NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Summer maintenance means smoother and safer journeys for Top of the South Island drivers

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Drivers travelling at the top of the South Island can expect lots of activity this summer as NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi invests in resurfacing and rebuilding the region’s highways.

    Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says it is critical state highways are well-maintained to a reliable standard.

    “This work is about ensuring everyone can use them efficiently, quickly, and safely.”

    Mr Owen says our busy work programme is underway with one project almost complete.

    “It means drivers will see more road crews and work sites when travelling over the next few months.”

    “We will do as much work as possible between now and mid-December, which will mean less impact on holiday travel over the summer break,” Mr Owen says.

    He says this year’s summer maintenance programme will renew just short of 150 lane kilometres on local state highways – slightly more than what was completed last season.

    “This will see around 8,100 tonnes of asphalt and around 100 lane kilometres of chipseal laid by our crews across the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions. The result will be safer, smoother journeys for motorists.”

    Most of the work will be done during night closures to minimise disruption and reduce cost through less traffic management.

    Work will also be done at several other smaller sites across the top of the South Island under stop/go traffic management. The public will receive further information before the projects begin.

    Mr Owen says there’s more than just summer maintenance work to do.

    “We have repair work on SH60 Tākaka Hill following a slip in July, proactive resilience projects underway on SH63 and about to begin on SH6 Rai Saddle in Marlborough, and ongoing work to repair the Marlborough Sounds roads.”

    “There are also other ongoing safety improvement projects like the SH6 Tancred Crescent Roundabout at the Marlborough Airport,’ Mr Owen says.

    He says with so much work planned, drivers need to check road conditions before they travel. 

    “Planning ahead and knowing what’s happening on the network can save you time and hassles. Knowing when and where roadworks are happening means you can time your travel to avoid them or allow extra time for your trip.”

    Mr Owen says allowing extra time is essential for people travelling between Christchurch to Picton, and between Blenheim and Nelson.”

    “If you’re traveling to the ferry or for an appointment, we recommend allowing an extra 60 minutes travel time between Christchurch and Picton and an extra 30 minutes if you’re traveling between Nelson and Blenheim.”

    Mr Owen acknowledges that roadworks occur more frequently during spring, summer, and early autumn and affect people’s travel – but there’s a good reason for it.

    “To be effective and durable, road renewals and re-sealing must be done during the warmer, drier months. It can’t be done during winter when the weather is wet and cold.”

    “Whenever you come to a worksite, remember that our road workers are doing their best to complete their work and keep you moving. Please be respectful and follow their advice and instructions,” Mr Owen says.

    Summer Maintenance Schedule – Top of the South Island

    Location

    Month

    Duration of work

    Type of work

    SH6 Gladstone Road, Richmond

    In progress

    2 weeks of night closures

    Resurfacing

    SH63 The Wash, Marlborough

    In progress

    8 weeks of daytime stop/go

    Resilience

    SH6 Rai Saddle, Marlborough

    14 October – 22 November

    24/7 stop/go

    Resilience

    SH60 Mariri Causeway, Motueka

    19 October

    1-day closure

    Resurfacing

    SH1 Weld Pass, Marlborough

    20 – 23 October

    4-night closures

    Drainage

    SH6 Canvastown, Marlborough

    November

    3 weeks of Stop/Go

    Rebuilding

    SH6 Tunnicliffe Bridge, Motupiko, Tasman

    October/November

    3 weeks of stop/go followed by 2 weeks of night closures

    Rebuilding

    SH60 Commercial Street, Golden Bay, Tasman

    November

    1 week of night closures

    Resurfacing

    SH60 Tākaka Hill, Tasman
    NB: Other work at the underslip site on SH60 Tākaka Hill will also be carried out to repair the road to two lanes before Christmas

    November

    4 weeks including
    3 weeks of night closures + 1 week of day closures)

    Resurfacing (3 weeks)
    Resealing (1 week)

    SH6 Pelorus, Marlborough

    December

    4 weeks of stop/go

    Rebuilding

    SH1 Main Street roundabout, Blenheim 

    January/February

    1 week of night closures

    Resurfacing

    SH6 Annesbrook Drive, Tāhunanui, Nelson

    January

    1 week of night closures

    Resurfacing

    SH1 Grovetown, Marlborough

    February

    3 weeks including night closures and stop/go

    Rebuilding

    SH6 Whangamoa

    February

    2 to 3 weeks of night closures

    Resurfacing, drainage, other general maintenance i.e. guardrails, signage

    SH6 Havelock, Marlborough

    February

    1 week of night closures or stop/go at the same time as the SH6 Whangamoa night closure to maximise efficiency

    Resurfacing

    SH1 Weld Pass, Marlborough

    February

    2 weeks of night closures

    Resurfacing and other general maintenance i.e guardrails, signage

    SH1 South of Riverlands/Co-op Drain

    February

    2 weeks of stop/go

    Rebuilding

    SH1 South of Seddon/Taimate

    February/March

    3 weeks of stop/go

    Rebuilding

    Note: The works in the table above may change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

    Summer Maintenance Programme – additional information

    • Key holiday periods are kept free of roadworks to help ease the pressure on peak travel times. 
    • More information about our summer maintenance work can be found on our website
    • Further details about  planned National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2024-27 investment for the top of the South Island are also available online 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: State Highway 58 to partially close briefly for crash site clearance (SH58 OPEN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS)

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    1:20 pm:

    State Highway 58 has now reopened to eastbound traffic. Drivers may experience delays as queued traffic clears

    NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while road crews worked to clear the crash site and reopen the highway.

    12:20 pm:

    Drivers are asked to avoid State Highway 58 between the Hutt Valley and Pāuatahanui as contractors clear a crash scene.

    The highway will be closed for eastbound traffic from 12:30 this afternoon for around 30 minutes.

    Drivers should avoid the area, delay their travel, or consider an alternate route.

    The crash, involving a car versus median barrier, was reported shortly before 11 this morning and partially blocked the highway’s westbound lanes.

    Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: A big season ahead for Wairarapa – Lower North Island State Highway summer maintenance season

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    State Highway 2 Wairarapa will be a major focus for road repairs and rehabilitation in the Wellington region this coming summer maintenance season.

    Over the next three years of the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), the region has $162 million allocated for state highway maintenance and another $116 million ringfenced for state highway pothole prevention – a total investment of $278 million.

    Mark Owen, Regional Manager – Lower North Island/Top of the South, says the funding is integral to the work planned for this coming summer.

    “Road crews will carry out 15 lane km of chipsealing, 40 lane km of asphalt resurfacing, and four lane km of road rebuilding across the region from spring to autumn.”

    “This season we are focusing on more road rebuilding in an effort to improve overall network condition through more intensive treatments, increasing pavement quality,” Mr Owen says.

    He confirms significant work is planned for Wairarapa.

    “We’ll be making a huge investment in rebuilding areas of the state highway that most need repair. This includes sections in Greytown, Carterton and Masterton.”

    “The planned work will result in stronger highways that need fewer repairs and less maintenance. The highways will be resilient, less susceptible to potholes, and will only need occasional resurfacing work for the next 25 years,” Mr Owen says.

    Wellington/ Wairarapa – Summer Maintenance Programme

    Location

    Date

    SH1 Raumati Straights

    November 2024

    SH2 Greytown

    April 2025

    SH2 Solway (Masterton)

    Date to be confirmed 2025

    SH2 Carterton

    May 2025

    SH2 Featherston         

    May 2025

    SH2 Masterton to Carterton maintenance

    Ongoing

    (Timing is indicative, more details will be provided before works begin)

     

    View larger map [PDF, 370 KB]

    NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance will work closely with local councils on the timing of these works. The aim is to align our projects with theirs to minimise disruption for communities. Where possible, full closures will be used to complete work quickly and efficiently with more cost-effective traffic management.

    Mr Owen says it does mean there will be road works, detours, and delays for Wairarapa drivers over the coming months, and disruption for residents and businesses near road rebuilding worksites.

    “We do understand that people find road work delays frustrating. However, this investment is about providing better highways that require fewer repairs. Doing this work now secures a better future for all road users.”

    More information

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Motorists urged to drive with caution this morning over Harbour Bridge

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    Aucklanders are urged to drive with extra caution this morning with heavy winds predicted between 8am and 1pm today (Monday 7 October).

    The bridge currently remains in a 4×4 configuration.

    Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions and look out for the electronic message boards which will indicate lane closures and reduced speeds, and stay within their lane while travelling across the bridge. 

    Drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists are advised to avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18. 

    NZTA thanks road users for their patience and understanding.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Serious crash at Tuamarina – expect travel delays on State Highway 1 (SH1 OPEN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS)

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    3:25 pm:

    State Highway 1 is now open in both directions under a 30 km/h temporary speed limit at the crash site. Drivers may experience delays while travelling through the area

    NZTA/Waka Kotahi thanks drivers for their patience and cooperation today while  emergency services and contractors attended this incident.

    1:50 pm:

    State Highway 1 is currently under stop/stop traffic controls while the crashed vehicle is recovered. This affects both north and southbound traffic

    Traffic delays can be expected for approximately an hour between Picton and Springfield while this work is completed.

    Drivers should delay their travel and avoid the area.

    Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

    12:02 pm:

    State Highway 1 is now open in both directions following a serious crash at the intersection of Bush Road earlier today

    A car crashed off the road into the Tuamarina River shortly before two am this morning.

    The highway was restricted to one lane under stop/go traffic controls while the Police Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene investigation

    While the highway is now open to traffic, it is expected to be closed briefly later today for recovery operations.

    Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website. NZ Police are also issuing media releases:

    6:55 am:

    State Highway 1 is under stop/go traffic management near Tuamarina following a serious crash early this morning.

    The crash, which occurred on Bush Road at the intersection with State Highway 1, was reported around two am this morning.

    State Highway 1 is currently closed to northbound traffic near the intersection of Bush Road and under stop/go traffic control while Police and emergency services attend the incident.

    Drivers can expect delays when travelling through the area. Please take extra care when travelling past the crash site and follow all instructions from emergency services.

    A full closure of State Highway 1 is possible later this morning to support ongoing crash scene investigations.

    People travelling between Picton and Blenheim, particularly those with ferry connections, should allow extra time for their journeys.

    Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand marks anniversary of 7 October

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are renewing New Zealand’s calls for restraint and de-escalation, on the first anniversary of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel.

    “New Zealand was horrified by the monstrous actions of Hamas against Israel a year ago today,” Mr Luxon says.

    “Then, as now, we remain appalled by Hamas’ brutality and the taking of hostages.”

    “Hamas’ terrorist attack set in motion an absolutely unacceptable cycle of violence and human suffering,” Mr Peters says.

    “We continue to reiterate that a ceasefire, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, is the best way to protect civilians on all sides.

    “New Zealand also renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages by Hamas.”

    “New Zealand remains concerned by the escalating hostilities across the Middle East”, Mr Luxon says.

    “We again call for restraint, the protection of civilians, and the upholding of international humanitarian law by all parties.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: October explainer: Returning the Te Wero Wynyard Crossing Bridge to service

    Source: Auckland Council

    The Te Wero Wynyard Crossing Bridge has been closed since March 2024 to undergo a significant programme of preventative maintenance works.

    Work on the bridge is making good progress, with a return to full service on track for December 2024.

    Stay connected and informed. Sign up for our Wynyard Crossing Bridge maintenance newsletter to receive updates on bridge maintenance, special announcements, and exclusive insights by email. Click here to sign up.

    What is happening in October 2024?

    Throughout October the project team’s focus will be on the massive job of reassembling and reinstating the disassembled bridge parts.

    The engine rooms, lifting spans and back spans, which were relocated to a work-site on Wynyard Wharf, have been refurbished and are almost ready to be reinstalled. High-pressure water and abrasive blasting revealed the full extent of the corrosion, and extensive repairs along with new protective coatings are almost complete and will ensure the structural reliability of the bridge into the future.

    Additionally, works have been underway on the steel structural parts of the bridge located in the harbour that couldn’t be removed, with the team working around the tides and wind conditions to access these areas to make any necessary repairs and apply a new protective coating.

    The main contractor HEB Construction will be redeploying their jack-up barge (JUB) in and around Viaduct Marina at various times through October as these parts are returned. It’s expected it will take around five weeks before all the steel parts that form the ‘skeleton’ of the bridge are back in place, ready for the next stage as the bridge is prepared to return to service in December 2024.

    Once these pieces are secured, the bridge spans will be winched to an upright position in line with the resource consent to allow free passage for marine traffic while it’s being recommissioned.

    Where possible, the mechanical and electrical works required to return the bridge to service have been underway. However, it’s important to note that while the bridge will, from a visual perspective, look like it’s ready for public use again once the structural parts are back in place, there is still a considerable amount of on-site mechanical and electrical work to be completed and tested as part of the commissioning.

    Most of this work will happen in November. We’ll have more updates on that and other activity at the beginning of next month. In the meantime, the popular ‘Red Boats‘ ferry service will continue to operate seven days a week and as well as being a handy way to get across from the Maritime Museum to the Viaduct Events Centre, will also offer those interested a great view and perspective of the team working on the structural refit.

    Background

    The Te Wero Wynyard Crossing Bridge, an important link between Auckland City Centre and the Wynyard Quarter, has been closed to the public since March 2024 to undergo a significant programme of preventative maintenance works.

    This includes a full overhaul of old mechanical and electrical parts, sand-blasting and remedying steelwork and applying new protective coatings. At the completion of the physical works, a thorough commissioning process and acceptance tests will be conducted to ensure the bridge is reliable and safe for public use.

    While the works are carried out, the bridge will remain closed to pedestrians. When the spans are in place, but the bridge is out of operation, the spans legally have to remain upright to allow free access to marine traffic, a condition of the bridge’s resource consent.

    Because of the complexity of this project and the nature of the works, a date for the bridge to reopen to the public is still to be confirmed. As the project team get further through the programme and gain more certainty around remaining tasks, they will be able to more accurately specify a completion date.

    There are two work programmes underway – structural, i.e. the physical bridge itself, and mechanical and engineering (M&E), i.e. everything needed to operate the bridge.

    These programmes have been running concurrently and will soon start integrating fully as we enter the final phases of this large, complex project and the bridge is reinstalled in Wynyard Quarter.

    The return of the physical structures, including the spans and engine rooms, will allow specialist technicians to begin the works to reanimate the bridge. So while it might look like it’s back and should be open, there will be a lot going on behind the scenes for the recommissioning in December to ensure long-term durability and reliability.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Official ceremony held in Bridgetown to mark 48th anniversary of Barbados crime

    THOUSAND OSI Translation. Region: Spanish/Latin America/UN –

    Source: Republic of Cuba

    Official ceremony celebrated in Bridgetown for the 48th anniversary of the Barbados crimeBRIDGETOWN, Barbados – (October 6, 2024). This morning the official ceremony took place in Bridgetown for the 48th anniversary of the mid-flight explosion of Cubana de Aviación aircraft 455, which fell into the territorial waters of Barbados on October 6, 1976 and where 73 people were lost. life because of this terrorist act.  The Monument erected to the victims was also the scene to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the CARICOM-Cuba Anti-Terrorism Day, as a result of the agreement adopted by the CARICOM countries and Cuba at the Summit held in December 2022. Government figures attended, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Island, members of the Cuba Barbados Friendship Association and the Pan-Africanist Movement, representatives of Barbadian social institutions and youth organizations, Cuban residents and members of the Barbados state mission, to pay posthumous tribute to the victims of such a horrendous crime. The Honorable Sandra Husbands, Acting Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, began the oratory at this solemn event, remembering the tragedy that occurred almost five decades ago, shortly after the nations that members of CARICOM had initiated diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba. Although this terrorist action was designed to create terror in the Caribbean community, it instead strengthened the commitment to establish lasting bilateral and regional relations with Cuba, our brother country. “During these almost 50 years, relations between Cuba and Barbados have witnessed of the good relations that we maintain, which have been consolidated because we defend honor and integrity in an international context full of hardships, obstacles and challenges and only united can we overcome the fear that terrorist acts like this instill, “said the dignitary. She mentioned the multiple examples of Cuba’s solidarity with Barbados, with the CARICOM countries and with the rest of the world and ratified the commitment to continue strengthening the fraternal relations between the CARICOM countries and the Republic of Cuba. Emotional and heartfelt were the words of the Ambassador of Cuba in Barbados, Yanet Stable Cárdenas when she expressed: “Tears came to our eyes every time we listened to the recording of the black box, the only survivor of the explosion and witness to the barbarism in mid-flight. «Stick to the water, Felo, stick to the water! “We put ourselves in the families’ shoes when they were confirmed that unfortunately the plane in which their loved ones were traveling had suffered a terrorist attack, and we felt their pain as our own. The imprint of terror marks us when we imagine the orphanhood that shadowed the days of those children whose father or mother were taken away by terror; when parents, after losing their only daughter in that criminal act, gave up living; when a young man lost his only sister, when a bride was left waiting; when a life that had just germinated in the womb of a woman never saw the light; when many families were left with open arms waiting eternally for the return of their loved ones.” “…the hatred, intolerance and fanaticism that fueled that act continue to run rampant. The children of Palestine and other Middle Eastern countries today suffer the prejudices of terror and darkness. “The threats to the Cuban Revolution and the acts of aggression under the blockade and the inclusion of Cuba on the list of alleged countries sponsoring terrorism remain in force, without valid arguments and without reasons that support such genocidal acts against a people that defends its independence, fights for its dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world.” “The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples has called the Day for Peace, against the blockade and Terrorism, For a Free Palestine!; For a Cuba without blockade!; For a future of peace and sovereignty! The defense of peace is urgent.” “Today the Memorial erected to the martyrs of the Cubana de Aviación plane is a witness to the commemoration of the Second Anniversary of the “CARICOM-Cuba Day against Terrorism,” declared during the VIII CARICOM-Cuba Summit. , held in Barbados in December 2022. This represents the reason and the voice of condemnation of terrorism in any of its manifestations, to never forget the victims of these acts and maintain the commitment of Caribbean people to Peace. Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, said in his speech before this Monument on December 6, 2022 and I quote: «Cuba does not forget either. We denounce, in all open forums, that the same hatred of those who guaranteed impunity to terrorists moves those who, in unacceptable offenses to the victims, continue to cause pain to Cuba, by inscribing their names on a spurious list of sponsors of terrorism. This site, this memorial, confirms that Cuba can only be on the list, if it existed, of the victims of terrorism” and paraphrasing the eternal Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, when he gave his historic speech on October 15, 1976, we would say today : When energetic and virile peoples cry, injustice trembles!” Mrs. Geneva Ross-Tyndall, Consul General (ag) of Guyana in Barbados, for her part, also gave a speech condemning terrorism, reflected on what fragile and fleeting that is life when in each of those 73 victims, including the eleven Guyanese, who were mostly young students, full of promise, who aspired to become doctors and engineers. In all of them, a dream, a hope, a future was broken. The youngest victim was only nine years old. This profound loss that occurred near Payne’s Bay brought the harsh reality of terrorism to the shores of Barbados. He said that “decisive measures are urgently needed to protect our region and guarantee that the Caribbean remains a sanctuary of peace. The far-reaching effects of terrorism are being felt in many nations and remind us of our common vulnerability, shared vulnerability.” He also expressed that “we live in a world plagued by divisions, but we must draw strength from our collective unity. Together we can foster a spirit of solidarity that drives us to take crucial action. We must challenge the forces of hatred and violence that seek to disrupt our harmony and cultivate environments of understanding and tolerance.” “Peace is the highest aspiration of human civilization, and world peace is based on respect and human dignity, on the rights of each individual to create a just, equitable and peaceful world. Through solidarity, vigilance and open dialogue, we can confront this global threat and work towards a safer future for all.” Ambassador Wayne McCook, Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM Single Market and Trade, thanked the Government of Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community, the possibility of “gathering once again in this serene place of remembrance, the Memorial erected to the 73 victims, to commemorate and reflect, while reaffirming the declaration to maintain our commitment to preserve the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.” The closing words of the solemn ceremony were pronounced by His Excellency. Mr. David Comissiong, Ambassador of Barbados to CARICOM,   who said that “the event was horrific, it traumatized the nation of Barbados, and the people had to fulfill the sad duty of trying to recover the bodies of the territorial sea from the waters of the territorial sea. destroyed of the seventy-three victims. The painful and unforgettable tragedy forever united Cuba, Guyana, North Korea, Venezuela and Barbados. He expressed that “this solemn and sacred occasion is conducive to highlighting our mutual solidarity and sending a strong message on a global scale that we must strive to achieve a world in which mutual respect and peace prevail and the seeds of hatred, intolerance and terrorism are eliminated.”“This horrible Cuban tragedy turned out to be a catalyst that motivated our Caribbean Community to establish one of the fundamental pillars of our collective Foreign Policy: proclaiming that the Caribbean must be a Zone of Peace.” “CARICOM/Cuba Against Terrorism Day is, therefore, a day in which it is expected that the Republic of Cuba, the 15 full Member States of CARICOM and the 5 Associate Member States of CARICOM, participate in activities to highlight the importance of the fight against terrorism. In his speech he alluded to the multiple terrorist and genocidal acts that have been perpetrated against the peoples of the Middle East and exclaimed that once again, we raise our Caribbean voices and demand that the international institutions that have been established to intervene when excessive and illegal acts of national and international terrorism are perpetrated, act now to put an end to the barbarity “It merits the occasion to denounce the oldest case of terrorism in our own Caribbean region, State terrorism against the Republic of Cuba.” “The ridiculous inclusion of Cuba as a State sponsor of terrorism has only served to reinforce the effects of “illegal US blockade by increasing Cuba’s difficulties in participating in international trade, carrying out financial operations and acquiring basic products of first necessity for its people.” “It is this terrible and undeserved situation that led Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley to make the following statement about Cuba during her speech on September 27, 2024 before the United Nations General Assembly”:-.«And, Mr. President , you cannot come to this platform, unfortunately, (…) and not have to ask for a pardon for the people of Cuba. It is unacceptable, it is inconceivable. And that it continues today is a mark on our international conscience. The Cuban people continue to face the most dire economic circumstances, and this is a direct consequence of their exclusion and their designation as a State sponsor of terrorism. And I have stated that our only knowledge of terrorism and Cuba is, in fact, the downing of the Cubana plane off the waters of Barbados, where Cubans, Guyanese and Koreans died. My friends, Cuba has been a valuable partner, helping us when we needed it most, providing nurses and doctors in pandemics and other essential workers when the world community needed it, and also when towns in southern Africa had to be liberated! The reality is that we must continue to call resolutely for the embargo to be lifted, and we will condemn it year after year because, quite simply, it is wrong!’ Mr Comissiong concluded his emotional speech by demanding on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados and In fact, on behalf of the entire Caribbean Community, that the Government of the United States of America end its illegal blockade against Cuba and remove Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism of the United States Department of State The event concluded when the speakers, all together, placed wreaths, not only to pay tribute to the victims of Cubana de Aviación Flight 455, but also to evoke the urgent need to join forces to put an end to terrorism together. Cubaminrex – EmbaCuba Barbados)

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Could NZ foreign policy be Trumped? Why the government will be hoping Kamala Harris wins the US election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago

    Getty Images

    One of the political ironies of the race for the White House is that the foreign policy interests of New Zealand’s centre-right government are probably best served by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris winning.

    Since the end of World War II, all New Zealand governments have supported multilateralism and an international rules-based order enshrined in the institutions of the United Nations.

    The relationship with the United States has reflected that, and tends to outlast the periodic fluctuations associated with changes in government and policy in Wellington or Washington.

    New Zealand’s current National-led coalition inherited close relations with the US, too. American visitor numbers were second only to Australians last year. The US is our third largest export market. And the two countries remain strategically linked within the Five Eyes intelligence sharing arrangement.

    Nevertheless, one of the key foreign policy goals of the coalition is to strengthen alignment with traditional allies such as the US. Given the very different worldviews of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the November 5 election will have a large bearing on how successful any push for closer relations with the US can be.

    Closer relations in the balance

    On the one hand, Republican candidate Trump is opposed to multilateral institutions, unless they explicitly serve US national interests. And he wants to reverse the impact of globalisation by constraining immigration, free trade and global governance.

    Nationalist slogans like “America First” promise a return to a so-called golden era of patriotism and sovereignty: a top-down world where the greatest power of all is unencumbered and free to assert its dominance.

    On the other hand, Harris would seem to support a more traditional US foreign policy agenda. This recognises the importance of international institutions and alliances in a world where “isolation is not insulation”.

    Whoever occupies the White House next, then, is likely to have a significant impact on New Zealand foreign policy.

    Isolation and dominance: Trump plays the immigration card at Republican National Convention in July 18.
    Getty Images

    Power plays and the Pacific

    First, Trump’s belief in an international system run by great powers would seem to be a recipe for depriving smaller states like New Zealand of a voice on international issues that affect them.

    Second, New Zealand’s regional focus on ties with Pacific Island nations – underpinned by close people-to-people links and a significant proportion of the country’s overseas development aid programme – is more likely to be complemented by a Harris foreign policy.

    Outgoing president Joe Biden reversed decades of US neglect of much of the Pacific, which had played to the advantage of other external powers – notably China.

    The Biden team launched the annual US-Pacific Islands Summit in 2022. And Kamala Harris played an active role in delivering US$800 million in development and climate assistance to Pacific Island nations in 2022-23.

    Whether Trump will maintain this enhanced diplomatic and economic engagement in the Pacific (and elsewhere) is questionable. Similarly, after Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accord, Trump will probably quit it for a second time.

    Kamala Harris hosts Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in September.
    Getty Images

    AUKUS and Ukraine

    Third, the New Zealand government faces the delicate task of navigating relations with an increasingly assertive China – the country’s biggest trade partner – while pursuing its goal of moving closer to the US.

    Since March 2023, successive New Zealand governments have been considering joining an arrangement to share advanced defence technologies under pillar two of the AUKUS security partnership that aims to deter a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region.

    It remains to be seen how China would react if New Zealand did join. But Trump’s insistence on US primacy in any multilateral agreement could make it more difficult for the government to win domestic support for pillar two membership.

    Even outside the AUKUS debate, Trump is more likely to insist allies spend more on defence than they did traditionally.

    Fourth, New Zealand has a big stake in the failure of Russia’s attempted annexation of Ukraine. Wellington’s interests are clearly more in line with Harris’ pledge to maintain support for Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity.

    Trump’s promise to end the war within 24 hours, on the other hand, could probably only be achieved by giving Vladimir Putin what he wants.

    The Middle East and the UN

    Finally, there do not seem to be substantive policy differences between Trump and Harris on the catastrophic situation in Gaza, and increasingly Lebanon.

    There remains a slim possibility a Harris administration might recognise unconditional support for the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu is not sustainable for a superpower whose foreign policy is supposed to be driven by universal values and respect for international law.

    But this would be near impossible for Trump. Indeed, he would probably provide Netanyahu with even greater support.

    Overall, the foreign policy interests of the National-led coalition seem to align more with a Harris presidency than one led by Trump.

    But even if Harris wins, the alignment of interests will not be perfect. US exceptionalism – an informal ideology that claims the nation is a political exemplar for the rest of the world – and Washington’s veto power in the UN security Council are likely to remain constraining factors on the New Zealand-US relationship.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Could NZ foreign policy be Trumped? Why the government will be hoping Kamala Harris wins the US election – https://theconversation.com/could-nz-foreign-policy-be-trumped-why-the-government-will-be-hoping-kamala-harris-wins-the-us-election-240538

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Tauranga homicide investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A woman has been charged with murder in relation to a man who was found deceased in Tauranga on Sunday morning. 

    Police were called to an area in Gate Pa near St George Street at around 8.45am yesterday (6 October), where a 63-year-old man was found deceased.

    A 50-year-old woman has been charged with murder and appeared in Tauranga District Court today. She has been remanded in custody to reappear in Tauranga High Court on 30 October. 

    Both the victim and the woman charged have been granted name suppression at this stage.

    Police would still like to hear from anyone who was in the area where the man was found between the evening of Thursday 3 October and Sunday morning, who may have witnessed something of note. 

    You can  update us online now or call 105.  Please use the reference number 241006/6224.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers(link is external) on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Youths bark up wrong tree following aggravated burglary

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A Police dog was quickly on the scent following an aggravated burglary in Māngere during the early hours of this morning.

    At about 2.55am, Police received a report of four people inside a Ford Courier Ute, which has driven into the roller door of a supermarket on Westney Road.

    Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Ross Ellwood, says the group has entered the store and taken a number of products, including cash, before unsuccessfully trying to access the cigarette cabinet.

    “The group has then fled in a stolen Toyota Mark X, which was quickly located by officers parked on Naylors Drive.

    “Delta has tracked to a house of the street, where four youths were taken into custody without incident.”

    Inspector Ellwood says Police will continue to respond to reports of businesses being targeted.

    “We know this sort of offending can be incredibly invasive for our community.

    “We take this type of offending very seriously, and I hope our quick response reassures the community that we have absolutely no tolerance for incidents like these.”

    Four teenagers, and 14 and 15, will appear in Manukau Youth Court today charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and burglary.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Future-proofing State Highway 6, Rai Saddle in Marlborough

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    New resilience work will begin next week to help future-proof State Highway 6 on the Rai Saddle in Marlborough.

    Contractors will be on-site from Monday, 14 October, with work expected to continue until late November.

    Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South Island, says they will improve drainage and address under-slips by redirecting stormwater on three one-kilometre sections of the highway.

    “This will help mitigate the impact of bad weather and heavy rainfall on the highway between Nelson and Blenheim.”

    “Each section will be completed one at a time to reduce the impact on drivers, with crews starting at the top of the Rai Saddle and working their way down towards the Mt Richmond Estate Motels,” Mr Service says.

    He says contractors will install pipework, kerbs and barriers to redirect stormwater at each work site, which is critical in hillside areas like the Rai Saddle.

    “Making these improvements and increasing the highway’s resilience will help keep the road open in bad weather and help protect this critical state highway link between Nelson and Marlborough.”

    “It’s about making the highway stronger and better prepared for future disruption,” Mr Service says.

    During the work, one highway lane will remain open under stop/go temporary traffic management 24/7. A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will also be in place. Road users can expect delays of up to five minutes.

    Mr Service says while the impact of this work on road users will be minimal, it’s important people with ferry connections or appointments plan ahead given other works currently underway on State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim.

    “Allow yourself an extra 30 minutes to get over the hill to ensure you make your destination in time,” he says.

    The work on the Rai Saddle is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme, which is set up to cover the cost of resilience improvements on the state highway network and minimise damage from future weather events.

    Mr Service says two years ago, State Highway 6 had to be closed for major repairs following a major flood.

    “Locals know only too well how big an impact floods can have on their ability to get around. Investments like this can make a big difference,” Mr Service says.

    Works schedule

    • Stop/Go temporary traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place from Monday, 14 October to Friday, 22 November. 24/7.
    • No work on Labour Weekend (26-28 October) when the road will reopen to two lanes.
    • Work will be carried out on Marlborough Anniversary Day (Monday. 4 November).
    • There will be three, one-kilometre sections of work as part of this project. Each section will be completed one-at-a time.
    • Contractors will start at the top of the Rai Saddle and working their way down towards the Mt Richmond Estate Motels.
    • Expect delays of up to 5 minutes.

    Location

    More information

    • Resilience work is also underway on State Highway 63 as contractors increase the height of the road near the Wash Bridge. Other resilience work is also planned for State Highway 1 at Dashwood. More information about these projects will be shared before they get underway.
    • Crown Resilience Programme (formerly Transport Resilience Fund)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tree blocks Manukau Road in Royal Oak

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A downed tree is blocking Manukau Road in Royal Oak, between the intersections with Symonds Street and Lombardy Green.

    The incident was reported to Police at around 11.26am, and no injuries have been reported.

    The section of Manukau Road is expected to be blocked for some time, and motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and to take another route.

    ENDS.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Vital help passes pub test

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    The pub test has been part of the Australian vernacular for… well, maybe since the Hope and Anchor opened in Hobart in 1807 and the first bloke to down a schooner regaled the room with his opinion.

    And we all know that alcohol can have a loosening effect on people speaking their mind, so since then pubs have probably seen enough opinions to fill 1000 Sydney Harbours.

    Today though, we use the “pub test” expression to mean what any reasonable person might think about a particular situation. What the average Australian may think is or isn’t a good idea.

    It’s been the question many a politician has asked themselves if trying to gauge the temperature of their electorate on tricky issues.

    Perhaps we could even update the term to be called the “hairdresser test”.

    Recently there has been a lot of talk about whether the supports and programs funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme pass the pub test. I’ll be blunt. Some of them simply do not.

    Most people would tell me I was dreaming if I told them that tarot cards, clairvoyance, wilderness therapy, and cuddle therapy are among the things we had to specify were definitely not being funded by the taxpayer. Can you imagine those things being discussed in the front bar?

    And look, there are very few people on the scheme currently getting cuddle therapy, but we want to put certain therapies beyond all reasonable doubt.

    That is why I have released lists of what NDIS participants can and cannot spend their funding on.

    The lists, which came into effect from October 3, update current guidelines and practices and, importantly, provide much needed clarity and certainty to participants and providers.

    So, no more guessing. Participants will be able to identify what is appropriately funded by the NDIS, and what NDIS funding can be used to purchase.

    But I want to run through a few things the scheme has not and will not pay for.

    It will not pay a participant’s rent, rental bond, home deposit or mortgage. It will not pay for donations, tithes, gifts or political contributions. It will not pay for fines, penalties or court ordered amounts. It will not pay for spa baths, saunas, steam rooms.

    It will not pay for groceries in the ordinary course of events.

    I can’t state it any more clearly that the lists are about putting the rorting and the exploitation of grey areas by some unscrupulous providers behind us.

    This scheme is going to be run properly, transparently – and this is the most important part – in the best interests of participants.

    I want every cent designed to get positive outcomes for participants to go to the participant. Not find its way into the pocket of a dodgy provider.

    I want to stress that very few providers are directing NDIS funds towards iffy supports and services but there are some who think that a scientific or evidentiary basis for therapies is optional.

    It’s not.

    The lists are part of the amendments introduced under the Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill No.1, which passed Parliament in August.

    These changes are the next key step in returning the NDIS to its original intent and improving the scheme experience for every participant.

    The lists were finalised after a significant month-long public consultation, with the Department of Social Services, which undertook the consultation, receiving 6180 survey responses, 919 email responses and 120 submissions from organisations and peak bodies.

    Importantly, there will be a transition period for the first year of the new NDIS supports lists to ensure participants aren’t penalised for simple mistakes.

    That transition period will not apply to things which are already unlawful to spend your NDIS money on now, including illicit drugs, sex workers and alcohol.

    And there is also a substitution list which will allow participants to request a replacement support in cases where a standard household item might be able to provide better outcomes and value.

    We know the NDIS is changing lives of participants and their loved ones.

    The NDIS helps young people such as Ken in WA who has Down syndrome, to go to work at Coles. Or Karan from Melbourne, blind and partially deaf, who accesses NDIS supports for assistive technology to live and work independently. While Koen from Sydney uses his NDIS supports to play and coach wheelchair basketball.

    The scheme also helps some short-statured people get modifications for their car so they can drive and live independently.

    I want to acknowledge at this point that many participants are feeling uncertain about these change but the supports being accessed by the vast majority of people will not be impacted by the revised lists which are based on existing guidance.

    The Australian people are fiercely protective of the NDIS, as they are of Medicare. But we must be mindful that we are using taxpayer’s money and we must use it as responsibly as possible.

    Since the lists were announced, around 95 per cent of comments about the news and correspondence I’ve received are very supportive of the changes.

    I hope our quest to make the NDIS fairer and more sustainable has passed the national pub test.

    “This scheme is going to be run properly, transparently, in the best interests of participants.”

    Originally published in The West Australian Monday 7 October 2024.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum brings together executives of major companies, government officials and industry experts

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum brings together executives of major companies, government officials and industry experts

    Government officials from the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and executives from over 100 major Russian and Chinese companies have attended the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum.

    The reports on the development of energy cooperation between the two countries at the Forum were presented by Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company; Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Han Zheng, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China; Dai Houliang, Chairman of the CNPC Board of Directors; CEOs of Russian and Chinese companies. The Forum was also attended by ministers and government officials from the two countries, as well as representatives of the scientific community.

    The strong participation once again confirmed the RCEBF’s status as the most important platform for shaping the key areas of energy dialogue between Russia and China.

    The Forum was held in a face-to-face distance format at two venues in Moscow and Beijing, with a video bridge between them.

    UPWARD DEVELOPMENT

    President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China sent greetings to the Forum participants, in which they noted the positive dynamics of the development of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation.

    In particular, Vladimir Putin noted in his address that, despite the complexity of the international situation, relations between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China continue to develop in an upward direction. The energy sector remains one of the key and most dynamic areas of economic cooperation between the two countries.

    “The Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum plays an increasingly prominent role in expanding cooperation in such an important sector, facilitating regular dialogue between representatives of government agencies, leading industry corporations, banking institutions and expert circles of the two countries. One of the Forum’s most vital activities is the creation of the “Atlas of Russian-Chinese Energy Cooperation Investments”. There is no doubt that the development of this unique information and analysis platform opens up new opportunities for mutually beneficial commercial initiatives,” reads the address of the Russian President.

    CORNERSTONE OF CHINA-RUSSIA COOPERATION

    In his welcoming address to the Forum, China’s President Xi Jinping declared energy to be the cornerstone of cooperation between China and Russia.

    According to the PRC President, Beijing intends to build a closer partnership with Moscow in the energy sector. “The energy engagement between China and Russia is a cornerstone of practical cooperation between the two countries and also serves as an effective force for global energy security,” reads Xi Jinping’s address.

    Russia and China’s energy cooperation demonstrates sustainability despite external challenges, the PRC President said.

    “In the face of external risks and challenges, Russia and China are intensifying interaction and coordination, promoting major cooperation projects, demonstrating the high sustainability of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation,” reads Xi Jinping’s address.

    UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

    Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company, delivered an address at the opening of the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum devoted to the development of the energy dialogue between the two countries.

    By the end of this year, the trade turnover between Russia and China may reach $180-190 billion, Rosneft CEO believes. According to him, the figure has already reached $153.9 billion in ten months.

    Thus, Igor Sechin added, the goal of reaching $200 billion in trade turnover may be achieved even earlier than in 2024, as previously planned.

    Igor Sechin noted that Xi Jingping’s 2015 proposal at the rostrum of the UN to create a “community of one destiny for the humankind”, which underlay Chinese foreign policy (as part of the preamble to China’s Constitution), was a worthy response to the challenges of the growing turbulence. “The Western opponents cannot or do not want to understand the great humanitarian meaning of this idea, rejecting the concept of common destiny because of certain ideological considerations,” Igor Sechin believes. “They do not want to understand that it is not about a uniformity, which is naturally alien to the Chinese cultural tradition.” “All phenomena develop together and do not impede one another, all principles are effected together and do not contradict one another,” says a Chinese wisdom. “China simply tells the world: “We are all in the same boat.” And it turns out that China is working to unite humanity, while the West is working to divide it,” Igor Sechin said.

    Rosneft CEO noted that China, like Russia, had always been against unilateral sanctions and economic pressure, which turned into selfish promotion of one’s own selfish interests, and had always advocated the universal and equal application of international law. “Nevertheless, we see that the PRC is subjected to commercial discrimination. The goal is openly set to stop China’s technological development and prevent China from becoming the Number 1 technological power,” the head of Rosneft believes. No wonder the 20th CPC Congress has paid so much attention to security, which is becoming a political priority.

    Rosneft CEO emphasised the unique opportunities that the cooperation offers in terms of ensuring China’s and Russia’s economic security in sensitive areas. “In the field of resource supply, including energy resources, Russia is a reliable supplier with a huge potential that is capable of expanding. As for production and technological logistics, our partnership here seems to be the most protected in terms of security,” Igor Sechin said.

    Russian energy companies, Sechin said, were ready to cooperate with Chinese partners in all areas—“in coal, in gas, in oil, in electricity and through Rosatom.”

    Rosneft CEO noted that the Company had always promoted integral cooperation with Chinese partners along the entire technological chain: that is exploration and production, refining, power generation, sales at potential markets, including retail sales. “As a rule, such cooperation implies exchange of shares, setup of joint ventures, supply of equipment, and technological partnership,” he said.

    POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN ENERGY EXPORTS

    Russia’s oil exports to China in January-October 2022 increased by 9.5% year-on-year to reach almost 72 million tonnes. This put Russia in second place among the suppliers of this fuel to Beijing, only slightly behind Saudi Arabia (73.8 million tonnes), Igor Sechin said.

    For his part, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak acknowledged the possibility of building new oil pipelines to China.

    Rosneft CEO also reminded the audience about the Vostok Oil project that “would provide long-term, reliable, and guaranteed energy supplies to Asia’s growing economies.” The project should produce 115 million tonnes of oil by 2033, equivalent to 2.5% of current world production.

    Russia also retains great potential for increasing hydrocarbon exports. For example, Sechin estimates that Rosneft alone has more than 2 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves in Eastern Siberia and the Far East that could be delivered to China.

    According to Igor Sechin, Russian pipeline gas deliveries could increase by 60% this year. The figure will exceed 100 billion cubic metres a year in the foreseeable future, and Rosneft CEO is confident that this is not even the limit.

    Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry Igor Sechin noted the prospects for liquefied natural gas: “Today Russia exports to China relatively small volumes of LNG, but in the future, the volume of LNG supplies may become comparable to our supplies from pipeline projects.”

    For his part, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Chairman Dai Houliang pointed to the importance of proper operation of oil pipelines from Russia to China and the Yamal LNG project, in which CNPC has a stake.

    “The implementation of the Sino-Russian gas pipeline through the Far East route and the Arctic LNG-2 project should also be accelerated,” he added.

    Furthermore, according to Igor Sechin, Russia accounts for almost a quarter of China’s coal imports—53 million tonnes in the first ten months of this year. Only Indonesia supplies more coal to the PRC.

    China buys from Russia not only hydrocarbons, but also electricity. Between January and October, its supplies grew by 33% and set a new record.

    SETTLEMENTS IN NATIONAL CURRENCIES

    As Alexander Novak noted, Russia and China were switching to settlements in national currencies when trading energy resources: “This work helps to prevent risks and facilitate the transformation of the rouble and yuan to the status of world reserve currencies.” In addition, the two countries’ central banks are working on a settlement system outside SWIFT.

    A significant step in the development of settlement in national currencies was Rosneft’s 2022 placement of an issue of bonds in yuan totalling 15 billion. According to bank analysts, this was the largest corporate bond market placement in the Russian market ever.

    Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry Igor Sechin noted that settlements under foreign economic contracts, primarily for the supply of energy products, had been promptly adapted to the new conditions. “I consider it important to develop clearing payments between China and Russia, which could then be joined by other interested countries (EAEU, SCO, BRICS). The existence of an independent settlement system is an important component of financial sovereignty in the contemporary world,” the head of Rosneft said.

    INVESTMENT ATLAS

    A significant contribution to the development of energy cooperation between the two countries was the publication of the Atlas of Russian-Chinese Energy Cooperation Investments. This document is a comprehensive and practical guide to the implementation of joint projects. Its first part, presented at the previous Forum by the Russian side, was devoted to a review of the current state and prospects of development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation.

    During the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum, Zhang Jianhua, Head of the State Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China, gave a presentation on the Chinese part of the Atlas.

    The Forum brought together over 300 representatives of major Russian and Chinese companies in the oil and gas, power, coal, nuclear and renewable energy sectors, heads of federal executive authorities, power equipment manufacturers, and representatives of the financial and IT sectors. The participants discussed in detail the key issues of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. On the sidelines of the Forum, contracts were discussed and concluded between Russian and Chinese partners on energy supply, technology development, joint research, personnel training, and involvement of Chinese companies in the procurement of goods, works and services for projects implemented in Russia.

    The Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum has been held since 2018, in line with the agreements reached by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. The two leaders outlined the main objective of the Forum, that is to expand cooperation, find new areas for investment and implement promising projects in the energy sphere in Russia and China.

    Since its inception, the Forum takes place under the auspices of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety and the State Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China, and is co-organised by Rosneft and China National Petroleum Corporation.

    Rosneft
    Information Division
    November 29, 2022

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum brings together executives of major companies, government officials and industry experts

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum brings together executives of major companies, government officials and industry experts

    Government officials from the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and executives from over 100 major Russian and Chinese companies have attended the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum.

    The reports on the development of energy cooperation between the two countries at the Forum were presented by Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company; Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Han Zheng, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China; Dai Houliang, Chairman of the CNPC Board of Directors; CEOs of Russian and Chinese companies. The Forum was also attended by ministers and government officials from the two countries, as well as representatives of the scientific community.

    The strong participation once again confirmed the RCEBF’s status as the most important platform for shaping the key areas of energy dialogue between Russia and China.

    The Forum was held in a face-to-face distance format at two venues in Moscow and Beijing, with a video bridge between them.

    UPWARD DEVELOPMENT

    President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China sent greetings to the Forum participants, in which they noted the positive dynamics of the development of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation.

    In particular, Vladimir Putin noted in his address that, despite the complexity of the international situation, relations between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China continue to develop in an upward direction. The energy sector remains one of the key and most dynamic areas of economic cooperation between the two countries.

    “The Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum plays an increasingly prominent role in expanding cooperation in such an important sector, facilitating regular dialogue between representatives of government agencies, leading industry corporations, banking institutions and expert circles of the two countries. One of the Forum’s most vital activities is the creation of the “Atlas of Russian-Chinese Energy Cooperation Investments”. There is no doubt that the development of this unique information and analysis platform opens up new opportunities for mutually beneficial commercial initiatives,” reads the address of the Russian President.

    CORNERSTONE OF CHINA-RUSSIA COOPERATION

    In his welcoming address to the Forum, China’s President Xi Jinping declared energy to be the cornerstone of cooperation between China and Russia.

    According to the PRC President, Beijing intends to build a closer partnership with Moscow in the energy sector. “The energy engagement between China and Russia is a cornerstone of practical cooperation between the two countries and also serves as an effective force for global energy security,” reads Xi Jinping’s address.

    Russia and China’s energy cooperation demonstrates sustainability despite external challenges, the PRC President said.

    “In the face of external risks and challenges, Russia and China are intensifying interaction and coordination, promoting major cooperation projects, demonstrating the high sustainability of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation,” reads Xi Jinping’s address.

    UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

    Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety, Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company, delivered an address at the opening of the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum devoted to the development of the energy dialogue between the two countries.

    By the end of this year, the trade turnover between Russia and China may reach $180-190 billion, Rosneft CEO believes. According to him, the figure has already reached $153.9 billion in ten months.

    Thus, Igor Sechin added, the goal of reaching $200 billion in trade turnover may be achieved even earlier than in 2024, as previously planned.

    Igor Sechin noted that Xi Jingping’s 2015 proposal at the rostrum of the UN to create a “community of one destiny for the humankind”, which underlay Chinese foreign policy (as part of the preamble to China’s Constitution), was a worthy response to the challenges of the growing turbulence. “The Western opponents cannot or do not want to understand the great humanitarian meaning of this idea, rejecting the concept of common destiny because of certain ideological considerations,” Igor Sechin believes. “They do not want to understand that it is not about a uniformity, which is naturally alien to the Chinese cultural tradition.” “All phenomena develop together and do not impede one another, all principles are effected together and do not contradict one another,” says a Chinese wisdom. “China simply tells the world: “We are all in the same boat.” And it turns out that China is working to unite humanity, while the West is working to divide it,” Igor Sechin said.

    Rosneft CEO noted that China, like Russia, had always been against unilateral sanctions and economic pressure, which turned into selfish promotion of one’s own selfish interests, and had always advocated the universal and equal application of international law. “Nevertheless, we see that the PRC is subjected to commercial discrimination. The goal is openly set to stop China’s technological development and prevent China from becoming the Number 1 technological power,” the head of Rosneft believes. No wonder the 20th CPC Congress has paid so much attention to security, which is becoming a political priority.

    Rosneft CEO emphasised the unique opportunities that the cooperation offers in terms of ensuring China’s and Russia’s economic security in sensitive areas. “In the field of resource supply, including energy resources, Russia is a reliable supplier with a huge potential that is capable of expanding. As for production and technological logistics, our partnership here seems to be the most protected in terms of security,” Igor Sechin said.

    Russian energy companies, Sechin said, were ready to cooperate with Chinese partners in all areas—“in coal, in gas, in oil, in electricity and through Rosatom.”

    Rosneft CEO noted that the Company had always promoted integral cooperation with Chinese partners along the entire technological chain: that is exploration and production, refining, power generation, sales at potential markets, including retail sales. “As a rule, such cooperation implies exchange of shares, setup of joint ventures, supply of equipment, and technological partnership,” he said.

    POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN ENERGY EXPORTS

    Russia’s oil exports to China in January-October 2022 increased by 9.5% year-on-year to reach almost 72 million tonnes. This put Russia in second place among the suppliers of this fuel to Beijing, only slightly behind Saudi Arabia (73.8 million tonnes), Igor Sechin said.

    For his part, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak acknowledged the possibility of building new oil pipelines to China.

    Rosneft CEO also reminded the audience about the Vostok Oil project that “would provide long-term, reliable, and guaranteed energy supplies to Asia’s growing economies.” The project should produce 115 million tonnes of oil by 2033, equivalent to 2.5% of current world production.

    Russia also retains great potential for increasing hydrocarbon exports. For example, Sechin estimates that Rosneft alone has more than 2 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves in Eastern Siberia and the Far East that could be delivered to China.

    According to Igor Sechin, Russian pipeline gas deliveries could increase by 60% this year. The figure will exceed 100 billion cubic metres a year in the foreseeable future, and Rosneft CEO is confident that this is not even the limit.

    Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry Igor Sechin noted the prospects for liquefied natural gas: “Today Russia exports to China relatively small volumes of LNG, but in the future, the volume of LNG supplies may become comparable to our supplies from pipeline projects.”

    For his part, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Chairman Dai Houliang pointed to the importance of proper operation of oil pipelines from Russia to China and the Yamal LNG project, in which CNPC has a stake.

    “The implementation of the Sino-Russian gas pipeline through the Far East route and the Arctic LNG-2 project should also be accelerated,” he added.

    Furthermore, according to Igor Sechin, Russia accounts for almost a quarter of China’s coal imports—53 million tonnes in the first ten months of this year. Only Indonesia supplies more coal to the PRC.

    China buys from Russia not only hydrocarbons, but also electricity. Between January and October, its supplies grew by 33% and set a new record.

    SETTLEMENTS IN NATIONAL CURRENCIES

    As Alexander Novak noted, Russia and China were switching to settlements in national currencies when trading energy resources: “This work helps to prevent risks and facilitate the transformation of the rouble and yuan to the status of world reserve currencies.” In addition, the two countries’ central banks are working on a settlement system outside SWIFT.

    A significant step in the development of settlement in national currencies was Rosneft’s 2022 placement of an issue of bonds in yuan totalling 15 billion. According to bank analysts, this was the largest corporate bond market placement in the Russian market ever.

    Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry Igor Sechin noted that settlements under foreign economic contracts, primarily for the supply of energy products, had been promptly adapted to the new conditions. “I consider it important to develop clearing payments between China and Russia, which could then be joined by other interested countries (EAEU, SCO, BRICS). The existence of an independent settlement system is an important component of financial sovereignty in the contemporary world,” the head of Rosneft said.

    INVESTMENT ATLAS

    A significant contribution to the development of energy cooperation between the two countries was the publication of the Atlas of Russian-Chinese Energy Cooperation Investments. This document is a comprehensive and practical guide to the implementation of joint projects. Its first part, presented at the previous Forum by the Russian side, was devoted to a review of the current state and prospects of development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation.

    During the 4th Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum, Zhang Jianhua, Head of the State Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China, gave a presentation on the Chinese part of the Atlas.

    The Forum brought together over 300 representatives of major Russian and Chinese companies in the oil and gas, power, coal, nuclear and renewable energy sectors, heads of federal executive authorities, power equipment manufacturers, and representatives of the financial and IT sectors. The participants discussed in detail the key issues of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. On the sidelines of the Forum, contracts were discussed and concluded between Russian and Chinese partners on energy supply, technology development, joint research, personnel training, and involvement of Chinese companies in the procurement of goods, works and services for projects implemented in Russia.

    The Russian-Chinese Energy Business Forum has been held since 2018, in line with the agreements reached by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China. The two leaders outlined the main objective of the Forum, that is to expand cooperation, find new areas for investment and implement promising projects in the energy sphere in Russia and China.

    Since its inception, the Forum takes place under the auspices of the Commission for the President of the Russian Federation on the strategy of development of the fuel and energy industry and environmental safety and the State Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China, and is co-organised by Rosneft and China National Petroleum Corporation.

    Rosneft
    Information Division
    November 29, 2022

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Serious crash, State Highway 2, Waipawa

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    One person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 near Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay this morning.

    The single vehicle crash was reported to Police at 10.15am.

    Two other people suffered moderate injuries and were transported to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

    The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and State Highway 2 is expected to remain closed for some time.

    Southbound traffic is being diverted at Higginson Road, and northbound traffic at Racecourse Road.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Kamala Harris maintains narrow lead in key states in US presidential race

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 49.3–46.2, a slight gain for Trump since last Monday, when Harris led Trump by 49.3–46.0.

    Joe Biden’s final position before his withdrawal as Democratic candidate on July 21 was a national poll deficit against Trump of 45.2–41.2.

    In economic data, the US added 254,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate slid 0.1% to 4.1%. The unemployment rate had peaked at 4.3% in July.

    The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state receives electoral votes equal to its federal House seats (population based) and senators (always two). Almost all states award their electoral votes as winner-takes-all, and it takes 270 electoral votes to win (out of 538 total).

    Relative to the national popular vote, the Electoral College is biased to Trump, with Harris needing at least a two-point popular vote win to be the Electoral College favourite in Silver’s model.

    In the key states, Harris remains ahead in Silver’s poll aggregates by one to two points in Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), Michigan (15), Wisconsin (ten) and Nevada (six). If Harris wins these four states, she probably wins the Electoral College by at least 276–262. Trump leads by 0.5 points in North Carolina (16 electoral votes), one point in Georgia (16) and 1.2 points in Arizona (11).



    Read more:
    Kamala Harris the slight favourite to win US election as she narrowly leads in key states

    In Silver’s model, Harris has a 56% chance to win the Electoral College, unchanged since last Monday’s article. The FiveThirtyEight model was more favourable to Harris in September, but now gives her a 55% chance to win. It’s close to a 50–50 probability for either candidate, but Harris remains a slight favourite.

    There are still more than four weeks to go until the election, so there’s time for the polls to change and for one candidate to have a decisive Electoral College advantage on election day. Or the polls could be understating either Harris or Trump, in which case the candidate that benefits from the poll error could have a decisive win.

    Thumping lead for LNP in Queensland

    The Queensland state election is on October 26. A Freshwater poll for The Financial Review, conducted September 26–29 from a sample of 1,067, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) a 56–44 lead, a five-point gain for the LNP since the previous Freshwater poll in July 2023.

    Primary votes were 43% LNP (up three), 30% Labor (down four), 12% Greens (up one), 8% One Nation (up one) and 7% for all Others (down one).

    Labor Premier Steven Miles had a net approval of -5, while LNP leader David Crisafulli had a +15 net approval. Crisafulli led Miles by 46–38 as preferred premier.

    The poll asked about the federal leaders’ Queensland ratings, with Anthony Albanese at net -17, while Peter Dutton was at net zero. Queensland is a Coalition-friendly state at federal elections relative to the national results.

    Federal Newspoll quarterly data

    On September 30, The Australian released aggregate data for the four Newspolls taken from July to September, which had a combined sample size of 5,035. The Poll Bludger said the Coalition led in New South Wales by 51–49, unchanged on the June quarter.

    In Victoria, Labor led by 52–48, a two-point gain for the Coalition. In Queensland, the Coalition led by an unchanged 54–46. In Western Australia, Labor led by an unchanged 52–48. In South Australia, Labor led by 54–46, a one-point gain for Labor.

    The Poll Bludger’s BludgerTrack data shows the results by educational attainment. In the September quarter, Labor led by 53–47 among university-educated people, a one-point gain for Labor. With TAFE-educated people, there was a 50–50 tie, a one-point gain for the Coalition. Those with no tertiary education favoured the Coalition by 51–49, a one-point gain for the Coalition.

    Coalition gains lead in Morgan poll

    A national Morgan poll, conducted September 23–29 from a sample of 1,668, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, a 1.5-point gain for the Coalition since the September 16–22 Morgan poll.

    Primary votes were 38% Coalition (up 0.5), 30% Labor (down two), 13.5% Greens (up one), 4.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 9.5% independents (steady) and 4.5% others (up one).

    The headline figure uses respondent preferences. But if preferences were assigned using the 2022 election flows, Labor led by 51.5–48.5, a 0.5-point gain for the Coalition. There was an unusually large gap last week between the two measures.

    Resolve poll on Middle East conflict

    Voting intentions have not yet been released from a national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers that was conducted October 1–5 from a sample of 1,606. Regarding the political response in Australia to the Middle East conflict, 22% thought Dutton and the Liberals had responded best, 18% Albanese and Labor and 6% Adam Bandt and the Greens, while 55% said none had responded best or were unsure.

    On Australia’s actions, 23% thought we should voice in-principle support for Israel, 12% Gaza and 65% both or none. On accepting refugees, 52% don’t want any refugees accepted, 24% would accept refugees from either Israel or Gaza, 13% Gaza only and 11% Israel only.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Kamala Harris maintains narrow lead in key states in US presidential race – https://theconversation.com/kamala-harris-maintains-narrow-lead-in-key-states-in-us-presidential-race-240117

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why a portrait of a former NRL great could spark greater concussion awareness in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Townsend, Research Fellow, UQ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland

    A new portrait of NRL legend Wally Lewis conveys a striking message about the consequences of brain trauma in sport.

    The portrait, created by visual artist Jamie van Leeuwen in cooperation with Lewis, is currently entered in the 2024 Brisbane Portrait Prize.

    It uses artificial intelligence (AI) and traditional photography to depict Lewis contemplating his own brain, prompting viewers to consider the consequences of athletes subjecting their bodies (and brains) to a lifetime of physical trauma in contact sports.

    It further suggests that art has an important role to play in science communication.

    Heavy lies the crown

    Lewis is one of Queensland’s most beloved figures and one of Australia’s greatest rugby league players.

    His intelligence was matched by a rugged playing style. He thrilled crowds by appearing to relish hard tackles and seeking confrontation.

    Lewis’ State of Origin performances for Queensland, the Australian representative team, and multiple clubs earned him the nickname “The King” and the “Emperor of Lang Park,” where he is celebrated with a life-size statue.

    In short, it is difficult to overstate the affection many Queenslanders have for Lewis and the magnitude of his reputation in the Australian rugby league community.

    The King speaks

    Although rugby league gave a lot to Lewis, it also took a heavy toll.

    After retiring he moved into broadcasting, becoming the long-term sports anchor for Channel Nine in Queensland.

    In late 2006, he had two successive epileptic episodes on live television.

    Following the second episode, Lewis announced publicly that he had been diagnosed with epilepsy during his playing career but hid the condition for decades. He further revealed his epilepsy was caused by repeated concussions.

    Wally Lewis has spoken out about his epilepsy struggles.

    More recently, Lewis has become one of the most prominent figures in the broader conversation around brain trauma in sport, particularly following his 2023 diagnosis of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES), the symptomatic precursor of the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

    This diagnosis is likely linked to his lifetime accumulation of brain trauma in rugby league.

    Who is listening?

    Many Australian sports and athletes are being impacted by concussion, with a cacophony of experts and advocates attempting to make themselves heard.

    Scientists, researchers, doctors, athletes, parents, families, and politicians are all straining to communicate the potentially serious consequences of brain trauma to the sporting public.

    This portrait of Lewis cuts through the noise and conveys a complex and sometimes controversial narrative: the neurological consequences of contact sport can outweigh its benefits.

    This is a particularly fraught conversation in light of a recent study that argued the opposite.

    The King’s Battle

    The portrait conveys the duality of contact sport in an instant.

    As the artist states, the meaning of the piece is “about legacy […] both sides of legacy.”

    Lewis’ successes are evidenced by the 1987 Maroons jersey he wears and the crown atop his head.

    The costs are equally visible.

    His wearied expression, the blood and grime on his collar and the disembodied brain resting in his palms prompt the viewer to imagine Lewis’s thoughts.

    Is he re-imagining past victories? Planning an uncertain future? Harbouring fears for his fellow athletes?

    After viewing the image for the first time, Lewis said:

    It pretty much tells the story straight away […] there is great hope in the future that I’m going to be able to deal with some of the difficulties.

    The image is emotionally freighted in a way that researchers and medical practitioners usually try to avoid, particularly in discussions about sports concussion where advocates for player safety have been accused of being overly emotional or scare-mongering.

    The King’s Battle reminds us brain trauma is an emotional issue as much as a scientific one.

    As ANU science media researcher Matt Ventresca says, some of the most effective advocates for player welfare are former and current athletes who “in the absence of scientific certainty, express fear about the health of their brains.”

    Art and the future of science

    Arts and science are often viewed as contradictory, but creative expressions like The King’s Battle should play a role in science communication.

    Think Susan Sontag’s brilliant essay Illness as Metaphor or the haunting lyrical description of cancer in Blood by Australian band The Middle East.

    “Blood”, by Australian indie band The Middle East, became the band’s signature song.

    The concussion crisis is a potent space for artistic representation – the 2015 film Concussion starring Will Smith is a landmark in public perceptions of brain trauma in sport.

    The upcoming ABC television program Plum also tells the story of a brain damaged former sports star.

    A 2024 portrait of former Australian NFL player Colin Scotts shows the consequences of a life in contact sport.

    Artistic representations such as The King’s Battle are important because they bring home the consequences of brain trauma in ways that traditional science communication struggles to achieve.

    It reminds us that understanding the emotion of health is just as important as understanding its scientific and medical aspects.

    For CTE researchers, van Leeuwen’s portrait also carries abstract echoes of another hope for the future.

    His use of AI technology to disembody Lewis’ brain in the artwork is reminiscent of current methods of CTE diagnosis: post-mortem removal and dissection of the brain.

    The difference in The King’s Battle is that Lewis can look on the damage done to his brain while still very much alive.

    In much the same way, we hope in the near future that technological advances will allow us to see CTE in the brains of living athletes and help them to live better lives with the disease.

    Alan Pearce is currently unfunded. Alan is a non-executive director for the Concussion Legacy Foundation (unpaid position) and Adjunct research manager for the Australian Sports Brain Bank (unpaid position). He has previously received funding from Erasmus+ strategic partnerships program (2019-1-IE01-KA202-051555), Sports Health Check Charity (Australia), Australian Football League, Impact Technologies Inc., and Samsung Corporation, and is remunerated for expert advice to medico-legal practices.

    Stephen Townsend 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. Why a portrait of a former NRL great could spark greater concussion awareness in Australia – https://theconversation.com/why-a-portrait-of-a-former-nrl-great-could-spark-greater-concussion-awareness-in-australia-238882

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NASA is launching a major mission to look for habitable spots on Jupiter’s moon Europa

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Lloyd, Research Fellow, ARC CoE Plants for Space, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia

    Illustration of the spacecraft above Europa’s icy surface. NASA/JPL-Caltech

    On October 10, NASA is launching a hotly anticipated new mission to Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon, Europa.

    Called Europa Clipper, the spacecraft will conduct a detailed study of the moon, looking for potential places where Europa might host alien life.

    It’s the largest planetary exploration spacecraft NASA has ever made: as wide as a basketball court when its solar sails are unfolded. It has a mass of about 6,000 kilograms – the weight of a large African elephant.

    But why are we sending a hulking spacecraft all the way to Europa?

    Looking for life away from Earth

    The search for life in places other than Earth usually focuses on our neighbour Mars, a planet that’s technically in the “habitable zone” of our Solar System. But Mars is not an attractive place to live, due to its lack of atmosphere and high levels of radiation. However, it’s close to Earth, making it relatively easy to send missions to explore it.

    But there are other places in the Solar System that could support life – some of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Why? They have liquid water.

    Here on Earth, water is the solvent of life: water dissolves salts and sugars, and facilitates the chemical reactions needed for life on Earth to proceed. It’s possible life forms exist elsewhere that rely on liquid methane or carbon dioxide or something else, but life as we know it uses water.

    The reason there’s liquid water so far out in the Solar System is because Jupiter and Saturn, the gas giants, wield immense gravitational power over their moons.

    Saturn’s moons, Titan and Enceladus, are stretched and compressed by gravity as they go around their host planet. This movement results in vast underground oceans with a surface of solid ice, with plumes of water vapour exploding 9,600 kilometres from the surface.

    It is strongly suspected that Europa is the same. While we know a lot about Europa from more than four centuries of observation, we have not confirmed it has an under-ice liquid ocean like Titan and Enceladus.

    But all clues point to yes. Europa has a smooth surface despite being hit by many meteors, suggesting the surface is young, recently replaced. Ice volcanoes raining down water over the surface would make sense.

    It also has a magnetic field, suggesting that like Earth, Europa has a liquid layer inside (on Earth, this liquid is molten rock).

    This artist’s concept (not to scale) shows what Europa’s insides might look like: an outer shell of ice, perhaps with plumes venting out; a deep layer of liquid water; and a rocky interior, potentially with hydrothermal vents on the seafloor.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    What will Europa Clipper do?

    At the surface, Europa is bombarded by high levels of space radiation, concentrated by Jupiter. But deeper down, the thick ice sheet could be protecting life in the liquid subsurface ocean.

    This means it would be difficult for us to find concrete evidence for life without drilling down deep. But where to look? Through flybys of the icy moon, Europa Clipper will be looking at areas where life could be dwelling under the icy shell.

    To achieve this, Europa Clipper has nine scientific instruments. These include a wide-angle camera to study geologic activity and a thermal imaging system to measure surface texture and detect warmer regions on the surface.

    There’s also a spectrometer for looking at the chemical composition of the gases and surface of Europa, and for any explosive plumes of water from the surface. The mission also has tools for mapping the moon’s surface.

    Other instruments will measure the depth and salt levels of the moon’s ocean and the thickness of its ice shell, and also how Europa flexes within the strong gravitational pull of Jupiter.

    Excitingly, a mass spectrometer will analyse the gases of the moon’s faint atmosphere and potential plumes of water. By examining the material ejected from the plumes, we can understand what is hidden within the under-ice oceans of Europa.

    A dust analyser will also look at matter that has been ejected from Europa’s surface by tiny meteorites or released from the plumes.

    Unfortunately, we will have to wait a while for any discoveries. Europa Clipper will take more than five years to reach Jupiter. And the mission is only equipped to look for the potential of life, not life itself. If we see evidence that might point towards life, we will need future missions to return and explore Europa in depth.

    So we must be patient. But this is an exciting opportunity for humanity to get one step closer to find life beyond our own home planet.

    James Lloyd 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. NASA is launching a major mission to look for habitable spots on Jupiter’s moon Europa – https://theconversation.com/nasa-is-launching-a-major-mission-to-look-for-habitable-spots-on-jupiters-moon-europa-239928

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trojan Horse approach to fast-track projects threatens environment

    Source: Green Party

    The Government’s fast-track list is another example of its reckless approach to the environment and disregard for due process. 

    “The government is set to unleash environmental destruction across Aotearoa, while using some potentially worthy projects as a diversion,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for the Environment, Lan Pham.

    “Our environment forms the foundation for life as we know it. By looking after nature, we look after ourselves. We need to move on from the archaic, exploitative and extractive approach that has already seen us lose so much.

    “However, the Government is selling out to big business by effectively putting our environment up for auction. 

    “From the outset, this shadowy legislation has been shrouded in smoke and mirrors while public scrutiny and due democratic process have been completely shut out. 

    “What we see in this list is a number of projects that will have long-lasting and potentially irreversible impacts on the environment. Talk of renewable energy and housing – which could be consented under current processes –  are nothing more than a smokescreen to the environmental vandalism this is set to unleash. 

    “The fast track still has the power to bulldoze through environmental protections and set aside previous court rulings that declined projects due to their serious environmental harm. The Government is trying to gaslight us all into thinking we need this legislation to build nice things – we don’t. This isn’t about building a better future, it’s all about handouts to big business. 

    “We are deeply concerned that projects with massive, irreversible environmental effects – like seabed mining by Trans-Tasman Resources in a marine mammal sanctuary, or gold mine expansion that threatens the future of an entire forest in the Coromandel, are included in the list of projects. Extending the Bathurst coal mine in Buller and digging an open-cast mine in Central Otago during a climate crisis is beyond irresponsible.  

    “To make things abundantly clear to companies and potential investors out there looking to profit from this legislation in a way that destroys our precious environment: You need to know that a Green Government will review consents, and revoke those with significant harm,” says Lan Pham. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is owning a dog good for your health?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tania Signal, Professor of Psychology, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia

    Pogodina Natalia/Shutterstock

    Australia loves dogs. We have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and one in two households has at least one dog.

    But are they good for our health?

    Mental health is the second-most common reason cited for getting a dog, after companionship. And many of us say we “feel healthier” for having a dog – and let them sleep in our bedroom.

    Here’s what it means for our physical and mental health to share our homes (and doonas) with our canine companions.

    Are there physical health benefits to having a dog?

    Having a dog is linked to lower risk of death over the long term. In 2019, a systematic review gathered evidence published over 70 years, involving nearly four million individual medical cases. It found people who owned a dog had a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who did not own a dog.

    Having a dog may help lower your blood pressure through more physical activity.
    Barnabas Davoti/Pexels

    Dog ownership was linked to increased physical activity. This lowered blood pressure and helped reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

    The review found for those with previous heart-related medical issues (such as heart attack), living with a dog reduced their subsequent risk of dying by 35%, compared to people with the same history but no dog.

    Another recent UK study found adult dog owners were almost four times as likely to meet daily physical activity targets as non-owners. Children in households with a dog were also more active and engaged in more unstructured play, compared to children whose family didn’t have a dog.

    Exposure to dirt and microbes carried in from outdoors may also strengthen immune systems and lead to less use of antibiotics in young children who grow up with dogs.

    Children in households with a dog were often more active.
    Maryshot/Shutterstock

    Health risks

    However, dogs can also pose risks to our physical health. One of the most common health issues for pet owners is allergies.

    Dogs’ saliva, urine and dander (the skin cells they shed) can trigger allergic reactions resulting in a range of symptoms, from itchy eyes and runny nose to breathing difficulties.

    A recent meta-analysis pooled data from nearly two million children. Findings suggested early exposure to dogs may increase the risk of developing asthma (although not quite as much as having a cat does). The child’s age, how much contact they have with the dog and their individual risk all play a part.

    Slips, trips and falls are another risk – more people fall over due to dogs than cats.

    Having a dog can also expose you to bites and scratches which may become infected and pose a risk for those with compromised immune systems. And they can introduce zoonotic diseases into your home, including ring worm and Campylobacter, a disease that causes diarrhoea.

    For those sharing the bed there is an elevated the risk of allergies and picking up ringworm. It may result in lost sleep, as dogs move around at night.

    On the other hand some owners report feeling more secure while co-sleeping with their dogs, with the emotional benefit outweighing the possibility of sleep disturbance or waking up with flea bites.

    Proper veterinary care and hygiene practices are essential to minimise these risks.

    Many of us don’t just share a home with a dog – we let them sleep in our beds.
    Claudia Mañas/Unsplash

    What about mental health?

    Many people know the benefits of having a dog are not only physical.

    As companions, dogs can provide significant emotional support helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. Their presence may offer comfort and a sense of purpose to individuals facing mental health challenges.

    Loneliness is a significant and growing public health issue in Australia.

    In the dog park and your neighbourhood, dogs can make it easier to strike up conversations with strangers and make new friends. These social interactions can help build a sense of community belonging and reduce feelings of social isolation.

    For older adults, dog walking can be a valuable loneliness intervention that encourages social interaction with neighbours, while also combating declining physical activity.

    However, if you’re experiencing chronic loneliness, it may be hard to engage with other people during walks. An Australian study found simply getting a dog was linked to decreased loneliness. People reported an improved mood – possibly due to the benefits of strengthening bonds with their dog.

    Walking a dog can make it easier to talk to people in your neighbourhood.
    KPegg/Shutterstock

    What are the drawbacks?

    While dogs can bring immense joy and numerous health benefits, there are also downsides and challenges. The responsibility of caring for a dog, especially one with behavioural issues or health problems, can be overwhelming and create financial stress.

    Dogs have shorter lifespans than humans, and the loss of a beloved companion can lead to depression or exacerbate existing mental health conditions.

    Lifestyle compatibility and housing conditions also play a significant role in whether having a dog is a good fit.

    The so-called pet effect suggests that pets, often dogs, improve human physical and mental health in all situations and for all people. The reality is more nuanced. For some, having a pet may be more stressful than beneficial.

    Importantly, the animals that share our homes are not just “tools” for human health. Owners and dogs can mutually benefit when the welfare and wellbeing of both are maintained.

    Tania Signal 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. Is owning a dog good for your health? – https://theconversation.com/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health-238888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Approves Support to Strengthen Coastal Protection in India

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (7 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $42 million loan to provide coastal and riverbank protection to increase resilience of local communities and natural ecosystems in the state of Maharashtra, India. 

    The Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project will establish coastal erosion and riverbank protection solutions such as offshore reefs, sheet piles, beach nourishment, and vegetation planting to restore and stabilize the coastline. 

    “The project will demonstrate the benefits of adopting new engineering hybrid approaches such as offshore reefs construction and rock protection works, as well as soft nature-based solutions such as beach and dune nourishment,” said ADB Water Resources Specialist Marie L’Hostis. 

    “The project responds to Maharashtra’s climate adaptation needs as outlined in the state’s Shoreline Management Plan and address climate change threats as shown by increasing rates of sea-level rise and coastal erosion though flexible nature-based and hybrid solutions, which can adapt to different climate scenarios,” said ADB Senior Climate Change Specialist (Coastal Adaptation) Alessio Giardino.

    ADB will help build the capacity of the Maharashtra Maritime Board in shore management planning, including the establishment of a coastal infrastructure management unit. The project will support capacity building of stakeholders on gender equality and social inclusion, coastal management, and livelihood activities.  

    The project builds on the ADB-financed Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Program. It aims to enhance fisheries and tourism, while encouraging increased participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in coastal zone management.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Publications Catalog

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Topics include agriculture, education, energy, environment, gender, governance, health, transport, urban development, and water. Most of these publications can be downloaded for free from the ADB Publications pages. Hard copies of listed titles can be ordered from Amazon online; or via the “Order print publication” button on the relevant web pages. Orders can also be placed through our commercial distributors, booksellers, and copublishers when indicated in the publication’s description.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Police conduct enquiries in Marokopa area after sighting of missing children

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Please attribute to Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders:

    Waikato Police are continuing to make enquiries after a sighting of Tom Phillips and his children was reported on Thursday evening.

    Investigators received information about 7pm on Thursday that Tom had been seen in bush area west of Coutts Road in Marokopa with Jayda, Maverick and Ember.

    Our enquiries have established that this was a credible sighting, and Police believe it was indeed Tom and his children.

    Police dispatched staff to the Marokopa area on Thursday night and a three-day search was commenced.

    Part of the search phase included air support from the Police Eagle helicopter and a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter.

    While nothing further of significance was located, investigators will now assess information gathered to determine any next steps.

    This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children’s wider family.

    Police continue to urge those in the Marokopa community to remain alert and report any suspicious activity, no matter how minor, to us.

    If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use reference number 211218/5611.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged in relation to assault, Courtenay Place

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A man has been charged in relation to an assault on Courtenay Place in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    Emergency services were called to Courtenay Place outside the old Reading Cinema about 3.20am after a 21-year-old man was injured.

    He was transported to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

    A 29-year-old man has now been arrested in relation to this incident.  He has been charged with wounding with reckless disregard, and is due to appear in Wellington District Court today.

    Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed this assault, or who has any knowledge of it or of those involved.  In particular, we want to speak to two women who were sitting close by when the incident occurred, and who would have witnessed what happened.

    If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105 and use the reference number 241006/5414.

    Police have also opened an online portal where anyone who has any relevant video footage or images can upload their material.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three arrested for burglary, Hamilton

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Three people were arrested this morning following a traffic stop in the Dinsdale area.

    At around 3.45am, a Police unit sighted a vehicle of interest relating to a burglary in Te Kowhai on Sunday.

    Senior Sergeant Leo Belay says a traffic stop was carried out and the vehicle was stopped without issue.

    “A search of the vehicle located a number of items relating to multiple burglaries across the Waikato District, along with the seizure of drug utensils.

    “Police followed positive lines of enquiry after reviewing CCTV footage of the Te Kowhai burglary, these arrests highlight the value that CCTV provides Police when investigating such offenses.”

    Some items recovered include car keys, passports, power tools, watches, and jewellery.

    All three occupants of the vehicle were arrested at the scene without incident.

    “This is another good example of our staff remaining vigilant in the community, and a great example of proactive Police work by frontline officers,” says Senior Sergeant Belay.

    “Waikato Police are committed to ensuring our community is safe and we hope these arrests provide reassurance to the community.

    “Due to the amount of evidence located in the vehicle, investigators will be continuing to make enquiries, to ensure the stolen property safely returns to their rightful owners over the coming days. Identification of further victims through these enquiries will likely result in further charges being laid.”

    A 43-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today facing six charges of burglary, while a 47-year-old man is due to appear facing one charge of burglary.

    A 33-year-old man was charged for possessing a drug utensil and was remanded on bail to reappear at a later date.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bush to Belly event in Punakaiki celebrates wild goat meat

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  07 October 2024

    The event is being held on Saturday 19 October between 10 am and 1 pm at the DOC Punakaiki workshop and is part of the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition. It will include a demonstration of how to butcher a goat, as well as a chance to taste goat cooked by a variety of methods.

    There will be talks about hunter and firearms safety and on DOC’s work protecting the environment from wild goats. People will also be able to meet some of the dogs and hunters who work to reduce wild goat populations on the West Coast.

    Community Ranger Maire Hearty, who is helping to organise the event, says it is a great chance to learn how to break a goat down to different cuts and get some ideas about how to prepare the meat in different ways.

    “Goat meat is great in curries, on the barbeque and roasted, and people will be able to try meat cooked these ways on the day.”

    Fiona Anderson, DOC Regional Lead for Wild Animals, says wild goats are prolific breeders, and can double their population every year when there is lots of food around and limited hunting pressure. 

    “There are thousands of wild goats around Punakaiki, they really love the limestone country. They heavily browse native plants which threatens forest health and prevents regeneration. Over time, goats change the composition of the forest as they eat the seedlings of their favourite species.

    “DOC cannot manage their numbers alone and we encourage as many hunters as possible to get involved in the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition, which runs until November 26. 

    “Bring your tails along to the event to enter the competition. NZDA’s Shane Hall will be on site to officially measure goat heads for the NZDA greatest of all time (G.O.A.T) category.”

    The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has a variety of categories for all age groups and levels of experience. The competition aims to encourage hunters, agencies, and landowners to get involved and help reduce the damage wild goats cause to the environment. 

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: HK to attract new batch of key enterprises: financial chief

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Paul Chan said on Sunday that the HKSAR government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises will announce next month a list of more than 10 enterprises that will establish a foothold in Hong Kong.

    These enterprises are from the Chinese mainland, the United States, Europe and other places, with more than half of them specializing in artificial intelligence and big data. Some of them are leading enterprises in their fields.

    Chan said that entering the fourth quarter of 2024, the overall market atmosphere has improved significantly. From September to last Friday, the average daily turnover was about 192 billion HK dollars (about 24.72 billion U.S. dollars), which was double of that in August.

    Chan said that the continuous reform and innovation of Hong Kong’s listing system over a past period of time have enhanced Hong Kong stock market’s attractiveness and vitality.

    In 2018, Hong Kong allowed pre-revenue/pre-profit biotechnology companies, and new economy companies with different share structures, to list in Hong Kong.

    There are more than 330 new economy companies listed in Hong Kong. Although they only account for about 30 percent of the listed companies, their total market value exceeded 9.6 trillion HK dollars, accounting for more than 26 percent of the total market value of Hong Kong stocks and accounting for nearly 23 percent of the average daily trading volume of Hong Kong stocks. This has brought the Hong Kong stock market to a new level.

    Last year, Hong Kong further introduced a special listing rule for specialist technology companies to support these companies to raise funds.

    These reforms have made Hong Kong a preferred listing destination for many tech companies, Chan said.

    At the end of this month, Chan will lead a delegation from the financial and innovation sectors to the Middle East to promote Hong Kong’s latest development as an international financial, trade and innovation center, Hong Kong’s unique advantages and functions under “one country, two systems,” as well as new opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. (1 HK dollar equals 0.13 U.S. dollars) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: People don’t like a ‘white saviour’, but does it affect how they donate to charity?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hoffmann, Professor of Economics, Tasmanian Behavioural Lab, University of Tasmania

    Shutterstock

    Efforts to redress global inequality are facing an unexpected adversary: the white saviour. It’s the idea that people of colour, whether in the Global South or North, need “saving” by a white Western person or aid worker.

    An eclectic mix of white activists have been publicly accused of being white saviours for trying to help different causes in the Global South. They include celebrities who adopted orphaned children, organised benefit concerts such as Live Aid, or called out rights abuses.

    Others include professional and volunteer charity workers and journalists reporting on poverty in Africa. Even activism at home can earn the white saviour label, like efforts to refine the proposal for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Australia.

    We conducted a series of studies with 1,991 representative Australians to find out what people thought made a white saviour, how charity appeal photographs create this impression, and how it affected donations.

    White saviourism and charities

    The concern is that white people’s overseas charity, even when well-meaning, can inadvertently hurt rather than help the cause. It could perpetuate harmful stereotypes of white superiority, disempower local people, or misdirect resources to make helpers feel good rather than alleviating genuine need.

    The fear of being labelled a white saviour could make people think twice about giving time or money to worthy causes. It might stop aid organisations using proven appeals to raise donations they need.

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), for instance, released a video apologising for using photos depicting white people in aid settings and which aren’t representative of the majority local staff they employ.

    Therein lies the dilemma: white donors can relate to photos of white helpers, but this is easily interpreted as white savourism.

    What makes someone a white saviour?

    Very little research exists into exactly what white saviourism means. Broadly, it seems to describe people in the Global North who support international causes for selfish reasons, to satisfy their own sentimentality and need for a positive image. We wanted to go deeper.

    In the first of our studies, we showed our participants 26 photographs depicting different Global South aid settings with a white helper.

    The helpers that participants thought of as highly “white saviour” typically had these characteristics:

    • they appeared to be privileged and superior

    • they gave help sentimentally and tokenistically

    • they conformed to the colonial stereotype of the helpless local and powerful foreigner.

    Further analysis showed these characteristics boil down to two essential features: ineffectiveness of the help and entitlement of the helpers.

    These two perceptions of the white saviour explain the problem for charity. Behavioural economics research has identified two main reasons for donating, and these perceptions undermine both.

    Why do people donate at all?

    So to see how much white saviourism affects charities, we need to know why people donate in the first place.

    One reason for giving is pure altruism, the desire to help others with no direct benefit to oneself. The effective altruism movement encourages people to make every donated dollar count – getting the maximum bang for the buck in terms of measurable outcomes for those in need.

    The difficulty for effective altruists is in assessing the impact of different charities vying for their donations. There are now websites that list charities by lives saved per dollar donated.



    Read more:
    How white saviourism harms international development

    Alternatively, donors might look at a charity’s appeal images for clues of how effectively it will use their dollars.

    Depicting white people as saviours can create the impression of tokenistic aid that only serves the helper’s sentimental needs. Evidence shows people resent impure motives in others (including organisations) and might try to penalise them.

    Behavioural economics research also shows, as you might expect, that some people are more concerned about themselves than others when giving. This is known as “warm glow” giving.

    Warm glow givers have several self-serving motivations. They include giving to gain self-respect or social status.

    People also have a desire to meet their social obligations. For richer folks this could include charitable giving. And giving can reduce guilt they might feel about their privilege.

    Just like the effective altruist, the warm glow giver could be put off by any sign of white saviourism. They don’t want to be seen to be endorsing it.

    Do people still donate?

    All this suggests that seeing a white saviour depiction in a charitable appeal will make people donate less.

    We examined this in another study, in which participants were shown each of the previous photos. This time they were asked, for every photo, if they were willing to donate to a charity that uses it.

    And as we thought, the photos previously rated as high in white saviourism had low intentions to donate.

    Participants were shown photos of white aid workers in the Global South.
    Shutterstock

    But intentions do not always equal actions, as psychologist have demonstrated for many years.

    To overcome this, we measured real donations in another study. Again participants saw the same photos, but this time they had the chance to donate part of their participation fee to a real charity when seeing them.

    What we found surprised us: the white saviour effect disappeared. How high a photo was on the white saviour scale had no impact on how much participants donated when seeing it.

    Does the end justify the motivation?

    Our results summarise the dilemma. Donors might object to white saviourism by charities, but in the end feel that it’s the help that counts, not the motivation behind it.

    We found some evidence for this when we asked participants about their general views of white saviourism.

    Almost 70% agreed that white saviour motives are common in Western help and that this was problematic for recipients. But interestingly, only 42% thought helpers with these motives deserved criticism.

    Together, this might suggest that people feel white saviour help is better than no help. There are voices in the charity community who echo this sentiment: imposing conditions on charitable giving will serve to reduce it.

    In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Elise Westhoff, president of the Philanthropy Roundtable in the United States, said “by imposing those ‘musts’ and ‘shoulds’, you really limit human generosity”.

    But this doesn’t mean there are no legitimate concerns. There are, but it’s not hard for charities to address them.

    Our results show that white saviour perceptions do not affect actual donations, so read another way, suggests charities can safely replace highly white saviour images without losing donations for their causes.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. People don’t like a ‘white saviour’, but does it affect how they donate to charity? – https://theconversation.com/people-dont-like-a-white-saviour-but-does-it-affect-how-they-donate-to-charity-239307

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –