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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE supports international workshop on Financial Action Task Force standards

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE supports international workshop on Financial Action Task Force standards

    The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) supported an international workshop on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, which took place from 24 to 27 September 2024 in Dushanbe. The workshop was hosted by the National Bank of Tajikistan and was attended by 60 participants from the nine member states of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism. The purpose of the workshop was to prepare for the fourth round of FATF mutual evaluations, scheduled to begin in September 2025. As part of a new approach to the selection of assessors, candidates received pre-training on the FATF standards before the assessor training.
    The workshop covered in-depth discussions on the complex framework and best practices of the FATF standards, fostering a deeper understanding of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing protocols. Participants benefited from expert-led presentations, practical case studies, and group discussions aimed at enhancing their skills in evaluating and implementing FATF recommendations. The workshop also included scenario-based exercises to provide hands-on experience in addressing practical challenges, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to apply these standards effectively in their respective jurisdictions.
    This activity is part of the ongoing efforts of POiD to support the strengthening of Tajikistan’s institutional capacity and co-operation in combating money laundering.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Future trainers on virtual asset regulation and investigation from across the OSCE region receive training at first-of-its-kind course

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Future trainers on virtual asset regulation and investigation from across the OSCE region receive training at first-of-its-kind course

    Future trainers on virtual asset regulation and investigation from across the OSCE region receive training at first-of-its-kind course | OSCE
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    Home Newsroom News and press releases Future trainers on virtual asset regulation and investigation from across the OSCE region receive training at first-of-its-kind course

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Governor Olli Rehn: Old and new frontiers of the ESRB: Systemic risk, non-banks and data analysis

    Source: Bank of Finland

    Olli Rehn, First Vice-Chair of the European Systemic Risk Board
    Keynote speech at the 8th ESRB annual conference ‘New Frontiers in Macroprudential Policy’, Frankfurt, 27 September 2024

    Old and new frontiers of the ESRB: Systemic risk, non-banks and data analysis

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

    Good morning everyone!

    May I also welcome you all and thank the secretariat for putting together an impressive programme for this ESRB flagship event.

    Today, I would like to reflect on the role of the ESRB and its mandate regarding financial stability and macroprudential policy in the EU.

    Slide 2: The ESRB’s track record & new frontiers

    I will discuss three interlinked issues. Firstly, the ESRB at 15, an adolescent, with a solid record. Secondly, key starting points for the forthcoming ESRB review. And thirdly, new frontiers, especially dealing with non-banks and better use of data and analysis.

    Let’s look at where we have come from. Since the global financial crisis, major efforts have been made to ensure financial stability in the EU and globally through better regulation and supervision. I think it is indeed fair to say that financial stability has risen forcefully up the agenda of central banks, not least as it provides essential support for the central banks’ primary goal of price stability.

    In recent years, financial systems and financial stability measures have been subject to real-life stress tests, with the global economy being hit by a series of major shocks over just a short period of time. Primarily, that is, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s illegal, brutal war in Ukraine, the surge in inflation and the sharp rise in interest rates.

    In my view, the financial systems in the EU and elsewhere have withstood these shocks rather well. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision points out that the strong resilience has been largely thanks to the tightened capital and liquidity requirements for banks.

    Slide 3: Sturdy capital buffers provide banking resilience

    True, the capital ratios of European banks have roughly doubled since the global financial crisis. The increased capital buffers have been – and will continue to be – necessary in the current operating environment, which is filled with geopolitical and other uncertainties.

    I would add that the active use of macroprudential policy has further supported the resilience of the financial system in Europe.

    As part of its mandate, the ESRB assesses systemic risks in the EU, and, where appropriate, issues warnings and recommendations.

    Slide 4: Key risks for EU financial stability

    In our recent systemic risk assessment, we conclude that while disinflation in the EU is on track, financial stability risks remain elevated amid heightened geopolitical risks and the still fragile recovery of the EU economy. In the latest ECB projection, growth outlook was revised down, and the risks to the growth outlook are tilted to the downside.

    In particular, we have to be aware of both the direct and indirect impacts of current geopolitical risks on the EU financial system. Geopolitical events may directly impact financial markets by increasing volatility, affecting capital flows, exchange rates, and credit spreads. Indirectly, they can disrupt global trade and increase commodity prices, challenging households and businesses in the EU.

    In the financial markets, the risk appetite has been unusually strong, especially in the context of high macro-financial uncertainty. The abrupt, albeit short-lived, market correction in early August showed how sensitive this can be. If repeated, the vulnerabilities in the non-bank sector could amplify adverse market dynamics.

    Moreover, vulnerabilities in the banking sector could resurface, especially if the first two risks were to materialise. This would increase credit risks and tighten funding conditions at the same time.

    In any case, it continues to be essential to maintain the resilience of the EU financial system. Ensuring adequate resilience and effective but flexible regulation is one building block in promoting European competitiveness, along the lines of the recent report by Mario Draghi. As part of the efforts for more investment and higher productivity, it is crucial to advance the savings and investment union – or the ex-capital market union – and to complete the banking union.

    Slide 5: ESRB’s members reflect on its future – ATC survey

    Fifteen years ago, the global financial crisis revealed weaknesses in EU banking supervision. It was clear that major changes to financial supervision were necessary to help prevent and mitigate future crises.

    Thus, Commission President José Manuel Barroso set up an independent High Level Group on Financial Supervision in the EU to make recommendations on strengthening European supervisory arrangements, covering all financial sectors.

    The High Level Group, chaired by Jacques de Larosière, was given a very broad mandate and very little time. In only three months, the Group delivered an important and insightful report. It provided the basis not only for establishing the ESRB but the whole European System of Financial Supervision, including the European Supervisory Authorities.

    One of the key conclusions of the report was that regulators and supervisors had not sufficiently focused on “the macro-systemic risks of a contagion of correlated horizontal shocks”. As a policy response, de Larosière proposed establishing the ESRB (or the European Systemic Risk Council as he then called it).

    As a member of the European Commission at that time, I had the privilege of being present at the ESRB’s creation, specifically by preparing with my team the legislative proposals for setting up the ESRB, while my dear colleague Michel Barnier introduced the legislation for the European System of Financial Supervision. The legislative process was swift. The General Board of the ESRB held its inaugural meeting in the Eurotower in January 2011.

    Given the constantly evolving environment, it is necessary to review the mandate and workings of the ESRB from time to time. The Commission is now tasked – for the second time – with reporting to the European Parliament and to the Council on the review of the ESRB.

    While the ESRB will not take a formal position on its founding regulation, it believes it is important that the legislator has the opportunity to benefit from the experience of those who have been deeply involved in the work of the ESRB. For this purpose, the ESRB has set up a High Level Group to (i) identify which adjustments to the mission or framework of the ESRB might be required and to (ii) provide its insights to the EU co-legislators before the review process. I have the honour of chairing the Group.

    Let me give you an interim snapshot of the key issues in the review.

    First, as part of the High Level Group’s work we have been seeking feedback more broadly from the ESRB membership by way of a survey among the members of the Advisory Technical Committee on how the ESRB has succeeded in its core tasks over the years. We have also sought to explore whether the current operating model of the ESRB is fit for purpose and how the ESRB and its tasks should be renewed and developed as the financial system evolves.

    The feedback received from the members of the ATC has been most valuable. It indicates that the current model and mandate of the ESRB do not need a complete overhaul but rather some targeted adjustment.

    The work done by the ESRB over the years is considered especially valuable with regard to the definition of macroprudential policies and the development of a comprehensive framework for macroprudential policies in Europe, particularly in the banking sector.

    And this work has had a significant impact: the ESRB, through its determined efforts, has helped to pre-emptively identify and mitigate the build-up of systemic risks in Europe.

    Going forward, the ESRB could, in my view, play an even stronger role in the holistic analysis of systemic risks within the EU. The ESRB has a unique ability to examine cross-sectoral, cross-border and interlinked risks – and the truly systemic dimension of these risks.

    The ESRB is also in an excellent position to work with academia and international organisations. A particular advantage for the ESRB is that the European Supervisory Authorities (the EBA, ESMA and EIOPA) participate in our work and provide their own perspectives. It is crucial that their expertise will continue to support the work of the ESRB.

    Leading on from this, I would like to call for deeper collaboration at the EU level on country risk analysis. Given the macroprudential mandate of the ESRB, there is scope for capitalizing on the ESRB’s analytical work in the EU’s Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure.

    In particular, the ESRB has been developing the concept of macroprudential policy stance to analyse the way in which national authorities are using macroprudential tools to mitigate the systemic risks to which their financial sector is exposed. A deepening of EU collaboration in this field would contribute to strengthening economic stability in a particular Member State and/or the EU in its entirety.

    The feedback we received also highlighted that, in its systemic risk assessment, the ESRB should be able to incorporate a range of new emerging risks and vulnerabilities. Several members underlined the need to better understand systemic risks related to the non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). Other increasingly relevant risks include climate change, AI and cybersecurity.

    The ESRB has already engaged in risk monitoring and analysis of the non-bank sector and has identified many structural vulnerabilities that require our attention. But more work is needed to better understand the systemic risks of the non-bank sector in the same depth as those for the banks. This is important not only for financial stability, but also for ensuring a solid basis for the saving and investment union.

    Let me underline the critical importance of data – access to data, better use of data – in the analysis of non-banks. To understand the systemic risks related to NBFIs, we simply need better data to be able to identify and map the vulnerabilities and interconnections. Only once that’s done, we will be able to capitalize on more advanced methods, such as system wide stress-testing, to locate the vulnerabilities in the system.

    Our future challenges include not only the complexity of the evolving financial system, but also the increased speed of its operations. Due to digitalisation, financial operations are becoming ever faster. It will be even more important that the ESRB is able to perform risk analysis and policy evaluations in a timely manner.

    Dear Friends,

    Slide 6: Three priorities in the way we work

    Before concluding, I’d like to highlight three priorities for the way we work in the coming years that I find critical for the ESRB. We should:

    1. Enhance our analytical capacity by making better use of data and research.
    2. Bring into use new analysis methods and technologies.
    3. Focus on our core activities.

    Let me just elaborate on these a little more.

    Slide 7: Analysis based on data and research – a key priority

    1. Active development of data analytics and research-driven analysis is nothing new at the ESRB as such.

    But I firmly believe that the importance of analysis which is based on data and research cannot be overemphasized in our times, where disinformation is being used as a weapon. In today’s world, there is a great risk that genuine information will be crowded out.

    Data is the gold or oil of our digital world today – it is a valuable resource and a necessary basis for high-level analysis. Following the global financial crisis, the reporting requirements for financial operators were increased. Financial supervisors and central banks consequently also have a duty to use the new data effectively and efficiently.

    The challenge for the ESRB is that not all relevant data are readily available to it. The rules governing the ESRB’s access to data can be broadly divided into two types:

    • ex ante access, whereby the ESRB has access to data on a regular, ongoing basis, as soon as it is reported. We already benefit from quite a few datasets under this framework, which is well aligned with our mandate and tasks.
    • ex post access, through ad hoc requests, which take time to process. For some important datasets we have only ex post access. This includes granular datasets collected by the ESAs.

    While cooperation regarding data sharing between the ESAs and the ESRB has been excellent, the ex post framework has inherent limitations that hamper the ESRB’s ability to continuously monitor and mitigate risks to financial stability.

    For this reason, the ESRB sent a letter last month to European co-legislators, urging them to broaden the ESRB’s access to information from supervisors, so that the data can be shared with the ESRB by default.

    This is extremely important for the ESRB to be able to effectively fulfil its mandate in assessing the systemic risks and to promptly react in instances of projected instability.

    As the volume of data increases, we must also invest in new high-level analysis methods. Modern methods of risk assessment make use of advanced tools and technologies, such as AI and machine learning, which enable better forecasting and analysis. With these technologies, it is possible to process large amounts of data.

    Finally, to focus on our core activities has been rightly underlined both by the other High Level Group members and in the ESRB member feedback. We should, in my view too, focus on our core activities even in the midst of various crises. We cannot be experts in everything, and nor do we need to be. The added value that we bring as an organisation should focus on the area where we are the best experts: systemic level risk analysis of the financial system.

    Our added value should always come from a deep understanding of vulnerabilities and interconnections in the financial system and of the various factors that get amplified when shocks hit the system.

    Dear Friends,

    Let me now conclude.

    In the grand scheme of things, financial stability fundamentally depends on the geopolitical and macroeconomic context. The best service for EU financial stability now is to maintain European unity and firmly support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s threat.

    Furthermore, it is crucial to strengthen the structural foundations of the European economy, by focusing policy actions on productivity growth and industrial competitiveness, while retaining the European model of social inclusion.

    On its part, the European Systemic Risk Board, together with the ESAs, the SSM, the FSAs and the central banks, continues to play a strong role in safeguarding the stability of the EU financial system. Our work will focus on the evolving systemic risk and will be based on comprehensive data and research, high-quality analysis and wide-ranging cooperation between different authorities.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you towards this immensely important goal of maintaining financial stability in Europe.

    Thank you for your kind attention!

    Presentation (PDF)

    Olli Rehn ESRB financial stability speech

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: PBOC to Cut Required Reserve Ratio

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Adhering to its accommodative monetary policy stance, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is set to intensify monetary policy adjustments with higher precision, so as to foster a favorable monetary and financial environment for the stable growth and high-quality development of the Chinese economy. The PBOC decides to cut the required reserve ratio (RRR) for financial institutions by 0.5 percentage points (excluding those that are already subject to an RRR of 5 percent), which will be effective from September 27, 2024. The weighted average RRR for financial institutions will be about 6.6 percent after the cut.

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2024年09月27日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: BRICS should contribute to multi-polar world: Chinese FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The BRICS countries should contribute to the promotion of an equal and orderly multi-polar world and economic globalization that benefits all, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting of foreign ministers of BRICS countries.

    Common security must be advocated to achieve lasting peace, Wang said. No country has the right to control the global security agenda, let alone to build its own security over the insecurity of others, he added.

    Wang said the BRICS countries must give priority to development and solve development problems, focus on the urgent needs of developing countries in poverty reduction, development financing, energy and food security, and seize the opportunities of technological revolution and industrial transformation.

    The BRICS countries should practice multilateralism and improve global governance, support the full participation of the Global South countries in international economic decision-making, governance and rule-making, and enhance their voice and representation.

    On the same day, during a meeting among the Committee of Ten (C10) Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform and foreign ministers of five UN Security Council permanent members, Wang called for continuously increasing representation and voice of developing countries.

    He said it is necessary to anchor the reform path that gives priority to special arrangements for Africa.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lebanese FM condemns Israeli military actions, urges int’l intervention

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib condemned on Thursday Israel’s recent military actions along the Lebanese-Israeli border and called for urgent international intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.

    “We are facing a crisis that threatens Lebanon’s very existence. The future of our people and our prosperity is imperiled,” said Bou Habib when addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

    “This is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis before the situation spirals out of control… which will transform into a black hole that will engulf regional, international peace and security,” he said.

    Bou Habib condemned Israel’s recent military actions, accusing it of escalating the conflict. “One of the gravest challenges Lebanon currently faces is this increase in aggression. The war has expanded and spilled over into Lebanese regions. We reiterate our warning against this aggression, which will continuously intensify.”

    The foreign minister identified the unresolved issue of occupation, particularly regarding border disputes with Israel, as the root cause of Lebanon’s ongoing instability.

    “So long as the occupation persists, there will be instability and there will be war… we have striven to resolve border disputes with Israel. However, Israel has continuously eluded the issue or disregarded the matter,” he said.

    While underscoring Lebanon’s right to defend itself under international law, Bou Habib stressed that the solution to the crisis lies in diplomacy, not war.

    Bou Habib welcomed a recent declaration of the United States and France which offers a potential path to restoring calm and ensuring stability along Lebanon’s borders. He urged all parties involved to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China innovates carbon footprint assessment

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have developed a carbon footprint assessment system which spatializes a carbon footprint by integrating a geographic information system (GIS) into a full life cycle assessment (LCA). This comes as the country has advanced efforts to establish a carbon footprint management program that is both tailored to national conditions and aligned with international standards.

    Software for the GIS-LCA system was released at a seminar focusing on the construction of a carbon footprint management system. The seminar was held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences]
    Software for this GIS-LCA system was released Thursday at a seminar in Beijing that gathered representatives from relevant government departments, academia, companies and industrial associations.
    During his speech at the seminar, Xie Kechang, academician and former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressed how current international standards do not account for variations in carbon footprints of products that are the same but produced in different locations. He went on to add that this limitation does not suit China’s national conditions well. Xie offered guidance to the team who developed this new carbon footprint assessment system.
    Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team who developed this new system, also emphasized the significance of accuracy in carbon footprint calculation, stating that “an accurate and reliable carbon footprint is one of the important foundations for promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society.”

    Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team developing the GIS-LCA system, spoke during the seminar held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS]
    Both academics highlighted that the integration of GIS with LCA addresses this limitation and enhances assessment accuracy.
    According to Tian, also head of the Extended Energy Big Data and Strategy Research Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS, this carbon footprint assessment system, built on a decade’s worth of accumulated big data, can model real-world scenarios, planning the actual paths of carbon footprints while supporting visualization in the form of flow charts.
    He added that this system can be applied in a wide variety of contexts and by a diverse array of institutions, including products, services, supply chains, companies, industrial parks, industries and governments.
    With this GIS-LCA system, Yueqing city in Zhejiang province has developed China’s first carbon footprint calculation model for local industrial clusters. It has also created a carbon footprint roadmap for electrical product supply chains. On this basis, the model has identified key points and provided plans for carbon reduction.
    In addition, the city has developed the country’s first spatialized, high-resolution background dataset for the electrical industry, as well as has established a public carbon footprint service platform that integrates products, supply chains, industries, businesses, certification bodies and the government.
    “The technology that integrates geographic information with carbon footprint assessment provides an open exploration for establishing the country’s carbon footprint management system, and a good start for us to promote a science-based, standardized and internationally recognized carbon footprint management,” said Xia Yingxian, director general for the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).
    According to an action plan released in June by the MEE in collaboration with 14 other government departments, China aims to preliminarily establish a carbon footprint management program with national guidelines for calculating product carbon footprints as well as calculation rules and standards for approximately 100 key products by 2027, with the intent to expand this system to include calculation rules and standards for approximately 200 key products by 2030.
    The national guidelines GB/T24067-2024, titled Greenhouse gases—Carbon footprint of products—Requirements and guidelines for qualifications, are scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.
    Looking ahead, Tian said that he and his team look forward to developing their GIS-LCA system into an important component of China’s carbon footprint management program, and even part of international rules.
    Xia said that the MEE will collaborate with other government departments to motivate stakeholders across society to step up scientific theoretical research; establish calculation standards through pilot efforts in key regions, industries and companies; encourage collaboration in developing a national emission factor database of product carbon footprints; create diverse application scenarios; and advance international and mutual recognition of the standards.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Over 6,500 caught for organized crimes amid special summer crackdown

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese police captured 6,543 criminal suspects for organized crimes in a special crackdown during the summer, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said Friday.
    Tong Bishan, an official with the ministry, said at a press conference in Beijing that the ministry intensified its efforts to lawfully fight organized crimes that undermine people’s sense of security based on the distinctive features of the crimes that are more prevalent in summer.
    During the special summer crackdown, Chinese police investigated 564 cases concerning organized crimes, and 3,404 criminal cases had been solved, according to Tong.
    The MPS launched a nationwide summer security crackdown campaign for the third consecutive year since June 24 to further strengthen law enforcement, and better prevent, control, and manage criminal acts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi stresses consolidating unity of Chinese nation

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for consolidating and developing the unity of the Chinese nation.
    Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at a grand meeting held in Beijing to honor role models for ethnic unity and progress.
    He urged efforts to advance the building of the community for the Chinese nation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Weather service warns of light snow event

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of light snow over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal due to an expected drop in temperatures this weekend.

    This warning comes after the recent snow event of 19 – 22 September 2024, that wreaked havoc on roads between the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

    The weather service noted that this system is significantly different from the previous snow event, therefore the impacts expected are not as significant as the snow event of 19 – 22 September 2024.

    The snowfall is expected to start in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning (29 September 2024) and spread eastward towards KwaZulu-Natal by Monday morning (30 September 2024). 

    “Snowfall is expected to clear up in the Western Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape by Monday evening. Snowfall will, however, persist on Tuesday (1 October 2024) over the eastern parts of Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal,” SAWS said on Thursday.

    Weather conditions are expected to change significantly as an upper trough system associated with a ridging high-pressure system at the surface will introduce significant cooling over the escarpment regions of South Africa (extending from the Western Cape, up to the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal).

    “Daytime temperatures are expected to start cooling down over the Western Cape from Sunday, 29 September 2024, reaching the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal region by Monday, 30 September 2024.

    “A cold front with an associated upper trough arrives in the Western Cape on Saturday afternoon, 28 September 2024, resulting in showers and rain in the south-western parts of the Western Cape as well as isolated showers and thundershowers over the western and central interior of the country,” SAWS said.

    As the cold front moves eastward across the country, onshore flow along the south coast will continue to result in showers and rain persisting into the evening hours. 

    “With the cold front already resulting in cooler surface conditions, another upper trough associated with the ridging high-pressure behind the cold front will further cool down the surface temperatures on Sunday, 29 September 2024, especially along the high-lying regions of the Western Cape and into the southern parts of the Northern Cape. 

    “As the ridging high-pressure system continues to move eastwards, the temperatures are expected to drop further to very cold conditions (maximum temperatures of less than 10℃) over the escarpment of the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal into Monday, 30 September 2024. 

    “Strong to possible gale force winds as well as ocean swells between 4,0 to 6,0 m can also be expected along the south coast from Sunday into Monday morning as the ridging high-pressure moves through,” the weather service said.

    Daily rainfall accumulation is not expected to exceed 30 mm over the period of 29 September until 1 October 2024. |

    Light snowfall is likely to occur over the high-lying regions of Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape as well as southern KwaZulu-Natal. 

    “Light snowfalls can be expected over the high-lying regions of the Western Cape and places along the extreme-southern parts of the Northern Cape. Significant marine swells with heights between 4,0 to 6,0 m can be expected between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Sunday morning, spreading to Port Shepstone by Monday afternoon. 

    “Strong to possible gale-force winds can also be expected between Cape Agulhas and Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) on Sunday, spreading as far as East London by Monday morning.

    “Light snowfalls are expected to begin in the Eastern Cape and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, persisting into Tuesday morning along southern KwaZulu-Natal,” the weather service said.

    The ridging high-pressure system is ultimately expected to weaken and exit the country from Tuesday afternoon. Daytime temperatures are expected to recover quickly from Sunday into Monday across eastern South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: How to protect yourself against attempts to steal your personal or banking data?

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:

    The platform “Bank Savings Insurance Info Service” was set up jointly by the Banque de France, the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) and the Financial Markets Authority (AMF). Its “Scam Prevention” section has been reorganized to help you better detect scams and have the right reflexes when faced with new techniques used by scammers who want to trap you. Among other things, you have access to a Official Scam Prevention Guide, telling you how to protect yourself against phishing.

    Phishing is a fraudulent technique that involves tricking you into sharing your personal data (access codes, passwords, etc.) and/or your bank details with a criminal who pretends to be a trusted third party.

    To protect yourself from these scam attempts, it is particularly recommended:

    to be attentive to the level of language of the messages you receive (fraudulent messages are now often correctly written, but if you receive a message from a bank or an administration containing typos, spelling mistakes or inappropriate expressions, it is because it is not the work of the indicated establishment); to check the links present in the suspicious emails that you receive (before clicking on a possible link, place your mouse over it so that the full address of the link appears then make sure that this link is coherent and points to a legitimate site); to be wary of requests that seem strange to you (no organization has the right to ask you for your credit card code, or the access codes and passwords of your personal spaces); to use an ad-blocking software, an anti-spam filter, or to activate the warning option against phishing present on most browsers; never click directly on the ad when you see a pop-up window open while browsing the internet, even if a close button appears within the pop-up window itself. Always use the cross (X) in the corner of the window.

    If you have serious doubts about a message you have received, there is a good chance that it is not legitimate. It is then recommended not to open attachments and not to respond. You should delete the message and then empty the trash of your mailbox.

    If this is your work email account, it is recommended to forward the suspicious email to your company’s IT department and information security officer for verification. Wait for their response before deciding whether or not to delete the email.

    Namely

    If you think you have been the victim of a scam or attempted phishing scam via spam, report it to signal-spam.fr. Your report will be assigned to authorities or professionals able to take action against this spam.

    Please note

    The scam prevention guide distributed by the “Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service” platform also provides you with advice to protect yourself against:

    fake administrative sites that offer to help you, for a fee, with certain common administrative procedures (requests for driving licenses, vehicle registration documents, birth certificates, etc.); fraudulent calls for donations launched by entities or websites not authorized to carry out this activity in France; fraudulent offers of credit or savings products with particularly attractive conditions; bank check scams; online payment fraud.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI China: China opposes US missile deployment in Philippines

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday reiterated China’s firm opposition to the United States’ deployment of mid-range capability missiles in the Philippines under the pretext of military exercises.

    Responding to a media query, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, urged the U.S. side to address its erroneous actions and deliver on its earlier commitment to withdraw the mid-range capability missile system it has deployed in the Philippines as soon as possible.

    The Philippine side should not miscalculate the situation or involve itself in the U.S. agenda, as doing so will only hurt its own interests, Zhang said.

    China has abundant tools at its disposal and will take effective countermeasures according to the evolving situation, Zhang added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Abbas urges efforts to stop Israeli occupation, ‘genocide’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a long round of applause as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday, insisting that “we will not leave, Palestine is our homeland,” and “if anyone were to leave it would be the occupier.”

    He proceeded to accuse Israel of perpetrating a “full-scale war of genocide,” dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Israel didn’t kill civilians in Gaza. “I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children?” he said.

    “Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people,” Abbas said.

    Sanction and exclusion

    During his speech, Abbas called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel and also its exclusion from the United Nations following the “genocide in Gaza.”

    “We call for sanctions against Israel. Israel does not deserve to be part of this organization. I don’t know how the United States can insist on depriving us of our rights,” Abbas said, adding that Israel must be stripped of United Nations membership for failing to accept a two-state resolution to the conflict and allowing the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes. “We are going to submit an application to the UNGA on this matter,” he said.

    “We regret that the U.S. administration — the largest democracy in the world — on three occasions obstructed draft resolutions at the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire,” Abbas said, accusing the United States of encouraging Israel’s military actions by repeatedly using its veto power and supplying Israel with weapons used in the conflict.

    “This is the United States — the same country that was the only member in the Security Council that voted against granting the state of Palestine full membership in the UN,” Abbas said, expressing disbelief over what he sees as the U.S. consistent opposition to Palestinian statehood and rights.

    He also touched upon the situation with settlers in the West Bank, specifying that 600,000 settlers currently live there. “We want ICJ (the International Court of Justice) ruling on Israel to be implemented,” he noted.

    Crime and genocide

    Highlighting that Palestinians have endured nearly a year of what he described as one of the most heinous crimes of the time, the leader said that “it is the crime of a full-scale war of genocide that Israel is perpetrating. A crime that has killed more than 40,000 martyrs in Gaza alone, and thousands remain under the rubble. A crime that has injured more than 100,000 to this day.”

    He pointed out that whole Palestinian families have been annihilated, their family names completely erased, stressing that amid the onslaught, diseases are spreading, clean water and vital medicines are in scarce supply, and over two million Palestinians have been displaced, many forced to flee multiple times in search of safety. The deaths and injuries continue unabated, not only in Gaza but in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

    Abbas underscored that he was not speaking today “to respond to the lies” of the Israeli prime minister, who claimed before the U.S. Congress in July that Israeli forces did not kill innocent civilians in Gaza.

    “I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children of the 40,000 and an equal number of women and elderly persons. And who is it then that is continuing to kill them, I ask you?” he said.

    “Palestine will be free, despite anyone who objects. Our people will live in the land of their fathers and grandfathers … The occupation will end,” concluded Abbas.

    Strike and ceasefire

    Right after Abbas, Gambian President Adama Barrow addressed the UNGA that “the Israeli occupation, expansion of settlements, blockade of Gaza, and restrictions in the West Bank, together with the threat of intensifying the war to a regional conflict, continue to worsen the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.”

    “Accordingly, I call on the United Nations, the international community, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States to join forces and urgently bring about permanent peace in Palestine,” he said, adding that “we call on the international community to prioritize support for the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza and the improvement of economic conditions in the West Bank. Even though the situation in that region is extremely serious, the intense destruction of lives and property continues.”

    In the meantime, Netanyahu instructed his military to keep fighting “with full force” on Thursday, as high-stakes international diplomatic efforts were underway to pause the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

    Netanyahu is heading to New York for the UNGA, as members of his government dismissed a ceasefire proposal that the United States, European allies and several Arab nations put forward. Israel’s military carried out new strikes in Lebanon, including one in Beirut, the capital, that targeted the commander of Hezbollah’s drone unit.

    The UNGA adopted a resolution on May 10 supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member and recommending that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.” The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution.

    The resolution states, “The State of Palestine … should therefore be admitted to membership” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia’s nuclear doctrine changes ‘signal’ Western states

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    File photo taken on Dec. 19, 2019 shows Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference in Moscow, Russia. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Any potential changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine will serve as a warning to Western countries, local media reported Thursday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

    During a Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression.

    “This is a signal that serves as a warning to these countries about the consequences of engaging in an attack on our country through various means, not necessarily nuclear,” Peskov said.

    Peskov added that Russia’s nuclear deterrence policies are currently being adjusted to reflect the increasing tensions along the country’s borders.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University took part in the large-scale forum “Microelectronics 2024”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The forum “Microelectronics” was held for the tenth time on the federal territory “Sirius”. A key information event in the world of electronic technologies. During its existence, this platform has become one of the most important events of the professional community, thanks to business and scientific programs. The plenary session of the forum was attended by the director of the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity of SPbPU Dmitry Zegzhda.

    Welcoming the forum participants, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted: The electronics industry is one of the key, strategic sectors of the modern economy. The defense capability and security of our country, its industrial and scientific potential, the state of infrastructure, the financial sector, and the quality of life of citizens largely depend on its development.

    At the plenary session dedicated to trusted software and hardware complexes and ECB for critical information infrastructure facilities, information security issues were also discussed. The report “Promising methods of research and assessment of cyber resilience of trusted hardware and software systems for critical information infrastructure facilities” was presented by the director of the SPbPU ISC Dmitry Zegzhda.

    Dmitry Petrovich outlined the paradigm according to which, in his opinion, cyber-resilience of microelectronics should develop: The requirements of trust [there] are more stringent than the requirements of reliability; microelectronics should not only function without failures and be resistant to cyber-influences, but, most importantly, its reaction to external signals should be predictable.

    The key goal of the Microelectronics forum is a comprehensive solution to current issues of development, production and application of domestic electronic component base and highly integrated electronic modules, as well as promoting the development of domestic microelectronics.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/science_and_innovations/polytech-became-participant-of-the-large-scale-forum-microelectronics-2024/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We invite you to the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The State University of Management invites you to take part in the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”, which will be held on November 29-30, 2024 at the State University of Management.

    The aim of the conference is to discuss the impact of marketing on economic growth in the context of destabilization of political, market and social processes.

    The topics of the plenary discussion cover the main areas:

    — The role of Russian marketing in overcoming the negative impact of economic sanctions; — Marketing technologies for developing vacant market niches; — Successes and problems of using digital technologies to accelerate sales; — Reasons for the slow development of B2B marketing; — Acceleration of the implementation of high-tech solutions to achieve import independence based on marketing models, technologies and tools; — New industries and areas of activity for marketers.

    The conference will include the following sections:

    Section 1. Marketing in Greater Eurasia: experience and trends; Section 2. Marketing of innovative products: conquering market niches; Section 3. Development of industrial marketing; Section 4. New digital marketing solutions; Section 5. Loyalty and gamification in marketing; Section 6. Personalization in marketing: finding relevant buyers; Section 7. Marketing technologies in retail and marketplaces; Section 8. Design and capitalization of sustainable brands; Section 9. Development of advertising and PR technologies.

    Conference format: mixed. Participation in the conference is free. To participate in the conference, you must register before October 15, 2024.

    The conference articles will be published in a collection and submitted to the Russian Science Citation Index. The best articles will be published in a monograph by decision of the organizing committee. Details and particulars in the information letter.

    All additional information can be found in the information letter or on the official website of the conference.

    II EURASIAN MARKETING CONFERENCE

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 09/27/2024

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    We invite you to the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – August 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    27 September 2024

    Compared with July 2024:

    • median consumer inflation perceptions over the previous 12 months and consumer inflation expectations for the next 12 months both declined, as did median inflation expectations for three years ahead;
    • expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months increased, while expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months remained unchanged;
    • expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months became less negative, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time decreased;
    • expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months increased slightly, while expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead remained unchanged.

    Inflation

    The median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months declined further in August to 3.9%, from 4.1% in July. Perceptions of past inflation have thus declined by 4.5 percentage points since their peak of 8.4% in September 2023. Meanwhile, inflation expectations at the one-year and three-year horizons remained below the perceived past inflation rate. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months edged down to 2.7%, from 2.8% previously, and stood at their lowest level since September 2021. Median expectations for inflation three years ahead edged down by 0.1 percentage points in August to 2.3%, back to their June level. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged at its lowest level since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, expectations for lower income quintiles were slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70). (Inflation results)

    Income and consumption

    Consumer nominal income growth expectations increased to 1.2%, from 1.1% in June. The increase in income expectations was mainly driven by the lowest two quintiles. Perceptions of nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months decreased further to 5.2%, from 5.4% in July and 5.8% in June. The latest datapoint continues a sustained decline which started in March 2023. Expectations for nominal spending growth over the next 12 months remained stable at 3.2%. Nominal spending expectations are at their lowest level since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. (Income and consumption results)

    Economic growth and labour market

    Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months became less negative, standing at -0.9%, compared with -1.0% in July. Meanwhile, expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead decreased to 10.4%, from 10.6% in July, their lowest level since the start of the series. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (10.0%), implying a broadly stable labour market. The lowest income quintile continued to report the highest expected and perceived unemployment rate, as well as the lowest economic growth expectations. (Economic growth and labour market results)

    Housing and credit access

    In August consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 2.7% over the next 12 months, which was slightly higher than in July (2.6%). Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.2% and 2.5% respectively). Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead remained stable at 4.8%. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.5%). The net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months increased marginally, as did the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months. Nevertheless, both indicators remained close to levels last seen in the second quarter of 2022. (Housing and credit access results)

    The release of the CES results for September is scheduled for 25 October 2024.

    For media queries, please contact: Eszter Miltényi-Torstensson, Tel: +49 171 769 5305

    Notes

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Ara Institute of Canterbury front and centre of Master Joiners conference

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    Master Joiners Conference attendees have been welcomed onto Ara Institute of Canterbury’s trades campus in Woolston to see first-hand where the experts of the future get their start.
    More than 300 delegates have signed up for the three-day conference in Christchurch which started on Thursday and will end with the presentation of industry awards at a Saturday gala.
    The Ara campus tour, led by coordinator and tutor for Ara’s joinery managed apprenticeships, Darren Evans, provided a chance for conference-goers to see Ara’s facilities, speak to tutors and hear updates on Ara programmes.
    “Our offerings are unique. We like to individualise our training, and the apprentice-managed programme concentrates on giving the apprentice a wider range of skills to use in their career,” Evans said.
    Ara currently offers a Level 3 Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Carpentry and Joinery) and the New Zealand Certificate in Joinery (Apprenticeship) at Level 4. The apprenticeship programme is offered in four specialisations including cabinetry, timber doors and windows, timber stairs, and laminate fabrication.
    Joinery will also be part of a newcomer to Ara’s trades offerings for 2025. The Trades Primer is a free course providing students with a taste of a variety of specialties over a half-year of study.
    Designed to help prospective trades students to make informed decisions about their next step, it will cover machining, fabrication, welding, automotive, autobody, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, electrical, plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying.
    As well as the tour, Ara will have a strong presence throughout the Master Joiners Conference with Darren Evans speaking about training options with a focus on training for female apprentices. Alongside him, current Ara apprentice Arna Ward will be speaking at a Women in Trades sponsored event.
    Evans describes Ward as “one of the best to have come through the programme”, with three awards under her belt including winning apprentice of year twice.
    Ara managed apprentices have also seen success at the recent Canterbury Master Joiners Regional awards. John Williams of Sydenham Joinery won first place and Michael Chambers of Alsop Joinery took second place. Both are in their fourth year of apprentice training.
    More awards are up for grabs as part of this weekend’s conference. Ara has sponsored three national categories with five awards to be handed out at the Saturday night gala event including Highest Judged for Workmanship and Skill, Best Timber Project and Best Fitment.
    Darren Evans said it was great for Ara to be so keenly involved in the conference.
    “Today was a chance to show off our workshops at Ara to the rest of the joinery community. This is the first national conference held in Canterbury since before the earthquakes. It was a great opportunity for us to also hear from employers who were giving plenty of encouraging feedback,” he said.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Devastating cuts to Whaakata Māori and Māori Teacher Training funding – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The Government’s decision to cut funding to Māori Television – Whakaata Māori – and Māori Teacher Training is another devastating attack on Māori, says PSA Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho.
    “This is yet another breach of Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which protects our taonga tuku iho, including the language and cultural heritage of Māori,” Panoho says.
    “This attack on indigenous broadcasting is an affront to our people, and part of an ongoing attack on Māori. We must oppose this government’s agenda to exploit race as a political tool to undermine Te Reo Māori and eliminate Māori news and programmes.
    “It is a fact that Māori tamariki and rangatahi thrive in Kaupapa Māori education environments fare better than in mainstream schooling. We need more Māori teachers to inspire our young ones and to reinforce the importance and future of learning Te Reo Māori.
    “The recent remarks made by Education Minister Erica Stanford, where she claimed that maths achievement take priority over the revitalization of Te Reo Māori, are typical of this government’s disregard for our culture. These comments ignore the reality that both academic and cultural success go hand in hand for Māori students.
    “The loss of $30 million to fund Māori Teachers training and $10.3 million in time-locked funding, provided by the previous government, will have serious consequences for the future of Māori broadcasting and education.
    “Despite the pleas in Parliament yesterday by former Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson, who urged the government to invest in Whakaata Māori, there has been no indication that this coalition government intends to step in and provide the necessary support.
    “This is a direct attack on the future of Te Reo Māori and the Māori voice in media. Māori will not stand by while our language and our identity are diminished. The Government must be held accountable for their actions and their disregard for the commitments of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Panoho says.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 96,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lo Chung-mau concludes Beijing visit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau and a delegation called on the State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in Beijing today.
     
    At the delegation’s meeting with State Council HKMAO Executive Deputy Director Zhou Ji this morning, Prof Lo introduced to Mr Zhou the latest developments of various healthcare reform initiatives in Hong Kong, including the initial achievements in the area of health and medical innovation.
     
    Prof Lo pointed out that the 20th CPC Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session adopted the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, adding that deepening the medical and health system reform was identified as one of the key tasks.
     
    He stressed that it is essential for Hong Kong to press ahead with reform and innovation in the healthcare system to cater for the mounting service demand of society posed by an ageing population.
     
    “The Health Bureau will stay committed to implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and reform the healthcare system in a progressive manner.”
     
    At the same time, Prof Lo made it clear that the bureau will give full play to Hong Kong’s medical strengths and complement the advantages of other cities in the Greater Bay Area to vigorously develop new quality productive forces in biomedicine according to local conditions.
     
    The ultimate aim, he noted, is to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
     
    Additionally, he emphasised that the bureau will also make breakthroughs and changes through an innovative mindset, so as to build a “Healthy Hong Kong” for integration into the nation’s “Healthy China” strategy.
     
    Prof Lo and the delegation then met NMPA Deputy Commissioner Zhao Junning to exchange views on fostering closer collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong in key areas such as the regulatory and approval of drugs and medical devices, cross-boundary clinical trials, and real-world data research.
     
    The health secretary highlighted the efforts to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and establish an authority that registers drugs and medical devices under the primary evaluation approach in the long run.
     
    The delegation will return to Hong Kong tonight.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Minister of Health urged to follow Disability Minister’s lead

    Source: Aged Care Association

    The Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Louise Upston, has confirmed that there will be no funding increase for disabled adults in aged care, but has asked the Aged Care Association to be involved in a solution for the sector.
    Over 1,000 people with disabilities live in aged residential care facilities. The funding freeze announced recently by the Minister poses challenges for those people and the providers who care for them.
    We expect our members will be seriously considering whether they can continue providing care for adults with disabilities. Aged residential care facilities are already on a knife edge, and this funding freeze makes a difficult environment even worse.
    The more positive news is that Minister Upston has moved swiftly to address our concerns by establishing an internal taskforce to review disability support service funding models and the commitment to developing an engagement program where we will have the opportunity to participate. The ACA is ready to collaborate with the Taskforce to ensure that the voices of our members are heard in this important process.
    We strongly urge the Minister of Health to take similar steps, by establishing a Ministerial Taskforce to work alongside us in addressing broader challenges in the aged care sector. Collaborative solutions are essential for creating a sustainable aged care system that can effectively meet the needs of our communities.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigating fatal Bowen Bridge crash

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigating fatal Bowen Bridge crash

    Friday, 27 September 2024 – 6:00 pm.

    Sadly, two people have died following a multiple vehicle crash on the Bowen Bridge near Risdon this afternoon.Inspector Jason Klug said police and emergency services were called to the scene about 3.40pm, following reports of a crash involving a truck and three other vehicles.“Initial inquiries indicate the truck driver was travelling east on the bridge in a Hino heavy vehicle, when it collided with a silver Holden Barina travelling in front,” he said.“The Barina then collided with two other vehicles, a red Holden Commodore and a blue Honda HRV, also heading east.”“Two occupants of the Barina, a man and a woman both in their 80s, sadly died.”“The woman driving the Barina, who was the third occupant of the car, was taken to hospital, and her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.”“A woman and two children in the Commodore, and a woman who was the sole occupant of the HRV were also not seriously injured.”“The truck driver was not physically injured in the crash.”“As is usual process for a crash of this nature, all drivers are undergoing mandatory testing.”“The circumstances leading up to the crash are being investigated by police and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.”“Anyone with information or relevant dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444.”“Our thoughts are with everyone involved.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan’s next prime minister. What should we expect?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Maslow, Associate professor, University of Tokyo

    In a vote to replace Fumio Kishia as head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), party members have elected Shigeru Ishiba as their new leader. Given the LDP’s majority in parliament, the party leader will become prime minister by default.

    Ishiba, aged 67, joined the parliament in 1986 and held key cabinet posts throughout his career, including director of then Defence Agency (now Ministry of Defence).

    Amid growing public opposition to the LDP, in 1993 he left the party, only to return four years later. The move cost him the trust of many of his LDP colleagues, many of whom still consider him a traitor.

    Ishiba has run five times for the LDP’s top position and frequently opposed former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s policies. Though unpopular among the LDP’s top members, Ishiba has nourished broad support among the LDP’s base. In today’s race, he won over Sanae Takaichi, a close ally of Abe and the face of the LDP’s revisionist brand of conservatism.

    Ishiba, who has his constituency in rural Tottori, has pledged to revitalise economic growth through supporting local regions. A defence expert, he is an outspoken advocate of stronger security relations with the United States and a more robust military.

    What does this tell us about Japanese politics?

    The election was one of the most contentious in recent political history and came after Kishida announced he would not seek re-election as LDP leader when his three-year term ends this month.

    Kishida’s tenure as prime minister has been marred by political scandals, leading to a sharp decline in public support for the cabinet.

    In particular, the revelation of the LDP’s links to the Unification Church following the assassination of Abe in 2022 and recent reports of LDP slush funds have undermined voter confidence in the party.

    In an effort to restore public confidence, Kishida promoted the dissolution of the LDP’s factions, which had served as the party’s main internal mechanisms for mobilising support and financial resources and allocating government portfolios since its founding in 1955.

    At the same time, the factions were seen as the main source of the LDP’s scandals.

    In a logic of “numbers are power”, the factions mobilised internal support for either their own leader or the faction’s ally to become prime minister.

    By challenging the LDP’s old power structures, Kishida’s re-election prospects diminished. However, with the disappearance of most of the LDP’s factions, internal power politics has become competitive.

    As a result, an unprecedented nine candidates vied for the party’s leadership.

    Will politics change much?

    The LDP’s constitution stipulates that in the first round of voting, the votes of each of the 368 members of parliament are added to the 368 votes allocated proportionally to rank-and-file members.

    The top two candidates then go through to a second round, where the 368 National Diet members cast their votes, while each of the 47 prefectural branches gets one vote.

    This means candidates who are popular with the LDP’s base have a good chance of surviving the first round, while only those who are popular with the party’s Diet members will ultimately win the race.

    The exception to this pattern is when the party’s national elite is so unpopular that its Diet members make a strategic move to support a locally popular candidate in an appeal to the public to reform the LDP and thus avoid punishment at the polls.

    This was the case when Junichiro Koizumi was elected LDP leader in 2001 after campaigning against his own party, which was embroiled in a series of scandals, while securing the support of the grassroots.

    With a runoff between the top two contenders seen as the most likely scenario early on, the candidates have been courting the support of the LDP’s old guard and faction leaders, hoping for their influence in mobilising the votes of LDP Diet members.

    Ishiba has remained highly unpopular among LDP Diet members. LDP Vice-President Taro Aso and others have pledged to support his rival Sanae Takaichi.

    Takakichi herself has promised not to further investigate the party’s slush funds or to punish members linked to them. While Ishiba has been critical of the LDP’s initial response, he has remained silent on the issue during his campaign in order to avoid further alienating the party’s Diet members.

    The LDP’s internal politics have come under intense public scrutiny. With the LDP’s internal power structures destabilised, fears of a return to revolving-door governments have resurfaced. The party operates in crisis mode.

    Selecting Ishiba has increased its chances to compete in the next general election and thus keep the LDP in power. How Ishiba can secure enough support from within the LDP to implement his policies while responding to the public’s expectations to hold the party accountable for its past scandals, however, remains to been.

    If he fails to deliver on the latter, his tenure may be short-lived too.

    What happens now?

    The Diet will convene on Tuesday and LDP members will elect Ishiba as the new prime minister, who will then announce her new cabinet and LDP leadership.

    If the past serves as lesson, Ishiba will dissolve the lower house soon after the supplementary budget is passed. This would set Japan on track for general elections later this year.

    Faced with a fragmented opposition, it remains to be seen whether his policies alone will be enough to secure public support. A critique of “Abenomics” (Shinzo Abe’s economic approach), Ishiba is considered being in favour of fiscal discipline.

    Meanwhile, he has also called for more public works spending to reduce Japan’s growing inequality while revitalising the depopulated regions.

    Ishiba has also been critical about Kishida’s return to nuclear power, calling for more investment in regenerative energy.

    In addition, he has expressed support for legalising same-sex marriage and separate surnames – though broadly supported by the public, both issues are controversial among the LDP’s conservative base.

    Promoting a more active and equal role of Japan in its alliance with the US, Ishiba most recently advocated for expanding security cooperation to an Asian version of NATO. Moreover, he has called for more diplomatic efforts to engage China and Russia instead of relying on military pressure.

    At the same time he has repeatedly called for a robust military posture to counter China’s rise and North Korea’s military actions.

    What Ishiba means for relations with South Korea – a key legacy of Kishida – or for handling a potential Donald Trump White House, however, remains to be seen. His pledge for a more active Japan certainly resonates well with Trump.

    What is clear is that the LDP, operating in crisis mode, has voted for a leader who is willing to change the party and to restore the public’s trust in government.

    Sebastian Maslow 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. Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan’s next prime minister. What should we expect? – https://theconversation.com/shigeru-ishiba-will-be-japans-next-prime-minister-what-should-we-expect-239314

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Public servants applauded for transforming public service

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi has applauded all those who have played and continue to play a vital role in transforming the public service which is a responsibility that most bear with utmost seriousness.

    “The history of our public service has been shaped by the very people who dared to envision a future where public administration serves as a catalyst for positive change and a beacon of hope for every citizen,” Buthelezi said.

    Addressing the Annual Conference of the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) 23rd gala dinner held in Johannesburg on Thursday, Buthelezi said as the country marks 30 years of democracy, the country reflects on the giants who laid the foundation of service, such as the father of democracy President Nelson Mandela and the Statesman Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

    “It is unarguable that their legacy challenges us to build a capable, ethical and professional public service. It does not matter the many difficult and different challenges we face. It remains our duty to restore trust and uphold their values of integrity,” Buthelezi said.

    Buthelezi said it is this vision that has inspired countless leaders to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that service delivery is not just a function but a manifestation of the principles of fairness, justice and inclusivity.   

    “While we continue cutting a cloth woven in the fabric of such rich and great legacies and trying to navigate the landscape of the 7th Administration, we also find ourselves at a crossroads – where values and legacies of the past must guide us in crafting a future that reflects our highest aspirations.

    “The 7th Administration which is the Government of National Unity (GNU) has placed at its core the principles of accountability, transparency and inclusive governance. These are the very ideals that our predecessors embodied – and it is upon this very same foundation that we must build,” Buthelezi said.

    Buthelezi said the demands of the 21st century call for a public service that is agile, skilled and grounded in the principles of Batho Pele – which is putting people first.

    “We must be unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every decision we make and every action we take – reflects the values that our predecessors strongly championed.

    “It is upon each of us, especially the current generation of public servants to draw inspiration from their courage and wisdom as we strive to create a government that truly works for its people,” the minister said.

    Buthelezi said the relationship between the public service, public servants and SAAPAM, in addition to being concerned with how things are and work right now, must also be about innovation and creating new and better forms of delivery of public goods and basic services.

    “For this to work, we also must explore the idea of expanded peer review mechanisms for academia, to include the intended beneficiary of the knowledge produced by SAAPAM academics. 

    “This means that as scholars, it is important to make the knowledge you produce to be accessible, relevant and responsive to the needs of South Africans,” the minister said.

    The SAAPAM mission is to encourage and promote good governance and effective service delivery through the advancement of professionalism, scholarship and practice in public administration and management.

    SAAPAM consists of a National Board and Provincial Chapters. The National Board is elected every two years from among the SAAPAM membership. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International film curator and champion of African cinema Keith Shiri appointed Lead Curator to Film Africa 2024 – now open for submissions

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LONDON, United Kingdom, September 27, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Keith Shiri

    The Royal African Society is honoured that Keith will lead Film Africa’s curation, bringing his extraordinarily rich and wide experience in international curation and film festivals, as well as a record of championing African cinema and its profile in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

    As well as being the founder and director of Africa at the Pictures, a London-based festival of African cinema, Keith is a programme adviser to the London Film Festival and a founder member and current chair of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, and has advised the curation of international film festivals including the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou and the Tampere Film Festival. He is also the Regional Secretary (Europe) for the Federation of African Filmmakers (FEPACI), and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (CREAM) at the University of Westminster.

    Keith sits on the advisory board of New York’s Focus Features Africa First Programmed, which has long supported young African filmmakers through its mentorship programme.

    In keeping with the Royal African Society and Film Africa’s ethos of expanding access to, and inclusion within, African culture and perspectives, the festival’s programme and emphases will reflect input from and be enriched by a diverse range of curators, filmmakers, and critics, to reflect the complexity and nuances of different African and diasporic voices.

    Keith Shiri said: “I am excited to join Film Africa as a curator. African artistry – especially in cinema – is experiencing a period of unparalleled invention and experimentation, and Film Africa provides the ideal forum in which to share these cultural treasures with audiences from the continent, as well as Britain’s various diaspora communities and the wider British public. I look forward to working to assemble a bench of films and speakers to progress our collective conversation about African film – as well as African cultural trends and the perspectives of those whose continent will, this century, emerge as the world’s most important and populous.”

    Film Africa 2024

    Film Africa, London’s unrivalled celebration of African and African diaspora cinema presented by the Royal African Society, is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Shiri – a titan of African cinema and visual culture – as the Festival’s Lead Curator. In 2024, Film Africa will take place from Friday 25 October until Sunday November 3 continuing its mission of highlighting African and African diaspora filmmaking. The Festival is now open to submissions from African and African diasporic filmmakers.

    All entries will be considered for inclusion in the Festival and prizes will be awarded to two entries: The Baobab Award for best short film and the Film Africa Audience Award for best feature-length entry. Both awards have a £1000 cash prize.

    In 2022, the 10th edition of Film Africa spanned over 10 days from 28 October – 6 November. The festival hosted screenings at 7 venues across London – Picturehouse Central, BFI Southbank, Rich Mix, The Ritzy, Bertha DocHouse, South London Gallery and The Africa Centre – as well as featuring a selection of 7 narrative and documentary films on the BFI Player. Film Africa 2022 presented an eclectic hybrid programme of 47 films from 16 countries (including 22 World, European or UK premieres).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government warns of anticipated drop in temperatures with possible snowfall

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Acting Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has urged South Africans to exercise caution in light of the South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) alert regarding expected drops in temperature and possible snowfall. 

    This comes after parts of the country were hit by heavy snowfall, affecting Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape over the past weekend.

    Heavy snowfall caused havoc on the N3 toll route and other regional roads, stranding scores of motorists, including truck drivers and bus commuters and causing loss of life. 

    Meanwhile, according to the SAWS, light snow can be expected over the Drakensberg this weekend.

    The forecasters said weather conditions are expected to change significantly with predictions of cooling over the escarpment regions of South Africa, extending from the Western Cape up to the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

    Indicators also show that daytime temperatures are likely to start cooling down over the Western Cape from Sunday, 29 September 2024, reaching the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal region by Monday, 30 September 2024. 

    In a statement released by the SAWS, the expected snowfall will follow a similar trend, starting in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning, 29 September 2024 and spreading eastward towards KwaZulu-Natal Monday morning, 30 September 2024. 

    “Snowfall is expected to clear up in the Western Cape and western parts of the Eastern Cape by Monday evening.”

    However, snowfall will persist on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, over the eastern parts of Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal.

    According to the department, the cold front will also bring rain and showers to the Western Cape and surrounding areas.

    “Temperatures are set to drop significantly, particularly in higher regions, with some areas experiencing highs below 10°C on Monday. 

    “Strong winds and large ocean swells are anticipated along the South Coast. Rainfall is expected to be around 30 mm from September 29 to October 1, with light snowfall in high areas of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and southern KwaZulu-Natal.” 

    The Acting CoGTA Minister has since reiterated the SAWS’ precautions for citizens to listen to warnings on the radio or television, stay indoors, dress warmly if going outside, and cover their mouths in extreme cold to protect their lungs.

    Kubayi also suggested that people avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and smoking, as this increases the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. 

    She also urged residents and farmers to keep small livestock sheltered from the cold. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Science in Faces” in Novosibirsk: Heroes Among Us

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On October 1, the Novosibirsk State University will open the exhibition “Science in Faces” – a gallery of portraits of outstanding Russian scientists, engineers, authors of innovative developments, and laureates of the Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists.

    In 2024, the heroine of the Science in Faces project was a graduate Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU, head of the gene immunotherapy group at the M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Irina Alekseenko is the developer of a non-viral gene therapy drug for the treatment of cancer.

    The drug for the treatment of solid tumors, developed by Irina Alekseenko’s team, was the first in Russia to receive permission to conduct a clinical trial. The first phase of the study involved patients for whom traditional treatment methods had been exhausted, with a number of patients showing positive dynamics and stabilization of the disease, and none of the patients had serious adverse events associated with the drug.

    Irina Alekseenko will talk about the development and research during the events scientific and production forum of NSU “Golden Valley”, which will take place October 31-November 1. She will be a speaker in the section “Medicine and Pharmaceutical Industry” and will also hold a meeting with university students.

    Among the heroes of the exhibition are also young Novosibirsk scientists: Ekaterina Grizanova, PhD in Biology, leading research fellow at the Novosibirsk State Agrarian University; Sergey Pavlushin, PhD in Biology, senior research fellow at the Laboratory of Ecological Physiology at the Institute of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who have been awarded the Russian Presidential Prize in different years; and Sergey Adonin, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, leading research fellow at the A.V. Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    The exhibition “Science in Faces” will be available for visiting in the educational building (1 Pirogova St.), in the lobby of the second floor until November 1. The exposition will include portraits of participants in all three seasons of the project – authors of innovative developments and scientific achievements in the field of medicine and biotechnology, IT technologies, transport, metallurgy, space industry, mining and petrochemistry, agriculture, nuclear industry and others. In particular, the heroes of the third season were the authors of a bioprinter for “growing” tissues from cellular material, units of spacecraft of the federal project “SPHERE”, domestic AURUS cars, the Russian neural network Kandinsky, catalysts for petrochemistry and other developments.

    In the fall of 2024, the Science in Faces exhibition will be presented at the sites of the largest Russian universities in the country’s regions, and in a number of universities, the project’s heroes will give live lectures and talk about their scientific achievements, the development of Russian science, and career prospects for young scientists in various fields.

    Portraits of key representatives of Russian science and technology sector can be seen in universities of Novosibirsk, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Vladivostok, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Tyumen, Ufa, Samara, Berdyansk. In November, the exhibition will be presented at the IV Congress of Young Scientists on the federal territory “Sirius”.

    The exhibition “Science in Faces” is part of the “Science Nearby” initiative of the Decade of Science and Technology, declared by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. The exhibition is held with the grant support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and with the support of the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education. The project partner is SIBUR.

    Information about the project heroes is available on the Decade of Science and Technology website:https://science.rf.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/atmosphere/science-in-faces-in-Novosibirsk-heroes-among-us/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kindness is simple! The seventh inter-university “School of Volunteers” has opened

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Every autumn the team

    The welcoming speech was given by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations Oleg Polischuk, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov, Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina and Director of the Harmony Center Tatyana Nam.

    “School of Volunteers-2024” united active students into a single community of like-minded people. From September 18 to 20, there was an intensive course with thematic days “Kindness. Opportunities”, “Kindness. Skills” and “Kindness. Directions”.

    The first day was devoted to the skills that a volunteer develops. Leadership, team building, communication, self-control and time management — these skills help in life, creativity and work. Maria Kukushkina, head of the educational and project art laboratory “ArtPoliLab”, showed how a team is formed through joint games, dances and creative tasks.

    The meeting continued with a mini-lecture on social design from Maxim Smirnov, Deputy Director of the Dobro.Center “Harmony” of the Polytechnic University. Maxim told how to turn your dream into a goal and create your own social project, assemble a team for it and effectively organize work using agile methods.

    The evening ended with a presentation on time management from copywriter and fundraiser of the Dobro.Center “Harmony”, student of the Humanitarian Institute Vasilisa Sallinen. The speaker introduced the participants to the functionality of the WEEEK task manager and talked about how to effectively manage your time.

    The second day was called “Dobro.Napravleniya” and was dedicated to those areas of volunteering that are actively developing at the Polytechnic University. On this day, participants learned about creative, event and zoo volunteering, as well as volunteering in the emergency sector.

    First, there was a presentation on cultural and creative volunteering from the curator of the PoliNova author’s club, first-year student Maria Guner. She introduced future volunteers to creative master classes, charity exhibitions, auctions and concerts of the Dobro.Center. After that, the guys painted two canvases with oil paints together, which they will then finish together with a member of the Union of Artists of Russia Alexander Dudorov and send to an exhibition in hospitals as part of the mutual aid campaign

    From year to year, we try to make the “Volunteer School” more useful and interesting. This year, the idea was for the participants not only to learn something new about volunteering and practice different functions, but also to help in the “here and now” format. The guys painted pictures for exhibitions in hospitals, sewed soft toys, prepared publications, took photographs. So already at this stage they can feel how their deeds bring good, – noted Maxim Smirnov.

    The second speaker was Maxim Degterev, team leader of the volunteer event direction. He spoke about the most striking and large-scale events. And then he explained how to build relationships in a team and determine the most suitable place for yourself in the team.

    At the end of the second day, the participants were treated to two lectures and presentations on animal volunteering and volunteering in emergency situations. From the curator of the animal volunteer direction, Angelina Zinchenko, the participants learned how to help animals and how this is implemented in the Dobro.Center of the Polytechnic University. First aid instructors Tatyana Plekhanova and Violetta Lee spoke about volunteering in emergency situations. After the presentation, the girls held a master class.

    On the third day, the children had a lecture on social volunteering from the curator of the direction, Anna Pushchina. They learned how and what they can help, and also got acquainted with the basic rules of working in social homes. Anna and the activists held a master class on creating felt hearts for a basket of goodness. All of them will go to social institutions.

    Anastasia Savina, specialist of the Laboratory of Applied Psychology of the Humanitarian Institute, curator of the school of self-development

    Maxim Smirnov and the curator of the media volunteer direction Anastasia Kalinina told about the direction of volunteering hidden from the eyes of most – media volunteering. Then Maxim and Anastasia held a master class on creating texts and posters for social networks.

    A student of the Humanitarian Institute, Elizaveta Kruppa, shared her experience. She went from being a media volunteer at Dobro.Center to an experienced communications specialist. She is the organizer of the international communications award Proba Awards 2023.

    When I started doing media volunteering, I didn’t even suspect that it would become such an important step in my career. Media volunteering helped me develop professional skills and build communications with people more easily. Now I am a successful communications professional, and it all started with that small step I took as a volunteer. Thank you to everyone who supported me on this path and helped me grow! — shared her experience media volunteer and student of the Humanitarian Institute Elizaveta Kruppa.

    Then the kids had a fascinating lecture from the team leaders of the Dobro.Center “Harmony” Anastasia Shkolyanok and Maxim Degterev about the possibilities of volunteering. Forums, scholarships, training, travel – these are only some of the opportunities that the kids talked about.

    At the final of the Volunteer School, Tatyana Nam, Director of the Dobro.Center “Harmony” of SPbPU, gave a presentation and presented to the students her original project “Ecosystem of Volunteering at the University” with 15 areas of volunteering. She shared her experience of various social projects and told how important it is to do good, and not to cause it.

    Participants of the inter-university volunteer school were awarded certificates and gifts from our partners – the museum “In Silence” and the quest room “Vzaperti”.

    It was an unforgettable experience! We met the team of the Polytechnic University Dobro.Center, learned about their activities and the skills that we can develop through volunteering. The realization that by helping others we improve ourselves is very inspiring and motivating! We managed to learn that volunteering not only brings benefits, but also opens doors to new opportunities – it’s amazing! Travel, training, scholarships – all this makes volunteer work even more attractive. I realized that this is not just an activity, but a whole life perspective! – said a student of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade Diana Zaydullina.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/good-it-just-opened-the-seventh-interuniversity-school-of-volunteers/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ​’Transformers’ producer goes back to the source for new film

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    After years of producing live-action blockbusters, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer of the Transformers franchise, has delved back into the Cybertron mythology’s history for an animated prequel, which premiered at the Transformers Metrobase in Universal Beijing Resort on Sept. 24 and is set for a nationwide release in China on Sept. 27. 

    A still from “Transformers One.” [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

    “I wanted to make this story because the core mythology of it is so strong,” said di Bonaventura when discussing the idea behind the new animated blockbuster “Transformers One.”

    “Transformers One” tells the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, revealing how two worker bots’ relationship changed over time and impacted the fate of Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers.  

    This animated prequel’s own creation story started back in 2015. At the time, Paramount Pictures assigned Akiva Goldsman the task of collaborating with the film franchise’s director Michael Bay, executive producer Steven Spielberg and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to establish a writers’ room aimed at generating ideas for future Transformers films. One of the concepts that emerged from this brainstorming session was titled “Transformers One,” envisioned as an animation that would explore the initial Autobot-Decepticon conflict on Cybertron. By August 2017, the project was officially announced and the script was in the works. In 2020, Josh Cooley, Pixar alumnus and a die-hard Transformers fan, was hired to direct.

    Di Bonaventura said he loved Cooley’s previous work, but, most importantly, when he sat down with Cooley to discuss the script he found that they were both moved by the same overarching storyline: two best friends turned mortal enemies.

    “That’s the thing he wanted to focus on. I had seen his most recent animated film at that point, ‘Toy Story 4’ (2019), which was obviously an amazing film. He knew his craft, but the key was understanding what that was about. Interestingly enough, he has a brother, and the two of them took very different directions in their lives – one is filmmaker, one is a cop. So, he was able to use that personal experience on top of it,” di Bonaventura revealed.

    A Chinese poster for “Transformers One.” [Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

    Going down the animated route to tell Optimus Prime and Megatron’s creation story was a tactical move, with di Bonaventura stating that using animation does not only offer a different experience for the audience and “level of creativity” compared to the franchise’s live-action installments, but also was a budget-conscious consideration. “This particular story would probably cost $500 million if you tried to do it in live-action. So, in a way, you had no choice but to do it in animation. Having now seen the film and feeling how successful it is, I’m really happy,” he beamed. Animation was provided by Industrial Light & Magic and was influenced by Generation 1 and Art Deco. 

    “The great news for us in this was that all the animators are really hardcore ‘Transformers’ fans. So, they were bringing their own understanding of the characters, of the series and of the movies to this experience. They were able to help us elevate the whole storytelling.”

    Their hard work has paid off. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 125 critics’ reviews have been positive and the audience score has been as high as 98%. 

    Although the box office performance for the animated film within the Chinese market remains to be seen, the “Transformers” series is evergreen and has garnered a substantial Chinese fan base since its introduction into China in 1987, with its popularity sustained through cartoons, movies and toys. Reflecting China’s fast-growing film market, the previous seven live-action installments have collectively grossed more than 7 billion yuan ($1 billion) in this country alone.

    The China premiere for “Transformers One” was held at Transformers Metrobase at Universal Beijing Resort in Beijing, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

    Di Bonaventura said he hopes hardcore fans will love this new animated film because part of the reason for making this origin story is to please the fans, going on to say that during production they intentionally stayed very true to the mythology. 

    But there’s one thing that die-hard fans of the Transformers movies may not be pleased with: the replacement of who is voicing Optimus Prime. Previously having the deep, iconic voice of Peter Cullen, Optimus Prime in “Transformers One” is voiced by Chris Hemsworth. Di Bonaventura explained the decision, saying that he’s “wanted to work with Chris for a long time” and that he feels Hemsworth is a good fit for the role. “His voice has both the innocence of a younger man and the timbre of a hero. “

    With the voice of Optimus Prime’s younger self decided on, they had to find the right match for Megatron’s younger version, and they eventually came to the versatile actor Brian Tyree Henry. In addition, di Bonaventura added, “I think one of the exciting things in this particular movie for the audience is that we have a very strong female character that Scarlett Johansson is playing. It’s the first time we’ve really had a female Transformer character that stands up against any of the males.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s TV, online videos to be dominated by ultra-high-definition in 2 years: official

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

    China’s TV, online videos to be dominated by ultra-high-definition in 2 years: official

    BEIJING, Sept. 27 — China is set to make ultra-high-definition (UHD) the predominant format for television and online videos by 2026, the National Radio and Television Administration said on Friday.

    The country plans to launch 13 new UHD TV channels by the end of 2025, bringing the total number to over 20. By 2026, an administration official said that 11 additional TV channels and over 50 percent of shows newly released via online streaming platforms will be presented in the UHD format.

    China has emerged as a global leader in certain independent core technologies for UHD video and has prioritized accelerating UHD development as a key strategic task, according to the administration.

    Currently, all central and provincial TV stations, along with over 98 percent of local channels, have implemented high-definition broadcasting. Additionally, nine UHD channels are available nationwide, the administration said.

    The administration announced plans to encourage hotels to upgrade their TVs into UHD as part of the country’s pro-growth program of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins this year.

    MIL OSI China News –