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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI China: Nearly 400 Palestinians killed, 1,500 injured in Gaza in one week

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Palestinians mourn over victims killed by the Israeli army in the refugee camp of Jabalia, at a hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In just one week, nearly 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and almost 1,500 injured in Gaza, said Joyce Msuya, the UN acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, on Wednesday.

    Briefing the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Msuya said the people of Gaza have suffered multiple mass casualty incidents due to Israeli airstrikes since her last briefing on Oct. 9.

    “The world has seen the images of patients and displaced persons, sheltering near Al Aqsa hospital, burning alive,” she said, adding that scores of others, including women and children, are suffering the excruciating pain of severe lifechanging burns.

    “If such horror does not awaken our sense of humanity and propel us to action, what will?” Msuya asked.

    She said Israel’s military offensive is intensifying in the north, and since the beginning of October, it’s estimated that over 55,000 people have been displaced from the Jabaliya area, while others remain stranded in their homes with water and food running out.

    “For the 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza, it is an exhausting and traumatizing experience, not knowing where and how to give birth, or whether their child will survive,” said Msuya.

    She noted that from Oct. 2 to 15, no food aid entered northern Gaza with “a trickle” allowed in, and all essential supplies for survival are running out.

    “Given the abject conditions and intolerable suffering in north Gaza, the fact that humanitarian access is nearly non-existent is unconscionable,” she said.

    Msuya said that during the first two weeks of October, just one out of 54 coordinated movements to the north via the Al Rashid checkpoint was facilitated by Israeli authorities, while another four were impeded but eventually accomplished. Eighty-five percent of the movements were denied, and the rest were impeded or canceled, due to security or logistical issues.

    “Every time a mission is impeded, the lives of people in need and humanitarians on the ground are put at even greater risk,” she said.

    “The level of suffering in Gaza defies our ability to capture it in words, or even to comprehend its scale,” said the senior UN official, adding that “international humanitarian law must be respected and this council, and all member states, must exert all their influence to ensure it.”

    The representative of Algeria, who requested the meeting, expressed alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    He noted that a few trucks of aid were distributed in northern Gaza on Tuesday, but failed to reach Jabalia, which remains under siege. “Let me be crystal clear: a military siege that deprives civilians of essential means of survival is not just unacceptable. It is a war crime,” he stated.

    Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer for the State of Palestine to the United Nations, said that in the face of the “monstrosity” unfolding in northern Gaza, “silence and inaction are not an option.”

    Noting that the Palestinian and Lebanese people are paying the price for Israel’s impunity, he said that in northern Gaza, 400,000 besieged, starved, and bombed Palestinians are being subjected to the so-called General Plan, according to which any Palestinian remaining in the north is considered a legitimate military target. “That is not war. These are crimes. They must be stopped. And they must be stopped now.”

    Mansour called on the Security Council to “fight back with the tools provided by the (UN) Charter and by the law to combat those who are obliterating the Charter and the law,” stressing, “It is time to act. Anything else is complicity and surrender.”

    In his remarks, Israel’s representative detailed recent attacks against his country. He said that although “101 human beings have been tormented by Hamas terrorists in their terror dungeons,” Security Council members barely mentioned the hostages or did so as an afterthought.

    He asserted that Israel and its humanitarian partners have “flooded” Gaza with humanitarian aid, and Hamas has “hijacked” aid and “weaponized” the humanitarian situation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Federal electoral divisions in Victoria formalised [17 October 2024]

    Source: Australian Electoral Commission

    AECMedia

    Updated: 17 October 2024

    The next federal general election will be conducted on new electoral division boundaries in Victoria after a notice was published today in the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette.

    While final names and boundaries for House of Representatives seats in Victoria were announced on Thursday 5 September 2024, today’s gazettal is the step that formally sets them in place. Today’s gazettal also provides people with further details about the boundaries.

    • Maps and geospatial data for the new electoral divisions now available.

    More detailed division maps and the final redistribution report will be available after the Minister has tabled material in both houses of Parliament.

    Editor’s notes:

    • People on the electoral roll who are affected by the redistribution will now be moved into their new federal electoral division in readiness for the election. No action is necessary.
    • While the new electoral divisions will be in place from Thursday 17 October 2024, they will only apply from the next federal election onwards. Any federal by-election conducted before that point must be conducted on existing divisions to avoid overlap in, or missing, representation.
    • Further information about the redistribution process

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Airstrikes in Houthi-Controlled Areas of Yemen

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Today, U.S. military forces, including U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers, conducted precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. U.S. forces targeted several of the Houthis’ underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region. This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified. The employment of U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrate U.S. global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere. 

    For over a year, the Iran-backed Houthis, Specially Designated Global Terrorists, have recklessly and unlawfully attacked U.S. and international vessels transiting the Red Sea, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis’ illegal attacks continue to disrupt the free flow of international commerce, threaten environmental catastrophe, and put innocent civilian lives and U.S. and partner forces’ lives at risk. At the direction of President Biden, I authorized these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis’ capability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect and defend U.S. forces and personnel in one of the world’s most critical waterways.

    Again, the United States will not hesitate to take action to defend American lives and assets; to deter attacks against civilians and our regional partners; and to protect freedom of navigation and increase the safety and security in these waterways for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels. We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that there will be consequences for their illegal and reckless attacks. I am grateful for the professionalism and skill of the brave American troops who took part in today’s actions and who continue to stand guard in defense of our Nation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Emerging market buyers embrace Canton Fair

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

    Buyers from emerging markets are steadily taking the lead at the 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, replacing those from Europe and North America as the primary participants, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    The global trade event, held twice a year in Spring and Autumn, is being held from Tuesday through Nov 4, in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province.

    A total of 125,000 overseas buyers had registered for the 136th session of the fair by Oct 9. Among them, about 76 percent are from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, while 12.5 percent are from North America and Europe, said the Ministry of Commerce.

    The driving forces behind this trend include the diversification of China’s export markets, rising business and consumer demand in emerging markets and shifting global trade dynamics, as economies in Southeast Asia, North Africa and South America become increasingly integral to global supply chains.

    “These economies often show strong demand for the industrial products and consumer goods available at the Canton Fair,” said Chu Shijia, director of the Guangzhou-based China Foreign Trade Center under the Ministry of Commerce, one of the Canton Fair organizers.

    As China is in the midst of a green transformation, its traditional exports — like household appliances and industrial equipment — are also making room for a fresh wave of technologically advanced and eco-friendly products, further meeting the needs of buyers from both developed and developing markets, said Han Yonghui, a professor specializing in foreign trade at Guangzhoubased Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

    Emerging markets represented by Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, with their vast market potential and promising development prospects, are attracting a growing number of Chinese enterprises seeking business opportunities, according to a report jointly released by Deloitte and WorldFirst, an international payment services provider.

    As the internationalization of Chinese manufacturers and traders reaches a more mature stage, an increasing number of enterprises are embarking on a deeper level of internationalization — transitioning from product exports to establishing operations overseas — according to the report released on Monday in Guangzhou.

    This involves contract fulfillment supported by the integration of “local entities, local operations and local supply chains”. For instance, according to data from WorldFirst, the number of Chinese merchants using the payment platform to expand their overseas operations in the first quarter surged 56 percent year-on-year.

    Between 2018 and 2023, China maintained high growth rates of exports to its major trading partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East and Latin America, with compound annual growth rates generally exceeding 10 percent, according to the report.

    “Over years of development, we have seen an increased number of trade partners from emerging markets,” said Li Zhaoying, CEO of ChillSun Technology Co.

    The company, based in Huizhou, Guangdong, is attending the Canton Fair. “In addition to maintaining sustainable growth in developed markets, we are making efforts to reach more trade deals with buyers from emerging markets, especially those from member countries of ASEAN,” said Li.

    Xiao Lu, deputy director of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said China’s new trade growth drivers are gaining momentum. Armed with accumulated capital and technology, Chinese companies are eager to demonstrate their innovation and technological strengths, leveraging digital and green concepts to shape the future direction of the market.

    “For instance, China-made new energy vehicles are now reaching over 170 countries and regions worldwide,” Xiao said.

    Over a million new products and items with proprietary intellectual property rights will be showcased at the Canton Fair this time, including a range of humanoid robots, smart devices and autonomous driving products making their debut, said the Ministry of Commerce.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Central Command Conducts Multiple Strikes on Underground Iran-Backed Houthi Weapons Facilities

    Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

    Oct. 16, 2024
    Release Number 20241016 – 01
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted multiple, precision airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

    These actions were taken to degrade the Houthi’s capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping and on U.S., coalition, and merchant personnel and vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and to degrade their ability to threaten regional partners.

    CENTCOM forces targeted the Houthi’s hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions used to target military and civilian vessels throughout the region.

    U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, were part of the operation. The employment of the B-2 bomber demonstrates U.S. global strike capabilities to reach these targets, when necessary, anytime, anywhere.

    Our battle damage assessments are underway and do not indicate civilian casualties. We will provide updates as information is confirmed.

    -30-

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: More homes for Orange to be delivered through new planning pathway

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: More homes for Orange to be delivered through new planning pathway

    Published: 17 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    As part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to confront the housing crisis, a proposal from Landcom to deliver 330 new homes in Orange, with 20 per cent of these homes being identified as affordable housing, is on exhibition for community feedback.

    This rezoning proposal for Redmond Place Precinct at Orange is the first site recommended to progress through the Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway, one of the Government’s earliest policies to reform the planning system.

    The policy implements a faster, simplified rezoning process for the state’s housing agencies; Homes NSW, Landcom and the Aboriginal Housing Office, to speed up the delivery of social and affordable housing.

    This pathway adds to the planning reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government over the past 12 months aimed at delivering more homes faster.

    The proposal aims to amend the Orange Local Environmental Plan (OLEP) 2011 to allow the rezoning of vacant Council-owned land for a residential precinct.

    The public exhibition opens on Monday 21 and will close on Monday November 12, 2024.

    To make a submission or find out more, visit the NSW Planning Portal at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/redmond-place-orange

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “This proposal will deliver good housing outcomes for Orange.

    “The NSW Government is committed to exploring suitable housing opportunities across the state which promote economic diversity, innovation and sustainability.

    “We need to confront the housing crisis head on by using all levers we can pull to speed up the delivery of new homes.

    “The Social and Affordable Housing Pathway is an important part of the NSW Government’s plan to boost affordable housing stock across the State.

    “Our State’s future depends on more affordable homes being built for families. This is critical because if NSW loses our young people, then NSW loses its future.”

    Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

    “The proposal from Landcom in partnership with Orange City Council will help meet the growing demand for housing in regional New South Wales.

    “I encourage everyone to have their say on this proposal from Landcom.

    “Let’s make the great Australian dream of owning a home a reality!”

    Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said:

    “There is still work to do but this is a great milestone to reach for Orange. The community has some strong views on how the city should be developed and how we can address affordability. It’s great to see the vision reflected in the rezoning proposal. I urge Orange residents to get involved in this latest step to seek feedback.”

    Landcom CEO Alex Wendler said:

    “The development will provide new homes to accommodate the changing needs and demographics of the Orange region and offer more opportunity for households to buy their own home.

    “I look forward to working with Council and the community as we progress with the project to deliver much needed housing.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Faster NBN for hundreds of thousands more South Australians

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    More than 225,000 homes and businesses in South Australia are now able to upgrade to a world-class, full fibre NBN broadband connection thanks to investment from the Albanese Government.
     
    The Albanese Government has invested $2.4 billion in NBN Co over four years to give 1.5 million more households and businesses affordable access to full fibre to the premises, including over 660,000 in regional communities.
     
    This is on top of our commitment to ensure the NBN remains in public hands, with legislation introduced just this week to ensure the NBN is not for sale.
     
    We know that communities across the country are benefitting from high-speed fibre connections, with speeds up to 18 times faster than the average broadband connection over copper.
     
    Only by keeping the NBN in public hands will these significant fibre upgrades continue to be delivered to provide access to affordable, world class broadband speeds.
     
    Faster connections also enable South Australians to connect more devices simultaneously, such as smart TVs and home security systems, as we conduct our lives increasingly online.
     
    Almost 28,000 homes and businesses across the state have already ordered a full fibre upgrade, and demand continues to grow – with Australians using more data than ever.
     
    The local government areas of Port Adelaide Enfield, Playford, Charles Sturt, Salisbury and Onkaparinga lead the way with the highest number of fibre connections.

    In addition to those already eligible for an upgrade, a further 13,500 premises across the state, will progressively become eligible for full fibre upgrade by the end of 2025.
     
    Average data usage in Australia has increased 10 times over the last 10 years, with the average home now downloading over 450 Gigabytes per month across 22 internet-connected or smart devices. By the end of the decade demand is forecast to increase to 1 Terabyte per household monthly.
     
    By the end of 2025, more than 10 million premises on the fixed line network will have access to full fibre connections able to deliver speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second.
     
    The fibre upgrades are available on demand when an eligible household or small business takes out an eligible higher speed tier plan.
     
    To find out if your premises can access full fibre now or in the future, visit: https://www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre#checkaddress.
     
    Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
     
    “Fast and reliable full fibre broadband can be a gamechanger for families and businesses who have struggled with dropouts and slow speeds over copper.”

    “It’s essential infrastructure in 2024 – not a luxury. That’s why the Albanese Government has invested $2.4 billion to support NBN Co’s fibre upgrade program, and introduced vital legislation to ensure this critical national infrastructure remains in public hands to keep broadband affordable.”
     
    “I encourage households across South Australia to check the NBN Co website to see if you are eligible for a full fibre upgrade to enjoy the benefits of faster broadband speeds at home or work.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Tripleplay and quadrupleplay to drive overall multiplay services market in South Korea during 2023-2028, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Tripleplay and quadrupleplay to drive overall multiplay services market in South Korea during 2023-2028, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Technology

    South Korea’s multiplay services market is set for steady growth between 2023 and 2028, driven primarily by tripleplay and quadrupleplay bundles. Increased demand for high-speed fiber broadband and value-added services like IPTV and OTT video will boost household spending on these packages. While doubleplay remains dominant, quadrupleplay is projected to see the fastest growth, supported by fixed-mobile convergence adoption, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s South Korea Multiplay Forecast Model (Q1 2024) reveals that South Korea’s multiplay service revenue is expected to see a gradual yet consistent increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1% from $6.2 billion in 2023 to $6.6 billion in 2028.

    The aggregate increase in total multiplay households will be supported by operators discounted multiplay bundles centered on high-speed fiber broadband services. The growth in multiplay households will however remain tepid i.e., at a CAGR of 0.3% over the forecast period, given the growing popularity of OTT video services that are often bundled with fiber broadband plans.

    Hrushikesh Mahananda, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, says: “The average monthly household spend on overall multiplay bundles is forecast to increase from $27.09 in 2023 to $28.02 in 2028, driven by the growing adoption of relatively high-cost tripleplay and quadrupleplay services and service bundles offerings inclusive of IPTV services and value-added OTT services.”

    Doubleplay services will account for majority of the multiplay households through 2028. Quadrupleplay services, on the other hand, are estimated to increase at the fastest rate over the forecast period and are expected to garner about 23% share of the total multiplay households by the end of 2028, owing to the growth in fixed mobile convergence household penetration.

    Mahananda concludes: “The three major operators KT Corp, SK Telecom, and LG Group are offering discounts on fixed broadband and multiplay plans with a goal to bring down churn and increase revenue-generating units (RGUs). KT Corp will lead the overall multiplay services market through 2028, given its strong subscriber base in triple-play and quad-play services.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Boards Appointment

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka has confirmed the appointment of Fletcher Tabuteau as Chair of the Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) Board. 

    Mr Tabuteau (Ngāti Ngāraranui, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue) was a teacher at Rotorua Boys’ High School, a lecturer in Economics, and head of the Business School at Waiariki Institute of Technology. He now runs Hoporona Consulting and serves as Director of Capital Government Relations and Communications. 

    “I want to congratulate Fletcher on his appointment to the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Board,” says Mr Potaka.

    “His experience in governance, management, and business will be an asset to the Board and the important work they do to encourage and promote ahurea and toi Māori.”

    Located in Rotorua, NZMACI is home to Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (National Wood Carving School), Te Takapū o Rotowhio (National Stone and Bone Carving School), and Te Rito o Rotowhio (National Weaving School).

    With a 60-year legacy, NZMACI has a strong history of producing highly skilled crafts people. 

    “At its core, NZMACI fosters the protection and transfer of mātauranga Māori. It is an integral part of the Rotorua economy and the wider Māori economy, contributing to the sustainable development of scenic and tourist attractions in the Rotorua district and across the motu.”

    He Whakatūnga ki Te Puia

    Kua whakatūturungia e te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, e Tama Potaka, te whakatūngia o Fletcher Tabuteau hei Upoko o te Poari o Te Puia (NZMACI).

    He pouako o mua a Mr Tabuteau (Ngāti Ngāraranui, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue) i Te Kura Tuarua mō ngā Taitama o Rotorua, he pūkenga i te Mātai Ōhanga, ko ia hoki te upoko o te Kura Pakihi i Te Whare Takiura o Waiariki. Ko tāna i āianei he whakahaere i te Hoporona Consulting, he noho hoki hei Kaiarataki i ngā Hononga Rawa ā-Kāwanatanga me ngā Pāpāhotanga.

    “E tōmina ana au ki te whakamānawatanga o Fletcher i tāna whakatū atu ki te Poari o Te Puia,” te kupu a Potaka.

    “Ka whai hua mārika te Poari i ōna wheako i ngā ao o te kāwanatanga, te whakahaerenga, me te pakihi, ā, ka whai hua hoki ki ā rātou mahi i te akiākina me te whakatairangahia o te ahurea me te toi Māori.”

    Kei Rotorua te NZMACI, ā, koia tērā ko te kāinga o Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau, Te Takapū o Rotowhio, me Te Rito o Rotowhi.

    E 60 tau te whakapapa o NZMACI, ā, kua roa nei tāna whakaputanga i ngā pūkenga me ngā ringa rehe.

    “I tōna iho, ko tā NZMACI he poipoi i te tiakina me te whāngaia o te mātauranga Māori. He wāhanga hirahira hoki nō te ōhanga o Rotorua me te ōhanga Māori whānui, nā, e whāngai ana i te whanaketanga toitūtanga o ngā whakapoapoatanga ā-taiao, ā-tūruhi hoki i Rototua, puta hoki nei i te motu.

    “Mā te whakatū ngā mātanga pūmanawa ki ngā taraipiunara me ngā poari e kino ai te painga o te whakapakarihia o te ōhanga, me te tukuna o ngā ratonga tūmatanui pai ake.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Housing market in major Chinese cities heating up over stimulus

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken from Jingshan Hill on Aug. 12, 2024 shows the skyscrapers of the central business district (CBD) on a sunny day in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Home sales in major Chinese cities are ticking up this month, as a series of recent stimulus measures have boosted homebuyer sentiment.

    The early signs of recovery in the housing market in big cities offer some relief as Chinese authorities seek to stimulate the world’s second-largest economy by stabilizing the property market.

    The struggling property sector has been a major drag on China’s economy over the past few years, with cash-strapped developers and high inventories of unsold homes and unfinished projects.

    In a bid to prop up the housing market, Chinese authorities in late September ordered to cut mortgage rates for existing loans, lower down payment ratios and relax purchase restrictions.

    The cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen introduced their versions of stimulus measures for local housing markets just before the National Day holiday.

    This came in late September, when a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee underlined the need for efforts to reverse the real estate market downturn and stabilize the market.

    The stimulus package has proven effective in boosting homebuyer sentiment in big cities quickly. This month, many housing sales centers in major cities are packed with clients as many once hesitant homebuyers are again jumping into the market.

    On Sunday, 744 customers signed up to vie for 332 flats in a Shenzhen housing project, and all the flats were sold out in three and a half hours, a rarity before the stimulus package was announced.

    The market rebound started with the week-long National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7. According to Leyoujia, a housing agency in Shenzhen, the conversion rate of home buyers for new homes — the ratio of finalized deals to all customers who have visited a real estate project — jumped to 12 percent from 2 percent.

    Liu Xiaofei, a sales manager at property developer LVGEM Group in Shenzhen, said the new stimulus has greatly boosted the market and confidence, helping to increase the conversion rate and shorten the decision-making process.

    During the holiday, buyers in Shenzhen signed initial purchase contracts for 1,841 new homes, up 664.1 percent from a year earlier, local data showed. Meanwhile, homebuyers signed contracts for 2,316 second-hand homes last week, a weekly transaction record in nearly three years, according to housing agency Leyoujia.

    Liu believes the housing market is stabilizing after hitting a trough, but more measures are needed to further boost consumer confidence.

    In Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, homebuyers had signed initial purchase contracts for 6,687 new homes, up 137 percent year on year, after home purchase restrictions were lifted on Sept. 29, the Guangzhou Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau said on Oct. 12. The bureau attributed the strong growth to policy incentives and sales promotions by developers.

    In Shanghai, 1,334 second-hand homes were traded on Sunday, the daily record in more than a year, according to the website of the Shanghai Real Estate Trading Center.

    The daily number of more than 1,000 shows that second-hand home transactions are very active in Shanghai, said Lu Wenxi, an analyst with real estate agency Centaline Property.

    A Shanghai homebuyer, surnamed Zhang, was a beneficiary of the stimulus. The down payment ratio for second-home purchases was lowered to 25 percent, allowing him to improve his living conditions much sooner, Zhang said.

    The market also heats up in Beijing. The number of second-hand home transactions here nearly doubled from the previous month and surged more than 150 percent year on year from Oct. 1 to 15, according to Leng Hui, an analyst with the research institute of Lianjia, a major second-home realtor.

    Li Yifeng, deputy research chief at China Index Academy, said Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen still have room to loosen housing policies to further stabilize the property market in the future.

    Economic fundamentals are key to stabilizing the property sector and expectations, and if the economic recovery accelerates in the fourth quarter with stimulus measures, the property market in key cities could stabilize, and a similar result could even be expected for the market nationwide, Li said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can Australia make housing affordable for essential workers? Here are 4 key lessons from overseas

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicky Morrison, Professor of Planning and Director of Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University

    GettyImages

    Essential workers such as teachers, health workers and community safety staff play a vital role in ensuring our society works well. Yet soaring housing costs in cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are squeezing essential workers out of the communities they serve.

    The issue is reaching crisis point across Australia. Anglicare Australia yesterday released a special edition of its Rental Affordability Snapshot focused on essential workers in full-time work. Housing costs under 30% of household income are considered affordable. In a survey of 45,115 rental listings, it found:

    • 3.7% were affordable for a teacher
    • 2.2% were affordable for an ambulance worker
    • 1.5% were affordable for an aged care worker
    • 1.4% were affordable for a nurse
    • 0.9% were affordable for an early childhood educator
    • 0.8% were affordable for a hospitality worker.

    This trend is creating unsustainable patterns of urban sprawl and long commutes. It erodes workers’ quality of life. It also undermines public service delivery by making it harder to recruit and retain these workers in high-cost areas.

    International experience, particularly in the UK where I have advised on similar policies, shows there are solutions to this crisis. These global lessons fall into four categories.

    Essential workers face long commutes from home when they can’t afford to live in the communities they serve.
    Halfpoint/Shutterstock

    1. Define essential worker housing

    Essential worker housing typically targets front-line public sector workers on low to middle incomes. Yet eligibility should extend to support roles, such as ambulance drivers, porters and medical receptionists, who play a vital part in enabling front-line services. They too struggle to find affordable housing near their workplaces.

    Conditions of eligibility should also include a cap on household earnings.

    The UK experience highlights the importance of providing both rental and ownership options. To keep key worker housing affordable and accessible over time, both types need to be priced appropriately.

    Australian cities could adopt similar approaches, by requiring housing developers and community housing providers to allocate affordable housing for essential workers. Prices would be below market rates for both rentals and home ownership for the long term, and not revert to market rates. This ensures stability for public service workers.

    2. Financial innovations focused on long-term affordability

    Innovative financial models, such as shared equity schemes, have succeeded in the UK. These allow workers to gradually buy into their homes, creating long-term stability.

    Shared equity involves the government or another investor covering some of the cost of buying the home in exchange for an equivalent share in the property. Australia could explore similar schemes to provide immediate relief while ensuring sustained affordability for future essential workers.

    This approach could build on the Commonwealth’s proposed Help to Buy scheme, currently before the Senate, and existing state and territory shared equity programs. These may need refinement to better serve essential workers by, for example, adjusting income thresholds and eligibility criteria to ensure they qualify. These schemes also need to expand to cover all urban areas where housing affordability is most strained.

    3. Leverage planning systems

    Countries like the UK have leveraged their planning systems to deliver affordable housing for key workers. In England, planning authorities use mechanisms such as Section 106 agreements to ensure a portion of new developments is reserved for key worker housing as a condition of planning approval.

    Australian states could adapt this model, setting targets within existing planning frameworks. For example, they could use Voluntary Planning Agreements to prioritise essential worker housing.

    Yet essential worker housing should not displace housing for other people in urgent need. They include people who are homeless, low-income families, people with disabilities, the elderly, those at risk of domestic violence, veterans and youth leaving foster care.

    4. Use public land for housing development

    The use of surplus public land for essential worker housing has proven successful in several cities, including London, Amsterdam and San Francisco.

    Earmarking land owned by the public sector, such as hospital or education sites, is a strategic way to deliver affordable housing near key public sector employers. It also allows staff to travel to work nearby using sustainable transport instead of cars.

    Affordable housing has profound benefits

    Without action, essential workers are likely to be forced into lower-quality, high-cost housing, shared accommodation, or long commutes from more affordable areas. Over time, these patterns of job-housing imbalances and urban sprawl are unsustainable. These issues are the focus of my current research, particularly in Western Sydney.

    The New South Wales government has set up a parliamentary select committee to inquire into options for essential worker housing. It’s bringing much-needed attention to the housing crisis affecting key public sector roles.

    Tackling these issues through targeted housing solutions has many benefits. It can help create more sustainable communities, reduce recruitment and retention difficulties for employers and ease the strain on infrastructure and services.

    The key takeaway from the UK and other countries is the importance of long-term, sustainable solutions that do not shift the focus away from those most in need of housing. Australia has the opportunity to strike this balance. We need to ensure essential workers can afford to live near their workplaces while not sidelining everyone else in need of affordable housing.

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

    – ref. How can Australia make housing affordable for essential workers? Here are 4 key lessons from overseas – https://theconversation.com/how-can-australia-make-housing-affordable-for-essential-workers-here-are-4-key-lessons-from-overseas-239934

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Death of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney

    Former One Direction band member and solo artist Liam Payne has been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, media reports have confirmed. Payne was just 31 years old – a loved friend and father.

    Alongside his former One Direction band mates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, Payne had a huge influence on popular culture in his home country of the United Kingdom and internationally.

    The group formed in 2010 on the British talent show X Factor and stayed together for about five years before officially splitting in 2016. Throughout this time, Payne remained a valuable member of the band and a clear talent in his own right.

    Although each member auditioned seperately, they were eventually hand-picked by Simon Cowell to form a group.

    After the split (and a brief hiatus from music-making), Payne continued to release music periodically as both a songwriter and collaborator. He most recently released the single Teardrops in March, ahead of an anticipated second solo album.

    News of Payne’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes. Like many young people thrust into stardom seemingly overnight, his life wasn’t without controversy. But the response to his death by fans and industry colleagues alike is proof of the impact he had.

    The making of a pop supergroup

    While One Direction may have not been together for as long as other globally successful acts, their influence far exceeded bands that have been together for decades. They released five studio records – and broke many more, including six Guinness World Records. And even though they didn’t make it to their 10th anniversary together, they had still sold some 70 million records by 2020.

    In the years since the split, fans continued to gather, listen and celebrate – with the most recent anniversary (14 years) seeing fan-led events held in Australia and the rest of the world.

    It’s easy to dismiss pop music and its influence, especially in the face of what feel like increasingly dire global circumstances. But pop, like many other forms of entertainment, provides a practical way for people to gain momentary pleasure and comfort.

    It also provides connection with others – and relief from politics and other daily pressures. For example, one of One Direction’s biggest hits, That’s What Makes You Beautiful, sought to empower young people who might otherwise be overwhelmed by negative messaging.

    Within a year of their debut, the group was met with massive crowds of fans almost everywhere they want.

    One Direction has been compared to The Beatles in terms of their influence on young people – and female and queer fans in particular.

    The impact on fans when their idol dies

    The loss of life, especially a young person’s life, is always a tragedy.

    For some young fans, this might be the first person they “know” who has died. While it may not be the same as losing a family member or close friend, the feeling of loss is significant. Young fans will need support. And in 2024, many will find this support through social platforms and online forums.

    I still remember the impact the deaths of stars such as Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley had on people like me who were teenagers in the 1990s. These were artists I admired and listened to – and whose art I relied on during times of pleasure and pain.

    A similar pang was felt when artists such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie died, albeit later in my life and theirs.

    The experience of losing a music idol is in many ways a universal one. People whose art we attach to our own life experiences become inseparable from our lives. And when they die, it can feel like those experiences are over too.

    After news of Payne’s death broke, hundreds of fans took to the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires, where Payne had been visiting. They held a vigil, cried and consoled one another in front of the Casa Sur hotel where Payne had been staying.

    One fan, 25-year-old Yamila Zacarias, probably spoke for many when she said:

    He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you’re trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me.

    Lifelong fandom and memories

    There’s a stereotype of “fans” as hordes of screaming girls, which can really take away from the depth of fandom.

    Anyone at any stage of life can be a fan of just about anything. And the best thing about fandom is that it can, and often does, allow lots of different types of people an outlet for connection throughout their lives.

    Many fans have left comments on old music videos.
    YouTube/screenshot

    The death of US actress Betty White in 2021, as sad as it was, brought people across generations and walks of life together. And not just those who knew her personally, but those who had connected with each other through their love of her work. It reminded me of my own family, including my Nan and Dad, now gone, and the laughs we’d share as we watched her.

    As more details and tributes to Payne’s life and death emerge, the fans will have each other to lean on. If you yourself know someone who is a fan of Payne or One Direction, even reaching out to just acknowledge that person’s grief and experience is important. It says to them, “what you love is valid, and so are you”.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Liz Giuffre 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. Death of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music – https://theconversation.com/death-of-an-idol-response-to-liam-paynes-death-highlights-the-power-of-childhood-and-music-241554

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Unnecessary things for recycling: the information project “Ekotochki Moskvy” has opened in the capital

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A new environmental project has been launched on the mos.ru portal “Ecopoints of Moscow”, aimed at developing a separate waste collection system. Its main goals are to popularize eco-habits and create a convenient map of collection points for unwanted items, where city residents can easily find the nearest collection point for different types of secondary raw materials.

    The Moscow government helps businesses that strive to reduce waste generation and involve them in secondary circulation. Stolichny Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection acts as an aggregator of the partner network of collection points, confirms the transfer of recyclable materials for further useful use and provides partners with places to open new collection points. The project partners are responsible for these sites.

    The map now contains addresses more than 200 collection points clothing, textiles and accessories with a detailed description of their location, work schedule and other necessary information. It is planned to constantly increase the number of eco-points and expand the list of collected recyclable materials. In particular, the next points on the map will be collection points for car tires, and then batteries.

    “Proper disposal of things that have served their time is an important step towards creating an environmentally friendly metropolis. We strive to make this practice accessible and understandable to all city residents. By participating in the “Ecopoints of Moscow” project, each of us gets the opportunity to make a significant contribution to preserving the environment. In the new project, the Moscow Government will provide maximum support to organizations that are ready to ensure proper handling of all types of secondary raw materials,” said

    Yulia Urozhaeva, head of the capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection.

    All eco-points participating in the project have a special sign with a QR code for easy access to the page, which provides detailed information on separate collection and collection points. All collected unnecessary items will be sent for recycling, charity or sale to specialized stores, which will help support social and environmental programs and help develop clothing recycling infrastructure throughout Russia.

    Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs with a transparent system for collecting and recycling recyclable materials can join the Moscow Ecopoints.

    Which organizations have already joined the project?

    The Vtoroe Dykhanie (Second Breath) charity fund collects unwanted clothing through its own containers, partner stores, and home removal services. There are over 700 collection points in Russia, over 300 of which are in Moscow. Every month, the fund collects over 120 tons of clothing, which is sorted. Items in good condition are sent to charity and sold to second-hand stores, and the rest are recycled into rags and regenerated fiber.

    The autonomous non-profit organization Ecosystem is implementing the project “It’s easy to hand over things”. More than 70 containers have been installed in the capital, and the Ecotaxi service is also available for taking things out of the house. You can hand over clothes, shoes, accessories, toys and dishes. Every month, the organization collects and sorts up to 50 tons of things. Things in good condition are sent to charity or for sale, and those unsuitable for use are sent for recycling.

    The “Grateful Wardrobe” project is a social eco-project implemented by the charity foundation “S Miru po nitke” and OOO “Ekotekstil”. There are more than 100 containers in Moscow, and there is also a service for address removal. The project collects 45-60 tons of clothes every month, which are sorted in a warehouse in the Moscow region. Clothes in good condition are donated to charity or sold to second-hand stores. Unusable items are sent for recycling or used to produce RDF fuel.

    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.mos.ru/nevs/item/145287073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media Release: Net zero goals a step closer with Moomba CCS project milestone – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media Release: Net zero goals a step closer with Moomba CCS project milestone – Australian Energy Producers

    First injection and full ramp up at the Moomba carbon capture and storage (CCS) project marks a major milestone for Australia’s rollout of this crucial net zero technology.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Santos and Beach Energy Moomba joint venture demonstrates the Australian oil and gas sector is driving progress to net zero, deploying proven technologies to cut emissions today.

    “At Moomba, Santos has proven what the industry has long known – that CCS is real and it works. It’s a first for onshore in Australia,” she said.

    “Australia is now host to two of the largest CO2 storage projects in the world, with Moomba and Chevron’s Gorgon project storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.”

    Around the world, there are more than 50 large-scale CCS projects in operation, with a further 550 under development.

    “This global momentum for CCS is essential for achieving climate goals, with the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and CSIRO all clear that there is no pathway to net zero without CCS,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “CCS is particularly important for manufacturing, because without it industries like fertiliser and chemical production, iron and steel, and cement, will find it harder and more expensive to reach net zero.”

    In Australia, between two and 20 Moomba-scale CCS projects need to be built each year between now and 2050 to reach net zero, according to the Net Zero Australia study. 

    “Australia has a comparative advantage in CCS, with world class geology, industry experience, and strong links with regional trading partners looking to collaborate on CCS,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “Scaling up CCS is an opportunity not just to reduce emissions but to create new jobs and attract new investment.”

    However, CCS continues to be kept on the sidelines of energy and climate policies in Australia.

    “Australia is increasingly out of step with the rest of the world in failing to provide meaningful policy support for this critical technology,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “If Australia is going to reach net zero, while managing cost of living pressures for Australian households and businesses, we need to take a technology-neutral, least-cost approach to emissions reductions, and this includes CCS.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia’s largest charity kitchen opens its doors in Melbourne

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    Today food rescue and relief charity FareShare officially opens the doors of its new kitchen at South Audley Street, Abbotsford, in Melbourne’s inner north east.

    The state-of-the-art facility will serve as Australia’s largest charity kitchen, and will see rescued, donated and homegrown food transformed into millions of delicious, healthy meals to support the dignity and wellbeing of Australians experiencing hardship.

    The Allan Labor Government contributed $2.2 million to the project which upgraded key equipment to expand packing and chilling capacity. 

    The Albanese Labor Government committed $2 million to the $8.16 million project, which significantly upgraded the kitchen. Nearly $4 million was raised by philanthropic funding to make up the remaining funds toward the project.

    With a kitchen area that has been expanded by 35 per cent, FareShare is now able to produce a staggering additional 500,000 meals every year.

    In addition to the new kitchen facilities, the site’s warehouse has more than doubled in size, to enable the storage of larger quantities of rescued food, as well as keeping the vegetables and herbs grown at FareShare’s kitchen gardens fresh.

    There are also new offices, banks of ovens, cool rooms, wash areas, store rooms, a forklift area, laundry and cleaners’ areas, bin rooms, toilets and parking spaces.

    FareShare’s meals for people experiencing food insecurity are given away free to frontline charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges, First Nations organisations and groups providing disaster relief.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “There are plenty of people here in Melbourne and across Australia, who are suffering hardship and finding it difficult to afford meals.

    “It’s wonderful to see the significantly upgraded facilities here at the Fareshare Abbotsford Charity Kitchen now open, which will be able to dish up 4,000 free meals a day, to more than 400 charities that will assist in distributing the food to those in hardship.

    “The upgraded facilities will also allow for meal production for frontline charities to be upscaled in times of natural disasters should this be needed.”

    Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence:

    “FareShare’s efforts provide a lifeline for people doing it tough and we’re proud to support their work day in and day out to support those who need a helping hand, contributing to stronger, more connected communities.”

    “No Victorian family should have to worry about putting food on the table, which is why we’ve invested more than $56 million since 2020 to strengthen support, including for six regional food relief hubs.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Macnamara Josh Burns:

    “As well as the essential service this will provide in feeding the hungry in our city, these new facilities will improve outcomes for social amenity and cohesion, health and wellbeing for those in need.

    “This project will make a real difference to many right across our city – by helping people at the ground level of hardship get a good feed.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Higgins Michelle Ananda-Rajah:

    “The Australian Government understands that many people are facing tough times, even in our country’s largest cities. That’s why we’ve helped fund this expanded facility, which will now be able to provide many more meals for the charities it assists.

    “What a great outcome to now have the Fareshare Abbotsford Charity Kitchen working at greater capacity, to support even more people in our city who are experiencing hardship.”

    Quote attributable to State Member for Northern Metropolitan Enver Erdogan

    “We’re proud to support food relief operations like this one in Abbotsford, rescuing food from going to waste and – with the champion efforts of a team of volunteers – feeding thousands of hungry people.”

    Quotes attributable to SecondBite | FareShare CEO Daniel Moorfield:

    “The new facility couldn’t come at a better time to support the growing needs of Australians as they do it tough in the cost-of-living crisis.

    “This facility would not have been possible without the support of the Australian and Victorian governments, and our many dedicated supporters – both financial and in kind.

    “We would love to thank each and every one of them, who came together to make this happen.

    “It is only with their help that we are officially opening our doors today and producing more meals than ever before.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A million new jobs under Labor

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Under the Albanese Government, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn, with today’s ABS Labour Force figures showing well over a million jobs (1,039,300) have now been created since Labor came to office in 2022.

    This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

    This is a remarkable achievement, in the context of a slowing economy and a labour market that is expected to soften.

    Today’s result means the Albanese Government continues to oversee the largest increase in employment in a single parliamentary term in Australia’s history.

    In September, 64,100 jobs were created – 51,600 of which were full‑time positions.

    It’s also encouraging to note that the labour force participation rate continued to increase over the month, rising by 0.1 percentage points in September, to stand at a record high of 67.2 per cent.

    That equates to an additional 54,900 people entering the labour force over the month.

    Importantly, the female participation rate increased to a record high of 63.2 per cent, equating to an additional 23,100 women entering the labour force.

    Strong jobs growth was recorded across most Australian states and territories in September with employment now at a record high in five jurisdictions.

    Particularly positive results were recorded in New South Wales (with employment up by 23,100 or 0.5 per cent), followed by Victoria (up by 21,700 or 0.6 per cent) and Western Australia (up 8,300 or 0.5 per cent).

    Helping all Australians find work and delivering higher wages is one of the best ways we can support households with current cost‑of‑living pressures.

    The average full‑time worker is now earning $159 extra per week since the Albanese Government was elected. And the average full‑time worker is also receiving a tax cut of $44 per week because of the Government’s cost‑of‑living tax cuts.

    But while the Albanese Labor Government is focused on supporting more well‑paid, secure jobs, Peter Dutton and the Coalition have promised to cut wages and working conditions if they’re elected.

    Just this week, Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume told Sky News the Coalition will “definitely consider” a request to allow medium sized businesses to unfairly dismiss their workers, without repercussions.

    This is on top of earlier promises from Peter Dutton to cut labour hire workers’ pay and scrap the rights of casual workers and the Right to Disconnect, forcing Australians into more unpaid overtime.

    At a time when many Australians are doing it tough, Peter Dutton and the Coalition will make things worse.

    We’re all about more people working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn and this shows we’re making good progress.

    Peter Dutton and the Coalition want you to work longer for less.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

    “Today’s data shows that one million new jobs have been created since our election, and that our Government has helped more Australians than ever into secure, well‑paid jobs – earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

    “This is the most jobs ever created in a parliamentary term in Australian history.

    “The majority of our one million new jobs are full‑time, around half are for women and the gender pay gap is at a record low.

    Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers

    “More than a million new jobs in one parliamentary term is a pretty remarkable achievement in a slowing economy, and it means more new jobs have been created on our watch than any other government at any time.

    “This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

    “It’s a tribute to Australian workers and employers and it justifies the responsible way we’re managing the economy.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt

    “This is a great result that is helping more Australians deal with cost of living pressures.

    “There’s nothing more important than having a well‑paid job, so that you can pay your bills, and that’s what the Albanese Government is delivering.

    “In contrast, Peter Dutton has promised to make life harder for people, by cutting wages and conditions and making it easier to get the sack.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Interim Report
    17 October 2024 at 08:00 EEST

    Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024

    Strong gross margin improvement amidst ongoing market weakness

    • Q3 net sales declined 7% y-o-y in constant currency (-8% reported) as growth in Network Infrastructure and Nokia Technologies was offset by decline in Mobile Networks primarily in India and a divestment in Cloud and Network Services.
    • Order intake remained strong in Network Infrastructure, while the sales recovery continues to be slower than expected.
    • Comparable gross margin in Q3 increased by 490bps y-o-y to 45.7% (reported increased 500bps to 45.2%), with improvements across business groups, particularly in Mobile Networks.
    • Q3 comparable operating margin increased 160bps y-o-y to 10.5% (reported up 70bps to 5.7%), mainly due to higher gross margin, continued cost control and a benefit from the reversal of loss allowances for certain trade receivables.
    • Q3 comparable diluted EPS for the period of EUR 0.06; reported diluted EPS for the period of EUR 0.03.
    • Q3 free cash flow of EUR 0.6 billion, net cash balance EUR 5.5 billion.
    • Continued to make significant progress with cost savings program, EUR 500 million run-rate of gross savings actioned.
    • Nokia’s full year 2024 outlook is unchanged. Nokia currently expects comparable operating profit of between EUR 2.3 billion and 2.9 billion and free cash flow conversion from comparable operating profit of between 30% and 60%.

    This is a summary of the Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024 published today. Nokia only publishes a summary of its financial reports in stock exchange releases. The summary focuses on Nokia Group’s financial information as well as on Nokia’s outlook. The detailed, segment-level discussion will be available in the complete financial report hosted at http://www.nokia.com/financials. A video interview summarizing the key points of our Q3 results will also be published on the website. Investors should not solely rely on summaries of Nokia’s financial reports and should also review the complete reports with tables.

    PEKKA LUNDMARK, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ON Q3 2024 RESULTS

    As I reflect on our performance in the third quarter, I am optimistic we are now turning the corner in many parts of our business, even if some continue to experience market weakness. Among the key highlights was a return to net sales growth in Network Infrastructure with Fixed Networks growing 9% in constant currency and IP Networks growing 6%. Order intake in Network Infrastructure continued to be robust with strong year-on-year growth and a growing order backlog. Additionally, we delivered a significant improvement in our gross margin at the group level and cash generation remained strong with EUR 621 million free cash flow in the quarter.

    There are reasons for optimism across our portfolio. We expect a significant acceleration in growth in Q4 in Network Infrastructure and see a number of structural demand trends supporting our future growth. In Mobile Networks, although market dynamics are more challenging, we have secured several important deals in the quarter, remain confident in our competitive position and are improving our gross margin. In Cloud and Network Services we are seeing excellent momentum in 5G Core along with strong progress in network automation, cloudification and enabling network APIs. Nokia Technologies continues to benefit from greater stability following the conclusion of its smart-phone renewal cycle and is making good progress expanding into the new growth areas.

    Across Nokia we are investing to create new growth opportunities outside of our traditional communications service provider market. We see a significant opportunity to expand our presence in the data center market and are investing to broaden our product portfolio in IP Networks to better address this. Our pending acquisition of Infinera will also bolster our Optical Networks exposure to this market and accelerate our growth opportunities. Additionally, we see a compelling new long-term opportunity in bringing 5G technology to the defense market and we continue to invest in private wireless networks where we are the clear market leader.

    Regarding our financial performance in Q3, our net sales declined by 7% in the quarter in constant currency. Three quarters of the decline was driven by India due to a strong year-ago quarter. Importantly we delivered a significant improvement in comparable gross margin which expanded 490 basis points from the year-ago period to reach 45.7%. This was driven by a combination of improved product mix, regional mix and actions to reduce product cost. Despite continued intense competition, we remain disciplined on price while still winning deals as we remain focused on improving the profitability of our business. We also progressed our cost reduction efforts contributing to a solid improvement of 160 basis points in our comparable operating margin on a year-on-year basis.

    Regarding full year 2024, our comparable operating profit outlook remains EUR 2.3 to 2.9 billion and we are currently tracking within the bottom-half of the range. The net sales recovery is happening slower than we expected previously, however, this is being partially offset by an improving gross margin and quick action on cost. We expect to be at the high end of our free cash flow target of 30% to 60% conversion from comparable operating profit.

    FINANCIAL RESULTS

    EUR million (except for EPS in EUR) Q3’24 Q3’23 YoY change Constant currency YoY change Q1-Q3’24 Q1-Q3’23 YoY change Constant currency YoY change
    Reported results                
    Net sales 4 326 4 709 (8)% (7)% 13 236 15 722 (16)% (15)%
    Gross margin % 45.2% 40.2% 500bps   46.1% 39.4% 670bps  
    Research and development expenses (1 116) (1 067) 5%   (3 376) (3 197) 6%  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (692) (697) (1)%   (2 101) (2 104) 0%  
    Operating profit 246 237 4%   1 082 1 127 (4)%  
    Operating margin % 5.7% 5.0% 70bps   8.2% 7.2% 100bps  
    Profit from continuing operations 145 130 12%   965 700 38%  
    Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations 31 3 933%   (494) 11    
    Profit for the period 175 133 32%   471 711 (34)%  
    EPS for the period, diluted 0.03 0.02 50%   0.08 0.13 (38)%  
    Net cash and interest-bearing financial investments 5 460 2 960 84%   5 460 2 960 84%  
    Comparable results                
    Net sales 4 326 4 709 (8)% (7)% 13 236 15 722 (16)% (15)%
    Gross margin % 45.7% 40.8% 490bps   47.0% 39.9% 710bps  
    Research and development expenses (1 029) (1 024) 0%   (3 169) (3 119) 2%  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (591) (594) (1)%   (1 785) (1 833) (3)%  
    Operating profit 454 418 9%   1 477 1 507 (2)%  
    Operating margin % 10.5% 8.9% 160bps   11.2% 9.6% 160bps  
    Profit for the period 358 293 22%   1 198 1 035 16%  
    EPS for the period, diluted 0.06 0.05 20%   0.21 0.18 17%  
    ROIC(1) 10.4% 11.9% (150)bps   10.4% 11.9% (150)bps  

    1 Comparable ROIC = Comparable operating profit after tax, last four quarters / invested capital, average of last five quarters’ ending balances. Refer to the Alternative performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024 for details.

    Business group results Network
    Infrastructure    		 Mobile
    Networks    		 Cloud and Network Services Nokia
    Technologies    		 Group Common and Other
    EUR million Q3’24 Q3’23 Q3’24 Q3’23 Q3’24 Q3’23 Q3’24 Q3’23 Q3’24 Q3’23
    Net sales 1 525 1 534 1 747 2 157 702 742 352 258 3 22
    YoY change (1)%   (19)%   (5)%   36%   (86)%  
    Constant currency YoY change 1%   (17)%   (4)%   35%   (86)%  
    Gross margin % 42.1% 40.5% 39.8% 34.8% 40.9% 39.1% 100.0% 100.0%    
    Operating profit/(loss) 180 165 92 99 65 36 242 181 (126) (62)
    Operating margin % 11.8% 10.8% 5.3% 4.6% 9.3% 4.9% 68.8% 70.2%    

    SHAREHOLDER DISTRIBUTION

    Dividend

    Under the authorization by the Annual General Meeting held on 3 April 2024, the Board of Directors may resolve on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.13 per share to be paid in respect of financial year 2023. The authorization will be used to distribute dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity in four installments during the authorization period, in connection with the quarterly results, unless the Board decides otherwise for a justified reason.

    On 17 October 2024, the Board resolved to distribute a dividend of EUR 0.03 per share. The dividend record date is 22 October 2024 and the dividend will be paid on 31 October 2024. The actual dividend payment date outside Finland will be determined by the practices of the intermediary banks transferring the dividend payments.

    Following this announced distribution, the Board’s remaining distribution authorization is a maximum of EUR 0.03 per share.

    Share buyback program

    In January 2024, Nokia’s Board of Directors initiated a share buyback program to repurchase shares to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The share buyback execution started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia’s Board of Directors decided to accelerate the timeframe for the share buyback program with the aim of completing the full EUR 600 million program by the end of this year instead of the initial two year timeframe.

    On 27 June 2024, Nokia announced its intention to acquire Infinera in a transaction that valued Infinera at US$1.7 billion equity value with up to 30% of the consideration to be paid in Nokia American depositary shares (“ADSs”), depending on the elections of Infinera shareholders. Nokia’s Board of Directors is committed to repurchase additional shares on top of the on-going EUR 600 million program to offset the dilution from the transaction to Nokia shareholders.

    Under the share buyback program, by 30 September 2024, Nokia had repurchased 84 295 899 of its own shares at an average price per share of approximately EUR 3.48.

    OUTLOOK

      Full Year 2024
    Comparable operating profit(1) EUR 2.3 billion to EUR 2.9 billion
    Free cash flow(1) 30% to 60% conversion from comparable operating profit

    1Please refer to Alternative performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024 for a full explanation of how these terms are defined.

    The outlook, long-term targets and all of the underlying outlook assumptions described below are forward-looking statements subject to a number of risks and uncertainties as described or referred to in the Risk Factors section later in this release. Along with Nokia’s official outlook targets provided above, below are outlook assumptions by business group that support the group level outlook.

      Nokia business group assumptions (full year 2024)
      Net sales growth (constant currency) Operating margin
    Network Infrastructure -6% to -3% (update) 10.0% to 12.0% (update)
    Mobile Networks -22% to -19% (update) 5.0% to 7.0% (update)
    Cloud and Network Services -7% to -4% (update) 6.0% to 8.0% (update)

    Nokia provides the following approximate outlook assumptions for additional items concerning 2024:

      Full year 2024 Comment
    Nokia Technologies operating profit at least
    EUR 1.4 billion    		 Nokia expects cash generation in Nokia Technologies to be EUR 700 million below operating profit in 2024 due to prepayments received in 2023. From 2025 onwards Nokia expects greater alignment between cash generation and operating profit in Nokia Technologies.
    Group Common and Other operating expenses EUR 350 million This includes central function costs which are expected to be largely stable at approximately EUR 200 million and an increase in investment in long-term research to approximately EUR 150 million.
    Comparable financial income and expenses Positive EUR 75 to EUR 125 million  
    Comparable income tax rate ~25%  
    Cash outflows related to income taxes EUR 450 million  
    Capital Expenditures EUR 450 million (update)  

    2026 TARGETS

    Nokia’s current targets for its existing perimeter of the business for 2026 are outlined below. This does not consider pending acquisitions. The Network Infrastructure operating margin assumption below considers Submarine Networks being treated as a discontinued operation. Nokia sees further opportunities to increase margins beyond 2026 and believes an operating margin of 14% remains achievable over the longer term.
    Net sales    		 Grow faster than the market
    Comparable operating margin(1) ≥ 13%
    Free cash flow(1) 55% to 85% conversion from comparable operating profit

    1 Please refer to Alternative performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Interim Report for Q3 2024 for a full explanation of how these terms are defined.

    The comparable operating margin target for Nokia group is built on the following assumptions by business group for 2026:

    Network Infrastructure 13 – 16% operating margin
    Mobile Networks 6 – 9% operating margin
    Cloud and Network Services 7 – 10% operating margin
    Nokia Technologies Operating profit more than EUR 1.1 billion
    Group common and other Approximately EUR 300 million of operating expenses

    RISK FACTORS

    Nokia and its businesses are exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties which include but are not limited to:

    • Competitive intensity, which is expected to continue at a high level as some competitors seek to take share;
    • Changes in customer network investments related to their ability to monetize the network;
    • Our ability to ensure competitiveness of our product roadmaps and costs through additional R&D investments;
    • Our ability to procure certain standard components and the costs thereof, such as semiconductors;
    • Disturbance in the global supply chain;
    • Impact of inflation, increased global macro-uncertainty, major currency fluctuations and higher interest rates;
    • Potential economic impact and disruption of global pandemics;
    • War or other geopolitical conflicts, disruptions and potential costs thereof;
    • Other macroeconomic, industry and competitive developments;
    • Timing and value of new, renewed and existing patent licensing agreements with licensees;
    • Results in brand and technology licensing; costs to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; on-going litigation with respect to licensing and regulatory landscape for patent licensing;
    • The outcomes of on-going and potential disputes and litigation;
    • Our ability to execute, complete and realize the expected benefits from our ongoing transactions;
    • Timing of completions and acceptances of certain projects;
    • Our product and regional mix;
    • Uncertainty in forecasting income tax expenses and cash outflows, over the long-term, as they are also subject to possible changes due to business mix, the timing of patent licensing cash flow and changes in tax legislation, including potential tax reforms in various countries and OECD initiatives;
    • Our ability to utilize our Finnish deferred tax assets and their recognition on our balance sheet;
    • Our ability to meet our sustainability and other ESG targets, including our targets relating to greenhouse gas emissions;as well the risk factors specified under Forward-looking statements of this release, and our 2023 annual report on Form 20-F published on 29 February 2024 under Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia’s current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans, benefits or outlook related to our strategies, projects, programs, product launches, growth management, licenses, sustainability and other ESG targets, operational key performance indicators and decisions on market exits; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of potential global pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and the general or regional macroeconomic conditions on our businesses, our supply chain, the timing of market changes or turning points in demand and our customers’ businesses) and any future dividends and other distributions of profit; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance and results of operations, including market share, prices, net sales, income, margins, cash flows, cost savings, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, provisions, impairments, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, investment funds, inflation, product cost reductions, competitiveness, revenue generation in any specific region, and licensing income and payments; D) ability to execute, expectations, plans or benefits related to our ongoing transactions and changes in organizational structure and operating model; E) impact on revenue with respect to litigation/renewal discussions; and F) any statements preceded by or including “continue”, “believe”, “envisage”, “expect”, “aim”, “will”, “target”, “may”, “would”, “see”, “plan” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management’s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences, include those risks and uncertainties identified in the Risk Factors above.

    ANALYST WEBCAST

    • Nokia’s webcast will begin on 17 October 2024 at 11.30 a.m. Finnish time (EEST). The webcast will last approximately 60 minutes.
    • The webcast will be a presentation followed by a Q&A session. Presentation slides will be available for download at http://www.nokia.com/financials.
    • A link to the webcast will be available at http://www.nokia.com/financials.
    • Media representatives can listen in via the link, or alternatively call +1-412-317-5619.

    FINANCIAL CALENDAR

    • Nokia plans to publish its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results on 30 January 2025.

    About Nokia

    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

    Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia
    Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email:press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia
    Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 4080 3 4080
    Email:investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS San Diego Holds Change of Command Ceremony in Sasebo, Japan

    Source: United States Navy Pacific Fleet 1

    by Lt. Bridget Wiseman

    03 October 2024

    Capt. Timothy R. Carter relieved Capt. David W. Walton as commanding officer of amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during a change of command ceremony held in the ship’s well deck, Oct. 03.

    RDML. Christopher Stone, served as the guest speaker and presiding officer for the event, during which he presented Walton with a Legion of Merit for his time aboard San Diego.

    “Captain Walton, while serving as commanding officer of San Diego, imbued in his team the concepts of how we fight. He tirelessly fostered a culture of excellence that built capable warfighters, warfighters who are ready and will make a significant impact in Seventh Fleet, operating alongside our Allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. D.J., as we wish you fair winds and following seas, I want to congratulate you on a job well done”.

    Walton led San Diego through a challenging Maintenance, Basic, and Advanced Phase. After finishing an extended dry-docking selected restricted availability (SRA), Walton led the ship and her crew through a 47-week Basic Phase while managing four major scheduled and emergent repair availabilities – testing, managing and training many significant modernizations to the ship’s propulsion and electrical plant and combat system suite.
    Most notably, Walton led the ship in the historical NASA URT-11 mission where, for the first time, the Department of Defense and NASA completed a full recovery simulation with the Artemis II Flight Crew. This was in preparation for the Artemis II crewed mission that will send four astronauts in Orion beyond the Moon for the first time. He continued his tour accomplishing the successful homeport shift of San Diego from her namesake city of San Diego, Calf. to Sasebo Japan. He spoke of the crew’s greatest achievements and his proudest memories while on San Diego.

    “Leading the men and women of USS San Diego has been the highest honor of my naval career. Over the past couple of years we have faced challenges and celebrated victories. Whether it was completing the SRA, excelling throughout the Basic Phase, working NASA, or most recently conducting a flawless home port change, I have always been proud to witness the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and resilience displayed by every Sailor aboard this ship.”

    Walton concluded his remarks by reading his orders, followed by Carter reading his own orders and addressing the crew for the first time as San Diego’s commanding officer.

    “Captain Walton, your leadership and dedication have set a high standard, and it’s an honor to follow in your footsteps. To the crew of USS San Diego (LPD 22), I assume command today with great pride and humility. I understand the responsibility of this role, and I am committed to leading with integrity, respect, and a relentless focus on our mission.”

    Captain Carter served as Battle Watch Captain and Maritime Homeland Defense Planner (N35) on the staff of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Current Operations Director and Future Operations Director at Commander Fifth Fleet. He served as Military Deputy for Deputy Assistance Secretary of Defense for Platform Weapon Portfolio Management at the Pentagon. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he obtained a Master of Science in Information System Technology and completed his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. He is a graduate of the National War College in Washington, D.C. where he obtained a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.

    Walton will report to OPNAV N95 as the Expeditionary Warfare Readiness Director at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

    For more news from USS San Diego, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/lpd22/
    On Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/LPD22

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese automakers push forward with growth plans

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People visit the pavilion of Chinese carmaker BYD at the 2024 Paris Motor Show during the media day in Paris, France, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese automakers are pushing forward with their development plans despite protectionist tariff threats from the European Union.

    Nine leading Chinese brands, including BYD, Xpeng, and Leapmotor, showcased new electric vehicle (EV) models at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, highlighting their technological advancements and determination to grow.

    Among the key unveilings was Leapmotor’s global debut of its B10 model, a compact electric SUV that will be manufactured in Poland for European consumers.

    Zhu Jiangming, founder of Leapmotor, outlined the B10’s advanced features, which include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a customizable digital cockpit, and intelligent driving capabilities. He also noted the company’s collaboration with the Stellantis team for chassis tuning, aiming to meet the preferences of younger consumers seeking innovation and quality.

    “The debut highlights Leapmotor’s rapid growth in Europe, with over 200 dealers already established across 13 markets, aiming to reach 500 sales points by 2025,” Leapmotor revealed.

    Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares commended Leapmotor’s rapid growth and its in-house R&D capabilities, highlighting that the Leapmotor joint venture will promote affordable EVs globally and reshape Europe’s EV market.

    China’s Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co., Ltd. showcased four new energy vehicles: the flagship luxury Forthing V9 MPV, the pure electric sedan Forthing S7, the pure-electric SUV Friday and the hybrid MPV U-Tour.

    General Manager Lin Changbo emphasized the company’s portfolio of over 21,000 active patents, highlighting the commitment to enhancing global competitiveness and fostering collaboration with industry partners.

    Xpeng Motors introduced its AI-powered P7+ sedan, which it described as the “world’s first AI car.”

    Currently, the automotive industry is benefiting from two major advantages: intelligence and electrification, He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

    He stressed that as a member of China’s emerging car manufacturing forces, the company will continue to invest in R&D and deliver innovative intelligent technology to the European market.

    BYD unveiled its mid-sized electric SUV, the Sealion 7, and introduced its luxury Yangwang U8 SUV to the French market. Executive Vice President Li Ke told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper that the company plans to start vehicle production in Hungary by late 2025, further cementing its position as a major Chinese player in Europe’s EV market.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to introduce incremental policies to prop up property sector

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will introduce a slew of incremental measures to stabilize the property sector, Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, told a press conference on Thursday.

    The government will step up support for urban village and dilapidated housing renovation projects, Ni said, adding that China will complete the renovation of an additional 1 million such housing units by providing monetary compensation to residents.

    The minister stressed all eligible real estate projects will be included in the “white list” mechanism and that their reasonable financing needs will be met through loans.

    As of Oct. 16, loans approved for the “white list” real estate projects have reached 2.23 trillion yuan (about 313.11 billion U.S. dollars), Xiao Yuanqi, deputy head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, said at the press conference.

    It is expected that by the end of this year, the approved loan amount for “white list” projects will double to over 4 trillion yuan, Xiao said.

    Under the “white list” mechanism launched in late January, local authorities are recommending that financial institutions provide financial support to eligible real estate projects.

    The mechanism is part of China’s efforts to stabilize the sector weighed by debt problems and boost confidence in an industry that accounts for nearly 6 percent of the country’s GDP.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Severe thunderstorms are sweeping through southern Australia. But what makes a thunderstorm ‘severe’?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Brown, Research Fellow in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne

    Jamestorm/Shutterstock

    Clusters of severe thunderstorms are expected to strike Australia’s southern regions over Thursday and Friday.

    The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings and forecasts related to these unusually widespread stormy conditions as they move through South Australia today and into Victoria.

    As of October 17th, there’s a risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of central and southern Australia.

    Some areas have already experienced golf ball-sized hail and intense winds.

    While we might not always think of thunderstorms as a threat, severe storms can be surprisingly damaging. The enormous Sydney thunderstorm of 1999 dropped an estimated 500,000 tonnes of hail, causing widespread damage to cars and roofs. At the time, it was the most expensive natural disaster on record, overtaken only by the unprecedented 2022 floods across eastern Australia – which were themselves partly caused by severe thunderstorms in addition to other weather systems.

    When severe thunderstorms bring torrential rain, they can often trigger flash flooding. This is because extreme rain from thunderstorms usually falls over a relatively short time – less than an hour or two in many cases. Lightning can also pose a threat.

    In recent years, severe thunderstorms have also shown they can damage the power grid. In 2016, huge rotating supercell storms brought intense winds and at least seven tornadoes to South Australia, toppling transmission towers and causing a statewide blackout. Smaller thunderstorms caused major outages in Victoria in February this year after taking down six towers.

    But what makes a thunderstorm “severe”?

    The ingredients for a storm

    What triggers thunderstorms? Climate scientists and meteorologists often talk about the ingredients necessary for thunderstorms.

    To make a normal thunderstorm, you need to have a lot of moisture in the air. Then you need vertical instability in the atmosphere, meaning relatively warm moist air near the surface and very cold air above. You also need a mechanism to lift warmer surface air up to a level where the atmospheric instability can be released.

    For a severe thunderstorm, you need all those ingredients and usually one more: vertical wind shear. This means that wind speeds and direction differ with height. For example, you might have strong northerly winds down low, and strong southerly winds up higher.

    Vertical wind shear can make a run-of-the-mill thunderstorm much more intense, in a range of ways. For instance, wind shear can help warm updrafts stay separate from cold downdrafts and rainfall, which can help make the storm last longer.

    If a thunderstorm has large hail, damaging wind gusts or could trigger a tornado or flash flooding, this makes it a severe thunderstorm, according to Bureau of Meteorology classification.

    You might have also heard of supercell storms. These are convective thunderstorms, characterised by strong, rotating updrafts that last for a long time.

    Forecasters can predict the potential for severe thunderstorms several days out by looking for moisture-laden air and winds. But predicting exactly where and when they might pop up is extremely challenging.

    Severe storms can bring lightning, hail, intense winds and rain. Pictured: a previous thunderstorm over Perth’s northern suburbs.
    cephotoclub/Shutterstock

    What’s unusual about these storms?

    The storms this week are unusually widespread, with thunderstorms possible from Kalbarri in central Western Australia down through Esperance, across into South Australia, into Victoria and up through New South Wales and southern Queensland.

    These conditions are due to a large-scale low pressure system moving west to east.

    As this large low pressure system moves east, it brings thunderstorms. This map shows the low pressure system on October 16th.
    Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY-NC-ND

    Ahead of the arrival of this low pressure system, winds from the north are bringing down moisture and instability and priming the system for thunderstorms. When air near the low pressure system begins to rise, energy from the warm, moisture-laden and unstable air can be released. This includes energy release due to condensation of water vapour. These rising air currents can travel several kilometres up into the atmosphere, even reaching the top of the troposphere, 10–15km up.

    Severe thunderstorms in southern Australia are more likely in spring and summer. That’s because there’s plenty of moisture available from the tropics and the warm oceans around Australia, while low pressure systems and cold fronts can still emerge from the cold oceans to our south.

    Thunderstorms, tornadoes and fire

    Severe thunderstorms can also pack a hidden punch. They can trigger tornadoes in extreme cases.

    In August, severe thunderstorms hit northern Victoria and triggered a tornado, a destructive whirling column of air that damaged houses and farms in the high country.

    This surprised many people. It’s generally known that Australia has tropical cyclones in the north, intense tropical storms coming in off the sea, but not as well known to have tornadoes.

    In fact, Australia does get tornadoes – an estimated 30–80 each year. In 2013, a total of 69 known tornadoes caused almost 150 injuries. Many of these tornadoes spin out of supercells.

    In Australia’s hotter months, many fires burn around the country. Thunderstorms can make fires worse by bringing strong, warm northerly winds, often with rapid variations in speed and direction that can increase the rate of spread of a fire.

    Firefighters and first responders dread these conditions. Australia’s most deadly bushfire was Black Saturday in 2009, which killed 173 people. One reason it was so dangerous was its suddenness. Intense northerly winds brought down powerlines and started fires, which were quickly whipped into intense firestorms, including thunderstorms generated in the fire plumes.

    Will climate change bring more severe storms?

    As the world heats up, more water is evaporating off warm sea surfaces and hanging in the air as water vapour. This means there’s more of this ingredient necessary to fuel severe thunderstorms and more intense rain from thunderstorms.

    What we don’t know for certain yet is how prevailing air currents over Australia are changing. This could shift moisture to different regions, or affect other thunderstorm ingredients like vertical wind shear, instability, and lifting mechanisms. If circulation patterns do change, we could see severe storms develop in new areas, or different times of the year.



    Read more:
    We can’t say yet if grid-breaking thunderstorms are getting worse – but we shouldn’t wait to find out

    Andrew Brown receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather.

    Andrew Dowdy receives funding from University of Melbourne, including through the Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the Melbourne Energy Institute.

    – ref. Severe thunderstorms are sweeping through southern Australia. But what makes a thunderstorm ‘severe’? – https://theconversation.com/severe-thunderstorms-are-sweeping-through-southern-australia-but-what-makes-a-thunderstorm-severe-241555

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Loss of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney

    Former One Direction band member and solo artist Liam Payne has been found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, media reports have confirmed. Payne was just 31 years old – a loved friend and father.

    Alongside his former One Direction band mates Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, Payne had a huge influence on popular culture in his home country of the United Kingdom and internationally.

    The group formed in 2010 on the British talent show X Factor and stayed together for about five years before officially splitting in 2016. Throughout this time, Payne remained a valuable member of the band and a clear talent in his own right.

    Although each member auditioned seperately, they were eventually hand-picked by Simon Cowell to form a group.

    After the split (and a brief hiatus from music-making), Payne continued to release music periodically as both a songwriter and collaborator. He most recently released the single Teardrops in March, ahead of an anticipated second solo album.

    News of Payne’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes. Like many young people thrust into stardom seemingly overnight, his life wasn’t without controversy. But the response to his death by fans and industry colleagues alike is proof of the impact he had.

    The making of a pop supergroup

    While One Direction may have not been together for as long as other globally successful acts, their influence far exceeded bands that have been together for decades. They released five studio records – and broke many more, including six Guinness World Records. And even though they didn’t make it to their 10th anniversary together, they had still sold some 70 million records by 2020.

    In the years since the split, fans continued to gather, listen and celebrate – with the most recent anniversary (14 years) seeing fan-led events held in Australia and the rest of the world.

    It’s easy to dismiss pop music and its influence, especially in the face of what feel like increasingly dire global circumstances. But pop, like many other forms of entertainment, provides a practical way for people to gain momentary pleasure and comfort.

    It also provides connection with others – and relief from politics and other daily pressures. For example, one of One Direction’s biggest hits, That’s What Makes You Beautiful, sought to empower young people who might otherwise be overwhelmed by negative messaging.

    Within a year of their debut, the group was met with massive crowds of fans almost everywhere they want.

    One Direction has been compared to The Beatles in terms of their influence on young people – and female and queer fans in particular.

    The impact on fans when their idol dies

    The loss of life, especially a young person’s life, is always a tragedy.

    For some young fans, this might be the first person they “know” who has died. While it may not be the same as losing a family member or close friend, the feeling of loss is significant. Young fans will need support. And in 2024, many will find this support through social platforms and online forums.

    I still remember the impact the deaths of stars such as Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley had on people like me who were teenagers in the 1990s. These were artists I admired and listened to – and whose art I relied on during times of pleasure and pain.

    A similar pang was felt when artists such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie died, albeit later in my life and theirs.

    The experience of losing a music idol is in many ways a universal one. People whose art we attach to our own life experiences become inseparable from our lives. And when they die, it can feel like those experiences are over too.

    After news of Payne’s death broke, hundreds of fans took to the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires, where Payne had been visiting. They held a vigil, cried and consoled one another in front of the Casa Sur hotel where Payne had been staying.

    One fan, 25-year-old Yamila Zacarias, probably spoke for many when she said:

    He meant a lot to me because the band came into my life at this time when you’re trying to be a part of something, and being a One Direction fan became that something for me.

    Lifelong fandom and memories

    There’s a stereotype of “fans” as hordes of screaming girls, which can really take away from the depth of fandom.

    Anyone at any stage of life can be a fan of just about anything. And the best thing about fandom is that it can, and often does, allow lots of different types of people an outlet for connection throughout their lives.

    Many fans have left comments on old music videos.
    YouTube/screenshot

    The death of US actress Betty White in 2021, as sad as it was, brought people across generations and walks of life together. And not just those who knew her personally, but those who had connected with each other through their love of her work. It reminded me of my own family, including my Nan and Dad, now gone, and the laughs we’d share as we watched her.

    As more details and tributes to Payne’s life and death emerge, the fans will have each other to lean on. If you yourself know someone who is a fan of Payne or One Direction, even reaching out to just acknowledge that person’s grief and experience is important. It says to them, “what you love is valid, and so are you”.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Liz Giuffre 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. Loss of an idol: response to Liam Payne’s death highlights the power of childhood and music – https://theconversation.com/loss-of-an-idol-response-to-liam-paynes-death-highlights-the-power-of-childhood-and-music-241554

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panasonic HD secures SBTi verification for 2050 Net-Zero Emissions Target

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Panasonic HD secures SBTi verification for 2050 Net-Zero Emissions Target

    Osaka, Japan, October 17, 2024 – Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD) announced today that the Science Based Targets initiative(*1), a global body driving ambitious corporate climate action, has verified the company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) 2050 reduction target as a “Net-Zero Science-Based Target.”
    The SBTi promotes science-based GHG reduction targets for companies, aiming to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Its certification standards for short-term (2030) so-called “1.5°C Targets” and long-term (2050) “Net-Zero Targets” have become the global benchmark for corporate climate goals aligned with the Paris Agreement.
    In May 2023, Panasonic HD received SBTi approval for its 1.5°C Target. Now, the company has secured verification from the body for its Net-Zero Target after submitting detailed plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with SBTi guidelines.
    Panasonic HD’s Net-Zero Target commits to reducing GHG emissions across the company’s entire value chain. This includes scope 1 emissions from the company’s own activities, as well as scopes 2 and 3 emissions, from indirect activities, by at least 90% by FY2050 compared to FY2019 levels. The company pledges to neutralize the remaining 10% through proprietary carbon removal technologies.
    SBTi verification validates that a company’s GHG reduction targets are appropriately set, enhancing stakeholder trust in its climate action efforts. Globally, 1,138 companies have received Net-Zero Target certification, including 52 in Japan(*2).
    Panasonic HD remains committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain and contributing to GHG reductions in society, driving impact toward achieving a decarbonized world.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Generative AI expected to accelerate entry-level career progress across industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Mollie Mellows
    Tel.: + 44 (0) 7342 709384
    E-mail: mollie.mellows@capgemini.com

    Generative AI expected to accelerate entry-level career progress across industries

    • Employees believe generative AI will facilitate a third (32%) of entry level tasks over the next 12 months.
    • 6 in 10 managers and most employees (71%) expect entry-level roles across functions to evolve from creation to reviewing generative AI outputs, over the next 3 years.
    • Over three-quarters (78%) of leaders and managers predict generative AI will augment their problem-solving and decision-making in the next three years, and over half think manager-level positions will evolve towards specialization.

    Paris, October 17, 2024 – The Capgemini Research Institute’s new report on generative AI (Gen AI) in management, ‘Gen AI at work: Shaping the future of organizations’, published today, suggests that Gen AI could have a positive impact on early-stage careers. In the longer-term, the report finds that Gen AI has the potential to create new job roles, transform organizational structures, drive human-AI fusion teams, and make managerial roles more specialist. However, adoption remains low and nascent. The report finds most employees lack the training they need to develop Gen AI skills.

    Whilst the impact of Gen AI on careers has been hotly debated, this new research finds the majority of business leaders believe that entry level roles could become more autonomous and evolve into frontline managerial roles within the next three years. With this in mind, the proportion of managers in teams across functions could expand from 44% to 53% in the next three years; only 18% of leaders and managers believe that Gen AI will reduce middle management.

    Employees think that, over the next 12 months, generative AI tools could lead to an average time saving of 18% for entry-level workers, implying there could be significant productivity improvements for junior employees. However, the cost of the Gen AI tool must also be taken into account, cites the report. Furthermore, 81% of leaders and managers expect new roles such as data curators, AI ethics specialists and algorithm trainers to emerge at the entry level.

    “Generative AI tools are becoming more adept at assisting with complex managerial tasks, which could challenge the status quo of organizational structure and ways of working,” said Roshan Gya, CEO of Capgemini Invent and member of the Group Executive Committee. “Generative AI has the potential to shift from a co-pilot to a co-thinker, capable of strategic collaboration, adding new perspectives and challenging assumptions. This shift could unlock significant value when tailored to specific business use cases but is dependent on several factors, including organizations prioritizing building the skills and readiness of employees, taking proactive steps around talent acquisition and development.”

    Potential to redefine management but still a significant gap on actual usage
    The report finds that Gen AI is transitioning the view of future leadership and managerial roles toward becoming more strategic, focusing on decision making and fostering innovation. In fact, many managers and leaders currently believe that Gen AI tools could act as co-thinkers for them. 65% of the leaders and managers surveyed see high potential in Gen AI for complex strategic tasks, and more than half of leaders believe managers will play a critical role as catalysts of Gen AI-driven change. The technology could also save leaders and managers up to seven hours each week, with nearly 8 in 10 leaders believing that Gen AI will positively impact their productivity in the next 12 months.

    Gen AI has the potential to amplify the strategic scope of leaderships roles. Currently, managers spend more than one-third of their time on administrative tasks. However, AI’s ability to automate much of this work provides opportunities to focus on strategic-planning and problem-solving tasks. In the next three years, over three-quarters (78%) of leaders and managers expect Gen AI to augment their problem-solving and decision-making, and over half believe manager-level positions will evolve towards specialization. 57% of leaders at organizations advanced in their Gen AI implementation already see their roles becoming more strategic.

    While adoption of Gen AI in management has good potential, there is a significant gap between potential and actual usage. Although 97% of leaders and managers say that they have experimented with Gen AI tools, only 15% use Gen AI tools at least once a day in their work.

    Organizational structures need to transform to enable cohesive human-AI collaboration
    For nearly half (46%) of teams, AI is used simply as a tool to enhance existing capabilities and workflows. However, human-machine partnerships are starting to be embraced. One in three teams are currently using AI as a ‘team member’, for example by enhancing human performance or using AI agents to complete predefined tasks without human intervention. According to the research, today AI is used as a supervisor in only 1% of teams i.e., it is directing, allocating, or prioritizing work for humans. Yet, in the next 12 months, 13% of teams expect to use AI in this role. In an AI-led environment, human judgment is increasingly important, and the majority of leaders, managers and employees in the research acknowledge this.

    Training and managerial guidance required to secure the future of Gen AI at work

    Despite the potential of Gen AI to boost productivity across job functions, adoption remains nascent. While almost two-thirds (64%) of workers already use Gen AI tools for their work, only 20% of employees use Gen AI tools daily.

    Employees also lack proficiency in key skills, with only 16% believing they are getting the support they need to develop Gen AI skills. Only 13% of employees say they are well-versed in machine conversational skills; only a third say they can manage Gen AI systemic risks; and less than half claim to have prompt engineering skills. The report suggests that team members should be equipped with the right AI skills, defining rules and responsibilities for cohesive human and Gen AI collaboration, ensuring accountability when Gen AI systems make mistakes, and adapting workflows and processes for the new era of Gen AI.

    Report Methodology
    Capgemini Research Institute conducted a global quantitative executive survey in May 2024 across 15 different countries and 11 key industries, surveying 1,500 respondents from 500 organizations, with annual revenue of more than $1 billion. Each unique organization is represented by three executives, one each at leadership level, middle-management level, and front-line management level (the three respondents can be from different functions or locations). The report is also based on an entry-level employee survey to take their perspective on Gen AI adoption by their managers and leaders. The survey targeted 1,000 entry-level employees from the same 500 organizations as in the executive survey. Hence, overall, each organization, irrespective of location or function, is represented by five respondents – three executive-level (leaders and managers) and two entry-level employees. In addition to these executive and entry-level employee surveys, the report also draws on 15 in-depth interviews with independent experts from various industries across the globe to validate and substantiate findings. Please note, the study findings reflect the views of the respondents and are aimed at providing directional guidance.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | http://www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.
    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Neolithic human settlement site discovered in north China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 10, 2024 shows a view of Nanpanshi relic site in Lincheng County of north China’s Hebei Province. A Neolithic human settlement site dating back approximately 6,000 years was found in north China’s Hebei Province, offering fresh evidence for archaeologists to have a deeper understanding of the cultural development and changes in the early Neolithic Age of China. (Photo by Chen Lei/Xinhua)

    A Neolithic human settlement site dating back approximately 6,000 years was found in north China’s Hebei Province, offering fresh evidence for archaeologists to have a deeper understanding of the cultural development and changes in the early Neolithic Age of China.

    The Nanpanshi relic site is located in Hebei’s Lincheng County and its excavation began in August. Archaeologists from the Hebei Normal University, Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology as well as local authorities in charge of cultural relics protection have excavated about 300 square meters of the site, with the fieldwork expected to be completed by the end of October.

    Bone wares, pottery and stone tools have been unearthed from the site, along with house foundations, tombs, urn burial sites and ash pits, according to He Xiangdong, a postgraduate student at the College of History and Culture at Hebei Normal University.

    Suo Lixia, from the Lincheng cultural relics protection and management authority, explained that during the Neolithic period, urn burials were used for children who had died young, with their bodies placed in covered pottery vessels and buried near houses or indoors.

    “The relics may offer insights into the living conditions and productivity of people from that time,” said Liu Zhenhua, an official in charge of culture and tourism in Lincheng, adding that plans are underway to develop an archaeological relics park at the site.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang attracts visitors with cultural richness, natural splendor

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An attendee of the 6th World Media Summit interacts with a dancer in Jiayi Village of Xinhe County, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 15, 2024. The 6th World Media Summit opened on Monday in Urumqi, capital city of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo)

    Captivated by the beautiful melodies of traditional instruments and the vibrant Uygur dance performance, Joshua Isaac Jere from Zambia couldn’t resist the infectious rhythm and warm hospitality, and joined the dancers in their joyous celebration in Jiayi Village.

    Jiayi, located in Xinhe County, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is renowned for its musical instrument production. Jere, an online news media manager of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, was part of an overseas media group visiting this small village. The trip followed the opening of the sixth World Media Summit in the regional capital of Urumqi.

    “It reminded me of home and I enjoyed it very much,” Jere said, noting that the musical instruments share many similarities with those back in his own country.

    Jiayi Village has over 300 years of history in Uygur ethnic musical instrument craftsmanship, which has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage and features more than 10 types of meticulously handcrafted instruments, including Tambur and Dutar.

    “I have witnessed the villagers’ passion for preserving their traditional culture, especially in the crafts of handmade instruments, which have been passed down through generations,” said Kuik Cheng Kang, editor-in-chief of Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily.

    Xinjiang’s distinct customs and lifestyle offer international visitors a glimpse into the rich diversity and inclusiveness of Chinese culture, a surprising and captivating experience for many, according to Kuik, who also believed that Xinjiang is showcasing its unique charm to the world with more confidence.

    This confidence stems from Xinjiang’s remarkable cultural and tourism resources, combined with the region’s unswerving efforts to forge itself into a more attractive, inclusive and accessible tourism hub.

    Covering one-sixth of China’s total land area, Xinjiang’s unique “three mountain ranges sandwiching two basins” terrain offers breathtaking natural scenery, from towering mountains and deep gorges to vast deserts and serene lakes.

    Xinjiang’s strategic location along the ancient Silk Road, combined with its diverse array of ethnic minorities, has forged rich cultural heritages. This is illustrated by the region’s multiple UNESCO world heritage sites, world intangible cultural heritages as well as national intangible cultural heritages.

    The unparalleled blend of natural beauty and historical significance makes Xinjiang a must-visit destination for those seeking both cultural and natural wonders, such as the Tianshan Mountains, Sayram Lake, Jiaohe Ruins and Kashgar Old Town.

    Beneath the soft glow of moonlight, another group of overseas travelers wandered into the 2,000-year-old ruins of Jiaohe. Once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road in Turpan, it now stands as the world’s largest and best-preserved clay-built ancient city. Accompanied by the sounds of flutes and strings, the visitors felt like they had been transported through time, immersing themselves in the ancient world through the performers’ chants.

    “The Jiaohe Ruins exemplify advanced concepts in cultural relic protection and cultural tourism development in China. They not only preserve the original appearance of the site but also enhance the experience with thoughtfully designed pathways, lighting, cave landscaping, background music and performances, creating a tranquil atmosphere that harmonizes with the ancient city,” said Marcelo Benez, chief commercial officer of Folha de S.Paulo.

    He said the trip to Turpan provided him with an unprecedented experience. “This remarkable place is incredibly diverse, where the past and future, history and modernity, technology and tradition intertwine in an almost unbelievable way. For first-time visitors, surprises seem to arise at every turn.”

    Delvin O’Neale Thoma, deputy minister of Media Department of Republic of Nauru, said he had only seen such cultural relics in documentaries before and being able to stand amidst such a historically significant site left a deep impression on him.

    In recent years, tourism in Xinjiang has surged in popularity, driven by a range of measures designed to enrich the travel experience, improve transportation options, and ensure the sustainable preservation of cultural resources.

    Between January and September 2024, Xinjiang received 245 million tourists from home and abroad. Tourism revenue for the first three quarters of 2024 and that of the entire 2023 reached 287.58 billion yuan (about 40.4 billion U.S. dollars) and 296.72 billion yuan, respectively.

    Xinjiang is also enhancing its tourism infrastructure by focusing on developing world-class tourist destinations, resorts, and cities over the next three years. Key scenic roads, such as the Duku Highway, will be upgraded into top self-driving routes.

    Improved transportation, including domestic and overseas flight routes and rural road projects, will further boost the region’s tourism growth, according to Sun Hongmei, vice chairperson of the regional government.

    By promoting internationalized tourism services, including accepting foreign bank cards, streamlining hotel check-in procedures to reduce wait times, and enabling foreign tourists to reserve tickets using passports and permanent residence IDs online, Xinjiang is also committed to enhancing convenience for overseas tourists. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2024, No. 30)

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 111 of the Federal Law “On Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Vehicle Owners””

    The bill establishes the possibility for insurers to issue a notification of a road traffic accident in the form of an electronic document without the participation of authorized police officers using the Unified Identification and Authentication System (UIAS).

    2. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Finance of Russia in 2024 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the provision of subsidies to the joint-stock company DOM.RF for the purpose of compensating credit and other organizations for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued to citizens of the Russian Federation

    The decision is aimed at ensuring compensation to credit and other organizations for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued under the preferential mortgage programs “Preferential Mortgage”, “Family Mortgage” and “Far Eastern and Arctic Mortgage”.

    3. On the distribution of subsidies to support measures to ensure the balance of the budgets of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia region and the Kherson region

    The decision is aimed at providing additional financial assistance to the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia region and the Kherson region.

    4. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to Rosavtodor in 2024 to provide the budget of the Smolensk region with a subsidy from the federal budget for bringing highways and artificial road structures into compliance with the standard

    The funding is aimed at ensuring the restoration and repair of the road overpass in the city of Vyazma, Smolensk region.

    5. On the allocation by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East in 2024 of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of a subsidy in the form of a property contribution of the Russian Federation to the state development corporation VEB.RF

    The decision is aimed at implementing priority investment projects in the Far Eastern Federal District and state support for regular transportation along the Northern Sea Route.

    6. On the allocation in 2024 by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of subsidies to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District for the implementation of measures of the social development plans of economic growth centers

    7. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 353 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation”

    Establishing the possibility of implementing state control (supervision) over the activities of organizations conducting special assessments of working conditions, and improving the quality of such assessments.

    8. On the allocation in 2024 of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Labor of Russia for the provision of subventions to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the city of Baikonur for the payment of housing and communal services to certain categories of citizens

    The decision is aimed at ensuring the timely provision of social support measures for the payment of housing and communal services to citizens exposed to radiation as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, the accident at the Mayak production association and the discharge of radioactive waste into the Techa River, nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site, as well as certain categories of citizens from among veterans and disabled people.

    9. On the Government Commission on issues of nature management and environmental protection, development of forestry and water management complexes

    The draft resolution provides for the formation of an updated Government Commission on Nature Management and Environmental Protection, Development of the Forestry and Water Management Complexes and the approval of the regulations on the commission, as well as the abolition of the Government Commission on Nature Management and Environmental Protection and the Government Commission on Development of the Forestry Complex.

    10. On the draft order of the Government of the Russian Federation on the allocation of budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia in 2024 for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget to Russian credit institutions and the joint-stock company DOM.RF

    The funding is intended to compensate for lost income on housing (mortgage) loans (credits) issued to citizens for the construction (purchase) of housing in rural areas, as well as to compensate for lost income on consumer loans (credits) issued to improve the level of improvement of households located in rural areas.

    11. On the draft order of the Government of the Russian Federation on the allocation in 2024 of budgetary appropriations to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget to Russian credit institutions and the state development corporation VEB.RF to compensate for lost income on loans issued to agricultural producers, organizations and individual entrepreneurs engaged in the production, primary and subsequent processing of agricultural products and their sale, at a preferential rate

    The decision is aimed at ensuring the implementation of the preferential lending program for the agro-industrial complex in 2024.

    12. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations to the Russian Emergencies Ministry in 2024 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation for the purpose of providing another inter-budget transfer to the budget of the Kursk region

    The decision is aimed at providing citizens who suffered as a result of the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on the territory of the Kursk region with financial assistance in connection with the partial or complete loss of essential property.

    13. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation

    The changes concern the clarification of the powers of federal and regional executive bodies in the field of heat supply, as well as the procedure for organizing heat supply, regulating relations on the development and approval of heat supply schemes for municipal districts.

    14. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 7 of the Federal Law “On Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Criminally Obtained Incomes and the Financing of Terrorism”

    The adoption of the draft federal law will allow banks to test the most optimal methods of remote identification within the framework of an experimental legal regime.

    15. On the progress of the implementation of the comprehensive state program of the Russian Federation “Construction” in 2024

    Moscow, October 16, 2024

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

    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://government.ru/meetings/53021/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Modernization of the Dalniy gas control station in the south of Moscow has been completed

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialists from the city economy complex have completed the modernization of the large gas control point “Dalniy” in the south of the capital. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “The city is conducting systematic work to update gas pressure control points, which are responsible for reducing gas pressure to certain values and maintaining them within specified limits. We have modernized the Dalniy gas pressure control point, which supplies gas to public utilities and residential areas in the Donskoy and Yakimanka districts,” said Pyotr Biryukov.

    Due to the long-term operation of the equipment, it was decided to reconstruct it. The work was carried out in a short time without disconnecting consumers from gas supply.

    The outdated systems were replaced with new modern equipment manufactured from Russian components at the own production facilities of Mosgaz JSC. It has a high degree of reliability and reduced noise characteristics, which meets all safety requirements. Additionally, the system of supply gas pipelines and distribution networks was updated.

    All gas control points of the capital are equipped with shut-off devices. Their work is constantly monitored from the central control room. This allows managing the gas economy of the capital in real time.

    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.mos.ru/nevs/item/145410073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two integrated development projects are being implemented on part of the former Khapilovka industrial zone

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    About nine hectares of land will be reorganized in part of the former Khapilovka industrial zone as part of two integrated territorial development projects (ITD). This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “As part of the comprehensive development of part of the former industrial zone Khapilovka, KRT operators will build 93.4 thousand square meters of various real estate on four sites with a total area of about nine hectares. The project implementation periods vary from four to five years. Investments in the development of the sites are estimated at 9.8 billion rubles. As a result, about 400 jobs will be created,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The plots are located in the Preobrazhenskoye district, not far from the Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad and Semenovskaya metro stations and the Izmailovo platform of the Moscow Central Circle.

    “Modern housing for renovation purposes and other city needs with an area of 77.8 thousand square meters will appear within five years on three sites of the former industrial zone Khapilovka with a total area of 4.17 hectares, included in one KRT project. On another site with an area of 4.8 hectares, about 15.6 thousand square meters of communal facilities will be built in four years. All sites will be landscaped and greened, and new roads will be laid,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city quarters are created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 236 KRT projects with a total area of more than 3.1 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. Their development is underway on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

    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.mos.ru/nevs/item/145350073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Natural colors and panoramic loggias: a house under the renovation program was put into operation on Kedrova Street

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A 12-section residential building was put into operation in the Akademichesky District under the renovation program. It is located at the address: Kedrova Street, Building 16, Block 3. This was reported by the Chairman of the State Construction Supervision Committee Anton Slobodchikov.

    “The new building of variable number of storeys with a total area of 65.6 thousand square meters with underground parking for 223 cars was erected in a well-maintained area with well-developed infrastructure. The building houses 581 apartments, three of which are adapted for people with disabilities. Each room has been given an improved finish in accordance with the renovation standards approved by the Moscow Government Resolution,” the head of the department said.

    The facade of the house was finished with fiber cement panels of natural colors – from light beige to terracotta brown. The first floors were decorated in dark gray shades, the loggias were made panoramic and glazed. The building was equipped with 20 elevators with a lifting capacity of 400 and 1,000 kilograms.

    A barrier-free environment was created in the new building and around it. Paths with anti-slip surfaces were made in the courtyard. Residents also had recreation areas, four children’s playgrounds and two sports grounds.

    On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, special attention is being paid to residential buildings that are being built under the renovation program.

    “The house on Kedrova Street was built in three years. The committee’s inspectors conducted 14 on-site inspections at all stages of construction. Employees of the subordinate Expertise Center performed a set of laboratory and instrumental studies to assess the quality of work, structures and materials,” added Anton Slobodchikov.

    Based on the results of the final inspection, Mosgosstroynadzor issued a conclusion on the facility’s compliance with the requirements of the design documentation, and then issued a permit for the building to be put into operation.

    “In total, six residential complexes have been built in the Akademichesky District under the renovation program, five of which have already been handed over for occupancy. They have provided new modern apartments to residents of 14 old housing stock buildings,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    More than 16 thousand city residents have begun resettling under the renovation program since the beginning of the yearThe first stage of the renovation program has been completed in 47 districts of Moscow

    Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. In 2023 alone, 59 new buildings in the capital were handed over for settlement and the relocation of over 47 thousand people was ensured. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the renovation program has doubled.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction rates and volumes. Over the past few years, within the framework of the federal project “Housing” of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment” the volume of residential construction and commissioning in the capital has doubled – from three to five to seven million square meters per year. More information about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow can be found on the website.

    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.mos.ru/nevs/item/145368073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –