NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gallego, Governor Lewis Announce $107 Million is Coming to Gila River Indian Community for Colorado River Conservation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) and Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Governor Stephen Roe Lewis announced that $107 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act is coming to GRIC for three Colorado River conservation projects.

    “Arizona’s tribes are critical partners in securing our water future,” said Rep. Gallego. “That’s why I’m proud to announce this funding, which I helped secure, to support the Gila River Indian Community and conserve Colorado River water.”

    “We are very excited to be finalizing our agreements for these three major infrastructure improvements, which will have major benefits not just for the Community, but for the entire region,” said Gov. Lewis. “Each one of these projects will allow us to use our water more efficiently on our farms, with annual savings in water of over 7,400 acre-feet per year.  Because we are the largest entitlement holder of Colorado River water delivered through the CAP canal, our savings can readily translate into major reductions in our use of Colorado River water, which will add to the 1 million acre-feet of our water that we have already left in Lake Mead for the benefit of the system.”

    The funding announced today is expected to conserve of over 73,000 acre-feet of water over the next 10 years. The funding will be split among the following three projects:

    • $64 million to replace and upgrade irrigation systems on Gila River Farms.

    • $26 million to concrete line over 7.5 miles of earthen canals in the Blackwater area.

    • $17 million to construct a regulating reservoir to capture flows that are currently being spilled from the Santan Canal when too much water is accidentally ordered or delivered into the system.

    Gov. Lewis added that the projects are ready to go, reaffirming to the significance of today’s announcement.

    “We will begin construction on two of these projects in early October and on the third in early November,” he explained. “ All the projects will be completed prior to the Post-2026 Guidelines, which will undoubtedly hit the State of Arizona very hard. These savings will help us all weather those anticipated cuts, and also put us in a position of ensuring we use every drop of our water most efficiently.

    The entire Gila River Indian Community is appreciative of the role that Cong. Gallego and the Arizona delegation played in ensuring that drought and water conservation funding were included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.”

    You can learn more about Rep. Gallego’s work on water in his report: Securing Arizona’s Water Future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: Zelensky’s pleas for help are getting drowned out in the clamour from the Middle East

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    While Russia continues its nuclear sabre rattling, with renewed threats to use its arsenal if attacked, fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine and in Russia’s Kursk region remains intense. But the diplomatic centre of gravity of the war recently shifted to New York and Washington.

    Discussions at the UN and meetings scheduled between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the US president Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris are by no means unimportant for the outcomes of the conflict. But it is unlikely that they will constitute the pivotal moment in accelerating the pace towards a Ukrainian victory that Zelensky might envisage.

    At meetings at the UN general assembly and security council, Zelensky appealed to world leaders to support his country and force Russia to make peace with Ukraine. His vision to achieve this is via a second global peace summit. This time he wants Russia to participate after the first effort in Switzerland in June achieved very little.



    Read more:
    Ukraine summit fails to provide a path to peace for Kyiv and its allies

    But with Zelensky continuing to push his ten-point peace plan and Putin insisting on Ukraine recognising Russia’s annexation of Crimea and four regions on the mainland, the two sides are as far apart as ever. So prospects of any meaningful negotiations virtually non-existent.

    This has not deterred Zelensky from promoting to Ukraine’s allies what he is calling his “victory plan”.

    The plan “envisages quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners … from now until the end of December”. These concrete steps are likely to include more western military support and the permission to use longer-range western weapons against targets deeper inside Russia.

    This latter point is something on which the western alliance is divided – and the US sceptical on its strategic value. Putin’s insistence that Russia will respond by using its nuclear arsenal if it detects any western missiles crossing its border will have added to this uncertainty.

    Even if more decisive western support were suddenly forthcoming, it is unlikely that it would offset other disadvantages that Ukraine and its allies are facing on the battlefield and beyond. Russia has consolidated its alliances with Iran, North Korea and China. All of these countries have supplied mission-critical ammunition and equipment that has enabled the Kremlin to sustain its war effort in Ukraine.

    Russia, so far, has also maintained its advantage in numbers. It appears to be determined to push this even harder following Putin’s order to increase the number of combat troops of the Russian army by another 180,000 soldiers.

    Meanwhile, a relentless Russian air campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure has also caused lasting damage, especially to the country’s energy supply network. This is likely to have a particularly adverse effect on Ukraine’s civilian population. It is likely to seriously dent morale during the coming winter.

    Other plans (and priorities)

    As discussions at the UN this week have underlined, there is also some diplomatic momentum building up behind a joint proposal by Brazil and China that was initially launched in May. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, pushed the plan during his speech at the UN general assembly on September 24, as did China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi.

    Like previous proposals from China and Brazil individually, as well as from Indonesia, a group of African states and Saudi Arabia, the joint Brazilian-Chinese plan calls for a ceasefire along the current frontlines. Negotiations would then follow.

    Ukraine fears, rightly, that this would entrench the status quo and effectively amount to Kyiv giving up territory illegally annexed by Russia. It would not guarantee any fruitful negotiations but give Russia time and space to regroup and rebuild its armed forces for a likely future escalation. None of this is acceptable to Ukraine and its allies as Zelensky made clear in his speech at the UN.

    Volodymr Zelensky criticises the Brazil-China plan at the UN general assembly.

    China’s previous effort to promote this joint initiative with Brazil just before the peace summit in Switzerland last June, did not go very far. It may not go much further this time either.

    But attention and resources are now much more focused on the Middle East and – to a lesser extent – the civil war in Sudan. So the very fact of this plan’s resurrection may be enough for Russia and its allies to prevent the rest of the world from uniting behind the western-backed Ukrainian proposal for a second global peace summit.

    This is clearly a concern for Ukraine. Zelensky, with a clear eye on countries in the global south, not only rejected the proposal but also argued that forcing Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia would be akin to reimposing a version of the brutal colonial past of the Soviet era on his country.

    Will Zelensky be Trumped in November?

    While the stars are thus hardly aligning in Ukraine’s favour at the UN in New York, things did not go much better as far as US domestic politics is concerned ahead of presidential elections in November. Questioning whether Donald Trump really has a credible plan to end the war, Zelensky triggered the notoriously short-fused Republican contender into lashing out at him at campaign rallies.

    Donald Trump takes aim at Volodymr Zelensky.

    Trump is both accusing Zelensky of refusing to make a deal and expressing doubts about Ukraine’s ability to win the war. Meanwhile, a recent opinion piece penned by Robert F. Kennedy Jnr and Donald Trump Jnr for The Hill, an influential political newspaper, urges that Ukraine be pushed to make a deal with Russia to prevent nuclear escalation.

    And Trump’s running-mate J.D. Vance has made clear his opposition to the US continuing to supply aid to Ukraine if elected in November. So it’s pretty clear that there is a very real prospect that Washington may soon cease to be Kyiv’s most important global ally.

    All of this explains the urgency behind Zelensky’s push for more and more decisive western support in the coming months, and his pleas to the wider international community to back efforts for a just peace for Ukraine. But it also indicates that Russia and its allies have, for now, done enough to further frustrate any progress towards a Ukrainian victory both on the battlefield and at the negotiation table.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Ukraine war: Zelensky’s pleas for help are getting drowned out in the clamour from the Middle East – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-zelenskys-pleas-for-help-are-getting-drowned-out-in-the-clamour-from-the-middle-east-239752

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New ADB–IFFEd Partnership to Unlock $500 Million in Concessional Education Financing in Asia and Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (26 September 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) that will enable at least $500 million in new concessional education funding for lower middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia and the Pacific.

    Under the financing partnership, IFFEd—a sovereign-backed Swiss foundation established in 2023 to invest in education and skills in LMICs—will guarantee $125 million of ADB’s sovereign loan exposure across all sectors, known as a synthetic portfolio, and provide an initial $50 million in grants.

    By blending IFFEd’s guarantees to ADB with grants that will comprise 10% of every loan, the first-of-its-kind arrangement facilitates a four times leverage ratio of the guarantee, boosting the amount of capital ADB can lend while lowering borrowing costs for the bank’s developing member countries (DMCs).

    “Education is the cornerstone of modern, prosperous, and inclusive societies, and we are pleased to announce this partnership with IFFEd,” said ADB Vice-President for Sectors and Themes Fatima Yasmin. “By pooling catalytic and concessional financing, this initiative means our lower middle-income DMCs can scale up their investments in education and skills—vital to building knowledge-based economies—along with other sectors at the same time.”

    LMICs face an education crisis. More than 50% of students in these countries are not able to read simple text by age 10 despite attending school, and graduates do not have the skills to find jobs, leaving employers unable to fill vacancies.

    As countries move from lower to lower middle-income status, they tend to get caught in a financing “missing middle” where they are no longer eligible to receive grants but cannot afford nonconcessional financing—forcing a difficult decision of where to invest, exacerbated by limited domestic financing.

    By bringing concessional or grant resources to developing countries seeking to strengthen their education systems, the ADB–IFFEd partnership’s key innovation lies in the fact that—at a time of rapid change—it will help ADB’s DMCs prepare for a future characterized by digital transformation, climate change, demographic transitions, and rapid urbanization.

    IFFEd’s sovereign donors include Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, while the Atlassian Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Porticus, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Soros Economic Development Fund (the investment arm of Open Society Foundations) have provided seed capital. IFFEd, which benefits from a strong credit rating, will initially focus on Asia and the Pacific, and Africa, in collaboration with multilateral development banks (MDBs).

    “Investing in education and skills in LMICs—home to nearly half of the world’s children and youth—is key to powering long-term economic growth and making progress on global health, climate, and equity goals,” said IFFEd Founding Chief Executive Officer Karthik Krishnan.

    “IFFEd has been recognized by the G20 MDB Capital Adequacy Framework Review as one of the most significant development finance innovations in the past decade and delivers seven times more impact than traditional grants. ADB played a key role in shaping the IFFEd instrument and as our first founding MDB partner, ADB is showcasing its unwavering commitment to alleviating poverty and powering economic growth in Asia and the Pacific,” added Mr. Krishnan.

    The following ADB DMCs are currently eligible for IFFEd funding: Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.

    IFFEd-funded education projects can support ADB programs at any level of the education system—from early childhood development and school education to technical and vocational training, skills development and tertiary education.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 20 rescued, 144 arrested in major child abuse operation across South America

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    26 September 2024

     

    LYON, France – An international operation targeting child sex offenders has led to 144 arrests and enabled the safeguarding of 20 victims across South America.

    During Operation Orion International, 12 South American countries joined forces to combat the production, distribution and possession of online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, focusing particularly on victim identification and rescue.

    As a result of the operation, undertaken with the coordination and support of INTERPOL, 18 direct abusers were caught and 111 people were charged with possession and distribution of abuse material. Seven individuals wanted internationally for child sex offenses, who were the subjects of INTERPOL Red Notices, were also arrested as part of the crackdown.

    The arrested individuals, predominantly men, were aged between 14 and 86 and came from diverse backgrounds. Their occupations included: professor, graphic designer, security guard, mechanic, musician, journalist, psychologist and taxi driver.

    Case studies: child victims safeguarded after years of abuse

    In Argentina, local authorities had identified abuse material circulating on messaging applications.  With the support of INTERPOL and its additional data, authorities were able to identify and safeguard a nine-year-old victim who had suffered at least six years of abuse.

    In a separate case in Chile, police identified an offender sharing child sexual exploitation material in messaging groups. Following his arrest, investigators analysed the seized information and established that the same person had also produced child sexual abuse material at the arrest location. This made it possible to identify and safeguard a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of the perpetrator’s partner.

    As part of Operation Orion International, participating countries were also asked to assess existing Red Notices for child sexual offenders believed to be living within their borders.

    In one such case, Korean authorities had provided information about the manager of a website which shared child exploitation material. Thanks to the collaboration between Korea and Ecuador, with coordination from INTERPOL, the individual was apprehended.

     

    Chile: Targeting the production and distribution of online child sexual abuse material

    Hardware seized in Argentina has opened new avenues for investigation

    Paraguay: 144 arrests were made during the international operation

    Venezuela was one of 12 participating countries in the operation

    Arrests in Colombia as part of Operation Orion International

    International cooperation throughout South America

    The region-wide initiative, which ran from May to September 2024, was launched by INTERPOL following information provided by Chile’s cybercrime unit and the Buenos Aires’ prosecutor’s office, concerning investigations into the transnational distribution of child sexual abuse material on instant messaging applications.

    INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children unit analysed and consolidated this information, along with its existing data, and then shared this intelligence with participating countries. A preoperational meeting with prosecutors and investigators, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, laid out the roadmap for cross-border collaboration.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

    “This operation, and the harrowing cases it exposed, is yet another reminder that child abusers are from all walks of life. Thanks to this international effort, children who have known a lifetime of abuse have been protected from further exploitation.

    “INTERPOL will continue to work with all member countries in our continued, and vital, efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society.”

    As well as joint international action, the operation required cooperation at a national level, across multiple states. It resulted in arrests and victim identification in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    The hardware seizures and evidence gathered during Operation Orion International have opened new avenues for investigation, with further results to follow.

    Participating countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Middle East and North Africa Programme: Drawing Together All Area-Related Initiatives

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Sciences Po’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) programme centralises initiatives relating to the study and research on this region. On 26 September, a one-day launching event was organised on the topic of the wars in the Middle East and their repercussions on the MENA societies.

    As an interdisciplinary and cross-cutting structure, the main mission of the MENA programme is to promote, coordinate, and enhance the institution’s activities relating to the Middle East and North Africa. By strengthening academic, scientific and cultural collaborations with partner universities, the programme supports student work at all levels (bachelor, master, doctorate), while creating a unique space for dialogue between researchers, artists and civil society members, thereby fostering an enriched understanding of the region.

    Interview with the programme’s two co-directors: Léa Albrieux, in charge of the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, the Gulf, and Pakistan at the International Affairs Office, and Bayram Balci, researcher at the Center for International Studies (CERI).

    Can you tell us about your background and your interest in the Middle East and North Africa area?

    We both studied the Middle East and North Africa as part of our studies and spent many years there. Our interest also stems from the fact that this region, its conflicts, but also its culture – including its cuisine – are present in our daily lives in France and even in Europe. So the desire to understand this region, whose conflicts have repercussions that go far beyond its borders, played a central role in our decision to focus on it. This area also forms a bridge between several continents, which makes it all the more interesting to explore collaborations with Sciences Po’s other regional programmes, covering Africa and South Asia. 

    What are the major contemporary challenges facing the region, and how does the new programme intend to tackle them?

    The main challenge is to find a way back towards peace, stability, and democracy, which go hand in hand. As the cradle of three great religions, but also of several great cultures and civilisations, the region has been constantly confronted, since its emergence from colonial domination, with conflicts of varying intensity. Those security and political challenges regularly call into question the progress that has been made. Our programme is humble; it does not claim to resolve the tensions in the region concerned. Contributing to analyse and understand them, through research and teaching, would be our first step. 

    Can you explain your vision and ambitions as co-directors of the programme?

     This structure gathers the diverse people who study and work on the region within Sciences Po’s departments, research centres, campuses, as well as its undergraduate and graduate schools. Its mission is to support and highlight all the institution’s scientific and educational activities and partnerships relating to the MENA area. To this end, we plan to develop a variety of activities combining teaching, research, and partnerships, as well as actions relating to the arts and culture of this region. 

    What topics will be highlighted at the launch event on 26 September?

    Although the aim of our programme is not to comment on every event that shakes the region, the event on 26 September will be devoted essentially to the attack of 7 October 2023 and its effects on Middle Eastern societies. The unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel plunged the Middle East into a new phase of war. While this renewed violence is having profound effects on the regional balance, it is also having major consequences for local societies, in Israel and Palestine, but also in neighbouring countries. This conference will shed a light on this internal and local dimension of the ongoing conflict.

    Cover image caption: Doha, Qatar, mars 2019. (credits: Jaanus Jagomägi / Unsplash)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)
    Smooth arrival of giant pandas gifted by Central Government in Hong Kong (with photos)
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         The two giant pandas gifted by the Central Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) arrived smoothly in Hong Kong today (September 26) from Dujiangyan, Sichuan. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated at the Welcome Ceremony to greet the two giant pandas.     The two giant pandas left the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda at 3.05am today. They then left Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport this morning and arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport at 11.05am.     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that it doubled the happiness to welcome the two recently matured and energetic giant pandas, which were again gifted to the HKSAR by the Central Government, to join the Hong Kong family in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.     He said, “I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, and the Sichuan Provincial Government for their time and tremendous effort in arranging the transfer of the giant pandas to Hong Kong over the past few months. This fully demonstrates the Central Government’s care and support for the HKSAR and recognises our efforts in conservation, caring and rearing of giant pandas, which is of great significance to Hong Kong.”     Mr Chan also thanked Cathay Cargo for arranging and sponsoring the entire transportation of the giant pandas from Sichuan to the Ocean Park Hong Kong (Ocean Park); and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their contribution in enhancing the new giant panda facilities at the Ocean Park, as well as their support for the Park’s conservational education work related to giant pandas.     Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, the giant pandas were immediately transported to the Ocean Park. They will undergo a one-month quarantine period, followed by approximately one month to adapt to the new environment. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will maintain close communication with experts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Ocean Park, and subject to the health and adaptation conditions of the giant pandas, arrange them to meet the public as early as possible.     The two giant pandas have already had names in the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. The male giant panda is named “An An” and the female giant panda “Ke Ke”. To welcome these two giant pandas to the Hong Kong family, the CSTB will soon hold a citywide naming competition, inviting all Hong Kong citizens to exercise creativity and suggest meaningful new names for the giant pandas that highlight their characteristics. Besides, the CSTB will organise a large-scale painting competition, inviting all citizens to vividly depict the adorable nature of the giant pandas through their artwork. Details of the two competitions will be announced shortly.     In collaboration with the Ocean Park and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the CSTB is also organising various promotional and marketing activities. The Government will seize the opportunity brought by the arrival of the giant pandas to connect different sectors of the society to actively plan and launch related promotional initiatives and create a joyful atmosphere to welcome the giant pandas in Hong Kong, thereby generating business opportunities for different sectors and boosting the economy.           ???To provide citizens and visitors with more information, the HKTB has launched a one-stop “Giant Panda Special Page” on its tourism information platform “Discover Hong Kong”. The Ocean Park has also established a “Hong Kong Giant Panda Fans Page” to provide update on the living condition of the two new giant pandas after their arrival in Hong Kong.

     
    Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 22:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum concludes successfully (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum concludes successfully (with photos)
    5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum concludes successfully (with photos)
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         The 5th Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum (BRITACOF) hosted by the Inland Revenue Department concluded successfully today (September 26). This three-day annual mega event in the international tax community attracted about 500 tax officials, tax experts, as well as representatives from international organisations, academic institutions and enterprises from nearly 50 countries and regions to discuss emerging tax issues and exchange tax administration experiences under the theme “Deepening Tax Administration Cooperation for High-Quality Belt and Road Development”.      The Executive Secretary of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism (BRITACOM) Secretariat and the Deputy Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration (STA), Mr Wang Daoshu, announced the outcomes of the 5th BRITACOF at the closing ceremony today, including four outcomes of the task forces of the Nur-Sultan Action Plan (2022-2024), the Joint Statement of the Fifth BRITACOF, the Hong Kong Action Plan (2025-2027), the Annual Report of the BRITACOM (2024), the joining of Maldives Inland Revenue Authority as a new BRITACOM Council member tax administration, and the establishment of the BRITA·Algiers. The relevant documents set out in detail the efforts made by various parties in promoting the establishment of BRITACOM and the achievements made, reflecting the importance of BRITACOM in international tax co-operation. The documents also advocate multilateral and equal-footed dialogue to create a positive impact through facilitating the enhancement of the international tax environment amidst a future global tax administration landscape.      Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue and the Chairman of the 5th BRITACOF, Mr Tam Tai-pang said, “The knowledge and insights gained from this forum are invaluable to all of us in our endeavours to improve our tax systems and enhance the quality and capacity of our tax administrations, which are vital to economic development in our respective jurisdictions.”      He pointed out that BRITACOM had achieved significant outcomes and reached consensus on the work of deepening tax administration co-operation of the Belt and Road jurisdictions in the future. The success of the Belt and Road Initiative hinges on all parties’ ability to work together, and the collective efforts in tax administration co-operation will be pivotal in achieving shared goals.      Hong Kong also took the opportunity of the 5th BRITACOF to deepen tax co-operation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). On the margins of the 5th BRITACOF, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Commissioner of the STA, Mr Hu Jinglin, and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tax co-operation within the GBA among the finance and taxation departments of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR. The MOU will promote the co-ordination of tax administration and services in the GBA and facilitate Hong Kong’s active integration into the overall national development.      As regards international tax co-operation, during the 5th BRITACOF the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, held bilateral meetings separately with representatives from Kazakhstan, Maldives, Tajikistan and Türkiye to discuss deepening tax co-operation at the international and Belt and Road levels. He also signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government, marking a significant step forward for Hong Kong in its continuous fostering of international tax co-operation and expansion of the CDTA network.      The 5th BRITACOF fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. The exchange of tax administration experiences has deepened relations among countries and regions, and facilitated the sharing of opportunities and achievements brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to the high-quality Belt and Road development.      To showcase Hong Kong’s hospitality and tell the good story of Hong Kong, the Inland Revenue Department, as the host of the 5th BRITACOF, arranged various experiential activities for the participants to give them first-hand experience of Hong Kong’s unique charisma as an East-meets-West metropolis. Highlights include a cruise tour to enjoy the magnificent view of the Victoria Harbour, visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ museum, and rides on Ngong Ping 360 cable cars.      Established in 2019 under the lead of the STA, BRITACOM is a non-profit official mechanism for discussions on tax administration co-operation among countries and regions along the Belt and Road. BRITACOF, the annual signature event of BRITACOM, is hosted by member tax administrations in rotation. It was announced at the closing ceremony that the 6th and 7th BRITACOF would be held in Nepal in 2025 and Indonesia in 2026 respectively.      For details of the 5th BRITACOF, please visit the thematic website (www.ird.gov.hk/BRITACOF/eng/index.html).

     
    Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 22:17

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Resolution Proclaims September Boat People Awareness Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Michelle Steel introduced House Resolution 1477 to designate September as “Boat People Awareness Month” in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled Vietnam with the fall of Saigon in 1978.

    Rep. Steel gave a speech on the House floor in honor of those who risked their lives at sea to escape the Communist regime.

    Following the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon to an oppressive Communist regime, nearly 800,000 Vietnamese people fled by boat in the hopes of escaping to another country, becoming known as boat people.

    Many of these refugees perished on the journey, succumbing to pirates, overcrowded boats, storms, and countless other dangers.

    Those who survived the journey settled all over the world, including in Rep. Steel’s congressional district of California-45, where they have formed a vibrant and patriotic community.

    “‘Boat People Awareness Month’ will honor refugees who fled Communist Vietnam to find freedom and community in places like Little Saigon, California,” said Rep. Steel. “This recognition will honor the courage of all those who fled Vietnam by boat in search for a better life, including the lives that were tragically lost.”

    Following the war, about 725,000 Vietnamese refugees settled in the United States, including more than 50,000 who settled in Southern California.

    Rep. Steel represents parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including the Little Saigon community, which has the largest population of Vietnamese anywhere outside of Vietnam.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Two new representatives appointed to the CLMHC

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    On September 26, 2024, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointment of two new representatives to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).

    BiographiesMr. Michael CarrollRepresentative for Alberta

    Dr. Michael Carroll is a historian of twentieth-century diplomacy, specializing in Canadian-American foreign relations, United Nations peacekeeping, and Canadian history. He holds a Master of Arts (History) from Carleton University and a PhD (History) from the University of Toronto. He has been Chair of the Department of Humanities at MacEwan University since 2019, where he has taught since 2007. He previously taught at the University of Victoria and Seiwa University in Japan.

    Dr. Carroll has a special interest in public history and has devoted over twenty years to the recording and preservation of oral histories. The collegial governance at MacEwan University has also afforded him the opportunity to participate actively on university and community committees, as well as on committees serving the broader historical profession. He is the author of numerous publications, including Pearson’s Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956-1967.

    “Canada’s history is anything but boring: from extraordinary exploits that inspire us to cases of collective shame from which we must learn, and everything in between. I am honoured to represent Alberta and excited to be part of the effort to make our nation’s history accessible and alive for all Canadians.”

    Mr. Michael CarrollMember, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Alberta

    Ms. Karen AirdRepresentative for British Columbia

    Ms. Aird is a member, through her mother, of the Saulteau First Nation in northeastern British Columbia, and now resides in Kamloops. Since 2018, she has been the Heritage Manager with the First Peoples Cultural Council, a program she developed from the ground up that provides grants, resources, research and training to First Nations in British Columbia.

    Ms. Aird began her career as an archaeologist, overseeing large-scale archaeological projects. She later owned a consulting firm specializing in cultural heritage management. In 2012, she co-founded the National Aboriginal Heritage Circle and served as its president for two terms.

    Her experience includes participation in national and international conferences, high-level government meetings and negotiations, and community-based cultural heritage research. She has served on several boards, such as the Royal BC Museum and the Parks Canada Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Circle.

    Ms. Aird holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in cultural heritage management from Athabasca University.

    “Canada has a rich and varied history, etched in the landscapes, events and people of the past. As a representative of British Columbia, I am honoured to join the committee to support the recognition and commemoration of our collective heritage.”

    Ms. Karen AirdMember, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, British Columbia

    -30-

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New HSMBC Appointed Representatives

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On September 26, 2024, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointment of two new representatives to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC). 

    Biographies
    Dr. Michael Carroll
    Representative for Alberta

    Dr. Michael Carroll is a 20th-century diplomatic historian specializing in Canadian and American foreign relations, United Nations peacekeeping and Canadian history. He holds a Master of Arts (History) from Carleton University and a Ph.D. (History) from the University of Toronto. He has been Chair of the Department of Humanities at MacEwan University since 2019, where he has taught since 2007. He previously taught at the University of Victoria and Seiwa University in Japan.

    Dr. Carroll has a special interest in public history and has been engaged in recording and preserving oral histories for over twenty years. Collegial governance at MacEwan has also provided him with the opportunity to serve extensively on academic and community committees, as well as those serving the wider historical profession. He is the author of numerous publications, including Pearson’s Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956-1967.

    “The history of Canada is anything but boring: from exploits of greatness that inspire to instances of collective shame from which we must learn, and everything in-between. I am honoured to represent Alberta and thrilled to be part of the efforts to help make our nation’s history accessible and come alive for all Canadians.”

    Dr. Michael Carroll
     Member, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Alberta


    Ms. Karen Aird
    Representative for British Columbia

    Ms. Karen Aird is a member of Saulteau First Nations in northeast B.C. through her mother and now resides in Kamloops. Since 2018, she has been the Heritage Manager with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, a program she developed from the ground up that provides grants, resources, research and training for B.C. First Nations.

    Ms. Aird began her career as an archaeologist, overseeing large-scale archaeology projects. She then owned a consulting firm specializing in cultural heritage management. In 2012, she co-founded the National Indigenous Heritage Circle and served as president for two terms.

    Her experience includes participation in national and international conferences, high-level government meetings and negotiations, and community-based cultural heritage research. She has served on several boards, such as the Royal BC Museum and Parks Canada’s Cultural Heritage Indigenous Advisory Circle.

    Ms. Aird completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Victoria and has a Master’s Diploma in cultural heritage management from Athabasca University.

    “Canada has a rich and diverse history etched into the landscapes, events, and people of the past. As the B.C. representative, I am honoured to join the committee to support the recognition and commemoration of our collective heritage.”

    Ms. Karen Aird
     Member, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, British Columbia

                                                                                                                -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immigration Department proactively follows up on Hong Kong resident stranding in Jeju, Korea

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Immigration Department proactively follows up on Hong Kong resident stranding in Jeju, Korea
    Immigration Department proactively follows up on Hong Kong resident stranding in Jeju, Korea
    ******************************************************************************************

         ​In response to media enquiries concerning a Hong Kong resident being stranded in Jeju, Korea, upon receipt of assistance request from subject concerned, the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) has immediately contacted the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA), the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Jeju (Consulate General) to understand the situation and provide practicable advice and assistance according to subject’s wishes. The Consulate General has actively deployed staff to meet subject and co-ordinated the local Chinese volunteers to provide subject with practicable assistance, including accompanying subject to relevant Korean authorities to understand the case development and request for expediting the case progress.     The ImmD will continue to keep close contact with subject, OCMFA and the Consulate General to follow up the case and provide practicable assistance according to subject’s wishes.     When travelling outside Hong Kong, Hong Kong residents should learn more about the local custom and observe the local laws and regulations. Hong Kong residents outside Hong Kong who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the Immigration Department Mobile Application, send message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.

     
    Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 21:40

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Preble Departs San Diego for Japan

    Source: United States Navy

    SAN DIEGO — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) departed San Diego Sept. 22, 2024, shifting its homeport to Yokosuka, Japan. The move is part of a scheduled rotation of forward-deployed naval forces in the Pacific a permanent change of station move for for the crew and family members.

    Preble replaces USS Benfold (DDG 65), which will depart Yokosuka and shift its homeport to Everett, Washington.

    The forward presence of Preble directly supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan, enhancing the national security of the United States while improving its ability to protect strategic interests. Preble will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region.

    The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting U.S. forces forward deployed there. These forces, along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, make up the core capabilities the alliance needs to meet our common strategic objectives.

    “It has been more than four years since Preble last operated in 7th Fleet,” said Cmdr. Paul Archer, Preble’s commanding officer. “But Preble today is markedly different than the ship that last left 7th Fleet. Armed with the U.S. Navy’s most capable combat system suite, this crew is well-trained and hungry to take our cutting-edge warship west to support national strategic objectives. The Western Pacific is gaining a true asset—unparalleled technical capabilities and more than 300 Sailors excited for this new opportunity.”

    Preble is the sixth ship to be named in honor of Commodore Edward Preble, an early 19th century U.S. Navy hero who served in the Revolutionary War and launched the attack on Tripoli in 1803.

    The ship was commissioned Nov. 9, 2002, in Boston and has been homeported at Naval Base San Diego for nearly 22 years.

    One of Preble’s most notable operations was its 2004 surge deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. It was one of several U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and coalition ships responsible for patrolling and safeguarding the waters near the Khawr AL Amaya and Al Basrah oil terminals in the Persian Gulf.

    The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S. Navy positions the most capable ships forward. This posture allows the most rapid response times for maritime and joint forces and brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the timeliest manner.

    The mission of Commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Manufacturing That Returns to Nature—In Pursuit of “Nature Positive”

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Manufacturing That Returns to Nature—In Pursuit of “Nature Positive”

    The Panasonic Group is promoting a long-term environmental vision, Panasonic GREEN IMPACT (PGI). Complementing initiatives for carbon neutrality and circular economy, Panasonic Holdings Corporation (PHD) is also investing in the nature positive* economy, promoting research and development with green transformation (GX) as a pillar of its growth strategy. In August 2024, Dr. Naoki Adachi, CEO of Response Ability, Inc. and Executive Director of the Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity (JBIB), sat down with Tatsuo Ogawa, PHD Executive Officer and Group CTO, for a dialogue on the importance of corporate initiatives for nature positive, what the Panasonic Group should be aiming for, and examples of nature positive initiatives within the Group. 
    * Nature Positive: halting and reversing biodiversity loss

    Why corporate commitments to nature positive matter

    The session began with Dr. Adachi explaining why biodiversity is critical to human economic activity:
    The global target agreed to at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) in December 2022 is referred to as “nature positive.” With 2020 as the base year, the goal is to stop biodiversity loss and put it on a recovery track by 2030 and to fully restore our ecosystems by 2050.
    Climate change, resource cycles, and biodiversity are all “nature” issues. Ecosystem services—regulating, supplying, cultural, and infrastructure functions—have yielded a variety of benefits to humans but are breaking down under the burden of human economic activity. Biodiversity is “natural capital.” We must acknowledge that our lives and business activities depend on biodiversity—and that if we negatively impact biodiversity, then that natural capital will disappear and human economic activity will no longer be possible.

    Dr. Naoki Adachi

    The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, a report commissioned by the UK Treasury and published in 2021, states that “the economy is only one part of the environment (biosphere).” Along with this awareness is the importance of utilizing nature to solve problems in the future—and to do that, we need to increase the amount of nature.
    Companies must hone their technical ability to harness the power and functions of nature and strengthen their managerial skills so they can launch businesses that increase nature.

    What nature positive action is required from Panasonic Group?

    Ogawa asked Dr. Adachi about the direction the Group should take in its nature positive efforts, and shared his own thoughts on the realization of nature positive from a corporate perspective.

    Conversation between CTO Tatsuo Ogawa and Dr. Naoki Adachi

    Ogawa: The Panasonic Group’s nature positive initiative is just getting started. What direction should we be taking?
    Dr. Adachi: It’s wonderful that you are broadly disclosing the Group’s impact on nature in the Sustainability Data Book and other publications. I think you can find some clues by reviewing your impact not only within the Group but also across your supply and value chains.
    Ogawa: As a company, our perspective tends to be limited to things that have a direct impact on our business today. Based on our firm understanding of “the concept that biodiversity underlies all economic activity,” we will thoroughly promote our circular economy initiative. By expanding our perspective to the entirety of nature and the planet, we believe that we will be able to create new relationships with partner companies.
    Dr. Adachi: In the coming age of nature positivity, a new market will emerge. I think it would be a good idea to take another look at nature, to make good use of nature to solve problems, and to be conscious of the upfront investment that will be required.

    Specific initiatives for becoming nature positive

    The Panasonic Group has multiple initiatives under way to develop and commercialize technologies and realize a nature positive economy, driven by the passion of employees who want to make a positive impact on the environment.
    Let’s take a closer look at three initiatives:

    Bio CO2 Transformation technology “Novitek”

    Bio CO2 Transformation technology uses atmospheric CO2 as the main source to produce a component that stimulates plant growth by harnessing photosynthetic microorganisms. Expected to be commercialized as “Novitek” by the end of FY2025, it can promote decarbonization while stimulating plant growth and increasing crop yields.

    [Related Article] Panasonic in Numbers: Bio CO₂ Transformation Technology

    Left: Biomolecules are diluted by a factor of 500 and then applied to the leaves of crops Right: A single application of Novitek to the spinach on the left increased yield by 40 percent compared to untreated spinach on the right.

    Seiji Kojima, Green Innovation Center, PHD Technology Division

    Novitek developer Seiji Kojima of the PHD Technology Division had this to say:
    Kojima: We sought a dual vision of reducing environmental burden and creating economic value. When working with nature, the idea is to chain and amplify value in multiple stages, leveraging the power of nature at each stage.Bio CO2 Transformation starts with atmospheric CO2. Even when crops are being sprayed, the system seeks to improve productivity by making use of atmospheric CO2. Depicting this kind of value chain and amplification structure for initiatives that focus on the environment and nature is important. 

    2-step plan to reduce environmental burden and create economic value (value chain/amplification)

    Restoring regional flora—Kusatsu Factory “Forest of Coexistence”

    The Forest of Coexistence covers 13,000 m2 at Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic)’s Kusatsu Factory of in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture and is positioned as an important green space under Panasonic’s Ecological Network Concept, which seeks to contribute to local biodiversity while preserving the landscape.

    The overview of the Panasonic Kusatsu Factory and the Forest of Coexistence

    Takahiro Nakano, from the General Affairs Department of Panasonic’s Living Appliances and Solutions Company, manages the Forest of Coexistence and explains its significance:
    Nakano: When founder Konosuke Matsushita visited the Kusatsu Factory in 1970, he said, “Kusatsu (Factory) is made with an emotional atmosphere by fully utilizing (or taking advantage of ) nature. In fact, that’s how I want it to be.” Since then, the Kusatsu Factory has been developed as a “park factory” surrounded by greenery and flowers and cherished by local residents, the “most advanced factory in the Orient” that enriches people’s lives.The company introduced the Ecological Network Concept to create a green space in a corner of the site and secure a habitat for wildlife while connecting it with the surrounding green space and waterfront. Known as the “Forest of Coexistence,” development began in October 2011.

    The significance and role of the Forest of Coexistence

    Nakano: The site includes waterfront, grassland, and woodland and serves as a model for “satoyama” (rural spaces in which humans and nature coexist). A team of experts monitors the restoration status of the satoyama environment. Employees manage green areas, monitor for invasive species, and raise seedlings and plant trees. The number of plant and animal species has recovered from approximately 580 species in 2011 to approximately 840 in 2016. 

    Plants and animals living in the Forest of Coexistence

    Takahiro Nakano, General Affairs Department, Living Appliances and Solutions Company, Panasonic Corporation

    Nakano: In October 2023, the Ministry of the Environment certified the area as an “OECM (Other Effective area based Conservation Measure) site” and the site was registered in an international database as one of Japan’s OECMs in August 2024.

    Open Innovation “Nawashiro” Initiative

    Since April 2023, PHD has been launching our system for nurturing technologies in their seed stage, called “Nawashiro.” Inspired by the Japanese practice of growing rice seedlings, which requires careful attention and effort, “Nawashiro” reflects our commitment to nurturing technologies without cutting corners. It leverages collaboration with academia, providing resources and mentorship to help emerging technologies develop until they are ready for the market, embodying our dedication to fostering innovation. Koichi Matsumura of PHD’s Technology Planning Office, explains: 
    Matsumura: This initiative is known as “Nawashiro” because it nurtures the seeds of technology. Our goal is to create themes that actively utilize industry-academia collaboration.

    Koichi Matsumura, Open Innovation Promotion Department, Technology Planning Office, PHD

    Matsumura: Our approach is to study the subject area and then “go into the field for hands-on work.” We analyze data and facts using the knowledge we’ve gained, and then compile the results, hypotheses, and facts we think will be of interest to professors at Kyoto University and other universities with whom we collaborate. Today we are exploring and analyzing the following activities:
    Collaboration with Kyoto University: Understanding the Mechanism of Natural CyclesBased on hill-to-ocean linkage studies, we seek to establish sensing, modeling, and actuation methods for material circulation in forests/soil. We collect and analyze data from sensors that have been installed at various sites.

    Left: Academics from collaborating universities inspect the Forest of CoexistenceRight: Sound data collection experiment at Kyoto University’s Kamigamo test site. Sound data is analyzed using Panasonic sound analysis technology.

    Matsumura: We want to create opportunities to accelerate research by sharing the findings and data obtained here with researchers, including those outside of “Nawashiro.”

    At the conclusion of their dialog, Dr. Adachi and Ogawa offered some closing comments. 
    Dr. Adachi: As part of our efforts to realize nature positivity, we would like you to promote recycling-based manufacturing from the design stage.
    Ogawa: In July 2024, the PHD Corporate Technology Sector formulated a “Technology Future Vision” that includes themes that cannot be separated from nature—including energy, water, and food. Nature is the source of everything. Using this as our starting point, we will consider new ways of doing business, of creating new communities, of producing food and new energy, and new ways of recycling resources—all aligned to the theme of “nature.” We will also consider combining nature and AI. By doing so, a new future will open up for the Panasonic Group.

    Related Articles

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Joint Statement on Ukraine Energy Sector Support

    Source: Government of Sweden

    We, the G7+ Ministerial Group, met on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unjust attacks on Ukraine and it’s energy infrastructure.

    We reaffirm our strong commitment to the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles.

    We strongly condemn Russia’s continuous missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, which have escalated since March 2024 and severely threaten Ukraine’s energy security and the Ukrainian people’s access to critical services including electricity, heat, and water during the cold winter months, which could be the harshest for Ukraine since at least its independence. We highlight the regional implications of such attacks, notably on the Republic of Moldova’s energy security. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.

    We recommit to supporting Ukraine’s immediate, medium, and long-term recovery and reconstruction in line with its path towards the EU and to work to involve our private sectors and local governments in the sustainable economic and social recovery of Ukraine. We welcome and underscore the significance of Ukraine’s commitment to business-enabling reforms that will establish a level playing field for investment in the energy sector. We stress the importance of the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the monitoring of this process. We will continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors.

    We stress the importance of implementation of energy sector reforms in line with the EU accession path and fulfilling obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, including OECD-compliant corporate governance standards. This is especially crucial ahead of the winter, given the scale of repairs and new energy infrastructure needs.

    We acknowledge the need for international assistance to protect energy infrastructure from attacks, including through the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities by the committed countries, and reaffirm our readiness to continue providing such assistance.

    We condemn Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which threatens energy security. We emphasize that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear installations must be safe, secured, safe-guarded, and environmentally sound. With reference to the UNGA resolution from 11 July on “Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” we stress that Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must return to the full sovereign control of Ukraine in line with IAEA principles and under its independent supervision.

    We are convinced that rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system in the short and long term is in the interest of enhancing global energy security and sustainability.

    We welcome further commitments to provide funding and in-kind support to address the Ukrainian energy sector’s most urgent needs, including repairs of damaged power plants and district heating systems, deployment of new, distributed power generation, emergency backup power for critical services, and passive protection for energy infrastructure. We call on the global community to urgently strengthen efforts in that regard and provide Ukraine with all assistance needed.

    We underline the important work of international partners, banks, and the Energy Community’s “Ukraine Energy Support Fund” in this regard. We call upon international partners to elevate their financial contributions, in particular to the latter fund in order to improve Ukraine’s resilience next winter.

    Based on the work of the Working Group on Energy Security and the outcomes of the First Global Peace Summit held on 15-16 June 2024 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as well as the results of a productive and constructive dialogue at the Energy Security Conference held on 22 August 2024, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.

    Based upon the Japan-Ukraine Conference for the Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in Tokyo, the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Berlin and looking ahead to the November 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) and the 2025 URC in Italy, we are committed to continue supporting immediate needs and Ukraine’s vision of a more decentralized, diversified, resilient, and renewable/sustainable energy system that is fully integrated with Europe.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fixed penalties payment made easier

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Starting from September 30, citizens can settle fixed penalties of public cleanliness and obstruction offences by using the Faster Payment System or paying through bank automated teller machines (ATMs) marked with the “JET Payment” logo, the Government announced today.
     
    Currently, members of the public can settle such fixed penalties through online banking, PPS, telephone banking, ATMs that support Electronic Teller Card services, etc.
     
    To facilitate the payment, the Secretary for Environment & Ecology, empowered under section 17A of the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness & Obstruction) Ordinance, has revised the format of the relevant fixed penalty notices, adding the two new electronic payment methods.
     
    Amendments to the relevant notices were published in the Government Gazette today.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health calls on Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council and National Medical Products Administration (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation conducted the last day of their visit to Beijing today (September 27), and called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).     The delegation called on the Executive Deputy Director of the HKMAO of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji, this morning. Professor Lo expressed gratitude to the HKMAO for its continuous support and trust in the work of the Health Bureau (HHB), and introduced to Mr Zhou the latest developments of various healthcare reform initiatives in Hong Kong, including the initial achievements in the area of health and medical innovation.     Professor Lo said, “The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC Central Committee) adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, and Deepening the Medical and Health System Reform was identified as one of the key tasks. It is essential for Hong Kong to press ahead with reform and innovation in the healthcare system to cater for the mounting service demand of society posed by an ageing population.     “The HHB will stay committed to implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and reform the healthcare system in a progressive manner. We have been progressively implementing the Primary Healthcare Blueprint and developing new healthcare services and management models to promote primary healthcare development on all fronts. We have enhanced the mechanism of healthcare professional training and created new pathways for admitting non-locally trained healthcare personnel to practise in Hong Kong so as to strengthen the healthcare manpower supply, and made every effort to formulate the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint in collaboration with the Chinese medicine sector to promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine, etc. At the same time, we will give full play to the medical strengths of Hong Kong and complement the advantages of other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to vigorously develop new quality productive forces in biomedicine according to local conditions, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.”     “The HHB will adhere to the objectives of ‘Government dominating; be bold and committed; improving the healthcare system; caring for all patients; be creative and innovative; leading the GBA; seeking common ground while allowing differences; and winning mutually in the reforms’, and make breakthroughs and changes through an innovative mindset, so as to build a ‘Healthy Hong Kong’ for integration into the nation’s ‘Healthy China’,” he emphasised.     Professor Lo and his delegation then met with Deputy Commissioner of the NMPA Mr Zhao Junning to exchange views on fostering closer collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong in key areas such as the regulatory and approval of drugs and medical devices, cross-boundary clinical trials, and real-world data research.     Professor Lo highlighted the efforts to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and establish an authority that registers drugs and medical devices under the “primary evaluation” approach in the long run.     He said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will leverage the city’s medical strengths in a more proactive and efficient manner. The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute established by the HHB in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre in the Shenzhen Park will jointly set up a regional clinical trial collaboration platform leveraging the GBA population base of over 86 million, with a view to attracting more local, Mainland and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises to conduct research and development (R&D) as well as clinical trials in Hong Kong, and build up the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland.     The HKSAR Government implemented the new “1+” mechanism for approval of new drugs (“1+” mechanism) on November 1 last year. Since the implementation of the “1+” mechanism, the Department of Health (DH) has received over 250 enquiries from more than 70 pharmaceutical companies, including many overseas and Mainland pharmaceutical companies, and has approved five new drug applications under this mechanism, bringing new hope to patients. The “1+” mechanism has effectively accelerated the R&D and registration and approval of innovative drugs and medical devices in Hong Kong, bringing the benefits of good drugs and R&D to Hong Kong patients. At the same time, the HKSAR Government established the Preparatory Office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) under the DH on June 5 this year to comprehensively study and plan a regulatory and approval regime for drugs and medical devices suitable for Hong Kong, as well as put forward proposals and steps for the establishment of the CMPR.     Members of the delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. They will return to Hong Kong tonight.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Stand News case sentencing set

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said that justice was upheld in the District Court’s sentencing of three defendants in a case of “conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publication”.
     
    The court handed down its sentence today, following the conviction of three defendants on August 29.
     
    In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained that the court has held earlier that Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Shiu-tung, while holding chief editorial positions at Stand News, had knowledge and approved of the seditious intent of the articles, providing Stand News as a publishing platform for inciting hatred against the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government, as well as hatred against the administration of justice.
     
    It added that the reasons for the verdict by the court have pointed out clearly that the ideology of Stand News was localism which excluded China, and that it even became a tool to smear and vilify the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR Government during the movement of opposition to the proposed legislative amendments.
     
    The court found that the relevant articles, without any objective basis, attacked the relevant law and procedures; and relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial process; spread hatred and anti-government sentiment with disinformation; attacked law enforcement by Police and glorified the behaviour of rioters – in other words, they were not based on facts.
     
    The statement noted that to distort acts of inciting hatred as “journalism” is a complete reversal of right and wrong.
     
    According to Schedule 3 of the Implementation Rules of Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Department of Justice has made an application to the court for a confiscation order to confiscate the proceeds of the relevant crime.
     
    The department will continue to handle subsequent procedures in accordance with the law, the statement added.
     
    It also pointed out that the court stated in its reasons for sentence that at the time of the offence, the three defendants were not engaging themselves in genuine journalistic work but were participating in the so-called protest at the time.
     
    From the editorial of Stand News and News Stand, it is evident that they sided with the protesters against the Government. The crimes committed by the three defendants are very serious, it emphasised.
     
    The reasons for sentence also pointed out that, given Stand News had approximately 1.6 million followers, the seditious articles involved have undoubtedly caused significant harm to both the central government and Hong Kong SAR Government as well as the residents, although it is difficult to quantify, the statement noted.
     
    It added that the reasons for sentence indicated that, due to the severity of the offences, imprisonment is the only appropriate sentencing option.
     
    Regarding the length of the sentence, the maximum penalty is two years’ imprisonment.
     
    The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that this maximum penalty is completely disproportionate to the severity of the offences.
     
    According to the existing Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the maximum penalty for the crime of sedition is seven years’ imprisonment.
     
    Based on Chung Pui-kuen’s culpability, a starting point of 23 months’ imprisonment was adopted, and a sentence of 21 months was passed.
     
    For Lam Siu-tung, a starting point of 14 months’ imprisonment was adopted but due to the potential risk to his life if sent to prison, a sentence was imposed that allows for his immediate release.
     
    The statement revealed that following the verdict in this case, some people have expressed concerns about freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong.
     
    It added that some foreign media or other people with ulterior motives, as well as anti-China organisations and anti-China politicians, made untruthful and purely political remarks smearing the Hong Kong SAR.
     
    The Hong Kong SAR Government made it clear that it has made clarifications and rebuttals many times to set the record straight.
     
    It indicated that, as demonstrated in the court’s reasons for its verdict, Stand News completely disregarded objective facts and contravened the “special duties and responsibilities” which journalists must observe under international human rights conventions.
     
    It also mentioned that the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights guarantee fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, procession and demonstration.
     
    Members of the public, including journalists, in Hong Kong are, as always, free to make comments or criticisms that are based on facts, and to enjoy and exercise freedoms of the press and of speech in accordance with the law, without fear of unwittingly violating the law.
     
    In addition, the statement indicated that it is the constitutional duty of the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security.
     
    In this regard, the Hong Kong SAR Government will ensure that laws are observed and continue to enforce the law resolutely, decisively and rigorously with a view to effectively preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for acts and activities endangering national security with all-out efforts.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Results of Underwriting Auctions Conducted on September 27, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    In the underwriting auctions conducted on September 27, 2024, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:

    (₹ crore)
    Nomenclature of the Security Notified Amount Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) Amount Additional Competitive Underwriting Amount Accepted Total Amount underwritten ACU Commission Cut-off rate
    (paise per ₹100)
    7.04% GS 2029 12,000 6,006 5,994 12,000 0.03
    7.23% GS 2039 12,000 6,006 5,994 12,000 0.04
    7.09% GS 2054 10,000 5,019 4,981 10,000 0.09
    Auction for the sale of securities will be held on September 27, 2024.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1169

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks display in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People’s Republic of China

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic and transport arrangements for flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks display in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People’s Republic of China
    Special traffic and transport arrangements for flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks display in celebration of 75th anniversary of founding of People’s Republic of China
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Transport Department (TD) today (September 27) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in phases on September 30 (Monday) and October 1 (Tuesday) on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon to facilitate the holding of the flag-raising ceremonies at Wan Chai North, Central and Tin Hau and the fireworks display at Victoria Harbour on October 1 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.(I) Flag-raising ceremoniesRoad closures     Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases in the vicinities of Wan Chai North, Central and Tin Hau from 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1 until the closed roads reopen to traffic.Public transport service arrangements 

    In connection with the above-mentioned road closure arrangements, CityBus route Nos. 2, 5X, 81, cross-harbour route Nos. 104, 900, 914, 961, A11, H1 and H2K operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted, and the associated bus stops of the said roads located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated; and
    The taxi stand at Expo Drive will be suspended from 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1, and the cross harbour taxi stand at Harbour Road westbound opposite Harbour Centre will be suspended from 5.30am to 1pm on October 1. 

    (II) Fireworks displayRoad closures     In connection with the holding of the fireworks display at Victoria Harbour at 9pm on October 1, road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from about 7.30pm in the road sections concerned in Wan Chai, Central District, the Peak and Eastern District on Hong Kong Island. During the period of fireworks display, the section of Island Eastern Corridor westbound between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic except for franchised buses.       In Kowloon, road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Cultural District from about 6pm until the crowds disperse and the roads reopen.     During the road closure period, taxi stands (including taxi pick-up/drop-off points), public light bus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks on the roads affected will be suspended.Public transport service arrangements 

    To facilitate the above-mentioned road closure arrangements, the bus and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated;
    For MTR services, Island Line, South Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, East Rail Line (Admiralty – Sheung Shui), Tuen Ma Line (Hung Hum – Tuen Mun and Austin – City One) and Tung Chung Line will be strengthened from 8pm that night;
    The tram service will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;
    Star Ferry, Sun Ferry, Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, Discovery Bay Transportation Services, Park Island Transport and Fortune Ferry will gradually adjust and suspend part of their services from 5.20pm on October 1 to facilitate the holding of the fireworks display; and
    For the cross-boundary coach services, the terminus of the short-haul cross-boundary coach service between Wan Chai and Huanggang Port at Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from about 6.30pm until the roads reopen. A temporary terminus will be provided on Hennessy Road westbound near Southorn Centre. The short-haul cross-boundary coach service between Jordan and Huanggang Port will add a temporary pick-up point at the coach pick-up and drop-off area on Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station from about 9pm to 11pm. The en-route stop of this service at China Ferry Terminal Bus Terminus will be suspended from about 8.15pm until the roads reopen. 

    Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System service arrangements     The service of the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System will be extended to 2am on October 2.     Due to extensive road closures, the TD anticipates that the traffic along Hong Kong Island North and the vicinity (including Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central and the Island Eastern Corridor), the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Cultural District in Kowloon, and the Cross Harbour Tunnel as well as the Aberdeen Tunnel will become significantly congested. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to these areas affected by the road closures. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on site.     Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services as far as possible to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The Police may adjust the traffic arrangements, subject to the prevailing crowd and traffic conditions in the areas. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or the TD mobile application “HKeMobility”.     For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk) or its mobile application “HKeMobility”. Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 12:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tenders invited for improvement works of Fanling Highway (Pak Shek Au Portion) and associated works at Kwu Tung North New Development Area

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Tenders invited for improvement works of Fanling Highway (Pak Shek Au Portion) and associated works at Kwu Tung North New Development Area
    Tenders invited for improvement works of Fanling Highway (Pak Shek Au Portion) and associated works at Kwu Tung North New Development Area
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (September 27) gazetted a notice to invite tenders for the contract for Kwu Tung North New Development Area, Remaining Phase: Improvement Works of Fanling Highway (Pak Shek Au Portion) and Associated Works (Contract No. ND/2024/05). The closing time for the tender is noon on December 6.           The works mainly include:

    site clearance and formation (including land decontamination works);
    widening of Fanling Highway (Chau Tau to Pak Shek Au Portion);
    modification of Castle Peak Road (Chau Tau Portion);
    construction of Pak Shek Au Interchange;
    modification of Pak Shek Au Bridge across Fanling Highway;
    construction of footbridge across Fanling Highway (Pak Shek Au Portion);
    extension of existing subways Nos. NS161 and NS161A;
    construction of associated works including water mains, drainage, retention tanks, sewerage works, roadworks, cycle tracks, footpaths, junction improvement, box culverts, slope works, retaining walls, street furniture, landscaping works, electrical and mechanical works and other ancillary works; and
    implementation of environmental mitigation measures (including noise barriers and low-noise road surfacing) and environmental monitoring works for the works mentioned above.

          The works are scheduled to commence in April 2025 and will take about 62 months to complete.           The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to design and supervise the works. Interested contractors can download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.           Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD’s website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM Asia Company Limited at 3922 9000 during office hours.

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 12:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China among fastest risers in world’s most innovative economies ranking: WIPO

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China moved up one spot to 11th place in the ranking of the world’s most innovative economies, making it one of the fastest risers over the past decade, according to the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Thursday.

    China remains the only middle-income economy in the top 30 while Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Singapore and the United Kingdom are the world’s top-ranked innovative economies, according to the GII.

    The 17th edition of the GII, which serves as a critical benchmark for global innovation trends, reveals that despite some countries’ rapid climb, the broader innovation landscape faces challenges.

    Venture capital funding dropped by about 40 percent in 2023, reversing the boom between 2020 and 2022. Additionally, growth in research and development expenditures has slowed, alongside a decline in international patent filings and scientific publications.

    “However, technological progress remained strong in 2023, particularly in health-related fields like genome sequencing, as well as in computing power and electric batteries,” said WIPO Director-General Daren Tang.

    “Technology adoption also deepened, especially in 5G, robotics, and electric vehicles. This year’s GII also reveals positive trends in key indicators, including a decline in global poverty and rises in labor productivity and life expectancy,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers opening remarks at the Asian Network Signature Conference: “Rethinking Harmony in Asia”

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn delivered pre-recorded opening remarks during the session ‘‘Rethinking Globalization in a Divided World” at the Asian Network Signature Conference: “Rethinking Harmony in Asia,” which was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 27 September 2024. In his remarks, Dr. Kao highlighted the role of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), especially through its principle of inclusiveness in aligning the interests of countries across the region. He also highlighted ASEAN’s continuous efforts to utilise diplomacy to address the complexities of various regional issues.  He further shared some key lessons from past global crises to strengthen future global responses and collaboration, and also stressed the need to keep pace with the tools used to deal with current and future challenges amidst a rapidly-changing world.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers opening remarks at the Asian Network Signature Conference: “Rethinking Harmony in Asia” appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society Draws 11,280+ Registered Attendees, Becoming the Largest Event of Token2049 Week

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society and co-hosted by CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud, attracted over 11,280 registered attendees—the highest number of registered attendees during Token2049 Week in Singapore. Held on September 19 at the National Gallery Singapore, one of the most prestigious venues in the country, the event saw thousands of people gathered to explore the latest innovations shaping the TON ecosystem.

    The event underscored the growing influence of the TON ecosystem with over 60 partners from across Web3 collaborating to showcase its potential through live discussions, keynotes, and networking sessions. Recognized as a driving force for Web3 mass adoption, the TON ecosystem continues to push the boundaries of innovation despite the market’s volatility.

    “We at TONX are deeply committed to fostering a culture of innovation within the TON ecosystem. By bringing together thousands of attendees across APAC and beyond, we’re not only pushing the boundaries of what’s possible but also highlighting the power of our SuperApp ecosystem and the new economy,” said Wego, Co-Founder of TONX.

    Attendees were treated to an immersive experience featuring The Open Art-themed event design and merchandise. Every detail was meticulously crafted to reflect the values the TON ecosystem stands for—freedom of expression, creativity, and innovation.

    “We’re proud to have hosted the largest side event at Token2049, setting another milestone for Blum,” said Vladimir Smerkis, CMO and Co-founder of Blum. “While we operate fully online, there’s a unique value of in-person gatherings. This time, unlike April when Blum launched, TON and Telegram were the clear focus, dominating conversations throughout the whole conference period. Sign of times.”

    The Open Art Main Stage Opening (TONX)

    35+ Web3 Leaders Share Visionary Insights on the Future of the TON Ecosystem
    The event began with the iconic TONX paper airplane ceremony led by Steve Yun, President of TON Foundation; Wego, Co-Founder of TONX; Gleb Kostarev, CEO of Blum; and Ekin Tuna, Co-Founder of TON Society.

    The main stage featured opening remarks from Gleb Kostarev, Co-Founder of Blum, followed by keynotes from Wego, Ekin Tuna, Leonard (Co-Founder of All At Once), Ian W. (Co-Founder of TON Ventures), and Eefy Lin (Web3 Solution Architect at Google Cloud). Paul Li, Co-Founder of TonBit, shared TON’s First CTF Challenge to the participants.

    One of the event’s highlights was a fireside chat between TM Lee, Co-Founder of CoinGecko, and Dr. Awesome Doge, Co-Founder of TONX, where they discussed the evolution and future of blockchain technology.

    Another key panel was the discussion between the Co-Founders of Blum, Catizen, TONX, and TON Society on both the opportunities and challenges within the TON ecosystem and the broader Web3 space. Main stage talks concluded with a special presentation by Sam from Jambo Phone.

    The Open Art Speaker Highlights (TONX)

    Side Stage Panels and Highlights
    The side stage kicked off with “TON Security Unveiled,” a critical discussion on security in the TON ecosystem, featuring Norbert (Global Growth at Nubit) and Luis (Co-Founder of TonBit), moderated by Maeveknows (Co-Founder of Pukecast).

    Following this was a fireside chat between Jakob Palmstierna (President & CBO of GSR) and Suji Yan (Co-Founder of Mask Network) was moderated by Andi (Growth Lead of BlockMedia).

    The program continued with a keynote by Lemon (Co-Founder of UTonic). Following this was the DeFi panel, “Harnessing the Power of DeFi on TON,” which brought together Ping Chen (Core Contributor at BeaverLand), Joshua (Head of Growth & Partnerships at Tradoor), Pang Xue Kai (Founder & CEO of ForU AI), and Keer Lau (CSO of Orbiter Finance). The panel speakers discussed how DeFi is being leveraged within the TON ecosystem.

    11,000+ people registered for The Open Art (TONX)

    The Open Art Interactive and VIP Experiences
    The Open Art offered attendees a variety of interactive experiences. Booths from participating partners showcased their projects and gave exciting surprises to attendees. The Open Art VIP attendees enjoyed exclusive fast-pass access, allowing them to skip the lines and engage directly with the Web3 community. VIP attendees also received limited-edition wearable art and tote bags inspired by the event’s theme of freedom of expression.

    Beyond the booths, the attendees enjoyed The Open Art’s dedicated game area where there were games such as an air hockey table and table football. Light snacks and beverages were also available throughout the event, allowing attendees to recharge in a casual setting.

    The Open Art Sponsors and Partners (TONX)

    The Open Art Event Sponsors and Partners
    The Open Art was made possible by the generous support of its partners. The event was hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, with CoinGecko, All At Once, TonBit, and Google Cloud as co-hosts.

    The Gold Sponsors for the event included Catizen, Nubit, IoTeX, The Open Forest, CloudMile, ForuAI, OpenTorch, Tradoor, GGI, and UTonic. The Silver Sponsors were GSR, Yuliverse, Televerse, Beaverland, Orbiter Finance, Duckchain, Duckcoop, PrivateAI, TON Polling, Bitget Wallet, and Miss W.

    Key partnerships also included MPost as the Strategic Partner, MVL/TADA as the Trip Partner, and Jambo as the Phone Partner. The VC Partners for The Open Art were SNZ, Summer Ventures, TON Ventures, EVG, DFG, and JSquare.

     
    The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX (TONX)

    The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt by Blum and TONX
    The Open Art featured the exciting The Open Art ID Treasure Hunt (TOA ID), hosted by Blum and TONX. Participants get a chance to win up to 10,000 USDT by minting a TOA ID, creating a Blum account, and completing at least one quest from any of the 12 participating projects.

    Participating projects include: Blum, WONTON, All At Once, Yuliverse, QuackQuack, Tradoor, Beaverland, MVL Chain, JamboPhone, ForU AI, Ton AI, and DUCKS.

    The Open Art by Blum, TONX, and TON Society, has cemented its place as a defining event of Token2049 Week, bringing together over 11,000 registered attendees, 60+ partners, and 35+ industry leaders to share visionary insights on the future of the growing TON ecosystem.

    About The Open Art
    ​​The Open Art, hosted by Blum, TONX, and TON Society during Token2049, is an event where attendees get to immerse in a night where innovation meets freedom of expression. ​Set within the prestigious National Gallery Singapore, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in live discussions and gain exclusive insights into Blum, TONX, and TON Society initiatives.

    Event Page

    About TONX
    TONX is the cornerstone that empowers builders to scale applications with Telegram and TON. As the pioneering partner of TON, TONX offers an open platform that connects developers, investors, and users to shape the new economy. Their acclaimed TON Hacker House in 2024 fueled a wave of innovative Web3 projects. TONX API, a key product of TONX, is the driving force behind the 950 million-user Web3 SuperApp ecosystem.

    Website | X | Telegram | TONX Event X | TONX Event Telegram | TONX blog | Build on TONX API

    About Blum
    Blum is a decentralized exchange on Telegram and beyond, offering access to tokens from centralized and decentralized exchanges, along with simplified derivatives trading—all within one app. Specializing in trading memecoins and new tokens, Blum features a unique memepad for launching new meme-based projects and incorporates gamified mechanics to enhance user engagement. Just like a flower in bloom, Blum represents the potential and beauty in the world of crypto.

    ​Telegram | X | Instagram | Youtube

    About CoinGecko
    CoinGecko is the world’s largest independent cryptocurrency data aggregator, tracking 14,000+ crypto assets across 1,000+ exchanges globally. It provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of the market and empowers users with actionable insights.

    Website | X

    About ​All At Once
    All At Once is a next-gen Triple-A game on TON, inspired by Clash Royale. With over 600K players in one month and 50K+ daily active users, All At Once delivers an immersive and rewarding experience. As a Top 14 Finalist in the “TON Hackathon: Code Summer” at ABS 2024, it promises endless value beyond traditional card games.

    Website | Join Game | X

    About TonBit
    TonBit is an early builder and security expert in the TON ecosystem. Supported by TONX, it is dedicated to providing security audits for TON ecosystem. TonBit is a sub-brand of BitsLab.

    Website | Get the TON Security Report 2024 | X

    For press inquiries, please contact:
    CC Chen | hello@tonx.tg

    Company website : https://aao.game
    Contact person name: Jessica Chastain
    Position in the company: Founder
    Official email ID: jessica@aao.game

    Company website : blum.io
    Contact person name: Kristina Vorobeva
    Position in the company: Blum Press office
    Official email ID: kristina@sparrowpr.co

    Company website : http://www.bitslab.xyz
    Contact person name: Paul Li
    Position in the company: Co-founder & CSO
    Official email ID: contact@bitslab.xyz

    Company website : http://www.coingecko.com
    Contact person name:  Julia Ng
    Position in the company:  Growth Marketing & PR Lead
    Official email ID: julia.ng@coingecko.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by “TONX”. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9d55c90-d4a6-440c-bb8d-a2d0fec2922e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/680c5ad2-896d-41c2-82a7-7f7105dd0c51

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2913ce2a-51df-4f8d-b7ed-fc9e383ccbef

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b2507ad7-f073-4041-9548-72f4981f210a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/122f566c-769f-4bce-861e-c22a7c91164d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f188c925-0892-4cb2-ac51-847fd5ff6227

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH’s enforcement operation “Pipepurge” against waterpipe smoking in no smoking areas (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation codenamed “Pipepurge” last night (September 26) against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas in Tsim Sha Tsui.
         
         During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) issued a total of seven fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes at one bar. TACO’s investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of contravening the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) for aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also notify the Liquor Licensing Board of the above-mentioned violation.
         
         Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, the manager may contact the Police for assistance.
         
         Also, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibitions, or provide a waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.
         
         The DH spokesman stressed that TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking, and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. TACO will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement action (including plainclothes operations) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking. In the past 12 months, TACO conducted 119 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no smoking areas. A total of 161 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 78 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences.   

         The spokesman said that waterpipe is a smoking product, and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is a by-product from incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon, such as charcoals. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect they are developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
         
         Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking sessions, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement operations. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking and the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit http://www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Unconscious remand person in custody dies in hospital

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Unconscious remand person in custody dies in hospital
    Unconscious remand person in custody dies in hospital
    *****************************************************

         ​A 62-year-old male remand person in custody, who had been found unconscious in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, died in a public hospital today (September 27).           The remand person in custody suffered from hypertension and diabetes mellitus. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital and public hospitals. At 6.56am today, the remand person in custody was found unconscious in his cell by a correctional officer. The officer immediately called for reinforcement to provide first-aid treatment to him, and an ambulance was called at once to send him to a public hospital for further treatment. He remained unconscious after being sent to the public hospital. His condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 7.59am today.           The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.           The person in custody was remanded for the offence of voyeurism in September 2024.

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 11:31

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei and AIS Win Customer Experience Award at FutureNet Asia 2024 Sep 27, 2024

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei and AIS Win Customer Experience Award at FutureNet Asia 2024
    Sep 27, 2024

    [Singapore, September 27, 2024] At FutureNet Asia, held in Singapore on September 17-18, Huawei and AIS won the Customer Experience Award, given to companies that demonstrate the most innovative application of AI & automation to enhance customer experience.

    A leading Thai telecom operator, AIS is among the first in the world and to implement an Autonomous Networks (AN) L4. In recent years, Huawei and AIS have carried out strategic cooperation on AN and have achieved fruitful results. This award represents a recognition of their AN efforts and results, particularly with regards to IP Network Digital Map and Customer Experience (CX) Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins.
    IP Network Digital Map
    IP Network Digital Map is a very powerful capability of Huawei iMaster NCE-IP Solution. It can provide a near-real-time network visualization, where anomalies such as link outages or high latency scenarios are promptly highlighted. As result, the onerous fault identification and location process have been streamlined, reducing the time frame to 30mins, without requiring any manual intervention.
    CX Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins
    Huawei SmartCare can provide the capability of CX Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins. It delivers event management capability, which can be used to predict customers’ potential problems based on geo-temporal digital twin network to monitor service SLAs, and geo-temporal customer experience data model to reflect the customer experience. This successfully reduces customer complaints by proactively informing the customer, increasing first-call resolution, improving auto-optimization tickets, reducing average customer complaint handling time from weeks to days, and reducing repeated complaints.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei and AIS Win Customer Experience Award at FutureNet Asia 2024

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei and AIS Win Customer Experience Award at FutureNet Asia 2024

    [Singapore, September 27, 2024] At FutureNet Asia, held in Singapore on September 17-18, Huawei and AIS won the Customer Experience Award, given to companies that demonstrate the most innovative application of AI & automation to enhance customer experience.

    A leading Thai telecom operator, AIS is among the first in the world and to implement an Autonomous Networks (AN) L4. In recent years, Huawei and AIS have carried out strategic cooperation on AN and have achieved fruitful results. This award represents a recognition of their AN efforts and results, particularly with regards to IP Network Digital Map and Customer Experience (CX) Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins.
    IP Network Digital Map
    IP Network Digital Map is a very powerful capability of Huawei iMaster NCE-IP Solution. It can provide a near-real-time network visualization, where anomalies such as link outages or high latency scenarios are promptly highlighted. As result, the onerous fault identification and location process have been streamlined, reducing the time frame to 30mins, without requiring any manual intervention.
    CX Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins
    Huawei SmartCare can provide the capability of CX Spatial-Temporal Digital Twins. It delivers event management capability, which can be used to predict customers’ potential problems based on geo-temporal digital twin network to monitor service SLAs, and geo-temporal customer experience data model to reflect the customer experience. This successfully reduces customer complaints by proactively informing the customer, increasing first-call resolution, improving auto-optimization tickets, reducing average customer complaint handling time from weeks to days, and reducing repeated complaints.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD’s “Enjoy the Fun” Carnival@National Day to be held on October 1

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCSD’s “Enjoy the Fun” Carnival@National Day to be held on October 1
    LCSD’s “Enjoy the Fun” Carnival@National Day to be held on October 1
    ******************************************************************************

         To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the “Enjoy the Fun” Carnival@National Day at Kwun Tong Promenade on October 1 (Tuesday), offering a variety of free recreation and sports activities, including the digits “7” and “5” as elements, enabling the public to enjoy both the festivities and the scenic views across Victoria Harbour during the celebration.      The event will be held from 11am to 5pm on that day. Admission is free. People of all ages are welcome to join the programme on the spot. Apart from featuring activities such as stage performances with different themes, booth games and photo corners, the Carnival will also introduce parent-child games and various sports play-in activities, including bowling, cycling, fencing, rowing, rope skipping and shuttlecock, to encourage the public to participate in sports and let them experience the fun of sports.     For enquiries about the “Enjoy the Fun” Carnival@National Day, please contact the Kwun Tong District Leisure Services Office at 2343 6123 during office hours.

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 11:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign tourists flocking to Hainan

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

    The number of overseas visitors in Hainan province has been increasing thanks to the convenient immigration policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port, local authorities said.

    The entry and exit policies at the province are considered the most favorable in China, said Wang Haixing, director of the Haikou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, at a news conference on Thursday.

    In February, the National Immigration Administration implemented new policies to enhance visa-free entry opportunities for people from 59 countries who want to visit Hainan. In May, a 15-day visa-free entry policy took effect for foreign tour groups arriving in Hainan via cruise ships, and in July, visa-free entry for foreign tour groups entering the island province from Hong Kong or Macao was permitted for up to 144 hours.

    As of Thursday, 1.514 million inbound and outbound personnel have been inspected this year, up 278.5 percent year-on-year, according to the station.

    So far this year, 238,500 foreign tourists have entered Hainan visa-free, a 6.5-fold increase compared to last year, constituting over 80 percent of the total number of overseas visitors to the island.

    Wang said that visa exemptions have become the primary method for foreigners who want to visit Hainan, and they have facilitated the hosting of major international events such as the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and the China International Consumer Products Expo.

    Luo Zhengyu, deputy director of the station, highlighted that the border inspection authorities have implemented a series of effective measures to ensure the smooth implementation of travel policies. For instance, the number of passenger inspection channels at all provincial airports has increased from 39 to 98, with the activation of 44 inbound and outbound express channels.

    “This expansion has significantly reduced passenger waiting times and improved customs clearance efficiency,” he said.

    Additionally, passengers from 59 nations who are eligible for visa-free entry in Hainan, as well as foreign tourist groups entering Hainan from Hong Kong or Macao visa-free for 144 hours, no longer have to fill out entry cards. Furthermore, passengers arriving by cruise ships are no longer required to provide fingerprint information.

    “We will introduce innovative measures to enhance the travel experience for Chinese and foreign individuals, further creating a more convenient and streamlined border inspection atmosphere,” Luo said.

    Two of Hainan’s major airports have launched 58 international passenger routes — 36 at Haikou’s airport and 22 at Sanya’s — connecting 31 cities in 18 countries and regions.

    This week alone, two international routes have been launched, and a third will open this weekend, bringing the total number of international flights to and from the island to 61 by the end of this month, according to Hainan Airport Group.

    On Tuesday, the route linking Taiyuan, Shanxi province, and Singapore via Sanya commenced operations. On Thursday, Haikou Meilan International Airport inaugurated its first route to the United States, offering service to Seattle, Washington. On Saturday morning, Boao International Airport will host the inaugural flight ceremony for the first international route from Qionghai to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    “For many foreign visitors, a trip to Hainan without plans has become a reality,” said Mai Weiwen, CEO of Hainan Wenhua Tourism Group. “Thanks to the increasing number of international flights being launched in Hainan, local travel agencies are seizing opportunities to expand their market by venturing abroad to overseas tourist source markets.”

    Russian expatriate Andreev Aleksei, a lecturer at Hainan University, is excited about the preferential visa-free policies.

    “I plan to invite my family members to Hainan due to the ease of travel without the need for visa applications,” he said, also highlighting the convenience of direct flights from Moscow to Haikou and Sanya, as well as from other international cities to Hainan, making travel to the tropical island more accessible for foreign visitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: $2.1b deals inked with Malaysia

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

    Cooperation agreements worth a total of 14.6 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) were signed on Wednesday to facilitate a China-Malaysia industrial park project and commodity trading between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    The deals were inked during a trade promotion conference on the sidelines of the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

    Focusing on the China-Malaysia projects, bulk commodity trading and supply chain finance, the meeting promoted collaboration on 15 industrial projects, 15 bulk commodity trading projects and six financial innovation projects.

    Among the projects, the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” project is a major cooperative result achieved with the Belt and Road Initiative. As part of the project, the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (CMQIP) in Guangxi was launched in 2012, and its sister park — the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Kuantan, Malaysia’s Pahang state — was set up in 2013.

    The conference saw participation of more than 300 delegations from economic and trade authorities, business associations, research institutions, bulk commodity trading platforms and representatives from over 240 companies in China and ASEAN member states.

    “The industrial park (MCKIP) is not only an economic cooperation project, but also an important engine that changes the economic landscape of Kuantan and Pahang state,” said Sim Chong Siang, an executive council member of Pahang.

    The building of the MCKIP has made Kuantan a vital trade hub, while attracting international investors and creating high-quality job opportunities for the local community, Sim said.

    Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations — and the Year of China-Malaysia Friendship — Tan Pichuang, vice-chairman of Guangxi, said the region is willing to work with all partners concerning the twin parks to jointly promote infrastructure connectivity and cooperation in industry, investment, trade and finance.

    Tan said he looks forward to jointly developing the twin parks into an example of economic and trade innovation, as well as a demonstration zone for high-quality BRI cooperation on industrial capacity.

    Since the launch of the Beibu Gulf Mercantile Exchange in 2023, the platform has become a comprehensive supply chain service system, covering manganese-based products, new energy materials, palm oil, non-ferrous metals and fruit from ASEAN markets, said Wang Xiongchang, Qinzhou’s mayor and director-general of the administrative committee of the CMQIP.

    “To date, the platform has achieved a cumulative transaction volume of 50.8 billion yuan,” Wang said.

    Noting that Malaysia and China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership last year, Tan Tian Meng, secretary-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, said the bilateral relationship is at its best point in history.

    Tan said the twin parks of Malaysia and China have injected new vitality into the economic development of both countries, and he wishes to see more exchanges in the business sector to explore more opportunities in each other’s markets.

    MIL OSI China News –