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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Appointment of Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office Mrs. Moono Mupotola

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, effective from 16th October 2024.

    Mrs. Moono Mupotola, a Zambian national, brings over 25 years of development experience across Africa to her new role, with a proven track record in infrastructure development, trade and regional integration.

    Prior to this appointment, Mrs. Mupotola served as the Bank’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe since December 2020. During her tenure, she played an instrumental role in the Bank’s support to Zimbabwe in its re-engagement agenda with the international community and in its efforts to address outstanding debt and arrears obligations.

    Mrs. Mupotola’s experience with the Bank began in 2009, when she was appointed Division Manager, Regional Integration and Trade. She was appointed as Director of NEPAD, Regional Integration & Trade in 2015, and Director of Regional Integration Coordination Office in 2018.

    Her oversight of the Lusophone Compact, a program that supports private sector in six Portugues-speaking Africa countries, demonstrated Mrs. Mupotola’s commitment to advancing regional integration. She also initiated the Bank’s Africa Trade Fund, the Visa Openness Index, and the Regional Integration Index with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission. She managed the African Development Fund’s Regional Operations Envelope and oversaw the Bank’s regional project preparation facility.

    Mrs. Mupotola led the Bank’s trade and regional integration agenda by supporting research, infrastructure projects, capacity-building programmes and the reform of regulations and policies in regional member countries.

    Before joining the African Development Bank Group, Mrs. Mupotola held several senior positions, including Regional Policy Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, Trade Specialist at the Southern African Development Community Trade Hub in Botswana and Zimbabwe. She served as the Division Head of Trade and Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture in Namibia. She also served as a Researcher at the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit and a Banker at Zambia National Commercial Bank.

    She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Bennington College, Vermont, United States of America and a MPhil of Philosophy from Cambridge University, United Kingdom and post-graduate qualifications in leadership and strategic management from the Wharton Business School, USA, and the Cranfield Business School, United Kingdom.

    Commenting on her appointment, Mrs. Mupotola said: “I am deeply honoured by this opportunity and grateful to President Adesina for his trust and confidence in me. The role of Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, is challenging and exciting. I look forward to working efficiently with our teams and stakeholders to deliver on the African Development Bank’s vision and High 5 priorities for sustainable development”.

    Commenting on the appointment, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina said: “I am delighted to appoint Mrs. Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. Moono has extensive experience in regional operations, having served previously as Director of Regional Operations. She was subsequently assigned to Zimbabwe as Country Manager. Moono has demonstrated exceptional leadership, diplomatic acumen and strong execution capacity in working with the Government of Zimbabwe and all the development partners in advancing the structured dialogues for the arrears clearance for Zimbabwe, as well as major reforms. Her astute leadership and experience and in-depth knowledge of the countries in the Southern Africa region will significantly advance the work and partnerships of the African Development Bank Group in the region”.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tickets out now for the Cessnock NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Tickets out now for the Cessnock NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts

    Published: 15 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Seniors

    Tickets for the free NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts in Cessnock are now available with seniors urged to snap them up and enjoy the festive fun.

    The NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts star singing sensations Amy Lehpamer from the musical & Juliet, Arlo Sims, Liz Player and Emily Kate, from The Voice, and Will Skarpona from the Conservatorium of Music.

    There will be two free shows at the Performance Arts Culture Cessnock on Thursday 12 December 2024 at 10am and 1pm.

    Featuring all the festive favourites, the regional concerts are an annual highlight of the Christmas season and a chance for seniors to socialise and enjoy a spectacular show.

    Tickets will be available from 11am today:

    • Online by visiting the website,
    • Call the Performance Arts Culture Cessnock Theatre box office on 02 4993 4266.
    • Visit the Performance Arts Culture Cessnock Theatre box office on the corner of Vincent Street and Aberdare Road, Cessnock, NSW, 2325.

    Free tickets are available until the allocation is exhausted. Maximum 4 per person or call venues for larger group bookings.

    Cessnock is one of three regional centres to host the Seniors Christmas Concerts this year with other shows taking place in Broken Hill and Moree.

    Each year, the NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts visit three regional towns to bring the festive cheer to seniors in the regions. They are a way for the NSW Government to thank our seniors and help them celebrate with friends and family.

    Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

    “The NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts are a wonderful way to enjoy the season, socialise and have a festive singalong with some of the state’s top performers.

    “Tickets are sure to go quickly so be certain to get your seats as soon as possible to experience this spectacular show in regional NSW.

    Local member for Cessnock Clayton Barr said:

    “I am pleased to see Cessnock is one of the three regional centres selected to be host to the Seniors Christmas Concerts. I encourage local seniors to make sure you get in early to avoid missing out.

    “There are a variety of ways to get tickets for the Cessnock Concert including online, by calling the Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC) box office or you can visit the PACC box office in Vincent Street, Cessnock.

    “This is a great opportunity for all seniors in the local area to see and enjoy this spectacular show and don’t forget to sing along to your favourite Christmas tunes.”

    Performer Will Skarpona said:

    “I am looking forward to bringing the spirit of Christmas to seniors living in regional NSW.

    “The NSW Seniors Christmas Concerts are guaranteed to delight audiences so make sure you book  your tickets now.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ARENA funds Australia’s first community-led electrification trial

    Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    Overview

    • Category

      News

    • Date

      15 October 2024

    • Classification

    500 households in the 2515 postcode in New South Wales are set to be electrified, in a new project announced today by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and partners Brighte, Rewiring Australia and Endeavour Energy.

    ARENA is providing $5.4 million in funding for the “Electrify 2515 Community Pilot” to support the electrification of 500 homes in the north Illawarra 2515 area, providing insights on how Australia could benefit from an electrified future.

    ARENA CEO Darren Miller said this project would also provide significant insight into the contribution of home electrification to grid stability while also reducing energy costs for consumers.

    “Flexible demand at a residential level is expected to be critical as homes electrify. By undertaking electrification in a managed way, we can reduce the need to upgrade our electricity network and reduce costs for all electricity consumers.”

    The main objective of the pilot is to accelerate the energy transition in homes to understand the impact on consumers and the network. This will be done by installing efficient electric appliances and other consumer energy resources (CER) including heat pump space and water heaters, home batteries, and rooftop solar that will be optimised by a home energy management system (HEMS).

    By studying the installation journey closely, the pilot will generate insights into consumer behaviour and decision-making when purchasing and using CER to better understand how to scale and commercialise home electrification.

    Brighte Founder and CEO Katherine McConnell said the pilot aimed to create the electric future in a real community today. “This project will allow us to learn locally so we can scale nationally, generating critical insights for consumers, tradespeople, industry and policymakers on how to rapidly and effectively scale electrification across Australia.

    “We’re excited about the role we can play to demonstrate the power of homes brought to their full potential, lighting a pathway for every Australian community to electrify more easily and fast-forward to a smart, electric future.”

    One of the bigger barriers to the commercialisation and widespread adoption CER is upfront cost. The funding provided by ARENA will help to support the purchase of CER for pilot participants taking part in the research program led by Rewiring Australia.

    The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot will test the impacts of electrification within a community and within the constraints of Endeavour Energy’s local electricity network. This is expected to allow the sharing of valuable insights on the impacts of residential electrification.

    Full list of project partners:

    • Project Lead, Delivery Partner & Finance Provider: Brighte
    • Research Partner: Rewiring Australia
    • Network Partner: Endeavour Energy

    ARENA Strategic Priority: Optimise the Transition to Renewable Electricity

    Australia’s electricity system is rapidly evolving. Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of new bulk electricity supply, and significant numbers of Australian households and businesses continue to install rooftop solar and other distributed energy technologies. Grid-scale innovations are also driving the transition, including increased use of grid-scale batteries.

    New demand loads for green metals, manufacturing and fuel production, coupled with the electrification of transport and broader industry. Will create unprecedented demand for renewable energy over the next decade. We need to ensure the grid is equipped to support this additional demand and high penetration of renewables.

    Further technical and commercial innovation, as well as market reforms, will be critical to ensure the electricity system can transition efficiently, reliably and cost-effectively.

    ARENA is currently focused on supporting projects in this priority area that help deliver the following objectives:

    • Unlock new flexible demand
    • Improve the economics of energy storage
    • Optimise large-scale integration of renewable electricity

    Learn more at ARENA’s website.

    ARENA media contact:

    media@arena.gov.au

    Download this media release (PDF 128KB)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is commencing its Review into Retail Payments Regulation. This review will examine the costs merchants face when accepting card payments and the framework for surcharging. The RBA has today released an Issues Paper, inviting stakeholders to provide detailed feedback on the current regulatory framework and to suggest potential regulatory responses. This feedback will be crucial in shaping future reforms to ensure a safe and efficient payments system.

    Australians extensively use cards to pay for goods and services. They benefit from the convenience and security provided by card payments. However, in an environment of heightened concern around the cost of living, card payment costs and surcharging are attracting more attention from merchants and consumers. These issues are linked, since merchants would be less likely to surcharge consumers if card payment costs were lower. It is timely, therefore, to review whether regulatory settings could be adjusted to put further downward pressure on merchant card payment costs and whether the RBA’s surcharging framework remains fit for purpose. This recognises that many years have passed since these rules first came into effect.

    Stakeholders can provide written submissions by 3 December 2024.

    Detailed assessments of reform proposals would form the next stage of this review. If the Payments System Board forms a view that consultation on regulatory action is in the public interest, the RBA will further consult on any reform proposals prior to any decisions being made.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    Biden-Harris Administration Provides $860 Million for Hurricane Helene and Milton Survivors and Communities

    WASHINGTON — Helene and Milton recovery efforts continue in North Carolina and the Southeast. Over 8,500 federal personnel are deployed, which includes over 4,200 FEMA personnel who remain on the ground, working side-by-side with state and local officials, to help survivors get what they need to begin their recovery.

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, as of today, FEMA has approved over $860 million, which includes $507 million in assistance for individuals and communities affected and over $351.5 million for debris removal and activities to save lives, protect public health and safety and prevent damage to public and private property.

    Survivors can jumpstart their recovery by applying for FEMA assistance. Applying online at disasterassistance.gov is the fastest way to begin the application process. As survivors go through the application process they can access Serious Needs Assistance for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. 

    Hurricane Milton Recovery Updates

    Power restoration efforts have significantly improved across the region following Hurricane Milton. Crews have continued to work around the clock and have restored power for nearly 3 million residents. FEMA is currently working with state and local officials on debris removal plans for areas affected by the storms. Residents should pay attention to local guidance related to debris removal in their area.  

    Over 30 shelters are currently housing over 2,950 people impacted by Milton, a significant decrease from nearly 13,000 from last week. FEMA has 7.6 million meals and 4.6 million liters of water available to support survivors of Hurricane Milton, ensuring critical supplies are ready for immediate distribution. 

    Hurricane Helene Recovery Updates

    Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue, with federal responders working throughout the region to provide immediate and long-term support. FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are also open across the region to provide support. To date, FEMA has delivered over 12.6 million meals and more than 12.8 million liters of water to the region. 

    Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Helene.   

    Apply for FEMA assistance in the following ways:

    • Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov. 
    • Downloading and applying on the FEMA App. 
    • Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.  
    • Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center
    • Applying through a Disaster Survivor Assistance member

    Support for North Carolina

    FEMA has approved more than $96 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 75,000 households.

    More than 2,500 families who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Under the program, residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. FEMA will notify applicants of their eligibility for this assistance through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. Shelter numbers continue to decline, with 13 shelters housing just over 560 occupants. 

    Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    There are four Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Support for Florida  

    As Helene recovery efforts continue in Florida, FEMA has approved more than $177.6 million for over 56,900 households. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.

    There are 122 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and there are ten Disaster Recovery Centers supporting survivors from Debby and Helene where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina 

    As recovery efforts continue in South Carolina, FEMA has approved over $119 million for more than 133,900 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 81 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Greenville, Barnwell and Batesburg where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. 

    Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia 

    FEMA has approved over $103 million for more than 106,300 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are 139 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas and Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $4.2 million for over 1,330 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are about 39 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods, and three Disaster Recovery Centers open in Damascus, Independence and Tazewell where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

    Support for Tennessee 

    FEMA has approved more than $10.7 million for disaster assistance for over 2,200 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties, helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.

    There are more than 42 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power. Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website. 

    Voluntary Organizations

    Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page where people can enter pertinent information about the person they’re looking for. If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NASA, SpaceX launch new mission to study Jupiter’s moon Europa

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    NASA and SpaceX launched a new mission to Jupiter on Monday to study Jupiter’s moon Europa.

    The Europa Clipper spacecraft, which is NASA’s largest planetary spacecraft, launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 12:06 p.m. Eastern Time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the U.S. state of Florida.

    Europa Clipper is the first mission designed to conduct a detailed study of Jupiter’s moon Europa.

    The spacecraft is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission with solar arrays spanning more than 30 meters when deployed and weighing nearly 6,000 kilograms at launch.

    Europa Clipper will travel about 2.9 billion kilometers to reach Jupiter in April 2030. The spacecraft, in orbit around Jupiter, will make nearly 50 flybys of Europa at closest-approach altitudes as low as 25 kilometers above the surface, soaring over a different location during each flyby to scan nearly the entire moon, according to NASA.

    The mission aims to understand the nature of Europa’s ice shell and the ocean beneath it, along with the moon’s composition and geology.

    The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet, said NASA.

    Jupiter’s moon Europa shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust. Beyond Earth, Europa is considered one of the most promising currently habitable environments in our solar system. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: DPRK top leader convenes national security meeting to address situation on Korean Peninsula

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday convened a consultative meeting on national defense and security in the latest move by the country to address the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.

    Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, was briefed on a general analysis of “the case of enemy’s serious provocation that violated the DPRK sovereignty” as well as the country’s military counteraction plan, measures for weaponry modernization, status of weapons and equipment production and intelligence operations, the KCNA said.

    During the meeting, the DPRK leader set forth the direction of military action under the current circumstances and specified the tasks in the operation of the war deterrent and in exercise of the right to self-defense for safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and interests, according to the KCNA report.

    Kim expressed a tough political and military stand of the DPRK ruling party and government at the meeting, the report said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Russian defense ministers hold talks in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks with his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov in Beijing on Monday.

    Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Dong said the bilateral relationship featuring high-level mutual trust and intensive cooperation is an exemplary model between major countries.

    The two militaries should deepen strategic cooperation and enhance the quality and effectiveness of their cooperation, Dong said, adding that both sides should continuously advance the development of military relations, firmly defend the common interests of the two countries, and work together to safeguard global strategic stability.

    Belousov said that military cooperation between Russia and China is important in safeguarding global and regional peace and stability.

    The Russian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to continuously carry out efficient cooperation, and jointly address security challenges, said Belousov. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool leads healthy cities conversation

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool is hosting an international conference looking at how to create healthier places for people to live.

    The ‘Healthy City Design International Congress’ is taking place at the northern headquarters of the Royal College of Physicians in The Spine at Paddington Village – rated as one of the healthiest buildings in the world – on 15 and 16 October.

    It features a range of keynote contributors from the UK and abroad, including academics and speakers from sectors including public health, local government and urban design.

    It will see a range of themes explored, from preparing neighbourhoods for the effects of the climate crisis, to empowering communities to change the systems that drive health inequity in urban places.

    It is the second year in a row that the city has hosted the event.

    Kitty Wilkinson, who pioneered public wash houses to tackle cholera

    Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, is providing the welcome address, highlighting the city’s role in health firsts, including: appointing the UK’s first medical health officer; Kitty Wilkinson opening the first UK public wash houses to tackle cholera, and becoming the first city to ban smoking in workplaces in 2007.

    Director of Public Health, Professor Matt Ashton, will be discussing his groundbreaking report – ‘State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040’ – which identifies the significant health challenges faced by Liverpool and the actions needed to improve the lives of residents.

    And senior members of the Council’s Neighbourhoods team will be on a panel titled ‘Driving health improvement, equity and economic development through a health in all policies approach’.

    The Council’s Public Health and Planning teams have been shortlisted at the event’s award’s ceremony, for their work in healthy city planning and design.

    Cllr Robinson said: “We are again proud to showcase Liverpool as a city in which significant collaborative work is being undertaken to achieve positive health outcomes and learn from the international community.

    “This year’s agenda is designed to generate a wealth of progressive, impactful and inspiring conversation.”

    More information about the Healthy City Design International Congress can be found at https://www.healthycitydesign.global/programme/programme-agenda.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ISRAEL-GAZA: MSF mourns and condemns the tragic killing of our colleague in northern Gaza.

    SOURCE: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    15 October – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders are mourning the loss of 31-year-old Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh, our MSF colleague.

    Nasser was killed by shrapnel injuries he suffered to his legs and chest on October 8 in Jabalia, North Gaza. 
    Since October 7, Jabalia has been under relentless attacks by Israeli forces, and people have remained trapped since then without being able to flee.

    Nasser died from his injuries on 10 October in Kamal Adwan Hospital. He is survived by his wife and two children.

    Nasser joined MSF as a driver in March 2023 and has not been working since the war started as MSF activities in North Gaza were severely affected. MSF has been trying to expand activities in the north of Gaza, but it has been impossible so far.

    After being injured, Nasser first received emergency care at Al Awda Hospital, Jabalia in North Gaza, and was later transferred to Kamal Adwan Hospital. He was unable to receive the necessary level of care due to the hospital´s lack of capacity and an overwhelming number of patients in the facility.

    All over Gaza, family members and loved ones continue to be killed and injured by relentless fighting and bombings. Nasser is the seventh MSF colleague killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war. This bloodshed needs to end.

    For over a year, Israeli forces have systematically dismantled the health system in Gaza, impeding access to life-saving care for people. At the same time, medical evacuations have become extremely challenging, particularly in the north which has been largely cut off from the rest of Gaza, further making it difficult for people to access care.

    We are horrified by the killing of our colleague which we strongly condemn, and call yet again for the respect and protection of civilians. In this tragic moment, our thoughts are with his family and all colleagues mourning his death.

    Notes

    The situation remains catastrophic in north Gaza and six MSF staff remain trapped in Jabalia camp which is still totally under siege by Israeli forces, and where humanitarian aid cannot enter. Audio testimony from an MSF colleague who fled Jabalia and who is now sheltering in Gaza City is available.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: New human rights ranking of electric vehicle industry exposes laggards

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Although a rapid transition from fossil fuel powered to electric vehicles is urgently needed to accelerate decarbonization and help slow the rate of global temperature rise, it comes with a hidden cost. 

    “Mining for the minerals used in electric vehicles can entail huge risks for people and the environment. Amnesty International’s previous research has shown how industrial cobalt is linked to forced evictions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Car companies need to use their massive leverage as global minerals buyers to influence upstream mining companies and smelters to mitigate these human rights risks,” said Agnès Callamard.

    In terms of supply chain mapping disclosures, companies like BYD, Geely Auto, Hyundai, General Motors, and Mitsubishi Motors scored the lowest, failing to provide detailed information about their supply chains. Furthermore, BYD does not disclose smelter, refiner, or mine site names. Geely Auto provided only general supplier locations without specifying mineral extraction sites. 

    Hyundai and Mitsubishi Motors demonstrated a similar lack of transparency, with no evidence of comprehensive supply chain mapping or mine site identification for cobalt, copper, lithium, and nickel, making it difficult for stakeholders to verify how these operations affect nearby communities.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is commencing its Review into Retail Payments Regulation. This review will examine the costs merchants face when accepting card payments and the framework for surcharging. The RBA has today released an Issues Paper, inviting stakeholders to provide detailed feedback on the current regulatory framework and to suggest potential regulatory responses. This feedback will be crucial in shaping future reforms to ensure a safe and efficient payments system.

    Australians extensively use cards to pay for goods and services. They benefit from the convenience and security provided by card payments. However, in an environment of heightened concern around the cost of living, card payment costs and surcharging are attracting more attention from merchants and consumers. These issues are linked, since merchants would be less likely to surcharge consumers if card payment costs were lower. It is timely, therefore, to review whether regulatory settings could be adjusted to put further downward pressure on merchant card payment costs and whether the RBA’s surcharging framework remains fit for purpose. This recognises that many years have passed since these rules first came into effect.

    Stakeholders can provide written submissions by 3 December 2024.

    Detailed assessments of reform proposals would form the next stage of this review. If the Payments System Board forms a view that consultation on regulatory action is in the public interest, the RBA will further consult on any reform proposals prior to any decisions being made.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft’s guidance to help mitigate Kerberoasting cyberattacks

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft’s guidance to help mitigate Kerberoasting cyberattacks

    As cyberthreats continue to evolve, it’s essential for security professionals to stay informed about the latest attack vectors and defense mechanisms. Kerberoasting is a well-known Active Directory (AD) attack vector whose effectiveness is growing because of the use of GPUs to accelerate password cracking techniques. 

    Because Kerberoasting enables cyberthreat actors to steal credentials and quickly navigate through devices and networks, it’s essential for administrators to take steps to reduce potential cyberattack surfaces. This blog explains Kerberoasting risks and provides recommended actions administrators can take now to help prevent successful Kerberoasting cyberattacks. 

    What is Kerberoasting? 

    Kerberoasting is a cyberattack that targets the Kerberos authentication protocol with the intent to steal AD credentials. The Kerberos protocol conveys user authentication state in a type of message called a service ticket which is encrypted using a key derived from an account password. Users with AD credentials can request tickets to any service account in AD.  

    In a Kerberoasting cyberattack, a threat actor that has taken over an AD user account will request tickets to other accounts and then perform offline brute-force attacks to guess and steal account passwords. Once the cyberthreat actor has credentials to the service account, they potentially gain more privileges within the environment. 

    AD only issues and encrypts service tickets for accounts that have Service Principal Names (SPNs) registered. An SPN signifies that an account is a service account, not a normal user account, and that it should be used to host or run services, such as SQL Server. Since Kerberoasting requires access to encrypted service tickets, it can only target accounts that have an SPN in AD. 

    SPNs are not typically assigned to normal user accounts which means they are better protected against Kerberoasting. Services that run as AD machine accounts instead of as standalone service accounts are better protected against compromise using Kerberoasting. AD machine account credentials are long and randomly generated so they contain sufficient entropy to render brute-force cyberattacks impractical.  

    The accounts most vulnerable to Kerberoasting are those with weak passwords and those that use weaker encryption algorithms, especially RC4. RC4 is more susceptible to the cyberattack because it uses no salt or iterated hash when converting a password to an encryption key, allowing the cyberthreat actor to guess more passwords quickly. However, other encryption algorithms are still vulnerable when weak passwords are used. While AD will not try to use RC4 by default, RC4 is currently enabled by default, meaning a cyberthreat actor can attempt to request tickets encrypted using RC4. RC4 will be deprecated, and we intend to disable it by default in a future update to Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. 

    What are the risks associated with Kerberoasting? 

    Kerberoasting is a low-tech, high-impact attack. There are many open-source tools which can be used to query potential target accounts, get service tickets to those accounts, and then use brute force cracking techniques to obtain the account password offline. 

    This type of password theft helps threat actors pose as legitimate service accounts and continue to move vertically and laterally through the network and machines. Kerberoasting typically targets high privilege accounts which can be used for a variety of attacks such as rapidly distributing malicious payloads like ransomware to other end user devices and services within a network.    

    Accounts without SPNs, such as standard user or administrator accounts, are susceptible to similar brute-force password guessing attacks and the recommendations below can be applied to them as well to mitigate risks. 

    How to detect Kerberoasting? 

    Administrators can use the techniques described below to detect Kerberoasting cyberattacks in their network. 

    • Check for ticket requests with unusual Kerberos encryption types. Cyberthreat actors can downgrade Kerberos ticket encryption to RC4 since cracking it is significantly faster. Admins can check the events in the Microsoft Defender XDR and filter the results based on the ticket encryption type to check for weaker encryption type usage.  
    • Check for repeated service ticket requests. Check if a single user is requesting multiple service tickets for Kerberoasting-vulnerable accounts in a short time period.  

    Recommendations to help prevent Kerberoasting from succeeding 

    Microsoft recommends that IT administrators take the following steps to help harden their environments against Kerberoasting: 

    • Use Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) or Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSA) wherever possible:  
      • These accounts are ideal for multi-server applications that require centralized credential management and enhanced security against credential-based attacks, such as IIS, SQL Server, or other Windows services running in a domain-joined environment. 
      • Group Managed Service Account (gMSA) is an Active Directory account type that allows multiple servers or services to use the same account with automatic password management and simplified SPN handling. Passwords for gMSAs are 120 characters long, complex, and randomly generated, making them highly resistant to brute-force cyberattacks using currently known methods.  
      • Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSA) are the newest iteration of managed service accounts available on Windows Server 2025. Like gMSAs, they restrict which machines can make use of the accounts and they provide the same password mitigations against Keberoasting. However, unlike gMSAs, dMSAs have the added benefit of supporting seamless migration of standalone service accounts with passwords to the dMSA account type. They can also be optionally integrated with Credential Guard so that even if the server using dMSA is compromised, the service account credentials remain protected.  
    • If customers cannot use gMSA or dMSA, then manually set randomly generated, long passwords for service accounts:  
      • Service account administrators should maintain at least a 14-character minimum password. If possible, we recommend setting even longer passwords and randomly generating them for service accounts which will provide better protection against Kerberoasting. This recommendation also applies to normal user accounts.  
      • Ban commonly used passwords and audit the passwords for service accounts so that there is an inventory of accounts with weak passwords and can be remediated.  
    • Make sure all service accounts are configured to use AES (128 and 256 bit) for Kerberos service ticket encryption: 
    • Audit the user accounts with SPNs:  
      • User accounts with SPNs should be audited. SPNs should be removed from accounts where they are not needed to reduce the cyberattack surface. 

    Conclusion 

    Kerberoasting is a threat to Active Directory environments due to its ability to exploit weak passwords and gain unauthorized access to service accounts. By understanding how Kerberoasting works and implementing the recommended guidance shared in this blog, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to Kerberoasting.  

    We truly believe that security is a team effort. By partnering with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), app developers, and others in the ecosystem, along with helping people to be better at protecting themselves, we are delivering a Windows experience that is more secure by design and secure by default. The Windows Security Book is available to help you learn more about what makes it easy for users to stay secure with Windows.

    Learn more in the Windows Security Book

    Next steps with Microsoft Security

    To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity. 

    References  

    Directory Hardening Series – Part 4 – Enforcing AES for Kerberos – Microsoft Community Hub 

    Stopping Active Directory attacks and other post-exploitation behavior with AMSI and machine learning | Microsoft Security Blog 

     Network security Configure encryption types allowed for Kerberos – Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn,  

    Decrypting the Selection of Supported Kerberos Encryption Types – Microsoft Community Hub 

    Delegated Managed Service Accounts FAQ | Microsoft Learn 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Spotlight on seven influential women captains

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    From L-R: Linda Krive, Gill Metz, Elizabeth Gibson, Sheryl Batrouney, Julie Hough, Jan Hull

    Seven trailblazing women leaders of CFA from the north-west of the state are helping shape the future for rural women this International Day of Rural Women.

    The significant day on 15 October each year, is a special one for CFA to celebrate and honour the dedication and contribution of all the women in our organisation.

    CFA has nearly 13,000 incredible women members, hundreds of those in leadership roles.

    Six out of seven women Captains in CFA’s District 2 gathered recently and discussed the importance of women and diversity in their brigades.

    Riddells Creek Captain Gill Metz AFSM, who is not only a long-serving volunteer but has also had a career in emergency services, said her brigade wanted her to become Captain to mentor and develop future leaders along with some succession planning.

    “A lot of the work I’m doing is about knowledge sharing and giving the volunteers different experiences,” Gill said.

    “Research has shown that having good diversity in emergency management makes us so much stronger.

    “I’ve enjoyed developing minority groups for many, many years, and certainly having more women around helps bring those skills to the table.”

    Walmer Fire Brigade Captain Julie Hough said she hopes she can inspire other people without an agenda.

    “Having a great team behind you will hopefully encourage more women to take the opportunity to take on a role with CFA,” Julie said.

    “It’s all about community, whether that is ensuring their protection or simply building rapport with them, it’s great that you can be a role model for other people.”

    Axe Creek Fire Brigade Captain Sheryl Batrouney is a third-generation firefighter so for her, she was always going to join CFA regardless of gender.

    “There’s a lot that women can bring to a brigade, no matter what role they’re interested in,” Sheryl said.

    “I encourage people if they’re wanting to be part of their community and do something that’s fun, and also very rewarding, to join their local CFA.”

    Deputy Chief Officer North East Region and International Day of Rural Women sponsor Ross Sullivan said it’s important for women to be celebrated all year round.

    “Rural women are the backbone of their communities, often juggling various responsibilities to keep everything running smoothly,” Ross said.

    “Women also play a crucial role in rural community development and throughout my career at CFA, I am endlessly impressed by the passion and commitment from our women members who put the community at the core of everything they do.

    “It’s pleasing to see how CFA has broadened its diversity over the years and implemented change to ensure we’re not only increasing our women volunteer membership, but we’re empowering them to become leaders and inspiring more women to take on any role in CFA.”

    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Making hay, rebuilding roads while it is hot in South and Mid Canterbury

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Expect to see more high-vis road crews and traffic managers repairing and re-sealing highways and keeping crews and road users safe around Mid and South Canterbury from now into the New Year.

    “Give them a friendly wave,” says Simon Harty, Journey Manager for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) in Canterbury. “We are all human and working in some extreme conditions, on hot nor-westerly days, over the summer.”

    He says that most road maintenance can only happen over the summer months, as the increased daylight hours, warmer temperatures and dry air are needed for the chip seal surfacing to stick to the pavements below.

    ”Our crews – contractors and sub-contractors – have a tight schedule, working through extremely variable conditions over summer. We all appreciate people building in extra time to reduce stress when the highways are getting busy.”

    In South and Mid-Canterbury, road users will benefit from 10 lane km of full reconstruction (ie 5km two lane highway) and 68 lane km resurfaced to make the journey smoother and safer. 

    “If travelling locally, people can build in an extra 20 minutes to their journeys which will help ease the pressure and reduce the temptation to make up the time if there is a short delay. This is safer for everyone – yourself and your passengers and other road users,” says Mr Harty.

    “If travelling further afield, say between Christchurch and Timaru, you could be delayed by up to an hour overall, with multiple work sites and cumulative delays encountered while everyone is working to get their maintenance programmes completed in the fine weather.”

    All work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

    Major Mid and South Canterbury works starting this side of Christmas

    Timaru south to Glenavy

    • From Wednesday 16 October, six weeks of road reconstruction over two sites south of Studholme, SH1, with temporary speed limits (30km/ h) and traffic signals running 24/7.
    • From Monday, 21 October, a week’s worth of resurfacing in the same area at three places on SH1: near Pareora, the SH82 turnoff (Nosh Roadside Gourmet corner) and through Glenavy township. 
    • The crew then moves onto SH82, the Waimate highway, for another week around Elephant Hill and Ikawai in November.

    Timaru to Fairlie, SH8 – full summer programme

    From Wednesday, 30 October, after Labour Weekend, through to the end of March 2025, three sites will be reconstructed in succession on SH8 near Winscombe Hill/Coal Stream between Fairlie and Albury under temporary speed limits, 30km/h, and traffic signals running 24/7.

    Ashburton to Methven, SH77

    From November, one week of resurfacing on SH77 starting near Winchmore.

    Waimate to Ikawai, SH82

    From Friday 1 November, eight weeks of reconstruction through the Waimate Gorge. This section of the State Highway will be closed and an alternative route will be advertised.

    Ashburton to Timaru, SH1

    Ongoing work on the SH1 Rangitata River Bridge with intermittent night closures mid to late November.

    Ashburton 2024 and 2025

    • Pre-reseal pavement repairs on SH1 between Long Beach and Rakaia start late October and November, with chipseal resurfacing to sections of the highway to be completed in January.
    • Pre-reseal pavement repairs to SH77 (the Methven highway) start this month (October) with chipseal resurfacing to sections of the highway to be completed in November.
    • The major project for Ashburton township is in March 2025 with a structural asphalt upgrade of SH1 between the Ashburton Bridge and Dobson St, along with resurfacing from Dobson to Moore Streets.

    In the New Year, 2025

    In the New Year, NZTA has resurfacing programmed for:

    • SH1 Rakaia to Timaru
    • SH79 Geraldine to Fairlie and
    • SH8 Pleasant Point to Lake Pukaki/Mt Cook/Aoraki turnoff (SH80).
    • Asphaltic concrete surfacing is planned for Waimate, Timaru, Fairlie and Ashburton township areas as well as re-surfacing the Hinds and Rangitata River Bridge decks.
    • The road reconstruction sites on SH8 near Winscombe Hill/Coal Stream and on SH82 through the Waimate Gorge will continue after the Christmas break into the New Year.

    Quick tips for happy summer travel

    • Remember, there will be delays on key routes.  Drivers should check road conditions before they travel – Waka Kotahi’s traffic pages(external link) and MetService for weather forecasts(external link)
    • Always take care when driving through road work sites and follow the temporary speed restrictions to ensure everyone stays safe. Our crews work year-round, they deserve to be safe.
    • Keeping your speed down where sealing work is underway or has just been completed not only helps chip to settle in the new road surface, it will also prevent stone chips flying into windscreens and protect road workers from injuries.
    • Leave about two car lengths between you and the car in front, four if the weather is bad.
    • Even if you can’t see workers on the road or it looks like works are finished when you come across a temporary speed limit sign, safety hazards may still be present. There could be loose chip from a recent re-seal, or workers underneath a culvert or bridge or on the side of the road.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Delays: State Highway 2, Putorino

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Motorists travelling on State Highway 2 near Putorino should expect delays following a truck crash this morning.

    The truck rolled, blocking the highway, near the intersection of Waikare Road, about 8.10am.

    The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

    While the road remains open, traffic management will be in place while the truck is salvaged in stages. Police advise motorists to expect delays of up to 30 minutes while this work is carried out.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Vietnam freight train service drastically boosts regional trade

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

    HANOI, Oct. 14 — The Dong Anh railway station in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi remains busy in the wee hours as container handling vehicles are moving back and forth, loading containers onto a timber express bound for Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

    The timber was purchased by a Chinese paper-making company as raw material from southern Vietnam. Speaking of the China-Vietnam freight train service, Zhang Cunwei, head of VTO International Port Development Joint Stock Company, said that like the timber express, a single train might have 10 or 20 containers all carrying the same type of product.

    “We often launch trains reserved for transporting agricultural products, fruits, or other goods,” Zhang said.

    In the past, a consignment might be made up of miscellaneous goods.

    The China-Vietnam freight train service began in 2017, and has expanded from transporting basic goods to over 300 types of goods, said Nguyen Hoang Anh, deputy general manager of Railway Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company of Vietnam Railways.

    Vietnam exports mainly agricultural products, fruits, electronics, textiles, and footwear, while China sends raw materials, steel, and construction materials for manufacturing to Vietnam, according to him.

    He said that Vietnamese goods are delivered through the freight train service to over 20 provinces and cities in China, and to Central Asia and Europe by connecting with the China-Europe freight train service.

    “Meanwhile, Chinese goods are not only transported to Vietnam but also pass through Vietnam to reach Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.”

    With the promotion and support by both countries’ railway authorities, more and more companies on both sides have ordered the freight train service for shortened transport time, simplified procedures, and reduced costs, he said.

    At the Pingxiang Railway Port on the China-Vietnam border in Guangxi, freight trucks shuttle back and forth on the bridge, while China-Vietnam freight trains sound horns as they depart beneath it, reflecting a vibrant two-way trade between China and Vietnam.

    “With stable capacity, pricing, and timing, the market appeal of this service has increased. Now the service is covering China’s southwestern market and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” said Peng Weijun, deputy director of the freight logistics service center of the Nanning Railway Administration.

    According to data from the Nanning Railway Administration, as of Sept. 30, the China-Vietnam freight trains departing from Guangxi had shipped a record 10,380 containers this year.

    The rapid growth of the freight train service is attributed to the efforts by both countries to facilitate the process.

    In 2023, the Nanning Railway Administration completed railway upgrades from Nanning to Pingxiang, raising the freight train’s speed to 90 km per hour.

    In January 2024, the entire China-Vietnam freight train service schedule was finalized, significantly reducing transport time. The total transit time from Nanning south station to Hanoi’s Yen Vien station has been cut from over 40 hours to 14 hours.

    In the future, the Vietnamese government and relevant departments plan to further invest in improving the railway infrastructure, including stations and freight yard systems to achieve seamless connectivity with China’s railways and enhance transport capacity between the two countries, said Nguyen Hoang Anh.

    In recent months, Zhang has traveled frequently to the coconut farms in southern Vietnam, preparing to launch a special train of fresh coconut shipment as China and Vietnam in August signed a protocol for exporting fresh Vietnamese coconuts to China.

    “As the operator of the freight train service, we’re working hard in preparation for shipping fresh Vietnamese coconut exports to China by creating a fast channel,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Shanxi sees over half of coal produced by intelligent mining

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

    TAIYUAN, Oct. 14 — China’s major coal-producing province of Shanxi now has more than 50 percent of its coal production capacity achieved via intelligent mining, said local authorities on Monday.

    A total of 30 pilot and demonstration coal mines with green mining practices have been established across the province, according to a press conference held Monday on Shanxi’s latest progress in advancing its energy transition.

    With nearly 82 percent of its coal production capacity upgraded and recognized as advanced capacity, the province has maintained its lead in coal output nationwide for four consecutive years, said Zhang Xiang, deputy head of the provincial development and reform commission during the press conference.

    Over the years, Shanxi has been upgrading its coal industry. In 2023, the province established 118 intelligent coal mines and introduced smart technology to 1,491 mining faces. By 2025, all large-scale and high-risk coal mines in the province are expected to complete intelligent transformations.

    In 2023, Shanxi produced over 1.37 billion tonnes of coal, and it has set a production target of about 1.3 billion tonnes for this year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese state councilor meets Australian Senate president

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin met with Sue Lines, president of the Australian Senate, in Beijing on Monday.

    Shen, also president of the All-China Women’s Federation, said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

    China is ready to work with Australia to strengthen cooperation in fields such as culture, tourism and sports, deepen exchange and experience sharing in women development, and continuously enhance the friendship between the two peoples, Shen said.

    Lines expressed the willingness to strengthen dialogue and communication with the Chinese side, carry out exchange and cooperation in various fields including women’s cause, and push for constant development of Australia-China relations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier calls on upgraded cooperation with UNDP

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator, in Beijing on Monday, calling for strengthened bilateral cooperation between the two sides.

    He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that China is actively implementing the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, further deepening comprehensive reform and opening up, and accelerating the process of Chinese modernization.

    It is hoped that the UNDP and China will further strengthen cooperation in areas such as rural revitalization, green development, digital economy, South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation, and take bilateral cooperation to new heights, He added.

    Echoing He’s remarks, Steiner said that the UNDP is willing to enhance cooperation with China in various fields, promote sustainable development, and jointly address global challenges.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC VETERANS SLAM ELECTION-DENYING REPUBLICANS FOR ATTEMPTS TO DISENFRANCHISE ACTIVE DUTY SERVICEMEMBERS, ASK SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AUSTIN TO GUARANTEE TROOPS’ VOTING RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Ryan (New York 18th)

    Congressman Pat Ryan and House Democratic Veterans Slam Election-Denying Republicans for Attempts to Disenfranchise Active Duty Servicemembers, Ask Secretary of Defense Austin to Guarantee Troops’ Voting Rights Are Protected

    Last week, 6 Republican Members of Congress from Pennsylvania, who all refused to certify the 2020 election, filed a lawsuit to strip voting rights away from U.S. citizens living abroad, including military personnel

    Ryan: “These Americans who raised their right hand and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution may be stripped of one of the most fundamental rights it guarantees”

    KINGSTON, NY –  Today, Army veteran Congressman Pat Ryan, alongside five fellow House Democratic veterans, slammed election-denying Republicans for their attempts to disenfranchise active duty servicemembers, and asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to guarantee that the voting rights of military personnel stationed overseas are protected. Last week, 6 House Republicans, all of whom refused to certify the 2020 election, filed a lawsuit challenging the Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which requires states to allow eligible Americans living abroad, including military personnel, to vote in federal elections. Secretary of Defense Austin is the principal executive official with administrative responsibility for carrying out UOCAVA. The letter, co-led by Navy veteran Congressman Chris Deluzio and Air Force veteran Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, was also signed by Marine Corps veterans Congressman Seth Moulton and Congressman Salud Carbajal, as well as Army veteran Congressman Mike Thompson.

    “Six election-denying extremists are trying to disenfranchise our men and women in uniform. It’s disgraceful and anti-democratic,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “These are quite literally troops who raised their right hands and swore an oath to protect and defend our Constitution – and now extremists are stripping them of their constitutional rights. This isn’t about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about doing right by those putting their lives on the line for our country, and they deserve to know immediately their right to vote will be protected.”

    “The un-American efforts by my Republican colleagues attacking our service members’ right to vote is despicable. With this letter today, we are drawing a line in the sand,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “I will always fight like hell to ensure that every eligible American, in uniform abroad or here at home, can freely exercise their right to vote.”

    “Pennsylvania is the bedrock on which the foundation of our constitution and rights as Americans was formed. I am deeply ashamed of my colleagues who are trying to prevent members of our military, who are stationed overseas from voting in this upcoming election,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan. “We cannot allow six Republican Pennsylvanian members, the same ones who refused to certify the 2020, to toss aside those rights and disenfranchise the very people who are serving  us and are in harm’s way across the globe. I stand alongside other veterans in Congress in sending this letter to Secretary Austin to ensure our servicemembers’ fundamental rights are preserved and protected in this upcoming election.”

    The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) was enacted by Congress in 1986. UOCAVA requires that the states and territories allow members of the United States Uniformed Services to register and vote absentee in elections for Federal offices. The legislation was last updated in 2010 to make voting easier for service members. In March 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14019, which put further steps in place to ensure service member’s right to vote.

    A copy of House Democratic veterans’ letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is included below:

    Dear Secretary Austin,

    We write to express deep concern about the actions of our congressional colleagues and request your support in ensuring overseas military personnel and Americans abroad retain their right to participate fully in U.S. elections. My colleagues are attempting to usurp the right to vote from our men and women in uniform, as well as their families. These Americans who raised their right hand and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution may be stripped of one of the most fundamental rights it guarantees. 

    Earlier this month, six Congressmen, who all refused to certify the 2020 election, filed a lawsuit threatening the right to vote for Americans overseas. Our colleagues seek to litigate longstanding federal law at the expense of our service members. Undercutting confidence in our free and fair elections by disenfranchising our service men and women is unacceptable. Unfortunately, we must remind them that it is the Sense of Congress: that “each uniformed services voter receives the utmost consideration and cooperation when voting, each valid ballot cast by such a voter is duly counted, and all eligible American voters, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, the language they speak, or the resources of the community in which they live, should have an equal opportunity to cast a vote and to have that vote counted.”

    As the principal executive official with administrative responsibility for carrying out The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), we seek further clarification on how you will carry out this Act and if this lawsuit will affect the constitutional rights of service members. UOCAVA was enacted by Congress in 1986 and was last updated in 2010 to make voting easier for service members. Executive Order 14019 puts further steps in place to ensure service member’s right to vote.

    While some of our colleagues are actively seeking to sow discord and misinformation, we urge you to carry out President Biden’s executive order and Federal Law to the best of your ability and ensure that all Americans have their constitutionally guaranteed right to participate in federal elections. 

    Thank you for considering this request. We look forward to hearing what the Department is doing to ensure that servicemembers and Americans abroad can have confidence that their ballots will be counted. 

    Sincerely, 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: G’day Australia 2024 kicks off in Perth

    Source: Minister for Trade

    Western Australia’s reputation as a key hub for international tourism continues to grow, with hundreds of international travel agents arriving in Perth for Tourism Australia’s mega-event G’Day Australia.

    Hosted in partnership with the Western Australian Government through Tourism Western Australia, G’Day Australia will bring around 300 expert travel agents from across the world to WA.

    G’Day Australia provides frontline travel sellers who have been trained by Tourism Australia – known as ‘Aussie Specialists’ – the chance to experience the country for themselves, giving them greater confidence to sell Australian holidays to international travellers.

    Agents will visit destinations across WA including Perth, Broome and Margaret River, gaining firsthand experience, greater confidence and stronger ability to sell Australia to prospective travellers.

    They will also undertake visits across the country, supported by other State and Territory Tourism Organisations.

    It is estimated that as a result of attending G’day Australia the agents will sell an additional $30 million in holidays to Australia over the next 12 months.

    Travel agents who took part in G’day Australia in Cairns last year said they intended to sell more of Australia as a result of the event, which is vital as we see our international visitor numbers return and set on a path of sustainable growth.

    The event follows the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit held in Perth last week, with more industry events in the pipeline for WA next year, including 2025 Virtuoso Australia & New Zealand Forum and Routes Asia 2025.

    G’Day Australia concludes on Friday, 18 October 2024.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Tourism Don Farrell:

    “G’day Australia plays a critical role in ensuring that Australia remains a top choice with international travellers – and what better destination for this year’s event than our country’s spectacular West.

    “Travel agents who see for themselves what we have to offer are able to use those lived experiences to better sell Australia as the best destination for their customers next holiday.

    “Having hundreds of Aussie Specialists selling trips to Australia in our key markets helps give us an important edge over other destinations around the world, which supports our world-class tourism industry, Australian jobs and our economy.”

    Quotes attributable to WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti:

    “Off the back of a huge week with the World Tourism and Travel Council Global Summit being hosted here in Perth, we’re backing it up with G’Day Australia, which presents another great opportunity to showcase Western Australia.

    “Events like G’Day Australia are really important in giving hundreds of global travel agents and industry leaders firsthand experience of some of our best tourism assets here in WA, and ultimately, helping them to better promote and sell WA holiday packages to travellers.

    “We’re confident that everyone who visits WA as part of G’Day Australia will be taken back by our incredible tourism offerings and natural landscapes, and feel inspired to share these experiences with their clients.

    “Perth continues to go from strength to strength as a tourism, aviation and investment hub, and we’ll continue that momentum in particular as we get set to welcome non-stop services from China in November.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Race Discrimination Commissioner condemns neo-Nazi rally in regional NSW

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has condemned the neo-Nazi rally held in regional New South Wales on the weekend, warning it is further proof of the urgent need for a national strategy to combat racism. 

    Roughly 50 masked people, all dressed in black and brandishing a neo-Nazi banner, gathered and marched on Saturday in the small town of Corowa – which sits on the NSW-Victoria border. NSW Police said it is investigating the incident, with the rally widely condemned by local, state and federal leaders. 

    “The neo-Nazi rally in Corowa was a shock to many, particularly residents. But to those of us who have been following the rise of the far-right in the last few years, it sadly wasn’t that surprising,” said Commissioner Sivaraman. 

    “This is what happens when we refuse to properly name and confront the extent of racism that is ingrained across our society. These rallies are a horrific manifestation of what happens when racism is normalised – to the extent that neo-Nazis are emboldened to be on the streets as a threatening force. 

    “As I have repeatedly stated, race and power are interlinked. If you are white in Australia, you have power and privilege to know that institutions and systems were built by people like you, for people like you. But for far-right groups, as we are seeing both in Australia and globally, any challenge to that is met with vile hate and acts of violence.  

    “White supremacy is a threat that must be taken seriously. We should never forget that the worst mass murder in recent history committed by an Australian was a white supremacist in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019. Politicians need to be careful their language does not denigrate one community over another or embolden neo-Nazis to openly march on our streets. Australian media also needs to be careful about which ideologies it platforms.  

    “If we really want to target these and other similar threats, the only way forward is national anti-racism action that addresses the roots of white supremacy and all forms of racism in Australia. It is the ultimate antidote to racism and its violence. By taking anti-racism action, equality, dignity and respect may one day be a reality for everyone in Australia – no matter a person’s racial, cultural or religious background.” 

    On 26 November, the Australian Human Rights Commission will release its National Anti-Racism Framework – calling on the Commonwealth to lead national, urgent action on anti-racism. This Thursday, the Commission will also release the findings of nationwide consultations with people with lived experience of racism. Those findings will help inform the development of the Framework. 

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

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Birkenhead gets glow up with lighting upgrade

    Source: Auckland Council

    Birkenhead town centre’s streets are now safer and more inviting for pedestrians and motorists thanks to a major upgrade to its lighting systems.

    The joint project between the Birkenhead Village Business Association, Kaipātiki Local Board and Auckland Transport was completed in late September.

    “The old heritage style globe lights in the town centre had been in disrepair for years with some broken and others producing lights of different shades,” explains Local Board Chair John Gillon.

    “Local businesses had been asking for something to be done about this for years, so the board is happy to have worked out a solution we are all happy with to see the improvements in the town centre become a reality.”

    The upgrades include:

    • New globe lights in a similar heritage style to the previous models, maintaining the town centres character but with efficient LED bulbs offering a range of colours and tones.
    • Ten-metre-high LED column lights, dramatically improving visibility, safety and security for local business, motorists and for pedestrians at night. The columns have been painted black, so they don’t distract from the town centre’s aesthetic.
    • Renewal of twelve four-metre streetlights with LED bulbs and new locations to improve safety for larger vehicles.
    • Updated infrastructure and underground cables to futureproof all lighting in the town centre.

    Birkenhead Town Centre Manager Kae Condon says the Business Association is rapt with the upgrades.

    “They are a real enhancement for the ambiance of Birkenhead Village that creates both a welcoming and secure safe environment for our customers and businesses. It’s a timely improvement for the town centre and the businesses so big thanks to the board for their work making this happen. Like many town centres across New Zealand, businesses in Birkenhead were hit hard by the lockdowns and the current economic downturn. So, to be able to turn the lights on in time for Christmas brings cheer and a smile to us all. Thank you to our fabulous local board who listened and made it happen.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on the ongoing investigation on violent criminal activity linked to the Government of India

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the ongoing investigation on violent criminal activity linked to the Government of India:

    “Canada is a country rooted in the rule of law, and the protection of our citizens is paramount. That is why, when our law enforcement and intelligence services began pursuing credible allegations that agents of the Government of India were directly involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canadian soil – we responded.

    “We shared our concerns with the Government of India and asked them to work with us to shed light on this important issue. At the same time, police and security agencies have used all the tools at their disposal to keep Canadians safe. Today, given evidence presented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), we are taking additional steps to protect Canadians.

    “As the Commissioner of the RCMP, Mike Duheme, stated earlier today, the RCMP has clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in, and continue to engage in, activities that pose a significant threat to public safety. This includes clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder. This is unacceptable.

    “While attempts have been made by the RCMP and national security officials to work with the Government of India and Indian law enforcement counterparts on this matter, they have been repeatedly refused. That is why, this weekend, Canadian officials took an extraordinary step. They met with Indian officials to share RCMP evidence, which concluded six agents of the Government of India are persons of interest in criminal activities. And despite repeated requests to the Government of India, they have decided not to co-operate. Given that the Government of India still refuses to co-operate, my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, had only one choice.

    “Today, she issued a deportation notice for these six individuals. They must leave Canada. They will no longer be able to act as diplomats in Canada, nor to re-enter Canada, for whatever reason. Let me be clear: the evidence brought to light by the RCMP cannot be ignored. It leads to one conclusion: it is necessary to disrupt the criminal activities that continue to pose a threat to public safety in Canada. That is why we acted. Because we will always – first and foremost – stand for the right of Canadians to feel safe and secure in their own country.

    “We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government in threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil – a deeply unacceptable violation of Canada’s sovereignty and of international law.

    “Once again, we call on the Government of India to co-operate with us on this investigation – to put an end to its inaction and misleading rhetoric; to recognize the credibility and severity of the evidence and information we have shared so far; and to reiterate, in no uncertain terms, that its position on extrajudicial operations abroad will henceforth be unequivocally aligned with international law.

    “Canada will always defend the rule of law and the fundamental principles on which free and democratic societies are based. We urge the Government of India to do the same.

    “I know the events of the past year and today’s revelations have shaken many Canadians, particularly those in Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities. Many of you are angry, upset, and frightened. I get that. This shouldn’t happen. Canada and India have a long and storied history rooted in strong people-to-people ties and business investments, but we cannot abide by what we are seeing right now. Canada fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and we expect India to do the same for us.

    “As Prime Minister, it is my responsibility to provide reassurance to those who are feeling that their safety has been compromised. But most importantly, it is my responsibility to take action and to never hesitate to do what is necessary to protect Canadians. That is precisely what we are doing today.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Albanese Government opens consultation on review of artificial intelligence and the Australian Consumer Law

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring consumers can safely enjoy the benefits of new and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

    Australian consumers and businesses are increasingly accessing services and purchasing goods powered by AI.

    As part of the Government’s work to support safe and responsible AI practices we’re releasing a discussion paper on AI and the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

    The discussion paper explores the application of the ACL to AI‑enabled goods and services and is part of the Government’s ongoing work to strengthen existing laws to address risks and harms from AI, alongside possible mandatory guardrails shaping the development and use of AI in high risk settings.

    The discussion paper seeks stakeholder views on issues including:

    • the appropriateness of existing consumer protections under the ACL for consumers of AI‑enabled goods and services,
    • the application of existing ACL provisions to new and emerging AI‑enabled goods and services, and
    • remedies for consumers and liability for suppliers and manufacturers of AI‑enabled goods and services where things go wrong.

    Interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback to the discussion paper by Tuesday 12 November 2024.

    Further information regarding the consultation process is available on the Treasury website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Allens advises Rio Tinto on US$6.7 billion Arcadium Lithium acquisition

    Source: Allens Insights

    Allens has advised Rio Tinto on the Australian aspects of its US$6.7 billion all-cash acquisition of NYSE-listed Arcadium Lithium. Allens’ alliance partner Linklaters advised Rio Tinto on the transaction more broadly as lead counsel.

    The acquisition will see Rio Tinto incorporate Arcadium’s lithium operations, making the company a global leader in energy transition commodities, including aluminium, copper, high-grade iron ore and lithium.

    ‘The acquisition of Arcadium Lithium further cements Rio Tinto as a key player in the energy transition. We are pleased to have played a part and congratulate all parties,’ said lead Partner Richard Kriedemann.

    ‘With the growing global demand for sustainable energy solutions, we anticipate sustained interest in lithium assets as mining companies continue to evolve and innovate to meet these critical needs.’

    ‘We see this as a key endorsement that the market can take a long term view of the lithium market, and we expect this may trigger further activity in the sector,’ Partner and Head of Critical Minerals Bryn Hardcastle added.

    Allens legal team

    M&A

    Richard Kriedemann (Partner), Chris Blane (Partner)

    Competition

    Carolyn Oddie (Partner)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Recruitment activity in the Construction Industry continues to drop but remains stronger in regional areas

    Source: Australia Jobs and Skills

    Recruitment activity in the Construction Industry continues to drop but remains stronger in regional areas
    Timothy

    News and updates
    Recruitment difficulty for the construction industry is consistent with the overall trend across all industries.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The US isn’t the only country voting on Nov 5. This small Pacific nation is also holding an election – and China is watching

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Smith, Associate professor, Australian National University

    The Capitol building in the Pacific island nation of Palau.
     Erika Bisbocci

    The United States isn’t the only country with a big election on November 5. Palau, a tourism-dependent microstate in the north Pacific, will also vote for a new president, Senate and House of Delegates that day.

    Why does this election matter? Palau is one of the few remaining countries that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

    In addition, elections in the Pacific – and the horse-trading to form government that follows – often present a chance for China to steal an ally away from Taiwan in its efforts to further reduce the self-ruling island’s diplomatic space.

    For example, there was speculation Tuvalu could flip its allegiance from Taipei to Beijing based on the outcome of January’s election, but the government decided to remain in Taiwan’s camp.

    Another Pacific nation, Nauru, did flip from Taiwan to China in January, less than 48 hours after Taiwan’s own presidential election.

    I recently visited Palau as part of a research project examining China’s growing extraterritorial reach, and was curious to see if the balance is shifting towards Beijing in the lead-up to this year’s election.

    What’s at stake in Palau’s election?

    Palau, a nation of 16,000 registered voters, has close ties to the US. It was under US administration after the second world war and recently signed a “Compact of Free Association” with the US. Palau also has a similar presidential system of government, with a president directly elected by the people every four years.

    However, there are also some key differences: there are no political parties in Palau, nor is there any replica of the absurd Electoral College voting system.

    The archipelago also has extremely polite yard signs (“Please consider[…]”, “Please vote for […]” and “Moving forward together”). Alliances are based more on clan and kinship relations than ideology (although that’s not entirely dissimilar to the US).

    This year’s presidential race is between the “two juniors”: the incumbent, Surangel Whipps Junior, and the challenger, Tommy Remengensau Junior. If either man were facing a different opponent, he would win easily. Nearly all of Palau’s political insiders deem this contest too close to call.

    Whipps has been in office since 2021. Accompanied by his beloved father, a former president of the Senate and speaker of the House in Palau, he is expected to door-knock each household at least four times.

    Remengensau isn’t a political newbie, either. He’s been president for 16 of Palau’s 30 years as an independent state. In the comments section of the YouTube live feed of a recent presidential debate, one person asked, “you’ve had four terms, how many more do you need?”

    Whipps copped flak for his tax policy, but the comments and the debate itself reached Canadian levels of politeness. As the debate wound up, the rivals embraced warmly – befitting their closeness (they are actually brothers-in-law) and their lack of discernible ideological differences.

    2024 Palau presidential debate.

    A ‘pro-Beijing’ candidate in the race?

    However, there is one issue that has the potential to drive a wedge between the two candidates: the China–Taiwan rivalry.

    In a recent article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Remengensau was described as a “pro-Beijing” candidate who might be inclined to switch Palau’s diplomatic relations to Beijing, cheered on by the “China-sympathetic” national newspaper, Tia Belau.

    Remengensau’s reaction to the ASPI piece was genuine fury, and aside from a few fly-in lobbyists from the US, no one in the country has taken the characterisation seriously. Yes, he is less pro-US than Whipps, reciting the “friends to all, enemies to none” mantra beloved by Pacific leaders in the debate. But that’s some distance from being “pro-Beijing”.

    Other outside commentators have also weighed in with similar viewpoints. Recent pieces by right-wing think tanks, the Heritage Foundation and the Federation for the Defence of Democracies, have pushed a similar line that every Pacific nation is just “one election away from a [People’s Republic of China]-proxy assuming power and dismantling democracy”.

    What’s really behind concerns of Chinese influence

    The basis for both allegations in the ASPI piece is a fascinating investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The story detailed an influence attempt led by a local businessman from China, Hunter Tian, to set up a media conglomerate in Palau with the owner of the newspaper Tia Belau, a man named Moses Uludong. (I played a small part in the investigation.)

    The proposed conglomerate had eyebrow-raising links to China’s secret police and military. But COVID killed the deal, and today, the newspaper runs press releases from Taiwan’s embassy without changing a word.

    Palau’s media is also ranked as the most free in the Pacific, and Tia Belau is a central part of this healthy media ecosystem.

    Uludong is a pragmatic businessman who’s no simple cheerleader for Beijing, explaining to OCCRP’s journalists last year:

    The Chinese, they have a way of doing business. They are really not open.

    This doesn’t mean Chinese operations in Palau will stop, though. Representatives of the Chinese government like Tian, who is the president of the Palau Overseas Chinese Federation and has impressive family links to the People’s Liberation Army, will keep trying to influence Palau’s elites and media.

    Evidence uncovered by Palau’s media suggests some of their elites are vulnerable to capture. In recent months, the immigration chief stepped down for using his position “for private gain or profit”, while the speaker of the House of Delegates was ordered to pay US$3.5 million (A$5.2 million) for a tax violation, in part due to an irregular lease to a Chinese national.

    Chinese triads are also now involved in scam compounds and drug trafficking in Palau, which has done little to burnish China’s image among Palauans.

    Playing into China’s hands

    So, can we expect a dramatic Palau diplomatic flip after November’s election? Not anytime soon.

    But labelling respected leaders and media outlets as “pro-Beijing” with no basis, and fabricating a Manichean struggle in a nation where there’s plenty of goodwill for the US, won’t cause China’s boosters in Palau to lose sleep.

    Egging on US agencies to “do something” to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific, such as a poorly thought-out influence operation run by the Pentagon in the Philippines during the pandemic, will just play into Beijing’s hands. In the Pacific, secrets don’t stay secret for long. And if you call someone “pro-China” for long enough, one day you might get your wish.

    Graeme Smith works for the Australian National University’s Department of Pacific Affairs, which is partially funded by DFAT through the Pacific Research Programme.

    – ref. The US isn’t the only country voting on Nov 5. This small Pacific nation is also holding an election – and China is watching – https://theconversation.com/the-us-isnt-the-only-country-voting-on-nov-5-this-small-pacific-nation-is-also-holding-an-election-and-china-is-watching-237321

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The federal government has left Indigenous Treaties to the states. How are they progressing?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bartholomew Stanford, Lecturer in Political Science/Indigenous Politics (First Peoples), Griffith University

    Since the Voice to Parliament referendum last year, there has been a lack of leadership on Indigenous policy from the Australian government.

    With this absence, the states and territories now present greater opportunity for Indigenous groups in seeking rights recognition. This is the level where agreements are being made and Treaty proposed.

    It is important to take stock of the progress that is being made in agreement-making and Treaty in Australian states and territories. While this is an area of Indigenous policy that has been set aside of late, it has great potential to deliver self-determination for First Nations people.

    First Nations agreement-making in Australia

    Agreement-making is relatively new in the context of First Nations relations with the Australian state.

    The recognition of Indigenous land rights in law has enabled First Nations people and Australian governments to enter legally binding agreements across matters such as:

    • land use and access

    • Indigenous cultural heritage protection

    • co-management of land and sea

    • economic development

    • employment

    • resolving land claims.

    First Nations groups in Australia have made hundreds of these agreements with Australian governments at all levels.

    However, there is a type of agreement that these parties are entering that is advancing the cause more generally. They are called settlement agreements.

    What is a settlement agreement?

    Victoria and Western Australia have been signing settlement agreements with First Nations groups since 2010.

    These agreements are more comprehensive than other agreements, including terms that cover numerous matters like those listed above, and often include financial packages aimed at supporting First Nations governance institutions.

    In Victoria, settlement agreements are made under state legislation. So far, four First Nations groups have entered these agreements with the Victorian government.

    In Western Australia, three settlement agreements have been made between the WA government and First Nations under Commonwealth native title legislation. The largest of these, known as the Noongar Settlement, is worth $1.3 billion and has been characterised by legal scholars as “Australia’s first Treaty”.

    Victoria and WA are the only jurisdictions that have these agreements and there are two main reasons why they were successfully signed. The first is the success of First Nations groups in mobilising political power to lobby the state. The second is the willingness of governments to enter negotiations because of economic and political motivations.

    A crucial question is whether existing settlement agreements will form an important basis for developing Treaty in the states and territories.

    How is Treaty different?

    According to legal academics Harry Hobbs and George Williams, Treaty involves three elements:

    • recognition of First Nations as distinct polities

    • negotiation in good faith

    • a settlement that deals with claims and that enables Indigenous self-government.

    Treaties are different from other agreements, as they provide scope to recognise Indigenous sovereignty, enable some limited forms of autonomy, and create a framework for Indigenous/government relations.

    Australia has not signed treaties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Canada, New Zealand and the United States began signing treaties centuries ago, so why is Australia so far behind?

    There are several reasons why Indigenous treaties were never signed in Australia.

    First, Australia was colonised in different circumstances, established as a penal colony and not initially a part of European expansionism.

    In North America, numerous European powers were competing for control over the continent. The British, French, Spanish and others fought against each other and procured First Nations warriors for their military ranks through treaties.

    Trade was also a motivating factor for Treaty-making in North America. Europeans coveted the animal pelts produced by First Nations people for sale in the European fashion markets.

    Today, it is arguable that Australia stands out as uniquely opposed to Indigenous rights recognition relative to other British settler states. This idea is supported by our most recent referendum result.

    So why are Australian governments engaging in Treaty discussions now?

    What’s happening across the country?

    There is currently a combination of Indigenous political action and leverage enabled through Indigenous land rights recognition. Some governments are also beginning to see value in Indigenous Knowledge, especially with regard to environmental management.

    Treaty, however, is deeply political in Australia, and since the referendum last year it has come under increased political scrutiny and attack.

    Days after the referendum result, the Queensland Liberal National party walked back support for a state-based Treaty.

    If the LNP wins government at this month’s election (as polls are predicting), Treaty will likely be shelved.

    This move would undo the years of work the state government has undertaken as part of its Tracks to Treaty initiative.

    Victoria has made the most progress on Treaty of any Australian state or territory. This is due to the leadership of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, which has spearheaded Treaty in the state.

    A Treaty negotiation framework has been developed by the assembly and Victorian government. This will guide negotiations towards a state-wide Treaty in the near future.

    Other Australian jurisdictions have made far less progress. The referendum result seems to have stalled any momentum that existed prior.

    In the Northern Territory, there’s been no progress since the NT Treaty Commission lodged a report with government in 2022. As the newly elected Country Liberal government doesn’t support a Treaty, it won’t happen anytime soon.

    In South Australia, the First Nations Voice to Parliament is expected to lead the development of Treaty. The first election was held in March of this year, and First Nations elected members had their first meeting in June 2024.

    New South Wales recruited Treaty commissioners earlier this year. They’re now embarking on a 12-month consultation process before reporting back to government.

    Governments in Tasmania and the ACT have committed to Treaty, but haven’t made any meaningful progress yet, while WA has made no formal commitment.

    Where to from here?

    Although there are notable setbacks emerging from the referendum result, it has not discouraged First Nations from working towards agreements and Treaty with Australian governments.

    With the proliferation of native title determinations, there is grounds for agreement-making, whether that be through settlement agreements or Treaty.

    There is also growing interest in how Indigenous Knowledge can inform our responses to climate change, food security and foreign relations. Accessing this knowledge will require governments to formalise relations with First Nations through agreements.

    Bartholomew Stanford 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. The federal government has left Indigenous Treaties to the states. How are they progressing? – https://theconversation.com/the-federal-government-has-left-indigenous-treaties-to-the-states-how-are-they-progressing-240552

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –