NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch Join Effort to Protect Idaho Transportation Department from Federal Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined a bicameral group of colleagues in filing an amicus brief requesting an Appeals Court uphold a District Court decision vacating a rule that would require local entities to regulate greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from cars and trucks.  

    In November 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted a final rule requiring state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure GHG emissions on the highway system and set declining targets.  The rule would hamstring the Idaho Transportation Department with costly and burdensome requirements that would divert limited funds for needed infrastructure improvements across the state to costly and expensive compliance measures by the federal government.

    Crapo and Risch joined a bipartisan Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the rule.  The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 53 to 47 in April, reiterating Congress’s opposition to FHWA’s overreach

    Shortly after the rule was finalized, 21 state attorneys general filed litigation challenging the regulation.  The U.S. District Court found the Biden Administration rule to be illegal, but FHWA appealed the decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and it remains under further consideration.

    The brief, led by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), argues Congress debated and rejected granting FHWA the authority to issue GHG performance measure rules and the FHWA then intentionally misconstrued Congressional intent to justify its improper exercise of authority.  It also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and FHWA is bypassing principles of federalism to further its own policy agenda.

    “Congress considered, and ultimately rejected, providing [FHWA] with the authority to issue a GHG performance measure regulation, but [FHWA] contorted ancillary existing authorities to impose one anyway,” the members argued.  “In doing so, [FHWA] impermissibly usurped the Legislative Branch’s authority and promulgated the GHG performance measure without statutory authority delegated by Congress.”

    “Put simply, when [FHWA] established a GHG performance measure regulation, it exceeded the powers Congress authorized.  And it did so both at the expense of separation of powers and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act,” continued the members.

    Additional cosigners of the amicus brief include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Arkansas), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-Missouri), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

    Click here for the amicus brief.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Council of Ministers meeting on 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –

    Presidency of the Council of Ministers

    Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
    ……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….

    Press release

    Council of Ministers meeting on 9 October 2024

    The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and decided to grant full powers to the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, within the scope of development cooperation. The agreement is expected to be signed on October 11, during the official visit of Minister Gastão Francisco de Sousa to Jakarta.

    This memorandum of understanding covers several areas of development cooperation, including building basic infrastructure, promoting affordable renewable energy, creating sustainable cities and communities, fostering agriculture and rural development, encouraging tourism, improving the health and education sectors, stimulating private sector investment, promoting digital development, social inclusion, and climate change mitigation efforts. ENDS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourism records new highs during holiday

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

    Tourist attractions in China were packed with visitors during the weeklong National Day holiday, while affordable international flights and accommodations ensured that overseas destinations also benefited from the strong spending power of Chinese travelers.

    The latest figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism show that domestic attractions received 765 million visits during the holiday, also known as Golden Week, which started on Oct 1. That was up 5.9 percent year-on-year and an increase of 10.2 percent compared with the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Tourism-related revenue reached a record high of over 700.8 billion yuan ($99.4 billion) during the break, up 6.3 percent year-on-year and an increase of 7.9 percent compared with the same period in 2019.

    Ye Wen, a resident of Jiangxi province who visited Beijing with her family, said the Chinese capital was a crowd magnet during the holiday. “We were packed like sardines. I felt my feet didn’t touch the ground as I pushed my way through the crowd,” she said.

    However, Ye emphasized that their trip was meaningful because this year’s National Day marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

    “I took my grandparents to Tian’anmen Square, the Palace Museum and the Summer Palace. It was a pity, though, that we didn’t have the opportunity to watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tian’anmen,” she added.

    According to official statistics, about 123,000 people including tourists and local residents watched the flag-raising ceremony at Tian’anmen Square on Oct 1.

    While Beijing and Shanghai remained the top domestic travel choices during Golden Week, the craze over Black Myth: Wukong — a video game based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West — turned lesser-known cities and counties into holiday destinations.

    For example, Xixian county in Shanxi province reaped big benefits, because several scenes in the video game are based on one of its tourist spots, Xiaoxi­tian, or Thousand Buddha Nunnery, which boasts stunning Buddhist architecture and cultural elements.

    The unexpected and huge influx of tourists prompted local authorities to limit the number of visitors to Xiaoxitian to 10,000 per day starting on Thursday.

    Data from travel portal Fliggy shows that in addition to the robust growth in domestic tourism, international travel also increased during the weeklong break, thanks to a drop in airfares and hotel room rates.

    During the holiday, bookings for overseas tour products jumped 50 percent year-on-year on the platform, while hotel bookings saw 20 percent growth compared with the same period in 2019, Fliggy said.

    Domestic airfares and hotel rates dropped 13 percent and 6 percent, respectively, compared with last year, while international flights and hotel rooms were respectively cheaper by 19 percent and 3 percent, according to the portal.

    “All trips were value for the money,” Fliggy said.

    Tourism data recorded by another travel agency, Qunar, was equally encouraging. Overseas flight and hotel bookings by users on the platform covered 1,597 cities in 144 countries and regions during the holiday.

    Short-haul Asian destinations with friendly visa policies, including Japan, Thailand and South Korea, remained top choices for Chinese travelers, according to Qunar.

    Travelers from first-tier Chinese cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, preferred long-haul flights to holiday destinations in Europe and the United States, it added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Hidden Cottage’ keeps heart of Chinese culture beating in Taipei

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    As dusk falls, a small sign lights up at the entrance of a narrow front yard in Taipei’s old town, where passersby usually pause to make out the ink-brushed calligraphy reading “Yin Lu” — or “Hidden Cottage”.

    Calligrapher Chen Jun-guang gives a lesson to students at Yin Lu in Taipei last month. FU SHUANGQI/XINHUA

    Xin Yi-yun’s lecture there on Chinese philosophy starts promptly at 7 pm every Thursday. The small hall, which seats about 30 people, is usually full, with mostly older attendees and a few younger ones scattered among them.

    Since 2011, this philosophy course has come a long way, covering various schools from Taoism to Confucianism and the lesser-known School of Naturalists. Its location was moved to the humble apartment from the grand Taipei Zhongshan Hall, a heritage site where a ceremony to accept Japan’s surrender after World War II was held in 1945.

    “A person’s basic understanding and awareness of their own culture is incredibly important, especially in today’s world, where East and West collide,” said Xin, a disciple of renowned historian and philosopher Qian Mu, when speaking about why he has been teaching Chinese classics for so many years outside campus.

    Many of the attendees came to the class to resolve the fundamental question: “Who am I?”

    “I’m not just here to take a philosophy class or acquire knowledge. I’m seeking an answer to a deeper life question,” said Liang Zheng-yi who is in his early forties. He was once a student of Xin at the Taipei University of the Arts and now regularly attends the classes at Yin Lu.

    “I began reflecting on this in college. As a musician, the techniques and materials I learned were from the West. So how can the things I create represent me? If we’re talking about using Western methods with a Chinese foundation, then what is that ‘Chinese foundation’?” he said.

    At 33, Li Yi-peng found solace from internal conflicts through the class. Growing up with parents who had worked in the United States, he said he was influenced by the notion that “Chinese culture is outdated, and the West is better; you should listen to American pop music and watch American and European movies.”

    “I didn’t want to be a person who felt disappointed in his own culture,” he said. Learning from the wisdom of his ancestors helped him realize that “our cultural tradition is amazing. It addresses daily life issues practically, unites a nation’s core spirit, and even answers the question of happiness.”

    Apart from Xin’s philosophy course, calligrapher Chen Jun-guang also teaches at Yin Lu. Compared with Xin’s course, the students in Chen’s class range more widely in age, from a fifth-grader to a university student and a grandfather.

    “Calligraphy class is like a door. Once you step through it, you encounter many other aspects of traditional culture,” said Xie Yu-juan, an architect in Taipei.

    In 2019, she and her classmates embarked on a “calligraphy journey” to the mainland, where they learned the traditional techniques of how to make paper, ink stones, ink, and brushes.

    Chen, who lives in Pingtung in southern Taiwan, lamented that enthusiasm for learning calligraphy has greatly waned since his youth.

    “In the past, the calligraphy club in a middle school would have more than 100 members; now, only a handful,” he said.

    Nonetheless, he believes that being a uniquely Chinese art form, calligraphy is deeply embedded in the cultural genes, waiting for the right conditions to sprout.

    The owner of Yin Lu, Lin Gu-fang, once chaired the Taipei Lecture Hall, located on the third floor of the Taipei Zhongshan Hall.

    Under his leadership, the busy cultural hub became a landmark for promoting traditional Chinese culture and fostering cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

    Since Lin’s departure in the autumn of 2020, Taipei Zhongshan Hall has remained an active cultural space, hosting performances and lectures on ballet, folk songs, and modern dance.

