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  • MIL-OSI Global: What does China want from the next US president?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

    During a Taiwan National Day speech on October 10, Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te said that Taipei was determined to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against “annexation and encroachment”, and emphasised that “China has no right to represent Taiwan”.

    China’s response was swift. Less than a week after Lai’s provocative speech, a record 153 Chinese war planes swarmed and surrounded Taiwan during a Chinese military exercise over 24 hours. Beijing’s intention was simple: issue Taipei a “stern warning” for what China considers a “separatist act”.

    Beijing sees the island as a “sacred and inseparable part of China’s territory” that must return to the fold. The Taiwanese president sees things differently. Currently, the self-governing island has a different political system, and few Taiwanese are in favour of reunification with China.

    Though Washington doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taipei officially, it does have regular communication through back channels and a strong economic relationship. The island is a key US trading partner and is a major supplier of semiconductors which are critical to the production of computers and other technologies. It also sells arms to Taiwan, although this has reduced significantly under Joe Biden.

    China has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force, and if it does, the US might come to the self-ruling island’s defence as indicated by Washington in the past.

    China holds extensive military exercises around the island of Taiwan in October 2024.

    But Xi will be hoping the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election might bring a leader that would have a different attitude to Taiwan as well as helping China resolve its economic storm, which has resulted in a rising number of protests. So, between an outspoken Donald Trump and a seemingly even-tempered Kamala Harris, does Beijing have a favourite? And do either of them offer Xi anything new?

    Taiwan and Xi’s legitimacy

    Aside from Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, Xi is the only sitting Chinese head of state without term limits and whose political ideology is enshrined in the Chinese constitution.

    Xi could potentially prove his place in history by resolving China’s economic crisis. However, Beijing’s increasing isolation from the west due to its support of Russia’s Ukraine conquest makes this doubly hard.



    Read more:
    Biden on Taiwan: Did he really commit US forces to stopping any invasion by China? An expert explains why, on balance, probably not

    Like it or not, Xi might have to ramp up whatever agenda Beijing has for Taiwan. If he could make sufficient progress towards unification, he may be hailed as one of the greats of the Chinese Communist Party, which would consolidate his status within the party, and distract from the nation’s economic woes.

    Unlike Harris, who appears to take take alliances and partnerships seriously, Trump questions the benefits of many alliances forged by the US. In fact, the few times that he spoke about Taiwan centres on how the island state has taken America’s semiconductor business, and should pay more to the US for its defence.

    So, would Trump come to Taiwan’s aid if China does invade Taiwan? Given the importance of semiconductors to electronics and AI, he just might. But Trump also has a reputation as a “dealmaker-in-chief”, so he might just cut a deal with Beijing, which erodes Taiwan’s independence. And that is likely to worry Taipei.

    The Russia dilemma

    As Russia’s “partner of no limits”, China has been supplying Russia with technology that fuels Russia’s war machinery against Ukraine. But this has strained Sino-western relations and earned Beijing trade and import restrictions, which hampers China’s economic recovery.

    China could halt its aid to Russia to avoid western scrutiny, but that is not likely. Beijing needs a strong Russia to be a viable ally in its battle against a US-led world order, and to avoid being the focus of the west if Russia falters amid its conquest in Ukraine.

    While Harris backs Kyiv and sees the war as a strategic and moral issue, Trump has criticised US aid to Ukraine. He also believes that Kyiv should provide concessions to Russia to end the war that Putin started in February 2022.

    A future Trump administration might strengthen Russia by withdrawing support for Ukraine and lifting sanctions against Russia. And a more robust Russia is good news for Beijing.

    US economic hostility

    So, at first glance, Trump and Harris’s approaches towards China are different. Trump’s return to the White House could also intensify the trade war that he started in 2018, as tariffs on Chinese goods could go to as high as 60%. This might hasten the economic decoupling between the US and China.

    Harris, on the other hand, wishes to “de-risk” China. This approach seeks to maintain US global interest while engaging with the east Asian economic behemoth. In such a scenario, Beijing might prefer a Harris presidency as it leaves room for negotiation.

    However, Harris has relatively little foreign policy experience, and is expected to pick up where Joe Biden left off. This means the tariffs and technological restrictions that China faced under a Biden administration could stay under her presidency.

    Another factor is Tesla founder Elon Musk, who is an ardent supporter of Trump, and may take a top job within a Trump administration.

    How much influence the tech multi-billionaire actually has over Trump is uncertain. However, it’s worth noting that Musk has substantial business dealings in China, and might seek to lean on Trump if the former president’s policies harms Tesla’s interests.

    With many of these factors unclear at the moment, Beijing will be hoping for a US leader who is more interested in economic wins than protecting Taiwan, and one that Xi can negotiate with to warm up relations between the two countries.

    Chee Meng Tan 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. What does China want from the next US president? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-china-want-from-the-next-us-president-240516

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the Tories may be wasting their time trying to compete with Reform

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

    The spectre of the Reform party has been haunting the Tories since the general election. There is a general consensus that Reform split the vote on the right of the ideological spectrum, and this significantly contributed to the Tory defeat.

    And now that the more centrist candidate James Cleverly has been eliminated from the leadership contest, the party is heading in a rightward direction. Both of the two finalists, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenock are on the right of the party and appear to think the next election will hinge on winning votes back from Reform.

    But are they right to see Reform as their main threat? The results of the last election are still being analysed but it already looks like our perception of how the rightwing vote played out may be wrong. The perception is that in many constituencies, Reform ate into votes that would have otherwise gone to the Conservatives, costing them parliamentary seats. But that isn’t quite right.

    The chart below shows the relationship between the vote shares for the Conservatives and Reform in Britain in the general election, with each dot representing a constituency. The summary line shows that the correlation between the Reform vote and the Conservative vote is positive (+0.21). This means that the two parties were in effect electoral allies rather than rivals. Their vote shares increased in tandem. To be fair, the correlation is modest, so they were rather weak allies, but who can ask for more than that in this electoral climate?

    It’s interesting to contrast this with the relationship between Labour and Conservative voting in the election. Their correlation was strong and negative (-0.54), indicating that they were clearly rivals. When Labour did well, the Conservatives did badly and vice versa. If Reform was a strong rival to the Conservatives, we would see the same pattern.

    Rivals or allies? Constituency level votes

    The Relationship between Conservative and Reform Vote Shares in 2024.
    P Whiteley, CC BY-ND

    Why does the positive correlation show that Reform was an ally of the Conservatives in the election rather than a rival taking votes that would have gone to the Conservatives? The answer lies in the detail. The two parties did well in the same constituencies but appealed to different demographic groups within those constituencies. If they were campaigning for support in the same group of voters they would be rivals, but for the most part they relied on support from different groups.

    This is illustrated in the chart below which looks at the social characteristics of constituencies using data from the 2021 census. It shows how different groups supported the two parties in the election.

    The chart shows the correlations between the size of a particular group and voting for Reform and the Conservatives in the election. It looks at the 575 parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales, since the Scottish data is not yet available.

    The relationships between constituency characteristics and voting in 2024

    Less in common than you might think.
    P Whiteley, CC BY-NC-ND

    We observe large differences between support for the two parties among the different groups. For example, looking at the percentage of people in constituencies over the age of 64, most of whom were retired, we see a big difference. There is a strong positive correlation between this measure and voting Conservative (0.45), indicating that the Tories did well among older people. The opposite is true for Reform, since the relationship is negative (although relatively weak at -0.17). Reform did not rely on older people’s support in the same way as the Conservatives.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    A similar point can be made about the percentages who worked in professional and higher management occupations. The Tories did well in this group, whereas Reform did badly. Among constituencies with high levels of unemployment, the reverse was true. A high proportion of unemployed people boosted the Reform vote and undermined the Conservative vote.

    If we look at ethnicity, a high proportion of ethnically white people in constituencies helped Reform, but it weakened support for the Conservatives. This seems surprising at first sight until one remembers that many of them voted for Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Greens. The Tories lost a good proportion of the white vote in the election.

    The census provided information about the numbers of people who had moved into constituencies from abroad in the previous year. Not surprisingly, given their anti-immigration positioning, large numbers of newly arrived migrants helped both parties, with Reform doing better in these areas than the Conservatives. That said, the correlations were modest and so did not play a large part in explaining the overall results.



    Read more:
    When did class stop predicting who people vote for in Britain? Know Your Place podcast

    Finally, the 2021 census asked people about their national identities and in this case there was an interesting difference between respondents who claimed they were exclusively “English” rather than ‘British’ or some other identity. Englishness helped both parties, but it helped the Conservatives more than Reform. It appears that the Tories are more of an English National Party than Reform.

    The next general election is a long way off, but these results mean that if the Labour government fails to deliver growth and curb illegal immigration, it will face a pincer movement from the Conservative and Reform. The Tories will pick up votes in constituencies with a high proportion of prosperous, middle class, retired people and Reform will pick up votes from deprived areas with high levels of young unemployed people.

    Paul Whiteley has received funding from the British Academy and the ESRC.

    – ref. Why the Tories may be wasting their time trying to compete with Reform – https://theconversation.com/why-the-tories-may-be-wasting-their-time-trying-to-compete-with-reform-241106

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Austin Kay, Researcher in Sustainable Advanced Materials, Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, Swansea University

    Snapshot freddy/Shutterstock

    As the world races to meet net-zero targets, emissions from all industrial sectors must be reduced more urgently than ever. Agriculture is an important area of focus as it contributes up to 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions – almost as much as the energy sector.

    One approach to decarbonising the agricultural sector is agrivoltaics. It involves integrating solar panels – or photovoltaics (PVs) – into fields of crops, greenhouses and livestock areas, which can help farmers reduce their carbon footprint while continuing to produce food.

    Agrivoltaics can also mitigate one of the main criticisms often made of solar power – that solar farms “waste” vast tracts of agricultural land that could otherwise be used for food production. In reality, solar farms currently occupy only 0.15% of the UK’s total land – not much compared to its 70% agricultural land.

    The simplest example of an agrivoltaic system would be conventional, crystalline silicon PVs (the market-leading type of solar panels), installed in fields alongside livestock. This method of farm diversification has become increasingly popular in recent years for three main reasons.

    First, it enhances biodiversity as the fields are not seeing a regular crop rotation, being monocultured, or being harvested for silage. Second, it increases production as livestock benefit from the shade and the healthier pasture growth.

    Finally, the solar farm has reduced maintenance costs because livestock can keep the grass short. All this is achieved while the solar panels provide locally-generated, clean energy.

    But if they’re not set up properly, agrivoltaics may cause problems. One of the most important challenges is balancing the need for sunlight between crops and solar panels. Crops need light to grow, and if solar panels block too much sunlight, they can negatively impact crop yields.

    This issue varies from place to place. In countries with fewer sunny days like the UK, the panels need to let more sunlight through. But in places like Spain or Italy, some shade can actually help crops by reducing the stress of intense heat during summer months. Finding the right balance is tricky, as it depends on local conditions, the type of crop, and even the needs of pollinators like bees.

    An agrivoltaic canopy installed in France.
    Jacopo Landi/Shutterstock

    The complexity deepens when we consider the type of PV material used. Traditional solar panels aren’t always suitable because they often block the wavelengths (colours) of light needed by plants.

    This is where newer materials, like organic semiconductors and perovskites, are ideal as they can be customised to let crops get the light they need while still generating energy. Unlike traditional inorganic semiconductors, which are essentially crystals of metal and metalloid atoms, organic semiconductors are molecules mainly made of carbon and hydrogen. Perovskites, meanwhile, are like a hybrid of the two.

    But there are thousands of combinations of these materials to choose from, with scientific literature containing a plethora of options. Figuring out which one works best can be a daunting task.

    This is where computational tools can make a big difference. Instead of testing each material in real-world conditions – which would take years and be incredibly expensive – researchers can use simulations to predict their performance. These models can help identify the best materials for specific crops and climates, saving both time and resources.

    The tool

    We have developed an open-source tool that helps compare various PV materials, making it easier to identify the best options for agrivoltaics. Our tool uses geographical data and realistic simulations of how different PV materials perform.

    It considers how light travels through these materials and reflects off them, as well as other important performance measures like voltage and power output. The tool can also take lab-based measurements of PV materials and apply them to real-world scenarios.

    Using this tool, we simulated how much power different PV materials could generate per square metre over the course of a year, across various regions. And we calculated how much light passed through these materials to ensure it was enough for crops to thrive.

    An agrivoltaic installation over raspberry crops in the Netherlands.
    Jacopo Landi/Shutterstock

    By running these simulations for multiple materials, we could identify the most suitable options for specific crops and climates.

    Tools like ours could play a critical role in decarbonising the agricultural sector by guiding the design of agrivoltaic systems. Future research could combine these simulations with economic and environmental impact analyses. This would help us understand how much energy we can expect from a solar panel over its lifetime compared to the resources and costs involved in producing it.

    Ultimately, our tool could help researchers and policymakers in selecting the most efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly ways to decarbonise agriculture and move us closer to achieving global net-zero emissions.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Austin Kay is a Postgraduate Student at Swansea University and receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through program grant EP/T028513/1 Application Targeted and Integrated Photovoltaics.

    – ref. How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation – https://theconversation.com/how-farmers-can-use-solar-power-without-damaging-the-rest-of-their-operation-239625

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Attention! Applications for study in Russia within the Russian Government quota have started to be accepted

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    On October 7, 2024, the acceptance of applications for study in Russia in the 2025/2026 academic year within the quota of the Government of the Russian Federation began.

    A foreign citizen wishing to study under a quota must:

    register in the state information system “Education in the Russian Federation for Foreigners” (GIS “ORFI”); fill out the form; attach a photo, scanned copies of your passport and education document (or certificate of the period of study); send the completed form through the GIS “ORFI”, transferring the electronic application to the “for verification” status.

    For questions regarding the selection of candidates in foreign countries, please contact the Rossotrudnichestvo representative offices abroad or the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://www.spbgasu.ru/nevs-and-events/nevs/attention-the-acceptance-of-applications-for-study-in-Russia-within-the-RF-government-quota has started/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, scientists studied the musk ox population in Taimyr

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Scientists from the Siberian Federal University, with the support of RN-Vankor (the operator of Rosneft’s flagship project Vostok Oil), conducted a comprehensive census of musk oxen in the western part of Taimyr. The research is being conducted within the framework of the enterprise’s grant program.

    Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture of Rosneft Oil Company. The Company’s subsidiaries implement comprehensive programs for the conservation and restoration of biological resources, including the use of advanced technological solutions.

    For the survey work, the researchers used air and water transport. The total length of all routes exceeded 12 thousand km, of which more than 2.8 thousand km were water expeditions along the Pyasina River and its tributaries, Lake Pyasino.

    Scientists have obtained up-to-date data on the number, age and sex structure, and distribution of the musk ox population in Western Taimyr. All encounters and tracks of animals were documented using photo and video equipment, GPS recorders, and coordinates were recorded on a cartographic basis. In addition, scientists conducted a survey of the indigenous population, including fishermen and hunters, about the places of encounters with musk oxen.

    On the right bank of the Pyasina River, near the mouth of the Khanchecha River, scientists have noted for the first time a group of musk oxen: an adult male and female, a yearling bull and two yearlings (calves born this year). The data obtained indicate successful reproduction of mammals in the territory of Western Taimyr. In addition, according to scientists, it is possible to speak with a high degree of probability about the gradual dispersal of musk oxen in Western Taimyr.

    In order to resettle the species in this territory, scientists from the Siberian Federal University will develop recommendations and measures for the conservation and further rational use of this biological resource in Taimyr as a whole. Let us recall that the musk ox population in Taimyr was revived by Soviet scientists during a unique project in 1974. By the mid-1990s, the number of musk oxen on the peninsula was about 1 thousand individuals, and in the early 2000s, more than 4 thousand.

    Reference:

    The implementation of environmental and social projects of practical importance for Taimyr and its population is carried out within the framework of the grant program “RN-Vankor”. This year, with the support of oil workers, projects are being implemented to assess the state of the populations of the main commercial fish of the reservoirs of Taimyr using express analysis technologies, and to create a textbook “Reindeer of Taimyr”.

    In 2023, the winners of the grant competition were projects to assess the state of aquatic biological resources of the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea, analyze the number and distribution of anseriformes in Western Taimyr, and assess the state and dynamics of vegetation in the western part of Taimyr based on remote sensing data.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 18, 2024

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220927/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Facade works have begun on the second stage of the modern NSU campus

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    At the second stage of the modern NSU campus — in the buildings of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) and the scientific research center (SRC) — work has begun on installing ventilated facades. Work is also underway to install translucent enclosing structures (stained glass). The construction readiness of the facilities is 18.2% and 15.4%, respectively. The construction of the facilities is carried out within the framework of national project “Science and Universities”.

    According to the adopted architectural solution, in the buildings of the UNC and NIC, not standard windows are installed, but stained glass ones, which assume a larger glazing area. Their size is 3-4 times larger than a regular window.

    The buildings of the UNC and NIC, as well as the building of the flow auditoriums, have an atrium, but only of a smaller size. This is a central distribution space, illuminated through a zenith skylight located in the ceiling, the installation of which began this week in both buildings. Work is also continuing on the installation of an external storm and domestic sewage system, and work on laying the external block of “Sibit”. Work on installing temporary heat supply to the UNC has been completed.

    — The construction of the second stage of the NSU campus will create the latest infrastructure for educational and research activities in the region. A pilot pharmaceutical production facility will be created on the site of a modern research center, and laboratories for training students in a wide range of areas will be located in the equipped premises of the educational and scientific center of the NSU Institute of Medicine. This will bring the educational process to a new level and implement the goals and objectives that will be laid down in the new national project “Youth and Children”, created on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, — commented Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    — We are planning to launch new network educational programs — Medical Cybernetics and Pharmacy, an agreement on the implementation of this project was signed with the Moscow State University Engineering School within the framework of the Technoprom forum. The research center will be used to develop advanced areas in which NSU occupies a leading position — space instrumentation, synchrotron-neutron research, artificial intelligence and others, — noted NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.

    In the building of continuous auditoriums, which also belongs to the second stage facilities, finishing works are being completed, commissioning works of engineering systems are underway. The construction readiness of the facility is 86%. In parallel, documents are being prepared for obtaining acts of admission in Rostekhnadzor and permission for commissioning. The construction of the building of continuous auditoriums is planned to be completed by the end of 2024.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/campus-construction/façade-work has begun on the second-stage-facilities of the modern-nsu-campus/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our Town Hall: Portraits of a Workforce exhibition

    Source: City of Manchester

    Leah Finch, a Construction Manager for Lendlease

    A new exhibition at Manchester Central Library is set to focus on some of the skilled craftspeople, artisan trades and construction team behind the current transformation of Manchester’s Town Hall.

    Extraordinarily little is known about the artisans who built the Town Hall between 1868 and 1877, and certainly no photographs exist.  

    Fast forward around 150 years and today’s skilled workers are no strangers to the lens of Manchester City Council photographer Barrie Leach, whose visual catalogue captures portraits of those working on the Town Hall since the beginning of the project to repair, restore and refurbish this much-loved building.  

    The exhibition’s focus is to highlight some of the people behind the work. As well as modern construction workers and the behind-the-scenes staff who make it all possible there are some incredible heritage trades involved. Stonemasonry, mosaic making, stained glass repair and manufacture, horology: these are all crafts that would have been widespread in the 1870s but are now very much specialist – and rare – trades.  They are, however, critical to our restoration project.  

    The project to safeguard the building for current and future generations needed hundreds of these time-served tradespeople, who have come together to make the building safe and accessible.   As a result of bringing in these expert professionals, hundreds more Mancunians have had the opportunity to gain – or be inspired by – these skills, through school and work placements, apprenticeships and new jobs. These trainees and employees play a key part in keeping these precious skills alive. 

    Thirty large portraits and 60 smaller contextual images in the exhibition show the pride that the modern team have discovered in being able to lovingly restore, and give new life to, the work of the forgotten workforce who went before them.  

    The exhibition is divided into 10 zones concentrating on the people and work taking place throughout the building where work has been happening including; ground floor and courtyard, interiors, state rooms, Great Hall, Clock Tower, collections, exterior, roof, Albert Square and Albert Memorial, and behind the scenes. 

    As work on the Our Town Hall project continues to bring it up to modern safety standards, improving access to the building and its artefacts, and creating a new visitor attraction, the photographic record is also ongoing: only a small selection of the images is on show in this first exhibition. The full collection will form part of the historical archive, telling the stories of the people who lovingly restored the Town Hall for all to see. 

    The exhibition will run in Manchester Central Library’s first floor exhibition space from Friday 18 October 2024 until June 2025. 

    Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: “This new exhibition is a celebration of the work taking place behind the Town Hall hoardings which few people have had the privilege to witness.  It is our way of ensuring that today’s artisans will not be forgotten.  Just as the skills of those who helped create the building in the 19th Century have left the city a magnificent legacy, so will today’s project team. Working on this project is a real labour of love.  

    “We knew from the outset that this was going to be a mammoth task, and we wanted to capture and share the journey of all those who have taken part.  We wanted to celebrate the role of all the workers on the team and show as much of the range of trades – modern and not–so–modern – required to complete the transformation of our iconic Town Hall.  The bonus is that – in doing so – we have also created a wonderful visual archive for reference in years and generations to come. We can’t wait to share it with Manchester people and visitors.”  

    Leah Finch, a Construction Manager for Lendlease, started work on the project as an apprentice. She said: “I completely fell into this opportunity, and I’m thankful. I applied through the Government website as I was looking for an apprenticeship.  Every day offers a new reason to have a great day: delivering a meeting, speaking to new people, handing over an element of work or seeing progress in my work areas.   

     It’s given me so much responsibility and accountability. I’m proudest of managing the lower ground floor: co-ordinating all trade work on that level, working through blockers, ensuring a high standard of quality, and ultimately driving for completion.  I feel heard and respected; I am a valued member of the team. The people truly make working on the Town Hall special.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Chief Executive at Together for Children and Children’s Services director.

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A new Chief Executive at Together for Children (TfC) and director of Children’s Services has been appointed.

    Simon Marshall (56) is a former headteacher and has been Sunderland’s Director of Education since 2017. He succeeds TfC’s Chief Executive Jill Colbert OBE who has joined Nottingham City Council.

    As TfC lead and children’s services director, Mr Marshall said he will continue delivering the highest quality children’s social care, education and early help services, all the necessary infrastructure, and leading 1,100 members of staff.

    In its most recent full Ofsted inspection in 2021, TfC and Sunderland Children’s Services were rated as ‘outstanding’. In the last 18 months, Ofsted inspections of children’s homes and child protection plans have also been rated ‘outstanding’ and ‘timely and effective’, respectively.

    Mr Marshall was a headteacher for 12 years before being appointed as the city’s Director of Education. This included being head at Sunderland’s Highfield Primary School where he was recognised nationally for developing innovative school-based mental health services to support children and families. In 2014 he was named School Leader of the year in the National Wellbeing School Awards. 

    The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills, Councillor Michael Butler said: “We are delighted to confirm Simon’s appointment as Chief Executive and children’s services director. We all look forward to more work with him and continuing to ensure that we offer and provide the very best for children, young people and families across the city.”

    As education director, Mr Marshall has in the last five years overseen more than £24m of extra investment in Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision, including extra places for more than 250 children and expanded facilities. He has also developed a highly successful school improvements service that delivers training to schools across the city and the North East region.

    Commenting on his new appointment as TfC Chief Executive and children’s services lead, Mr Marshall said: “I want to put on the record a thanks to my predecessor Jill Colbert OBE for the exemplary leadership, team and partnership work that she helped inspire at Together for Children.

    “We will continue to deliver services for all our children and young people so they lead safe, happy, healthy and successful lives, and in a city where they can fulfil and realise their full potential.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Partnership recognised for work to support Sunderland’s Armed Forces

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland’s Armed Forces Partnership (AFP) is celebrating winning a prestigious award for supporting the city’s Armed Forces community.

    The partnership has won the Working Together award in this year’s Soldiering On Awards, which were held on Wednesday, 16th October 2024.

    The Working Together award honours a group of people, team or organisation that has successfully taken a collaborative approach to supporting the Armed Forces community.

    Sunderland’s AFP is an alliance between the council and the University of Sunderland, Sunderland College, Sunderland AFC, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Veterans in Crisis, Gentoo, NE Reserve Force and Cadet Association, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board ICB, 8 Rifles, Together for Children, and South Tyneside and Sunderland- NHS Foundation Trust, set up to jointly address the needs of veterans, reservists and their families in Sunderland.

    The partnership was recognised for providing wide ranging support for those serving in the military and the 11,000 veterans living in Sunderland. The AFP’s work has included making Sunderland one of the very few cities where no veterans are street homeless.

    Sunderland City Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Harry Trueman, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the Working Together award. All organisations in the partnership work hard to support our local armed forces services and veterans, and it is fantastic to see this work recognised in this way.

    “Sunderland as a city has a strong connection to the Armed Forces and the AFP helps to facilitate smooth transitions both into and out of military service so our servicemen and veterans don’t have to fend for themselves.”

    Ger Fowler, Founder and CEO of Veterans in Crisis, said: “Sunderland Armed Forces Partnership is one of the reasons Veterans in Crisis has been so successful, it’s all the main sectors in Sunderland working in harmony with the sole focus of making Sunderland the best place in the country to be a Veteran, we are proud to be a part of it. Winning this National award is a huge honour.”

    Now in their 14th year, the Soldiering On Awards celebrate excellence within the Armed Forces community across twelve categories, aiming to highlight ordinary individuals accomplishing extraordinary feats.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City of York Council named most productive council in country

    Source: City of York

    Published Friday, 18 October 2024

    City of York Council has topped a new list of the most productive English councils, meaning that we achieve the highest value for residents per pound of council spending.

    Independent consultancy, IMPOWER, analysed 149 councils across eight core areas using their index. 

    These are the areas where councils spend the most money and include:

    • housing 
    • homelessness 
    • waste and recycling 
    • high needs 
    • children’s social care 
    • working age adults 
    • older adults 
    • health 

    They used nationally available metrics to determine the top 10 and found York is achieving the best outcomes for people, for a relatively low spend.
     
    Leader of City of York Council, Cllr Claire Douglas said:

    “This is fantastic news and testament to the hard work of staff right across the council.

    “York is amongst the lowest funded councils in the country and we’ve long been committed to making the best of what we have in delivering good quality services and value for money for the citizens of York. 

    “Despite a very challenging situation, we pull together and strive for excellence in all we do. We thank our fantastic workforce that continues to make this possible”.
     
    Ian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer of City of York Council, welcomed the news, saying: 

    “I’m extremely proud that, despite the financial challenges, we, and councils across the country are facing, York’s commitment to delivering value for money for our residents has been recognised.

    “Our staff work tirelessly each and every day and the news that we have been named England’s most productive council is testament to their dedication and diligence – I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything that they do.

    “While this achievement is a welcome endorsement of our work, we cannot afford to be complacent and we will continue to work together as one council, delivering for the people of York.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: ChainSwap Announces Plans to Integrate Solana for Faster Multi-Chain Transactions During Future Blockchain Summit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — – ChainSwap, the cross-chain swap platform, has announced during its attendance at the major Dubai conference Future Blockchain Summit, its plans to integrate Solana into its decentralized application (dApp), further expanding its multi-chain transaction capabilities. This planned integration will allow ChainSwap users to perform same-chain and cross-chain token swaps on the Solana network, known for its high-speed transactions and low fees.
    The integration, expected to launch in the coming months, will enable faster and more efficient token swaps across Solana and other popular blockchain networks such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Polygon.
    “Integrating Solana into our platform is a strategic step to improve the user experience and expand the range of supported blockchains,” said Fitzy, CEO and Founder of ChainSwap. “Solana’s fast and affordable transactions make it a perfect fit for our platform, and we are excited to bring this option to our users in the near future.”
    Once completed, the integration will offer:

    • Same-Chain Swaps: Users will be able to swap tokens within the Solana network, leveraging its fast transaction speeds and low costs.
    • Cross-Chain Swaps: Users will benefit from secure and efficient token swaps between Solana and other major networks like Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche.

    Solana’s integration is a crucial step forward in ChainSwap’s mission to deliver an accessible and scalable platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) users, offering a broad range of multi-chain options to meet the growing needs of the DeFi ecosystem. -END- About ChainSwap  ChainSwap is a platform at the forefront of Web3 innovation, facilitating seamless transactions across multiple blockchains and servicing any blockchain where demand arises. Leveraging cutting-edge security protocols such as Chainlink’s CCIP, ChainSwap provides a secure layer 5 environment for cross-chain transactions. ChainSwap’s multi-chain DEX simplifies swaps, ensuring privacy and effortless token distribution within a unified ecosystem, and allows for users to eliminate the need for bridges and decentralised exchanges that do not provide cross-chain support. ChainSwap revolutionises blockchain communication, enhancing chain interoperability and security to unprecedented levels.
    Discover more on https://www.chain-swap.org
    Media Contacts:
    LJ Collier
    lj@lunapr.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) – Brown (N.) Group Plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY
    Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)        Name of exempt principal trader: Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd
    (b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Brown (N) Group Plc
    (c)        Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected: Brown (N) Group Plc
    (d)        Date dealing undertaken: 17 October 2024
    (e)        Has the EPT previously disclosed, or is it today disclosing, under the Code in respect of any other party to this offer? No

    2.        DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchases/ sales Total number of securities Highest price per unit paid/received Lowest price per unit paid/received
    Ordinary Purchases 755,146 38.802p 38.5p
    Ordinary Sales 804,984 38.8p 38.54p

    (b)        Derivatives transactions (other than option)

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Options transactions in respect of existing securities

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercising

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Number of securities Exercise price per unit
           

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    3.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    None
    Date of disclosure: 18 October 2024
    Contact name: Laura Parmenter
    Telephone number: 0207 648 8154

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s dealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cost of living advice available at North West Information and Support Event

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Cost of living advice available at North West Information and Support Event

    18 October 2024

    Foyle and Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Offices, in partnership with Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership, are hosting a special information event in the Guildhall next week to allow people to avail of advice and guidance from local organisations and community support services.

    The free event in the Guildhall will take place on Thursday October 24th from 11am to 2pm and no prebooking is required.

    A range of community and voluntary organisations and partners will be in attendance to give information on the help and support available.

    Attendees will be able to access free advice on a range of cost-of-living issues surrounding housing, mortgages and benefits as well as general tips and advice.

    Department for Communities’ Make the Call and Finance Support staff will also be on hand to advise people on any additional supports they may be entitled to regarding pension credits, working tax credits, tax-free childcare or benefit entitlements and financial support.

    Representatives from Council will be in attendance to give advice on some of the services available.

    A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council encouraged people to take advantage of the chance to learn more about the range of support available in the Council area.

    “This event is open to everyone and is an ideal way to find out important information on a range of topics including cost of living support, wellbeing, benefits and employability.

    “Whether it’s advice support from the local Jobs and Benefits Offices or from Make the Call to ensure you’re getting the benefits, services and supports you’re entitled to, the correct entitlements or pension credits you need, or you’re just looking to find out what independent and community support is available, there is something for everyone.”

    Contact Foyle or Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Office for further information and contact details can be found at https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/job-fairs-and-events-calendar

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fostering team celebrates Kinship Care Week with tea party

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Kinship carers – family members or close friends who step in to provide love, stability, and a nurturing home to children within their own network – are the backbone of many families, offering unwavering support and guidance.

    The event, last week, was filled with heartwarming moments as families shared stories of resilience, love, and the unique bonds they share with the children in their care. Guests took part in a creative scrapbook making activity, where both adults and children had the opportunity to reflect on and capture their most cherished family memories.

    Alison Hinds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Children’s Services, said: “Kinship carers are the heart of our community. Their selflessness and commitment to providing a safe and loving environment for children is truly inspiring. We are incredibly thankful for all they do.”

    The tea party served as both a celebration and a reminder of the essential role kinship carers play in shaping the future of young people in Wolverhampton. Events like this aim to recognise and support these incredible families, ensuring they feel appreciated and valued for their contributions.

    For more information about kinship care and how to support local families, please contact the Fostering for Wolverhampton Team via fostering@wolverhampton.gov.uk or visit Fostering for Wolverhampton.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to find man wanted for a dozen offences

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers have released an image of a man they urgently need to speak to following a spate of burglaries at mosques around the country.

    Large amounts of cash have allegedly been stolen from eight mosques, including one in Manor Park, Newham, east London, over the last year.

    The man is described as being around 6ft 8 tall, 55-years-old with a shaved, balding head and stubble and goes by the name of Anthony Cheike.

    Mr Cheike was last seen in Mitcham, south London, in May.

    He is wanted for 12 offences including bail offences, failure to appear at court and burglary.

    If you recognise this man or if you have any information which could help, please report it to police online or call 101 quoting 3239/05OCT24.

    Alternatively this can be reported to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China likely to further slash reserve requirement ratio before year-end: official

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

    China likely to further slash reserve requirement ratio before year-end: official

    BEIJING, Oct. 18 — China’s central bank is considering a cut of 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points in reserve requirement ratio at an appropriate time before the end of 2024, depending on market liquidity situations, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said on Friday.

    The loan prime rate (LPR), which will be released on Oct. 21, is expected to move downward by 0.2 to 0.25 percentage points, Pan said at the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024.

    China has recently introduced a package of financial measures to support the economy, and these policy moves have received positive feedback from both home and abroad, according to Pan. He added that these policies have bolstered social confidence and contributed to the stable operation of the economy and financial markets.

    The reserve requirement ratio was cut by 0.5 percentage points in late September. Major state-owned commercial banks announced reductions in deposit interest rates on Friday morning.

    The recent cut in mortgage rates for existing home loans is expected to benefit 50 million households and reduce total interest expenses for households by approximately 150 billion yuan (about 21.05 billion U.S. dollars) per year, Pan said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Presence organizes study visit on out-of-country voting for Albania’s Central Election Commission

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Presence organizes study visit on out-of-country voting for Albania’s Central Election Commission

    From 14 to 17 October 2024, a delegation from Albania’s Central Election Commission (CEC), including representatives from the Regulatory Commission and the technical staff, conducted a study visit to Sarajevo, focused on the administration of the out-of-country voting. The visit – organized by the OSCE Presence – comes at a crucial time for Albania, as the CEC is drafting secondary legislation to facilitate the participation of Albanian citizens living abroad in the 2025 parliamentary elections.
    The Albanian delegation met with representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Central Election Commission, officials overseeing the election counting process, and representatives of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the meetings, participants discussed the rules and procedures for out-of-country voting, focusing on voter registration for citizens living abroad, the preparation of voter lists, voting procedures, tabulation of results, and the use of new technology. The Albanian officials were introduced to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s nearly three decades of experience in implementing out-of-country voting, including challenges faced and the solutions developed over the years. Special emphasis was placed on the recent local elections, where measures were taken to enhance the integrity and inclusiveness of voting from abroad.
    The OSCE Presence in Albania organized the visit as part of its “Support to electoral reform and processes in Albania” project funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the U.S. Mission to the OSCE and Poland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s GDP expands 4.8% in first three quarters

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A drone photo shows machinery at a port in Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, May 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.8 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2024, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Friday.

    The GDP reached around 94.97 trillion yuan (about 13.33 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-September period, NBS data showed.

    In the third quarter, the economy expanded 4.6 percent year on year and went up 0.9 percent on a quarterly basis, according to the NBS.

    Despite a complicated external environment and emerging challenges at home, the Chinese economy has posted generally stable performance, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, told a press conference Friday.

    “Positive factors driving a steady economic recovery accumulated and increased in September,” Sheng said, stressing that most indicators on production and demand improved and market expectations also became better.

    In a breakdown, industrial output climbed 5.8 percent compared with a year earlier in the first nine months, as robust increases were seen in equipment and high-tech manufacturing industries. The service sector reported continued recovery with a 4.7-percent increase in added value.

    Consumption maintained an upward trend during the period with retail sales of consumer goods up 3.3 percent from a year ago. Fixed-asset investment rose 3.4 percent, spurred by vibrant capital influx into high-tech industries.

    The job market was stable as the surveyed urban unemployment rate on average stood at 5.1 percent in the first three quarters, down from 5.3 percent a year ago. The nominal growth of urban and rural residents’ incomes came in at 5.2 percent.

    While there have been positive changes in major economic indicators, Sheng noted that the external environment has become more complex, and that economic recovery needs to be further consolidated.

    More efforts will be made to strengthen the coordination of existing and incremental policies and push for the swift and effective policy implementation in a bid to achieve the full-year economic and social development targets, Sheng added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden and Hungary sign Letter of Intent

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Sweden and Hungary sign Letter of Intent – Government.se

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    Article from Ministry of Defence

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    Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky sign Letter of Intent.

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    Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. Photo: Niklas Forsström/Government Offices

    On 16 October, Mr Jonson and Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky signed a Letter of Intent (LOI). This LOI is a bilateral declaration on expanded defence cooperation between Sweden and Hungary.

    This follows from the agreement concluded between Sweden and Hungary on 23 February 2024 in Budapest to sign an LOI on expanded cooperation on defence and JAS Gripen fighter aircraft.

    The LOI specifies that a working group will be appointed with the aim of discussing and identifying opportunities to cooperate on defence materiel. The working group will consist of representatives from the Defence Materiel Administration, Saab AB and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.

    “I look forward to seeing the working group’s concrete results in the future,” says Mr Jonson. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s consumer market grows as policies fuel domestic demand

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s retail sales of consumer goods went up 3.3 percent year on year in the first three quarters of this year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Friday.

    The country’s retail sales of consumer goods totaled 35.3564 trillion yuan (about 4.96 trillion U.S. dollars) during the period, data from the NBS showed.

    During the first three quarters of the year, rural consumption gained 4.4 percent year on year, and the catering sector saw its revenue rise by 6.2 percent.

    Online sales remained a bright spot, rising by 8.6 percent year on year in the January-September period. In particular, sales of physical goods increased by 7.9 percent and accounted for a quarter of total retail sales during the period.

    Pro-consumption policies, including the consumer goods trade-in program, have played a significant role in unleashing the domestic demand, Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the NBS, told a press conference.

    China introduced a large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in program in March this year to expand domestic demand and shore up the economy, and stepped up policy support in July with an extra funds injection of 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    Boosted by the policies, retail sales rose 3.2 percent year on year in September alone, with sales of automobiles reversing months of decline and edging up 0.4 percent year on year, Sheng said.

    Home appliance sales saw a notable 20.5-percent jump in September, up 17.1 percentage points from the previous month.

    Sheng noted that while some policies need time to fully take effect, he called for local authorities to expedite their implementation to further consolidate the economy’s recovery momentum. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China likely to further slash reserve requirement ratio

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s central bank is considering a cut of 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points in reserve requirement ratio at an appropriate time before the end of 2024, depending on market liquidity situations, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said on Friday.

    The loan prime rate (LPR), which will be released on Oct. 21, is expected to move downward by 0.2 to 0.25 percentage points, Pan said at the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024.

    China has recently introduced a package of financial measures to support the economy, and these policy moves have received positive feedback from both home and abroad, according to Pan. He added that these policies have bolstered social confidence and contributed to the stable operation of the economy and financial markets.

    The reserve requirement ratio was cut by 0.5 percentage points in late September. Major state-owned commercial banks announced reductions in deposit interest rates on Friday morning.

    The recent cut in mortgage rates for existing home loans is expected to benefit 50 million households and reduce total interest expenses for households by approximately 150 billion yuan (about 21.05 billion U.S. dollars) per year, Pan said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Home price decline stabilizes in major Chinese cities

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Major Chinese cities saw a stabilization in the price decline of commercial residential homes in September, along with improved expectations for the property sector, official data showed on Friday.

    The decline in the prices of commercial residential homes in China’s 70 large and medium-sized cities stabilized on a month-on-month basis last month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    In the country’s first-tier cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, new home prices edged down by 0.5 percent, compared with a 0.3-percent drop in the previous month. Second- and third-tier cities both registered declines of 0.7 percent month on month.

    In September, prices of second-hand homes fell by 1.2 percent in first-tier cities month on month, and 0.9 percent in second-tier and third-tier cities, the NBS said.

    “Since late September, confidence in the property market has strengthened and expectations have improved,” said Wang Zhonghua, chief statistician of the Department of Urban Surveys of the NBS, citing a monthly questionnaire survey conducted in 70 large and medium-sized cities.

    The survey showed that 58.3 percent of respondents expect new commercial residential housing prices to remain stable or rise in the next six months, while 45.4 percent expect the same for second-hand residential housing.

    Compared to the results of the previous month’s survey, these figures have increased by 10 and 6.5 percentage points, respectively.

    “China’s real estate market has started bottoming out after three years of adjustment,” Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong said at a press conference on Thursday.

    “Particularly, since the end of September, there has been a significant increase in the number of visits to new property projects and in the number of sale contracts. Transactions on pre-owned homes have also gone up. There have been positive changes in the market,” Ni said.

    China has rolled out a slew of policies to bolster the real estate sector, including cutting minimum down payment ratios, abolishing the commercial mortgage rate floors for first and second homes, and establishing a re-lending facility that supports local state-owned enterprises in using such funds to purchase commercial homes for affordable housing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s job market remains stable in first three quarters

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s job market remained generally stable in the first three quarters of 2024 as the surveyed urban unemployment rate dropped on a year-on-year basis, official data showed on Friday.

    The surveyed urban unemployment rate on average stood at 5.1 percent in the first three quarters, down 0.2 percentage points from the same period last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.

    In September, the surveyed urban unemployment rate in the country came in at 5.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous month.

    This year, Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts to stabilize employment, particularly the employment of college graduates, Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, told a press conference.

    While overall employment faces some pressure, the job market remains stable, Sheng noted, citing continued economic growth, the expanding service sector, and demographic changes as contributing factors.

    Sheng also acknowledged that structural problems remained, urging further efforts in driving stable economic growth and creating more jobs to promote high-quality full employment.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ITU-UN Workshop Explores Role of Standardization and Emerging Technologies in Disaster Risk Reduction

    Source: Government of India

    ITU-UN Workshop Explores Role of Standardization and Emerging Technologies in Disaster Risk Reduction

    Telecom is a horizontal technology on which all other technologies are highly dependent: Secretary (Telecom)

    The workshop called for deeper cross-sector collaboration to harness the power of emerging technologies and standardized approaches to tackle critical disaster-related challenges

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:31PM by PIB Delhi

    The ITU-UN Disaster Risk Reduction workshop themed “Reimagining Disaster Risk Reduction: The Role of Standardization and Innovative Technologies,” event took place yesterday bringing together experts from various fields to explore how advanced technologies can enhance disaster management. The workshop called for deeper cross-sector collaboration to harness the power of emerging technologies and standardized approaches to tackle critical disaster-related challenges.

    The session featured opening remarks from Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications who said, “Today technology is converging so rapidly in terms of its capabilities, platforms and devices, that the day is not far away when maybe a single technology can do everything, that is trend I can see going forward.” On the subject of disaster mitigation, he mentioned “telecom is a horizontal technology on which all other technologies are highly dependent and therefore this is the right moment to sit down and discuss all these issues”. He further highlighted that lot of early warning systems have been developed in India preventing a lot of disasters like cell broadcast technology which has been developed by C-DoT, only the second vendor in the world. He concluded by saying we should use all the available technologies to reduce the risk posed by disasters to humanity.

    The workshop focused on showcasing the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, digital twins, drones, remote sensing, and blockchain in mitigating the impact of disasters. Participants discussed how these technologies can improve prediction accuracy, optimize response times, and streamline recovery efforts. Central to the discussions was the role of standardization in integrating these innovations to enhance global resilience against disasters.

    Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU remarked “Disasters are unfortunately increasing in both frequency and intensity. Both traditional & advanced / emerging technologies like Satellites, AI can surely help but they are also vulnerable. ITU as an organisation has a lot of activities in this regard. It is monitoring from space as well as providing for an emergency telecommunications cluster to make sure communications are working when the natural calamities hit us.”

    A keynote presentation by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) followed, where they highlighted the critical role data-driven solutions are playing in advancing disaster predictions and responses, ultimately saving lives and reducing damage.

    The workshop focused on showcasing the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, digital twins, drones, remote sensing, and blockchain in mitigating the impact of disasters. Participants discussed how these technologies can improve prediction accuracy, optimize response times, and streamline recovery efforts. Central to the discussions was the role of standardization in integrating these innovations to enhance global resilience against disasters.

    The workshop concluded with a call for deeper cross-sector collaboration to harness the power of emerging technologies and standardized approaches. By fostering cooperation between industries, governments, and international organizations, participants emphasized the importance of ensuring that communities worldwide are better prepared and more resilient to natural disasters.

    The ITU-UNDRR workshop drew a broad range of key stakeholders, including policymakers, disaster management experts, and representatives from global organizations, all committed to advancing the use of technology and standardization in building disaster resilience.

    For further details, visit the official event page at https://www.itu.int/wtsa/2024/related-events

     

    *****

    SB/DP/ARJ

    (Release ID: 2066063) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Temporarily exempting full-time non-local undergraduate students from restrictions on taking up part-time jobs

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Starting from November 1, the Government will temporarily exempt full-time non-local undergraduate students from the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs with a view to enhancing their personal exposure and knowledge for working in Hong Kong to incentivise them to stay in Hong Kong for development after graduation. 

         Since last November, the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs for full-time non-local postgraduate students of locally accredited local programmes have been temporarily exempted. With a “No Objection Letter” (NOL) issued by the Immigration Department (ImmD), full-time non-local postgraduate students are allowed to take up part-time employment. No restrictions are imposed on the number of hours or the location of the part-time work. The arrangement has received positive feedback since its launch. “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” announced the temporary exemption of the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs will be extended to full-time non-local undergraduate students.

         A Government spokesman said today (October 18), “The arrangement for extending the exemption measures to around 20 000 full-time non-local undergraduate students aims at easing local manpower shortages by making better use of the potential talent residing in Hong Kong. Allowing full-time non-local undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage in part-time work will help attract more foreign students to pursue studies in Hong Kong and prepare them for long-term development in Hong Kong after graduation, thereby expanding the local potential talent pool. The Government will review the whole exemption arrangement next year.”

         The ImmD will issue NOLs setting out the suspension arrangement to all eligible students through their institutions. They are not required to submit applications separately. Students approved for visas/entry permits on or after November 1 will also be issued with the NOLs.  

         Enquiries on the suspension arrangement can be made to the ImmD through hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nicodemus Minde, Researcher, United States International University

    Tundu Lissu has become the face of opposition in Tanzania following his defiant and unrelenting criticism of the government. Since he came into the national limelight in 1995 when running for a parliamentary seat, Lissu has been a champion of democracy and human rights. He has taken on the ruling elite, exposing corruption and demanding accountability. This almost cost him his life in 2017.

    In September 2024, new evidence presented at a London tribunal revealed that the telecommunications company Tigo had shared Lissu’s mobile phone data – including his location – with the Tanzanian government. The implication was that the company was assisting the government in its harassment of the politician. Tigo’s owners have distanced themselves from these reports.

    The revelations coincided with a resurgence in government crackdowns on opposition figures.

    In the most recent developments, leaders of the country’s main opposition party Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) – including Lissu, who is the party’s vice-chairperson, and chairman Freeman Mbowe – were arrested in September 2024. This followed their attempt to organise mass protests, which were foiled by the police. The protests had been organised to demand government accountability after the killing of a senior Chadema official and the disappearance of other party members believed to have been abducted by state operatives.

    I have studied Tanzania’s political party dynamics for a decade and interviewed Lissu as part of my PhD research on the country’s democracy. Lissu’s persistence in tackling democratic backsliding in Tanzania has made him a formidable force, challenging the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.

    Lissu spent about three years in exile in Belgium after the 2017 shooting. He staged a comeback as a presidential candidate in the 2020 elections. He lost to John Magufuli in a poll marred by violence and allegations of rigging.

    There have been changes in the country since Magufuli’s death in March 2021 and a string of political reforms under President Samia Suluhu. This has created the space for Lissu and his party Chadema to establish an opposition that now threatens the ruling party’s six-decade hold on power. Presidential elections are due to be held in 2025.

    So who is Lissu? What’s his history and how did he became involved in politics?

    Early years

    Lissu’s political activism began during his university years in the early 1990s. This marked the start of a career that would later shape Tanzania’s political landscape. Lissu studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam before going to the UK for a master’s degree in law.

    His first foray into national politics came in 1995, when he vied for a parliamentary seat. He was 27. The election was Tanzania’s first under a multiparty system. It introduced Lissu to the arena of opposition politics following his defeat.

    A year later, Lissu was one of the lead investigative lawyers for a public interest environmental law organisation investigating abuses and irregularities at a World Bank-backed gold mine in northern Tanzania. His early work focused on environmental and human rights.

    Lissu and his colleague Rugemeleza Nshala were investigating the killing of 62 small-scale miners and the evictions of thousands at the mine in 1996. They were charged with sedition over these investigations. The government eventually stopped following up on the case.

    Lissu thereafter worked on community land rights at the World Resources Institute, a global organisation focusing on policy research.

    Parliamentary years

    In 2010, Lissu won the parliamentary seat for Singida East under the opposition party Chadema. As a first-term member of parliament, he gained prominence by exposing significant state corruption scandals, particularly in the energy sector.

    Lissu and other Chadema opposition figures became a formidable force, openly naming corrupt government officials and exposing grand theft.

    They also began making calls for constitutional reform. These were aimed at addressing excessive presidential powers and the power imbalances of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This push culminated in then president Jakaya Kikwete initiating a constitutional review process in 2010.

    Lissu’s legal acumen played out in the constituent assembly, the body convened to deliberate on constitutional reforms. However, the assembly, dominated by members of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, rejected many of the key provisions of the draft constitution. It had been widely regarded as the “people’s draft” because it included citizen participation. Its key provisions included reduced presidential powers and the establishment of independent state institutions.

    The process was to culminate in a referendum in 2014. This prematurely aborted and Tanzania went into the 2015 election without a new constitution.

    In these elections, Lissu successfully defended his parliamentary seat. As a second-term legislator, he focused on strengthening Chadema’s presence. This included door-to-door conversations with the public and grassroots mobilisation to build the party.

    The party’s momentum, however, was halted by a repressive regime under Magufuli, who became president in 2015. He cracked down on critics and instituted a partial ban on political rallies.

    Lissu became very critical of Magufuli’s economic policies. In a public address in 2017, Magufuli admitted to the government’s tapping of Lissu’s phone and described those who opposed his own economic reforms as traitors. Soon after this, Lissu was shot 16 times after leaving parliament buildings in the capital, Dodoma.

    Exile

    Lissu officially went into exile in Belgium after the shooting. In 2020, he published Remaining in the Shadows: Parliament and Accountability in East Africa, a critical examination of the presidentialist systems in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which he argued had undermined democratic consolidation in the region.

    Through this publication, Lissu continued his activism, challenging political structures.

    His brief return to Tanzania to contest the presidency in 2020 was marked by repeated arrests and intimidation during the electoral campaign. After his loss to Magufuli, Lissu went back to Belgium.

    He announced his return home in 2023.

    Tanzania today

    It’s important to understand why Lissu and Chadema are viewed as a current threat in Tanzania.

    The country is entering an election period. Local government elections are scheduled for November 2024 ahead of general elections in 2025.

    The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has in the recent past relied on state violence to secure electoral victories. The last general election in 2020 was marred by violence, as well as intimidation of the opposition and censorship.

    It looks likely that Chadema will once again nominate Lissu to contest the presidency in the 2025 general election against president Samia. Lissu’s fearlessness and defiance make him the best candidate to take on the ruling party. Samia has already described Lissu as a troublesome character.

    With the ongoing opposition clampdown, it looks clear that the ruling party is once again willing to do whatever it will take to hold on to power. Even if Tanzania’s democracy suffers.

    Nicodemus Minde is affiliated with the Institute for Security Studies.

    – ref. Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms – https://theconversation.com/who-is-tundu-lissu-tanzanias-opposition-leader-is-fighting-for-change-in-the-face-of-fresh-attacks-on-political-freedoms-240821

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Readout of President  Biden’s Meeting with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of  Germany

    Source: The White House

    President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany at Bellevue Palace to discuss the strong U.S.-German relationship, grounded in our shared democratic values.  The two leaders coordinated on support for Ukraine in its self-defense against Russian aggression; countering antisemitism and other forms of hate at home and abroad; efforts to de-escalate conflict in the Middle East and support the protection of civilians; amongst other global issues. President Biden acknowledged the timing of his visit ahead of the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and our countries’ shared commitment to freedom and democracy.  The President underscored the close U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with Germany.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – UN forum calls for enhanced role of cities in national climate action, localizing the SDGs

    Source: United Nations ESCAP

    The urban population in Asia and the Pacific is expected to increase by one billion more residents in cities and towns by 2050, bringing greater development pressures such as housing and infrastructure gaps as well as a concentration of many environmental and sustainability challenges, a United Nations forum said this week. But cities are also at the forefront of innovation for sustainability, leading the way in adopting new technologies and sharing knowledge across borders.

    “Given the profound and double-sided influence of cities, localizing global and national goals presents a significant opportunity to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

    She added, “By translating the goals into relevant priorities within local contexts, we can harness the innovative capacities of cities and mobilize a broad range of stakeholders to confront the pressing environmental and development issues.”

    The eighth session of the Committee on Environment and Development brought together high-level government officials, urban leaders, top experts and other stakeholders to exchange views on strengthening multilateral cooperation on environment and development challenges facing the region, including through actions taken by cities.

    Discussions over the last three days focused on the challenges, opportunities and priorities for localizing action in five priority areas – air pollution; low-carbon transition and low-greenhouse-gas emission development strategies; ocean protection; sustainable urban development; and access to information concerning the environment and public participation in decision-making processes.

    “The five priority areas on the agenda are issues that demand coordinated, localized and inclusive solutions,” underscored Bernadia Tjandradewi, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments in the Asia-Pacific Region (UCLG-ASPAC). She further emphasized the importance of building the capacity, skills and resources of local governments to drive sustainable urban development and climate actions.

    Angelica Añabeza, Senior Associate, Wadhani Foundation Philippines, and Prajesh Khanal, Sustainability & Child Rights Activist presented a joint statement on behalf of youth representatives, urging for “meaningful and transparent partnerships with young people of all backgrounds to rebuild the trust that has been lost towards decision makers while also creating a collective vision.”

    “Local solutions are essential if we are to ensure the region’s growth can positively address these issues. While the challenges being faced in our region may vary by country and local context, we know that effective regional cooperation can support the exchange of solutions and best practices that can be tailored to local conditions,” said Norliza Hashim, Chief Executive Officer of Urbanice Malaysia, who was elected as Chair of the Committee.

    During the Committee, ESCAP also launched the Asia-Pacific SDG Localization Platform, which will support national and local authorities to share and learn best practices on how localized approach leads to effective solutions that improves the quality of life for residents across the region.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) Wins Pan-African Development Bank Leadership Award

    Source: Media Fast

    · The award is in recognition of the institution’s leadership and commitment to advancing sustainable development in the continent’s housing and urban development sectors.

    Zanzibar, Tanzania: 18 October 2024 – Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB), a leading Pan-African multilateral development bank, dedicated to financing and promoting housing, urban & related infrastructure development across the African continent, has been honored with the prestigious “Pan-African Development Bank Leadership Award – A Pioneer in Housing Finance” for its outstanding contributions to the development of the continent.

    The award, presented during the 40th Anniversary Gala of the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) and the International Secondary Mortgage Market Association (ISSMA), recognized Shelter Afrique Development Bank for its pioneering leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable development in Africa’s housing sector. This prestigious honor was conferred by Ambassador Sharon Trail, founder of the AUHF 42 years ago, who was also honored with a lifetime achievement award at the same event.

    Receiving the award, Shelter Afrique Development Bank Managing Director, Thierno-Habib Hann expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This honor is a testament to our mission of transforming Africa’s housing and urban landscape. We are proud of the work we’ve done in collaboration with governments, development financial institutions (DFIs), private developers, and financial institutions across Africa to provide affordable housing solutions.”

    The award highlights the transformative changes taking place at ShafDB, driven by its visionary leadership and the ‘New Dawn’ strategy now coming to light.

    Last month, ShafDB was designated as the anchor resource mobilization partner at the African Union’s Inaugural Africa Urban Forum in its Addis Ababa Declaration, further solidifying the Bank’s central role in shaping Africa’s urban development and housing landscape.

    Shaping the housing agenda

    Over the past four decades, ShafDB has spearheaded various affordable housing projects in over 40 African countries, playing a crucial role in shaping the housing agenda by providing long-term financing solutions, promoting green building initiatives, and supporting the construction of inclusive communities.

    Going forward, the institution aims to build on its success by leveraging its expertise and resources to address Africa’s housing and urban challenges, focusing on scalable, sustainable, inclusive, and impactful solutions.

    “We dedicate this award to our shareholders, partners, clients, and the communities we serve. It is through these collaborations that we will continue to make a lasting impact on Africa’s development. My thanks go to our esteemed Board Members who have shown relentless support to our transformation, and to our bold staff at Shelter Afrique Development Bank. They are the reason for our success. For it is only through teamwork, passion, and dedication that we can elevate ShafDB to fulfill its mission for Africa,” Mr. Hann concluded.

    Note:

    About Shelter Afrique Development Bank:

    Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is the Pan-African Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) dedicated to promoting and financing sustainable green housing, urban development and related infrastructure. It operates through a shareholding of 44 African governments and two institutional shareholders: the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re).

    The institution is involved in financing housing and related infrastructure across the value chain, both on the demand and supply sides, through its four (4) business lines: Financial Institutions Group (FIG), the Project Finance Group (PFG), the Sovereign and Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Group, and the Fund Management Group (FMG).

    About African Union Housing Finance (AUHF)

    Since its formation in 1984, the AUHF has evolved into a member-based, industry association of mortgage banks, building societies, housing corporations, Development Finance Institutions and other organisations involved in the mobilisation of funds for shelter and housing on the African continent. As an industry body, the AUHF promotes the development of effective housing markets and the delivery of affordable housing across Africa, working in the interests of the members and the industry as a whole. The AUHF is governed by a board of industry leaders elected every two years at its Annual General Body. The Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF), based in South Africa, acts as the Secretariat of the AUHF.

    International Secondary Mortgage Market Association (ISSMA)

    International Secondary Mortgage Market Association (ISMMA) is the first global association to bring together secondary mortgage markets institutions to focus on advocacy on regulatory issues, share information, and provide support to newly established institutions in this space.

    The association provides a platform for member countries to exchange ideas on how to improve access to housing finance for their citizens and ultimately reach the goal of adequate, safe and affordable housing for all. The UN estimates that the global population will reach 8.5 billion by 2030, with almost 60% of the population living in urban centers. An estimated 3 billion people will need new housing and basic urban infrastructure by 2030. Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization putting pressure on housing delivery systems, many urban poor will not be able to afford formal housing without proper housing finance solutions. This puts the issue of housing finance at the forefront of the global development agenda, and the ISMMA will serve as an important platform to envision and design solutions to enhance access to housing finance.

    The ISMMA Secretariat has moved from the World Bank to the European Mortgage Federation – European Covered Bond Council (EMF-ECBC) as of July 1, 2022.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Asian Development Blog: Why Nations Succeed: Three Ways to Enhance Capacity for Resilient Development

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Building intellectual capacity and fostering learning partnerships enhance long-term capabilities in organizations and communities. Localized solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge and governance reforms empower societies to achieve resilient, sustainable development.

    Through my three decades in international development work from environment management to urban resilience to policy analysis to monitoring and evaluation, if I were to distill one recurring aspect – it is capacity. 

    The Oxford English Dictionary defines capacity as “the ability to learn or retain knowledge and to make a decision about an issue”. This could be a combination of knowledge, skills, infrastructure, and resources that allow organizations, individuals, and groups to address issues, enhance awareness, solve problems, and learn lessons. 

    For a person to have capacity for a decision, he or she must be able to “understand information, make choices, and communicate the decision to others.”  Capability is defined as “the power or ability to do something.”  

    Capacity is needed for completing a project successfully, and capability to assure its long-term sustainability. These aspects visibly support communities to thrive, and organizations and systems to innovate and adapt to achieve lasting impact. 

     Capacity and capability are the critical “invisible infrastructure” that ensures the effectiveness of development interventions through the efficient functioning of public systems to provide the desired quality of services. 

    However, despite its fundamental importance, capacity remains hidden due to its intangibility and its value is difficult to measure. Unlike projects that deliver physical infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals and water treatment plants. 

    Building capacity and capabilities both at an individual and institutional level is now more important than ever as global challenges such as climate change, environment degradation, depleting natural water reserves, communicable diseases and technological advancements rapidly reshape the future. 

    Building capacity requires sustained investment over time, often without immediate, visible outcomes. This slow, often incremental process may not capture public attention or political will in the same way a new bridge or highway might. 

    Moreover, capacity-building efforts can be complex, requiring cooperation among organizations, regions, countries and sectors, investment in education and training, and a commitment to long-term, sustained and resilient development. These efforts are not perceived to be fashionable and glamorous compared to visible projects that can be tangibly measured. 

     Advancing economies have demonstrated that unlocking the potential of capacity and building capable institutions brings systemic improvements over short term project gains.

    This also builds resilience in times of crisis due to natural disasters, pandemics, or economic shocks and ensure individuals, communities, and institutions respond and recover; spur innovation to help individuals and organizations experiment, adapt, and scale solutions; enhance governance in institutions to manage resources, deliver services, that benefit citizens ensuring the transparent, accountable, and equitable functioning of society. 

    Communities and institutions would thereby solve their own problems, reduce reliance on external support making development more effective in the long term.

    Capacity is needed for completing a project successfully, and capability to assure its long-term sustainability. 

    Here are three ways to enhance capacity as the pathway to resilient development and effectiveness: 

    Build intellectual capacity and capability by strengthening public and private institutions through a combination of financial, technical and learning support that will foster cultural and behavioral change to do things differently and evolve over the long term.  

    This means designing interventions not only in smart infrastructure design using innovative financing models but also strategic planning, project and data management, leadership training and monitoring and evaluation systems, that allow institutions to deliver relevant and high-quality services over time. 

     Investments that enable cultural shifts from learning from what works and what can be done differently can create positive domino effects in organizations and societies, enhancing individual and collective capacity and capabilities to deliver solutions in complex situations.  

    The city of Melaka in Malaysia pioneered the green city action planning process in 2014 using local government participatory processes. This spurred a multiplier effect with city governments continuing to engage and collaborate across sectoral ministries to deliver projects that improve environmental quality and strengthen economic competitiveness.

    Foster learning partnerships that not only enhance capacity but also ensure long term capabilities. For example, educational institutions with strong research and teaching capacities generate new knowledge, ideas, and technologies that benefit the wider public. 

    When infused with experiential knowledge from the development community, these partnerships can become a powerful tool for grooming young learners to deliver interventions with lasting impacts. In the Pacific, the first structured diploma course on monitoring, evaluation and learning at the University of South Pacific has been accredited by the Pacific Board of Education Quality and launched. 

    Localize solutions and empower communities through investments that harness indigenous knowledge, combine awareness building, local knowhow, and technology. Further, improving governance to empower communities to take ownership of local issues to ensure solutions are rooted in local knowledge for lasting impacts.  

    In the state of Karnataka in India, a coastal protection and management project includes a specific component on capacity building for shoreline management. Unique community associations such as shoreline management organizations and dune care groups were formed and involved in project monitoring. 

    Funds were provided by the project and site-specific activities such as beach cleaning and beach festivals turned beneficiaries into project partners. Capacity and capabilities were enhanced both for communities as well as for the executing and implementing agencies. 

    Learning from the capacity building process to strengthen decision making and understand how economic institutions influence these efforts should be a mantra for development organizations as they prepare for an uncertain future.

    As Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, writes: “Economic institutions shape economic incentives: the incentives to become educated, to save and invest, to innovate and adopt new technologies.”
     

    MIL OSI Global Banks –