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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Inflation Expectations – Why They Matter and How They Are Formed

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    Introduction

    I would first like to pay respect to the traditional and original owners of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, to pay respect to those who have passed before us and to acknowledge today’s custodians of this land. I also extend that respect to any First Nations people joining us here today.

    A low and stable inflation rate is critical to preserving macroeconomic stability. Having a good idea of what’s going to happen to prices allows businesses to plan for investment and expansion. It also makes things like budgeting and financial planning easier for households. This is particularly true for those on low incomes, who typically have smaller financial buffers than others and spend more of their income on essentials. And with more stable household and business balance sheets, the financial system is more stable.

    The experience of the last few years has clearly highlighted this. Everyone across the economy has felt the increased cost of living. This is very clear in the data we monitor, such as household spending, but it’s perhaps more apparent in survey metrics such as consumer confidence, which remains much lower than its pre-pandemic average (Graph 1). So there are a number of good reasons to bring inflation down and keep it at a low and stable rate.

    In addition to the tangible impact of elevated inflation today, central bankers often note that they want to make sure that inflation expectations remain anchored. But why is this the case? And what impact do current inflation outcomes have on expectations?

    Why do inflation expectations matter?

    Macroeconomists generally think that a prerequisite for consistently achieving low and stable inflation over time is well-anchored inflation expectations. That is, people across the economy believe inflation will generally average a low rate (in Australia’s case, 2–3 per cent), and they make decisions based on this underlying belief that becomes self-reinforcing. Indeed, this is a key lesson from economic history; there are multiple episodes that demonstrate the damage de-anchored expectations can cause, and the policy effort and welfare costs associated with re-anchoring them. Türkiye’s current experience is just one example (Graph 2).

    So why do expectations matter at all when it comes to economic outcomes? We think they matter because people don’t just make decisions based on what is happening today, they also factor in what they think will happen tomorrow. In other words, inflation expectations are at least partly self-fulfilling.

    For example, our decision over how much to save for retirement today is determined by how much income we think we’ll need once we stop working, and this is partly influenced by what we think will happen to prices between now and then.

    In addition to changing the behaviour of households, inflation expectations also directly feed into all of the decisions firms make – for example, over capital investment, pricing and staffing. One way this occurs is through the wage-setting process (Graph 3). This could be workers, or their union representatives, bargaining for higher wages if they think inflation will be higher. Or it could be firms’ expectations of higher future prices giving them the confidence to offer higher wages today to attract workers.

    And given that this is an investment conference, I’d be remiss not to mention how important inflation expectations are to the domestic and international portfolio allocation decisions made by financial market participants. These expectations then feed into long-term interest rates, exchange rates, and the prices of assets in our superannuation funds and all other investment portfolios. In short, inflation expectations are a factor in pretty much every economic decision that’s made every day.

    The fact that expectations feed into actual inflation outcomes means de-anchored expectations typically leads to greater inflation volatility (Graph 4). Volatility breeds uncertainty, and uncertainty makes decisions harder for everyone. As a business, how do you decide when it’s right to invest if you’re less sure of the financial returns? And to go back to the example of households deciding how much to save for retirement or to buy a home, a bout of unexpectedly high inflation is very hard to plan for. Both the effort required to make decisions with uncertainty, and that some otherwise good decisions will not be made, makes us all worse off.

    Tracking inflation expectations

    Given the enormous damage that such de-anchoring can cause, and that policy can be enacted more flexibly while expectations remain anchored, the RBA Board is constantly alert for signs that this risk might emerge here in Australia. It does that by tracking a range of inflation expectations measures, including multiple financial market measures, and surveys of households, unions and professional forecasters. That analysis indicates that inflation expectations have not become de-anchored through the current high-inflation experience (Graph 5).

    So we’re not currently concerned that expectations could become de-anchored in the near term. But we do think it’s important that we track how they’re evolving and that we understand how expectations are formed, so we can monitor whether there are any signs of this risk materialising in the future.

    As I’ve already alluded to, there are a number of different groups across the economy, and each plays a part in determining aggregate macroeconomic outcomes. To understand what’s happening to expectations, we therefore need to understand how different groups form their inflation expectations, as they each play critical roles in determining how the economy evolves over time.

    For consumption/savings decisions, households’ own expectations matter the most. For wage bargaining and competition for labour, unions’ and firms’ expectations likely matter most. And when it comes to how inflation expectations feed into long-term interest rates, it’s the financial markets’ expectations that matter.

    In short, given the importance of inflation expectations as a driving force of many economic decisions, we need to understand how all of the different groups across the economy form their inflation expectations so that we can do our best to keep them anchored.

    So today I’m going to discuss some of the latest research in this area, which we have conducted ourselves and in partnership with our colleagues in academia. This includes a Research Discussion Paper that has been released in parallel with this event, which explores some of the points below in more detail – I encourage you all to have a look at my colleagues’ work.

    The presentation I am giving today draws heavily on a presentation at one of the first ‘Policy Issues Meetings’ with RBA Board members earlier this year. As previously highlighted by Governor Bullock, these meetings:

    … assemble a group of staff with the right experience and expertise to give the members insights and diversity of perspectives on the key issues relevant for policy. It will provide analysis of issues that are relevant to a few upcoming [Board] meetings, not just the immediate one.

    These new meetings have been very well received by Board members. They have appreciated the opportunity to explore policy-relevant topics in more depth and to meet with more of the staff that are engaged in the work. In turn, staff have valued the additional engagement with their work, so it’s been a clear win-win.

    For most of this speech, I’ll be focusing on household and union expectations, and mostly on short-term expectations. In the past, how these groups form expectations has been less well-understood, and this is why we’ve focused our latest research here.

    But before turning to unions and households, it is worth mentioning that we have a reasonable understanding of how financial markets form expectations. Financial markets efficiently incorporate signals about the likely future direction of inflation into market prices; by taking active positions that are contingent on economic outcomes, it’s no surprise that market participants keep themselves very well-informed about what’s happening. From these prices, we can discern whether their short- and long-term expectations remain anchored to the RBA’s inflation target.

    To understand how households and unions form their expectations, we’ve collaborated with academic colleagues to develop a very general model approach that we’ve then applied to different data series. The model assumes that some people form their expectations by extrapolating from their previous experience. That is, they assume that their experience of price increases in the past are a good guide for what they’ll experience in the future. The model also assumes that some people build on this and take account of forward-looking information as well. For example, they might expect to see a sharp increase in grocery prices in the future if it’s reported that the harvest has been poor.

    The first iteration of the model was run through to around the middle of the pandemic. The graph shows the fit of the model to actual data. In the grey lines are unions’ one- and two-year-ahead expectations, and households’ one-year-ahead expectations (Graph 6). And then the blue lines are the model estimates of each of these.

    We think the model did a reasonable job over the historical period. Especially for unions, where the model pretty much captured every major wiggle in their expectations.

    We’ve learned a lot from this process, but there are three key insights that I want to highlight:

    1. We estimate that around three-quarters of households and unions form their expectations by extrapolating from their lived experience. That is, they observe what inflation was yesterday and compare it to what they expected. Every time inflation turns out higher than what these people expected, they partially adjust their expectations up.
    2. This extrapolation process happens a lot slower for households than it does for unions. That is, households only adjust their expectations a small amount each time they are surprised. As a result, inflation has to be persistently higher or lower than previously expected for expectations to change significantly.
    3. The remaining one-quarter of unions and households don’t just extrapolate, they incorporate a lot more of the broader economic information available to them (beyond inflation outcomes themselves) to make forward-looking judgements about where inflation is likely to go. In principle, this is similar to the RBA’s forecasting process – we look at past outcomes and forward-looking indicators to assess how we think inflation will evolve from today.

    Of the roughly 25 per cent who take on board additional information, this could come from a number of different sources. To carry on my groceries example from earlier, in 2011 this group might have expected that banana prices would shoot up in the months after Tropical Cyclone Yasi struck northern Queensland, given the reporting of the damage to that year’s crop. Or this group could be looking at economic forecasts – including the RBA’s – to get a sense of where inflation may be heading.

    With this better understanding of how people form their inflation expectations, we can now assess how they have evolved recently, relative to what the models expected they would do.

    Less extrapolation recently could reflect greater attention to inflation or recognition that the recent episode is temporary

    The orange line is the model’s prediction for how inflation expectations would evolve during the recent high-inflation period (Graph 7). While inflation was rising, expectations were evolving in-line with the model’s output. But the model suggested that the turning point in expectations would come later. So expectations are currently lower than our models thought would be the case.

    As best we can tell, the models missed the turning point because unions and households have been extrapolating less from the recent high inflation outcomes. The model attributes part of this to an increase in the share of people who take on board forward-looking information, from around one-quarter to over two-thirds for unions.

    This finding is consistent with a theory known as the ‘rational inattention’ hypothesis. The idea being that when inflation is low and stable, extrapolation from the past provides a reasonably accurate expectation of the future, so it is not worth paying more ‘attention’. Conversely, when inflation does not fit this pattern – for example, in the recent past when it was much higher – extrapolation might provide a poor forecast. So it is ‘rational’ for people to put more effort into thinking about where inflation will head next.

    Another finding from the model is that those who use previous inflation to form their expectations, that is they use yesterday’s experience to guide today, have been adjusting their view more slowly in recent years. A possible reason for this is that some people have seen the recent experience as atypical and so don’t expect it to continue – given the nature of the shocks (the pandemic and then the conflict in Ukraine), it’s easy to understand this. So while this group only use previous inflation outcomes to form their expectations, they do appear to adjust how much weight they put on specific outcomes to take account of broader economic conditions.

    Unfortunately, these are just plausible hypotheses at this point, we don’t have enough evidence to be definitive. If once inflation sustainably returns to the target band expectation formation reverts to how it was before the recent episode, that would provide further evidence in favour of these hypotheses. But more importantly, it would give us comfort that in future inflationary episodes, expectation formation might similarly change in a way that mutes the increase in expectations.

    Another possible explanation is that some more ‘salient’ prices have evolved differently to average prices

    In everything I’ve shown so far, we assume that the price increases that matter most are the ones that people spend most of their money on. Which is exactly how the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, is constructed.

    But that might not be how people extrapolate from what they have previously observed to form their expectations. Our lived experience is that we ‘see’ some prices much more frequently than others, and that some price changes are more noticeable than others.

    Prices that change regularly or that people pay often may be particularly influential when people form their expectations – they’re more visible, and they could be seen as a proxy for what’s happening to all prices across the economy. These are known as salient prices.

    While there are some obvious candidates for prices that may be salient – such as fuel, groceries, rent, and energy prices – determining how salient they are has unfortunately proven difficult.

    The strongest result we have obtained is with respect to petrol and diesel prices – that is, the prices you see changing every day when you drive past a petrol station or fill your car up. For other potentially salient prices, whether or not our models identify them as salient depends on the various other modelling decisions that are made. But for fuel prices, it doesn’t seem to matter what you do to the model, these prices almost always show up as salient.

    Having said all that, allowing for fuel to be a salient price in the model does not significantly change the model’s estimate of inflation expectations most of the time. This occurs because fuel prices are volatile and households learn slowly. So it actually takes an extended period of fuel prices evolving differently to other prices before there would be a meaningful impact on expectations (according to the model).

    But that’s exactly what we have seen in the past few years (Graph 8). From the beginning of 2021 until mid-2022, fuel price inflation was much higher than average price inflation, increasing 61 per cent over this period. But for most of the period since then, fuel price inflation has been around its historical average, while much of the broader consumption basket has continued to experience above-target price inflation.

    So, for household’s expectations, accounting for the salience of fuel prices can at least partially explain why the simpler inflation expectations model presented earlier predicted that short-term inflation expectations would remain higher for longer.

    Conclusion

    To conclude, recent research has improved our understanding of how people form inflation expectations. As a result, we have been able to better analyse how expectations have evolved during the recent high-inflation period. And it’s a good news story with respect to expectations:

    • Short-term expectations appear to be converging towards long-term expectations, and these have remained anchored through the recent past.
    • There’s no evidence of expectations being more persistent than normal.
    • And there’s even some evidence of households and unions extrapolating less from recent inflation, at least during the period of higher inflation.
    • We need to be mindful of certain prices that may be particularly ‘salient’ for households. But such prices work in both directions, and recently have been working to bring expectations down faster.

    References

    Afrouzi H and C Yang (2021), ‘Dynamic Rational Inattention and the Phillips Curve’, CESifo Working Paper No 8840.

    Ampudia M, MJ Lombardi and T Renault (2024), ‘The Wage-price Pass-through Across Sectors: Evidence from the Euro Area’, BIS Working Paper No 1192.

    Anesti N, V Esady and M Naylor (2024), ‘Food Prices Matter Most: Sensitive Household Inflation Expectations’, CFM Discussion Paper Series CFM-DP2024-34.

    Bazzoni E, M Jacob, S Land, M Mijer, J Moulton and S Welchering (2022), ‘European Consumer Pessimism Intensifies in the Face of Rising Prices’, McKinsey & Company, October.

    Beckers B and A Brassil (2022), ‘Inflation Expectations in Australia’, The Australian Economic Review, 55.

    Beckers B, A Clarke, A Gao, M James and R Morgan (2024), ‘Developments in Income and Consumption Across Household Groups’, RBA Bulletin, January.

    Bernanke B (2013), ‘A Century of US Central Banking: Goals, Frameworks, Accountability’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27(4).

    Binder CC (2017), ‘Measuring Uncertainty Based on Rounding: New Method and Application to Inflation Expectations’, Journal of Monetary Economics, 90.

    Binder CC (2018), ‘Inflation Expectations and the Price at the Pump’, Journal of Macroeconomics, 58.

    Blinder AS (1982), ‘The Anatomy of Double-Digit Inflation in the 1970s’, in Hall RE (ed), Inflation: Causes and Effects, University of Chicago Press, pp 261–282.

    Borio C, M Lombardi, J Yetman and E Zakrajšek (2023), ‘The Two-regime View of Inflation’, BIS Papers No 113.

    Brassil A, C Gibbs and C Ryan (forthcoming), ‘Boundedly Rational Expectations and the Optimality of Flexible Average Inflation Targeting’, RBA Research Discussion Paper.

    Brassil A, Y Haidari, J Hambur, G Nolan and C Ryan (2024), ‘How Do Households Form Inflation and Wage Expectations?’, RBA Research Discussion Paper No 2024-07.

    Bullock M (2023), ‘A Monetary Policy Fit for the Future’, Australian Business Economists Annual Dinner, Sydney, 22 November.

    Bullock M (2024), ‘The Costs of High Inflation’, Keynote Address to the Anika Foundation Fundraising Lunch, Sydney, 5 September.

    Charm T, JR Saavedra, K Robinson and T Skiles (2022), ‘The Great Uncertainty: US Consumer Confidence and Behavior during Inflationary Times’, McKinsey & Company, August.

    Chin M and L Lin (2023), ‘The Pass-through of Wages to Consumer Prices in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Sectoral Data in the U.S.’, IMF Working Paper No 2023/233.

    Chua CL and S Tsiaplias (2024), ‘The Influence of Supermarket Prices on Consumer Inflation Expectations’, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 219.

    Coibion O, Y Gorodnichenko, S Kumar and M Pedemonte (2020), ‘Inflation Expectations as a Policy Tool?’, Journal of International Economics, 124.

    D’Acunto F, U Malmendier, J Ospina and M Weber (2019), ‘Salient Price Changes, Inflation Expectations, and Household Behavior’, June.

    De Fiore F, T Goel, D Igan and R Moessner (2022), ‘Rising Household Inflation Expectations: What are the Communication Challenges for Central Banks?’, BIS Bulletin, No 55.

    Haidari Y and G Nolan (2022), ‘Sentiment, Uncertainty and Households’ Inflation Expectations’, RBA Bulletin, September.

    Hambur J and R Finlay (2018), ‘Affine Endeavour: Estimating a Joint Model of the Nominal and Real Term Structures of Interest Rates in Australia’, RBA Research Discussion Paper No 2018-02.

    Kilian L and X Zhou (2022), ‘Oil Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Inflation Expectations’, Journal of Applied Econometrics, 37(5).

    Maćkowiak B, F Matějka and M Wiederholt (2023), ‘Rational Inattention: A Review’, Journal of Economic Literature, 61(1).

    Moore A (2016), ‘Measures of Inflation Expectations in Australia’, RBA Bulletin, December.

    RBA (2024), ‘Box A: Are Inflation Expectations Anchored?’, Statement on Monetary Policy, August.

    Reiche L and A Meyler (2022), ‘Making Sense of Consumer Inflation Expectations: The Role of Uncertainty’, ECB Working Paper Series No 2642.

    Sims C (2003), ‘Implications of Rational Inattention’, Journal of Monetary Economics, 50(3).

    Suthaharan N and J Bleakley (2022), ‘Wage-price Dynamics in a High-inflation Environment: The International Evidence’, RBA Bulletin, September.

    Wood D, I Chan and B Coates (2023), ‘Inflation and Inequality: How High Inflation Is Affecting Different Australian Households’, Working paper prepared for the RBA Annual Conference, Sydney, 25–26 September.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: How Do Households Form Inflation and Wage Expectations?

    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

    Tags

    asset quality, balance sheet, banking, banknotes, bonds, business, business cycle, capital, cash rate, central clearing, China, climate change, commercial property, commodities, consumption, COVID-19, credit, cryptocurrency, currency, digital currency, debt, education, emerging markets, exchange rate, export, fees, finance, financial markets, financial stability, First Nations, fiscal policy, forecasting, funding, global economy, global financial crisis, history, households, housing, income and wealth, inflation, insolvency, insurance, interest rates, international, investment, labour market, lending standards, liquidity, machine learning, macroprudential policy, mining, modelling, monetary policy, money, open economy, payments, productivity, rba survey, regulation, resources sector, retail, risk and uncertainty, saving, securities, services sector, technology, terms of trade, trade, wages

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Anthem Celebrates Opening of First Phase of Cornerstone Regional Park

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anthem Properties Group, development manager of the master planned community of Cornerstone in NE Calgary, today celebrated the opening of the first phase of a multi-phase, multi-amenity regional park system that is being constructed in collaboration with The City of Calgary.

    The regional park system, which is being built for the benefit of all residents in the region, completed its first round of online and in-person engagement in Winter 2023 and has four areas of public use surrounding a central 120-acre Environmental Reserve area protecting an existing natural wetland complex. The wetland will feature sustainable and integrated amenities like boardwalks, observation decks, trails and pathways connecting visitors to the four feature parks.

    Other options for the active public use areas of the park, pending final design work, include recreational amenities like volleyball or tennis courts, barbecue and campfire site areas, a bike park, climbing wall, spray park, playgrounds, flexible picnic space, and pavilion seating.

    Today marked the opening of the first park space at the end of 128th Avenue which boasts a completed outdoor hockey rink and basketball court, a newly installed playground, and adult fitness equipment.

    “We are thrilled about the progress made by The City in bringing the concept of Cornerstone Regional Park closer to reality, an incredible addition not for only the residents in our community, but for the region as well,” said Craig Dickie, Anthem’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. “Allocating green space for future park use is an important part of our planning and design process, as we know how valuable these amenities are for solidifying a sense of place and in building active, vibrant and productive communities.”

    Ward 5 Councillor Raj Dhaliwal added: “Promise made, promise delivered! As we celebrate the opening of Cornerstone Regional Park Phase 1, I couldn’t be more excited for the positive impact this much-needed amenity will have on the families and communities of Northeast Calgary. This marks a significant step toward enhancing our public spaces, and I am fully committed to accelerating the completion of the remaining phases. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Anthem for their visionary partnership and for leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit generations to come in Ward 5.”

    The new Cornerstone Regional Park will be in addition to existing completed and planned amenities in the Cornerstone community including playgrounds, storm ponds, a cricket pitch, and soccer field, with future plans for multiple schools and a 40-acre major Activity Centre with an adjacent LRT station.

    The City of Calgary has completed engagement for Cornerstone Regional Park; a report-back to Interested Parties was shared late this summer on engage.calgary.ca/cornerstonepark in the form of a What We Did Report. This report was also promoted in the community so that Interested Parties who shared their feedback during engagement could see the design concepts, ahead of final detailed design development. Construction is underway on other park phases with substantial completion of all park spaces expected by late 2025.

    About Cornerstone

    Located in Calgary’s Northeast, Cornerstone is the largest community in the city, with 2,500 homes and completed amenities including four park spaces, one wetland, one storm pond, three playgrounds and two commercial complexes. With effortless access to Stoney Trail and Country Hills, its location also ensures residents can easily access major amenities like CrossIron Mills, Peter Lougheed Hospital, and Cardel Rec Centre.

    About Anthem

    Founded in 1991, Anthem is a team of 800 people driven by creativity, passion and direct communication. Anthem has invested in, developed or managed – alone or in partnership – more than 385 residential, commercial and retail projects across North America. Anthem, with its respective financial partners, has a portfolio of current and past projects that includes more than 41,700 homes built, in design or under construction, more than 11.5 million sq. ft. of retail, industrial and office space, and 9,800 acres of land across Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and California.

    Contact:
    Elisha McCallum, Vice President, Communications
    Mobile: 778.668.0185
    Email: emccallum@anthemproperties.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fcf883c5-5102-49b6-8bdb-6e49ebaecd4e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9bba23b0-8b08-45e6-a971-1c5c17365f3c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4462d12-2391-4ea7-a59a-51ce334ebf43

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Discusses Colorado’s Leadership in Workforce Development, Celebrates New Housing Units in Aurora

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER/AURORA – Today, Governor Polis discussed Colorado’s leadership in developing a more robust workforce and helping Coloradans build needed skills, and joined for the grand opening of new housing units Coloradans can afford in Aurora. Governor Polis began his day discussing Colorado’s leadership in workforce development at the Human Potential Summit in Denver, a three-day conference focused on innovative approaches to developing a strong workforce. 

    “Investing in our workforce is investing in our economy, our communities, and our future. In Colorado, we continue to lead the way when it comes to finding new and innovative efforts to connect hardworking Coloradans with the skills and training needed to get the job and earn a good wage. We know that the actions we take at the state level are a powerful signal to the private sector, and we continue to take bold steps that we hope businesses will scale and replicate,” said Governor Polis. 

    Earlier this year, Governor Polis signed legislation to create two free years of college for families making up to $90,000. He has also signed legislation to make in-demand credentials in health care, construction, law enforcement, early childhood education, and more free for all interested Coloradans. Governor Polis and the Colorado Office of Economic Development (OEDIT) announced over $55 million in Opportunity Now Grants to better prepare Coloradans for in-demand, high-wage jobs and careers. This funding has helped more than 15,000 Coloradans gain skills for the innovative sectors of tomorrow that strengthen Colorado’s economy and expand opportunity. Last year, Governor Polis signed an Executive Order to make skills-based-hiring part of our state’s hiring practices, and ensure that degree requirements don’t limit the number of qualified applicants if their skills support the work. 

    Governor Polis also visited the grand opening of Eagle Meadow Homes in Aurora, which includes 93 new units, over half of which are two and three bedroom units, for households making 30-60% AMI. These units were supported by $2,6 million from the Department of Local Affairs. Earlier this year, Governor Polis signed legislation to break down barriers and expand access to housing Coloradans can afford, by giving Coloradans the freedom to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their own property, expanding housing near transit and job centers, eliminating costly parking requirements and discriminatory occupancy limits, and creating more housing supply that’s affordable to fill critical gaps in our communities. 

    “In Colorado we are focused on creating housing that Coloradans can afford, in the communities they want to live in. Initiatives like Eagle Meadows are a great example of our continued work to expand housing opportunities, and invest in our communities. Helping to maintain Colorado as the best place to work, live, and raise a family” said Governor Polis. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Polis Administration Celebrates Nation-Leading Electric Vehicle Incentives and Low-Cost EV Options for Coloradans

    Source: US State of Colorado

    AURORA – Governor Polis and Electric Vehicle (EV) industry leaders gathered at Tynan’s Nissan in Aurora today to celebrate some of the lowest EV costs in the country. The Governor was joined by Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor and Director of Sales at Tynan’s Nissan Markus Kamm. Propelled by Colorado’s nation-leading electric vehicle incentive opportunities, consumers throughout the state are able to drive off a dealer’s lot at lease prices starting at as little as $19 per month for a Nissan LEAF – often with no down payment other than taxes and fees. Currently, Colorado EV buyers may qualify for up to $26,500 in savings on a new EV purchase or lease. 

    “Now more Coloradans can save money on electric vehicles. These low-cost and great-to-drive options are an incredible deal for Coloradans and we are excited to see so many people taking advantage of them. More than 22% of new cars sold in Colorado are electric and we know deals like this will continue to push that number even higher,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    Widespread EV adoption is an important strategy to achieve Colorado’s climate goals and protect our air. The state is well on its way to meeting its ambitious target of 940,000 EVs on Colorado roads by 2030, with EVs already making up more than 22% of new car sales during the most recently reported quarter. 

    “More than ever, transitioning to an EV is a win-win proposition that every Coloradan should consider,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “Beyond getting incredible deals on EVs and saving even more money with lower fuel and maintenance costs, switching to an electric vehicle makes a big difference in improving air quality and cutting climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions. We are making really important progress in reaching our EV goals and are grateful to manufacturers and dealers who are helping in ensuring there are affordable opportunities for buyers across the state.” 

    All Coloradans are currently eligible for a $5,000 state tax credit for purchasing or leasing a new EV (battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric) with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) under $80,000, and an additional $2,500 for EVs with an MSRP under $35,000. The $5,000 state tax credit is available through the end of this year, before decreasing to $3,500 starting in 2025. 

    Income-qualified Coloradans exchanging an eligible old or high-emitting vehicle can also take advantage of a $6,000 rebate through the Vehicle Exchange Colorado program for a new EV purchase or lease and a $4,000 rebate for a used EV purchase or lease. 

    In addition, Coloradans may be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit for a new EV lease, and for the purchase of certain EV models that meet specific manufacturing requirements. A $4,000 federal tax credit is available for used EV purchases and leases. Xcel Energy also offers EV rebates for income-qualified customers, totaling $5,500 for new EV purchases and leases and $3,000 for used vehicles. 

    In addition to prices starting at as little as $19 per month for a Nissan LEAF, for $99 per month, Coloradans can lease a Kia Niro from Fort Collins Kia or a Hyundai Ioniq 5 from Schomp Hyundai. These are just a few more of the great deals around Colorado. 

    Coloradans can check with a local dealership to see what offers are available. Coloradans can learn more about electric vehicles and available incentives on the EV CO website. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Frederica Wilson joined City of Miami Commission Meeting to Present $1,000,000 Check for Little Haiti Youth Center at Athalie Range Park

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

    At the City of Miami Commission Meeting Tuesday, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) presented a $1,000,000 check to the City of Miami for the Little Haiti Youth Center at Athalie Range Park. It is designed to provide local youth and residents with a safe, state-of-the-art space to gather and thrive.

    Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said, “This isn’t just any building; it’ll be a 12,000 square-foot hub of creativity and activity. This will be a place where our children and families can gather, learn, and create lasting memories together. Because let’s be real—no child should have to sit in a McDonalds parking lot just to find WiFi to finish their homework. Our kids deserve better, and it’s our job to create those spaces for them. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this effort to uplift our community and invest in our future.”

    This approximately 12,000 sq. ft. ADA-compliant facility will feature a 3,000 sq. ft. multipurpose room, a computer lab with charging stations, three homework rooms, an arts and crafts room, an indoor fitness area with equipment and lockers, a kitchen, restrooms, and ample storage. Outside, a large plaza with concrete seating and shade structures will support outdoor activities. These innovative features will create a space where children and families can enrich their lives and strengthen social development.  This funding was secured as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional Appropriations process.

    City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King, who represents this park in her district, said, “Thank you Congresswoman Wilson for helping the future generations of our community with this $1M fund for the Little Haiti Youth Center at Athalie Range Park. It is our responsibility to provide children of every ability a place they can play, learn, and connect. By supporting their development and providing them meaningful engagement opportunities, we are nourishing the minds and dreams of future community advocates and leaders.

    Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardeman said, “Investing in a safe, state-of-the-art space at Athalie Range Park is essential for our local youth and residents to flourish. This new space will foster new connections, empower dreams, and cultivate a thriving environment that will uplift our community for decades to come.”

    City of Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes said, “[Congresswoman Wilson] goes beyond her district, and when you talk about a real public servant, this is an example of it.”

    City of Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo said, “I just want to express my gratitude and what a pleasure it is to work with [Congresswoman Wilson], and I look forward to the work we’re doing in Little Bahamas.”

    This park is named after Athalie Range, a trailblazing Bahamian American civil rights activist and the first Black person to serve on the Miami City Commission. She also previously served as President of her children’s school PTA and Miami-Dade PTA.

    To view the full recording of the presentation, please visit the City of Miami TV to see the City of Miami Commission Meeting Archives.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Washington Post: How to fix our rigged tax system

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    Now that the Senate has passed a budget resolution, we’re one step closer to realizing President Biden’s transformational agenda: a once-in-a-generation investment in child care and Medicare, combating climate change and other efforts that would actually make our government work for families. The other half of the package — how to pay for these investments — is equally important.

    The already huge gap between the 0.1 percent and everyone else is just getting wider. Billionaire wealth surged by $1.8 trillion from the early days of the pandemic through last month. The 400 richest Americans had more total wealth, as of 2019, than all 10 million Black American households, plus a quarter of Latino households, combined. Yet the ultrarich pay only 3.2 percent of that wealth in taxes, while 99 percent of families pay 7.2 percent. And scores of giant U.S. corporations pay zero.

    I’ve proposed measures that would raise more than $5 trillion in revenue — far more than we need to enact the Biden plan. Though not every Democrat agrees with every one of my ideas, Biden campaigned aggressively on a suite of progressive tax policies, and voters embraced these changes at the ballot box. No matter how loudly Washington lobbyists bleat otherwise, progressive tax policies are wildly popular. Americans understand that our tax system has been rigged to reward the rich and powerful at the expense of everyone else. So let’s fix it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Southland Police acknowledge sentencing in intimate visual recordings case

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Southland Police acknowledge the recent guilty plea and sentencing of a 54-year-old man, who was charged with making numerous intimate visual recordings of several victims over a five-year period.

    The man was sentenced on 9 October to 10.5 months home detention and ordered to pay $3000 emotional harm payment to each of the victims.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Nicholas Leigh says Police were able to hold this serious offending to account largely thanks to the help of the victims.

    “The bravery of the women who came forward to assist in the prosecution of this offender cannot be overstated.

    “While we are pleased with the guilty plea and sentencing in this instance, we are also mindful that offending around intimate visual recordings, blackmail and sextortion continues to be rife around the country.

    “We often see younger victims being coerced into sharing photos or videos of themselves, their school friends or their family. In time, these images can be used by offenders as blackmail with threats to post online, or share them with people close to the victim.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh urges parents and caregivers to discuss online safety with young people, and the importance of reporting any online offending. 

    “It pays to be vigilant with people you don’t know – whether that’s meeting online or in person.

    “Save any online chat, and immediately take screenshots. This is important for making a report to the Police, we need all the evidence that you can gather.”

    To report this type of offending, please contact Police on 105, or an online report through Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz/report.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: West and Central Africa: About 10 million children forced out of schools by worst flooding in recent years

    Source: Save the Children

    About 10 million children across four countries in West and Central Africa are currently out of school due to massive regional flooding, which has damaged and destroyed infrastructure and displaced nearly one million people from their homes, said Save the Children.
    The unprecedented heavy rains across Nigeria, Mali, Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have created a worsening education crisis with the damage or destruction of schools, the occupation of school buildings by displaced families, and the displacement of families away from schools. These kinds of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe as a result of the climate crisis.
    While back-to-school season was expected to start at the end of September, all four countries are seeing masses of children missing out on the start of the school year. The 10 million children currently stuck at home or displaced due to floods are in addition to about 36 million children – of which over 20 million are in Nigeria – estimated to ,already be out of school in the four countries due to conflict and poverty according to the UN [1].
    At the end of September, Niger declared the postponement of the start of the school year for at least three weeks because of the floods, forcing 3.8 million learners out of school [2]. The floods have also leftover 5,520 classrooms in Niger damaged, destroyed, or occupied by displaced families [3].
    Earlier this month, Mali also declared a month’s postponement to the start of the school year. This nationwide decision is impacting some 3.8 million learners from primary and secondary schools [4].
    In Nigeria, at least 3 million children are out of school in Borno state, with 2.2 million children newly out of school due to statewide closures from flooding. [5] Heavy rains have affected 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states over the past month, killing 269 people and forcing 640,000 people from their homes [6].
    In the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the beginning of the year, flooding had resulted in the destruction of 1,325 schools and impacted over 200,000 children [7]. As of today, at least 59,000 children are out of school, with the province of Tanganyika most affected [8]. In May, at the peak of the flooding season, another 120 classrooms were destroyed in the province forcing 12,000 children to miss out on school [9].
    Before the flooding, 14,000 schools in Central and West Africa were already closed because of attacks and threats on education [10]. This catastrophic situation makes the already fragile chances of access to education for thousands of children even more dire.
    Vishna Shah-Little, Regional Director of Advocacy and Campaigns for Save the Children said, said:
    “Around the world, the start of a new school year is a time of joy and hope. For many children in West and Central Africa, the start of the school year is synonymous with sadness at the sight of their homes, schools and classrooms under water.
    “As well as seeing their families devastated and their homes destroyed, the children have to come to terms with witnessing the flooding of their education.”
    Save the Children is calling for donors to support scaling up the response to the devasting consequences of natural disasters on affected population especially children.
    Governments and partners must urgently take measure to provide alternative offers to allow children missing out on school to continue their education in this period and ensure as a way forward that schools are more resilient to extreme weather events such as flooding so that children can learn safely.
    Save the Children is responding to the situation in central and west Africa by providing emergency relief such as water, sanitation and hygiene kits, health and cash and voucher assistance support for affected families. We are also investing in strengthening national and community level early warning system for floods to better anticipate and prepare for such shocks.
    In the global response to the climate crisis, Save the Children is calling for national governments to rapidly phase out the use and subsidy of fossil fuels to limit warming temperatures to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels and to include the voices, needs and rights of children in the global response to climate change.
    Notes
    [1] UNESCO: https://education-estimates.org/out-of-school/data/. Total based on UNESCO’s middle estimate for 2023 for the four countries of DR Congo, Mali, Nigeria and Niger. Breakdown of 2023 out of school children (primary and secondary) according to the UN estimates: Nigeria: 21.4m; DRC: 6m; Niger: 5.5m; Mali: 3.3m
    [2] According to the Education cluster, 3,812,733 children were expected to go back to school at the start of the academic year in Niger.
    [3] As of 8 th October 2024, 5,520 classrooms were affected by flooding.
    [4] Based on national statistics on fundamental education from Mali’s Ministry of Education, noting that 2,972,650 children were enrolled in primary schools and 854,312 children were enrolled in secondary schools as of 2023.
    [5] In Nigeria, we estimate 2.2 million children out of school due to floods in Borno, in addition to 800,000 children already out of school in the state before the floods, according to local sources.
    [7] As of 24 February 2024, the flooding in DRC had inflicted significant damage across the DRC, resulting in the destruction of over 98,000 homes and1,325 schools. https://cerf.un.org/what-we-do/allocation/2024/summary/24-RR-COD-63589
    [8] DRC: As of July 2024, according to the Education Cluster, 10% of the 1,593 schools closed in the DRC were due to natural disaster. In total, the cluster estimates 590,000 children have been affected by school closures for all reasons in 2024.
    [9] According to the Education cluster, 117 classrooms were destroyed by flooding in Kalemi and Moba, in the province of Tanganyika, affecting 12 289 children https://reliefweb.int/map/democratic-republic-congo/republique-democratique-du-congo-alerte-sur-les-inondations-des-ecoles-dans-la-province-de-tanganyika-mai-2024
    [10] As of 9 September 2024, 14,364 schools have closed in central and West Africa because of armed violence according to the regional situation report Q2 2024 of Education in Emergencies Working Group for West and Central Africa [1]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Privacy and employee snooping: The greatest threat in the workplace could be sitting next to you

    Source: New Zealand Privacy Commissioner – Blog

    Originally published on the New Zealand Herald 3 October 2024.

    Beware the risk within

    By Michael Webster, Privacy Commissioner

    One of the greatest risks to privacy in the workplace could be sitting next to you – or it could even be you.

    Employee browsing or the unauthorised access and misuse of personal information is one of the most common privacy breaches. I also believe it’s one of the least understood or reported on, as required by the Privacy Act.

    New Zealand is a small place and there’s a good chance a familiar name will crop up in a database or on a file at work and it can prove very tempting to have a look.

    However, a sneaky peek isn’t a harmless case of nosiness; it’s inappropriate and can be a breach of the principles underpinning the Privacy Act. In the cases I see it can have potentially serious consequences such as harassment and blackmail.

    In one example, a person in a position of power looked up the details of a colleague’s partner then used their position to repeatedly sexually harass them via text message. The victim felt intimidated, scared, and fearful in their own home so contacted our Office.

    In some circumstances employees look up information and then pass it on for the explicit purpose of causing harm – for example, finding the address of someone who owns expensive assets to be targeted for a burglary.

    In other examples they do it because they think they’re helping a friend when they’re acting illegally. Like the employee working for a counsellor who had a friend in a custody dispute with their ex-partner. The employee looked up information about the wellbeing of their friend’s ex-partner and shared it with their friend who then used it in their custody dispute hearing.

    Sometimes the temptation to ‘just have a quick look’ is a powerful force but employees need to be stronger. One story I’ve see was from a clinic doing STI and HIV testing. A new employee was being trained and decided to look up their own records while their trainer was in the room with them. That’s fine, it’s their information. However, when the trainer left the room, the new employee took the opportunity to look up the names of their ex-partner, current partner, and best friend – all in breach of the Privacy Act.

    The Privacy Act protects the personal information of all New Zealanders, which means that as well as employees not snooping, we need managers and owners to be informing their staff that it’s wrong to snoop, and to act when it’s found out.

    There’s a lot of information about us held in various databases, including contact details, bank accounts and financial records, and copies of identity documents. This material needs to be protected from internal threats from staff as well as external threats from third parties.

    Employers have a responsibility to secure databases and to limit access only to the staff that need that information to do their job. Employers also have a responsibility to recognise the potential for serious harm if staff are misusing their access privileges.

    The bottom line is organisations have an obligation to prevent their employees from inappropriately accessing and/or disclosing customer information. 

    Building privacy safeguards into your databases enables you to have access controls in place to protect personal information, ideally supported by audit logs so you can monitor who’s doing what and follow up on any unusual activity.

    Significant personal information is held in various databases across New Zealand. A good example is around driver licences and car registration details. Businesses and organisations like insurance providers, vehicle importers, or sellers can be granted access to the motor vehicle register for lawful purposes. However, when staff at those types of agencies access the database for their own reasons or interests then it’s a problem, which often leads to employee dismissal as well as the agency needing to report a privacy breach.

    Businesses have an obligation to ensure their staff have privacy training and a general awareness about the risks of employee browsing. They also need to take steps to make sure staff know they can only access information for work purposes.

    This can be reinforced by having clear policies about employee browsing in your agency’s code of conduct, including consequences for being caught inappropriately accessing personal information about customers and clients.

    Staff access to personal information comes with serious accountabilities about appropriate and lawful behaviour. We all need to treat it with respect. Organisations need to ensure there are consequences for employee browsing and treat any breaches of trust as serious compliance incidents.

    Back

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Construction Economy – NZ construction costs show minor uptick amidst ongoing industry slowdown – CoreLogic

    Source: CoreLogic

    Tax changes, high levels of existing stock on the market, and credit-constrained buyers have compounded the building industry slowdown, holding construction cost growth low for more than 18 months.

    CoreLogic’s latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) recorded a 1.1% rise in the September quarter, reversing the fall recorded in Q2. It marks the first time quarterly growth has exceeded 1% since December 2022.

    However, the annual growth rate remains subdued at 1.3% – the second lowest since late 2013 and well below the long-term average growth rate of 4.3%.
    CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said overall construction cost growth remains subdued, reflecting an easing of pressure for both labour and materials.

    The index recorded a drop in sub-contractor charge-out rates in Q3, alongside many plumbing materials such as PVC piping, although the cost for materials such as window hardware and kitchen joinery rose over the period.
    “The wider residential construction sector has been in a downturn for about two years now, with dwelling consents falling and actual workloads subsequently declining too,” he said.
    “The industry has come off extreme highs recorded during COVID, and building activity remains solid when compared to previous cycles. Even so, it does look like there is capacity opening up, which has reduced the pressure on costs.”

    Mr Davidson said the industry is grappling with additional challenges, as many households remain financially cautious despite falling mortgage rates and the number of established property listings available for sale remains high.
    New Zealand currently has about 26,000 properties listed for sale—up from 23,000 at the same time last year and double the 13,000 that were available in 2021.
    “With such an elevated stock of existing listings, there’s less incentive for buyers to consider new-build properties,” he said. “The shortening of the Brightline Test and the reinstatement of mortgage interest deductibility for all properties regardless of age has also lessened the appeal of new-builds.”
    The supply pipeline has also slowed, with annual dwelling consents peaking at about 51,000 in May 2022 before falling 34% to 33,632 in August this year. Meanwhile, Mr Davidson said actual construction workloads, measured by ‘work put in place’, are down around 15% from their peak.
    While the outlook for the sector isn’t particularly buoyant in the short term, signs of life might just be starting to emerge, and Mr Davidson noted that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s newly introduced debt-to-income ratio restrictions, which exempt new builds, could help stimulate demand in this segment.

    Further interest rate cuts and improvements in the labour market are also likely to have a positive impact on construction activity into 2025.
    “Developers may feel more confident to increase supply if these changes, combined with falling mortgage rates, create a relative shift in demand towards new builds over the next 12 to 18 months,” Mr Davidson said.

    “This could lead to a resurgence in New Zealand’s construction sector, with agents and developers watching closely for any signs of a turnaround in 2025.”

    CoreLogic’s research, tracks and reports on materials and labour costs which flows through to its Cordell construction solutions to help businesses make more informed decisions, estimate rebuild and insurance quotes easily and, ultimately, appropriate risk effectively.
    The CCCI report measures the rate of change of construction costs within the residential market for a typical, ‘standard’ three-bedroom, two-bathroom brick and tile single-storey dwelling.
    To read the report, visit http://www.corelogic.co.nz/reports/cordell-construction-cost-index.

    About CoreLogic
    CoreLogic NZ is a leading, independent provider of property data and analytics. We help people build better lives by providing rich, up-to-the-minute property insights that inform the very best property decisions. Formed in 2014 following the merger of two companies that had strong foundations in New Zealand’s property industry – Terralink Ltd and PropertyIQ NZ Ltd – we have the most comprehensive property database with coverage of 99% of the NZ property market and more than 500 million decision points in our database.
    We provide services across a wide range of industries, including Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Government, Insurance and Construction. Our diverse, innovative solutions help our clients identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. We also operate consumer-facing portal propertyvalue.co.nz – providing important insights for people looking to buy or sell their home or investment property. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of CoreLogic, Inc – one of the largest data and analytics companies in the world with offices in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and United Kingdom. For more information visit corelogic.co.nz.
    About Cordell Building Indices
    The Cordell Building Indices (CBI) are a series of construction industry index figures that are used to monitor the movement in costs associated with building work within particular segments of the industry. The CBI indicate the rate of change in prices within particular segments of the New Zealand construction industry.
    The changes in prices are measured daily through the use of detailed cost surveys, and are reported on a quarterly basis. This ensures the most current and comprehensive industry information available. Each index is based on a combination of labour, material, plant hire and subcontract services required to construct buildings within the particular segment being measured. The CBI measure the change in the cost of constructing buildings, and as such do not provide the actual costs.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of 52-Unit Edmonds Affordable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    10.15.24

    Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of 52-Unit Edmonds Affordable

    Half of the new units at Madrona Highlands are designated specifically for previously homeless families

    EDMONDS, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined the Housing Hope organization and other community leaders in celebrating the grand opening of Madrona Highlands, a 52-unit affordable apartment complex in Edmonds focused on providing housing for families with children.

    Madrona Highlands was paid for in part by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), a federal housing program championed by Sen. Cantwell. LIHTC funds covered $13.1 million of the total project.

    “This project is more than just a place to live. Moving into Madrona Highlands is about also having access to education, job training, […] and childcare development programs. Also, for the first time, Housing Hope is going to integrate healthcare services into this project,” Sen. Cantwell said. “So put simply, this is bringing hope into this community and bringing families together.”

    “We just need to build more supply in the United States of America,” Sen. Cantwell continued. “This affects everyone. So building more supply helps us drive down costs, and that’s why we are here today — because housing costs are a significant part of inflation. Over the last 10 years, our state has continued to grow, and that has continued to [unlock] new economic opportunities in Snohomish County. We’ve seen some of that growth, and we’ve seen the average cost of rent go up. So what we’re doing here today is helping these families, but [also] helping the whole community in providing more supply.”

    More information about the affordable housing crisis and Sen. Cantwell’s work to support and expand the LIHTC program is HERE.

    The new housing complex is Housing Hope’s first community in south Snohomish County and includes six one-bedroom, 34 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom apartments. Half of the apartments in Madrona Highlands are designated specifically for families coming directly from homelessness; residents will have access to all Housing Hope’s wraparound supportive services, including family support coaches, education and employment specialists, substance use disorder professionals, and mental health therapists. Housing Hope partnered with Snohomish County Human Services to fill the units designated for families currently without permanent housing through the County’s Coordinated Entry process, which families can begin by calling 211.

    Video of Sen. Cantwell’s speech and b-roll of her touring the new units is HERE; photos of the event are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst, Stefanik Demand FBI Take Action Against Antisemitic Terrorist Threats

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – As antisemitic incidents in the United States have increased 200% since Oct. 7, 2023, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) demanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate Columbia University Apartheid Divest’s (CUAD) terrorist threats.
    After CUAD celebrated the anniversary of the horrific Oct. 7 attacks as a “moral, military and political victory,” praised a Hamas-claimed terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, and once again called for and endorsed violence, Ernst and Stefanik urged the FBI’s New York field office and Columbia University leadership not to repeat last year’s failures, when Jewish students were told to hide at home.
    “The time to act is now. Rarely has the FBI had such public and obvious evidence of potentially imminent violence. This cannot become another instance in which a terrible case of violence takes place at a school and the FBI issues a statement after the fact that the perpetrators were ‘on its radar,’ but did nothing,” the lawmakers wrote.
    Click here to read the full letter.
    Background:
    As cases of antisemitism on campuses started to increase after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Ernst introduced the Students Bill of Rights Act to protect the First Amendment rights of students and stem discrimination at its source.
    In May 2024, Ernst led her colleagues in demanding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigate if 501(c)(3) organizations that have backed the violent pro-Hamas protests on college campuses violated the terms of their tax-exempt status.
    In response to antisemitic incidents on college campuses increasing by 700% last year, Ernst introduced legislation requiring universities and the Department of Education to immediately address civil rights complaints if a student experiences violence or harassment on campus because of their heritage.
    Last week, Senator Ernst raised concern that Hamas-linked entities on college campuses may be circumventing the Foreign Agents Registration Act to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene

    Governor Cooper Surveys Storm Damage in Buncombe County as Resources Continue to Surge into Western North Carolina During Unprecedented Response to Hurricane Helene
    mseets

    North Carolina’s unprecedented response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina remains in full force as responders at the state, federal and local levels continue efforts to surge resources and bring assistance into affected areas. This morning, Governor Cooper was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and other state officials for a press briefing regarding storm recovery efforts. This afternoon, Governor Cooper traveled to Buncombe County to survey storm damage, see relief efforts, thank volunteers and speak with people impacted by the storm.

    Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and have resumed door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

    “Today I traveled to Asheville, Fairview and Swannanoa to see the critical work being done to get people federal assistance, hot meals and other resources they need as they deal with the impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said Governor Cooper. “I’m thankful for our law enforcement officers, first responders, volunteers and many others who are helping people in need.”

    The Governor visited a Disaster Recovery Center operating at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville where those affected by the storm can get assistance from FEMA and the Small Business Administration. The Governor also visited the Fairview Fire Department, which sustained major flooding and damage from the storm. Lastly, the Governor visited a Community Care Station in Swannanoa providing resources and hot meals to community members and emergency responders.

    Governor Cooper also issued an executive order today focused on addressing urgent needs related to drinking water and wastewater treatment in those counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Council of State concurred in a provision of the Order which allows the North Carolina Division of Water Resources to accelerate the timelines for repair to numerous facilities and other infrastructure damaged by Helene to ensure that impacted North Carolinians are able to obtain access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment as soon as possible.

    The Order also directs NCDEQ to address the impacts of Helene on utility systems in the impacted areas. Specifically, the Order directs NCDEQ to assess the impacts of Helene across the impacted region, provide technical and financial support for drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and other infrastructure sites, and also to help expedite clean-up processes.

    In the immediate aftermath of this storm, because of massive communication outages in Western North Carolina, many people called 2-1-1 to report friends or family they couldn’t get in touch with. When phone service began to return, many people located their loved ones but that information doesn’t usually make it back to 2-1-1.

    The Department of Public Safety formed a task force to find who is still unaccounted for and focus efforts where needed. This is not a definitive count because the task force is continuing its work. This number will continue to fluctuate as more reports come in and others are resolved. As of today, the task force number of unaccounted for people is 92.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Approximately 3,400 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and approximately 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $99 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 174,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. More than 1,900 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

    1,200+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 140 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 12,500 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.

    NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.

    For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 15, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Secures Court Decision Largely Denying Meta’s Attempt to Evade Responsibility for Children’s Mental Health Crisis

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, October 15, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general, successfully blocked an attempt by Meta to dismiss the coalition’s lawsuit against the company for its part in harming children’s mental health and for allowing young children on its platforms in violation of federal law. In October 2023, Attorney General Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit alleges that Meta, among other things, deceived the public regarding its design and deployment of harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment.

    “Meta needs to be held accountable for the very real harm it has inflicted on children here in California and across the country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Along with legislation providing for market-wide changes, this litigation will help determine how social media companies can be held accountable and how these companies can treat our children for decades to come. I have an immense amount of hope for the future. As the home to the greatest innovators in the world and a robust technology sector, California has a particular opportunity and obligation to be a catalyst for change. Meta can and must do better. Our children deserve their childhoods back.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Liqueous LP Finalizes $100 Million Equity Line of Credit With Crown Electrokinetics Corp, Building on Strategic Recapitalization Efforts and separately provides NUBURU Financing Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DOVER, Del., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liqueous LP, a premier multi-strategy fund specializing in liquidity solutions, is pleased to announce the finalization of a $100 million Equity Line of Credit (ELOC) with Crown Electrokinetics Corp (NASDAQ: CRKN) (the “Company”). This significant financing arrangement is part of Liqueous’s strategic expansion, focused on delivering tech-driven financial structures to micro, small, and mid-market issuers, aimed at enhancing shareholder value.

    In May 2024, Liqueous played a key role in helping CRKN fully pay off and retire all outstanding classes of convertible preferred stock, totaling over $11 million, as part of its comprehensive recapitalization strategy. The Company successfully settled its obligations with preferred stockholders, marking the completion of its restructuring efforts. This new ELOC represents the next phase of CRKN’s financing structure, with a strengthened balance sheet and capital foundation designed to support growth.

    “Retiring all of the Company’s preferred stock in May was a pivotal moment for us, allowing us to streamline our capital structure with no remaining convertible debt or preferred stock. This has set the stage for us to focus on developing our business segments and pursuing acquisitions on more favorable terms for the Company and its shareholders,” said Doug Croxall, CEO of Crown Electrokinetics. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Liqueous as our finance partner.”

    This $100 million ELOC will allow Liqueous to further expand its portfolio of liquidity solutions while providing much-needed capital for micro, small, and mid-market issuers. The ELOC will also help support other strategic partnerships and investments in innovative financial technologies and emerging markets.

    “This new ELOC provides Liqueous with the tools needed to continue their mission of providing strategic capital solutions to CRKN,” said Jacob Fernane, Managing Partner of Liqueous LP. “The flexibility and scale of this financing are precisely what emerging companies need to thrive. Our recent financial programs with Nuburu and CRKN underscores our commitment to providing flexible, strategic capital with minimal dilution, enabling companies to achieve their growth goals.”

    Liqueous Nuburu Update
    Additionally, Liqueous recently announced a $65 million financing program for Nuburu Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a leading provider of high-power industrial blue laser technology. This program included a $15 million direct capital injection and a $50 million equity line of credit, highlighting Liqueous’s ability to offer comprehensive, financing solutions. Similarly, Liqueous assisted BURU in retiring nearly $6 million in junior and senior debt during the second and third quarters of 2024.

    Liqueous was pleased that BURU canceled its special shareholder meeting scheduled for October 15, 2024. This move was part of a strategic decision to pursue a cash repayment and retire a convertible note, which would have required shareholder approval for a stock issuance that could have exceeded 19.99% of BURU’s outstanding shares and involved a potential conversion discount of more than 20% to the market price. Unlike this structure, most of Liqueous’ financing terms are priced at current market values without any discount.

    This strategic shift follows the recent cancellation of Lincoln Park’s equity line of credit and represents a major evolution in BURU’s capital strategy. The new financing terms with Liqueous LP more accurately reflect the value of BURU’s technology, positioning the Company to achieve its commercialization goals while helping to protect shareholder interests.

    About Liqueous LP
    Liqueous LP is an innovative multi-strategy fund that delivers bespoke liquidity solutions to micro, small, and mid-market issuers. By leveraging emerging technologies and proprietary financial structures, Liqueous provides long-term, low-cost capital to optimize value for its portfolio companies. The firm specializes in strategic financing, shareholder liquidity solutions, and asset-backed instruments. To learn more, visit http://www.liqueous.com

    About Crown Electrokinetics
    Crown Electrokinetics Corp. (NASDAQ: CRKN) is a smart glass technology company and the creator of DynamicTint™—a technology originally invented by Hewlett-Packard (HP, Inc.) that allows any glass surface to transition between clear and dark in seconds. This technology can be applied to a variety of windows, including those in commercial buildings, automotive sunroofs, and residential skylights. DynamicTint™ is a more sustainable alternative to traditional window treatments and offers benefits such as reducing carbon emissions. The company’s product is designed to be retrofitted to existing glass, making it an eco-friendly and cost-efficient solution. Crown is also supported by a robust patent portfolio and collaborates with leading manufacturers for mass production and distribution. To learn more, visit http://www.crownek.com

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Liqueous LP’s and Crown Electrokinetics’ current expectations regarding future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ due to various factors. Neither company undertakes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

    Contact:
    info@liqueous.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government backs veterans by approving Veteran Card as voter ID for first time  

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.

    The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections, while a wider review of the Voter ID policy takes place to understand its impact on citizens.

    The government has laid a statutory instrument in Parliament to put the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card on the list of photographic identifications accepted in polling stations as voter ID, in addition to the already accepted MOD 90 ID card.

    A thorough review of the Voter ID rules is currently underway with firm proposals on the policy set to be brought forward in due course. However, while this takes place the government has taken immediate steps to address gaps in the current provision by including the Veteran Card on the list of acceptable IDs.

    The Veteran Card is a tangible symbol of veterans’ service and its addition to the list will help around two million veterans to engage in the elections process and exercise their democratic rights, with these changes set to be made in time for the 2025 local elections in May.

    Alex Norris, minister for elections, said: 

    No veteran should be turned away from the polling station while trying to use their Veteran Card as voter ID.  They are an incredible community who have dedicated their lives to this country, and it is wrong that the exclusion of this Card has been a barrier to their ability to vote.

    That’s why we’re supporting our incredible veterans by expanding the list of voter identifications to include it so they can participate in democracy without the fear of being turned away on election day.

    We stand behind our veterans and today’s announcement demonstrates that we will meet our manifesto commitment to strengthen support for our armed forces communities. 

    This government is committed to helping veterans to thrive in civilian society, and we are continuing to support our armed forces:

    • Within the last month, the government announced that all UK Armed Forces veterans will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing in England.
    • In 2021, NHS England launched Op COURAGE – a dedicated mental health service for veterans, and over 35,000 veterans have used this service to date.
    • Op FORTITUDE, a housing hotline for veterans, has supported hundreds of veterans into supported housing with wraparound care.

    Veterans are represented by the Secretary of State for Defence in Cabinet, and cross-government support is coordinated by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the MOD.

    Minister for People and Veterans, Alistair Carns, OBE MC MP said:

    Veterans Cards are a tangible symbol of the extraordinary sacrifices our veterans have made to defend our nation and it is only right that the Government gives these cards the recognition they deserve. 

    We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with all those who serve and have served, and this is an important step to making this important community feel supported when voting.

    Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said:

    This is good news. Veterans have found it frustrating that they were unable to use their Armed Forces Veteran Card as voter identification.

    It is vital that the voice of the Armed Forces community is heard at every election, now that voter ID is required to vote in elections in the UK, this change will make it easier for those who have served to cast their vote.

    This change follows a veteran of the armed forces being turned away from the local elections earlier this year because they attempted to use this card at their polling station and were turned away.  This government committed to making sure that this important community is better supported to participate in our vibrant democracy.

    This government is also making our democracy stronger than it has ever been and the addition of the Veteran Card is only the first step in delivering on our commitments to encourage participation in our elections, and we are taking further action:

    • Work has begun to extend the franchise for all UK elections to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote so that we can empower young people to take part in our democracy. 
    • We know there remains a significant number of people missing from our registers, so we will tackle this unacceptable participation gap by taking action to improve rates of electoral registration.    
    • We will act to protect our democracy from malign actors by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties.

    Today marks a significant step forward on our progress towards reforming our elections, and we will set out details on these further measures to widen participation in due course. 

    Notes to editors:

    • The Veteran Card provides recognition of service and ensures that when needed, public and charitable sector services and support can be provided to veterans as efficiently as possible.
    • The government has also published ‘Using a veteran card as a service leaver’ guidance page on GOV.UK, detailing how veterans can use the card to access specialist support and services: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-a-veteran-card-as-a-service-leaver 
    • We will continue to explore additional uses and benefits of the card.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 14/10/2024 Undersecretary of State Marek Prawda participated in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Undersecretary of State Marek Prawda participated in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 14/10/2024. The main topics of today’s meeting in Luxembourg were Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

    The ministers also held an informal discussion with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The Council also adopted further sanctions against Iran in connection with its military support for Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine. In the discussion on Russia’s aggression against the Minister of Ukraine, Marek Prawda stressed the need to provide further support for the attacked country, including military and energy support. He spoke in favour of lifting restrictions on the use of weapons transferred to Ukraine by the West and appealed for the urgent unblocking of financing for military support for Ukraine from the European Peace Facility. He also supported the proposal to establish an EU and G7 loan mechanism, guaranteed by income from the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia. He also pointed to the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia and effectively combat the circumvention of sanctions, including by using the so-called “shadow fleet”. Minister Pravda also stressed the need to combat the Kremlin’s false propaganda. He noted that all peace initiatives must be in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of inviolability of borders and prepared in close consultation with Ukraine and accepted by it. In relation to the situation in the Middle East, Deputy Minister Marek Prawda emphasized that de-escalation remains the overriding goal. The Deputy Head of Polish Diplomacy also drew attention to the need to protect civilians, aid workers, UN personnel and members of the UNIFIL mission. The Undersecretary of State recalled that it was at Poland’s initiative that 40 countries participating in the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon signed a statement condemning the recent attacks on the mission’s force base. In an informal discussion with British Minister David Lammy, Deputy Minister Prawda declared Poland’s support for strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the area of foreign policy and WA. As part of current affairs, the Deputy Minister referred to Poland’s support for Moldova on the eve of the presidential elections and the referendum on EU integration, and also pointed to the key importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia for its geopolitical future.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 14/10/2024 The government adopted a draft act amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The government has adopted a draft act amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty14/10/2024

    The Council of Ministers has adopted the draft act submitted by the Minister of Finance amending the Act on Agricultural Tax, the Act on Local Taxes and Fees and the Act on Stamp Duty. The aim of the draft is primarily to ensure uniform principles for taxing garages in residential buildings and to introduce a comprehensive definition of a building and structure into the Act on Local Taxes and Fees. Key solutions Unification of the principles for taxing garages in residential buildings with property tax. All rooms intended for storing vehicles in residential buildings (not occupied for business activities) will be taxed as apartments. Clarified definitions of “building” and “structure” for the purposes of property tax. The lack of reference in the definitions of “building” and “structure” to construction law will ensure increased certainty of tax law, which will no longer be directly affected by changes in construction law. The draft contains a closed list of structures subject to taxation. At the same time, the catalogue of construction equipment subject to taxation has been narrowed down to only those that are directly related to a building or structure and necessary for their use in accordance with the e-designation. So-called small architectural objects will remain outside taxation. Extension until 31 March 2025 of the possibility of submitting a property tax return by entrepreneurs, to give them time to adapt to the proposed changes. Abolition of the application procedure for granting subject exemptions in the agricultural tax (e.g. for research institutes), which will be applied by operation of law – in order to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. Tightening the collection of the spa fee. Municipal councils have been granted the right to impose on collectors of the spa fee the obligation to keep records of persons who will be required to pay this fee, which will enable control over the reliable fulfillment of the obligation to collect this fee. Determination of the jurisdiction of the tax authority in the matter of the stamp duty on a power of attorney submitted in electronic form (for example in the e-Tax Office). The proposed regulations are to enter into force on 1 January 2025.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stay safe this fireworks season

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Follow OPSS guidance to purchase, use and dispose of fireworks safely and responsibly.

    The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has produced safety tips for this fireworks season on how to use fireworks responsibly and considerately to help protect both people and animals.

    You must only buy from licensed sellers

    Make sure you buy fireworks from licensed or registered in-store and online retailers. Do not buy fireworks from unknown retailers on social media sites. Remember it is illegal for under 18s to buy fireworks.

    Choose traditional dates and keep to the curfew

    People are more likely to plan to protect pets and other animals if fireworks are let off on traditional dates. The firework curfew is midnight on Fireworks Night, 1am on Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, and 11pm the rest of the year. Firework timings may differ in Scotland. Search ‘fireworks’ on gov.scot for more advice.

    Follow the instructions carefully

    Before letting off fireworks, read all the safety instructions on the box, so you know important things like how far away people need to stand. If you do not understand the instructions and warnings, do not use the firework. Once any debris has cooled down, tidy it up and soak it in water overnight. Then put it in a rubbish bag and in the bin.

    Check what fireworks you can use at home

    Category F1, F2 and F3 fireworks are on sale to the public depending on the safety distance required. Check the labelling to ensure you have enough space to safely use a firework before you buy it.

    Always follow the Firework Code. Search ‘fireworks’ on GOV.UK for more advice.

    Think of local animals before setting off fireworks

    If you plan to let off any fireworks, let your neighbours know in advance so they can plan for pets that might be affected.

    If you live close to horses, let their owners know well in advance that you are letting fireworks off. Site your fireworks well away from them and aim them in the opposite direction. It is important to be considerate to horse owners as they cannot easily move horses away from fireworks.

    Notify nearby farms and stables if you are planning to use fireworks. Do not let off fireworks if they will disturb wildlife habitats, or roosting bats and birds.

    Keep your pet safe

    On nights where fireworks are being let off, keep dogs and cats inside with somewhere to hide and give small outdoor pets extra bedding and nesting material to burrow in.

    Download content from our fireworks campaign page, including a video, poster, leaflet and social media materials.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Financial Statistics Report (Q1-Q3 2024)

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    1. Broad money rose by 6.8 percent

    At end-September, broad money supply (M2) stood at RMB309.48 trillion, increasing by 6.8 percent year on year. Narrow money supply (M1), at RMB62.82 trillion, decreased by 7.4 percent year on year. The amount of currency in circulation (M0) was RMB12.18 trillion, an increase of 11.5 percent year on year. The first three quarters of the year saw a net money injection of RMB838.6 billion.

    2. RMB loans grew by RMB16.02 trillion in the first three quarters

    At end-September, outstanding RMB and foreign currency loans totaled RMB257.71 trillion, up 7.6 percent year on year. Outstanding RMB loans stood at RMB253.61 trillion, registering a year-on-year growth of 8.1 percent.

    In the first three quarters, new RMB loans amounted to RMB16.02 trillion. By sector, household loans increased by RMB1.94 trillion, with short-term loans and medium and long-term (MLT) loans rising by RMB402.4 billion and RMB1.54 trillion, respectively; loans to enterprises and public institutions grew by RMB13.46 trillion, with short-term loans, MLT loans and bill financing rising by RMB2.83 trillion, RMB9.66 trillion and RMB828.3 billion, respectively; and loans to non-banking financial institutions grew by RMB188.7 billion.

    At end-September, outstanding foreign currency loans stood at USD585.5 billion, down 14.6 percent year on year. In the first three quarters, foreign currency loans dropped by USD70.9 billion.

    3. RMB deposits increased by RMB16.62 trillion in the first three quarters

    At end-September, the outstanding amount of RMB and foreign currency deposits was RMB306.83 trillion, up 7.1 percent year on year. RMB deposits recorded an outstanding amount of RMB300.88 trillion, rising by 7.1 percent year on year.

    In the first three quarters, RMB deposits increased by RMB16.62 trillion. Specifically, household deposits, fiscal deposits and deposits of non-banking financial institutions rose by RMB11.85 trillion, RMB724.8 billion and RMB4.5 trillion, respectively, while deposits of non-financial enterprises fell by RMB2.11 trillion.

    At end-September, the outstanding amount of foreign currency deposits was USD849.1 billion, up 9 percent year on year. In the first three quarters, foreign currency deposits rose by USD51.2 billion.

    4. The monthly weighted average interest rates for interbank RMB lending and bond pledged repos in September stood at 1.78 percent and 1.83 percent respectively

    Lending, cash bond and repo transactions in the interbank RMB market totaled RMB1583.16 trillion for the first three quarters, with the daily average declining by 2.8 percent year on year to RMB8.38 trillion. Specifically, the average daily turnovers of interbank lending and pledged repo trading fell by 31.4 percent and 5.6 percent year on year, respectively, while that of cash bond trading increased by 25.7 percent year on year.

    The monthly weighted average interest rate for interbank lending in September stood at 1.78 percent, up 0.01 percentage points month on month but down 0.09 percentage points year on year. The monthly weighted average interest rate for pledged repos was 1.83 percent, up 0.04 percentage points month on month but down 0.13 percentage points year on year.

    5. Official foreign exchange reserves stood at USD3.32 trillion

    At end-September, China’s foreign exchange reserves stood at USD3.32 trillion, and the USD/CNY exchange rate was 7.0074.

    6. RMB cross-border settlement under the current account reached RMB11.76 trillion and RMB cross-border settlement of direct investment posted RMB6.04 trillion for the first three quarters

    RMB cross-border settlement under the current account reached RMB11.76 trillion for the first three quarters, including RMB8.88 trillion in settlement of trade in goods and RMB2.88 trillion in settlement of trade in services and other current account items. RMB cross-border settlement of direct investment amounted to RMB6.04 trillion, of which ODI and FDI posted RMB2.11 trillion and RMB3.93 trillion, respectively.

    Notes:

    1. Data for the current period are preliminary.

    2. Starting from 2015, deposits of non-banking financial institutions have been included in RMB deposits, foreign currency deposits and deposits in RMB and foreign currencies, while lending to non-banking financial institutions has been included in RMB loans, foreign currency loans and loans in RMB and foreign currencies.

    3. “Loans to enterprises and public institutions” in this report refers to loans to non-financial enterprises, government agencies and organizations.

    4. Starting from December 2022, e-CNY in circulation has been included in the amount of currency in circulation (M0). At end-December, e-CNY in circulation stood at RMB13.61 billion. The revision has not caused notable changes to month-end M1 or M2 growth rates of 2022. Shown below are the revised M0 growth rates.

    Jan. 2022

    Feb. 2022

    Mar. 2022

    Apr. 2022

    May 2022

    Jun. 2022

    Currency in circulation (M0)

    18.5%

    5.8%

    10.0%

    11.5%

    13.5%

    13.9%

    Jul. 2022

    Aug. 2022

    Sept. 2022

    Oct. 2022

    Nov. 2022

    Dec. 2022

    Currency in circulation (M0)

    13.9%

    14.3%

    13.6%

    14.4%

    14.1%

    15.3%

    5. Starting from January 2023, the People’s Bank of China has incorporated into the coverage of financial statistics three types of non-depository banking financial institutions, i.e., consumer finance companies, wealth management companies and financial asset investment companies. At end-January 2023, loans issued by the three types of institutions recorded an outstanding balance of RMB841 billion, posting an increase of RMB5.7 billion for the month, while their deposits registered an outstanding amount of RMB22.2 billion, rising by RMB2.7 billion over the month. All the statistics in this report are provided on a comparable basis.

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Study Surveys CT’s Forest Owners Ahead of Funding for Sustainable Initiatives

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A new study updates a gap in data about Connecticut’s private forest owners.

    A vast majority, 71%, of Connecticut’s 1.75 million acres of forest are owned by private individuals.

    This means understanding private woodland owners’ priorities and interests is critical for state and federal outreach and funding programs.

    Ava Smith ’22 (CAHNR), now a social science research specialist at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, realized there were limited efforts in the last decade to update information about forest owners in Connecticut.

    “It’s important to continuously update our understanding and knowledge of private forest owners so that we can keep up and inform conservation targets,” Smith says.

    This survey sought to assess woodland owners’ interest in participating in forest management plans. These are individualized plans that help the owners engage in management practices to support whatever their intentions for their lands are.

    “It’s an effort on the part of the woodland owner to give some thought to the future,” says Thomas Worthley, associate extension professor of forest stewardship. “We know what the land is like now and we know how people use it now, but what is their intent five, ten, fifteen years from now with respect for their land? And the plan is a document that spells out how to accomplish whatever that vision is.”

    While they were not able to reach all forest owners, the researchers found some important differences within the group.

    This research, by Smith, Worthley, and Chadwick Rittenhouse, associate professor in residence in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, was published in Trees, Forests and People.

    For example, they found male landowners were more likely to have a management plan in place than female landowners.

    Smith says this may be because women have not historically been private landowners, or, it may just be a matter of women having different priorities for their lands as those interested in timber production or hunting.

    “Historically private landowners have been predominantly male,” Smith says. “It has been changing though. It could be that female landowners don’t know what avenues to pursue. They don’t necessarily have the same knowledge base or networks that landowners who have had the land for generations and generations do.”

    Ava Smith (Contributed photo)

    Woodland owners in Connecticut are generally more likely to be interested in the non-commercial benefits that forests provide such as privacy, connecting with nature, protecting wildlife habitat, or preserving a family legacy.

    “While the value of wood products is not to be ignored, that’s generally not their highest priority,” Worthley says.

    Those with plans were also more likely to be aware of resources available to them and be enrolled in a state program that incentivizes people to keep their land as woodlands, agricultural land, or open space.

    The survey showed that those who did not have a plan were generally neutral about developing one, rather than actively against them.

    The researchers also found that landowners had priorities beyond what they originally included as options such as pollinator protection.

    “To us, it means that there needs to be a level of effort or thought put into future educational programming and represent those varied interests,” Smith says. “If programs are not tailoring to the interests of the landowners, that’s potentially why participating in certain programming is low or landowners are not reaching out to their local service forester to learn more about what they can do to better their lands.”

    One of the biggest motivators for conducting this survey now is that within the next decade, the federal and state governments are going to provide funding to private woodland owners to enact climate sustainable practices, but only if they have a management plan in place.

    These practices will aim to improve forest resiliency to changes in temperatures and severe weather events or increase carbon sequestration.

    “As the public, we are depending on the forest to sequester carbon from the atmosphere,” Worthley says. “The only practical way we have of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is to grow green things as fast as we can.”

    This means forest owners can concentrate on which kinds of trees can grow fastest and sequester the most carbon, as one example of a sustainable management practice.

    As an extension forester, Worthley will be working diligently over the next few years to connect woodland owners with resources at UConn and beyond to help them get these plans in place.

    Private woodland owners can contact UConn Extension, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Forestry Division, or the National Resources Conservation Service to begin the process of creating a management plan.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Month of Discovery: Nadine Noaman ‘26, Uncovering UConn Muslim History

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The contributions of the Muslim community at UConn — from the Arabic language program, to partnerships with international universities, to the Muslim Student Association and the Islamic Center at UConn (ICUC) — are now so integral to the University that a newly arrived first-year student might not think twice about how they all came to be, says Nadine Noaman ’26 (CLAS).

    But Noaman knows exactly how much work went into creating today’s community.

    “The impact of these generations should not go unnoticed. We are part of UConn history,” she says.

    Noaman is currently producing a docuseries entitled “Tracing the Trailblazers: UConn’s Muslim Community, Accommodations, and Activism Journey,” funded by the UConn IDEA grant and UConn BOLD Women’s Leadership Network.

    The impact of these generations should not go unnoticed. We are part of UConn history.

    For the project, Noaman is collecting oral histories from alumni and students who span the last half-century of Muslim life at UConn. The earliest interviewees were doctoral students at UConn in the 1970s; the most recent are current undergraduates, Noaman’s peers.

    The series has three major aims, says Noaman: to preserve this rich community history, to highlight strides made by Muslims at UConn, and to track the impact of Muslim student activism on the university.

    For Noaman, this history is personal. She herself is a third-generation leader in UConn’s Muslim community: both her maternal grandparents received their PhDs from UConn in the 1980s, and her mother received a Pharm.D. from the school. (Her aunt and uncle are also alumni.)

    The UConn International House in the 1950s. (Jerauld A. Manter/Department of Archives & Special Collections/UConn Library)

    From the Ashes

    In late 2023, a fire destroyed the Whitney House on the edge of the UConn Storrs campus – an iconic white building near Mirror Lake that had variously served as UConn’s International House and the home of the Rainbow Center over the past 50 years. The house was dismantled after the University deemed it beyond repair.

    “One of the earliest memories that I have that sparked the idea [for ‘Tracing the Trailblazers’] was when my mom and I were passing by the International House when they were about to take it down,” Noaman remembers. “And she started to recall how impactful that building was on campus. She shared how there were communal prayers and Eid celebrations – so many initiatives and events took place there that brought communities together.”

    “It’s unfortunate that the building is no longer physically there,” she continues. “In that moment, I realized I want to honor and preserve the legacy and experiences of these past generations at UConn.”

    UConn’s Muslim students tabling at the International Fair in the 1980s. (Courtesy of Nadine Noaman)

    Though the International House is no longer standing, UConn’s Muslim community has found other venues for sharing space and strengthening community ties. The Islamic Center at UConn (ICUC) hosts daily prayers, holiday festivities, and weekly halaqas, or lecture circles, to discuss Islam-related topics. It also accommodates the Muslim Student Association (MSA), of which Noaman is the Islamic Education Chair.

    “I love when I have the opportunity to do tabling; I get to talk to other amazing Huskies on campus and clear up misconceptions about Islam or provide accurate knowledge,” she says.

    In addition, Noaman also currently works as a coordinator for UConn Salaam, a program within the Asian American Cultural Center. Salaam develops programming that increases accurate knowledge of Islam, strives to dismantle Islamophobia, and builds coalitions amongst various student organizations.

    Muslim community members participate in a weekly halaqa, 2024. (Photo by Nadine Noaman)

    What Changes, What Stays the Same

    MSA table set up for an event informing the student community about Muslim life (Photo by Nadine Noaman)

    As a prominent player in these spaces, Noaman was curious about how Muslim life at UConn had evolved from the experiences of her grandparents to her own. While working on “Tracing the Trailblazers,” she learned that the reasons for this evolution were twofold.

    There were societal issues: the early interviewees recalled hostile jokes about Muslims all living in the desert, while current students report having to counter misconceptions that Islam promotes violence. Though the trends changed over time, they all fall “under the same iceberg: lack of knowledge,” notes Noaman.

    Second, there was the dynamic way the UConn Muslim community advocated for their needs, encouraging the University to be a more positive and inclusive place. Community organizing and solidarity established more accommodations for Islamic worship and holidays for generations to come.

    Celebrating the Diversity of Islam

    By engaging with the stories in “Tracing the Trailblazers,” Noaman says, viewers will be able to appreciate a rich array of perspectives and backgrounds.

    “There is such diversity in our Muslim community – in one Friday prayer, we realized that we had over 40 different nationalities represented,” she says.

    Muslim Huskies go on to make a difference for the University and the world, contributing in diverse ways, too.

    “We are a religion of peace,” says Noaman. “There’s a strong emphasis on being active in our community and helping others. So, many of my friends are in fields like healthcare and engineering because they want to embody those specific Islamic values.”

    Editing “Tracing the Trailblazers.” (Courtesy of Nadine Noaman)

    Noaman herself (who is double-majoring in Psychological Sciences and Spanish) wants to go into education – a field for which her coursework, student leadership, and independent research have well prepared her.

    Once complete, “Tracing the Trailblazers” will be available to stream online, and Noaman hopes to be able to host an on-campus premiere as well. She extends her gratitude to God, as well as her family, peers, and the BOLD network and IDEA grant team who supported this independent project.

    Having the funding was “affirming and motivating, and it gave me the resources to be detailed in the research aspect,” Noaman says. “I’ve done traditional research before, but embarking on this project has expanded my understanding of what I see as research, and so I’m grateful for this experience – times a gazillion-fold.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New guide lets you plan your Walled City Trail experience at Derry Halloween

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    New guide lets you plan your Walled City Trail experience at Derry Halloween

    15 October 2024

    The ultimate guide to all the ghoulish goings on in Derry this Halloween launched today, helping visitors plan ahead for the biggest Halloween celebration in Europe, now just weeks away.

    The Derry Halloween Awakening the Walled City Trail details all the best activities and highlights of the trail which runs this year from Monday October 28th – Thursday October 30th from 6pm – 9pm.

    It is available on the DerryHalloween.com website and printed copies will be available to pick up from Council buildings, Visit Derry and other venues in the week before Halloween.

    This year the trail is packed full of all sorts of spooky spectacles, weaving its magic throughout the city centre at haunted hotspots including the Upper City Walls, the Diamond, Cathedral Quarter, Guildhall Square, Waterloo Place and Ebrington Square.

    Visit the Witchy Wonderland where In Your Space Circus will create an eerie walk-through experience full of mischief and mayhem on Derry’s historic Walls.

    The ramparts will provide the perfect atmospheric backdrop for some dazzling fire performance and ghostly goings on. 

    This year the Guildhall Production Studio will bring the worlds of old and new together with the latest technology to animate the iconic Austins building and Bishop Street Court House, bringing some local ghost stories to life.

    Enter the ethereal Elemental Garden set to take over Ebrington Square, an ambient and mesmerising celebration of darkness and light, as visualised by landscape spectacle specialists LUXE, in a piece supported by The Executive Office.

    A number of exciting new highlights feature in the trail this year, including the debut appearance of the weird and wonderful Rodafonio, created by renowned designer and musician Cesar Alvarez and brought all the way from Barcelona.

    Also adding an international flavour to the festivities are the Stelzen-Art Time Travellers, bringing their enchanting illuminations all the way from Germany to the city’s Cathedral Quarter.

    Take care not to fall under a spell as the bewitching Hocus Pocus bring their spellbinding show to the City of Bones at Waterloo Place, 28th – 30th October, with an interactive, child friendly performance by the Studio 2 Sanderson Sisters, back after 300 years.

    Then step back in time to the 1980s as the New Gate Arts Group take you Back to the Future with a special street performance featuring a DeLorean Car and the renowned Sollus Highland Dancers.

    Add to this the Monster Fun Fair at Ebrington, the sensational Spark Drummers, Uncle Doom and his Organ of Doom, Street Walkabouts, Haunted Houses, Live Music, creepy Arts & Crafts, Kids Halloween Disco, Wailing Nuns, Wicked Windows, City Dance’s Walter on the Dance Floor, Interactive Kids Shows in the Guildhall and a city centre Trick or Treat Trail – and you will find plenty to keep you busy in the home of Halloween.

    Head of Culture with Council, Aeidin McCarter, said now was the time to plan your visit.

    “There is so much going on this year, we would really encourage people to plan ahead and familiarise themselves with the event map and programme information to ensure they get to see everything that’s happening,” she stressed.

    “The great thing is that from Monday – Wednesday we have a full programme of entertainment and activities in the build up to Halloween, so any night is a good time to visit!

    “The Awakening the Walled City Trail offers the chance to explore the city centre by night and experience some of the myth and magic that makes this place so special at this time of year.
    “I am thrilled that we are back on the City Walls this year for part of the trail – it’s the perfect place to capture the real essence and atmosphere of Halloween through the centuries.

    “There will be lots of activities for younger children throughout the day as well, so please check out the programme online or download our app for the latest updates.”

    The Derry Halloween festival is led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, supported by Tourism Northern Ireland and The Executive Office, with additional support from Ulster University and Air Coach.

    Download the Awakening the Walled City Trail at DerryHalloween.com and don’t forget that Derry Halloween is also on WhatsApp.
    Get the latest updates, exclusive sneak peeks, and instant info right on your phone.
    Don’t miss any of the spooky surprises in store at https://bit.ly/halloweenwhatsapp

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government pledges further action to strengthen patient safety

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Patient safety at heart of government’s plans for healthcare reform as Health and Social Care Secretary orders action to improve regulator performance.

    Patient safety across health and social care is set to be bolstered as the government takes action to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of key patient safety organisations.  

    The move – aimed at ensuring the country has the best system in place to keep patients safe – comes as a major review of the CQC’s operational effectiveness is published in full.

    The report, led by Dr Penny Dash, Chair of the North West London Integrated Care Board, identifies significant internal failings at the regulator which are hampering its ability to identify poor performance at hospitals, care homes and GP practices.   
      
    Its interim conclusions, published in July, prompted the Health and Social Care Secretary to order immediate action to restore public confidence in the effectiveness of health and social care regulation.  

    The full report confirms significant failings at the CQC in regard to its operational effectiveness – including poor performance in relation to inspections and a lack of capacity and capability to deliver improvements.     

    The report provides seven specific recommendations for improvement, which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care fully supports. This includes recommending that the CQC formally pauses the implementation of its assessments of Integrated Care Systems as it works to restore public confidence in health and care regulation. This will allow the CQC to focus on getting the basics right when assessing the organisations it regulates. 

    The Health and Social Care Secretary has now asked Dr Dash to conduct two further reviews moving her focus from operational effectiveness to patient safety and quality. The first review will examine the roles and remits of six key organisations and make recommendations on whether patient safety could be bolstered through a different approach. These are:    

    • Care Quality Commission (CQC) including the maternity programme (MNSI)    

    • National Guardian’s Office (NGO)       

    • Healthwatch England (HWE) and the Local Healthwatch (LHW) network.    

    • Health Services Safety Investigation Body       

    • Patient Safety Commissioner        

    • NHS Resolution (quality and safety functions only) 

    A further review will focus on quality and its governance. This will guide the government’s next steps as it continues its drive for positive cultural change across health and social care.   
      
    All findings will also inform the government’s 10-Year Health Plan to transform the NHS and social care and make them fit for the future.   

    Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:    

    Patient safety is the bedrock of a healthy NHS and social care system. That’s why we are taking steps to reform the CQC, to root out poor performance and ensure patients can have confidence in its ratings once again.  

    This government will never turn a blind eye to failure. An overly complex system of healthcare regulation and oversight is no good for patients or providers. We will overhaul the system to make it effective and efficient, to protect patient safety.

    The CQC has already taken its crucial first steps to rebuild its approach to regulation, including announcing Sir Julian Hartley, former Chief Executive of NHS Providers, will be appointed as its new chief executive.   

    Following the publication of Dr Dash’s interim report in July, the CQC Board also asked Professor Sir Mike Richards to conduct an internal review of the single assessment framework and its implementation. Sir Mike was Chief Inspector of Hospitals at CQC from 2013 to 2017. That review has also been published today (15 October) by the CQC.     

    However, Dr Dash’s full review makes clear that there is still much work to be done in the CQC and beyond to ensure that that the public can be confident in the quality and safety of the care they are receiving.   

    Commenting on her findings, Dr Penny Dash said: 

    This report reiterates the findings of my interim report while providing further detail and analysis of the CQC’s performance. It builds on insights and perspectives from patients and users, and a wide range of health and social care providers as well as senior leaders from the NHS and local authorities. 

    I am very grateful to the large number of staff within the CQC who have come forward to share their experiences of the last few years and to make recommendations for the future. They have shown exceptional patience and professionalism throughout this difficult period. 

    I am delighted that Sir Julian Hartley will be appointed as the CQC’s new Chief Executive – he is an outstanding leader, and I am confident he will restore the regulator’s ability to inspect and rate the safety and wider quality of health and social care services across England.

    Recent inquiries and reports, including the Infected Blood Inquiry, have highlighted how the patient safety space has developed in a way which means that multiple organisations are involved in related activities, leading to a complicated system without clear leadership.   

    Vic Rayner OBE, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance, said: 

    As both the Penny Dash Report and the review by Sir Mike Richards show, it is clear that urgent action is needed by the CQC to take on board the reality of how assessment and inspection is currently experienced by the tens of thousands of registered adult social care services across England.  

    What is also evident is that a step change is required in regulation going forwards, and care providers’ voices need to be heard in the coproduction of a regulatory framework that is fit for the future.

    Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said:  

    Our members recognise the importance of regulation in supporting patient safety and care improvement but for far too long CQC’s operating model has not been fit for purpose. Many of our members contributed to the review, and we welcome Dr Penny Dash’s findings, which aim to improve the regulatory model for health and care professionals.  

    Given the stark findings, we believe the decision to pause ICS inspections is the right one and we will continue to work with CQC colleagues to ensure the approach adds value for systems and the public.  

    We will review both Dr Dash’s and Professor Sir Mike Richards’ findings in detail. These, alongside the government’s response, will strengthen patient safety and drive necessary improvements. We also look forward to contributing to the two new reviews announced today.

    Findings of the Safety Landscape Review can be expected in the new year. Meanwhile, the Health and Social Care Secretary will continue to monitor the CQC’s progress and support Sir Julian Hartley on its road to reform.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: This course explores the history of contested presidential elections

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sarah J. Purcell, Professor of History, Grinnell College

    The 2000 election featuring George W. Bush and Al Gore was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. Tannen Maury via Getty Images

    Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

    Title of course:

    Contested U.S. Presidential Elections

    What prompted the idea for the course?

    I was looking for a way to make history relevant to students. Since I research and teach a lot about U.S. politics, I decided to focus on presidential elections that had contested results. Contested elections have happened when candidates failed to win a majority of electoral votes, meaning the House of Representatives had to decide the election; when electoral votes themselves were contested; when problems with vote counts necessitated courts intervening in an election; or when states or candidates refused to accept the results.

    Coming out of 2020, I saw a lot of anxiety among students – and in society in general – about gearing up for the 2024 election. Offering historical context seemed like a good way to enrich students’ current civic engagement.

    What does the course explore?

    We are studying the most-contested U.S. presidential elections: 1800, 1824, 1860, 1876, 2000 and 2020.

    Candidates failed to win a majority of electoral votes in 1800 and 1824. Sectional rancor over slavery caused states to reject the results in 1860. Disputed electoral votes in 1876 led to a political compromise that resolved the electoral votes in favor of Rutherford B. Hayes in exchange for ending Reconstruction.

    Problems with vote counting in Florida in 2000 led the Supreme Court to essentially decide the election in Bush v. Gore. And most recently in 2020, then-President Donald Trump disputed the results unsuccessfully.

    We are covering a wide swath of U.S. political history in just eight weeks. Students are also writing a blog for public audiences and submitting other public writing, like op-ed pieces, to stretch their own historical thinking and communication skills and help the public contextualize the present election.

    Why is this course relevant now?

    People are asking whether U.S. democracy can survive the 2024 election. Students are learning how the system has been shaped by previous crises in legitimacy.

    One example is when the electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr in 1800 led to the ratification of the 12th Amendment that established separate electoral votes for the president and vice president. The worst crisis came when Southern states rejected Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 and decided to secede from the United States, leading to the Civil War.

    What’s a critical lesson from the course?

    History can’t predict the future, but it can provide key context to understand the present. The U.S. electoral system has weaknesses, such as the Electoral College, built in by the Constitution, but the acceptance of the results by losers has been a key to U.S. political stability through many different contested elections over time. Before 2020, no presidential candidate had ever contested the final election results.

    For instance, Andrew Jackson won both the popular vote and a plurality of the Electoral College vote in 1824, but Jackson accepted John Quincy Adams as the legitimate president when the House of Representatives decided the winner. Jackson, however, accused Speaker of the House Henry Clay of a “corrupt bargain” to hand Adams the presidency in return for appointing Clay as secretary of state. Jackson still recognized Adams as the legitimate president but beat him badly in the next election in 1828.

    What materials does the course feature?

    The students have analyzed scholarly articles and many primary sources, mostly collected by the Library of Congress. Several important books have also shaped their thinking: Jim Downs’ 2024 “January 6 and the Politics of History”; E. J. Dionne and William Kristol’s 2001 “Bush v. Gore: The Court Cases and the Commentary”; and Kate Cote Gillin’s 2014 “Shrill Hurrahs: Women, Gender, and Racial Violence in South Carolina, 1865-1900.”

    What will the course prepare students to do?

    Students in the class are using historical skills and ways of thinking to help themselves, their friends and anyone else to put the current election into perspective. They are all doing final projects that use what they’ve learned in class to communicate with the public through op-eds, social media projects, websites and other creative projects in the lead-up to the 2024 election. They are prepared for their own civic engagement and with skills in journalism and public communication.

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

    – ref. This course explores the history of contested presidential elections – https://theconversation.com/this-course-explores-the-history-of-contested-presidential-elections-240420

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Attorney General’s 2024 Bingham Lecture on the rule of law

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    On 14 October 2024, the Attorney General Lord Hermer KC delivered the 2024 Bingham Lecture titled ‘The Rule of Law in an Age of Populism’.

    Location:
    The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
    Delivered on:
    (Original script, may differ from delivered version)

    Opening remarks

    Thank you Helena for that introduction.  It is a particular privilege to be introduced by a friend who I admire and respect so much and by someone who has spent a lifetime promoting the rule of law and protecting human rights.      

    Thank you also to the Bingham Centre for inviting me to speak to you this evening.

    For nearly fifteen years, the Bingham Centre has been an essential voice for the advancement of rule of law values at home and abroad. Its work to promote a better understanding of the rule of law and to help build the capacity to give it practical effect, has never been more vital than it is today.

    It is a record of which Tom Bingham, in whose name I am honoured to give this lecture, would surely have been proud. It is wonderful to see so many of his family here tonight, Lady Bingham, Dame Kate, Kit and Mary.

    Lord Bingham’s judicial and non-judicial writing, his stature as one of the great postwar judges, has been an inspiration for generations of lawyers, myself very much included.  I had the privilege of appearing in front of Lord Bingham as a junior in a series of interesting cases before the House of Lords in which I was led by a promising young silk called Keir Starmer. 

    But like many in this audience I also felt a personal tie to Tom Bingham.  I applied for silk in 2009 and Lord Bingham was one of my referees but sadly my father, who was a lawyer, died shortly before my appointment.  My sense of loss at not being able to share the news with my dad was softened by the fact that before he died I was able to show him a letter that Lord Bingham had written to me.  The letter was filled with the warmth and support that many who knew Tom Bingham will recognise. Thus I will always feel a very personal debt of gratitude to him for the joy and pride that his letter gave to my dad.   

    It was in his cogent and elegant account of the rule of law that Tom Bingham encapsulated in his eight principles.  Such was the authority and clarity of his analysis that the principles are now a necessary reference point for any discussion (or indeed speech) on the subject.

    As Sir Jeffrey Jowell put it when he spoke at the launch of this Centre back in December 2010:

    Tear open the Bingham package of requirements for the rule of law and, as each of his ingredients falls away, we progressively observe the stark outlines of tyranny- at worst; or authoritarianism – at best.

    That remark has a particular resonance today. And what better illustration of the enduring contribution of that book could there be than the sight, earlier this year, of its Ukrainian translation being launched in Kyiv, on the frontline of the ongoing struggle for democratic, rules-based values.

    Introduction: setting the scene, and the challenge

    As that scene attests, we are living through uncertain and challenging times, with threats to the rule of law on a number of fronts.

    This evening, I would like to talk about the necessary response to these challenges, through restoration of our reputation as a country that upholds the rule of law at every turn and by embedding resilience to rebuff the populist challenge. 

    Restoration and resilience.  I’m going to begin by setting out the nature of the challenge as well as proffering some thoughts on the relationship between the rule of law, democracy and human rights.  I will then turn to three themes that I consider lie at the heart of the restoration and resilience project firstly, the rebuilding our reputation as a leader in the field of international law and the international rules based order; secondly, the strengthening of Parliament’s role in upholding the rule of law and thirdly the promotion of a rule of law culture.

    Our starting point is not a happy one.  Conflict currently affects more countries than at any time since the Second World War. As too many people around the world are driven from their homes by wars and instability, there is a sense of an international system that is unable to act. That is unable to prevent wars of aggression and to address desperate humanitarian need.

    As the Prime Minister said at the General Assembly in New York, those “institutions of peace” that the UK and others worked so hard to establish after the horrors of the Second World War are struggling. Those rules that we have all worked so hard to maintain are being undermined. And faith in international law, and the international rule of law, is being chiselled away in communities who are told, time and again, that the system is failing to deliver for them.

    The challenges we face are increasingly global – whether the development of AI, the threat of climate change, growing inequality, or increased migration – and we need a functioning global order, underpinned by a strong commitment to the rule of law, to even begin to tackle them.

    At home, too, we cannot afford to be complacent about the extent to which values that once were taken for granted have been undermined. A near decade of crisis and political instability has, at times, stretched the fabric of our constitution to its limit.  I don’t wish to make a party political speech, indeed I am determined to make the promotion of the rule of law a project we can all sign up to irrespective of our political allegiance. 

    At a time when there is a desperate need for cooperation and solutions, we are increasingly confronted by the divisive and disruptive force of populism. This is not a new phenomenon. But in recent years we have grown accustomed to diagnosing its symptoms, on both right and left.

    We face leaders who see politics as an exercise in division; who appeal to the ‘will of the people’ (as exclusively interpreted by them) as the only truly legitimate source of constitutional authority.

    Their rhetoric conjures images of a conspiracy of ‘elites’; an enemy that is hard to define, but invariably including the people and independent institutions who exercise the kind of checks and balances on executive power that are the essence of liberal democracy and the rule of law. Judges. Lawyers. A free press. NGOs. Parliament. The academy. An impartial and objective civil service.  Populists work to diminish their legitimacy or, at worst, actively remove them from the scene altogether.

    Allied to this, we have also seen how populism, in its most pernicious forms, works to demonise other groups, usually minorities – to discredit the legal frameworks and institutions that guarantee their rights, and dismantle, often through calculated misinformation, the political consensus that underpins them.

    The argument

    Times of crisis and challenge are fertile ground for this kind of politics. And they can create a receptive audience for the populists’ argument that the rule of law is somehow in tension with democratic values.

    It is this dynamic that I want to address in tonight’s speech – I want to argue that this is precisely the time for us to reaffirm that the rule of law – both domestically and internationally – is the necessary precursor to those democratic values, providing the foundations for political and economic flourishing.

    And I want to be clear that by the rule of law, I do not just mean rule by law; a purely procedural and formal conception that populists and authoritarians can themselves so often use as a cloak of legitimacy.

    One of Lord Bingham’s great contributions was to promote a more substantive conception of the rule of law, including the idea that the law must afford adequate protection of fundamental human rights. I too believe that human rights – both at the level of principle, and in practice through how they are enforced – are an essential element of the rule of law and a stable democratic culture. As well as recognising and protecting the dignity of all, they guarantee the essential rights and freedoms which underpin our system.

    Far from being at odds with democracy, as some populists would have us believe, the rule of law is the bedrock on which it rests. What good is democracy – indeed, can democracy exist – without the right to free and fair elections or freedom of speech, guaranteed by the right of access to the courts and an independent judiciary? And I would go further. Democracy, in my view, is inextricably related to the rule of law, properly understood. For what good is the rule of law without democracy, which confers essential legitimacy on the rules that govern the relationship between citizen and state?

    Lord Bingham’s conception of the rule of law also recognises that international law is the ‘Rule of Law’ writ large, and that States must comply with their international obligations, just as they must comply with domestic law. This, too, is crucial. International law is not simply some kind of optional add-on, with which States can pick or choose whether to comply. It is central to ensuring our prosperity and security, and that of all global citizens.  As will develop later, our reputation as a country that can trusted to comply with its international law obligations, and has a robust adherence to the rule of law, is essential to our ability to grow the economy, as grow it we shall.

    And maintaining our international reputation also enhances our ability to work with our partners to get things done in this time of global challenge. Rather than isolating ourselves from our closest allies, it means we can strengthen cooperation on issues like migration; whether that’s the Anti-Smuggling Action Plan, which the Home Secretary secured with G7 partners in Italy earlier this month; or closer working with international law enforcement partners to target smuggling gangs.

    To shore up the rule of law against the forces of populism, we must also emphasise its importance as an idea that unites, rather than divides us. The work to rebuild a political consensus around these values will not be easy. It must be proactive, cross-party and internationalist. It must be sensitive to any legitimate reasons why people have lost faith in the rule of law and its institutions. It will require patient, long-term thinking, hard work and consistent commitment to build the necessary coalitions, and to produce and implement detailed policy proposals.

    So, to meet these challenges it is my view that we need to take immediate steps to restore the UK’s reputation as a rule of law leader whilst at the same time also seek to build and secure the rule of law’s long term resilience in the face of threats known and unknown, domestic and international.

    Restoration and resilience.  Restoration and resilience.  In this speech, I want to talk about three themes that will guide this Government in this project.  As I outlined earlier, my first theme, is rebuilding the UK’s international rule of law leadership before turning next to the role of Parliament and then finally embedding a rule of law culture.

    Theme 1: rebuilding the UK’s international rule of law leadership

    The UK’s international rule of law leadership.

    Historically, the UK has been a leader in developing and promoting international law and the institutions on which its effectiveness depends. British lawyers and politicians have been at the forefront of drafting and negotiating the most important treaties that underpin our international legal system and building the institutional machinery that breathes life into those paper agreements.

    The UK will again demonstrate that leadership – so essential in today’s highly-connected, but highly fragmented, world – and sadly so absent in recent years.

    That starts by clearly, and without question, honouring our obligations under international law.

    Since taking office, this Government has already taken steps to uphold those obligations and demonstrate our deep commitment to international law. We have reached agreement with Mauritius to settle the historic sovereignty claims over BIOT/Chagos Archipelago in a manner that successfully marries our international law obligations with vital national security requirements; we have applied our IHL obligations by compliance with our arms licensing criteria – applying law not politics; we have made plain our commitment to our cornerstone international institutions not least the ICJ and ICC.

    And we will continue to abide by and unequivocally support the European Convention on Human Rights, including by complying with requests from the Court for interim measures. Walking, or threatening to walk away, would be a total abdication of our international law responsibilities and send out precisely the wrong message at a time when the rule of law is under threat in so many places.

    But we will go further than simply meeting our obligations under the Convention specifically and international law generally – that we will do so should go without saying. My point is that the UK will once again be a champion for international courts and institutions, taking positive steps to promote their importance and to rebuild the respect for them that the populists have sought to destroy.  As the Prime Minister has said, having discovered the Convention in a law library in Leeds some 40 years ago, the rights it sets out speak about the dignity of every human being, and are a source of inspiration from which we can all draw strength and value.

    After the First World War, the UK championed the establishment of a Permanent Court of International Justice. British Judges sitting in that Court and many subsequent international courts and tribunals have delivered judgments that have brought clarity to all areas of international law.

    I am therefore delighted that the UK National Group has announced its intention to nominate Professor Dapo Akande – who will be well known to many in this room – as the UK’s candidate for election to the International Court of Justice in 2026. I cannot think of a better representative for the UK’s expertise in international law and I am delighted to personally endorse Dapo’s campaign.

    And it is through international courts that we hope to finally see justice for Ukraine. I have dedicated my professional life to fighting for justice and accountability, and nowhere was the need for that more apparent than in my recent visit to Ukraine. I was profoundly struck by the stories I heard at Bucha’s cathedral and in Irpin.

    Despite the unimaginable suffering that the people of Ukraine have endured, they remain clear-eyed about the importance of the international rule of law and accountability. I – and the whole Government – remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine, on the battlefield and in the courtroom. This includes support for work towards establishing a Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

    But these systems, and the promise offered by international law, only work when we work in partnership with our friends and partners around the world.

    In many parts of the world, especially in the Global South, the international rules-based order and human rights are often seen as imperialist constructs, selectively invoked by western governments when it suits their interests. It is incumbent upon us to first, listen, to those who feel unheard. And secondly, to demonstrate – not just with warm words, but with concrete actions – that international law can deliver real benefits to all. And those actions must be consistent, we must show that we will hold ourselves to the highest standards.

    We will advocate for reform of the Security Council, to ensure that those with seats at the top table truly represent the global community. That means permanent representation from Africa, from Brazil, India, Japan and Germany.  And our approach to international development will show that we have learnt the lessons of history that, to be sustainable, the rule of law cannot be imposed on developing countries by former colonial rulers, but must be grown organically from within by working closely with local communities and institutions.

    And we will be unwavering in our commitment to tackling climate change, where we know that many of the worst effects are felt by those who have made the smallest contributions to this existential threat.

    Theme 2: defending and strengthening Parliament’s role in upholding the rule of law.

    My second theme is closer to home. A crucial part of restoring the rule of law, and building resilience in the face of future threats, involves thinking about the respective roles of our own institutions in upholding these fundamental values.

    This must start by recognising that upholding the rule of law cannot just be left to the courts. All branches of our constitution must see the rule of law, in its fullest sense, as a guiding force for their own actions.

    Speaking as a relatively new member of two of these branches, I hope my colleagues in this room will not mind if I offer some initial reflections on the role of Parliament in this regard; both in terms of its own functions, and the Government’s relationship to it.

    Parliamentary sovereignty is one of the fundamental features of our constitution and the ultimate legal authority of Parliament to make or unmake any law is crystal clear.  However, viewing the rule of law through this distorting lens of ultimate decision-making authority alone risks mistaking it for a purely formal, and thin, conception of ‘rule by law’. 

    As lawyers know, Parliament’s authority in our constitution is legal authority, an authority that requires that Parliament maintains in its legislation the ideals of the rule of law, of government under law, one of the contributions to the modern world of which we in the UK are justly proud.  And as I (following Lord Bingham) have explained, those ideals are much thicker and more substantive that the thin gruel of a formal conception of ‘rule by law’.

    We have seen in recent years where that disregard for our constitutional rule of law heritage can lead.  It is crucial that all institutional actors understand their role in a government under law. When Government invites Parliament to breach international law, or oust the jurisdiction of the courts, it not only undermines the rule of law, but also the mutual respect that historically has been one of the great strengths of our constitution.  It risks pitting one institution against another in ways that damage our reputation both inside and outside our borders as a law-abiding nation. 

    We must also work to counter the false choice, offered by some, between parliamentary democracy and fundamental rights. For almost a quarter of a century, the Human Rights Act has shown how it is possible, with imagination, to provide a legal framework for the protection of fundamental rights which can co-exist with parliamentary sovereignty. Indeed, the Act specifically preserves Parliament’s ultimate decision-making authority through its regime of non-binding Declarations of Incompatibility, defences, and section 19(1)(b) statements.

    And the enforcement of the Act otherwise by the courts, far from being at odds with democracy, is its vindication. Because it was our democratically elected Parliament that legislated for the Human Rights Act, and provided the mechanisms by which individual rights should be given meaningful effect in domestic law. It is testament to the framers of the Act that no Parliament elected since 1998 has chosen to fundamentally alter that position.

    It is also right to reflect on how Parliament can itself actively protect and enhance rule of law values. It does this through its scrutiny of legislation, most notably through the expertise of my colleagues in both Houses, but also through its Select Committee system. And it is incumbent on any government to ensure that those Committees are able to do their jobs effectively. I welcome the contribution that committees such as the Lords Constitution Committee, the Delegated Powers Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights make to the debate on human rights and the rule of law, and I look forward to working constructively with them in this Parliament.

    But there are aspects of Government’s relationship with Parliament that require more careful examination. Most pressingly, there is in my view a real need to consider the balance between primary and secondary legislation, which in recent years has weighed too heavily in favour of delegated powers.

    The twin challenges of Brexit and the Covid pandemic had the effect of concentrating immense power in the hands of the executive, through the conferral and exercise of broad delegated powers, including so-called Henry VIII powers. Some of this can be explained by the exceptional character, and unique demands, of both events. However, it would be a mistake to view this as an aberration. As the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee have noted, Brexit and Covid did not mark the beginning of the shift in the balance between Parliament and the executive, so much as an acceleration and intensification of an existing trend.

    As technical as these issues may sound, they raise real questions about how we are governed. I said earlier that I see democracy as inextricably related to the rule of law. In our system of Parliamentary democracy, consent to be governed is expressed through the delegation, every four or five years, of powers by the governed to Parliament. It is the importance of this model of consent that explains in very large measure why I have been so concerned, on entering Government, to improve the standards we adhere to when we make policy and law – and specifically to ensure that the processes we adopt support the rule of law.

    Secondary legislation has an indispensable role to play in a modern, regulated society. There is no suggestion that the Government should not take or exercise delegated powers. However, excessive reliance on delegated powers, Henry VIII clauses, or skeleton legislation, upsets the proper balance between Parliament and the executive. This not only strikes at the rule of law values I have already outlined, but also at the cardinal principles of accessibility and legal certainty.

    In my view, the new Government offers an opportunity for a reset in the way that Government thinks about these issues. This means, in particular, a much sharper focus on whether taking delegated powers is justified in a given case, and more careful consideration of appropriate safeguards.

    Theme 3: promoting a rule of law culture, which builds public trust in the law and its institutions

    Finally, in my third theme I want to talk about culture and how we promote a rule of law culture which builds public trust in the law and its institutions – a vital task if the rule of law is to be made resilient enough to withstand the threats I have described in this age of populism.

    We begin this task from a difficult place. Too often, the starting point for debate is that law is part of the problem. At best, an abstraction that is disconnected from the realities of people’s lives. At worst, it can be held up by populists as a force that is somehow illegitimate. All of us who care about this subject – and particularly those of us in Government – need to work hard to counter these attitudes, and to foster a better understanding of the rightful place of law in a liberal democratic society.

