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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Nearly A Million Dollars in Federal Funding for Nevada Law Enforcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    This Funding Will Be Used By Law Enforcement Agencies To Hire More Officers, Purchase Essential Equipment, And Invest In Officer Mental Health

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced nearly one million dollars in federal funding for law enforcement agencies across Nevada to help them hire more officers, purchase essential equipment, and invest in officer mental health. The funding for these awards is made through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program, Tribal Resources Grant Program, and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA), all of which offer various grant programs to support state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. Earlier this year, bipartisan legislation to expand the COPS Hiring Program was signed into law.

    “From hiring more police officers and purchasing new equipment to funding mental health programs, I’ll always fight to support our law enforcement,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The COPS Office has a long history of helping keep our communities safe, and I’m proud of my work to bring as many of these resources as possible into the Silver State.”

    “Nevada law enforcement works around the clock to fight crime, respond to emergencies, and keep our communities safe. That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle in the Senate to support them with the federal resources they need to do their jobs effectively and maintain their well-being,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce this federal funding is coming to law enforcement agencies across our state to help hire more officers, purchase equipment, and improve officer mental health and wellness.”

    “I would like to thank Senator Rosen and our entire congressional delegation for their continued support in protecting the citizens and businesses of Sparks,” said Sparks Police Chief Chris Crawford. “This will allow the Sparks Police Department to build a team of officers to improve upon our crime reduction strategies.”

    “This grant will enhance the City’s ongoing commitment to providing vital mental health and wellness services to the men and women of the Henderson Police Department. We are grateful to Senator Rosen and the other members of Nevada’s congressional delegation for their support of our grant application and for this funding which will be used to assist officers and their families as they approach retirement and prepare to successfully transition from their law enforcement careers,” said Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero. “Studies have shown that police officers may be at a greater risk of experiencing challenges related to their mental well-being as they get ready to retire and this grant will help ensure we are offering those who serve and protect our community the full assistance they and their families need.”

    “The Lovelock Paiute Tribal Police Department is excited to announce that we have been selected and awarded the US DOJ COPS grant,” said Lovelock Colony Chief of Police Jeff G. Perry. “With the collaborative effort of our Tribal Police Department, Lovelock Paiute Tribal Council, Tribal Administrator, the grant award will be utilized to sufficiently staff 24-hour service to the Lovelock Indian Colony. This will increase safety efforts along with our proposed Lovelock Indian Colony Camera Program (LICCP). Our camera program will significantly reduce criminal activity and trespassing on the colony along with better staffing support towards future community policing services. These interactions will be positive and proactive in ways that build trust and cooperation among the residents and all who visit the Lovelock Indian Colony. Our proposal is to re-establish all components of the neighborhood watch program. Officers will again utilize teams, zones, area captains and area officers. In addition, this program will help to reduce the non-tribal criminal activity on the colony. Without this funding, we could not have achieved to operate at this capacity and continue our community-oriented policing efforts to greatly reduce criminal activity.”

    The awards are being distributed as follows:

    • $500,000 from the COPS Hiring Program for the Sparks Police Department to hire more officers.
    • $353,063 from the Tribal Resources Grant Program for the Lovelock Paiute Tribe to hire officers and invest in equipment.
    • $43,308 from the LEMHWA Program for the City of Henderson’s mental health and wellness projects for law enforcement officers.

    Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been advocating to ensure Nevada’s law enforcement community has the resources it needs. Last year, they announced more than $1 million in COPS funding for Nevada law enforcement and public safety. Last month, they also highlighted nearly $1 million in federal community project funding they secured to provide mental health training and support to thousands of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and first responders. Senator Cortez Masto’s bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide and provide mental health resources to police officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Earlier this month, bipartisan legislation that Senator Rosen co-sponsored to fund family support and mental health services for law enforcement officers passed the Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Al Green and Bishop James Dixon Hosts Press Conference with Houston Haitians United and Community Leaders to Denounce Inexcusable, Invidious Prevarications Against Haitians and Demand Respect for Haitians

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

    (Houston, TX) — On Monday, September 23, 2024, Congressman Al Green will host a press conference to denounce the recent inexcusable, mean-spirited prevarications made by Former President Donald Trump regarding the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio. Congressman Green and other leaders will also demand respect for all Haitians, discuss the importance of defending the Haitian community, and the impact of his dehumanizing remarks. The press conference will feature Bishop James Dixon, President of the Houston NAACP, along with representatives from Houston Haitians United (HHU), Houston Caribbean Professionals Association (HCPA), and the Texas Caribbean Chamber of Commerce.

    “Houston Haitians United strongly stands in solidarity against the baseless and harmful allegations being promoted by certain campaigners in the current election cycle. These false claims unjustly target the Haitian people, and we denounce these tactics aimed at misleading the public and undermining our community’s integrity. We urge all candidates to refrain from divisive rhetoric and focus on promoting unity and truth in their campaigns,” stated James Pierre, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Houston Haitians United.

    “With no truthful basis and no substantive evidence, Haitians have been described as those who eat dogs, cats and pets. This dehumanization of the Haitian community should be an alarm to every American. It’s a continuing scheme to make citizens fearful of all people of color. The Houston NAACP is fully in support of demanding respect for Haitians and all victims of dehumanizing propaganda,” stated Bishop James Dixon, President of the Houston NAACP.

    Congressman Al Green stated, “People of goodwill have a moral imperative to unite against Former President Trump’s disrespect of Haitians for political gain causing pain. We must recognize the enduring resilience of Haitians in the face of centuries of economic hardship in tandem with invidious discrimination. People of goodwill cannot remain silent as harmful political rhetoric threatens the well-being of innocent people. It is our duty to defend the Haitian community, just as we defend the Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ+, Women, African American, Asian, Latino, Native American, and other subsets of society when attacked. Disrespectful injustice against Haitians is a threat to respect and justice for all, as evidenced by the chaos created against the people of Springfield, Ohio. If we as a nation truly stand for liberty and justice for all as proclaimed in the Pledge of Allegiance, we must stand against Former President Trump’s wittingly or unwittingly dehumanizing Haitians for political gain.”

    Click here to watch the Facebook Live Stream of the press conference on YouTube 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cook Islands and Niue audiences to enjoy Australian content as Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy continues to roll out

    Source: Australian Ministers for Infrastructure and Transport

    Australia has continued to boost its presence in the Pacific with the Australian Government today announcing the expansion of the PacificAus TV initiative to two new nations.
     
    Residents of Cook Islands and Niue will be able to access more than 2,000 hours of Australian TV content each year as part of the initiative.
     
    PacificAus TV, which is managed by Free TV Australia, currently receives $5.68 million per year under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy to bolster the viability of Pacific regional media and expand access to Australian television programs.
     
    Sports programming is an important element of the PacificAus TV initiative, with Australian news, current affairs, children’s programs, drama, lifestyle and entertainment programs also available.
     
    Cook Islands Television, Vaka TV, and the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue have joined the initiative, with each able to individually broadcast a wide range of Australian television content according to their programming strategies, interests and audience preferences.
     
    They join 14 free-to-air broadcasters across Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu already accessing Australian content through the initiative.
     
    The Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy seeks to increase access to trusted and reliable news, deliver quality content and foster engagement across the region, including through measures like this.
     
    The Strategy provides a framework to help foster a vibrant and independent media sector, counter misinformation, present modern multicultural Australia, and support deeper people-to-people engagement.
     
    For more information on the PacificAus TV initiative visit: www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/media-industry-programs/amplifying-australias-voice-pacific.
     
    Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
     
    “With the expansion of the PacificAus TV initiative to the Cook Islands and Niue, now even more of our regional neighbours can access quality Australian content – fostering stronger cultural ties across the Indo-Pacific region. 
     
    “The Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy continues Australia’s longstanding commitment to supporting a robust media sector in the Indo-Pacific, and has identified this opportunity for expansion.”
     
    Quotes attributable to Senator The Hon Pat Conroy MP
     
    “Australia has a proud history of support for Pacific media and broadcasters, and we know how critical a vibrant media sector is for sharing important stories and forging connections across our region.
     
    “Under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy and the Australia-Pacific Media and Broadcasting Partnership, we are committed to expanding our engagement with the Pacific media sector.
     
    “PacificAus TV’s growth is delivering on our commitment to share content that resonates with Pacific audiences and complements investments to bolster media development and viability.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister advances progress and prosperity at the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Progressive leadership is driven by a shared belief that we cannot falter – on rights, on equality, and on an economy that works for everyone. We must keep moving forward.

    That’s the message the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, delivered as he concluded his participation in the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future, in New York City, United States of America. During UNGA, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing progress, prosperity, and fairness for every generation.

    Prime Minister Trudeau joined global leaders at the Summit of the Future, which concluded with the adoption of the Pact for the Future – an ambitious pact that will see countries work together to tackle shared challenges. At the Summit, the Prime Minister delivered a statement affirming Canada’s support for the Summit of the Future, its call for nations to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its commitment to investing in our workers, our communities, and our future.

    Building on the progress made at the Summit of the Future, Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders and prominent advocates at UNGA to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized Canada’s commitment to unlocking increased financing to achieve the SDGs globally, particularly through his role as Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders group. He also underscored the central role of gender equality as a pathway to achieving sustainable development, and made clear that women and girls must be able to make choices about their bodies, their lives, and their own futures. Canada announced over $112 million to help protect the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls worldwide. We will also invest $58 million in projects that empower women and promote gender equality, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. With this funding, Canada will fulfill its $100 million commitment to address issues in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.

    For tens of millions of people across the globe, including in Canada, climate change is not an abstraction. It is real, it is costly, and it does not stop at our borders. To successfully tackle climate change, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of global, collective climate action. He highlighted industrial decarbonization as one such approach to fight climate change, including through innovative tools such as carbon pricing. He also welcomed six new members to Canada’s Global Carbon Pricing Challenge, which calls on countries to put a price on carbon to cover 60 per cent of global emissions by 2030. The Prime Minister also announced $3.9 million to be delivered through Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program so we can more effectively respond to wildfires and advance international leadership on sustainable forest management.

    Prime Minister Trudeau, alongside the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, convened a High-Level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security, and stability in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing work to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people and Canada’s continued support of the Multinational Security Support mission in the country. He emphasized the criticality of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict. He announced over $16 million to support the transitional government’s election preparedness, increase humanitarian aid, reduce gang violence, and expand access to justice for women and youth detainees while supporting their reintegration into society. These measures will make a meaningful difference in helping Haiti address its immediate needs and create a better, more prosperous future for its people.

    At UNGA, the Prime Minister also announced $3.6 million in new wide-ranging investments to strengthen global peace and security, including on land mine clearance, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly women affected by conflict. He emphasized the role of UN agencies in accomplishing this important work, announcing a $9 million investment to support the UN’s efforts to strengthen development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding assistance in countries across the globe.

    The Prime Minister participated in a leaders’ roundtable titled In Defense of Democracy: Fighting Against Extremism, where he engaged with world leaders on challenges facing democracies, such as inequality, polarization, disinformation, and violent extremism, including online. He reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening the rules-based international order and multilateral institutions, like the UN.

    Throughout his visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with international counterparts to discuss pressing geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its global impacts, as well as the evolving situation in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of protecting democratic institutions from emerging threats, including misinformation and election interference, and safeguarding peace and security around the world.

    At UNGA, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, among others. 

    In the face of global economic and social insecurity, Canada chooses to invest in our country. Whether it’s national $10-a-day child care, an ambitious housing plan, a national dental care program, or an industrial strategy that creates good-paying jobs while fighting climate change – these are choices that will make a positive difference in the lives of Canadians and help solve global challenges.

    Quote

    “Canada chooses to invest in our people, in our future, and in progress. That was my message at UNGA and at the Summit of the Future. Our government is taking action to fight climate change, break down barriers, solve the world’s most pressing challenges, and deliver fairness for every generation.”

    — The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

    Quick Facts

    • While in New York City, Prime Minister Trudeau had bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Mayor of Kitchener, Berry Vrbanovic, the Governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, the President of Kenya, William Ruto, and Malala Yousafzai.
    • The Prime Minister also had interactions with other leaders, including the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, the Taoiseach of Ireland, Simon Harris, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, and the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez.
    • As a founding member of the UN since its creation in 1945, Canada has actively contributed to the organization, playing a key role in drafting the UN Charter, the treaty that is the cornerstone of the rules-based international order.
    • Canada is the sixth-largest donor to the UN, including voluntary and assessed contributions totalling over US$2 billion in 2022.
    • In 2015, Canada joined all UN Member States in adopting ambitious goals for sustainable development, as outlined in Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda centres on a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassing the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Taken together, the SDGs aim to improve the lives of all people, while protecting the planet.
    • Released in 2021, Moving Forward Together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy builds upon 30 actions and five core principles to create and foster an enabling environment for ongoing dialogue and participation to encourage Canadians to take action to realize the SDGs.
    • In 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau was named Co-Chair of the UN SDG Advocates group by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley. SDG Advocates work to raise global awareness of the SDGs and of the need for accelerated action by using their respective platforms.
    • Prime Minister Trudeau is also Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders group alongside the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness. The group advocates for equipping developing countries with the financial resources to invest in the 17 SDGs and secure a more just and equitable future for all people.
    • At the Summit for the Future, global leaders enhanced co-operation on critical challenges and addressed gaps in global governance. They reaffirmed existing commitments – including to the SDGs and the UN Charter – and moved toward a modernized UN system that can effectively tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.
    • At the Summit, leaders adopted the Pact for the Future  and its annexes – the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations. The Pact is a global framework to bolster global co-operation and address critical challenges facing the world, such as climate change, global inequality, and the need for stronger multilateral co-operation, for the benefit of all and for future generations.
    • In 2021, Canada launched the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge. This partnership aims to expand the use of pollution pricing by strengthening existing systems and supporting emerging ones. The Challenge, which has a collective goal of covering 60 per cent of global emissions by 2030, also serves as a forum for dialogue and co-ordination to make pricing systems more effective and compatible while supporting other countries in adopting carbon pricing and cutting emissions on the path to net-zero by 2050.

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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hirono, Chu Lead CAPAC Members to Urge OMB to Support SPD 15 Implementation Efforts for AANHPI Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Mazie K. Hirono
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) led 7 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young on Statistical Policy Directive 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15), urging OMB to take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively incorporating its revised standards to SPD 15. OMB’s revised standards to SPD 15 include changes that will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets. By implementing increased data disaggregation through these revisions, federal agencies would be able to better understand more communities, including the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities that encompass over 70 ethnicities.
    “Federal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity,” wrote the Members. “While SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards.”
    The letter urges OMB to work directly with federal agencies to provide them with the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. The letter further requests clarification on what a “sufficient justification” would be to exclude an agency from detailed demographic reporting requirements.
    “OMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes,” the lawmakers concluded. “In all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.”
    Senator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of the AANHPI communities in Hawaii, the U.S., and the Pacific Island nations and territories, working to ensure that all communities are accounted for and supported. Just last year, Senator Hirono reintroduced the All Students Count Act of 2023, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data in K-12 schools, helping to ensure that AANHPI student groups are better accounted for and supported by schools across the country.
    In addition to Senator Hirono and Representative Chu, the letter was signed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Mark Takano (D-CA).
    The full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Director Young:
    Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities in the United States. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our country has taken important steps toward promoting an inclusive society where everyone has opportunities to succeed. We write today regarding OMB’s recent revisions to “Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity” (SPD 15) – dated March 28, 2024. We commend OMB for revising these standards, which will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets, and thank the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and other OMB officials for discussing the revisions with Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), on July 31, 2024. In order to ensure that these standards are fully implemented in a manner that supports our communities, we strongly urge OMB to comply with statutory mandates and take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively and efficiently incorporating the revised standards.
    Federal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity. However, since SPD 15 was last updated in 1997, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) advocacy groups have raised concerns over SPD 15’s overly-broad minimum reporting categories, which obfuscate the diverse experiences of over 70 ethnic groups under the AANHPI umbrella. Due to distinct histories and particular experiences with violence and persecution, for example, only 14% of Bhutanese Americans, 19% of Laotian Americans, and 22% of Burmese Americans have obtained a bachelor’s degree—half the rate of all Asian Americans and lower than the overall population.
    Accurate and comprehensive data on race and ethnicity is necessary for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. We applaud the 2024 SPD 15 for requiring federal agencies to collect new and more detailed racial and ethnic information, such as “Chinese,” “Nigerian,” and “Native Hawaiian,” by default. This will help illuminate areas of need within particular ethnic and racial communities and allow policymakers to allocate resources appropriately.
    While SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards. A recent report from AAPI Data, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) detailed concerning gaps in the updated SPD 15’s rollout, including the absence of an existing inventory of all federal agency data collections—a requirement of The OPEN Government Data Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-411)— to assist federal agencies in implementing the revised standards. SPD 15 also allows federal agencies to apply for an exception to its new detailed demographic reporting requirements, but does not set a clear standard for what OIRA should consider a “sufficient justification” to grant an exception. In all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.
    OMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes. In order to ensure SPD 15 is implemented in an effective way, we urge OMB to work directly with federal agencies to ensure they have the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. Without such inventories, there is no reasonable way to account for all the data collections taking place within the federal government, and to fully understand whether these collections are in compliance with SPD 15.
    Thank you for your consideration on this important matter. We look forward to receiving your response.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to WHO data on adolescent social media use and gaming

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Data published by the World Health Organisation looks at adolescent social media use and gaming.

    Prof Ben Carter, Professor of Medical Statistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, said:

    “The authors provide a useful snapshot of the evidence and whilst again the study includes cross sectional data- it is large and has collected very pertinent data throughout Europe. 

    “However, they offer an unvalidated tool for problematic social media use. Whilst better than merely ‘screentime’, it isn’t entirely based on the DSM-V criteria for defining a behavioural addiction. Again, this is a useful starting point for measuring potential harm.

    “Their findings suggest approximately 1 in 10 are at risk of problematic use and are consistent with other studies (Carter et al, 2024) which state problematic smartphone usage slightly higher, but when focusing on social media alone offer utility in understanding the problem. 

    “Including Social media and gaming together is not a convincing argument as they are not the only forms of harm adolescents are at risk from- but the findings showing the difference between genders are well established. However, this is a very new and emerging field. 

    “The authors draw distinctions to the long periods of time spent gaming and the risk of harm is at odds with the incredibly helpful quote from the boy highlighting that the time spent isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The boy clearly shows insight highlighting the need to understand the underlying use (e.g. when and what) rather than just the time. This is consistent with the literature 

    “I welcome these finding and thank the authors for the valid contribution to the evidence base.”

    ‘A focus on adolescent social media use and gaming in Europe, central Asia and Canada’ by the World Health Organisation was published at 00:01 UK time on Wednesday 25th September.

    Declared interests

    Prof Ben Carter: No declarations.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Congressman Bean, Colleagues Recognize POW/MIA Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—Recently, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04), U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and U.S. Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating the third Friday of September annually, as “National POW/MIA Recognition Day.” This legislation will encourage all Americans to properly honor the service and sacrifice of all POW/MIA by participating in commemorative celebrations in local communities, appropriately displaying the POW/MIA flag, and performing acts of good will, compassion, and service to the family members of these American heroes.

    According to the Department of Defense, there are more than 142,000 service members who have been captured as prisoners of war (POW) and more than 81,000 service members listed as missing in action (MIA) from the outset of WWII.

    Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “We will never be able to repay our debt to those who have given their last measure of devotion for America. But we can continue to do our solemn duty to remember. With this national day of recognition, we the people of the United States, salute those who endured great dangers at the hands of the enemy and those lost in service to our nation and reaffirm our commitment to resolve the accounting of our great American patriots.”

    Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

    Watch Congressman Bean’s House floor remarks HERE.
     

    BACKGROUND

    Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Susan Wild (D-PA), Kay Granger (R-TX), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), August Pfluger (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Randy Weber (R-TX),Brian Mast (R-FL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Troy Carter (D-LA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Bill Keating (D-MA), and Steven Horsford (D-NV).

    This resolution is supported by Enlisted National Guard Association of the U.S. (EANGUS), National Guard Association of the U.S. (NGAUS), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A (JWV), and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

    In May 2023, Congressman Bean introduced the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act to designate the POW/MIA Memorial Museum at Cecil Field as a national landmark to honor, connect, inspire and educate the American people about our prisoners of war and those missing in action.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Prime Minister advocates progress and prosperity at UN General Assembly and Future Summit

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French

    Progressive leadership is driven by the belief that we cannot turn back the clock on rights, equality, and an economy that works for everyone. We must keep moving forward.

    This was the message delivered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the conclusion of his participation in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Future Summit in New York, United States of America. At the UNGA, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to progress, prosperity and equity for all generations.

    Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders at the Future Summit, which concluded with the adoption of the Compact for the Future, an ambitious agreement that will inspire countries to work together to address shared challenges. At the Summit, the Prime Minister issued a statement indicating Canada’s support for the Future Summit, calling on countries to deliver on the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentand intended to invest in its workers, in its communities and in its future.

    Building on the progress made at the Future Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau joined world leaders and prominent human rights advocates at the UNGA to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He signalled Canada’s commitment to finding new sources of financing to achieve the SDGs globally, particularly as co-chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders Group. He highlighted the fundamental role of gender equality as a means to achieve sustainable development and made clear that women and girls must be able to make choices about their bodies, their lives and their futures. To this end, Canada announced more than $112 million in support to protect access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights services for women and girls around the world. Canada will also invest $58 million in projects that empower women and promote gender equality, particularly in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. With this funding, Canada will deliver on its $100 million commitment to address issues related to paid and unpaid care work in low- and middle-income countries.

    For tens of millions of people around the world, including in Canada, climate change is not an illusion: it is real, it is costly and it knows no borders. To effectively combat this threat, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of collective action on a global scale. He highlighted decarbonizing the industrial sector as one solution to combat climate change, including through innovative tools such as carbon pricing. He also welcomed six new members of theGlobal Carbon Pricing Challenge launched by Canada, which calls on countries to set a price on carbon to cover 60% of global emissions by 2030. The Prime Minister also announced $3.9 million through Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program, so we can better fight wildfires and advance international expertise in sustainable forest management.

    Prime Minister Trudeau, together with the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, convened a High-level Meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security and stability in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted the work being done to address the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people and Canada’s continued support for the Multinational Security Support Mission in the country. He emphasized the critical importance of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict. In this regard, he announced more than $16 million to support the transitional government’s electoral preparations, increase humanitarian assistance, reduce gang-related violence, and increase access to justice for women and youth detainees, while supporting their reintegration into society. These measures will go a long way to helping Haiti address its immediate needs and create a brighter, more prosperous future for its people.

    At the UNGA, the Prime Minister also announced $3.6 million in major new investments to strengthen global peace and security, including mine clearance, and to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly women affected by conflict. He highlighted the role of the United Nations in this important work, and announced an investment of $9 million to support United Nations initiatives to increase the effectiveness of development, humanitarian and peacebuilding assistance in countries around the world.

    The Prime Minister participated in a leaders’ roundtable entitled “Defending Democracy: Combating Extremism,” where he spoke with world leaders about the challenges facing democracies, such as inequality, polarization, disinformation and violent extremism, including online. He reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening the rules-based international order and multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations.

    During his visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with his international counterparts to discuss priority geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its global implications, as well as developments in the Middle East. He also stressed the need to protect democratic institutions from emerging threats, including disinformation and election interference, and to preserve peace and security around the world.

    At the UNGA, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio, among others.

    In the face of economic and social insecurity around the world, the Government of Canada is choosing to invest in our country. From a $10-a-day national child care program to an ambitious housing plan, a national dental care plan, and an industrial sector strategy that creates well-paying jobs – not to mention fighting climate change – these choices will have a positive impact on the lives of Canadians and help address global challenges.

    Quote

    “Canada is choosing to invest in its people, its future and progress. This is the message I wanted to bring to the UNGA and the Future Summit. Our government is taking action to fight climate change, break down barriers, address the world’s most pressing challenges and give every generation a fair chance.”

    Highlights

    During his trip to New York, Prime Minister Trudeau held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Garry Conille of Haiti, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic of Kitchener, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, Senior Advisor to Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, President William Ruto of Kenya, and Malala Yousafzai. The Prime Minister also held discussions with other leaders, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, International Monetary Fund President and Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. As a founding member of the United Nations since its creation in 1945, Canada has actively contributed to the organization, including playing a key role in drafting the UN Charter, the cornerstone treaty of the rules-based international order. Canada is the sixth largest donor to the United Nations, with voluntary contributions and assessed contributions totaling more than US$2 billion in 2022. In 2015, Canada joined all UN Member States in adopting ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, as outlined in theTransforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda focuses on a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Together, the SDGs aim to improve people’s lives, but also protect the planet. Released in 2021, theCanada’s National Strategy for the 2030 Agenda: Moving Forward Togetheris based on 30 actions and 5 core principles to create and foster an environment for ongoing dialogue and engagement to encourage Canadians to take action to implement the SDGs. In 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau was appointed Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates Group by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. Through their respective platforms, the members of the SDG Advocates Group aim to raise global awareness of the SDGs and the need to accelerate action to achieve them. Prime Minister Trudeau also serves as Co-Chair of the SDG Stimulus Leaders Group, alongside Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica. The Group advocates for developing countries to have the financial resources they need to invest in the 17 SDGs to ensure a just and equitable future for all people. At the Future Summit, world leaders strengthened cooperation on major challenges and addressed gaps in global governance. They renewed existing commitments, including to the SDGs and the Charter of the United Nations, and undertook to modernize the United Nations system to effectively address the challenges of today and tomorrow. Also at the Summit, leaders adopted the Deal for the Future and its annexes, the Global Digital Deal and the Declaration on Future Generations. The Deal for the Future is a comprehensive framework to promote global cooperation and address critical challenges facing the world, such as climate change, inequality, and the need for strong multilateral cooperation, for the benefit of all and future generations. In 2021, Canada launched the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge. This partnership aims to scale up the use of pollution pricing by strengthening existing systems and supporting new ones. The Challenge, which collectively aims to cover 60% of global emissions by 2030, also serves as a forum for dialogue and coordination to improve the effectiveness and compatibility of pricing regimes, while helping other countries adopt carbon pricing and reduce emissions towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

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

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  • MIL-OSI China: Full text of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang’s address at opening ceremony of 21st China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

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

    Full text of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang’s address at opening ceremony of 21st China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

    Updated: September 25, 2024 06:51 Xinhua

    NANNING, Sept. 24 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered an address at the opening ceremony of the 21st China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Tuesday in Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China.

    Full text: Full text of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang’s address at opening ceremony of 21st China-ASEAN Expo, China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China calls for global cooperation to protect water security

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

    BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China’s Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying on Tuesday highlighted global joint efforts to develop water governance strategies and tackle water security challenges.

    Li made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the third Asia International Water Week (AIWW) in Beijing.

    During the opening ceremony, Li and President of the Asia Water Council Seogdae Yun jointly signed the “Beijing Declaration — Asia to World Statement of the Third Asia International Water Week.” The declaration urges global cooperation to cope with water problems caused by climate change, accelerated urbanization and population growth.

    The declaration emphasizes the need to develop solutions through innovation drives, international cooperation and knowledge sharing to promote sustainable development, thereby ensuring future water security in Asia and the world.

    Highlighting the importance of innovative strategies and policies, the declaration urges efforts to strengthen the integrated management of river basins and explore flexible financing methods, such as government-market collaboration, to construct water and sanitation infrastructure projects.

    It calls for a digital transformation in water management, underscoring the need to develop smart dam theory and practice through the application of big data, artificial intelligence and digital-twin technologies. It also stressed the need to simulate and predict changes in water resources and optimize water resources allocation and scheduling.

    Work should be done to formulate effective disaster prevention and climate change adaptation strategies, while also promoting water conservation and efficiency gains in agricultural water use, according to the declaration.

    It also underscored the importance of strengthening river and lake ecological flow and health management, and advocating nature-based solutions in ecosystem restoration.

    The third AIWW is co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Water Resources and the Asia Water Council, under the theme “Enhancing Our Future Water Security.”

    The event attracts approximately 600 international delegates from 70 countries and regions and over 20 international organizations and institutions. It also draws around 700 domestic attendees involved in water conservancy.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Introduces AI Civil Rights Act to Eliminate AI Bias, Enact Guardrails on Use of Algorithms in Decisions Impacting People’s Rights, Civil Liberties, Livelihoods

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Bill Text (PDF) | Section by section (PDF)
    Washington (September 24, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, introduced his Artificial Intelligence (AI) Civil Rights Act, comprehensive AI civil rights legislation which will put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) is a cosponsor on the bill.
    “Whether on the Senate floor or around the dining room table, artificial intelligence is the hottest topic of the year. But these complex algorithms have a darker side as well — one that has real consequences for everyday people, especially marginalized communities,” said Senator Markey. “I am introducing the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act to ensure that the AI Age does not replicate and supercharge the bias and discrimination already prevalent in society today. Make no mistake: we can have an AI revolution in this country while also protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyday Americans, we can support innovation without supercharging bias and discrimination, and we can promote competition while safeguarding people’s rights.
    I am grateful for the support of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and many other advocates who have been essential partners in this fight for fair and equitable AI. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that any AI regulation includes strong and enforceable civil rights protections.”
    “While AI can improve decision-making across various sectors, systemic biases in AI algorithms disproportionately impact marginalized communities,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation would help to protect Americans against biased algorithms and mitigate discrimination perpetuated through AI, helping to secure the civil rights and liberties of all Americans.”
    In particular, the AI Civil Rights Act:
    Regulates algorithms involved in consequential decisions, such as those that impact people’s rights, civil liberties, and livelihoods, including employment, banking, health care, the criminal justice system, public accommodations, and government services;
    Prohibits developers and deployers from offering, licensing, or using covered algorithms that discriminate based on protected characteristics or that cause a disparate impact;
    Requires developers and deployers of covered algorithms to complete independently audited pre-deployment evaluations and post-deployment impact assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate any potential biased use or discriminatory outcomes;
    Requires developers and deployers to mitigate any harms identified by the pre-deployment evaluations and impact assessments and ensure that any covered algorithm performs reasonably well and is consistent with its publicly-advertised purpose;
    Increases transparency around the use of covered algorithms in consequential decisions, including providing individuals a right to appeal an algorithmic decision to a human decision-maker; and
    Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private individuals to enforce the Act.
    The AI Civil Rights Act is endorsed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Free Press Action, UnidosUS, NAACP,  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Public Citizen, Access Now, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJ, Brennan Center for Justice, Fight for the Future, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Common Cause, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), The Trevor Project, National Council of Negro Women, Encode Justice, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Accountable Tech, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), Color of Change, and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).
    “Algorithmic justice is a civil rights issue. Just as the struggles of the civil rights movement gave rise to groundbreaking civil rights laws, the harms resulting from the unregulated use of AI and other algorithmic tools demand passing new legislation now,” said Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “The AI Civil Rights Act is first-of-its-kind legislation that takes a comprehensive approach to regulating AI across sectors. It prioritizes protecting Black communities and other people of color from discrimination, bias, and rampant AI abuse. The civil rights bill of the future is right here, and we are proud to endorse it.”
    “After a flurry of AI bills being introduced by this Congress — with many omitting any mention of civil rights or safeguards — it’s refreshing to see Senator Markey take a unique and necessary approach. The AI Civil Rights Act is comprehensive, touching on everything from employment to housing and education and setting a standard for other pieces of AI legislation to address real-world harms. Rather than reflect Big Tech talking points and the urge to ‘move fast and break things,’ this bill recognizes that innovation must include all of us,” said Koustubh “K.J.” Bagchi, vice president of The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology.
    “The AI Civil Rights Act is the bold, innovative policy we need today to ensure a just tomorrow for us all. The premise is simple: the AI tools and systems used at the most critical decision points in our lives – mediating our access to homes, employment, healthcare, and opportunities –should be demonstrated to be accessible and fair before being unleashed on the American public. With this technologically sophisticated bill, anchored in enduring American commitments to freedom, Senator Markey ushers in a new day for civil rights and digital equity,” said Alondra Nelson, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress and former Acting Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    “It is vitally important that technological development serves the public interest. A key part of this is ensuring that those who develop and deploy technology, including advanced AI systems that impact people’s civil rights and opportunities, are held to a duty of care. The AI Civil Rights Act provides a detailed and practical approach to ensuring that we can continue to benefit from safe innovation in technology,” said Suresh Venkatasubramanian, former White House AI Advisor and co-author of the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
    “AI products are now making their way into the lives of real people at an unfathomable scale – impacting everything from our experience at work to our ability to access benefits. It is crucially important in this moment that we do what we can to protect the vulnerable populations most impacted by these systems. Even in the hyped rush to adopt AI technology, we cannot permit anything to interfere with our hard-earned civil rights,” said Deborah Raji, researcher, UC Berkley.
    “Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering every corner of our lives — from access to education, healthcare and insurance to decisions made by the courts, police, and immigration officials — with far too little public input or recourse when these systems cause real-world bias or harm,” said Craig Aaron, President and Co-CEO of Free Press Action. “The AI Civil Rights Act is a serious step toward addressing these urgent issues and enabling federal regulators to keep up with these evolving technologies. It prohibits the use, sale, or promotion of algorithmic decision-making systems that discriminate or cause disparate impact on the basis of race, sex, religion, or disability. This legislation would require those designing and deploying AI tools to conduct audits for potential harms and publicly share the results. Ensuring new tools and technologies aren’t used to exacerbate discrimination must be a top priority for policymakers. We applaud Senator Markey and the co-sponsors of this legislation for their leadership.”
    “AI systems—which already today impact consumer credit, law enforcement, immigration, housing, and health care decisions—can be unfair in any direction, and in multiple directions at once, because the systems generate predictions based on inferences from complex data sets. Assessing the fairness of the inputs to systems and the outcomes is an essential check—or we risk models that senselessly bind our futures to our often-problematic past. We simply cannot afford to implement systems first and check them later, nor would that approach be consistent with a multicultural democracy that strives to achieve opportunity for all,” said Laura MacCleery, Senior Policy Director, UnidosUS. “By mandating pre- and post-deployment testing, minimum transparency standards, and human alternatives to AI decision-making, this legislation establishes essential steps to help make the uses of AI both accountable and legitimate. We commend Senator Markey for his continued leadership in this ongoing effort to keep emerging technologies fair and responsible—not just in name but in practice. This Act is an excellent foundation for the checks and balances we will need to harness AI’s potential while protecting civil rights and promoting fairness.”
    “The AI Civil Rights Act is a benchmark for AI legislation; it avoids sensationalist claims about AI, while providing real protections from civil rights harms that are happening already. The emerging world of AI is complex, and Sen. Markey has set the bar for legislation ensuring that AI is fair and equitable. We look forward to continuing to refine and champion these protections and working with Congress for passage,” said Cody Venzke, Senior Policy Counsel, ACLU.
    “Artificial intelligence systems are being developed and deployed in opaque and unaccountable ways that are harming individuals and exacerbating biases. Senator Markey’s Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2024 puts critical guardrails in place to ensure automated decision-making is fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory. EPIC is proud to support this legislation,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
    “With the AI industry launching products that will make decisions on key aspects of our lives, such as unemployment insurance, Congress must install guardrails to prevent violations of our rights. The AI Civil Rights Act is necessary legislation that addresses the growing need to protect civil rights in an era where AI systems are increasingly shaping critical decisions in areas such as employment, housing, and access to services. By setting rigorous standards for the development, deployment, and auditing of AI technologies, the Act installs pertinent guardrails so that these powerful models will not perpetuate discrimination or harm marginalized communities. Public Citizen commends Senator Markey for his leadership in advancing this vital piece of legislation,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen.
    “Secretive algorithms developed by the private sector can easily fuel discriminatory surveillance, policing, and immigration enforcement,” said Faiza Patel, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “The AI Civil Rights Act is a significant step towards ensuring that the private sector undertakes adequate and transparent due diligence to mitigate AI’s most profound risks to civil liberties and rights.”
    “Access Now is proud to support the AI Civil Rights Act, a crucial step in holding algorithmic decision-making accountable at every stage,” said Willmary Escoto, U.S. Policy Counsel, Access Now. “This bill prioritizes human rights by enforcing transparency, accountability, and remedies for those harmed by AI. We commend Senator Markey for championing equity, privacy, and justice, and urge Congress to advance this critical legislation.”
    “When it comes to AI regulation, the AI Civil Rights Act is right to prioritize civil rights protections coupled with requirements to test and provide transparency. We desperately need AI policies that are rooted in human rights, free expression, and addressing the most immediate harms to the most marginalized people. It’s clear that AI is exacerbating problems with discrimination and bias, but those problems are being hidden behind layers of tech hype, trade secrets, and a focused but familiar campaign to tell legislators and everyday people alike that we aren’t smart enough to grapple with the realities of emerging technology. This is a lie that is being weaponized to allow AI’s supercharged harms to run rampant. This bill is an important step toward putting risky and harmful AI projects and their shady sycophants back in their place. Human rights and accountability should come before tech profits,” said Lia Holland, Campaigns and Communications Director, Fight for the Future.
    “AI inherently poses risks for voters, as biased algorithms can perpetuate discrimination and lead to disparate outcomes,” said Ishan Mehta, Director for Media and Democracy, Common Cause. “We commend Senator Markey for his bill to create important and strong safeguards for AI systems, which will promote equity and accessibility.”
    “The Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act is our generation’s moonshot for democracy in the digital age. It ensures that as machines learn, America’s values aren’t forgotten. This isn’t just about regulating technology; it’s about safeguarding the very fabric of our society for generations to come. With this Act, we’re not just keeping pace with AI – we’re encoding fairness and equal opportunity into the DNA of our technological future,” said Sunny Gandhi, VP of Political Affairs, Encode Justice.
    “The AI Civil Rights Act must become law to ensure that people are not denied work or career advancement because of biased algorithms ingrained in artificial intelligence systems. Whether it’s a journalist who covers marginalized communities or a first-time screenwriter whose voice is not a common tone, we cannot let employers weaponize AI as cover to discriminate against people based on race, religion, age or other protected characteristics,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the Writers Guild of America, East.
    “Organizations developing and deploying AI tools should have to prove to the public that their tools aren’t harmingful before they are allowed to release these tools. We’re glad to see Senator Markey taking these steps to prioritize citizen’s rights over profits for multinational corporations,” said Timnit Gebru, Founder and Executive Director of Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR).
    While artificial intelligence has already begun to revolutionize certain industries, the federal government must be committed to combating potential side effects of this emerging technology. Senator Markey has called on the federal government to hold Big Tech accountable, investigate AI, and stop algorithmic injustice. On September 17th, 2024, Senator Markey and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Shalanda Young, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, demanding that all federal agencies that use AI for consequential decisions establish or maintain a civil rights office to establish additional safeguards to prevent algorithmic discrimination.
    In December 2023, Senator Markey introduced the Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems (BIAS) Act to ensure that every federal agency that uses, funds, or oversees artificial intelligence (AI) has an office of civil rights focused on combatting AI bias and discrimination. In October 2023, he and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) applauded the Biden administration for heeding their call to incorporate the White House Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights into its AI Executive Order. In July 2023, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) reintroduced their Algorithmic Justice and Online Platform Transparency Act to ban discriminatory algorithms and improve transparency on social media platforms.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trade talks in Adelaide with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry

    Source: Minister for Trade

    Today, I will welcome India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal to Adelaide for the 19th Australia-India Joint Ministerial Commission.

    Australia and India are close partners, and our trade, investment and economic relationship is growing faster than ever.

    Minister Goyal’s visit to Australia this week is the first since the Albanese Labor Government was elected and reinforces our shared commitment to expand two-way trade and investment.

    India is the world’s fastest growing major economy and is on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2030.

    Our first trade agreement with India has strengthened our economies – creating more jobs and opportunities for businesses and exporters, while reducing prices at the checkout.

    Since this trade deal entered into force in November 2022, around $30 billion worth of Australian exports have entered India tariff-free, and Australians have saved around $225 million on goods from India.

    Building on this success, we are continuing negotiations on our next trade agreement with India, an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

    Our government has also finished consultations on a new roadmap for Australia’s economic engagement with India – which presents enormous growth opportunities for Australian business in clean energy, agribusiness, education and skills, and tourism.

    I look forward to meeting with Minister Goyal and discussing how we can continue to advance the Australia-India economic relationship.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA, Honduras and Japan join forces to strengthen Cancer Care Access through Rays of Hope

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Left to right: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina García, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, and Director-General/Assistant Minister for the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of Japan, Yasushi Noguchi. (Fredrik Dahl/IAEA)

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Government of Honduras and the Government of Japan have joined forces to expand radiotherapy services and improve cancer care in the Republic of Honduras under the IAEA’s flagship Rays of Hope initiative.

    This tripartite cooperation was formalized during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly which is taking place this week in New York, with the signature of a Letter of Intent by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Honduras, Eduardo Enrique Reina García.

    Under this tripartite cooperation, Japan will consider, when and where appropriate, offering contributions, including facilities, equipment and infrastructure, to expand radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy facilities in Honduras as well as capacity-building, while the IAEA will explore resources and offer technical expertise and guidance to expand radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services in the country. Honduras, as the recipient, will work towards increasing access to life-saving cancer diagnosis and treatment, helping to address the growing burden of cancer in the region.

    This Letter of Intent follows the IAEA Director General Grossi’s visit to Japan in March this year, in which he commended the Diplomatic Initiative toward Latin America and the Caribbean launched by Foreign Minister Kamikawa in February 2024, which underscores Japan’s unwavering support in the region. It builds on the long-standing cooperation between the IAEA and the Government of Japan to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy to support development around the world. This cooperation has seen a deeper commitment with Japan’s support for the IAEA initiative “Rays of Hope – Cancer Care for All”, launched by Director General Grossi in February 2022.

    Under the Letter of Intent, the following areas of cooperation are included: enhancing facilities, equipment and infrastructure to expand radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy facilities, as well as support in capacity-building through the engagement of multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in the practices of radiology radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, as appropriate.

    “Today’s signing of the Letter of Intent will further help to bring life-saving cancer care to those who need it the most. From the beginning, Japan has been a very strong and generous supporter of Rays of Hope, helping to reduce global imbalances in the access to such care,” Director General Grossi said.

    The Rays of Hope initiative is helping low- and middle-income countries establish and expand access to radiation-based medical services, including diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy. Through this initiative, the IAEA, together with its donors and partners, are working to address inequities in cancer treatment and improve survival rates through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. So far, 86 countries have reached out to the Agency for support under Rays of Hope and concrete actions have been initiated in more than 30 Member States.

    In Honduras, the most common cancers require radiotherapy, but many patients have limited or no access to these services in public healthcare institutions. The high cancer mortality rate has prompted President Xiomara Castro to make the availability of specialised radiation therapy equipment and the training of experts a top priority.

    Honduras is one of the first eight countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region to receive assistance through the Rays of Hope initiative. Honduras will soon receive mammography equipment and a linear accelerator to deliver life-saving radiotherapy treatment.

    This tripartite cooperation is expected to greatly improve the availability and quality of radiation therapy in Honduras and represents the strong commitment of the parties to help save lives and address the disproportionate burden of cancer.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Adams, Grassley, Merkley, Booker, and Hinson Shine Light on Stillbirth Prevention

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

    WASHINGTON, DC. – Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) teamed up with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day.

    Earlier this year, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act (H.Res.1474) —led by Hinson and Adams in the House and Merkley in the Senate — was signed into law by President Biden to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America. With at least 25 percent of stillbirths being potentially preventable, this resolution stresses the need for continued stillbirth prevention activities in the United States.

    “I was proud to co-lead the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act and see it pass into law this year, which will increase awareness for families on how to prevent this painful, yet common experience,” said Rep. Adams. “Today we recommit to ending stillbirth and to giving more families a chance to be whole. This is just the beginning, and I am committed to doing my part on behalf of all of America’s families.”

    “A single family affected by stillbirth is one too many. Yet this tragedy impacts thousands across America, upending the lives of individuals and families from all walks of life,” said Senator Merkley. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we must do more to reduce the alarming rate of stillbirth, which disproportionately impacts Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women. This National Stillbirth Prevention Day we recommit to doing everything we can to end this public health crisis, so no one again ever has to experience the trauma of stillbirth.”

    “Thousands of families grapple with the unimaginable pain of stillbirths, and, devastatingly, Black women and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by these tragedies,” said Senator Booker. “By designating September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention Day, we will help raise awareness, promote research and develop solutions so all mothers and babies, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the care and support they deserve.”

    “Iowa has made strides towards reducing stillbirths in our state. This bipartisan resolution recognizes researchers like we have in Iowa, as well as care providers and advocates. It also reaffirms our goal to improve maternal care resources, particularly in rural areas,” said Senator Grassley. “No mom should know the heartbreak of a stillbirth. I’m glad to be partnering on a number of federal legislative efforts to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives.”

    “Over 21,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each year. This rate is unacceptably high, and we must do more to ensure more women experience healthy pregnancies and have healthy babies. I am proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to recognize September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day to raise awareness about stillbirth prevention so we can help save more moms and babies,” said Rep. Hinson.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 175 U.S. births tragically result in stillbirth—accounting for nearly 21,000 stillbirths a year—more stillbirths annually than the number of babies who pass away during their first year of life. In the last two decades, the stillbirth rate in the United States declined by a negligible 0.4 percent. In a report published by the World Health Organization comparing progress in improving stillbirth rates, the United States ranked 183 out of 195 countries.

    “For the third year in a row, and under Senator Merkley’s leadership, we pause to recognize the crisis of stillbirth in this country and celebrate progress on stillbirth prevention efforts. When Congress recognizes this important day, when buildings and bridges are lit up across the country, and moms and dads make their voices heard through OpEds and sharing their personal stories of loss — progress happens and lives are saved. We mourn the tens of thousands of babies who should be with their families right now and accelerate progress so no other family has to endure the tragedy of stillbirth,” said Emily Price, Healthy Birth Day Inc. CEO.

    In the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). In the House, the resolution is cosponsored by Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13). Healthy Birth Day Inc., Charles Martin Corvi Fund, Birth and Breastfeeding in Color Inc, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Aaliyah in Action, Yale University Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Yale University, The Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Foundation, Nitamising Gimashkikinaan Our First Medicine Indigenous Perinatal and Lactation Support Circle, Division of Indian Work, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 1st Breath, 2 Degrees, Dieudonne Foundation, Jace’s Journey, Start Healing Together, In the Arms Of Jesus Grief Support, Healing Our Hearts Foundation, Matties Memory, Society for Reproductive Investigation, March of Dimes, Measure the Placenta, Nurturing Babyhood N’ Beyond LLC, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, March for Moms, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Gifts from Liam, Mera’s Mission, and Kansas Birth Justice Society also endorsed the resolution.

    The full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.

    ### 

    Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BOYLE & VETERANS HERALD $740K FUNDING AWARD FOR VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brendan Boyle (13th District of Pennsylvania)

    PHILADELPHIA –Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA02) and Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) Executive Director, Joe Brooks, today heralded the Department of Veterans Affairs recent awarding of $740,000 to VMC for tailored suicide prevention programs and services for Veterans and their families. Tuesday morning Congressman Boyle & Executive Director Brooks held a brief news conference at the VMC in Old City to share this great news.

    “This funding will save lives and will ensure that both veterans and their families receive the critical support they need”, said Congressman Boyle. “I have always made it clear that I believe our nation has a sacred obligation to care for our troops upon their return from service. I will continue to hold up my commitment by supporting actions and legislative measures that properly support our nations veterans.”

    “Federal funding is absolutely vital to the success of our suicide prevention efforts through SSG Fox programming. As a nonprofit, VMC is only able to save veteran lives with this crucial support”, said VMC Executive Director Brooks. “We are deeply grateful to the VA and Congressman Brendan Boyle for their continued commitment to this life-saving work.”

    Federal funding is vital to the success of VMC suicide prevention efforts through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox (SSG Fox), a program under the VMC.  As a nonprofit, VMC is equipped to save veteran lives with this crucial support. Over the past year alone, SSG Fox has provided critical services to 219 veterans. 

    Among them:

    • 47 were at high risk, facing a mental health crisis
    • 180 were referred to treatment, navigating barriers of the opioid epidemic 
    • 10 of those veterans presented in crisis with a plan of suicide, all 10 veterans were admitted into treatment, preventing the suicide

    This funding will support the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) which enables the VA to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts. Congress has authorized $174 million to be appropriated to carry out the SSG Fox SPGP, a three-year community-based grant program that provides resources to community organizations serving Veterans across the country. Grants are awarded to organizations that provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for eligible individuals at risk of suicide and their families that qualify.

    The VMC was founded in 1980 by local Vietnam Veterans, who built a memorial along the Philadelphia waterfront and discovered a sense of community unparalleled.  VMC programs now serve more than 6,500 Veterans and families annually throughout the tri-state area. Their mission is to “serve those who served” this great nation and to provide services, programs, opportunity and advancement to Veterans of the U.S. military and their families.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister underlined the solidarity and cooperation between the United Nations and Timor-Leste.
     
    They discussed challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, sustainable development, as well as regional and global issues. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister further discussed the Summit of the Future and agreed on the need for reforms of the international financial institutions.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. To Lam, State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. To Lam, State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between Viet Nam and the United Nations, particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals, governance of the digital space, climate action, just energy transition and peacekeeping, as well as for the strong partnership between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s deep-sea submersible arrives in HK

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 arrives at Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China’s research vessel Deep Sea No. 1, carrying manned submersible Jiaolong, received a warm welcome Tuesday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the first time they visited the city.
    The vessel is on a home-bound voyage after completing a scientific mission in the Western Pacific Ocean. During their two-day stay in Hong Kong, scientists on board will give lectures to Hong Kong students and hold a number of international seminars to share the results of this scientific expedition.
    Warner Cheuk, deputy chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, said that the visits ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China fully demonstrated the central government’s care and support for Hong Kong’s marine scientific research development and ecological conservation.
    It is hoped that this event will inspire more young people in Hong Kong to engage in deep-sea research and make planet Earth a better place to live in, he said.
    Wu Changbin, director of China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, congratulated the successful completion of the Western Pacific international voyage scientific expedition, saying that this voyage not only enhanced China’s scientific understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems but also contributed important scientific data to global marine scientific research.
    The scientific expedition team of Chinese and foreign scientists set sail on Aug. 10 from Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, and made a total of 18 dives in the Western Pacific. It was the first time that foreign scientists have carried out deep-sea scientific research on Jiaolong. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai addresses 2024 Concordia Annual Summit

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    President Lai addresses 2024 Concordia Annual Summit
    2024-09-25

    On the morning of September 25 (afternoon of September 24 EDT), President Lai Ching-te addressed the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit via video at the invitation of the New York-based non-profit organization Concordia, speaking on Taiwan’s key priorities in the current international security environment and vision for the future.
    In his remarks, President Lai said that democracy around the world is facing serious threats, citing as examples Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s intensifying military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. The president indicated that through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, China poses serious threats to global peace and stability. He said that China often uses lawfare and distorts history to expand its power, an example being its distortion of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. The president thanked the United States and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) for taking concrete actions to oppose China’s misinterpretations.
    President Lai reiterated that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other, and that we will maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by promoting our Four Pillars of Peace action plan. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and other democratic nations will jointly support the democratic umbrella and counter authoritarian aggression as we navigate a new era in global democratic development. President Lai expressed that a stronger Taiwan is better able to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world, and that we welcome more countries to join in support of democratic Taiwan and a stronger democracy worldwide.
    A transcript of President Lai’s speech follows:
    I want to begin by thanking Concordia for the opportunity to address the Annual Summit. Since my inauguration in May, I have been sharing Taiwan’s roadmap for development at various international venues. I’m honored to speak on our key priorities in the current international security environment, as well as our vision for the future.
    Our goal is to make Taiwan stronger, because a stronger Taiwan is better able to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity around the world.
    Our sincere hope is for Taiwan and other democratic nations to jointly support the democratic umbrella and counter authoritarian aggression as we navigate a new era in global democratic development, echoing the theme of this summit.
    Democracy around the world is facing serious threats. We have seen the growth of authoritarianism and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has exceeded two years. And we have seen China intensifying its military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. Through its use of gray-zone tactics such as economic coercion and cognitive warfare, China poses serious threats to global peace and stability.
    China often uses lawfare and distorts history to expand its power. I want to emphasize that democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China are not subordinate to each other. This is a fact with a long-established, global consensus. Regardless of that, China has distorted UNGA Resolution 2758 in support of its “one China principle,” falsely claiming that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China and that we have no right to participate in the UN system and other international fora.
    I would like to thank the US and IPAC for taking concrete actions to oppose China’s misinterpretations. We welcome more countries to join in support of democratic Taiwan and a stronger democracy worldwide.
    China’s threat to Taiwan is a threat to the entire international community. China doesn’t just want to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It intends to change the rules-based international order and achieve international hegemony.
    In this situation, our top priority is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by promoting our Four Pillars of Peace action plan.
    First, we will strengthen our national defense. We will strengthen our capabilities and show our resolve for self-defense.
    Second, we will build economic security. We will continue to reduce economic dependence on China. We also aim to sign trade agreements with other democratic countries, participate more in the regional economy, and mutually enhance our economic resilience.
    Third, we will strengthen our partnerships with democratic countries. Taiwan will continue to cooperate with like-minded partners on “democracy chips.” We will also strengthen cooperation with other countries in national defense so that the democratic community can demonstrate the strength of deterrence and achieve our goal of peace.
    The final pillar is stable and principled cross-strait leadership. Taiwan will neither yield nor provoke, and will maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We will remain committed to safeguarding regional peace and stability.
    The road ahead may be difficult, but as long as we follow it together, I am confident that we can further strengthen democracy and sustain peace. Together, let’s forge ahead on the path to greater prosperity. Thank you.
    Concordia organizes its annual summit outside the UN headquarters during each year’s General Debate of the UNGA, inviting world leaders and top private sector representatives to seek solutions to global and regional challenges that are highly valued by the UN community. Among those who addressed this year’s summit were President Santiago Peña Palacios of the Republic of Paraguay, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, former Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, former President Iván Duque of the Republic of Colombia, former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of the Republic of Croatia, US Senators Bill Cassidy and Chris Coons, US House Representative Chrissy Houlahan, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kelly Clements, Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul, President of Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer, and President of The Rockefeller Foundation Rajiv J. Shah.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panasonic Energy Releases “Integrated Report 2024”

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Panasonic Energy Releases “Integrated Report 2024”

    Osaka, Japan – September 25, 2024 – Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, has released Integrated Report 2024 on the Sustainability page of the Panasonic Energy corporate website.

    This report is intended to help our various stakeholders deepen their understanding of Panasonic Energy by disseminating financial and non-financial information, including details of the growth strategy, performance and financial status, and environmental, social and governance initiatives. Notably, this report explains Panasonic Energy’s competitive advantages and strengths and contains more non-financial information than before, such as disclosure based on the TCFD(*1) recommendations. 
    Panasonic Energy will continuously endeavor to upgrade the report and deepen communication with its stakeholders as a member of the Panasonic Group.
    *1: Abbreviation for “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS promotes Hong Kong’s dual advantages in financial services and innovation and technology in Madrid, Spain (with photos/videos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹The Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, continued his visit to Madrid, Spain, yesterday (September 24, Madrid time).

         During a business luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr Chan delivered a keynote speech to about 150 leaders from the business, financial and innovation and technology sectors from Spain, and engaged in discussions with participants. He pointed out that Hong Kong has restored its global connections after the pandemic and with the singular advantages under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, is further solidifying its role as a super connector. He said Hong Kong welcomes Spanish enterprises to use Hong Kong as a springboard to tap into the vast markets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Mainland, and broader Asia.

         Mr Chan further noted that Hong Kong offers a full spectrum of fund-raising and financial services. Combined with the mutual access schemes with the capital markets of the Mainland, Hong Kong provides the channel where Spanish companies can conveniently attract funds from both the Mainland and international markets. Additionally, Hong Kong is a leader in green finance in Asia, and its green standards are compatible with those of the European Union, green projects from Europe can fully leverage Hong Kong as a fund-raising platform. At the same time, Hong Kong is making great strides to become an international innovation and technology centre, with a burgeoning innovation and technology ecosystem that can collaborate with Spain’s tech ecosystem across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, new energy and new materials.

         In conclusion, Mr Chan expressed hope for strengthening co-operation with Spain in finance, innovation and technology, culture, and creative industries to deepen co-operation and achieve mutually rewarding success.

         During the discussion session of the luncheon, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Mr Albert Wong, and the Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, Mr Eric Chan, shared insights on Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development and advantages, the ecosystems of the two institutions, and the multi-faceted support offered to start-ups.

         In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with the Secretary of State for Trade of Spain, Ms Amparo López Senovilla and briefed her on Hong Kong’s latest economic development. They engaged in in-depth exchanges on further promoting economic and trade co-operation and mutual investments between the two economies. HKTDC Chairman, Dr Peter Lam, and its Executive Director, Ms Margaret Fong, also participated in the meeting.

         In the morning, Mr Chan led a delegation of tech start-ups to visit start-up accelerator IMPACT and Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica respectively. IMPACT, co-founded by the renowned digital business school ISDI, is one of Europe’s leading start-up accelerators, helping start-ups in and out of Europe build networks, and providing financial support, mentoring and training. The start-up representatives of the delegation interacted with IMPACT leaders, sharing their entrepreneurial ideas and business developments. The delegation then visited Telefónica to learn about the company’s operations and its development strategies in 5G telecommunications, the Internet of Things, Web3.0 and etc.; as well as its experience in incubating and investing in innovation and technology firms. 

         Mr Chan will continue his visit in Madrid today (September 25, Madrid time) and will travel to London in the afternoon.                           

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Maintains PRC Growth Forecast at 4.8% this Year

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (25 September 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its forecast of 4.8% economic growth in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) this year, according to the latest ADB report.

    The growth outlook remains balanced amid a prolonged correction in the property market and weak investor and consumer confidence, according to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024, released today. Economic activity in the PRC is expected to moderate to 4.5% growth next year, consistent with ADB’s projection in April.

    “ADB’s research indicates that investment will support domestic demand while the property market correction continues,” said ADB Country Director for the PRC Safdar Parvez. “Global demand and the domestic cost advantage in manufacturing should also bolster exports.”

    Inflation for 2024 is now forecast at 0.5%, lower than April’s 1.1% projection as the overall downtrend in food price persists. Strong global demand and increased credit availability for certain industries—including semiconductors; artificial intelligence; and low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and renewables—will drive growth this year and next.

    Infrastructure investment should regain momentum with the expected acceleration of the local government special bond issuance in the second half of this year. However, the ongoing property sector correction is expected to slow growth. The contraction in real estate investment will likely continue into next year.

    Risks to the outlook include the deterioration in the property market, global fragmentation due to geopolitical issues, and the escalation of trade tensions. On the upside, acceleration and effective implementation of policy measures, including policies announced in the Third Plenum, could raise consumer and investor confidence faster than expected, resulting in higher growth and inflation than forecast.

    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 Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Slower Inflation, Higher Investment and Consumption to Support Philippine Growth through 2024, 2025 — ADB

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (25 September 2024) — Moderating inflation, monetary easing, and sustained public spending particularly on major infrastructure projects, will support Philippine economic growth this year and the next, according to a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today.

    In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024 report, ADB maintained its growth forecast for the Philippine economy at 6.0% for 2024 and 6.2% in 2025. The expansion in gross domestic product (GDP) will be driven by broad-based domestic demand, supported by lower inflation and interest rates, the report said.

    ADB lowered its inflation forecast to 3.6% in 2024 from its April estimate of 3.8%, reflecting the sustained deceleration in food prices partly due to lower tariffs on rice imports. Inflation is expected to ease further to 3.2% in 2025 compared to the previous estimate of 3.4%.

    “Most of the ingredients for the Philippines’ sustained economic growth are in place—rising government revenues are boosting public expenditures on infrastructure and social services, increasing employment is driving consumption, and reforms to open the economy to more investments are underway. With inflation slowing, the country is in a strong position to lead growth in Southeast Asia,” said ADB Philippines Country Director Pavit Ramachandran.

    However, risks remain from potential severe weather events which could drive inflation higher. External factors such as a sharper slowdown in major advanced economies and the People’s Republic of China, financial volatility due to US monetary policy decisions, geopolitical tensions, and rising global commodity prices also pose threats to growth, the report said.

    The Philippine government expects public infrastructure spending to range between 5.0%–6.0% of GDP annually from 2024 to 2028, after hitting 5.8% of GDP in 2023. The government’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program includes 66 ongoing projects and another 31 approved for implementation as of August 2024.

    The infrastructure program aims to enhance physical connectivity through railways, bridges, and airports, or strengthen water management through irrigation, water supply, and flood control. Climate change mitigation and adaptation, digital connectivity, energy, and agriculture projects, are also prioritized under this program.

    ADB is financing key infrastructure projects, such as the Malolos Clark Railway Project and the South Commuter Railway Project which will link Metro Manila to northern and southern provinces in the Luzon region. It is also supporting the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, and the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project which aims to enhance flood and climate change resilience in three major river basins in the country.

    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 Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Raises Economic Growth Forecast for Developing Asia and the Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (25 September 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised its economic growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific this year, amid solid domestic demand and continued strength in exports. ADB has also lowered its forecast for regional inflation.

    The region is forecast to grow by 5.0% this year, compared with a projection of 4.9% in April, according to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024, released today. The forecast for next year is maintained at 4.9%. Inflation in developing Asia and the Pacific is expected to ease further to 2.8% in 2024, compared with a previous forecast of 3.2%.

    The improved economic outlook reflects stronger-than-expected expansions in East Asia, Caucasus and Central Asia, and the Pacific. Rising global demand for semiconductors, driven in part by the artificial intelligence boom, is boosting exports, while easing global food prices and the lagged effects of monetary policy tightening have brought inflation down to near pre-pandemic levels.

    “Strong economic fundamentals will continue to underpin expansion this year and next,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “Financial conditions are expected to improve as inflation moderates further and the US eases its monetary policy, and this will support the positive outlook for the region.”

    Risks to the outlook include a worsening of trade tensions between the United States (US) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC); further deterioration in the PRC property market; worsening geopolitical tensions; and the effects of climate change and adverse weather on commodity prices and food and energy security.

    The growth forecast for the PRC, the largest economy in developing Asia and the Pacific, remains at 4.8% this year and 4.5% next year. Lingering weakness in the PRC’s property sector has negatively affected household spending during 2024. This has been partially offset by higher investment, underpinned by stimulatory monetary and fiscal policies, and higher exports.

    India’s economy—the region’s second largest—is forecast to grow 7.0% in 2024, unchanged from April, amid strong domestic demand including an increase in government spending.

    The growth forecast for the Caucasus and Central Asia has been raised to 4.7% this year, compared with a 4.3% projection in April, thanks to improved domestic demand bolstered by remittances in some economies. The growth forecast for the Pacific is revised upward to 3.4%, from 3.3% in April, driven by the increase in tourist arrivals. The forecast for Southeast Asia has been lowered by 0.1 percentage points to 4.5%, due to a decline in public investments and slower-than-expected export recovery.

    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 Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Maintains Cambodia’s Growth Forecast for 2024-2025

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (25 September 2024) —The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its growth forecast for Cambodia at 5.8% for 2024 and 6.0% for 2025. It has revised down its earlier inflation projection for 2024 from 2.0% to 0.5%, reflecting the slow increase in food prices and decline in fuel prices in the first half of 2024, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024.

    “The rebound in the manufacturing sector— especially garments, footwear, and travel goods (GFT) — is powering the country’s economic growth,” said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma. “Agriculture and tourism are steadily gaining ground, while continued inflows of foreign direct investment are fueling the country’s economic momentum. Together, these forces are setting the stage for a promising 2024 and positioning Cambodia for robust growth in 2025 and beyond.”

    The lowering of inflation forecasts reflects reduced prices of fuel-related goods and services, along with decreased costs of fertilizers, providing support to agricultural production. This will provide much-needed relief for people, especially the most vulnerable, who have faced challenges in recent years due to rising food and fuel prices.

    The report highlighted that GFT exports rose by 16.9% year on year in the first half of 2024, rebounding from an 18.6% decline during the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, growth in exports of non-GFT products slowed to 1.3% year on year from 21.2%. Imports of construction materials and equipment surged by 23.3% year on year in the first half of 2024, driven by public infrastructure investment.

    Agriculture is projected to grow by 1.2% in 2024 and 1.3% in 2025. Services are forecast to grow by 5.4% in 2024 before tapering to 5.2% in 2025. This forecast is supported by a 22.7% year on year increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024, reaching 94.8% of the pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2019.

    Foreign investment inflows continued although they decelerated somewhat to $2 billion by mid-2024, from $2.1 billion during the same period last year. This was supported by growth in nonfinancial sectors. However, investment in the financial sector slowed appreciably due to lower banking profits.

    Potential risks to Cambodia’s economic outlook include weaker growth in major economies like the People’s Republic of China, Europe, and the United States, high private debt, volatile global fuel prices, and severe impact from extreme weather events.

    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 Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB Forecasts 3.1% Economic Growth for Timor-Leste in 2024

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    DILI, TIMOR-LESTE (25 September 2024) — Timor-Leste’s economic growth momentum will continue in 2024–2025, though at a more modest pace than forecast in April 2024 due to lower government expenditure and weaker investment spending than previously expected, according to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).  

    The Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024 reports that robust private consumption, fueled by consumer credits, government transfers, personal remittances, and tourist arrivals should drive growth. However, the forecast has been revised down to 3.1% for 2024 and 3.9% for 2025 from the 3.4% and 4.1% projected in ADO April 2024, respectively, due to slower-than-expected budget spending.

    “Ensuring investment project readiness, improving public procurement practices, and strengthening institutional capacity are essential for maximizing the positive impact of public capital investments on economic growth,” said ADB Country Director for Timor-Leste Stefania Dina. “To sustain robust economic growth beyond 2024, we must embrace public financial management reforms and strategic policy shifts. By optimizing development finance opportunities and protecting government resources, such as the Petroleum Fund, we can build a brighter future for Timor-Leste.”

    Due to lower inflation in staple products and consumer durables and persistently low inflation in nontradables, average inflation will moderate to 3.4% in 2024, revised down slightly from the previous 3.5% forecast. The report’s  2.9% inflation forecast for 2025 remains unchanged from ADO April 2024. The current account deficits will remain large but slightly less than the previous forecasts due to lower imports of goods and services in line with slower budget spending.

    Risks to Timor-Leste’s growth outlook stem from lower public capital spending, climate-related disasters, and the impact of external shocks and spillovers mainly associated with prolonged global geopolitical tensions on trade conditions and inflation.

    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 Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SOUTH KOREA  –  

    Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary concluded more than a month of training in South Korea Aug. 6 to Sept. 7, including participation in Exercise Ssang Yong 24, which featured the first amphibious assault using Amphibious Combat Vehicles during their inaugural deployment.

    The Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU arrived in South Korea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during the first week of August. Partnered with the ROK Marine Corps 7th Brigade, the combined force of Marines conducted two weeks of live-fire training ranges and unit-level training at ROKMC bases near Pohang.

    Battalion Landing Team 1/5, the ground combat element of the 15th MEU, employed ACVs at ROKMC training areas surrounding Pohang, South Korea, exercising the vehicles’ off-road mobility and automated crew-served weapons. Alpha Company, BLT 1/5’s designated mechanized company, and its ACV Platoon also provided ROK Marines opportunities to tour and familiarize themselves with the U.S. Marine Corps’ newest ship-to-shore connector Aug. 20 and 22.

    Units from across the 15th MEU also conducted partnered non-live fire events, including: tactical planning, mountain warfare training, fast rope inserts from an MV-22B Osprey, unmanned aerial and waterborne systems familiarization, small boat operations and reconnaissance, operations in urban terrain, communications integration, chemical attack response, and other training. This training strengthened and improved the interoperability between ROK and U.S forces in defense of the Korean Peninsula.

    The culminating event in South Korea for 15th MEU and its ACVs was the amphibious assault Sept. 2 as part of Ssang Yong. Alpha Company Marines and Sailors, under the cover of the combined force’s air and surface fire support, landed at Hwajin-ri Beach near Pohang alongside nearly 40 Korean amphibious assault vehicles. Using their ACVs’ stabilized weapon systems, the company identified and reduced simulated enemy positions as they approached the shoreline, then dismounted to secure the beach prior to continuing the attack inland.

    This marked the first time Marine Corps ACVs with embarked infantry demonstrated their beach assault capabilities with a host nation’s forces during a major exercise.

    “Seventy-four years after our landing at Inchon, I can’t think of a better place and partner with whom to showcase the Marine Corps’ latest, most lethal amphibious assault capability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of BLT 1/5. “Any amphibious assault is a complex operation, and that’s especially true with a combined force featuring new equipment. Today, we benefitted from decades of steadfast commitment between our countries, years of development and testing by our service, many months of hard work by this first-of-its-kind mechanized company, and several weeks of excellent training and integration with our allies. It’s gratifying and inspiring to be here to see the impressive result of all these efforts.”

    The Marine Corps expects this first deployment of ACVs to continue to provide insights for platform embarkation and maintenance requirements, logistics, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms.

    “As the U.S. Marine Corps’ new generation of amphibious assault vehicle, it was special and meaningful to have ACVs deployed to the Korea Theater of Operations for the first time. Especially, during the decisive action, the most complex and sophisticated phase of the amphibious operation, the ACVs not only revealed its strength and capabilities but also the firm commitment to ROK-U.S. Alliance,” said ROKMC Lt. Col. Chol-Uk Kang, lead SY24 exercise planner, 1st ROK Marine Division. “Going forward, I sincerely hope that the ROK and the U.S. can further develop on combined amphibious operational method and concept with its new capability.”

    After the completion of Ssang Yong, the 15th MEU’s forces reembarked Boxer and Harpers Ferry at ROK Naval Base Busan, South Korea, to resume their deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of operations.

    The ACV Platoon, Alpha Company, and other elements of the 15th MEU began their deployment in late March 2024, departing San Diego aboard Harpers Ferry.

    Since then, ACVs were first employed overseas May 4 during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Oyster Bay in the Philippines. During the exercise, the ACV Platoon launched from Harpers Ferry, made movement in the water toward an objective, and attacked targets from offshore using the vehicles’ stabilized heavy machine guns before reembarking.

    The ACV Platoon’s first time ashore in a foreign country was June 24 after a ship-to-shore movement from Harpers Ferry to White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. During that event, the mechanized company rehearsed troop egress procedures and shared best practices with leaders from III Marine Expeditionary Force, which received its first ACVs in July.

    Elements of the 15th MEU are under the command and control of Commander, Task Force 76, which the U.S. 7th Fleet employs to cooperate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    As the U.S. 7th Fleet’s primary Navy advisor on amphibious matters in the 7th Fleet area of operations, CTF 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations to support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to full combat operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Demands Biden Administration Protect Farmers Amid Historic Inflation, Rising Input Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    “The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies.”

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke on the Senate floor about the how the Biden administration’s inflationary policies are hurting American farmers. He stressed the importance of passing a Farm Bill that puts American farmers first.

    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    “Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the dire state of our American farm economy and our farmers. American farmers and producers are the backbone of our nation’s agriculture economy and food security.

    Despite their critical role in our lives to feed, clothe, and fuel not only the United States, but the entire world, our farmers are struggling to survive—and that’s an understatement. The current state of the agriculture economy is bleak and on the verge of collapse. We have problems all over the world. We have problems in our country. There’s nothing more important. Nothing more important that we should be addressing than our food supply here in this country.

    Costs for farmers are rising. Commodity prices are falling. Our farmers cannot break even—much less, make a profit. According to the USDA, net farm income this year is projected to decline 4.4% from 2023 […]. That is a disaster. This follows a shocking—listen to this—a shocking 19.5% decline in 2022.

    Not one business in this country can survive with this kind of decline. And our farmers and our farms are no different. This means producer’s income has plummeted 23% in just two years. 23%. These figures represent over $40 billion in lost revenue for America’s hardworking producers. This is the largest two-year decline ever in our farm income, ever in the history of this country.

    Right now, our row croppers, especially, are facing considerable financial hardship. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, row croppers had a $27.7 billion decline in cash receipts since last year. In Alabama, my state, our producers are yielding bumper crops of cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and yet they can’t profit due to [the] rising cost of production. Our catfish producers are in the same boat. Rising input costs and falling fish prices are threatening to put them out of business. A multitude of factors that producers have no control over are impacting their bottom lines.

    And I wanna talk about one of them. This miraculous, this ‘world saving’ Inflation Reduction Act that we passed a few years ago, was supposed to ‘save our economy.’ It was supposed to save a lot of workers. You know what it’s done to our farmers? It’s almost put us out of business. The Inflation Reduction Act started a tax credit for imports and exports.

    Unfortunately, all the tax credits are going to people, and countries, and farmers from overseas—Brazil and China. [The tax credit] is supposed to go to our farmers, [but] no it’s not gonna do that. For some reason, this Administration [has] given all the tax credits to the farmers from other countries, and our farmers are struggling.

    The Biden administration has control, has total control, over our farm economy, but you hadn’t heard a peep out of them, not one peep about our farmers. And this is a disastrous year coming up. And right now, we are harvesting our crops and they’re bumper crops. The issues plaguing American producers are directly linked to the harmful policies, as I just said, from the Biden-Harris administration.

    This includes the lack of domestic energy production, skyrocketing inflation, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, and endless environmental hurdles. Let me say something about conservation and all the things that happen in our environment. There’s nobody, and I mean nobody on the face of the earth, that takes care and is more conscious of environmental problems than our farmers, because they make a living off our land. But we’re putting so many regulations on them. We’re closing our farms down and running them overseas, and we’re gonna have a national security threat because all of our food is gonna come from foreign countries.

    Farmers are experiencing rising high costs of labor [and an] increase [in the] price of feeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it. America’s agriculture producers are facing a very tough road ahead. And it’s something nobody, the media, this building, […] The House of Representatives—nobody’s even talking about. Folks, if we can’t eat. If we don’t have food to eat, we’re done.

    Many farmers fear that their farm loans this year will not be renewed. They have to have farm loans to put a crop in the ground. They fear cash flow is drying up and interest rates continuing to rise create an uncertain future for farming operations. Although Congress only has a few legislative days left to act, we must stop adding fuel to the Biden-Harris administration’s fire. We’ve got to quit adding fuel. We’ve got to help the farmers.

    We need to pass a Farm Bill that helps our farmers. Democrats are [in] control of that. […] A farm bill is for five years. […] Five years ago, the Farm Bill was $870 billion for [a] five-year period. It runs in a five-year period. So, this past year, we’re supposed to be working on a Farm Bill. I’m on the Ag Committee. We go by the control of the Democratic Party. Our Democratic Chairwoman has decided we won’t do a Farm Bill this year.

    We’re just throwing farmers underneath the bus. They need help. You would think by looking at everything going on, that my colleagues on the Left would rather our food come from other countries, take over our farmland, control it, and do something else with it. 

    Producers need a strong safety net—we’ve got to have a safety net for our farmers. Considering no farmer’s risks are the same, we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Remember, we have a Farm Bill that covers livestock, hogs, row croppers, forest, fish. There’s a lot of things involved.

    Farmers across the country have fluctuating levels of risk impacted by land and equipment costs, access to irrigation, and variable input requirements. Southern row croppers rely heavily, heavily upon Title I Commodity Programs in the Farm Bill, particularly the Price Loss [Coverage] program and the Agricultural Risk [Coverage] program. Yet Midwest producers heavily utilize crop insurance.

    Where there may be an overlap across regions among these programs, we must fix the entire farm safety net, not just parts of it. Take the reference prices and commodity programs, for example. Reference prices are how much prices are in their commodity sells for. Our farmers […] are today operating on 2012 reference prices, 2012. Fourteen years later, the costs of production are 22-31% higher today than they were at that time a decade ago—making current reference prices completely inadequate for our farmers.

    We don’t have time to waste. Our farmers are facing an uphill battle to remain in business. […] The American people going to the grocery store are gonna find out pretty quick what it is to be hungry if we don’t wake up and smell the roses.

    Even if a Farm Bill is passed today, producers wouldn’t receive any commodity program support from this Farm Bill until 2026. Game, set, match before 2026 for our farmers in this country.

    That’s help our farmers need now to survive, not two years late. Senate Republicans stand ready to act on a solid bipartisan bill the House Agriculture Committee passed earlier this year. Yet, Senate Democrats and the Biden administration refused, they refused, to come to the table to find practical, bipartisan solutions to the many problems our farmers are facing today.

    ‘Let’s don’t worry about our farmers. Let’s worry about Ukraine. Let’s worry about people overseas. Eight hundred bases we have around the world. Let’s don’t worry about eating. We can without eating.’ That’s what this Administration’s saying. 

    This forces us to look to supplemental appropriation packages to help our producers, if we’re not gonna do a Farm Bill, to renew their farm loans and plan for next year’s crops. If they don’t get help this year, we’re gonna have huge problems. They won’t be pocketing this money. If we come up with some money to help the farmers get along, they’ll just be planting another crop.

    Without immediate action to assist producers, our nation’s agriculture industry may never, ever, make it back from the damage that we’re doing to them today. America has lost—listen to this—America has lost 150,000 farms and 25,000 farmers in our country over the last few years. What? 150,000 farms closed up. Why? They can’t make a profit. You’ve owned a farm for 100 years, you and your family. But you get to the point where you say, ‘you know, I’m not passing something down to our kids that really wanna farm, we’re not gonna put them in harm’s way. We’re gonna sell. We’re gonna get out of the business. And we’re gonna let somebody else worry about it. Let’s let the Federal Government worry about it.’ […]

    We can’t afford any more losses to our farms. Our farmers are hurting. They’re hurting real bad. But have you heard anybody talk about it, no.

    You’re gonna hear a lot of people complaining about it and there’s gonna be an uproar in the next few years when prices double and triple as what they are today because we’re not gonna have any food. And it’s gonna come from Brazil, it’s gonna come from China, it’s gonna come from Vietnam. 

    We are doing severe damage to the farmers across this country and nobody cares. I’ll continue to be the voice of our Southern agriculture producers in the Senate and ensure that we have a seat at the table on this Farm Bill upcoming. But as I just said a while ago, [even] if we do a Farm Bill today, we’re gonna lose at least half of our farmers in this country this year, this year if they don’t get some help.

    Mr. President, I yield the floor.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll from floods in Myanmar rises to 419

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2024 shows a flooded area in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. [Photo/Str/Xinhua]

    Severe floods in Myanmar have caused significant devastation with a death toll of 419 as of Tuesday morning, according to the State Administration Council.

    Over 140,000 people were affected by the floods, which have devastated over 750,000 acres of paddy fields and killed over 100,000 animals.

    Additionally, the floods have destroyed 253 religious buildings, 926 roads and bridges, lamp posts and communication towers.

    In response, Myanmar authorities have allocated 30 billion kyats (about 14.2 million U.S. dollars) for rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Experts hope cultural exhibit inspires youth

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Hong Kong Palace Museum has opened an exhibition featuring over 100 precious artifacts that span 5,800 years of history, marking one of the most comprehensive displays of the origins and early development of Chinese civilization.

    The exhibition is one of several events being held in the city to celebrate the upcoming National Day on Oct 1.

    Cultural experts in Hong Kong expressed their hope that the exhibition will encourage young residents to delve into the roots and evolution of Chinese culture and help them foster a deeper appreciation for traditional values.

    Considered one of the most comprehensive overviews of the formation and early development of Chinese civilization in recent years, the exhibition will run from Wednesday to Feb 7.

    It will showcase nearly 110 precious objects from 14 major cultural institutions on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong. The artifacts span from the Neolithic period to the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC), reflecting the lives of ancestors from over 5,800 years ago. Nearly all the treasures are to be displayed in Hong Kong for the first time.

    Sixteen of the exhibits are grade-one national treasures, including a jade dragon from the Hongshan culture between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago, which is considered the original representation of the image of a dragon in China.

    Other notable objects include a jade tortoise and a seated human figure, both unearthed from the Niuheliang site during the same Hongshan period, reflecting the unique customs of burying the deceased with jade.

    Describing the traditional culture as the “root” and soul of the Chinese nation, Louis Ng Chi-wa, the director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, said he hopes that the exhibition will provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about Chinese culture and history.

    He said he hopes residents will enhance their cultural confidence through understanding the origins and development of Chinese civilization and witnessing its continuity, innovation and inclusiveness.

    Henry Tang Ying-yen, chairman of the board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said the exhibition will offer a compelling glimpse into the lives of Chinese ancestors, who laid the foundation for the enduring Chinese lineage that continues to this day.

    Tan Ping, director of Art Exhibition China and co-organizer of the exhibition, said it also showcases precious cultural relics unearthed in Hong Kong.

    To better display the precious cultural relics, the exhibition uses a wealth of multimedia technology. For instance, the exhibition brings the ancient Shimao site to life through a 270-degree panoramic multimedia project, with acclaimed Hong Kong singer and actor Julian Cheung Chi-lam narrating the audio guide and leading visitors through the ancient site with his voice.

    MIL OSI China News –