    Compared to the spacious rooms of Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Yin Lu feels cramped. Its limited space and location in a quiet residential community, have made it difficult to attract new participants.

    Both Liang and Li felt that people like themselves, who are captivated by traditional culture, are fewer in Taiwan.

    For many, the connection to tradition is either distant or vague, and the current authorities are trying to keep a distance from traditional Chinese culture because of their independence agenda.

    “However, when critical life events like birth, aging, sickness, or death occur, people instinctively turn to tradition,” Li said.

    “History is vital to the Chinese people. For us, life is a long river; only by having a past can we live firmly in the present and pursue happiness in the future,” said Xin.

    “If you forcibly sever ties with the past, you will become a drifting, lonely soul.”

    Stepping out of Yin Lu, one can still find similar people like Xin and Chen as well as attendees at their classes.

    For example, Sun Rui-jin, the chief musician at the Taipei Confucius Temple for 37 years, has dedicated himself to training successive groups of middle school students to perform ancient music at the memorial services for Confucius. Tea master Tang Wenjing has been committed to recreating the whole tea-making and drinking ritual following what was recorded in the book The Classic of Tea by Tang scholar Lu Yu in the eighth century.

    “There are three meanings behind naming this space ‘hidden cottage’,” said Lin. “First, it refers to the traditional saying that the great hermit hides in the city. Second, it reflects the ancient wisdom that when the ‘Way’ does not prevail in the world, one should retreat.”

    The third meaning comes from Lin’s unique observation of Taiwan society. He believes there is a “visible Taiwan” and a “hidden Taiwan”.

    The visible side, which people see in the media, online, and in politics, is noisy and chaotic. In contrast, the hidden side is made up of those quietly holding on to their own cause.

    “In the past, the visible and hidden sides of Taiwan coexisted in balance. Now, the hidden side is indeed gradually diminishing,” Lin remarked. “Although Yin Lu is small, it represents a small glimmer of hope.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhen airport welcomes over 6,500 foreign visitors during National Day holiday

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

    Shenzhen airport welcomes over 6,500 foreign visitors during National Day holiday

    “China Travel” continues to soar in global popularity. During the National Day holiday, Shenzhen Airport saw an influx of over 6,500 foreign visitors — an 87.3-percent year-on-year increase. Nearly 1,500 of them entered visa-free. Most visitors hail from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Germany. The airport also handled over 103,000 passengers during the holiday, a 56.9-percent rise compared to previous years.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Sony Unveils New Technologies to Advance Autonomous Mobile Robots

    Source: Sony

    Tokyo, Japan — Sony Group Corporation (Sony Group) today announced that five research papers on robotic mobility published by Sony Group and Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (SIE) have been accepted at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2024, one of the top international conferences in the fields of AI and robotics.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sony Unveils New Technologies to Advance Autonomous Mobile Robots

    Source: Sony

    Tokyo, Japan — Sony Group Corporation (Sony Group) today announced that five research papers on robotic mobility published by Sony Group and Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (SIE) have been accepted at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2024, one of the top international conferences in the fields of AI and robotics.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: National Day holiday consumption displays China’s economic vitality, potential

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Tourists taste food at the Qianmen pedestrian street in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s just-concluded National Day holiday ignited a surge in consumer activity, fueled by a dynamic blend of travel demand and targeted incentives, highlighting the strong economic vitality of the world’s second largest economy.

    Over the seven-day holiday ending on Monday, more than 2 billion cross-regional trips were made nationwide, according to the Ministry of Transport, representing a 4.1-percent average daily increase compared to 2023.

    The surge in travel not only boosted tourism-related industries but also stimulated consumer spending across various sectors — highlighting the resilience of China’s domestic market during and beyond the holiday period.

    Local governments and businesses responded to the travel rush with innovative initiatives, such as consumer vouchers and home appliance trade-in programs, aimed at tapping into the holiday spirit and bolstering consumption.

    Tourism boom with inbound surge

    The holiday unleashed a travel frenzy. During the holiday period, a remarkable 765 million domestic trips were made, marking a 5.9 percent year-on-year increase, with total tourist spending surging 6.3 percent to 700.8 billion yuan (about 99.11 billion U.S. dollars).

    The travel boom was fueled by a growing demand for diverse tourism experiences, with domestic bookings of travel packages, including flights, hotels and dining, jumping by 40 percent, according to Fliggy, a popular travel platform.

    Data from Trip.com, another leading travel platform, showed that outbound travel orders had surpassed 2019 level, driven by trips to popular destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.

    Notably, inbound tourism exceeded outbound travel, with inbound orders skyrocketing by 60 percent year on year during the holiday, as more foreign tourists flocked to China, drawn by its unique blend of natural beauty, historical landmarks and vibrant modern attractions.

    The China Tourism Academy predicts that foreign arrivals in the second half of 2024 will exceed 15 million, with the inbound tourism market expected to return to 2019 level, marking the start of a new growth cycle.

    Cultural tourism flourished during the holiday, seeing activities like museum visits, exhibitions and immersive experiences becoming major highlights. Beijing, for instance, hosted over 900 cultural events, an 11-percent increase compared with last year.

    Fueled by the blockbuster video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” north China’s Shanxi has recently seen a phenomenal travel boom, as this province is home to many of the stunning locations featured in the game.

    Analysts expect that as more travelers engage with diverse cultures, the vibrant growth of China’s economy and the richness of its cultural heritage will be fully showcased.

    Spending boost with policy support

    The holiday also sparked a wave of consumer activity, with government-backed incentives playing a key role in heating up the market.

    China unveiled an action plan in March this year to implement a program of large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-ins of consumer goods to expand domestic demand, and stepped up policy support in July with an extra funds injection of 300 billion yuan via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    Encouraged by the trade-in policy and automaker discounts, the holiday period saw new car sales increase by 11.7 percent — with new energy vehicle sales surging 45.8 percent year on year.

    During the holiday, JD.com, a leading online retailer, reported an increase of 67 percent in home appliance sales compared with 2023, while home appliance retailer, Suning, saw trade-in orders rising by 132 percent year on year.

    According to the Ministry of Commerce, in the first three days of the holiday, 1.04 million consumers purchased 1.55 million home appliances under the trade-in program, contributing to sales of 7.36 billion yuan.

    Powered by the travel and tourism surge, the dining sector across China sizzled with energy. Data from Meituan, one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms for services, showed that from Oct.1 to 5, daily average dine-in consumption rose 33.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

    Audiences packed cinemas, with a total of 2.1 billion yuan in box office takings recorded during the holiday.

    Local governments rolled out policy measures to spur consumption. Shanghai, for instance, injected 5 billion yuan into vouchers for dining, entertainment and shopping, while cities including Chongqing hosted a variety of promotions to spark consumption.

    “The robust holiday consumption highlights China’s vast market, and its strong economic resilience and great potential,” said Xu Guangjian, a professor at the Renmin University of China.

    The accelerated integration of culture, sports and tourism, along with evolving business models, is creating new opportunities for sustained growth, further consolidating the role of consumption as a key driver of the economy, Xu noted.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Heavy-duty gas turbine undergoes first ignition test

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A view of China’s self-developed 300 MW F-class heavy-duty gas turbine. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s independently developed 300 megawatt F-class heavy-duty gas turbine successfully completed its first ignition test on Monday in Shanghai’s Lingang area, underscoring the nation’s advancements toward enhanced energy security and sustainable development.

    The 300MW F-class unit, developed by China United Gas Turbine Technology Co, represents the largest and most technologically advanced heavy-duty gas turbine China has developed entirely through domestic efforts. Its technical indicators match those of mainstream international F-class turbine models currently in operation worldwide, according to the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

    The ignition validates the turbine’s overall design integrity, manufacturing quality and functionality of the testing systems, paving the way for comprehensive operational verification trials.

    “This breakthrough follows over eight years of intensive research and development,” said Minister Jin Zhuanglong. “This successful ignition is another milestone following the rollout of the first prototype in February, officially advancing the program into full machine testing and validation.”

    Mo Jingfei, director of the science and technology management department at China United Gas Turbine Technology, highlighted the unit’s generating capacity.

    “It is estimated that under a combined cycle configuration, a single set of this equipment could generate approximately 450,000 kilowatts per hour — equivalent to one-eighth of the average hourly electricity consumption in Beijing,” he was quoted by Xinhua News Agency.

    Compared with the generation efficiency of 35-46 percent for conventional thermal power, the generation efficiency of combined cycle power plants can reach 55 percent, and can be coupled with new energy to better meet user demands in peak adjustment, Mo added.

    As a type of internal combustion and a core engine in the energy sector, gas turbines generate power by burning fuel like natural gas mixed with air to spin turbine blades. They can operate continuously for long periods in high-temperature, high-stress and highly corrosive environments. Based on operating temperatures, the heavy-duty units are classified into E, F, G/H and J classes, with F-class representing the mainstream global model operating at around 1,400 C.

    Compared to traditional coal and oil-fired power plants, natural gas-fired turbines emit significantly lower levels of pollutants. Their carbon dioxide emissions are approximately half those of coal-fired power plants, making this cleaner, more sustainable technology essential for China and other nations striving to meet environmental goals. These turbines have widespread applications in ground-based power generation and peak shaving for power grids.

    However, developing huge, ultrahigh temperature gas turbines is widely regarded as an immense engineering challenge. As reported by local news portal The Paper, for about six decades, the global heavy-duty gas turbine market has been dominated by US, German and Japanese manufacturers, and China’s gas turbine industry has been plagued by latecomer challenges such as design complexity and restricted access to proprietary foreign technologies.

    The tide began to turn in 2012 when China’s State Council launched the national strategic program focused on aero engines and gas turbines. In 2014, major enterprises, including the former China Power Investment Corporation, joined forces to establish a united company in Shanghai to spearhead development efforts through independent design efforts and strategic technology cooperation.

    In 2017, the united company became China United Gas Turbine Technology Co, which was tasked with leading national R&D initiatives from fundamental research to prototype manufacturing and validation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: US and Multinational Partners Prepare for Largest Indo-Pacific Army Exercise

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii  –  

    The 25th Infantry Division and The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) is set to execute its largest Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation to date, beginning Oct. 7, 2024. JPMRC 25-01 will span from Alaska to the Hawaiian Islands, and over to Palau and is the only CTC that can stress the system that hard.

    As the U.S. Army’s premier training center in the Indo-Pacific, JPMRC plays a pivotal role in ensuring military readiness by providing a realistic training environment that mimics the region’s challenging jungle to high-altitude volcanic desert and archipelagic environment.

    The 25-01 rotation will bring together U.S. military forces alongside regional Allies and partners to conduct multi-domain, live, virtual, and constructive training in preparation for future operations.

    As the primary training audience, the 2nd Light Brigade Combat Team (2LBCT) will work alongside units from the 11th Airborne Division, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, selected units from United States Army Special Operations Command, and multinational partners. Together, these forces will tackle the simulated operational environments, ensuring that they are well-prepared to operate cohesively in real-world situations.

    In preparation for the largest JPMRC rotation, operations staffs at echelon are critical. With the essential duties of planning, coordinating, and supervising all operational and training activities within a battalion, the operations staff ensures that units are prepared, synchronized, and effective in both peacetime and combat scenarios.

    “In the JPMRC timeline, we execute the operations order brief to the brigade commander,” explains U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Onorato, a S-3 (Operations) officer assigned to 2LBCT, 25th Inf. Div. “It allows all the subordinate units of 2nd brigade to synchronize and work together effectively to ultimately achieve our goal of successful operations for JPMRC.”

    This year’s rotation features participation from Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Maldives, Australia, and the United Kingdom. These forces will engage in collaborative exercises that simulate complex, multi-domain challenges.

    JPMRC 25-01 will validate 2LBCT’s Transformation in Contact construct in a real-time, high-pressure environment. Aligned with the campaign of learning, 2LBCT will incorporate lessons learned from the 101st Airborne recent rotation at Joint Readiness Training Center. They will further test new technologies and systems designed to improve our warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.

    JPMRC provides a key opportunity for the force to train in austere environments, develop leaders, systems, and processes that will enhance overall military capability in the Indo-Pacific region.

    “Coming out to the field allows us to do a proof of concept,” explains U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nathan Morgan, a maintenance platoon leader assigned to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, “With the proper planning and training we can execute major mission functions in any environment.”

    As the largest JPMRC rotation ever held in Hawaii, 25-01 demonstrates the U.S. Army’s relentless pursuit of excellence, and its commitment to ensuring that U.S. forces, alongside their Allies and Partners, remain prepared for whatever challenges the future may hold in the Indo-Pacific.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With Japan’s Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Japan’s Minister of Defense, Nakatani Gen.

    Secretary Austin congratulated Minister Nakatani on his recent appointment at a time when the United States and Japan continue making historic progress on Alliance priorities. The two officials reaffirmed their commitment to modernize Alliance command and control and expand bilateral presence in Japan’s Southwest Islands. The two officials also reiterated the importance of deepening defense cooperation with regional partners to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    Secretary Austin expressed his hope that they would have an opportunity to meet in person soon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: General out-patient clinic service arrangements on Chung Yeung Festival

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    General out-patient clinic service arrangements on Chung Yeung Festival
    General out-patient clinic service arrangements on Chung Yeung Festival
    ***********************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (October 9) announced that 14 general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) will provide public holiday GOPC services on the Chung Yeung Festival holiday (October 11) (see table below). Patients may book an appointment either through the telephone appointment system or the “Book GOPC” function of the “HA Go” mobile app.     The spokesperson reminded members of the public that they should stay vigilant to personal and environmental hygiene during the public holiday to avoid spreading diseases. Members of the public who develop respiratory symptoms should wear a mask and seek medical advice promptly. Apart from GOPCs of the HA, patients may also consider attending consultation by private family doctors. To choose a suitable family doctor and related clinic service, the public can browse the Primary Care Directory of the Health Bureau at http://www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.     Moreover, the HA is currently providing seasonal influenza vaccinations to eligible persons at public hospitals and outpatient clinics. The spokesperson said that eligible patients can receive vaccinations at the time of their scheduled follow-up appointments at clinics. Patients with a distant follow-up appointment date may visit or contact the respective clinics for necessary arrangements. The spokesperson emphasised, “As Hong Kong is about to enter winter, the risk of influenza transmission increases. High-risk individuals such as chronic disease patients, the elderly and children may develop severe complications after an influenza infection, leading to serious illness or death. Members of the public should receive seasonal influenza vaccinations as soon as possible to enhance immunity against influenza and greatly reduce the risk of serious illness or death from infection.”GOPC service arrangements on Chung Yeung Festival (October 11) 

    Region
    List of GOPCs
    Address
    Telephone number for booking
    General enquiries

    Hong Kong Island
    Aberdeen Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic
    10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road, Aberdeen
    3543 5011
    2555 0381

    Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic
    1/F, 8 Chai Wan Road, Shau Kei Wan
    3157 0077
    2560 0211

    Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic
    LG, Tang Shiu Kin Hospital Community Ambulatory Care Centre, 282 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
    3157 0000
    3553 3116

    Kowloon
    Kwun Tong Community Health Centre
    UG/F, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong
    3157 0687
    2389 0331

    Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Family Medicine Clinic
    G/F, Out-patient Block, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, 118 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin
    3157 0118
    2354 2267

    Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic
    600 Prince Edward Road East, San Po Kong
    3157 0113
    2383 3311

    Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic
    1/F, 145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei
    3157 0880
    2272 2400

    New Territories
    Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic
    213 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan
    3157 0107
    2614 4789

    Lek Yuen General Out-patient Clinic
    G/F, 9 Lek Yuen Street, Sha Tin
    3157 0972
    2692 8730

    Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic
    G/F, 108-130 Jockey Club Road, Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui
    3157 0965
    2670 0211

    Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic
    G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po
    3157 0906
    2664 2039

    Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic
    G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O
    3157 0660
    2191 1083

    Tuen Mun Clinic
    11 Tsing Yin Street, San Hui, Tuen Mun
    3543 0886
    2452 9111

    Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre
    269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long
    3543 5007
    2443 8511

     Service hours:9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Property owner fined over $230,000 for persistently not complying with removal orders

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Property owner fined over $230,000 for persistently not complying with removal orders
    Property owner fined over $230,000 for persistently not complying with removal orders
    *************************************************************************************

         A property owner who persistently failed to comply with two removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) was convicted and fined over $230,000 in September 2024 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts.      Both removal orders involved unauthorised building works (UBWs) at a three-storey house on Yu Chui Street, Tai Lam, Tuen Mun. The first removal order included illegal site formation works for constructing an unauthorised platform of about 122 square metres on a slope adjoining an approved garden, erection of a floor slab over a void adjacent to an approved dining room, removing parts of external walls and constructing unauthorised structures to extend the floors at different levels of the building with a total floor area of about 57 sq m. The second removal order included an unauthorised canopy at a ground floor entrance. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), two removal orders were served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.      Failing to comply with the first removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD six times, was fined over $350,000 in total and was given a four-month imprisonment sentence suspended for two years upon convictions by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the seventh time. The owner also did not comply with the second removal order and he was prosecuted at the same time. The owner was convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on December 2, 2022, and the court adjourned the hearing and ordered the owner to report on the status of the removal of the UBWs before handing down a sentence. On the adjourned hearing date of September 27, 2024, the owner reported to the court that the UBWs under the second removal order had been removed and a contractor had been appointed to follow up on the remaining UBWs removal work under the first removal order. Eventually the owner was fined by the court $239,100 in total, of which $113,100 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.      A spokesman for the BD today (October 9) said, “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. The owners concerned must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions and consider instigating prosecution against the owners again if they persist in not complying with the orders, so as to ensure building safety.”      Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: DPRK test-fires multiple rocket launcher shells

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Academy of Defence Sciences of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a test-fire of 240 mm-caliber controllable multiple rocket launcher shells on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday.

    The test-fire aimed at reconfirming the hit accuracy of the rocket launcher shells at a maximum range of 67 km while checking the reliability of the automatic firing system, the KCNA said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: A-share market set to further buoy confidence

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Following the A-share market’s recent robust recovery buoyed by a number of stronger-than-expected stimulative policies, increasingly confident investors are attaching more attention to the stock market, whose upward momentum can be further consolidated by more supportive measures and the ongoing optimization of China’s economic growth, said industry experts.

    Preparations were made during the National Day holiday, which ended on Monday. The Shanghai Stock Exchange announced on Sunday that it will add an extra five minutes, from 9:25 to 9:30 on each trading day, for designated transactions. The new policy will take effect on Tuesday, the first trading day after the holiday.

    As explained by industry experts, a designated transaction is a step that an investor must take between opening a new stock account and commencing trading on the SSE.The latest adjustment at the SSE has been made to address the surging number of newly registered retail investors over the past few days and to facilitate trading efficiency once the market resumes, they said.

    The market’s upbeat sentiment can be felt at securities brokerages. Leading brokerages provided round-the-clock online account opening and consulting services during the recent holiday. Sinolink Securities said the account opening appointments they received during the holiday jumped 150 percent from a month earlier. Minsheng Securities said the number of daily requests for opening stock accounts over the past seven days was four times the amount before the holiday.

    To meet such surging demand, the securities account platform and identification information checking system at China Securities Depository and Clearing Co resumed operation on Sunday and Monday.

    Investor confidence has been supported by the A-share market’s recent strong rebound. Ever since the batch of incremental policies was introduced on Sept 24, the Shanghai Composite Index gained 20 percent by the end of September, with the Shenzhen Component Index up 29 percent. The combined trading value at the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges hit a new single-day record of 2.6 trillion yuan ($370 billion) on Sept 30.

    Laura Wang, chief China equity strategist at Morgan Stanley, said on Oct 3 that Chinese equities will gain another 10 to 15 percent on average if a new round of fiscal expenditure measures can be released in the following weeks.

    At a news conference scheduled for Tuesday, officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic regulator, will explain their measures to better implement the range of supportive policies released in late September, in order to further advance economic growth and optimize China’s economic structure.

    Yang Delong, chief economist at First Seafront Fund, said the 140-trillion-yuan Chinese household savings will provide more capital for the A-share market after the National Day holiday, providing more upward impetus for the indexes.

    The increase in the Hong Kong stock market has already overtaken that of the A-share market as the latter took more days off for the holiday, said experts at Shenwan Hongyuan Securities. Therefore, a continued rally can be expected from the A-share market in the short run to narrow the price gap with Hong Kong, they added.

    Dai Kang, managing director of the development research center at GF Securities, said private equity investment funds have increased their exposure to the A-share market, which has just seen the strongest rebound in months. Chinese policymakers have smartly used the time window of interest rate cuts made by the US Federal Reserve to introduce stronger-than-expected supportive measures, he said.

    Goldman Sachs upgraded its call on Chinese stocks to overweight, saying that recent stimulus measures have bolstered confidence, and Chinese equities’ valuations are below historical averages while their earnings could further improve.

    Qiu Xiang, joint chief strategist at CITIC Securities, said that the current A-share market rally is mainly supported by reversed market expectations, as a result of the innovative monetary policies and a relaxed grip on the property market announced in late September. A further market recovery can be expected, with companies showing improving earnings and those benefiting from a recovery in domestic demand offering more opportunities to investors, he added.

    Analysts from Huafu Securities also warned investors of the possibility of adjustments and fluctuations in the A-share market after it experienced a drastic increase. But the recent bull run is far from its end. The overall rise will last longer, they said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai gets ready for 7th CIIE

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An attendee takes photos of a billboard during a pre-expo supply-demand matchmaking meeting for the Intelligent Industry & Information Technology Exhibition Area and Automobile Exhibition Area of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China’s Shanghai, Aug. 8, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    With less than 30 days left before the seventh China International Import Expo, due preparations are in place while multinational companies from around the world are looking forward to the annual expo to showcase their new products and technologies.

    During a meeting held by the executive committee of the 7th CIIE on Monday, Wang Wentao, minister of Commerce, said that efforts should be made help companies expand the impact of the show. The exhibition should also help to nurture new-quality productive forces and serve the country’s high-quality development, he said.

    By aligning with the world’s highest standards and best levels, Shanghai has stepped up its preparation for the 7th CIIE by addressing new issues and optimizing services in all aspects, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said at the Monday meeting.

    Various steps have been taken to further facilitate the entry and exit of people and exhibits.

    Shanghai has launched measures such as renewing valid visas for multiple entries and residence permits for this year’s CIIE.

    Customs clearance instructions and supportive measures have been released. The market supervision department continues to implement supportive policies such as exemption from China Compulsory Certification and temporary licenses for special food exhibitors.

    More convenient payment methods have been introduced. Dazhong Transportation (Group) Co Ltd, a taxi-hailing service provider in Shanghai, will complete the installation of 2,000 POS machines accepting foreign bank cards before the CIIE. All restaurants and catering service providers in the exhibition hall have installed POS machines accessible to foreign bank cards.

    Sustainability is another highlight of this year’s CIIE. The green construction rate and material recycling rate of the exhibition will achieve 100 percent. Up to 10 million kWh of green power will be used at the show.

    The 7th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. According to the exhibition’s organizer CIIE bureau, companies have signed up for over 360,000 square meters of exhibition area. More than 70 countries and international organizations will be present at the country exhibition area, overtaking last year’s scale. Norway, Slovakia, Benin, Burundi and Madagascar will participate in the country exhibition for the first time.

    The first inbound exhibit for this year’s show, the three-wheeled concept car made by Japanese manufacturer Yamaha Motor, arrived in Shanghai in September. It will make its debut to the Chinese market via this year’s CIIE.

    It is the seventh year in a row for French beauty giant L’Oreal at the CIIE. This year also marks the fifth consecutive time for the company to work as the chairman of the exhibition’s enterprise alliance.

    “It is both a testimonial of our belief in China and the fact that we want to continue to invest in China,” said Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oreal.

    As Hieronimus further explained, the CIIE is the “only event like this in the world” in which L’Oreal is so involved by introducing new brands, demonstrating the latest innovation results and showcasing technology breakthroughs.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: National Day holiday sees surge in online payments

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An Indian passenger (L) asks about Weixin Pay, one of China’s major mobile payment platforms, at Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, April 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s just-concluded National Day holiday has seen strong consumption momentum, as indicated by a surge in the number of transactions made via Weixin Pay, a major e-payment method in China.

    Over the week-long holiday ending on Monday, the total number of online and offline transactions going through Weixin Pay increased by 20 percent year on year, said a report released by WeChat, an all-in-one social media app operated by Tencent.

    According to the report, cross-border transactions using the service during the period surged by 68 percent compared to last year, suggesting high demand for overseas travel. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Japan are among the most popular overseas destinations based on the transaction figures.

    Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents were also active shoppers on the Chinese mainland during the holiday, with both the number and amount of transactions using WeChat Pay approximately doubling year on year, it said.

    A boom in tourism and consumption has characterized this year’s National Day holiday, during which 765 million domestic trips were made, marking a yearly increase of 5.9 percent, while domestic tourist spending climbed 6.3 percent to 700.8 billion yuan (about 99.11 billion U.S. dollars), according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Miscellaneous amendments to marine legislation to be gazetted tomorrow

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Miscellaneous amendments to marine legislation to be gazetted tomorrow
    Miscellaneous amendments to marine legislation to be gazetted tomorrow
    **********************************************************************

         The Government will gazette tomorrow (October 10) a proposal to amend and update marine legislation by enacting eight pieces of amendment regulations/orders/notices, including the Pilotage Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 3 and 4) Notice 2024; the Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulation 2012 (Amendment) Regulation 2024; the Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Regulation 2024; the Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) (Amendment) Regulation 2024; the Shipping and Port Control (Ports) (Amendment) Order 2024; the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) (Amendment) Regulation 2024; the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Safety and Survey) (Amendment) Regulation 2024; and the Merchant Shipping (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2024.     The proposed amendments aim to update and unify the types and formats of the geodetic reference datum used in marine legislation. It also makes miscellaneous amendments to various pieces of marine legislation in relation to designating new special anchorages, updating the radio channels and sectors under the vessel traffic services, updating the definition of Radio Regulations, removing obsolete cable reserves, adjusting boundaries of various bridge areas due to shoreline changes, removing the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal from the legislation which specifies terminals for use by cross-boundary ferry vessels given its cessation of cross-boundary passenger transport, as well as prescribing the fees for surveying Hong Kong ships in relation to an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate and other fees in relation to that certificate.     A spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “To uphold Hong Kong’s standing as an international maritime hub, the Government is committed to updating marine legislation regularly to reflect the latest developments in the local and global marine landscape. The current amendments are pivotal to ensuring that Hong Kong’s marine legislation remains contemporary.”     The Panel on Economic Development of the Legislative Council (LegCo), as well as the Local Vessels Advisory Committee, Pilotage Advisory Committee, Port Operations Committee and Hong Kong Fleet Operation Advisory Committee of the Marine Department, have been consulted on the legislative proposal respectively. Members supported the proposal.     The proposed legislative amendments will be tabled at the LegCo for negative vetting on October 16. 

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 12:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)
    Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Director of Audit, Professor Nelson Lam, attended the 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) held from September 21 to 27 in New Delhi, India. At the invitation of the National Audit Office of the People’s Republic of China (CNAO), Professor Lam participated as a member of the People’s Republic of China Delegation, which was led by the Auditor General of CNAO and Secretary General of ASOSAI, Mr Hou Kai. The Assembly and Symposium were hosted by the Supreme Audit Institution of India and focused on “Digital Public Infrastructure and Gender Divide – Issues of Inclusion and Accessibility”. Mr Hou participated in the meetings and chaired some agenda items. The President of India, Mrs Droupadi Murmu, attended and spoke at the opening ceremony.      Attended by 201 delegates from 44 ASOSAI members and observers, the Assembly endorsed the work report of the ASOSAI Secretariat, made additions and amendments to the ASOSAI Regulations, and held discussions on issues related to the three newly established working groups on state-owned enterprise, information technology audit and data analytics, and regional and municipal audit. Also, members of the new term of the Governing Board and the Audit Committee of ASOSAI were elected. It was affirmed that the next Assembly will be held in Saudi Arabia.      Professor Lam, along with Senior Auditor Mr Alfred Wong, who also joined the meetings and activities, exchanged ideas and experiences with Mr Hou, the Commissioner of Audit of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ho Veng-on, and leaders of audit institutions of various Asian countries on the theme of the Assembly, as well as on the management and development of public sector auditing bodies. Professor Lam also shared on the current work and updates of Audit, and expressed his wish to have further exchanges with the participating audit institutions.             Professor Lam said that the ASOSAI Assembly and Symposium, which were held physically for the first time since the pandemic, brought together representatives from various audit institutions to engage in face-to-face exchanges that proved to be fruitful and beneficial. He thanked CNAO and Mr Hou for their support and care for Audit. With strong support from the motherland, auditors from Hong Kong have had the privilege to, as part of the national teams, connect with the world through taking part in worldwide audit forums and United Nations audit assignments. These forums and assignments have provided great opportunities for Hong Kong auditors to assimilate good audit practices from around the world and apply the acquired knowledge in their roles at work. Not only did these valuable experiences enhance professional development within Audit, but they also enabled Audit to tell good stories of China, Hong Kong, and auditing on international platforms.  

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 11:42

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on October 08, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 524,659.73 6.24 2.00-7.30
         I. Call Money 9,875.51 6.42 5.10-6.50
         II. Triparty Repo 366,048.45 6.21 6.11-6.26
         III. Market Repo 147,457.77 6.29 2.00-6.45
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,278.00 6.46 6.39-7.30
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 103.00 6.26 5.95-6.75
         II. Term Money@@ 254.50 – 6.60-6.85
         III. Triparty Repo 267.00 6.35 6.35-6.37
         IV. Market Repo 206.06 6.60 6.60-6.60
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Tue, 08/10/2024 3 Fri, 11/10/2024 9,398.00 6.49
    3. MSF# Tue, 08/10/2024 1 Wed, 09/10/2024 5,308.00 6.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 08/10/2024 1 Wed, 09/10/2024 88,739.00 6.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -92,829.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 04/10/2024 14 Fri, 18/10/2024 44,275.00 6.49
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Mon, 07/10/2024 4 Fri, 11/10/2024 36,825.00 6.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    5. On Tap Targeted Long Term Repo Operations€ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 250.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 2,275.00 4.00
    6. Special Long-Term Repo Operations (SLTRO) for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)£ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 105.00 4.00
    Mon, 22/11/2021 1095 Thu, 21/11/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 29/11/2021 1095 Thu, 28/11/2024 305.00 4.00
    Mon, 13/12/2021 1095 Thu, 12/12/2024 150.00 4.00
    Mon, 20/12/2021 1095 Thu, 19/12/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 255.00 4.00
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       6,300.46  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -71,259.54  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -164,088.54  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on October 08, 2024 988,113.30  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending October 18, 2024 1,001,756.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ October 08, 2024 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on September 20, 2024 418,318.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    € As per the Press Release No. 2020-2021/520 dated October 21, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/763 dated December 11, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/1057 dated February 05, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/695 dated August 13, 2021.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    £ As per the Press Release No. 2021-2022/181 dated May 07, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/1023 dated October 11, 2021.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad            
     Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/1251

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lunar New Year fair stall auctions to start this month

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (October 9) that stalls at the 2025 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs will be put up for open auction in batches starting from October 22 (Tuesday).
     
         The LNY fairs are to be held at 15 locations and will be open for seven days from January 23 to 29, 2025. A total of 910 wet goods stalls, 633 dry goods stalls and 27 fast food stalls will be provided.
     
         The upset prices range from $380 to $6,530 for wet goods stalls, $450 to $8,540 for dry goods stalls (regular size), $680 to $12,810 for dry goods stalls (large size) and $2,290 to $120,470 for fast food stalls.
     
         The six fairs on Hong Kong Island, in Islands District and in Kowloon will be located at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Tat Tung Road Garden in Tung Chung, Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong. A total of 812 stalls will be put up for auction.
     
         The auction for stalls of the LNY fair in Victoria Park will be held for three days from October 22 to 24 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon. The first auction day (October 22) is scheduled for fast food stalls and wet goods stalls, while the second auction day (October 23) and the third auction day (October 24) are scheduled for dry goods stalls. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session). Due to the limited number of seats, those who are interested in bidding for a specific type of stalls at the Victoria Park LNY fair are invited to participate in the respective auction at the Lai Chi Kok Government Offices on the designated date.
     
         The auction for stalls of Tat Tung Road Garden LNY Fair in Tung Chung will be held at the above-mentioned venue on October 25 (Friday). The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
          
         The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong will be held at the above-mentioned venue from October 28 to 31. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am or 9.30am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
     
         Details of the auctions are as follows:
     
    Victoria Park (Causeway Bay)
    ——————————————–
    Number of stalls: 395
     
    Auction date: October 22 (Tuesday)
    AM session: Fast food (Stall Nos. A to D) and wet goods (Stall Nos. 217 to 276)
    PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 277 to 391)
    Opening prices:
    Fast food: $120,470
    Wet goods: $6,530
     
    Auction date: October 23 (Wednesday)
    AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 20 and 51 to 76)
    PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 21 to 40 and 77 to 109)
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods (regular size): $8,540
    Dry goods (large size): $12,810
     
    Auction date: October 24 (Thursday)
    AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 41 to 50 and 110 to 168)
    PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 169 to 216)
    Opening price:
    Dry goods (regular size): $8,540
    Dry goods (large size): $12,810
     
    Tat Tung Road Garden (Tung Chung)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: October 25 (Friday)
    Number of stalls: 27
    Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $380
    Dry goods (regular size): $450
    Dry goods (large size): $680
     
    Cheung Sha Wan Playground (Sham Shui Po)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: October 28 (Monday)
    Number of stalls: 89
    AM session: Wet goods
    PM session: Fast food and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $500
    Fast food: $2,290
    Dry goods (regular size): $550
    Dry goods (large size): $830
     
    Fa Hui Park (Sham Shui Po)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: October 29 (Tuesday)
    Number of stalls: 136
    AM session: Wet goods
    PM session: Fast food and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $3,540
    Fast food: $17,480
    Dry goods (regular size): $7,800
    Dry goods (large size): $11,700
     
    Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground (Wong Tai Sin)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: October 30 (Wednesday)
    Number of stalls: 76
    AM session: Wet goods
    PM session: Fast food and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $1,500
    Fast food: $5,000
    Dry goods (regular size): $1,370
    Dry goods (large size): $2,060
     
    Kwun Tong Recreation Ground (Kwun Tong)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: October 31 (Thursday)
    Number of stalls: 89
    AM session: Wet goods
    PM session: Fast food and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $2,180
    Fast food: $3,030
    Dry goods (regular size): $2,130
    Dry goods (large size): $3,200
     
         In the New Territories, 521 wet goods stalls, 230 dry goods stalls and seven fast food stalls will be set up at nine fairs. They are located at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po, Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground in Yuen Long, Tin Hau Temple Plaza in Tuen Mun, Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung, Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O, Shek Wu Hui Playground in North District, Kwai Chung Sports Ground in Kwai Tsing and Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin.
     
         The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long and Kwai Tsing will be held at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, on November 1, 5 and 11. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
     
         The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tai Po, Sai Kung and Tseung Kwan O, North District and Sha Tin will be held at the above-mentioned venue on November 4, 7, 8 and 12. The auction session is scheduled from 9am or 9.30am until completion of the auction.
     
         The auction for stalls of Tin Hau Temple Plaza LNY fair in Tuen Mun will be held at Tseng Choi Street Community Hall, 27 Tseng Choi Street, Tuen Mun, on November 6. The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
     
         Details of the auctions are as follows:
     
    Sha Tsui Road Playground (Tsuen Wan)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 1 (Friday)
    Number of stalls: 126
    AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 64)
    PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 65 to 96) and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $1,770
    Dry goods (regular size): $8,480
    Dry goods (large size): $12,720
     
    Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square (Tai Po)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 4 (Monday)
    Number of stalls: 61
    Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods: $1,450
    Wet goods: $2,270
    Fast food: $5,480
     
    Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground (Yuen Long)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 5 (Tuesday)
    Number of stalls: 158
    AM session: Dry goods and wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 72)
    PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 77 to 156) and fast food
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods (regular size): $1,350
    Dry goods (large size): $2,030
    Wet goods: $700
    Fast food: $5,480
     
    Tin Hau Temple Plaza (Tuen Mun)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 6 (Wednesday)
    Number of stalls: 57
    Stall types: Wet goods, dry goods and fast food
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $1,490
    Dry goods: $2,140
    Fast food: $2,740
     
    Man Yee Playground (Sai Kung)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 7 (Thursday)
    Number of stalls: 20
    Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods: $450
    Wet goods: $380
     
    Po Hong Park (Tseung Kwan O)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 7 (Thursday)
    Number of stalls: 90
    Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods (regular size): $1,540
    Dry goods (large size): $2,310
    Wet goods: $830
    Fast food: $4,570
     
    Shek Wu Hui Playground (North District)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 8 (Friday)
    Number of stalls: 73
    Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $710
    Dry goods (regular size): $1,540
    Dry goods (large size): $2,310
     
    Kwai Chung Sports Ground (Kwai Tsing)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 11 (Monday)
    Number of stalls: 98
    AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 56)
    PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 76) and dry goods
    Opening prices:
    Wet goods: $490
    Dry goods (regular size): $2,250
    Dry goods (large size): $3,380
     
    Yuen Wo Playground (Sha Tin)
    ——————————————–
    Auction date: November 12 (Tuesday)
    Number of stalls: 75
    Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods
    Opening prices:
    Dry goods (regular size): $4,570
    Dry goods (large size): $6,860
    Wet goods: $3,580
     
         Bidders for LNY fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong.
     
         Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or he/she will forfeit the rights to operate the stall.
     
         All fair sites will be made available to the licensees three days in advance of the fairs (from January 20 to 22, 2025) for the setting up of stalls. In the event of any unforeseeable incident that will cause reduction of the whole licence period (including the duration for setting up stalls and the business period of the fair), the Government has the right to postpone the commencement date and shorten the duration of the period. The bidding price (licence fee) paid will be refunded to the successful bidder on a pro-rata basis without interest.
     
         Stall licensees must completely remove the stall structure and all paraphernalia, together with all refuse, debris and unsold commodities (whether damaged or otherwise), from the licensed area before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
     
         The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of the permitted commodities, and no other activities are allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show or sell any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, immoral or incompatible with the object of the LNY fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activities, and the licensee must immediately comply with the direction.
     
         Stall licensees should not destroy, damage or abandon any unsold commodities at or in the vicinity of the stall. They may surrender unsold flowers and plants left behind at the stall to the FEHD at no charge, cost or compensation whatsoever, before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
     
         According to the licence agreement, except inside designated stalls, licensees must not keep, store or use any compressed helium cylinder in the licensed area. Whereas licensees of the designated stalls may keep, store or use helium cylinders in the licensed area, the quantity of helium should be such that a licence is not required pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295E), i.e. equivalent to 150 litres of helium. Sales of floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish by stall licensees are prohibited at the LNY fairs.
     
         In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed three metres from ground level. The height of wet goods stalls and fast food stalls must not exceed 4.5m from ground level. For wet goods stalls and fast food stalls with a height of more than 3m from ground level, the licensee must, at his own costs, provide the FEHD with the original certificate issued by an authorised person, a registered structural engineer, or a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to certify the structural safety of the structure in the licensed area before the fair is opened to the public. The licensee must also affix a copy of the aforesaid certificate on the structure of the stall.
     
         Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.
     
         Details of the 2025 LNY fairs, such as the public notice, the locations and layouts of the fair venues, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and related rules, and a sample of the licence agreement, are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme
    Home and Youth Affairs Bureau launches Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme
    *************************************************************************

         ​The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) announced today (October 9) the launch of the Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme through the Community Care Fund to subsidise a non-governmental organisation in providing mediation services on maintenance to people in need who are eligible for the Pilot Scheme (including maintenance payers and payees), to provide an alternative way for parties concerned other than court proceedings.           The Government is committed to improving the effectiveness of the system for collecting maintenance payments and enforcing maintenance orders. In this regard, the Chief Executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address the launch of the Pilot Scheme to assist the parties concerned to resolve disputes on the related matters through a more time-saving way, which is mediation.           The three-year Pilot Scheme is expected to process a total of 1 200 cases, benefitting 2 400 separating or divorcing persons. Parties involved in maintenance payment disputes are eligible to apply for the Pilot Scheme free of charge, provided that one of the parties (applicant) is a Hong Kong resident and meets the income limit. This can encourage maintenance payers in default of payment to engage in mediation.           Based on Hong Kong Family Welfare Society (HKFWS)’s extensive experience and well-established network in relation to the relevant mediation services and publicity work, the HYAB has appointed HKFWS as the service operator of the Pilot Scheme.           Persons interested in participating the Pilot Scheme can visit the dedicated webpage (www.familyandwomen.gov.hk/en/story/2024091920185069798.html), or contact HKFWS at 2561 9229.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 11:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Impact Webinar 80: Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange for Enhanced Data Management

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Video | 09 October 2024

    SHARE THIS PAGE

    The wealth of available data and new data producers entering the scene present opportunities and challenges for traditional statistical agencies. To remain relevant, official statisticians are increasingly required to innovate while maintaining data quality. The special supplement of Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2024 highlights the benefits of adopting the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standard, which provides a comprehensive framework for structuring, managing, and exchanging statistical data. Key findings from the report and experience from ADB’s hands-on capacity building programs demonstrate the tangible benefits of adopting SDMX in our region. A panel of experts from the National Statistical Office of Thailand and development partners will offer insights on the benefits of implementing SDMX for enhanced data accessibility.

    SHARE THIS PAGE
    Series
    Subjects

    The wealth of available data and new data producers entering the scene present opportunities and challenges for traditional statistical agencies. To remain relevant, official statisticians are increasingly required to innovate while maintaining data quality. The special supplement of Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2024 highlights the benefits of adopting the Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standard, which provides a comprehensive framework for structuring, managing, and exchanging statistical data. Key findings from the report and experience from ADB’s hands-on capacity building programs demonstrate the tangible benefits of adopting SDMX in our region. A panel of experts from the National Statistical Office of Thailand and development partners will offer insights on the benefits of implementing SDMX for enhanced data accessibility.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: OCI Holdings Accelerates Its Presence in Malaysia: Implementing a Targeted Localisation Strategy, including Sponsorship of Sports and Cultural events

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, KOREA, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OCI Holdings just announced on October 7 that it has made significant strides in strengthening its relationships with key figures and local residents in Sarawak, Malaysia, the production hub for its solar PV polysilicon.

    • To develop stronger relationships with key figures and local residents in Malaysia, a running event and badminton class were held in late September.
    • Announcing a new slogan ‘Envisioning a healthier future through life science and clean energy’
    • Online and offline training on Malay language and culture were provided for Korean employees in Seoul in late August.

    OCI Holdings plans to enhance its ties with the local community and conduct environmental, social, governance (ESG) activities in Malaysia to support its subsidiary OCI M. These initiatives aim to navigate the challenges posed by global economic uncertainties in the second half of this year, including the potential impact of the U.S. presidential election and U.S. tariffs on China, as well as a potential temporary slowdown in demand in the solar PV industry.

    Fostering stronger relationships with localresidents, led by sports star Lee Yong-dae

    OCI Holdings hosted a one-day badminton class at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus on September 29. The purpose of the event was to nurture young sports talents and promote health among local residents and featured Korean badminton legend Lee Yong-dae from the Leeyongdae Badminton Foundation.

    In the morning, Lee provided one-point lessons to 30 young players recommended by the Bintulu Badminton Association. He focused on various game situations and fundamental techniques, including the serve, smash, forehand step-in, and backhand return. In the afternoon, he engaged in friendly matches with badminton club members and local residents.

    The popular badminton legend drew a crowd of more than 300 spectators who filled the gymnasium with excitement. His star power rivals that of top idols with his widespread appeal.

    Given the widespread popularity of badminton in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India, OCI Holdings partnered with Lee in consideration of his influence and expertise.

    Lee Yong-dae, a leading badminton star from Korea who won gold in mixed doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze in men’s doubles at the 2012 London Olympics, was an active player in Indonesia near Sarawak in 2015.

    On September 27, Lee met with young players from Persatuan Badminton Bumiputra Sarawak (PBBS) comprised of ethnic Malays, and provided one-on-one coaching to support their aspirations.

    Joint eco-friendly running event organized with key Sarawak organizations

    OCI Holdings co-hosted the Kuching Green Run 2024 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia on September 28.

    The Kuching Green Run 2024, an inaugural eco-friendly cultural event held to raise community awareness of sustainable renewable energy and climate protection, was organized by the local social enterprise Green Generation in collaboration with OCI Holdings, Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU), and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

    Several local companies, including the Malaysian national petroleum company PETONAS and China Communications Construction Company, participated as sponsors.

    The opening ceremony was attended by OCI Holdings Chairman Woo Hyun Lee, OCI M President Seong Gil Choi, and more than 20 key figures from Sarawak, including Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain and State Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Yew.

    Despite the hot and humid weather, Chairman Lee, who had traveled from Seoul for the event, visited every area of the venue, encouraging participants along the way.

    He remarked, “It is meaningful for us to promote a healthy lifestyle with sports and engage with the local community. In line with our motto, ‘Envisioning a healthier future through life science and clean energy,’ OCI M, as a prominent company in Sarawak, will actively participate in various ESG initiatives including cultural events and scholarship programs.”

    On September 30, OCI M donated an ultrasound machine, valued at tens of millions of won, to Sarawak General Hospital in partnership with Sarawak Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri-Isteri (SABATI), a nonprofit charity organization led by the spouses of prominent figures in Sarawak, contributing to healthcare and well-being in the local community.

    In Korea, staff are learning the Malaysian greeting “Salam.”

    OCI Holdings organized a special lecture on Malaysian culture and history for its employees at the headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, in late August.

    Professors Ummi Hani Binti Abu Hassan and Kim Dong-hun from the Department of Malay-Indonesian Studies at Hankook University of Foreign Studies conducted the lecture to 100 employees.

    The lecture encompassed Malaysia’s history, its multicultural nature, and business etiquette with sessions streamed online for employees of domestic and international subsidiaries.

    Professor Ummi, a Malaysian, demonstrated the Muslim greeting “salam,” which involves raising the right hand to the left breast and lowering one’s head. Employees followed her example and learned the meaning behind the gesture: “I greet you with my heart.”

    Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia is a multicultural state composed of various ethnic groups including Malays (57.9%), Chinese (22.6%), and Indians (6.6%). With this lecture, employees gained valuable insights into these cultural differences. For instance, only Malaysian Muslims have the word “Islam” on their identification cards.

    Yong-sun Cho, team manager of the Strategy Team I of OCI Holdings, who participated in the lecture, said, “It was a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge about Malaysia’s history and cultural nuances that I was previously unaware of. Thanks to the Malaysian lessons I have attended, I can now communicate more effectively with local Malaysians.”

    OCI Holdings has also offered a three-month basic Malaysian conversation course to employees at the team manager level and above starting in June.

    Media Contact

    Brand: OCI Holdings Company Ltd.

    Contact: +82-10-5591-8126

    Email: yunhs@ocihc.co.kr

    Website: https://www.oci-holdings.co.kr/en

    SOURCE: OCI Holdings Company Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: DPRK to cut off roads, railways connected to S. Korea

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Wednesday that it will completely cut off roads and railways connected to South Korea beginning Wednesday, reported DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How do you stop elephant herds from trashing crops and trees? Target sensitive nostrils with a ‘scent fence’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Finnerty, Postdoctoral research fellow in conservation, University of Sydney

    Elephant numbers are surging in southern Africa, with fewer natural predators, reduced hunting pressure and feeding by farmers and tourist operators.

    While this is good for elephants, it’s making life harder for humans who live near them. These huge herbivores can raid crops and destroy large trees in national parks with impunity, causing problems for farmers and land managers alike.

    Traditional solutions aren’t ideal. Culling is controversial, and building fences strong enough to deter elephants is very expensive.

    But there’s another option: a fence made of scent. We have explored how specific plant scents can stop wallabies from eating native seedlings. The technique works on Australian herbivores. Would it work for southern Africa’s much larger elephants?

    Our new research put this idea to the test. We mimicked the scent of a shrub known as common guarri (Euclea undulata), which elephants avoid eating, and built a Y-shaped maze for elephants. We placed the scent on one side of the Y and left the other side scent-free.

    The results were clear – our elephants voted with their trunks and avoided the stinky side. This suggests scent could play a useful role in fending off hungry pachyderms.

    How can elephants be a problem?

    The world has three species of elephant. The small Asian elephant is endangered while the even smaller African forest elephant, which lives in rainforests in West Africa and the Congo Basin, is critically endangered.

    But the largest species, the African savannah elephant, is bouncing back in southern Africa from decades of poaching and habitat loss.

    This is great on a conservation front. But it brings fresh problems. As elephant herds expand, they increasingly come into conflict with people – especially farmers. Losing a year’s crop to hungry elephants is devastating. When farmers try to stop them, the elephants can attack and even kill.

    In large numbers, elephants can damage the natural environment like other herbivores – but even more so. In South Africa’s Kruger National Park and other wild places, their enormous appetites have reshaped whole plant communities. The plants elephants like disappear, while those they don’t spread. Elephants also destroy large trees and prevent the growth of new ones.

    Oranges unable to be sold by Zimbabwean farmers are dumped, which attracts elephants and fuels population growth.

    As elephant numbers grow, desperate farmers and land managers have scrambled for solutions. Killing problem elephants has been a common fix. But the practice now faces strong public opposition. Fencing is costly and usually impractical for lower-income farming areas. Other deterrents, such as using flashing lights and annoying sounds to scare off the pachyderms have had mixed success.

    Curiously, elephants are scared stiff of bees. This knowledge has been used effectively by Kenyan farmers, who install beehives around their fields. Studies have shown the technique deters up to 80% of elephants. This method has limits, though, as there are only so many bees an area can sustain and maintaining hives takes work.

    The scent defence

    To deter an elephant, it helps to think like an elephant. We’ve long known carnivores rely heavily on scent to find prey. But scent is very important to herbivores too, as our team has explored. Herbivores rely on smell to tell them which plants to eat and which to avoid.

    In Australia, we have used this knowledge to artificially replicate the scent of boronia pinnata, a flowering shrub which swamp wallabies avoid. These wallabies are the local native equivalent of deer in their eating habits – they eat many different plants, including tree seedlings land managers would rather they did not.
    When we put vials of boronia scent next to vulnerable native seedlings in Sydney’s Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, we found these seedlings were 20 times less likely to be found and eaten by pesky wallabies.

    Researchers have found similar scent “misinformation” tactics substantially reduced how many eggs from threatened birds were eaten by invasive predators such as ferrets, cats and hedgehogs in New Zealand, while others have found it can reduce losses of wheat grain to house mice in Australia.

    But would this approach work on elephants? We were hopeful. We know elephants can smell water from afar. Better still, elephants have the strongest sense of smell of any land animal.

    We went to South Africa to test it out.

    Our entire research team, including humans and elephants.
    Patrick Finnerty, CC BY-NC-ND

    A proof of concept

    We set up our experiment at the Adventures with Elephants tourism and research centre north of Johannesburg, which is home to six semi-tame elephants.

    Here, we built a large maze shaped like a Y to let us test our idea in a controlled and safe environment. This is essential when working with temperamental animals weighing up to six tonnes.

    From almost ten meters away, elephants had to choose which path through the Y to follow using only their sense of smell. Plants and odour vials were hidden down each arm of the maze, ensuring the animals were not using vision to choose. Both exits to the maze contained lots of leaves and stems of the jacket plum (pappea capensis), a tree elephants love to eat. On one side of the Y, we placed a single glass vial containing just 1 millilitre of a mixture mimicking the smell of common guarri.

    It took just 1 ml of this scent to nudge elephants to go elsewhere.
    Patrick Finnerty

    The results were exciting. Time and time again, the elephants avoided the side where the artificial odour was present.

    An elephant stands at the top of the Y maze, scents the unpleasant plant on the right arm, and chooses to walk down the left arm.

    Scaling up

    Our results suggest using scent could provide a practical way we could avoid human-elephant conflicts and help people protect crops and national parks at a larger scale.

    Combining artificial odours with existing control measures such as fencing or beehives could offer more accessible and cost-effective methods to live alongside elephants.

    What’s next? We aim to scale up this research in the hope of creating a practical, versatile and cheap tool which people in elephant territory can use to protect crops, trees, and houses from these giant herbivores.

    We acknowledge our research co-authors, Clare McArthur and Peter Banks (University of Sydney) Adrian Shrader (University of Pretoria) and Melissa Schmitt (University of North Dakota), and Paul Finnerty for help designing and constructing the maze. We also thank Sean Hensman and the staff at Adventures With Elephants, South Africa, for allowing us to conduct our study on their premises.

    Patrick Finnerty 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. How do you stop elephant herds from trashing crops and trees? Target sensitive nostrils with a ‘scent fence’ – https://theconversation.com/how-do-you-stop-elephant-herds-from-trashing-crops-and-trees-target-sensitive-nostrils-with-a-scent-fence-239593

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LNY fair stalls to be auctioned

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will auction stalls at next year’s Lunar New Year fairs from October 22.

    The fairs will be held at 15 locations from January 23 to 29.

    A total of 910 wet goods stalls, 633 dry goods stalls and 27 fast food stalls will be hosted at the venues.

    Opening prices range from $380 to $6,530 for wet goods stalls, $450 to $8,540 for dry goods stalls of regular size, $680 to $12,810 for large-size dry goods stalls, and $2,290 to $120,470 for fast food stalls.

    Of the 15 fairs, six, hosting a total of 812 stalls, will be on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, or Islands District. The remaining nine fairs will be held in the New Territories and will provide 521 wet goods stalls, 230 dry goods stalls and seven fast food stalls.

    The fair in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island will house 395 stalls.

    Click here for details.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN joins the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Source: ASEAN

    This morning the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Viientiane, Lao PDR. The Opening Ceremony was officially opened by H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR and ASEAN Chair for 2024, and attended by ASEAN Leaders, Leaders of Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, ASEAN Foreign Ministers and other Invited Guests.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN joins the Opening Ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Child rights organisation ChildFund, launch global online safety app

    Source: ChildFund

    Child rights organisation ChildFund have joined forces with The Girls and Boys Brigade to launch ChildFund’s global online safety app – Swipe Safe. ChildFund acknowledge the rapidly changing digital landscape and build an app that puts the power back in the hands of children and their parents.

    (Sydney, Australia).  In the countries in which ChildFund Australia works, the digital transformation of children’s lives has presented acute risks such as scams, cyberbullying, online grooming, and sexual, sexist, racist, or violent content. ChildFund has responded with the creation of the Swipe Safe program and app. The app serves to immediately strengthen children’s knowledge, skills and behaviours keeping them safe online.

    Swipe Safe has been beta tested in five separate phases, directly involving face-to-face training and app testing with tens of thousands of children in Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The organisation has now teamed up with the Boys and Girls Brigade to launch the app in Australia.

    They have also been testing the app with families at the Girls and Boys Brigade who have provided local insights into the app. Stephanie Fett the Family Support Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Brigade spoke about how technology is transforming the lives of families the centre supports.

    “We’re seeing young people using phones from about eight years on and they haven’t developed that rational thinking until they reach 24 or even 25 [years of age]. So they are really unaware of the risks online, the natural reaction of parents is to take the phone away. This however struggles to build trust and openness with the parent making it exceedingly more difficult for them to protect their children online.”

    Stephanie elaborated that the app helped build greater trust between parents, carers and children, which is key to helping keep children safer online.

    “Parents need to work to build an open online relationship with children so they are comfortable with talking about their experiences online. The Swipe Safe app is a great tool to help facilitate this communication” [Click here for more on Swipe Safe].”

    ChildFund Chief Development Officer Corinne Habel was thrilled to launch the app in Australia and bring the insights that they have learned in overseas to home soil.

    “The Swipe Safe app is a unique online safety app that has been developed by global child protection specialists. Reports indicate that the volume of child sexual abuse material has increased by 87% in the last 5 years.

    SwipeSafe helps parents, caregivers, children and young people navigate an increasingly risky online space.  The online world is an exciting place for children to learn, play and connect, and we need to give them the tools to stay safe and understand and feel comfortable reporting harmful situations.

     

    ChildFund Australia

    ChildFund Australia is an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in many of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

    We partner to create community and systems change which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights.

    ChildFund Australia is a member of the ChildFund Alliance – one of the world’s oldest and most experienced child-focused development agencies. With a global network of 11 organisations, the ChildFund Alliance assists nearly 32million children and families in 70 countries.

    As a member of the Australian Council for International Development, and a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct and the ACFID Fundraising Charter, ChildFund Australia must meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and financial management.

    In addition, ChildFund Australia is fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program. Accreditation is a stringent process in which all operational activities – financial, managerial, fundraising and program – are analysed. This not only requires that ChildFund demonstrate that funds are distributed to community projects, but that they are spent effectively in those communities for the benefit of children.

    About Corinne Habel

    Corinne is a highly experienced director and executive with diverse expertise across a variety of not-for-profit sectors including humanitarian, hospitals, education, environmental, the arts and faith-based. Originally from the US, Corinne brings over 20 years’ experience in implementing effective global strategies.  Her diplomatic approach is key in her ability to negotiate and influence effectively at all levels of corporate, foundation, government and the community.

    The Girls and Boys Brigade

    Since 1882, The Girls and Boys Brigade have provided a welcoming, safe place for children and youth, aged 5-18, who need a helping hand. Based in Surry Hills, our programs are open to children, youth and their families living within the City of Sydney local government area. The families who access our services experience a wide range of financial, social, educational and housing challenges.

    About Stephanie Fett

    Stephanie has 38 years of frontline experience in the community sector as well as a Masters in International Social Work and Community Development.

    Stephanie’s experience has taken her to NSW regional areas, remote Aboriginal communities, Victoria Queensland, as well as urban Sydney – city and west. She has worked in disability, addiction, mental health homelessness, youth, children and family, Out of Home Care, Juvenile Justice, unemployment, assessment and projects to increase access to services and decolonise systems.

    She believes the key to her work is relationship building which builds trust, working alongside people in a trauma informed way.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN witnesses the ASEAN Prize awarding ceremony at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today witnessed the official presentation of the ASEAN Prize 2024 to the ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO), a regional youth organisation based in Jakarta, Indonesia, at the Opening of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

    Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Lao PDR officially conferred the ASEAN Prize trophy to Senjaya Mulia, Founder of AYO, in the presence of the ASEAN Leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and distinguished guests. The ASEAN Prize is bestowed upon AYO in recognition of its steadfast contributions to fostering cross-cultural collaboration among ASEAN youths and furthering regional community engagement towards the advancement of an inclusive and energetic ASEAN Community.

    The ASEAN Prize is an annual regional premier award established to honour outstanding efforts and impactful contributions rendered by ASEAN’s individuals and organisations in advancing regional integration and in fostering ASEAN identity.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN witnesses the ASEAN Prize awarding ceremony at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –