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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI: Hapag-Lloyd Partners with HERE Technologies to Transform Global Supply Chain Visibility with Advanced Tracking Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Hapag-Lloyd has equipped over 1.5 million containers with advanced tracking devices, integrating HERE Tracking into their real-time tracking solution to enhance inland Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) calculations across global transportation networks.
    • HERE Tracking delivers precise, AI-powered ETAs, providing Hapag-Lloyd with critical data for better operational planning, control and customer satisfaction.

    Hamburg, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands — Hapag-Lloyd, a global leader in container shipping, and HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology company, today announced a strategic partnership focused on significantly improving visibility in global supply chains. HERE Tracking enhances Hapag-Lloyd’s existing real-time smart container tracking solution Live Position with predictive ETAs for inland transportation, driving operational efficiency and improving customer satisfaction.

    As supply chain disruptions continue to impact industries worldwide, the need for real-time visibility has never been greater. With the deployment of over 1.5 million container tracking devices to 90% of Hapag Lloyd’s total fleet, utilizing the HERE Tracking solution, Hapag-Lloyd can now accurately predict arrival of these containers across their rail, barge and truck transportation networks. The tracking devices will extend to Hapag-Lloyd’s entire fleet and include ETA prediction early next year.

    By leveraging AI-powered, predictive ETAs from HERE, businesses and operations managers can rely on continuously updated data throughout the entire transport journey. This accuracy empowers more effective planning and decision-making, ultimately improving operational efficiency.

    HERE Tracking, a versatile location service, offers customers the ability to monitor transportation in real time, both outdoors and indoors, and across multiple transportation modes. Along with predictive ETAs, the service also provides customizable geofencing for smart, event-based alerts and notifications and advanced post-trip analytics.

    HERE Tracking is delivered via an application programming interface (API), offering seamless integration with existing enterprise software, and allowing customers to maintain full control of their data.

    Jason Jameson, Chief Customer Officer at HERE Technologies, said: “We are excited to redefine the future of supply chain visibility together with Hapag-Lloyd and to provide their customers with the precise ETAs they need to stay competitive in a constantly evolving marketplace. We are looking forward to extending our partnership with Hapag-Lloyd to further enhance their service offerings for even greater operational efficiency and end-customer satisfaction.”

    “As the first carrier to offer real-time visibility of our container locations through our Live Position product, Hapag-Lloyd is taking the next step with HERE to enhance inland ETA predictions,” said Patrick Briest, Head of Network & Operations IT Products at Hapag-Lloyd. “While we already know where each container is at any moment, our collaboration with HERE allows us to predict where it will be across any transport mode, in any country. This capability significantly boosts our operational planning and supports our customers with unparalleled precision in shipment timing.”

    Media Contacts
    HERE Technologies
    Dr. Sebastian Kurme
    +49 173 515 3549 
    sebastian.kurme@here.com

    Anna Glockner
    +44 7855 170344
    anna.glockner@here.com

    Hapag-Lloyd
    Hanja Maria Richter
    +49 40 3001 5102
    HanjaMaria.Richter@hlag.com

    Leon Schulz
    +49 40 3001 4042
    LeonJukka.Schulz@hlag.com

    About HERE Technologies
    HERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for almost 40 years. Today, the HERE location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com.

    About Hapag-Lloyd
    With a fleet of 287 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 2.2 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. In the Liner Shipping segment, the Company has around 13,700 employees and 400 offices in 140 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of 3.2 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 114 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on all the continents. In the Terminal & Infrastructure segment, Hapag-Lloyd has equity stakes in 20 terminals in Europe, Latin America, the United States, India and North Africa. Around 2,900 employees are assigned to the Terminal & Infrastructure segment and provide complementary logistics services at selected locations in addition to the terminal activities.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US election: Trump declares victory – ‘There’s never been anything like this’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    This is a rolling guide to articles and audio published by The Conversation in the immediate run-up to and aftermath of the election, with some explainers about the process. This page is updated from the top, so older references are moved down the page.

    The United States has made its choice. At just before 8am GMT (3am Florida time) Donald Trump took to the stage at the West Palm Beach convention center and claimed victory for the Republican Party. His declaration came minutes after it was announced he was going to win in the key state of Pennsylvania with its 19 electoral college votes.

    He thanked a large crowd of his adoring supporters, saying: “This was a movement like nobody’s ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country, and maybe beyond.”

    It’s been a turbulent four months since outgoing president Joe Biden announced he was terminating his bid for a second term and the battlelines between the two candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris were drawn. Soon we will know who will lead the US for the next four years.

    From here, with the help of some of the sharpest analysts of US politics, we’ll keep you updated and informed as the situation develops.

    Dafydd Townley, teaching fellow in international security at University of Portsmouth, has written an overview of how the election went down, with turnout looking high and no major incidents of violence, despite what look like numerous bomb hoaxes with possible Russian origins.

    Turnout has been impressive and initial speculation is that Trump has surpassed his rural support from 2020 while Democrat Kamala Harris only matched the suburban numbers that Biden achieved four years ago. NBC exit polls also showed Trump had more support from voters under 30 than any Republican candidate since 2008.



    Read more:
    Trump takes first swing states after voting passes peacefully

    The US has moved to the right

    Natasha Lindstaedt says that academics and pundits got the polls badly wrong in 2024.

    The polls were right – he had a lot more strength [than we all thought]. We thought the polls were seriously underestimating Kamala Harris and that she was doing far better than they were predicting, when they said it was a knife edge. But it turns out they were underestimating Trump.

    The US has moved to the right. The abortion bill wasn’t overturned in Florida, Ted Cruz won by ten points in Texas, a state that we thought might be competitive. We thought with this Iowa poll that Harris might be more competitive with white voters. It’s been a great night for Trump and an absolute disaster for the Democrats.

    She said that many people following the campaign thought that women were going to turn out and that would make the difference. But in fact it didn’t.

    Trump gained a lot more than he had in 2020 – probably due to nostalgia of what his administration was like, looking at it through rose-coloured glasses, forgetting the chaos and all the upheaval he created himself. Now he’s going to inherit a great economy – and he’s going to take credit for it.

    Trump wins Pennsylvania, declares victory

    Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential election. It followed hot on the heels of the networks announcing he had won the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Richard Hargy says the state has played an important part in the whole campaign, he says.

    It was in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July, where Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally after a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop.

    The Trump victory in Pennsylvania was greatly helped by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk’s intercession into the presidential election. He financed a multi-billion dollar door-knocking operation across the state and held events in support of Donald Trump.

    On Monday a Pennsylvania judge had ruled that a $1-million-a-day voter sweepstake organised by Musk was legal and could continue into Tuesday’s election.

    When will we know the result?

    To get an idea of the scale of the task of counting votes, take a look at the below map of the US colour-coded by poll closing times. How long the count could take is anyone’s guess at this stage. Each state has its own rules.

    Ahead of the polls closing Richard Hargy, an expert in US politics from Queen’s University Belfast, wrote a guide to the process, when the votes are counted and when we might start to see results.



    Read more:
    US election: what time do the polls close and when will the results be known? An expert explains

    Delays are baked into the process, such as Pennsylvania, which doesn’t allow votes cast before election day or ballots posted in to be counted until polls close, which was at 8pm (1am GMT).

    So we’ll just have to be patient. In the mean time, you can also read Hargy’s explainer on the “electoral college” system, which can mean that the candidate with the most votes may not win the presidency.



    Read more:
    US election: how does the electoral college voting system work?

    Early voting and what it might mean

    Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at University College Dublin, believes that in a cliffhanger election, a clue to the outcome may be in the size of turnout. More than 80 million Americans voted early – around half of the total turnout in 2020 and around one-third of the eligible electorate.

    The 80 million figure takes on added significance with the recognition that it is not that distant from the 104 million who participated early in the “pandemic” election four years ago. And that 2020 ballot, with 158.4 million votes and almost 67% participation, was the largest turnout since 1900.

    Who does that favour? Probably Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Trumpists will turn out for their man come hell or high water. The large question mark has been whether potential Harris voters would sit on their hands, whether from lack of enthusiasm or dissatisfaction on issues such as Israel’s open-ended war on Gaza.

    Any prediction in this election is a risk. But it might be worth setting a marker: if turnout matches or exceeds the record set in 2020, Kamala Harris could be on the way to the White House.

    Tense moment for the US

    During the campaign there have been two assassination attempts on former president Trump as well as arson attacks on ballot boxes and ballots damaged. In Arizona the Democratic party was forced to close one of its offices after it had been shot at three times.

    Dafydd Townley, a fellow in international security at Portsmouth University, believes that there could be a reluctance to accept the result and that this could result in further disturbances. He has written about how much violence there has been during this campaign.



    Read more:
    US election: officials are issued with panic buttons as attacks on ballot boxes continue

    Dafyyd Townley comments on post-election violence.

    How race has played into the campaign

    Rhianna Garrett, PhD researcher and global coordinator of the critical mixed race studies executive board at Loughborough University, says that Trump’s campaign has been “littered with attempts to weaponise” the multiracial heritage of his Democrat opponent Kamala Harris.

    Much of this has been a dog-whistle attempt to stir up his own base, partly with fairly blatant appeals to latent feelings of racism, but also as a tool to position Harris as deceiving and untrustworthy by apparently blurring and shifting her own background.

    In August, not long after Harris took over the Democrat ticket from Biden, Trump appeared at the National Association of Black Journalists conference when he wrongfully claimed that Harris was changing her identity, stating: “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black, So I don’t know. Is she Indian or is she Black?”.

    For her part, Harris’s campaign has also used her multiracial heritage to further their political agendas. On the White House website, she is described as “the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American” to hold a vice-presidential position, which has effectively attempted to position her as a winner. Harris herself has also foregrounded “race” on her campaign website. In attempt to attack Trump’s campaign, she strategically aims to promote Black and Latino men specifically, as well as women’s rights. These are key voter groups she has aimed to mobilise through identity politics.

    Trump and winning male voters

    Donald Trump widened his appeal to male voters in this election, with polling indicating that he was picking up more support from Black and Latino men, as well as more young men more widely.

    One reason for this may be that in 2024 young men are more conservative than any other group in the US. Another reason why gender has become a divisive issue is the overturning of Roe v Wade, the legal case that gave American women abortion rights.

    Read more on the gender divide in this article from Natasha Lindstaedt, a professor of government at Essex University.



    Read more:
    US election: why more men and fewer white women say they will vote for Trump

    A free speech campaign?

    Julie Posetti, professor of journalism at City St George’s, University of London, and global director of research at the International Center for Journalists, recently conducted a survey of more than 1,000 Americans on their attitudes to the press.

    Breaking down the results, they were able to build a picture of what people in the US think of targeting journalists for criticism and even abuse. You can read all about the study here.



    Read more:
    New survey finds an alarming tolerance for attacks on the press in the US – particularly among white, Republican men

    When Trump speaks – his supporters hear him loud and clear

    Channel 4 is showing pictures of the Trump party at the Palm Beach Convention Center, where the Maga faithful are celebrating the news that it appears that Trump has retaken Georgia in his second swing-state victory. Their idol is expected to join them soon.

    While we wait for him to speak, here’s a fascinating piece on Trump’s rhetorical style by Loren D. Marsh of the Humboldt University of Berlin. His speeches have been ridiculed by his opponents during the campaign. They say he’s unfocused, rambling and at times nonsensical. He calls it the “weave” and says it’s genius. Marsh says that whatever you may think, it seems to work for his supporters.

    Far from being a liability or an indication he is incapable of staying on message, Trump’s “weave” may well be his intuitive rhetorical strategy, a way of taking control of the media narrative.



    Read more:
    Trump’s speeches are chaotic, rambling, and extremely effective. Aristotle can explain why

    – ref. US election: Trump declares victory – ‘There’s never been anything like this’ – https://theconversation.com/us-election-trump-declares-victory-theres-never-been-anything-like-this-241711

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General congratulates US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance

    Source: NATO

    I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States.

    I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.

    Through NATO, the US has 31 friends and Allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe.

    Together, NATO Allies represent half of the world’s economic might and half of the world’s military might.

    We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing

    alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

    Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies. 

    President-elect Trump demonstrated strong U.S. leadership throughout his first term in office – a term that turned the tide on European defence spending, improved transatlantic burden sharing, and strengthened Alliance capabilities. 

    When President-elect Trump takes office again on January 20, he will be welcomed by a stronger, larger, and more united Alliance. 

    Two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the Alliance.

    We must continue these efforts in order to preserve peace and prosperity across North America and Europe. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Helping enterprises tide over difficulties

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by Professor the Hon Priscilla Leung and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):
     
    Question:
     
         There are views pointing out that, given the nascent recovery from the epidemic and current volatility in international politics, many enterprises in Hong Kong are still facing huge survival pressure. Results of a survey on the business index for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) published by a statutory body in August this year have indicated that Hong Kong’s overall business index for the third quarter retreated by 4.8 to 42.5, reaching the lowest level since the third quarter of 2022. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as it has been reported that, as pointed out in the survey findings published by a trade association in August this year, nearly half of the SME respondents indicated their difficulty in financing due to the long processing time and cumbersome procedures for the Government’s handling of applications lodged under various funding schemes, how the Government will enhance efficiency in vetting and approving applications under the funding schemes, so as to assist enterprises in financing;
     
    (2) whether it has reviewed if various financial regulators and statutory bodies (e.g. the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Insurance Authority) have aligned with the Government’s general direction of providing assistance and room for survival for those enterprises at risk of closure but with a chance to survive, thereby ensuring their survival; if it has reviewed and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the details; if the outcome is in the negative, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) whether the Government and the statutory bodies concerned will review the existing disciplinary policies for certain industries in response to prevailing trends and circumstances, e.g. deferring the takeover of insolvent enterprises; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government is dedicated to providing a reliable and business-friendly environment and support for enterprises to grow healthily. Having regard to the economic situation and needs of the trade, the Government has also from time to time enhanced various measures to assist enterprises (especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs)) in developing markets and addressing various challenges.
     
         Stepping into 2024, the global market situation remains unstable. Alongside the strength of the Hong Kong dollar and change in consumption patterns of visitors and the local public, the pace of recovery is uneven across different sectors. To this end, the Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address eight measures to assist SMEs in addressing the challenges often encountered during economic restructuring, including, under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme, launching again the principal moratorium, extending the maximum loan guarantee periods of the 80% and 90% guarantee products to 10 years and eight years respectively, and offering partial principal repayment options to new loans under the two guarantee products, so as to alleviate the repayment burden on SMEs; injecting $1 billion into the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) to assist SMEs in upgrading their business operations and developing new markets; expanding the scope of Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme (DTSPP); strengthening brand development of SMEs; and enhancing the services of the Hong Kong Design Centre and incentives for recurrent exhibitions, with a view to alleviating the operating pressure of SMEs and helping them further expand businesses.
     
         Besides, the Policy Address has emphasised the promotion of the development of new quality productive forces, including encouraging enterprises to grasp the opportunities brought about by electronic commerce, developing the low-altitude economy, expanding the silver market, as well as fostering trading of liquor, thereby creating more business opportunities for SMEs.
     
         Having consulted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Insurance Authority (IA), the consolidated reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
     
         Regarding the Government’s funding schemes, bureaux have been reviewing and enhancing their operations, including expediting the application process. Taking the BUD Fund as an example, to facilitate enterprises’ application submission, we have simplified the application form, redesigned the webpage to provide graphic illustration of the application process, application tips and success stories, etc. We have also allowed online submission of applications and project reports by applicant enterprises. The “Easy BUD” launched in June 2023 further assists applicants in preparing applications and implementing projects with a funding amount of $100,000 or below, and shortened the target processing time by half to within 30 working days, thereby helping SMEs expand their businesses swiftly.
     
         Besides, since this year we have included new functions and information on the webpage of the SME Export Marketing Fund to facilitate online submission of supporting documents and information by applicant enterprises and expedite the application process.
     
         As regards the DTSPP, Cyberport has set up a dedicated website to assist SMEs in selecting off-the-shelf basic digital solutions, and is continuously enhancing the efficiency for processing applications, thereby expediting approval procedures.
     
         On the issue of financing, the Government has been paying close attention to SME lending. Among others, since the establishment of the Banking Sector SME Lending Coordination Mechanism (Mechanism) by the HKMA and the banking sector in 2019, several rounds of measures have been introduced to support SMEs, including the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme, deferment of repayment period and conversion of trade financing lines into temporary overdraft facilities. Noting that some SMEs are still facing challenges in their business operations, the HKMA together with the Mechanism introduced nine SME support measures in March 2024. These include banks’ undertaking to follow the HKMA guidance not to demand early repayments from borrowers who continue to make mortgage payments on schedule; banks will take into account a range of factors such as the borrowing enterprise’s credit position and repayment ability when performing periodic credit reviews. In the first six months since the launch of the nine support measures, a total of around 20 000 SMEs had benefitted, involving an aggregate credit limit of over $44 billion.
     
         In August 2024, the HKMA and the Hong Kong Association of Banks jointly established the Taskforce on SME Lending to further strengthen the work for supporting SMEs’ access to bank financing at both the individual case and the sector levels. The HKMA and the banking sector introduced five new measures in October 2024, including the release of bank capital to facilitate the financing needs of SMEs and setting aside a total of over $370 billion of dedicated funds to support SMEs.
     
         The HKMA has also required banks to be sympathetic and offer suitable credit relief to borrowing enterprises which face genuine repayment difficulties under the overarching principle of prudent risk-management principles.
     
         Since banks must maintain effective risk management to safeguard depositors’ interest, for certain loan cases where there are no improvements despite relief or restructuring arrangements, while banks will inevitably have to manage these cases as appropriate, they should ensure that communication with customers be conducted in an accommodative manner.
     
         As for the insurance sector, the principal statutory functions of the IA are to protect existing and potential policyholders, maintain the overall market stability, and promote the global competitiveness of Hong Kong’s insurance industry. In the daily work of the IA, if an authorised insurer faces short term operational challenges, the IA would seek ways to help it overcome the difficulties in a pragmatic manner. If there is severe contravention of legal requirements, the IA will take decisive interventions to prevent policyholders’ interests from being jeopardised.
     
         The Government and the financial regulators will continue to maintain communication with the banking industry and the commercial sector so as to understand the financing needs of SMEs, and to work in concerted efforts to support their continuous development, upgrading and transformation.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Monitoring of charitable institutions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Carmen Kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):
     
    Question:
     
         Regarding the monitoring of charitable institutions, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the following information of charitable institutions as at ‍September 30 of each of the past three years (set out in a table):

         (i) the respective numbers of tax-exempt charitable institutions recognised by the Inland Revenue Department under section ‍88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) whose tax exemption status was approved and withdrawn, as well as the percentages of such numbers in the total number of institutions for that year and the year-on-year rates of change; 
         (ii) the number of charitable institutions (set out by type) as well as the amounts of donations exempted from tax and the year-‍on-year rates of change; and 
         (iii) a list of the 50 charitable institutions being granted the highest amounts of government funding, the amounts of funding granted to them, as well as the percentages of such amounts in the total amount of funding for that year and the year-on-year rates of change; 

    (2) whether it will, on the basis of its experience in making reference to common law precedents over the years, study the formulation of a legal definition of “a charitable institution or charitable trust of a public character” under section 88 of Cap. 112 applicable to the situation in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; 

    (3) as the newly amended Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China has been formally implemented on the Mainland since  September 5 this year to regulate charitable organisations, whether the authorities will enact a Charity Ordinance; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; 

    (4) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on February 21 this year, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau indicated that the Bureau would, in the light of the relevant circumstances, consider setting up a dedicated department or organisation as the regulator of charitable institutions, of the factors considered by the authorities in the light of the current situation, and whether they will set up the relevant organisation as soon as possible; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, as well as the measures in place to monitor the operation of charitable institutions; and 

    (5) given that pursuant to a recommendation in Report No. 68 of the Public Accounts Committee, the authorities have drawn up a new “Good Practice Guide on Charitable Fund-raising” (the Guide), of the effectiveness of the Guide; whether they will consider making it mandatory for charitable institutions to comply with the Guide; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? 

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In consultation with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), my reply, on behalf of the Government, to the various parts of the question raised by the the Hon Carmen Kan is as follows:
     
    (1) (i) Charities are exempted from tax if they meet the conditions stipulated in section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (IRO), i.e. (a) the profits are applied solely for charitable purposes; (b) the profits are not expended substantially outside Hong Kong; and (c) either the trade or business is exercised in the course of the actual carrying out of the expressed objects of the charity, or the work in connection with the trade or business is mainly carried on by persons for whose benefit the charity is established.
     
         As at September 30 of the past three years, the total number of tax-exempt charities, charities newly exempted from paying tax and charities with tax exemption status withdrawn by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD); and their year-on-year rates of change and percentages in the total number of tax-exempt charities are set out below:
     

    Year
    Total number of tax-exempt charities
    Charities newly exempted from paying tax
    Charities with tax exemption status withdrawn

    Number (Note) and year-on-year change
    Percentage in total number of tax-exempt charities
    Number and year-on-year change
    Percentage in total number of tax-exempt charities

    2022 
    9 856
    449
    4.6%
    211
    2.1%

    2023
    10 347
    655 (+45.9%)
    6.3%
    208 (-1.4%)
    2%

    2024
    10 699
    578 (-11.8%)
    5.4%
    267 (+28.4%)
    2.5%

    Note: The figures do not include charities tax exemption status of which had been withdrawn and later reinstated.
     
    (ii) As at September 30 of the past three years, the numbers of tax-exempt charities (categorised by legal structure) are as follow:
     

    Year
    Number of tax-exempt charities
    Total

    Incorporated under the Companies Ordinance
    Registered under the Societies Ordinance
    Trusts
    Others (Note)

    2022 
    7 586
    743
    432
    1 095
    9 856 

    2023
    8 071
    742
    438
    1 096
    10 347

    2024
    8 419
    743
    441
    1 096
    10 699

    Note: “Others” comprises mostly incorporated management committees established under the Education Ordinance, statutory bodies, ad hoc special committees and overseas companies registered under the Companies Ordinance.
     
         Donations made by taxpayers to charities exempted from paying tax under section 88 of the IRO are tax deductible. In the past three financial years, the amounts of approved charitable donations allowed and the year-on-year rates of change are set out below. However, as there is a cap on the amount of tax-deductible donations to charities, the following figures do not represent the amount of tax-exempt donations received by charities each year:
     

    Year of assessment
    Approved charitable donations allowed under profits tax
    Approved charitable donations allowed under salaries tax
    Total and year-on-year rate of change
    ($ billion)

    Amount and year-on-year rate of change
    ($ billion)
    Amount and year-on-year rate of change
    ($ billion)

    2020/21
    4.35
    7.45
    11.8

    2021/22
    6.9 (+58.6%)
    7.4 (-0.7%)
    14.3 (+21.2%)

    2022/23
    5.16 (-25.2%)
    7.27 (-1.8%)
    12.43 (-13.1%)

           
         The tax returns for the year of assessment 2023/24 are being processed. Hence, IRD is unable to provide the statistics for that financial year at the moment.
     
    (iii) At present, the monitoring of different charitable organisations currently involves various policy bureaux/departments. The Government does not centrally maintain and consolidate the relevant data.
     
    (2) to (4) In processing applications for tax exemption under section 88 of the IRO, IRD has been making reference to the relevant common law cases to determine whether an organisation’s object is a charitable purpose at law, and whether the organisation is established for public benefit. IRD regularly reviews the tax-exempt charities to ascertain whether their objects are still of charitable nature and whether the activities are compatible with their stated objects. The existing mechanism has been effective in handling tax matters under section 88 of the IRO.
     
         In addition to the abovementioned tax arrangement for charitable organisations, charitable organisations which wish to conduct fund-raising activities in public places shall apply for the relevant permits or licences from the FEHD, HAD or SWD.
     
         With reference to the recommendations in the Law Reform Commission Report on Charities published in December 2013 (LRC Report), relevant Audit Report and the Public Accounts Committee Report (PAC Report), the Government has introduced a series of administrative measures in phase since 2018 with a view to further enhancing the transparency and accountability of charitable fund-raising activities. For example, uploading all audited accounts submitted by organisations which obtained approval to organise charitable fund-raising activities to the fund-raising activities page of GovHK for reference by the public; issuing the “Good Practice Guide on Charitable Fund-raising” (Good Practice Guide) and encourage adoption by charitable organisations; and setting up a dedicated hotline for handling enquiries or complaints in relation to charitable fund-raising activities held by organisations in public places, etc.
     
         Since the legislation and monitoring in relation to charitable organisations involve different bureaux / departments, and that the recommendation of setting up a dedicated department or organisation as the regulator of charitable organisations carries significant implications on the definition and operation of charitable organisations in Hong Kong, it takes time for the Government to study and consider the recommendations thoroughly and carefully.
     
    (5) As mentioned above, with reference to the LRC Report, relevant Audit Report and the PAC Report, the HAD, SWD and FEHD issued the Good Practice Guide to provide the best practices for organising charitable fund-raising activities. Relevant departments have been encouraging the adoption of the Good Practice Guide by charitable organisations to ensure the accountability and transparency of charitable fund-raising activities and the use of donations so received.
     
         In respect of the HAD, under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), anyone who wishes to conduct a lottery event in Hong Kong has to apply for a licence. The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the HAD is responsible for processing applications for lottery licences. Lottery licences are issued to bona fide organisations to conduct lottery ticket sales for the purpose of fund-raising, and funds so raised are to be used to meet the organisations’ operating expenses or for donations to local registered charities, or both. In fact, the conditions stated in the lottery licences issued have already covered some of the suggested good practices, including the preparation of income and expenditure statement regarding the sales of lottery tickets. The OLA will continue to promote the voluntary adoption of the Good Practice Guide.
     
         Besides, the FEHD also encourages charitable organisations which applied for a Temporary Hawker Licence for setting up any booth in public places to sell goods for raising funds, to adopt the Good Practice Guide on a voluntary basis. The FEHD has provided a link for downloading the Guidelines on its website.
     
         In respect of the SWD, since the publication of the Good Practice Guide, all organisations that have applied for a Public Subscription Permit (PSP) from the SWD have committed to observing the Guide (except for one organisation that had adopted another set of guidelines which also complies with the standards of good practice). The major arrangements contained in the Good Practice Guide, including the rights of donors, fund-raising practices and financial accountability, etc., have been incorporated into the permit conditions of the PSP for organisations issued with the PSP to comply with.
     
         As some or the major arrangements contained in the Good Practice Guide have already been incorporated into the conditions stated in different permits or licences for conducting charitable fund-raising activities, the Government has no plan to further mandate the charitable organisations to adopt the Good Practice Guide at this stage. The Government will continue to encourage charitable organisations to adopt the Good Practice Guide.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuet-ming and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):
     
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that the numbers of inbound and outbound passenger trips at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (HYW BCP) have continued to hit record highs, resulting in snaking queues during both weekends and holidays. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has examined the reasons for the occurrence of snaking queues at HYW BCP; whether it will consider upgrading HYW BCP to increase its clearance capacity and discuss with the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government short and medium-term improvement measures, including increasing the number of entry/exit gates and X-ray machines, as well as implementing the various enhancement measures under the Special Action Plan for Improving the Efficiency of Shenzhen Ports; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) as it has been reported that Macao introduced iris self-service channels at the Border Gate Port last year, whether the authorities have plans to introduce the relevant technology or upgrade the Automated Passenger Clearance System to tie in with the future implementation of the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode at HYW BCP; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as it has been reported that the public car park at HYW BCP is often full during weekends, and that the use of the nearby private car park by members of the public has also caused traffic chaos, whether the authorities will review the user-friendliness and intelligence of the booking system of the car park so as to increase the efficiency of its use, and introduce measures or consider widening the roads around HYW BCP to improve traffic conditions?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (HYW BCP) is the first BCP which adopts the design of “direct access to people and vehicles”, with a designed handling capacity of about 30 000 passenger trips daily. The HYW BCP has been well-received by the public since the commissioning of passenger clearance service in February 2023. As at September 2024, the HYW BCP recorded a daily average of about 70 000 cross-boundary passenger trips, and during weekends and public holidays, a daily average of over 80 000 cross-boundary passenger trips. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will continue to enhance the handling capacity of BCPs and apply innovative technology to provide more efficient clearance services.
     
         Having consulted the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, a reply to the questions raised by Hon Chan Yuet-ming is as follows:
     
    (1) The relevant departments have been taking various measures, including flexible deployment of manpower, optimisation of workflow, and effective use of information technology, etc., to enhance the handling capacity and efficiency of the HYW BCP.
     
         To further increase the overall handling capacity, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has set up 10 additional mobile counters in the passenger arrival hall of the HYW BCP, and completed the enhancement works in early June this year to replace certain traditional counters with e-Channels, thereby increasing the total number of e-Channels in the passenger arrival hall from 14 to 18. The Customs and Excise Department has also been adopting a risk management approach to select passengers for examination to avoid inconvenience caused to other cross-boundary passengers. During festive periods or long holidays, relevant government departments will minimise leave for frontline officers, operate additional counters and channels, and deploy more security guards to assist in crowd management to ensure smooth passenger flow at the BCP.
     
         In the light of the above measures, citizens can complete immigration clearance in a few minutes during non-peak periods of ordinary days at HYW BCP; whereas for weekends and festive peak periods, citizens can complete immigration clearance within 15 minutes most of the time. Since the commissioning of passenger clearance service in February 2023, there were only four occasions during long holidays on which citizens’ average waiting time was recorded to exceed 15 minutes. The average waiting time did not however exceed 30 minutes on such occasions.
          
         In view of the considerable number of tour groups choosing to enter and exit Hong Kong through the HYW BCP, the Tourism Commission has been maintaining close liaison with the tourism industry for making necessary arrangement for clearance of the tour groups. Relevant departments have also maintained close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanism, to closely monitor the passenger traffic at the BCP and to take diversion measures when necessary to ensure smooth operation of the BCP.
          
         The HKSAR Government has also maintained close liaison with relevant Mainland authorities to discuss and take forward various BCP enhancement measures. It is understood that to take forward items related to clearance in the “Special Action Plan for Improving the Efficiency of Shenzhen Ports”, relevant Mainland authorities have implemented various enhancement arrangements, including introducing diversion measures at the port building and setting up waiting area for tour groups near the control point, etc, while exploring other enhancement measures.
     
    (2) Apart from the common fingerprint and facial recognition, biometric authentication also includes other technologies such as iris and palm print recognition, etc. Every technology has its own advantages and limitations. Taking iris recognition as an example, its accuracy is higher as iris features of each individual are different. However, iris recognition may not be applicable to people with eye diseases (such as cataract) due to damaged iris features.
     
         It is understood that the “iris recognition self-service channels” implemented in Macao at present allow registered Macao residents, under the “separate-location arrangement” mode, i.e. clearance procedures are conducted at the places of departure and arrival in each jurisdiction, to use the iris recognition technology to undergo clearance at Macao side. This mode does not apply to the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode at the moment.
          
         As visitors will only need to have their identities verified once to complete the respective clearance procedures of both sides under the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode, the detailed operation would need to be agreed by the Shenzhen and HKSAR Governments before confirmation. The two Governments are discussing the operational details in depth regarding the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” mode at the new Huanggang Port, and the current plan is to use facial and fingerprint information for identification of cross-boundary passengers.
     
    (3) There are two fee-paying public car parks in the non-closed areas of the HYW BCP, which have been leased out to car park contractors for operation by the Government Property Agency (GPA), providing a total of 415 private car, 36 motorcycle and 15 light goods vehicle parking spaces. Since its operation in February 2023, the GPA has been reviewing the parking need and the operation of the online pre-booking system, and had rolled out two enhancement measures last year including, accepting on-site booking of parking spaces for private cars and motorcycles during non-peak periods, i.e. except for weekends, public holidays and their preceding working day, since July, and releasing the parking spaces of cars leaving early for public use since October.
          
         The GPA is also currently enhancing the online pre-booking system. At present, the online pre-booking system only allows the public to reserve parking spaces from two hours prior to entry. The GPA is planning to shorten it to half an hour with the implementation expected to take place in end-2024 or early 2025.
          
         In addition, the Transport Department will maintain an effective communication with the operators of the car parks in the vicinity of the HYW BCP and request them to properly manage the car parks to avoid congestion. The Police will also assist in traffic management and diversion when necessary.
          
         Lastly, I appeal to members of the public to check the website and the mini programme of the ImmD and Shenzhen authorities to understand the clearance status and choose the appropriate BCP before travelling to the Mainland; and to avoid making their journeys during peak periods to prevent congestion.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Philippines launches safeguard investigation on cement

    Source: WTO

    Headline: The Philippines launches safeguard investigation on cement

    In a document submitted together with the notification (see footnote of the notification) the Philippines indicated, among other things, as follows:
    “[I]nterested parties are invited to submit their comments and position on the matter including their views on whether the imposition of a safeguard measure is in the public interest. Submissions may be made to the Bureau of lmport Services (BlS), Department of Trade and lndustry, 3rd Floor, Tara Building, #389 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, within five (5) days from the date of publication of this notice. The non-confidential report of the study containing evidence of the DTI’S findings can be accessed at this link: www.dti.gov.ph/advisories/sg_notice-of-initiation_cement/ ”
    The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/PHL/21.
    What is a safeguard investigation?
    A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
    During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
    A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Plastics Pollution Dialogue advances discussion on key focus areas towards MC14 outcome

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Plastics Pollution Dialogue advances discussion on key focus areas towards MC14 outcome

    The three issues discussed at the meeting are critical in tackling the challenges of plastics pollution while ensuring trade remains a solution to this global issue. Two other key areas – capacity building for developing members and the potential creation of domestic inventories of trade-related plastic measures – were addressed by participating delegations on 18 September.
    Transparency
    Delegations examined how to enhance transparency of plastics trade flows, including by supporting the work at the World Customs Organization (WCO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and other relevant institutions. UNITAR updated members on its work to develop statistical guidelines for measuring flows of plastics throughout their life cycle, including estimates for plastics embedded in goods.
    A discussion among participants focused on how domestic efforts can contribute to better identifying flows of plastics entering and exiting members’ economies and to what degree they rely on specific breakdowns of Harmonized System (HS) codes. Delegations were asked to provide examples of estimates, data or labelling requirements of average plastics content or plastic material composition in goods used in their respective economies, including for statistical purposes or to support the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which makes producers responsible for the entire life cycle of their products.
    Delegations shared insights on how to improve transparency, monitoring and understanding of trade flows throughout the value chain of plastics, including flows of single-use plastics, plastic film and hard-to-recycle plastics.
    Potential best practices
    The WTO Secretariat delivered a presentation on technical discussions held at DPP meetings on the efficiency of measures to address plastics pollution, as well as information available in the DPP survey on trade-related plastics measures (TrPMs) regarding existing mechanisms.
    The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) presented its paper “Avoiding Trade Concerns in the Design of Plastic Pollution Measures”, which provides insights into aspects of WTO members’ plastics measures that have created friction with trading partners. The paper suggests recommendations for the adoption of suitable policies in the future.
    Delegations discussed guidelines and criteria that should be taken into consideration when identifying potential best practices for TrPMs and were asked to provide concrete examples. They also explored whether the voluntary development of domestic inventories of TrPMs could be useful to increase internal coordination, help improve transparency and coherence, and facilitate implementation and trade. Such inventories could also support cooperative and effective trade policies, aligning with actions outlined in the statement adopted at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.
    Access to technologies and services
    The discussion on access to technologies and services started with a presentation by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on challenges and opportunities for trade in services for the prevention and mitigation of plastics pollution. This was followed by a presentation by the Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS) on challenges and opportunities for trade in technologies related to plastics pollution. Delegations also benefited from a presentation by the Council on Economic Policies on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Non-Binding Guidelines on Services that Support the Clean-up of Marine Debris.
    Several key questions were discussed – for example, the specific technologies and services, including for environmentally sound waste management, which would be particularly useful for addressing plastics pollution from a trade perspective.
    Members also discussed the relevant trade policy tools, main trade barriers and challenges for accessing such technologies and services, including for developing members and least developed countries (LDCs). Additionally, delegations addressed what could be done under the DPP to help facilitate access to such technologies and services and to promote cooperation on trade that contributes to ending plastics pollution.
    Participants acknowledged that extensive technical work has been done on the three key areas under discussion and considered potential proposals that could be incorporated into the DPP to further these objectives, aiming at producing concrete MC14 outcomes.
    Participating delegations agreed that these discussions are pivotal in shaping the agenda for the next Ministerial Conference and ensuring that trade contributes meaningfully to addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
    Next meeting
    The next DPP meeting will address the following areas: how to support the work at the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastics pollution; how to identify opportunities for greater harmonization, alignment, or interoperability of TrPMs; and how to identify opportunities for enhanced trade cooperation on non-plastic substitutes and alternatives, starting with standards.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO members review latest notifications of anti-dumping actions

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO members review latest notifications of anti-dumping actions

    The Committee reviewed new notifications of legislation submitted by Brazil, Cabo Verde, Solomon Islands and the United States. It continued its review of the legislative notifications of the European Union, Ghana, Liberia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
    In reviewing semi-annual notifications on anti-dumping actions, delegations questioned and discussed the practices of other members including in relation to the initiation of investigations, the imposition of provisional and final anti-dumping measures, and the review of existing anti-dumping measures. Delegations questioned and discussed actions contained in the semi-annual reports submitted by Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States. In presenting its semi-annual report, Ukraine expressed concerns over the war in Ukraine and the effects on its domestic industry.
    In respect of the semi-annual reports covering the period 1 January – 30 June 2024, 45 members notified the Committee of anti-dumping actions taken in this period, while 15 reported no new anti-dumping actions in the same period. In addition, 51 members submitted one-time notifications indicating they have not established an authority competent to initiate and conduct an investigation and have not, to date, taken any anti-dumping actions.
    In addition to the semi-annual reports, the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement requires members to submit without delay – on an ad hoc basis – notifications of all preliminary and final anti-dumping actions taken. Ad hoc notifications reviewed during the meeting were received from Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; the European Union; Georgia; India; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; the Republic of Korea; the Kyrgyz Republic; Mexico; Morocco; Pakistan; the Russian Federation; South Africa; Chinese Taipei; Türkiye; Ukraine; the United Kingdom; and the United States. Members raised questions and discussed actions taken by Australia, China and Morocco. Canada encouraged members to submit timely ad hoc notifications and raised concerns about the conduct of investigations it considered to be politically motivated which are not based on sufficient evidence or justification. 
    In the absence of the Chair of the Committee Mr Mohamed Zuhair Taous (Tunisia), the interim Chair Mr Wolfram Spelten (Germany), who was elected to preside over the October 2024 meetings of the Committee and of its subsidiary bodies, urged members that had not submitted semi-annual reports and ad hoc notifications of actions taken to do so promptly. The interim Chair welcomed members’ continued extensive use of the anti-dumping portal to submit their semi-annual reports. 
    The Committee adopted its 2024 annual report to the Council for Trade in Goods.
    Next meetings
    The Committee decided that its spring and autumn meetings for 2025 would be held in the weeks of 28 April and 27 October 2025, respectively.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Winston County Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    GREENVILLE, Miss. – Dennis Vernandale Phillips, 42, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for his possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the controlled substance.

    The investigation began when law enforcement purchased over 30 grams of methamphetamine from Phillips using a confidential informant. During a subsequent search of Phillips’ residence in Preston, Mississippi, officers located methamphetamine, two firearms, and other narcotics. In total, Phillips’ conduct involved over a kilogram of methamphetamine that impacted the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Winston, Kemper, and Neshoba counties.

    On October 30, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Phillips to 188 months imprisonment followed by a 48-month term of supervised release for possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

    “Meth indiscriminately kills children, men and women and it ravages our communities, including the Choctaw Indian Reservation,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This prosecution and sentence are the result of outstanding cooperation between our federal law enforcement partners and the tribal police to achieve a straightforward goal – to reduce the supply of illicit drugs while seeing to it that those who poison communities with narcotics are held to account.”

    Phillips’ drug distribution was a threat to the community,” said Whitney Woodruff, Regional Agent in Charge of the Southeast Region for the Division of Drug Enforcement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. “He was poisoning Indian Country for his personal gain and now he will pay the price.  I am proud of our partnerships with the other law enforcement agencies involved.” 

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case in partnership with the Choctaw Police Criminal Investigations Division, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech – Diwali 2024

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Namaste. Namaskar. Namaskaram. Vanakkam. Sat Sri Akal. Kem chho.

    Greetings to you all.

    It is my great privilege, as Minister for Ethnic Communities, to host this year’s Diwali Celebration at Parliament. I am truly excited to be with you all for Diwali as your Minister, and I warmly welcome each and every one of you to this special occasion.

    I would first like to welcome and acknowledge:

    • The Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who will join us shortly.
    • The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, who will also join us shortly.
    • Her Excellency, Ms Neeta Bhushan, Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
    • Other members of the diplomatic corps.
    • Mr Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
    • Mr Narendra Bhana, President of New Zealand Indian Central Association.
    • My parliamentary colleagues.
    • Our talented performers.
    • And all of you who have travelled from far and wide to be with us tonight.

    It is a true delight to celebrate the vibrant Festival of Lights, Diwali, both here in New Zealand and across the globe.

    Just as diyas, or lamps, shine during the festival, I wish for the light within each of us to remain radiant and full of hope.

    I hope this Diwali brings forth a year of peace, prosperity, health, and joy to you and your families.

    As we gather to celebrate Diwali, we also honour the rich history and vibrant contributions of New Zealand’s Indian communities.

    You have been an integral part of our society since the late 1800s.

    The 2023 Census showed that our Indian population has become the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand.

    Indian New Zealanders have made significant contributions in various sectors, including health, manufacturing, education, and more.

    I’m proud that Diwali at Parliament is celebrated in such an inclusive, multi-cultural way.

    Our government’s and my vision is for all communities to not only feel that they belong and can participate, but also thrive, in society.

    We are committed to ensuring that everyone in New Zealand feels safe, valued, and empowered to flourish in this country we all call home.

    Our Indian community adds so much colourful vibrancy to our country, from their sarees to their spices.

    It’s fantastic to have Indian culture such a normalised, ingrained part of our national identity.

    But it’s not just about culture. Their contribution to our economy makes a huge impact.

    In 2020, the Waitakere Indian Association estimated that the Indian community contributed around $10 billion to the New Zealand economy.

    As Minister for both Ethnic Communities and Economic Development, another of my priorities is to unlock the full potential of ethnic businesses for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

    At last month’s inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium, it was truly inspiring to witness the collective energy and the tremendous economic potential within our ethnic communities. When fully unleashed, this potential can help grow New Zealand’s shared prosperity.

    Once again, it is a true pleasure to welcome you all this evening.

    I want to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank-you to our Indian communities, for your warm congratulatory messages since my appointment as Minister for Ethnic Communities. Your support means a lot to me.

    It is my hope that the values of Diwali – peace, prosperity, justice, and respect – extend to communities throughout New Zealand, as we work towards a stronger, more harmonious, and peaceful future together.

    Dhanyavaad. Thank you.

    Please check against delivery.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Faith and Religion – Religious Freedom Violation and Intolerance Spark International Controversy amongst multiple Religious Groups within South Korea

    Source: NewzEngine.com

    South Korean local government cancels international event with 30,000 participants from 78 countries, causing international damage.

    On October 29th, an administrative decision by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a South Korean government agency sparked international controversy, raising concerns about religious freedom and causing substantial financial loss.

    The “Religious Leaders Forum and 110,000 Graduation Ceremony,” a joint initiative by two prominent religious organizations, was set to take place in Paju, South Korea.  The event, hosted by the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 57 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

    However, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a public entity under the Gyeonggi Province, abruptly cancelled the venue rental without prior notice.

    The Shincheonji Church of Jesus states: “This last-minute decision has resulted in significant financial damage to the event, as well as all organizers and parties involved.”

    Organizers of this event stated that the cancellation commits an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law.

    The hosting organizations, the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, reported that they had received official confirmation on October 23rd and 28th that there was no plan of cancellation. They also report that the unilateral cancellation was an unreasonable administrative action targeting a specific religious group – other events scheduled for the same day were not affected, and that the cancellation was an “administrative decision caused by opposition from a specific religious group,” which “violates the principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by the [South Korean] Constitution.”

    The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization cited security concerns related to recent North Korean actions, and the planned activities of a North Korean defector group as reasons for the cancellation. However, it was pointed out that other events, such as civilian bike rides and foreign tourist visits to the DMZ, were still permitted within the same designated area.

    The incident has reignited international debate about religious freedom and tolerance in South Korea. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report has previously highlighted concerns such as the prosecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the government’s refusal to approve mosque construction.

    The Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus have expressed frustrations and call upon the South Korean government to respect religious freedom, uphold human rights, and to rectify this decision. They also urge international organizations to monitor this situation and take appropriate action to protect religious freedom.

    – Published by MIL OSI in partnership with NewzEngine.com

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group Recognized as Top 10 Data & Analytics Team in 2024 OnCon Icon Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group Limited (“Altus”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate (“CRE”), is pleased to announce that its technology team has been selected as a Top 10 Data and Analytics Team in the esteemed 2024 OnCon Icon Awards.

    The OnCon Icon Awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of leading organizations and teams worldwide, determined through peer and community voting. Voters select teams that have made a significant impact on their organization or the broader industry, contributed to their professional community through thought leadership, driven innovation, and demonstrated outstanding leadership.

    Altus’ data and analytics solutions are leveraged by many of the world’s leading CRE companies to uncover opportunities, identify risks, understand portfolio impacts, and enhance asset and portfolio performance. With one of the industry’s most comprehensive and unified data platforms, Altus is leveraging its extensive dataset to provide new performance insights to its customers. A recent innovation stemming from this platform is the new ARGUS Intelligence product, which provides performance insights to help transform the way investors model, monitor and manage their assets and portfolios.

    “It’s a tremendous honour for our technology organization to be recognized in the 2024 OnCon Icon Awards,” said David Ross, Chief Technology Officer at Altus. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional team and their relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence. Together, we’re fulfilling our mission of leading CRE intelligence through innovative advanced analytics capabilities.”

    For more information about the OnCon Icon Awards and to view the full list of winners, please click here.

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus Group (TSX: AIF) please visit altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Elizabeth Lambe
    Director, Global Communications, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9787
    Elizabeth.Lambe@altusgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Will Open Tuesday in Macon County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>RALEIGH, N.C. –  A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Franklin (Macon County) to assist North Carolina survivors who experienced loss from Tropical Storm Helene.  
    The Macon County DRC is located at:
    Macon County Public Health Center
    1830 Lakeside Drive
    Franklin, NC 28734
    Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily
    A DRC is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more.  
    FEMA financial assistance may include money for basic home repairs, personal property losses or other uninsured, disaster-related needs such as childcare, transportation, medical needs, funeral or dental expenses. 
    To find additional DRC locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a ZIP code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology.   
    Homeowners and renters in 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can visit any open center, including locations in other states. No appointment is needed.  
    It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA App. You may also call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Winter Park Express Will Offer Expanded Service for 2025 Winter Season; Including the 2024 December Holidays

    Source: US State of Colorado

    WINTER PARK — Today, the Winter Park Express (WPE), operated by Amtrak, announced in cooperation with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation, that it will kick off the 2025 season with expanded service five days a week, launching on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. To offer even more convenience and to meet demand, the Winter Park Express will also offer a special expanded holiday service Dec. 20-22, and Dec. 27-29, 2024. Regular expanded service will run Thursday through Monday, from January 9 through March 31, 2025. Tickets, with a significantly lower price this year, go on sale today, Monday, November 4. 

    “The Winter Park Express is a great opportunity for Coloradans and visitors to explore our mountains without the hassle of driving or traffic. Now with expanded service and lower costs, Coloradans can save time and money on our way to enjoying our great outdoors. I look forward to taking the train into the mountains this season,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Winter Park Resort offers its expanded and improved WPE through cooperation and partnership with the State of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Tickets for this year’s Winter Park Express range from $19 – $39 and children 2-12 are eligible for 50% off base fares. These fare prices are 43% lower than previous years’ fares and will be available beginning today. 

    Passenger rail along the Front Range and through the U.S. Highway 40 mountain corridor is an important priority for Coloradans and the Polis-Primavera administration, and the Winter Park Express shows public demand for more mass transit options through the mountains and beyond. The rail line on which the Winter Park Express operates is the first leg of proposed mountain passenger rail that would run from Denver to Craig. 

    Winter Park Express expanded service will run every Thursday through Monday, January through March. The expanded service is also adding a stop at the Fraser platform, five miles west of Winter Park. That means the Winter Park Express will more effectively serve non-ski passengers wanting to travel from Denver to the Fraser Valley whether for business or recreation. Passengers can also load the train in Fraser for the return trip to Denver. The expanded service will also carry two additional passenger cars, raising the number of seats available from approximately 268 to 402 on each trip. A total of 69 roundtrips will operate this season, 29 more than during the 2024 season. 

    “The Winter Park Express ski train has long been a beloved tradition for Colorado and our guests from around the globe. It has demonstrated the desire from both residents and visitors for transportation options other than passenger vehicles. The Winter Park Express gives people another way to get to the slopes that’s more scenic, sustainable, and relaxing than getting in a car and driving,” said Sky Foulkes, president of Winter Park Resort. 

    Bring your skis and snowboards as a carry-on for no additional charge. While onboard, you’ll enjoy a trip in Coach class featuring wide, reclining seats with a big picture window, ample legroom and no middle seat. The train also features a bi-level Sightseer Lounge – the social hub of the train – offering panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains from upstairs and café service with snacks and drinks for sale downstairs. 

    “At CDOT, we know that big ski days often mean tough drives in the mountains, and the Winter Park Express offers a great option to take a relaxing, affordable trip. We are excited to join in this innovative partnership to expand service and lower costs for an iconic Colorado travel experience,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. 

    Tickets between Denver Union Station (station code: DEN) to Winter Park Resort (station code: WPR) and Fraser (station code: WIP) can be purchased at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app. The train departs Denver at 7 a.m. and arrives at the resort at 9 a.m. The return trip departs Winter Park Resort at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 6:40 p.m. All times Mountain. Denver Union Station is served by the Regional Transportation District’s commuter trains from Denver International Airport as well as light rail, local or intercity buses, ride-sharing services, and taxis. 

    Customers in groups of up to eight can purchase Winter Park Express tickets at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress and the Amtrak app. Customers in groups of 9-14 can call 800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation. Groups of 15 or more—including requests for exclusive railcar occupancy—should fill out this form. For more information about group travel, call 800-USA-1GRP (1-800-872-1477) weekdays 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. MT, or email GroupSales@Amtrak.com. 

    Lift tickets and other passes can be purchased directly from the Winter Park Resort website. Winter Park Resort is an Alterra Mountain Company property and its Ikon Pass welcomes skiers and riders to a community of inspiring mountain destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan 

    About Winter Park Resort 

    Winter Park Resort, Colorado’s quintessential mountain and ski resort, is located less than 70 miles from the city of Denver. Flanked by the dramatic Continental Divide and Rocky Mountains, the resort is defined by its pure natural environment, and its unique Colorado adventure culture. During the winter, Winter Park receives some of the state’s most consistent snowfall across its 3000+ acres of world-class terrain, and has been voted USA Today’s #1 Ski Resort in North America multiple times. During summer, the resort is home to renowned Trestle bike park, and has been named as Colorado’s Top Adventure Town. For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Memoriam: UConn Law Professor Joseph Harbaugh

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Joseph Harbaugh, groundbreaking inaugural director of the first clinic at the UConn School of Law and Connecticut’s former chief public defender, died on October 11, 2024.

    His 50-year career in legal education began in 1968, when he joined the UConn Law faculty after three years as chief public defender. He opened the school’s Legal Clinic the next year and immediately found success and controversy defending Vietnam War protesters in significant First Amendment cases. Harbaugh’s efforts laid the groundwork for a robust clinical program that now comprises eight in-house and seven partnership clinics.

    In 1971, Harbaugh received the Connecticut Law Review Award for his work with the clinic. He told The Legal Realist, a student newspaper, that “the hallmark of the profession’s public responsibility is the representation of unpopular causes. It would be difficult to teach high professional standards in a Legal Profession class and permit the clinic to avoid controversial issues because of their political implications.”

    “Joe planted the seeds for all that followed with respect to our clinical programs,” said Professor Emeritus Lewis Kurlantzick. “He was one of the Founding Fathers and a terrific guy as well.”

    “The UConn Law community is forever indebted to Professor Harbaugh for his pioneering work on our clinical programs,” Dean Eboni S. Nelson said. “He was a courageous leader whose influence has persisted over decades and continues to be felt today.”

    After leaving UConn Law in 1971, Harbaugh taught law at seven universities and became dean of the University of Richmond Law School from 1987 to 1995 and of Nova Southeastern University College of Law from 1995 to 2008. He also served as chief counsel of the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee and as special assistant chief prosecuting attorney for organized crime for the Connecticut Circuit Court. He served in several leadership roles with the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association.

    Harbaugh received his BS from St. Joseph’s University, LLB from the University of Pittsburgh and LLM from Georgetown University, where he was a fellow of the prestigious E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program. He also held an honorary JD degree from Concord Law School.

    He leaves his wife of 42 years, Barbara Britzke; seven children; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A celebration of life will be announced in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations to the Joseph Harbaugh Scholarship at the Shepard Broad College of Law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New survey finds an alarming tolerance for attacks on the press in the US – particularly among white, Republican men

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Julie Posetti, Global Director of Research, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Professor of Journalism, City St George’s, University of London

    Press freedom is a pillar of American democracy. But political attacks on US-based journalists and news organisations pose an unprecedented threat to their safety and the integrity of information.

    Less than 48 hours before election day, Donald Trump told a rally of his supporters that he wouldn’t mind if someone shot the journalists in front of him.

    “I have this piece of glass here, but all we have really over here is the fake news. And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much,” he said.

    A new survey from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) highlights a disturbing tolerance for political bullying of the press in the land of the First Amendment. The findings show that this is especially true among white, male, Republican voters.

    We commissioned this nationally representative survey of 1,020 US adults, which was fielded between June 24 and July 5 2024, to assess Americans’ attitudes to the press ahead of the election. We are publishing the results here for the first time.

    More than one-quarter (27%) of the Americans we polled said they had often seen or heard a journalist being threatened, harassed or abused online. And more than one-third (34%) said they thought it was appropriate for senior politicians and government officials to criticise journalists and news organisations.

    Tolerance for attacks on the press appears as politically polarised as American society. Nearly half (47%) of the Republicans surveyed approved of senior politicians critiquing the press, compared to less than one-quarter (22%) of Democrats.

    Our analysis also revealed divisions according to gender and ethnicity. While 37% of white-identifying respondents thought it was appropriate for political leaders to target journalists and news organisations, only 27% of people of colour did. There was also a nine-point difference along gender lines, with 39% of men approving of this conduct, compared to 30% of women.

    It appears intolerance towards the press has a face – a predominantly white, male and Republican-voting face.

    Press freedom fears

    This election campaign, Trump has repeated his blatantly false claim that journalists are “enemies of the people”. He has suggested that reporters who cross him should be jailed, and signalled that he would like to revoke broadcast licences of networks.

    Relevant, too, is the enabling environment for viral attacks on journalists created by unregulated social media companies which represent a clear threat to press freedom and the safety of journalists. Previous research produced by ICFJ for Unesco concluded that there was a causal relationship between online violence towards women journalists and physical attacks.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    While political actors may be the perpetrators of abuse targeting journalists, social media companies have facilitated their viral spread, heightening the risk to journalists.

    We’ve seen a potent example of this in the current campaign, when Haitian Times editor Macollvie J. Neel was “swatted” – meaning police were dispatched to her home after a fraudulent report of a murder at the address – during an episode of severely racist online violence.

    The trigger? Her reporting on Trump and JD Vance amplifying false claims that Haitian immigrants were eating their neighbours’ pets.

    Trajectory of Trump attacks

    Since the 2016 election, Trump has repeatedly discredited independent reporting on his campaign. He has weaponised the term “fake news” and accused the media of “rigging” elections.

    “The election is being rigged by corrupt media pushing completely false allegations and outright lies in an effort to elect [Hillary Clinton] president,” he said in 2016. With hindsight, such accusations foreshadowed his false claims of election fraud in 2020, and similar preemptive claims in 2024.

    His increasingly virulent attacks on journalists and news organisations are amplified by his supporters online and far-right media. Trump has effectively licensed attacks on American journalists through anti-press rhetoric and undermined respect for press freedom.

    In 2019, the Committee to Protect Journalists found that more than 11% of 5,400 tweets posted by Trump between the date of his 2016 candidacy and January 2019 “…insulted or criticised journalists and outlets, or condemned and denigrated the news media as a whole”.

    After being temporarily deplatformed from Twitter for breaching community standards, Trump launched Truth Social, where he continues to abuse his critics uninterrupted. But he recently rejoined the platform (now X), and held a series of campaign events with X owner and Trump backer Elon Musk.

    The failed insurrection on January 6 2021 rammed home the scale of the escalating threats facing American journalists. During the riots at the Capitol, at least 18 journalists were assaulted and reporting equipment valued at tens of thousands of dollars was destroyed.

    This election cycle, Reporters Without Borders logged 108 instances of Trump insulting, attacking or threatening the news media in public speeches or offline remarks over an eight-week period ending on October 24.

    Meanwhile, the Freedom of the Press Foundation has recorded 75 assaults on journalists since January 1 this year. That’s a 70% increase on the number of assaults captured by their press freedom tracker in 2023.

    A recent survey of hundreds of journalists undertaking safety training provided by the International Women’s Media Foundation found that 36% of respondents reported being threatened with or experiencing physical violence. One-third reported exposure to digital violence, and 28% reported legal threats or action against them.

    US journalists involved in ongoing ICFJ research have told us that they have felt particularly at risk covering Trump rallies and reporting on the election from communities hostile towards the press. Some are wearing protective flak jackets to cover domestic politics. Others have removed labels identifying their outlets from their reporting equipment to reduce the risk of being physically attacked.

    And yet, our survey reveals a distinct lack of public concern about the First Amendment implications of political leaders threatening, harassing, or abusing journalists. Nearly one-quarter (23%) of Americans surveyed did not regard political attacks on journalists or news organisations as a threat to press freedom. Among them, 38% identified as Republicans compared to just 9%* as Democrats.

    The anti-press playbook

    Trump’s anti-press playbook appeals to a global audience of authoritarians. Other political strongmen, from Brazil to Hungary and the Philippines, have adopted similar tactics of deploying disinformation to smear and threaten journalists and news outlets.

    Such an approach imperils journalists while undercutting trust in facts and critical independent journalism.

    History shows that fascism thrives when journalists can not safely and freely do the work of holding governments and political leaders to account. As our research findings show, the consequences are a society accepting lies and fiction as facts while turning a blind eye to attacks on the press.

    *The people identifying as Democrats in this sub-group are too few to make this a reliable representative estimate.

    Note: Nabeelah Shabbir (ICFJ Deputy Director of Research) and Kaylee Williams (ICFJ Research Associate) also contributed to this article and the research underpinning it. The survey was conducted by Langer Research Associates in English and Spanish. ICFJ researchers co-developed the survey and conducted the analysis.

    Julie Posetti receives research funding via ICFJ from the Scripps Howard Fund, Luminate, the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation and the US State Department.

    Waqas Ejaz works as Post-doc Research Fellow at University of Oxford as well as a Senior Research Associate at ICFJ.

    – ref. New survey finds an alarming tolerance for attacks on the press in the US – particularly among white, Republican men – https://theconversation.com/new-survey-finds-an-alarming-tolerance-for-attacks-on-the-press-in-the-us-particularly-among-white-republican-men-242719

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US election: what time do the polls close and when will the results be known? An expert explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Hargy, Visiting Research Fellow in International Studies, Queen’s University Belfast

    paseven / Shutterstock

    In November 2020, when Americans last went to the polls to elect a president, it took four days after voting closed for Joe Biden to be declared the winner.

    This was largely due to razor-thin margins in the crucial battleground states, which resulted in some recounts, as well as large numbers of mail-in ballots that had to be counted after election day. There was the added challenge of this entire process being conducted amid a global pandemic.

    Since then, some states have changed their election laws to speed up the election count. But while it may not take as long this time round, one thing we can be sure of is that a winner will not be known on election night itself.

    When do polls open and close?

    There is no set national time for voting to begin on the morning of November 5. Most states will begin voting at 7am in their local time, with others starting as early as 5am or as late as 10am. Voting will commence at a variety of times in some states, such as New Hampshire, Tennessee and Washington where this is decided by different counties or municipalities.

    Polls close at a range of times across the country, too. Voting will end as early as 6pm US eastern time (11pm GMT) in Indiana and Kentucky, while polls in Hawaii and Alaska, the western-most states, do not close until midnight US eastern time (5am GMT).

    An early indicator of which candidate is performing better will come between 7pm and 8pm eastern time (midnight and 1am GMT), when polls close in the key battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina. Both states are competitive for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and if the former is declared the victor in either, then the contest will pivot in her favour.

    The next key moment could occur between 8pm and 9pm eastern time (1am and 2am GMT), when voting ends across the so-called blue wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, it is unlikely that a winner will be declared in any of these states straightaway. By 10pm eastern time (3am GMT), polls will have closed in two other critical swing states, Arizona and Nevada.

    When will votes be counted?

    There are several factors that could hinder results being announced in the hours immediately after voting ends. In Arizona, for example, state laws allow voters to drop their completed ballot papers off at the polling station on election day or the day prior – something that not all states do. However, these “late early” ballots cannot be processed until after voting ends.

    Pennsylvania is arguably the most prized swing state that both the Democratic and Republican campaigns are vying for. The state has 19 electoral votes, the most of any battleground state, so the victor will probably win the electoral college (the group of officials that elects the president based on the vote in each state) and thus also the presidency.



    Read more:
    US election: how does the electoral college voting system work?

    But Pennsylvania does not allow election workers to process mail ballots until 7am local time on election day, which could mean the result takes longer than 24 hours after polls close to be made known.

    That said, Alauna Safarpour, an assistant professor at Pennsylvania’s Gettysburg College, does not think the wait will be as long as it was four years ago. Writing for The Conversation on October 29, she said that it was “highly likely” that fewer Pennsylvanians will choose to vote by mail this time around.

    “A smaller proportion of voters opted to vote by mail in the 2022 midterm election than in the 2020 general election, and that trend is likely to continue in 2024”, she says.



    Read more:
    Why Pennsylvania’s election results will take time to count

    Two more crucial states, Michigan and Nevada, have also made changes to the election count since 2020. These states now permit ballot papers to be processed in advance of polling day. On the other hand, the ability of North Carolina to process votes ahead of the election has been made more difficult due to the damage recently caused by Hurricane Helene. This may lead to further delays.

    In Wisconsin, vote counting in two of the state’s biggest counties – Milwaukee and Dane – can also be particularly slow. Milwaukee and Dane counties are both significant urban centres with a combined population of around 1.5 million people. The margin in these counties will be significant to the result in Wisconsin and the presidential race overall.

    What might delay the results?

    There are concerns that certain domestic players could seek to frustrate and delay election results in the critical swing states. In January 2020, for example, a large number of Republicans in Congress objected to results in Pennsylvania and Arizona – states that were both won by Biden.

    And in seven swing states, people falsely claiming to be members of the electoral college attempted to declare Trump as the winner of their state. Their votes were sent to Congress to be counted alongside those of the true electors, with some Congress members arguing that the new slate of electoral votes cast doubts over the official result in certain states. In 2023, a Trump campaign lawyer, Kenneth Chesebro, pleaded guilty in Georgia to his role in subverting the election.

    Norman Eisen, Samara Angel and Clare Boone, who are all fellows at the Brookings Institution thinktank, have provided detailed analysis on how this scenario could be repeated in 2024. They point to nefarious strategies that could be utilised to confuse results by refusing to certify elections at the “county level”.

    For example, three election deniers – Rick Jeffares, Janice Johnston and Janelle King – hold the balance of power in Georgia’s state election board. They have jointly devised new rules that allow vote certification to be paused while investigations are launched into alleged “irregularities”.

    Eisen, Angel and Boone assert that while “these attempts will likely meet the same fate as prior efforts, they could still stoke uncertainty and distrust.” So, given the existence of these threats and the fact that polls show a dead heat, we will probably not know the election’s winner for at least a few days.

    Richard Hargy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. US election: what time do the polls close and when will the results be known? An expert explains – https://theconversation.com/us-election-what-time-do-the-polls-close-and-when-will-the-results-be-known-an-expert-explains-242635

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The Achieving Society, and Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    The media and the usual suspects are breathless at David Seymour’s school lunch success. He’s halved the cost and delivered for more children, despite believing it’s the parents’ job in the first place. If Labour had done it the same way, they could have saved over $800 million. First they said he’d cancel it. Then they said he couldn’t do it. Now they say the savings are too great, and not enough businesses will make money from the scheme. Moaning Report managed to hang their coverage of the Government saving $170m off one Principal who didn’t like it.

    The Achieving Society, and Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai

    David McClelland was a psychologist who analysed children’s books to understand the values of different cultures. His work is summarised in Richard Prebble’s classic I’ve Been thinking.

    The basic conclusion is that societies who tell their children they can make a difference in their own lives, if they take responsibility and make an effort, will grow wealthy and peaceful. Those who tell their children that life is a bit like bad weather, something you’re powerless to change, have difficult times ahead.

    It worked. Writing in the 1950s, McClelland was able to forecast Japan’s economic miracle based on his study of their nursery rhymes. It was a big call for a war-torn country under foreign occupation.

    That basic story has become the kernel of the modern ACT Party. Own your future, change your future, real change, change makers, make a difference in your own life and the lives of those you care about… Individuals matter because they’re the only entity that can choose to act, and sometimes the most unlikely people have insights that will benefit us all.

    Why does the Party care about property rights? Because it’s hard to make a difference if everything you acquire gets nicked by criminals, or the IRD, or if you can’t use your property the way you want to because of red tape. It’s also why education matters, and you shouldn’t be discriminated against on any personal characteristic.

    What, then to make of Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai? Apparently the best picture book at the book awards for children this year, by McClelland’s standards it shows New Zealand is stuffed.

    The story has barely been covered in New Zealand, with two exceptions. A beautiful op-ed by Josie Pagani, that contrasts the book with Barack Obama’s liberalism, and a gushing interview with the author published by the parallel state-funded universe that is The Spinoff.

    The story is a stream of consciousness from a young boy. My name is Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai, you can call me Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai. And he’s off. The usual reason for saying ‘you can call me…’ is to offer an alternative. It’s a sign of friendship and a will to get on with one another. Instead Paku uses the phrase to insist right off the bat that you must use his 13 syllables.

    The book carries on in this vein, Paku believes that he was created at the same time as the universe and everyone was created at the same time. He doesn’t understand why there are rules or anyone is required to follow them, but he’s sure they shouldn’t apply to him.

    Then the author has him say “I will hit all the English people in the face because they stole the land”. And “My Dad is Māori like me. I feel sorry for my Mum. She’s only Pākehā.”

    The kind interpretation, that the author sells (and may genuinely believe) is that the book is designed to ‘stimulate conversations.’ The voice is simply the musings of a child, why be so hard on him?

    As Pagani says, ‘those sound like adult words.’ The author doesn’t challenge the tropes that she puts in the mouth of the young child. There’s no conclusion that racially motivated violence is actually a bad thing. There’s only reference to Nana, who says you shouldn’t hit people, but she is abandoned as a quaint figure.

    Parents (Paku is modelled on the author’s son) are apparently not to guide their children, they’re there to be their friends. Rather than passing on values of achievement, cooperation, respect for the dignity of others, Paku’s worst instincts (or is that the author’s prejudices?) are amplified.

    Besides winning the Picture Book award, this book was funded by Creative New Zealand. This is the same Creative New Zealand that funded Tusi’ata Avia’s poem that cast Captain Cook as an avatar for Europeans in New Zealand and celebrated stabbing him with a pig knife.

    Of course, the Government, and specifically Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith, is turning over appointments in these outfits and setting new expectations. Nonetheless this book, its taxpayer funding, and its national award show how deeply ingrained is New Zealand’s appetite for self-destruction.

    Only by recommitting ourselves to universal human rights—equal rights—for each and every person can we overcome such corrosive thinking. Thankfully, there is a whole political party committed to doing just that.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Launches Female-Centric Pitching Competition during DevCon 24′ with Access Up to $100K Funding Opportunities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched “Pitch n Slay,” a special initiative under its Blockchain4Her program organized to provide exposure for female entrepreneurs in the blockchain space. Building on Bitget’s larger $10 million Blockchain4Her project, the program extends targeted support to promising women-led startups by offering them a chance to secure up to $100,000 in funding by Foresight Ventures. This funding is accompanied by valuable mentorship from experienced professionals in the blockchain industry.

    The “Pitch n Slay” program, created in partnership with organizations such as World of Women, Women in Web3, and Bitget Wallet, is structured to offer a pathway for women entrepreneurs to receive the capital, guidance, and exposure necessary to scale their projects. Additional partnerships with Foresight Ventures and Morph highlight Bitget’s emphasis on uniting resources and mentorship from leaders within the blockchain ecosystem.

    Throughout the program, selected participants will undergo a rigorous mentorship and development journey. After an initial pitching round, finalists will receive support in market strategy, scaling, and technology, led by industry experts including Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, Taya A, CEO of World of Women, Min Xue, Partner of Foresight Ventures, Tess Hau, Founder of Tess Ventures, and other prominent Web3 leaders. Hosted on 15th November, in Bangkok, Thailand the “Pitch n Slay” program finalists will present their refined projects to a panel of investors and judges. Out of the shortlisted women-run startups top 3 winners will get grants to further their startup journey. The first winner takes home $5000, the second place will be rewarded with $3000 and the third will get $2000 subsequently. All three will be qualified for further pitching to Foresight Ventures, if the deal goes through each can receive funding up to $100K in pre-seed.

    Bitget’s constant focus on supporting women in Web3 is part of its strategy of creating accessible pathways for funding and growth for women entrepreneurs led by the company’s CEO, Gracy Chen “Bitget is a proudly gender-inclusive organization, with over 45% of our management roles held by women. Through Blockchain4Her, it’s our honor to support women founders with opportunities for exposure, mentorship, and funding. We’ll continue to expand this platform, creating pathways for growth and amplifying women-led startups in Web3,” said Chen.

    The Pitch n’ Slay initiative directly addresses the underrepresentation of female entrepreneurs in blockchain, providing both the financial and professional support essential for success in a competitive landscape.

    Applications are open for eligible women-led startups. For more details, visit the application page here

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience volatility. Investments should only be made with funds that can be afforded to lose. The value of investments may be impacted, and there is a possibility of not achieving financial goals or recovering the principal investment. Independent financial advice should be sought, and personal financial experience and standing should be carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any losses incurred. This information is not intended as financial advice.

    Contact

    PR team

    media@bitget.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Par Pacific Holdings Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR) (“Par Pacific” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

    • Net Income of $7.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share
    • Adjusted Net Loss of $(5.5) million, or $(0.10) per diluted share
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $51.4 million
    • Record logistics financial results driven by record refining throughput
    • Liquidity increased by $112.1 million while repurchasing $21.9 million of common stock

    Par Pacific reported net income of $7.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $171.4 million, or $2.79 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2023. Third quarter 2024 Adjusted Net Loss was $(5.5) million, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $193.4 million in the third quarter of 2023. Third quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA was $51.4 million, compared to $255.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. A reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in the tables accompanying this news release.

    “Our third quarter financial results reflect a challenging summer refining margin environment,” said Will Monteleone, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite the cyclical downturn, refining system throughput set a quarterly record, our retail and logistics segments delivered consistently strong financial results, and our Hawaii SAF project has entered the construction phase. We are focused on improving operating and capital efficiency while prioritizing safe and reliable operations.”

    Refining

    The Refining segment reported operating income of $19.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $194.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted Gross Margin for the Refining segment was $142.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $350.6 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    Refining segment Adjusted EBITDA was $20.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $233.6 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    Hawaii
    The 3-1-2 Singapore Crack Spread was $11.00 per barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $23.39 per barrel in the third quarter of 2023. Throughput in the third quarter of 2024 was 81 thousand barrels per day (Mbpd), compared to 82 Mbpd for the same quarter in 2023. Production costs were $4.58 per throughput barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $4.50 per throughput barrel in the same period of 2023.

    The Hawaii refinery’s Adjusted Gross Margin was $6.10 per barrel during the third quarter of 2024, including a net price lag impact of approximately $5.1 million, or $0.68 per barrel, compared to $13.47 per barrel during the third quarter of 2023.

    Montana
    The RVO Adjusted USGC 3-2-1 Index averaged $14.14 per barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $29.65 in the third quarter of 2023. The Montana refinery’s throughput in the third quarter of 2024 was 57 Mbpd, compared to 55 Mbpd for the same quarter in 2023. Production costs were $11.61 per throughput barrel, compared to $10.83 per throughput barrel in the same period of 2023.

    The Montana refinery’s Adjusted Gross Margin was $12.42 per barrel during the third quarter of 2024, compared to $26.49 per barrel during the third quarter of 2023.

    Washington
    The RVO Adjusted Pacific Northwest 3-1-1-1 Index averaged $15.48 per barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $35.00 per barrel in the third quarter of 2023. The Washington refinery’s throughput was 41 Mbpd in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 41 Mbpd in the third quarter of 2023. Production costs were $3.50 per throughput barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $3.77 per throughput barrel in the same period of 2023.

    The Washington refinery’s Adjusted Gross Margin was $1.76 per barrel during the third quarter of 2024, compared to $12.30 per barrel during the third quarter of 2023.

    Wyoming
    The RVO Adjusted USGC 3-2-1 Index averaged $14.14 per barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $29.65 per barrel in the third quarter of 2023. The Wyoming refinery’s throughput was 19 Mbpd in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 20 Mbpd in the third quarter of 2023. Production costs were $7.00 per throughput barrel in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $6.46 per throughput barrel in the same period of 2023.

    The Wyoming refinery’s Adjusted Gross Margin was $13.65 per barrel during the third quarter of 2024, including a FIFO impact of approximately $(4.7) million, or $(2.63) per barrel, compared to $37.01 per barrel during the third quarter of 2023.

    Retail

    The Retail segment reported operating income of $18.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $13.3 million in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted Gross Margin for the Retail segment was $42.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $38.2 million in the same quarter of 2023.

    Retail segment Adjusted EBITDA was $21.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. The Retail segment reported sales volumes of 31.2 million gallons in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 31.1 million gallons in the same quarter of 2023. Third quarter 2024 same store sales fuel volumes decreased by (1.4)% while merchandise revenue increased by 3.8%, compared to third quarter of 2023.

    Logistics

    The Logistics segment reported operating income of $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $20.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted Gross Margin for the Logistics segment was $36.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $35.3 million in the same quarter of 2023.

    Logistics segment Adjusted EBITDA was $33.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $29.1 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    Liquidity

    Net cash provided by operations totaled $78.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, including working capital inflows of $67.2 million and deferred turnaround expenditures of $(15.6) million. Excluding these items, net cash provided by operations was $26.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Net cash provided by operations was $269.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $(28.3) million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, consisting primarily of capital expenditures, compared to $(5.7) million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Net cash used in financing activities totaled $(46.8) million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $(92.9) million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

    At September 30, 2024, Par Pacific’s cash balance totaled $183.0 million, gross term debt was $546.0 million, and total liquidity was $632.5 million. Net term debt was $363.0 million at September 30, 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased $21.9 million of common stock.

    Laramie Energy

    In conjunction with Laramie Energy LLC’s (“Laramie’s”) refinancing and subsequent cash distribution to Par Pacific during the first quarter of 2023, we resumed the application of equity method accounting for our investment in Laramie effective February 21, 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, we recorded $(0.3) million of equity losses. Laramie’s total net loss was $(4.2) million in the third quarter of 2024, including unrealized losses on derivatives of $(0.4) million, compared to $(4.7) million in the third quarter of 2023. Laramie’s total Adjusted EBITDAX was $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    Conference Call Information

    A conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). To access the call, please dial 1-833-974-2377 inside the U.S. or 1-412-317-5782 outside of the U.S. and ask for the Par Pacific call. Please dial in at least 10 minutes early to register. The webcast may be accessed online through the Company’s website at http://www.parpacific.com on the Investors page. A telephone replay will be available until November 19, 2024 and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 inside the U.S. or 1-412-317-0088 outside the U.S. and using the conference ID 4223997.

    About Par Pacific

    Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PARR), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a growing energy company providing both renewable and conventional fuels to the western United States. Par Pacific owns and operates 219,000 bpd of combined refining capacity across four locations in Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, and an extensive energy infrastructure network, including 13 million barrels of storage, and marine, rail, rack, and pipeline assets. In addition, Par Pacific operates the Hele retail brand in Hawaii and the “nomnom” convenience store chain in the Pacific Northwest. Par Pacific also owns 46% of Laramie Energy, LLC, a natural gas production company with operations and assets concentrated in Western Colorado. More information is available at www.parpacific.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release (and oral statements regarding the subject matter of this news release, including those made on the conference call and webcast announced herein) includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to qualify for the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about: expected market conditions; anticipated free cash flows; anticipated refinery throughput; anticipated cost savings; anticipated capital expenditures, including major maintenance costs, and their effect on our financial and operating results, including earnings per share and free cash flow; anticipated retail sales volumes and on-island sales; the anticipated financial and operational results of Laramie Energy, LLC; the amount of our discounted net cash flows and the impact of our NOL carryforwards thereon; our ability to identify, acquire, and develop energy, related retailing, and infrastructure businesses; the timing and expected results of certain development projects, as well as the impact of such investments on our product mix and sales; the anticipated synergies and other benefits of the Billings refinery and associated marketing and logistics assets (“Billings Acquisition”), including renewable growth opportunities, the anticipated financial and operating results of the Billings Acquisition and the effect on Par Pacific’s cash flows and profitability (including Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and Free Cash Flow per share); and other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties, such as changes to our financial condition and liquidity; the volatility of crude oil and refined product prices; the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Palestine conflict, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iranian activities in the Strait of Hormuz and their potential impacts on global crude oil markets and our business; operating disruptions at our refineries resulting from unplanned maintenance events or natural disasters; environmental risks; changes in the labor market; and risks of political or regulatory changes. We cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. We further expressly disclaim any written or oral statements made by a third party regarding the subject matter of this news release.

    Contact:
    Ashimi Patel
    VP, Investor Relations & Sustainability
    (832) 916-3355
    apatel@parpacific.com

     
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited)
    (in thousands, except per share data)
     
      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Revenues $ 2,143,933     $ 2,579,308     $ 6,142,236     $ 6,048,444  
    Operating expenses              
    Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation)   1,905,200       2,174,385       5,422,875       5,038,211  
    Operating expense (excluding depreciation)   147,049       145,183       444,389       330,146  
    Depreciation and amortization   31,879       35,311       96,679       87,887  
    General and administrative expense (excluding depreciation)   22,399       23,694       87,322       66,148  
    Equity earnings from refining and logistics investments   (3,008 )     (3,934 )     (12,846 )     (4,359 )
    Acquisition and integration costs   (23 )     4,669       68       17,213  
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   4,006       3,127       9,048       8,490  
    Loss on sale of assets, net   —       —       114       —  
    Total operating expenses   2,107,502       2,382,435       6,047,649       5,543,736  
    Operating income   36,431       196,873       94,587       504,708  
    Other income (expense)              
    Interest expense and financing costs, net   (23,402 )     (20,815 )     (61,720 )     (51,974 )
    Debt extinguishment and commitment costs   —       —       (1,418 )     (17,682 )
    Other income (loss), net   1,253       (43 )     (1,447 )     301  
    Equity earnings (losses) from Laramie Energy, LLC   (336 )     —       2,867       10,706  
    Total other expense, net   (22,485 )     (20,858 )     (61,718 )     (58,649 )
    Income before income taxes   13,946       176,015       32,869       446,059  
    Income tax expense   (6,460 )     (4,600 )     (10,496 )     (6,741 )
    Net income $ 7,486     $ 171,415     $ 22,373     $ 439,318  
    Weighted-average shares outstanding              
    Basic   55,729       60,223       57,283       60,241  
    Diluted   56,224       61,404       58,070       61,144  
                   
    Income per share              
    Basic $ 0.13     $ 2.85     $ 0.39     $ 7.29  
    Diluted $ 0.13     $ 2.79     $ 0.39     $ 7.18  
     
    Balance Sheet Data
    (Unaudited)
    (in thousands)
     
      September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Balance Sheet Data      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 182,977   $ 279,107
    Working capital (1)   542,690     190,042
    ABL Credit Facility   511,000     115,000
    Term debt (2)   546,021     550,621
    Total debt, including current portion   1,043,706     650,858
    Total stockholders’ equity   1,254,026     1,335,424

    ______________________________
    (1)   Working capital is calculated as (i) total current assets excluding cash and cash equivalents less (ii) total current liabilities excluding current portion of long-term debt. Total current assets include inventories stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
    (2)   Term debt includes the Term Loan Credit Agreement and other long-term debt.


    Operating Statistics

    The following table summarizes key operational data:

      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Total Refining Segment              
    Feedstocks throughput (Mbpd) (1)   198.4       198.2       186.3       164.6  
    Refined product sales volume (Mbpd) (1)   216.2       217.3       200.2       178.7  
                   
    Hawaii Refinery              
    Feedstocks throughput (Mbpd)   80.7       82.3       80.4       80.9  
                   
    Yield (% of total throughput)              
    Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks   25.6 %     26.5 %     26.0 %     26.7 %
    Distillates   38.3 %     42.1 %     38.1 %     40.8 %
    Fuel oils   32.0 %     26.5 %     32.0 %     28.0 %
    Other products   0.7 %     2.1 %     0.3 %     1.5 %
    Total yield   96.6 %     97.2 %     96.4 %     97.0 %
                   
    Refined product sales volume (Mbpd)   93.5       90.0       87.8       89.2  
                   
    Adjusted Gross Margin per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (2) $ 6.10     $ 13.47     $ 10.06     $ 14.74  
    Production costs per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (3)   4.58       4.50       4.66       4.46  
    D&A per bbl ($/throughput bbl)   0.25       0.65       0.47       0.68  
                   
    Montana Refinery              
    Feedstocks Throughput (Mbpd) (1)   57.2       55.4       49.2       57.1  
                   
    Yield (% of total throughput)              
    Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks   46.5 %     50.5 %     49.5 %     49.6 %
    Distillates   34.7 %     27.7 %     31.7 %     28.2 %
    Asphalt   11.0 %     14.7 %     9.3 %     14.4 %
    Other products   4.0 %     3.4 %     4.4 %     3.5 %
    Total yield   96.2 %     96.3 %     94.9 %     95.7 %
                   
    Refined product sales volume (Mbpd) (1)   60.3       63.5       53.4       62.5  
                   
    Adjusted Gross Margin per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (2) $ 12.42     $ 26.49     $ 14.15     $ 27.74  
    Production costs per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (3)   11.61       10.83       13.16       10.10  
    D&A per bbl ($/throughput bbl)   1.82       1.63       1.69       1.69  
                   
      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Washington Refinery              
    Feedstocks throughput (Mbpd)   41.1       41.0       37.9       40.5  
                   
    Yield (% of total throughput)              
    Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks   23.6 %     22.8 %     24.0 %     23.4 %
    Distillate   35.3 %     34.6 %     34.5 %     34.6 %
    Asphalt   17.4 %     20.1 %     18.6 %     19.4 %
    Other products   19.7 %     18.8 %     19.3 %     18.8 %
    Total yield   96.0 %     96.3 %     96.4 %     96.2 %
                   
    Refined product sales volume (Mbpd)   42.4       44.2       39.6       43.3  
                   
    Adjusted Gross Margin per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (2) $ 1.76     $ 12.30     $ 4.03     $ 9.91  
    Production costs per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (3)   3.50       3.77       4.28       4.00  
    D&A per bbl ($/throughput bbl)   1.81       1.79       2.00       1.81  
                   
    Wyoming Refinery              
    Feedstocks throughput (Mbpd)   19.4       19.5       18.8       17.7  
                   
    Yield (% of total throughput)              
    Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks   43.7 %     46.7 %     45.7 %     46.0 %
    Distillate   49.0 %     47.1 %     48.1 %     47.3 %
    Fuel oils   3.4 %     2.5 %     2.5 %     2.5 %
    Other products   2.3 %     1.7 %     2.2 %     1.7 %
    Total yield   98.4 %     98.0 %     98.5 %     97.5 %
                   
    Refined product sales volume (Mbpd)   20.0       19.6       19.4       18.3  
                   
    Adjusted Gross Margin per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (2) $ 13.65     $ 37.01     $ 14.42     $ 28.88  
    Production costs per bbl ($/throughput bbl) (3)   7.00       6.46       7.30       7.34  
    D&A per bbl ($/throughput bbl)   2.43       2.41       2.51       2.69  
                   
    Market Indices ($ per barrel)              
    3-1-2 Singapore Crack Spread (4) $ 11.00     $ 23.39     $ 14.04     $ 19.45  
    RVO Adj. Pacific Northwest 3-1-1-1 Index (5)   15.48       35.00       19.49       28.51  
    RVO Adj. USGC 3-2-1 Index (6)   14.14       29.65       17.79       25.96  
                   
    Crude Oil Prices ($ per barrel)              
    Brent $ 78.71     $ 85.92     $ 81.82     $ 81.93  
    WTI   75.27       82.22       77.61       77.28  
    ANS (7)   80.26       89.25       83.49       82.57  
    Bakken Clearbrook   74.41       83.58       76.22       79.38  
    WCS Hardisty   59.98       65.42       62.20       60.75  
    Brent M1-M3   1.31       1.27       1.22       0.74  
                   
    Retail Segment              
    Retail sales volumes (thousands of gallons)   31,232       31,137       91,186       87,710  

    ______________________________
    (1)   Feedstocks throughput and sales volumes per day for the Montana refinery for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are calculated based on the 92 and 122-day periods for which we owned the Montana refinery during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. As such, the amounts for the total refining segment represent the sum of the Hawaii, Washington, and Wyoming refineries’ throughput or sales volumes averaged over the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, plus the Montana refinery’s throughput or sales volumes averaged over the periods from July 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023 and June 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, respectively. The 2024 amounts for the total refining segment represent the sum of the Hawaii, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming refineries’ throughput or sales volumes averaged over the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
    (2)   We calculate Adjusted Gross Margin per barrel by dividing Adjusted Gross Margin by total refining throughput. Adjusted Gross Margin for our Washington refinery is determined under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory costing method. Adjusted Gross Margin for our other refineries is determined under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) inventory costing method.
    (3)   Management uses production costs per barrel to evaluate performance and compare efficiency to other companies in the industry. There are a variety of ways to calculate production costs per barrel; different companies within the industry calculate it in different ways. We calculate production costs per barrel by dividing all direct production costs, which include the costs to run the refineries including personnel costs, repair and maintenance costs, insurance, utilities, and other miscellaneous costs, by total refining throughput. Our production costs are included in Operating expense (excluding depreciation) on our condensed consolidated statements of operations, which also includes costs related to our bulk marketing operations and severance costs.
    (4)   We believe the 3-1-2 Singapore Crack Spread (or three barrels of Brent crude oil converted into one barrel of gasoline and two barrels of distillates (diesel and jet fuel)) is the most representative market indicator for our operations in Hawaii.
    (5)   We believe the RVO Adjusted Pacific Northwest 3-1-1-1 Index (or three barrels of WTI crude oil converted into one barrel of Pacific Northwest gasoline, one barrel of Pacific Northwest ULSD and one barrel of USGC VGO, less 100% of the RVO cost for gasoline and ULSD) is the most representative market indicator for our operations in Washington.
    (6)   We believe the RVO Adjusted USGC 3-2-1 Index (or three barrels of WTI crude oil converted into two barrels of USGC gasoline and one barrel of USGC ULSD, less 100% of the RVO cost) is the most representative market indicator for our operations in Montana and Wyoming.
    (7)   ANS crude price influences the Hawaii Refinery’s financial performance. Beginning in September 2024, the ANS index has been updated from a Platts marker to an Argus marker to better reflect the prompt ANS market.


    Non-GAAP Performance Measures

    Management uses certain financial measures to evaluate our operating performance that are considered non-GAAP financial measures. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes or alternatives to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies since each company may define these terms differently.

    We believe Adjusted Gross Margin (as defined below) provides useful information to investors because it eliminates the gross impact of volatile commodity prices and adjusts for certain non-cash items and timing differences created by our inventory financing agreements and lower of cost and net realizable value adjustments to demonstrate the earnings potential of the business before other fixed and variable costs, which are reported separately in Operating expense (excluding depreciation) and Depreciation and amortization. Management uses Adjusted Gross Margin per barrel to evaluate operating performance and compare profitability to other companies in the industry and to industry benchmarks. We believe Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) are useful supplemental financial measures that allow investors to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis, the ability of our assets to generate cash to pay interest on our indebtedness, and our operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to other companies without regard to financing methods and capital structure. We believe Adjusted EBITDA by segment (as defined below) is a useful supplemental financial measure to evaluate the economic performance of our segments without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis.

    Beginning with financial results reported for the second quarter of 2023, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), and Adjusted EBITDA also exclude our portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from our refining and logistics investments acquired on June 1, 2023, as part of the Billings Acquisition.

    Beginning with financial results reported for the fourth quarter of 2023, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), and Adjusted EBITDA excludes all hedge losses (gains) associated with our Washington ending inventory and LIFO layer increment impacts associated with our Washington inventory. In addition, we have modified our environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustment to include only the mark-to-market losses (gains) associated with our net RINs liability and net obligation associated with the Washington Climate Commitment Act (“Washington CCA”) and Clean Fuel Standard. This modification was made as part of our change in how we estimate our environmental obligation liabilities.

    Beginning with financial results reported for the fourth quarter of 2023, Adjusted Net Income (loss) excludes unrealized interest rate derivative losses (gains) and all Laramie Energy related impacts with the exception of cash distributions. We have recast Adjusted Net Income (Loss) for prior periods when reported to conform to the modified presentation.

    Beginning with financial results reported for the first quarter of 2024, Adjusted Net Income (loss) also excludes other non-operating income and expenses. This modification improves comparability between periods by excluding income and expenses resulting from non-operating activities.

    Adjusted Gross Margin

    Adjusted Gross Margin is defined as operating income (loss) excluding:

    •   operating expense (excluding depreciation);
    •   depreciation and amortization (“D&A”);
    •   Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments;
    •   impairment expense;
    •   loss (gain) on sale of assets, net;
    •   inventory valuation adjustment (which adjusts for timing differences to reflect the economics of our inventory financing agreements, including lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments, the impact of the embedded derivative repurchase or terminal obligations, hedge losses (gains) associated with our Washington ending inventory and intermediation obligation, purchase price allocation adjustments, and LIFO layer increment and decrement impacts associated with our Washington inventory);
    •   Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments (which represents the mark-to-market losses (gains) associated with our net RINs liability and net obligation associated with the Washington CCA and Clean Fuel Standard); and
    •   unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives.

    The following tables present a reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margin to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, operating income (loss), on a historical basis, for selected segments, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

    Three months ended September 30, 2024 Refining   Logistics   Retail
    Operating income $ 19,005     $ 26,164   $ 18,274
    Operating expense (excluding depreciation)   122,054       3,334     21,661
    Depreciation and amortization   22,623       5,925     2,680
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   658       861     —
    Inventory valuation adjustment   14,057       —     —
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (4,432 )     —     —
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (31,772 )     —     —
    Gain on sale of assets, net   —       —     —
    Adjusted Gross Margin (1) $ 142,193     $ 36,284   $ 42,615
    Three months ended September 30, 2023 Refining   Logistics   Retail
    Operating income $ 194,847     $ 20,736   $ 13,315
    Operating expense (excluding depreciation)   116,949       6,135     22,099
    Depreciation and amortization   24,278       7,708     2,766
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   821       698     —
    Inventory valuation adjustment   72,823       —     —
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (50,153 )     —     —
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (8,995 )     —     —
    Adjusted Gross Margin (1) $ 350,570     $ 35,277   $ 38,180
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Refining   Logistics   Retail
    Operating income $ 82,811     $ 64,579   $ 45,323  
    Operating expense (excluding depreciation)   365,031       11,847     67,511  
    Depreciation and amortization   66,584       19,893     8,471  
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   2,037       2,550     —  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   (6,419 )     —     —  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (18,199 )     —     —  
    Unrealized loss on commodity derivatives   34,061       —     —  
    Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net   —       124     (10 )
    Adjusted Gross Margin (1) $ 525,906     $ 98,993   $ 121,295  
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Refining   Logistics   Retail
    Operating income $ 502,123     $ 54,035   $ 42,009
    Operating expense (excluding depreciation)   252,802       13,178     64,166
    Depreciation and amortization   59,827       17,801     8,577
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   821       905     —
    Inventory valuation adjustment   126,799       —     —
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (174,111 )     —     —
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (487 )     —     —
    Adjusted Gross Margin (1) $ 767,774     $ 85,919   $ 114,752

    ______________________________
    (1)   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no impairment expense in Operating income. For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, there was no (gain) loss on sale of assets recorded in Operating income.


    Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA

    Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is defined as Net income (loss) excluding:

    •   inventory valuation adjustment (which adjusts for timing differences to reflect the economics of our inventory financing agreements, including lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments, the impact of the embedded derivative repurchase or terminal obligations, hedge losses (gains) associated with our Washington ending inventory and intermediation obligation, purchase price allocation adjustments, and LIFO layer increment and decrement impacts associated with our Washington inventory);
    •   Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments (which represents the mark-to-market losses (gains) associated with our net RINs liability and net obligation associated with the Washington CCA and Clean Fuel Standard);
    •   unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives;
    •   acquisition and integration costs;
    •   redevelopment and other costs related to Par West;
    •   debt extinguishment and commitment costs;
    •   increase in (release of) tax valuation allowance and other deferred tax items;
    •   changes in the value of contingent consideration and common stock warrants;
    •   severance costs and other non-operating expense (income);
    •   (gain) loss on sale of assets;
    •   impairment expense;
    •   impairment expense associated with our investment in Laramie Energy; and
    •   Par’s share of equity (earnings) losses from Laramie Energy, LLC, excluding cash distributions.

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Adjusted Net Income (Loss) excluding:

    •   D&A;
    •   interest expense and financing costs, net, excluding unrealized interest rate derivative loss (gain);
    •   cash distributions from Laramie Energy, LLC to Par;
    •   Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments; and
    •   income tax expense (benefit) excluding the increase in (release of) tax valuation allowance.

    The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss), on a historical basis for the periods indicated (in thousands):        

      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net income $ 7,486     $ 171,415     $ 22,373     $ 439,318  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   14,057       72,823       (6,419 )     126,799  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (4,432 )     (50,153 )     (18,199 )     (174,111 )
    Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives   (31,196 )     (9,116 )     33,756       (1,151 )
    Acquisition and integration costs   (23 )     4,669       68       17,213  
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   4,006       3,127       9,048       8,490  
    Debt extinguishment and commitment costs   —       —       1,418       17,682  
    Changes in valuation allowance and other deferred tax items (1)   5,707       —       9,238       —  
    Severance costs and other non-operating expense (2)   (1,490 )     615       14,648       1,685  
    Loss on sale of assets, net   —       —       114       —  
    Equity (earnings) losses from Laramie Energy, LLC, excluding cash distributions   336       —       (1,382 )     —  
    Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (3)   (5,549 )     193,380       64,663       435,925  
    Depreciation and amortization   31,879       35,311       96,679       87,887  
    Interest expense and financing costs, net, excluding unrealized interest rate derivative loss (gain)   22,826       20,936       62,025       52,638  
    Laramie Energy, LLC cash distributions to Par   —       —       (1,485 )     (10,706 )
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   1,519       1,519       4,587       1,726  
    Income tax expense (benefit)   753       4,600       1,258       6,741  
    Adjusted EBITDA (3) $ 51,428     $ 255,746     $ 227,727     $ 574,211  

    ______________________________
    (1)   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recognized a non-cash deferred tax expense of $5.7 million and $9.2 million, respectively, related to deferred state and federal tax liabilities. This tax benefit is included in Income tax expense (benefit) on our consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we did not have any adjustments to our valuation allowance and other deferred tax items.
    (2)   For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we incurred $13.1 million of stock-based compensation expenses associated with accelerated vesting of equity awards and modification of vested equity awards related to our CEO transition and $2.3 million for an estimated legal settlement unrelated to current operating activities.
    (3)   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no change in value of contingent consideration, change in value of common stock warrants, impairment expense, impairments associated with our investment in Laramie Energy, or our share of Laramie Energy’s asset impairment losses in excess of our basis difference. Please read the Non-GAAP Performance Measures discussion above for information regarding changes to the components of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA made during the reporting periods.

    The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023     2024     2023
    Adjusted Net Income (Loss) $ (5,549 )   $ 193,380   $ 64,663   $ 435,925
    Plus: effect of convertible securities   —       —     —     —
    Numerator for diluted income (loss) per common share $ (5,549 )   $ 193,380   $ 64,663   $ 435,925
                   
    Basic weighted-average common stock shares outstanding   55,729       60,223     57,283     60,241
    Add dilutive effects of common stock equivalents (1)   —       1,181     787     903
    Diluted weighted-average common stock shares outstanding   55,729       61,404     58,070     61,144
                   
    Basic Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per common share $ (0.10 )   $ 3.21   $ 1.13   $ 7.24
    Diluted Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per common share $ (0.10 )   $ 3.15   $ 1.11   $ 7.13

    ______________________________
    (1)   Entities with a net loss from continuing operations are prohibited from including potential common shares in the computation of diluted per share amounts. We have utilized the basic shares outstanding to calculate both basic and diluted Adjusted Net Loss per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2024.


    Adjusted EBITDA by Segment

    Adjusted EBITDA by segment is defined as Operating income (loss) excluding:

    •   D&A;
    •   inventory valuation adjustment (which adjusts for timing differences to reflect the economics of our inventory financing agreements, including lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments, the impact of the embedded derivative repurchase or terminal obligations, hedge losses (gains) associated with our Washington ending inventory and intermediation obligation, purchase price allocation adjustments, and LIFO layer increment and decrement impacts associated with our Washington inventory);
    •   Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments (which represents the mark-to-market losses (gains) associated with our net RINs liability and net obligation associated with the Washington CCA and Clean Fuel Standard);
    •   unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives;
    •   acquisition and integration costs;
    •   redevelopment and other costs related to Par West;
    •   severance costs and other non-operating expense (income);
    •   (gain) loss on sale of assets;
    •   impairment expense; and
    •   Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments.

    Adjusted EBITDA by segment also includes Gain on curtailment of pension obligation and Other income (loss), net, which are presented below operating income (loss) on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

    The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by segment to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, operating income (loss) by segment, on a historical basis, for selected segments, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

      Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
      Refining   Logistics   Retail   Corporate and Other
    Operating income (loss) by segment $ 19,005     $ 26,164   $ 18,274   $ (27,012 )
    Depreciation and amortization   22,623       5,925     2,680     651  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   14,057       —     —     —  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (4,432 )     —     —     —  
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (31,772 )     —     —     —  
    Acquisition and integration costs   —       —     —     (23 )
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   —       —     —     4,006  
    Severance costs and other non-operating expense   —       —     —     (1,490 )
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   658       861     —     —  
    Other income, net   —       —     —     1,253  
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 20,139     $ 32,950   $ 20,954   $ (22,615 )
      Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
      Refining   Logistics   Retail   Corporate and Other
    Operating income (loss) by segment $ 194,847     $ 20,736   $ 13,315   $ (32,025 )
    Depreciation and amortization   24,278       7,708     2,766     559  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   72,823       —     —     —  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (50,153 )     —     —     —  
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (8,995 )     —     —     —  
    Acquisition and integration costs   —       —     —     4,669  
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   —       —     —     3,127  
    Severance costs and other non-operating expenses   —       —     580     35  
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   821       698     —     —  
    Other loss, net   —       —     —     (43 )
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 233,621     $ 29,142   $ 16,661   $ (23,678 )
      Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
      Refining   Logistics   Retail   Corporate and Other
    Operating income (loss) by segment $ 82,811     $ 64,579   $ 45,323     $ (98,126 )
    Depreciation and amortization   66,584       19,893     8,471       1,731  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   (6,419 )     —     —       —  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (18,199 )     —     —       —  
    Unrealized loss on commodity derivatives   34,061       —     —       —  
    Acquisition and integration costs   —       —     —       68  
    Severance costs and other non-operating expenses   642       —     —       14,006  
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   —       —     —       9,048  
    Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net   —       124     (10 )     —  
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   2,037       2,550     —       —  
    Other loss, net   —       —     —       (1,447 )
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 161,517     $ 87,146   $ 53,784     $ (74,720 )
      Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
      Refining   Logistics   Retail   Corporate and Other
    Operating income (loss) by segment $ 502,123     $ 54,035   $ 42,009   $ (93,459 )
    Depreciation and amortization   59,827       17,801     8,577     1,682  
    Inventory valuation adjustment   126,799       —     —     —  
    Environmental obligation mark-to-market adjustments   (174,111 )     —     —     —  
    Unrealized gain on commodity derivatives   (487 )     —     —     —  
    Acquisition and integration costs   —       —     —     17,213  
    Severance costs and other non-operating expenses   —       —     580     1,105  
    Par West redevelopment and other costs   —       —     —     8,490  
    Par’s portion of interest, taxes, and depreciation expense from refining and logistics investments   821       905     —     —  
    Other income, net   —       —     —     301  
    Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 514,972     $ 72,741   $ 51,166   $ (64,668 )

    ________________________________________
    (1)   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no change in value of contingent consideration, change in value of common stock warrants, impairment expense, or impairments associated with our investment in Laramie Energy. For three months ended September 30, 2024 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, there was no loss (gain) on sale of assets.


    Laramie Energy Adjusted EBITDAX

    Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as net income (loss) excluding commodity derivative loss (gain), loss (gain) on settled derivative instruments, interest expense, gain on extinguishment of debt, non-cash preferred dividend, depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion, exploration and geological and geographical expense, bonus accrual, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on disposal of assets, phantom units, and expired acreage (non-cash). We believe Adjusted EBITDAX is a useful supplemental financial measure to evaluate the economic and operational performance of exploration and production companies such as Laramie Energy.

    The following table presents a reconciliation of Laramie Energy’s Adjusted EBITDAX to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss) for the periods indicated (in thousands):

      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net income (loss) $ (4,239 )   $ (3,479 )   $ (4,296 )   $ 54,048  
    Commodity derivative (income) loss   (5,234 )     1,889       (15,821 )     (32,951 )
    Gain (loss) on settled derivative instruments   5,584       2,775       14,220       (1,433 )
    Interest expense and loan fees   5,745       5,783       15,783       14,742  
    Gain on extinguishment of debt   —       (3,454 )     —       6,644  
    Non-cash preferred dividend   —       —       —       2,910  
    Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion   8,128       9,248       24,683       22,465  
    Phantom units   (217 )     2,425       (503 )     3,171  
    Loss (gain) on sale of assets, net   (8 )     239       (8 )     307  
    Expired acreage (non-cash)   157       —       722       112  
    Total Adjusted EBITDAX (1) $ 9,916     $ 15,426     $ 34,780     $ 70,015  

    ______________________________
    (1)   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no exploration and geological and geographical expense, bonus accrual, or equity-based compensation expense.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: G7 foreign ministers’ statement on the Launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

    Source: Government of Canada News

    “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) October 31 (local time) launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), following other launches using ballistic missile technology.

    November 4, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) October 31 (local time) launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), following other launches using ballistic missile technology. We deplore that the DPRK once again chose to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of the people in the DPRK.

    ” The DPRK continues to advance its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and to escalate its destabilizing activities. We reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demand that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). We urge UNSC Members to follow through on their commitments and call on all UN Member States to fully and effectively implement relevant UNSCRs.

    ” The G7 remains committed to working with all relevant partners toward the goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to upholding the free and open rules-based international order.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Pātaka summer season inspires, connects and provokes – Porirua

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Three new exhibitions opened on Saturday as part of Pātaka Art + Museum’s stunning new season.
    The provocative exhibition Diane Prince: Activist Artist showcases a selection of Diane’s works. Diane (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Whatua and Ngāti Kahu) is a painter, weaver, installation art practitioner, set designer and educator, whose multimedia practice emphasises Māori rights, particularly Māori women’s rights.
    The artworks focus on the close relationship between activism and art, with both facets deeply significant to an understanding of Māori and New Zealand (art) history. As we head into 50 years since the Māori Land March, Prince re-creates many of her previous works for a new audience – with political messages connecting even the quietest of her artworks.
    The second exhibition Rangirua presents two takes on the two-person exhibition, connecting two pairings of two artists: jewellers Neke Moa with Rowan Panther and mark-makers Gabrielle Amodeo alongside Martin Thompson. Rangirua, which translates to “two minds”, celebrates the comparisons and conversations that emerge when artists are placed side by side.
    In Taku Hoe, artists reconnect across Te Moananui a Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) in the third exhibition, which features works from artists from the Aotearoa delegation for the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC).
    The artworks represented at Pātaka include Cry of the Stolen People – Black Birding of the Tokelau Islands by Porirua-based Tokelauan artists Jack Kirifi, Moses Viliamu, Matthew Lepaio and the late Zac Mateo. The audio-visual installation tells the little-known history of Pacific slavery.
    Mid-December those three exhibitions will be joined by Boro – Timeworn Textiles from Japan, celebrating textile art, and the unnamed women who created it. Boro is a method of hand-sewn, repeated repairs that use sashiko – a running stitch, ideally the size of a grain of rice – to beautifully preserve and recycle fabric with cherished textiles passed down through generations.
    Find out more: pataka.org.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Emergency Management – World Tsunami Awareness Day: Long or strong, get gone – but where to?

    Source: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

    New Zealanders know the catchphrase “If an earthquake is Long or Strong, Get Gone” – but do you know where to “get gone” to?

    Today is World Tsunami Awareness Day, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Tom Wilson is urging people across Aotearoa New Zealand to take a few minutes to check their tsunami zone and plan their evacuation route.

    NEMA’s annual emergency preparedness survey shows awareness of the need to self-evacuate in a long or strong earthquake near the coast has risen from 75% to 86%.

    “It’s really encouraging to see high awareness of our Long or Strong, Get Gone advice,” Dr Wilson says.

    “However, many people may not know if they’re in an evacuation zone, and where they should evacuate to.

    “The National Tsunami Evacuation Zone Map lets you look up the address of anywhere you live, work or play, and it will tell you straight away if you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone.

    “Give it a go now, and practice your route. It’s a nifty tool that could save your life.

    “All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami, and we have a lot of coastline. In a local-source tsunami – like one caused by an earthquake on the Hikurangi fault along the North Island’s East Coast – immediate self-evacuation is key to survival.”

    Professor Wilson says research into the 5 March 2021 tsunami sequence shows that people often wait for an official warning before evacuating, when they should leave straight away.

    “Awareness may be high, but the science tells us that people aren’t always doing the right thing in the heat of the moment.  The more we plan and practice now, the easier it will be when we have a real tsunami event.

    “To mark World Tsunami Awareness Day, take a few moments with your whānau today – and find out what to do if a tsunami strikes.”

    Dr Wilson says 2024 marks twenty years since the Boxing Day Tsunami, which claimed 230,000 lives across India, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka on 26 December 2004.

    “The Boxing Day tsunami is a tragic reminder of the devasting power of tsunamis, and a reminder that we need to learn and plan.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOD Announces New Director for Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen provided the following statement:

    The Department of Defense is pleased to announce Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum as the new director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), effective early 2025.

    Maj. Gen. Vares-Lum’s leadership as President of the East-West Center and her 34 years of service in the U.S. Army provide her with the vision and experience needed to be a transformational leader at this vital DoD institution in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Retired Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao departed the Center this last summer after more than six years of distinguished service as director of DKI APCSS.

    DKI APCSS is the department’s premier institution dedicated to scholars and practitioners focused on the Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (4 Nov 2024)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Occupied Palestinian Territory
    -Lebanon/Israel
    -Lebanon/Humanitarian
    -Ukraine
    -Ukraine/Humanitarian
    -Security Council
    -Rosemary DiCarlo/Japan
    -West and Central Africa
    -Democratic Republic of the Congo
    -Deputy Secretary-General
    -World Urban Forum
    -Counter-Terrorism
    -Resident Coordinator – Honduras
    -NY marathon
    -Briefings today

    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is deeply concerned about persistent reports of mounting casualties, with the number of Palestinians being killed and injured especially high in North Gaza Governorate, where the Israeli military operations are continuing.
    In a statement on Saturday, Catherine Russell, the UNICEF, Children’s Fund head, said that more than 50 children had reportedly been killed in Jabalya over the previous two days alone, after strikes leveled two residential buildings sheltering hundreds of people.
    Meanwhile, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that, for the past month, Israeli authorities have only allowed humanitarian access to Jabalya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun on an exceptional basis, leaving us unable to confirm the conditions of people inside and we worry for their safety.
    OCHA warns that the already limited humanitarian supplies entering Gaza have dwindled even further since October. Private imports are virtually banned, and Israeli authorities are only allowing the use of three entry points – Kerem Shalom, Gate 96, which is near Deir Al-Balah and Erez West. Furthermore, humanitarian colleagues can only access these border areas by highly dangerous routes. The use of most roads leading to these entry points has either been banned by the Israeli authorities or rendered unsafe due to the ongoing hostilities.
    The routes available are often in poor condition and prone to armed looting fueled by the breakdown in public order and safety.
    Our humanitarian colleagues note that supplies reaching the northern crossing at Erez West can only be sent to Gaza city, as requests to deliver them to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate are being consistently denied and rejected.
    For its part, the World Food Programme warns that as winter approaches, the lack of food and other vital humanitarian supplies entering the Gaza Strip could soon escalate into famine unless immediate action is taken. In October, the World Food Programme has only been able to reach 42 per cent of the 1.1 million people targeted for food assistance in Gaza, with reduced rations due to dropping aid levels.

    Lebanon/Israel
    An update from UNIFIL, who is noting with continued concern the airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces across Lebanon over the weekend, including in the South, in Sidon, Baalbek and Beirut, resulting in several casualties. In southern Lebanon, the peacekeepers report that IDF operations have continued, involving clashes with Hizbullah. Meanwhile, they also report that Hizbullah has continued to launch drones and dozens of rockets South, into Israel.
    The increasing impact on civilians is of grave concern and we condemn the loss of civilian lives. All actors must adhere to international law and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. UNIFIL premises also continue to be impacted. On 2 November, a UN position near Markaba, in Sector East, sustained damage to its prefabricated containers and perimeters caused by demolition operations being undertaken by the IDF.
    A nearby explosion also damaged a UN vehicle at the [UNIFIL] Naqoura Headquarters, with no injuries reported. We once again remind all actors of the inviolability of the UN premises and their responsibility to protect UN peacekeepers.
    We urge the parties to halt the violence immediately. The United Nations continues to support efforts towards a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=04%20November%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHC60gr1Lo8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri C.R. Patil Highlights Prime Minister’s Commitment to Ganga Conservation while inaugurating Ganga Utsav 2024 at Haridwar

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Shri C.R. Patil Highlights Prime Minister’s Commitment to Ganga Conservation while inaugurating Ganga Utsav 2024 at Haridwar

    Minister of State Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary underscores Ganga Utsav’s role in promoting conservation and reverence for Maa Ganga

    Ganga Utsav is Organized by NMCG to Celebrate Ganga River’s National Status and Promote Conservation Efforts

    Posted On: 04 NOV 2024 8:37PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri C R Patil inaugurates Ganga Utsav 2024 at Chandi Ghat in Haridwar today in august presence of Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Raj Bhushan Chaudhary and Uttarakhand Minister for Women & Child Welfare Smt. Rekha Arya.  The Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Mrs. Debashree Mukherjee was also present on the occasion. Ganga Utsav 2024 is organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to mark the anniversary of declaring the Ganga River as the National River. The primary aim of this festival is to promote the conservation of the Ganga River, emphasize its cultural and spiritual importance, and raise public awareness about cleanliness. This eighth edition of the event was the first to be held on the riverbank, with celebrations extending across 139 districts in the Ganga basin states. Each state hosted a main event organized by District Ganga Committees.

    Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri C R Patil shared the Prime Minister’s message that the Ganga benefits 600 million people of this country and revered as a mother, it gives selflessly without taking. Sh. Patil emphasized that revering rivers as mothers is deeply rooted in our culture and conserving the river is a noble initiative that we all must ensure. Shri Patil recalled that, upon becoming Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi expressed that “Maa Ganga has called me.” Since then, the Prime Minister has shown unwavering commitment to raising awareness and rallying public support for the conservation of Maa Ganga.

    Union Minister Shri Patil noted that Prime Minister’s Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari initiative has gained widespread support, with people actively participating in the cause. Rainwater harvesting structures are being constructed across states to store water. He emphasized that Jan Samarthan (public support) is essential for conserving Maa Ganga, as it requires a collective, holistic effort from everyone.

    Sh. Patil also interacted and had a discussion with spiritual leaders and gurus present in the Utsav under a session titled Ganga Samvad. Speaking at the session, Sh. Patil emphasized for river conservation and rejuvenation and urged everyone to spread awareness about this to save Maa Ganga.  Sh. Patil flagged off Ganga Women Rafting Expedition. The 50-day long expedition will conclude at Ganga Sagar traversing through 9 major cities & towns across the Ganga River. This historic expedition will coincide with various activities organized across several districts in the five key states of the Ganga basin. He also felicitated BSF River Rafting team on the occasion.

    Speaking at the event, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, highlighted that Ganga Utsav is a unique festival dedicated to river conservation, with many activities planned to promote the conservation and cleanliness of the Ganga. He emphasized that rivers are not just sources of water but are also sacred and deeply significant, especially Maa Ganga, which unites us all. He affirmed that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, efforts are underway to ensure the cleanliness and conservation of Maa Ganga.

    Sh. Raj Bhushan Chaudhary said that through the Namami Gange initiative, ₹7,144 crore has been sanctioned in Bihar for 39 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), with 17 already completed. Conservation efforts are also focused on Ganga’s tributaries. These projects are essential for conserving Maa Ganga, a river with rich historical and cultural significance and help in driving national development through conservation of rivers, he added.

    Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami had also conveyed through Video message for conservation of Maa Ganga.

    Union Minister of State Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary flagged off National Book Trust (NBT) Bus as part of Ganga Utsav 2024. The NBT bus with literature regarding river Ganga carries out ‘Ganga Pustak Parikrama’ with the theme ‘Ganges through the ages: A Literary Bioscope’. The bus will travel through major 10 cities in the 5 riparian states along the Ganga River basin.

    This year’s event saw participation from several river cities under the River City Alliance, an organization that now includes 145 river cities nationwide. The alliance’s main objective is to promote healthy urban rivers through an integrated approach to river-sensitive urban planning. This approach aims for pollution-free, continuously flowing rivers that are cherished by all, contributing to water-secure cities and fostering inclusive, sustainable urban development. The festival serves as a key platform to underscore the cultural and spiritual importance of rivers in our society.

    The festival featured a “Ghat Par Haat” market along with stalls from local departments to highlight various aspects of the Namami Gange initiative. A range of engaging activities for children, including quizzes, film screenings, magic shows, puppet shows, and drawing and painting competitions, promoted their involvement in river conservation. Additionally, Nukkad Nataks (street plays) focused on raising awareness about river conservation among the youth. The event also included an exhibition on Namami Gange, showcasing the diverse facets of this important initiative.

    Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary and other dignitaries also participated in Ganga Arti at Haridwar.

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    DSK/GS

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Strongly Condemns Attack on Hindu Temple in Canada

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Strongly Condemns Attack on Hindu Temple in Canada

    Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law: PM

    Posted On: 04 NOV 2024 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Canada, along with reported attempts to intimidate Indian diplomats. Emphasizing India’s steadfast resolve, he called for justice and the upholding of the rule of law by the Canadian government.

    In his statement posted on X, Prime Minister Modi said:
    “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”

     

     

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    MJPS/SS

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs the 32nd meeting of ‘Kendriya Hindi Samiti’ today in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs the 32nd meeting of ‘Kendriya Hindi Samiti’ today in New Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken major initiatives for the preservation, promotion and widespread use of Indian languages

    In the next five years, the ‘Hindi Shabdsindhu’ dictionary will become the largest and most comprehensive dictionary in the world

    Modi government’s tenure is a glorious period for the preservation and promotion of Indian languages

    India is the only country in the world which has 11 classical languages

    Prime Minister Modi has enhanced the importance of Hindi by expressing his views

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FTII’s student film ‘Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know’ qualifies for Oscars in the Live Action Short Film Category

    Source: Government of India (2)

    FTII’s student film ‘Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know’ qualifies for Oscars in the Live Action Short Film Category

    FTII produced and La Cinef- Cannes winning film to compete at the 97th Academy Awards

    Posted On: 04 NOV 2024 5:55PM by PIB Mumbai

    : Mumbai/Pune, November 4, 2024

    Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)’s student film “SUNFLOWERS WERE FIRST ONES TO KNOW” has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film Category.

    This short film has been directed by FTII student Chidananda S Naik and had earlier this year won the first Prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection, which led to global recognition for this Kannada- language project inspired by Indian folk stories and traditions.

    The film, produced when Chidanand S. Naik was a student at FTII, showcases the expertise of a talented team, including Suraj Thakur (Cinematography), Manoj V (Editing) and Abhishek Kadam (Sound Design). The narrative is both poignant and profound, centering on an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, leading to a cessation of sunlight and resulting in turmoil within the community. In an effort to restore order, a prophecy is invoked, resulting in the exile of the woman’s family as they undertake a desperate mission to retrieve the rooster.

    The La Cinef Jury at Cannes had commended the film for its illuminating storytelling and masterful direction, stating, “Une illumination qui, du fond de la nuit, brille par son humour et le sens de la mise en scène, le premier prix est attribué à Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know de Chidananda S. Naik” (“An illumination that, from the depths of the night, shines with humor and a keen sense of direction, the first prize is awarded to ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ by Chidananda S Naik.”)

    Film director Chidananda S Naik remarked, “I have aspired to tell this story for as long as I can remember. Our goal was to recreate the experience of not merely hearing these stories but of genuinely living them—an experience I hope resonates with audiences around the globe.”

    Filmed entirely at night, ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ immerses viewers in the heart of the Indian landscape, inviting them to engage with its unique culture and atmosphere. Shri Naik’s direction artfully combines traditional narrative elements with visuals that celebrate the beauty of the region, emphasizing the deep-rooted connections between people and the magic of their stories.

    Having received acclaim on the festival circuit, including the Best Indian Competition award at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ is now poised to compete alongside the world’s best short films. The campaign for Sunflowers will feature special screenings, press opportunities, and Q&A events, providing Academy members and audiences worldwide with a glimpse into the universal power of India’s storytelling traditions. Beyond its accolades, ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ serves as an invitation for viewers to engage with Indian culture and storytelling, illuminating the universal themes that resonate deeply with audiences globally.

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: FTII

     

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