered in Beijing on Oct. 25 to widespread acclaim from Chinese audiences.

    Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama speaks to the audience via video link at the China premiere of his animated film “Look Back” in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Today Pictures]

    The heart-wrenching story follows Fujino, a popular and outgoing student known for creating humorous comics in the class newspaper. Her world transforms when her teacher pairs her with Kyomoto, a talented but reclusive artist. This unexpected partnership sparks competition in Fujino, and as she wrestles with feelings of jealousy, she discovers they share a deep passion for drawing. The two form a complicated relationship through their dedication to manga creation.

    “Look Back,” a faithful adaptation by newcomer Studio Durian and industry veteran Kiyotaka Oshiyama, resonates deeply with its source material by exploring the emotional journey of artistic pursuit and the profound connections forged through creative expression. Since its release, the directorial debut has moved audiences to tears and inspired many to pursue their artistic dreams.

    At the Beijing premiere, Oshiyama connected with viewers via video link, expressing admiration for Fujimoto’s distinctive style while acknowledging the challenges of adapting a four-panel comic into a feature film.

    The director said scenes of Fujino and Kyomoto drawing held special significance, reflecting his own background as a key animator where drawing became his most intimate craft.

    “Look Back” was released across China on Oct. 26 through the National Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas (NAAC), earning nearly 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) on its opening day. The NAAC, established in 2016, is managed by the China Film Archive and works with theater chains to support arthouse film distribution. The film garnered an impressive 8.5/10 rating on Douban, China’s leading review aggregation platform.

    A Chinese poster for “Look Back.” [Image courtesy of China Film Group]

    Fujimoto, known for creating the hit manga series “Chainsaw Man,” shared his enthusiasm for the film’s reception: “The film adaptation of ‘Look Back’ initially was released in fewer than 100 cinemas in Japan, but now is to be shown in 3,500 cinemas across China. I must thank the enthusiastic fans in China! This miraculous work involves director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, whom I greatly admire, and musician Haruka Nakamura. I hope fans in China can also appreciate the talents of these two. Thank you very much!”

    MIL OSI China News –