    For Government, this means leading by example.  I hope you take some comfort in the fact that the importance of the rule of law and the constitutional balance is embedded in my DNA and that of a Prime Minister who not only rose to the top ranks of the Bar but served his country as DPP.  Vitally, it is also a principle deeply cherished and jealously protected by the Lord Chancellor who has overarching constitutional authority as the guardian of the rule of law not least to protect the independence of the judiciary.  Anyone who knows the Lord Chancellor and her determination to champion the rule of law will know that there will be no repeat of failures to defend attacks on the judiciary under her watch.   

    Of course, we will be judged by what we do, not what we may have done in the past let alone what we say now – and we will demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law in real and practical ways.  By way of example only, in the coming weeks I will issue an amended guidance for assessing legal risk across government that will seek to raise the standards for calibrating legality that the thousands of brilliant lawyers working in every part of government activity apply to deliver for the people of this country – I want them to feel empowered to give their full and frank advice to me and others in government and to stand up for the rule of law.

    But the challenge to rebuild a broad consensus around rule of law values, cannot be left merely to politicians.  It is a project that can only succeed if it is taken up by all of us, politicians, judges, lawyers, civil society, citizens. 

    We need to recognise that the populists have stolen a march – it is nearly always easier to deride and denigrate than it is to promote complex but vital principles.  We cannot stand by idly as rule of law principles and the human rights idea are undermined, sometimes without challenge, on television screens, the pages of newspapers and most effectively and invidiously of all, on social media.

    The challenge is to get out and explain the importance of the principles that we hold so dear – we have a fantastic story to tell and tell it we must. 

    We need to explain that the rule of law is not the preserve of arid constitutional theory.  We need to explain how it provides the stable and predictable environment in which people can plan their lives, do business and get ahead; in which businesses can invest, the economy can grow; people can resolve disputes fairly and peacefully, and express and enjoy their basic rights and freedoms. We must illustrate how systems that do not hold to these values can be arbitrary and capricious. And backsliding from Rule of Law values, once it begins, can take an unpredictable course.

    The story that we must tell is how the rule of law matters for growth, jobs and people’s livelihoods – how it impacts upon the pound in their pocket and on the type of future their children deserve to enjoy. Governments that undermine, or take a ‘pick and mix’ approach to these values, disincentivise investment. Today, we have hosted the Investment Summit with a clear message that Britain is open for business. Britain has many commercial advantages, but one of our greatest is the trust that businesses can have in our courts, and the confidence they can have in a stable and transparent business environment, underpinned by a strong rule of law.

    Education has a crucial role to play. We must take these messages to our schools and wider communities. I commend the work of civil society groups and charities such as Young Citizens and the Citizenship Foundation, and the Bingham Centre itself, who work with schools to promote a better understanding of the law and its importance in society. I believe it is right to think about whether even more can be done to strengthen the role of citizenship education as a means of promoting a better understanding of our constitution and, particularly, the importance of the rule of law.

    But we must also talk about these issues in a way that resonates with the public and in language that everyone understands. Because most people would instinctively recognise rule of law principles as values that are part of the very fabric of our society. Fair play. Justice. Rules that apply equally to all; not one rule for them, and another for the rest of us. And where disputes do arise – whether with a business, an employer, or a neighbour – an independent courts system which provides the means for their just resolution.

    And in the public realm, law is the great leveller that holds the powerful to account, and ensures that individual rights are respected. Those rights – human rights – are our rights, and belong to us all.  

    So it is we must proudly own the story of the European Convention on Human Rights, not least because in so doing we expose the wanton superficiality of many of its critics. We must explain how the values of the Convention are not foreign to us. They are universal. Closely connected rights are found deeply embedded in the heart of our own legal tradition. Echoes of habeas corpus, Magna Carta, and the Bill of Rights, can all be located in Articles 5 and 6 ECHR.  This country banned torture long before our continental cousins, never mind the promulgation of Article 3.  It is no coincidence that it was British lawyers, most notably the Conservative David Maxwell Fyfe, who helped to frame the European Convention after the Second World War, drawing of course inspiration from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also centuries of our own legal values.  It is simply legally fatuous and historically ignorant of armchair critics of the Convention to declare that its supporters somehow seek to undermine our traditions or should be dismissed as naive snowflakes. 

    To the contrary, the Convention was drafted by men and women who had witnessed the very worst that humans can do to each other, their views were forged not in a Tufton Street seminar but in the trenches and the battle grounds, in the prisoner of war camps and the historic prosecutions of the Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg.  The drafting and adoption took place not in a time of overindulgence but when societies were rebuilding from rubble and indeed this country was still under rationing.  They were hard-nosed men and women from a generation who had seen conflict and vowed ‘never again’.    The structures they helped to create, the values that underpin them, have served us well as a bulwark against totalitarianism, and a foundation for European peace. And they remain the best hope of protecting us from the threats we face today.

    For too long, populists have been able to frame the debate on human rights too narrowly, by reference to issues which, important as they are, can often feel disconnected from the everyday. We have to work to change this, not only by busting myths, but by showing how human rights positively touch so many aspects of wider society. The right to be treated equally. The right to express ourselves. The freedom to live in the way we choose, without undue interference from the state. These are the values we cherish and have chosen, collectively, to protect.

    So too must we work to combat disinformation and misinformation about law and lawyers. The disgraceful scenes of violent disorder over the summer, including threats against immigration law firms and advice centres, showed only too vividly that what is said online can have dangerous consequences in the real world.

    But the response to the riots also showed something more hopeful. People took to the streets not only to clean up and repair the damage, but to stand together against the forces of reaction and division. It is that spirit of decency and fairness that we must harness in our cause.   

    When I went to Liverpool I visited the library that had been burnt down in the riots and met a group of children who had been cowering under beds and in cupboards as the mobs went by at night but who the next morning got up and came to volunteer to rebuild.  I talked with them about the books that we were donating to the library (including Helena’s latest) which all concern how law and justice work for everyone – and we discussed the meaning and significance of the inscription that my office had placed inside each cover, taking the words of Dr Martin Luther King – that although the arc of humanity is long, it bends towards justice.

    Conclusion

    Restoration and resilience. These are the watchwords that will guide our defence of the rule of law in the face of populism. It is by renewing our commitment to rule of law values, as a Government and as a nation, at home and abroad, and patiently rebuilding the political consensus underpinning that commitment, that we will ensure that the rule of law is safe for future generations; so we may continue to work together towards achieving the Bingham Centre’s vision of ‘a world in which every society is governed by the Rule of Law in the interests of good government, peace at home and in the world at large’.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa’s 36.1% electricity price hike for 2025: why the power utility Eskom’s request is unrealistic

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Steven Matome Mathetsa, Senior Lecturer at the African Energy Leadership Centre, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand

    South Africa’s state-owned electricity company, Eskom, has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to approve a 36.1% electricity price hike from April 2025, a 11.8% price increase in 2026 and an 9.1% increase in 2027. Steven Mathetsa teaches and researches sustainable energy systems at the University of the Witwatersrand’s African Energy Leadership Centre. He explains some of the problems with the planned tariff increase.

    Why such a big hike?

    Eskom says the multi-year price increase is because of the need to move closer a cost-reflective tariff that reflects the actual costs of supplying electricity.

    However, Eskom’s electricity tariff increases have been exorbitant for several years – an 18% increase in 2023 and a 13% increase in 2024. This is a price increase far above inflation, which is currently at 4.4%.

    Some companies have installed their own generation capacity, and individuals have moved to rooftop solar systems. As a result electricity sales have fallen by about 2% , resulting in a drop in revenue.

    There’s a knock on effect for municipalities, the biggest distributors of electricity, which have also been forced to hike tariffs in line with Eskom’s increases.

    All these costs are passed onto the consumers.

    What will the impact be on South Africans?

    If the hike is approved it will certainly worsen the economic difficulties facing
    South Africa. One of the most unequal countries in the world, South Africa has an extremely high unemployment rate – 33.5%at the last count.

    Economic growth is also very slow, at a mere 0.6% in 2023. The cost of living is high.

    Exorbitant increases in electricity costs aggravate these problems.

    South Africans and businesses in the country have little choice about where they source their energy. Eskom is still the sole supplier for nearly all the country’s electricity needs. This means that ordinary citizens are likely to continue relying on electricity supplied by Eskom, irrespective of the costs.

    The high costs affect businesses negatively. Large industrial and small, medium, and micro enterprises have all highlighted that costs associated with utilities, mainly electricity, are affecting their sustainability.



    Read more:
    Competition in South Africa’s electricity market: new law paves the way, but it won’t be a smooth ride

    The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act implementation will make major changes to Eskom. The reforms establish an independent Transmission Systems Operator tasked with connecting renewable energy providers to the grid. This will allow the creation of a competitive market where renewable energy providers can sell power to the grid.

    But it’s not yet clear if these changes will address the issue of exorbitant electricity price rises.

    What are the problems?

    The country’s energy frameworks are drafted on the basis of the World Energy Trilemma Index. The index promotes a balanced approach between energy security, affordability, and sustainability. In other words, countries must be able to provide environmentally friendly and reliable electricity that their residents can afford.

    South Africa is currently unable to meet these goals because of different energy policies that do not align, a lack of investment in electricity and dependency on coal-fired power. Electricity is increasingly becoming unaffordable in the country. Although there’s been a recent reprieve from power cuts, security of supply is still uncertain.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s new energy plan needs a mix of nuclear, gas, renewables and coal – expert

    Furthermore, over 78% of the country’s electricity is produced by burning coal. This means South Africa is also far from attaining its 2015 Paris Agreement greenhouse gas reduction goals.

    Compounding this problem is that Eskom is financially unstable – it needed R78 billion from the government in debt relief in 2024. For years, there was a lack of effective maintenance on the aging infrastructure.

    The country has made some inroads into improving security of supply. To date, recent interventions have resulted in over 200 days without power cuts. This should be commended. The same focus must be placed on ensuring that electricity remains affordable while giving attention to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

    What needs to change?

    South Africa’s 1998 Energy Policy White Paper and the new Electricity Regulation Amendment Act promote access to affordable electricity. However, they’ve been implemented very slowly. Affordable electricity needs to be taken seriously.

    The question is whether the country’s electricity tariff methodology is flexible enough to accommodate poor South Africans, especially during these challenging economic times.

    In my view, it is not. In its current form, vulnerable communities continue to foot the bill for various challenges confronting Eskom, including financial mismanagement, operational inefficiencies, municipal non-payment, and corruption.

    I believe the following steps should be taken.

    Firstly, South Africa should revise its tariff application methodologies so that consumers, especially unemployed and impoverished people, are protected against exorbitant increases.

    Secondly, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa should strengthen its regulations to ensure its compliance and enforcement systems are effective. For example, Eskom should be held accountable when it does not deliver efficient services or mismanages funds, and be transparent about costs associated with its processes. Municipalities should also be held accountable for non-payment and other technical issues they regularly struggle with. Both affect the revenue of the power utility.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s economic growth affected by mismatch of electricity supply and demand

    Thirdly, the government must make sure that price increases are affordable and don’t hurt the broader economy. It can do this by adjusting its policies to make sure that increases in electricity tariffs are in line with the rate of inflation.

    Fourthly, communities can play a vital role in saving electricity at a household level. This will reduce the country’s overall energy consumption. Furthermore, both small and large businesses should continue to consider alternative energy technologies while implementing energy saving technologies.

    Lastly, the level of free-basic electricity is not sufficient for poor households. Subsidy policies should also be reviewed to allow users access to affordable electricity as their financial situation changes negatively.

    Steven Matome Mathetsa 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. South Africa’s 36.1% electricity price hike for 2025: why the power utility Eskom’s request is unrealistic – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-36-1-electricity-price-hike-for-2025-why-the-power-utility-eskoms-request-is-unrealistic-240941

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s 36.1% electricity price hike for 2025: why the power utility Eskom’s request is unrealistic

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Steven Matome Mathetsa, Senior Lecturer at the African Energy Leadership Centre, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand

    South Africa’s state-owned electricity company, Eskom, has applied to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to approve a 36.1% electricity price hike from April 2025, a 11.8% price increase in 2026 and an 9.1% increase in 2027. Steven Mathetsa teaches and researches sustainable energy systems at the University of the Witwatersrand’s African Energy Leadership Centre. He explains some of the problems with the planned tariff increase.

    Why such a big hike?

    Eskom says the multi-year price increase is because of the need to move closer a cost-reflective tariff that reflects the actual costs of supplying electricity.

    However, Eskom’s electricity tariff increases have been exorbitant for several years – an 18% increase in 2023 and a 13% increase in 2024. This is a price increase far above inflation, which is currently at 4.4%.

    Some companies have installed their own generation capacity, and individuals have moved to rooftop solar systems. As a result electricity sales have fallen by about 2% , resulting in a drop in revenue.

    There’s a knock on effect for municipalities, the biggest distributors of electricity, which have also been forced to hike tariffs in line with Eskom’s increases.

    All these costs are passed onto the consumers.

    What will the impact be on South Africans?

    If the hike is approved it will certainly worsen the economic difficulties facing South Africa. One of the most unequal countries in the world, South Africa has an extremely high unemployment rate – 33.5%at the last count.

    Economic growth is also very slow, at a mere 0.6% in 2023. The cost of living is high.

    Exorbitant increases in electricity costs aggravate these problems.

    A 2023 protest against electricity prices hikes. Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

    South Africans and businesses in the country have little choice about where they source their energy. Eskom is still the sole supplier for nearly all the country’s electricity needs. This means that ordinary citizens are likely to continue relying on electricity supplied by Eskom, irrespective of the costs.

    The high costs affect businesses negatively. Large industrial and small, medium, and micro enterprises have all highlighted that costs associated with utilities, mainly electricity, are affecting their sustainability.

    Read more: Competition in South Africa’s electricity market: new law paves the way, but it won’t be a smooth ride

    The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act implementation will make major changes to Eskom. The reforms establish an independent Transmission Systems Operator tasked with connecting renewable energy providers to the grid. This will allow the creation of a competitive market where renewable energy providers can sell power to the grid.

    But it’s not yet clear if these changes will address the issue of exorbitant electricity price rises.

    What are the problems?

    The country’s energy frameworks are drafted on the basis of the World Energy Trilemma Index. The index promotes a balanced approach between energy security, affordability, and sustainability. In other words, countries must be able to provide environmentally friendly and reliable electricity that their residents can afford.

    South Africa is currently unable to meet these goals because of different energy policies that do not align, a lack of investment in electricity and dependency on coal-fired power. Electricity is increasingly becoming unaffordable in the country. Although there’s been a recent reprieve from power cuts, security of supply is still uncertain.

    Read more: South Africa’s new energy plan needs a mix of nuclear, gas, renewables and coal – expert

    Furthermore, over 78% of the country’s electricity is produced by burning coal. This means South Africa is also far from attaining its 2015 Paris Agreement greenhouse gas reduction goals.

    Compounding this problem is that Eskom is financially unstable – it needed R78 billion from the government in debt relief in 2024. For years, there was a lack of effective maintenance on the aging infrastructure.

    The country has made some inroads into improving security of supply. To date, recent interventions have resulted in over 200 days without power cuts. This should be commended. The same focus must be placed on ensuring that electricity remains affordable while giving attention to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

    What needs to change?

    South Africa’s 1998 Energy Policy White Paper and the new Electricity Regulation Amendment Act promote access to affordable electricity. However, they’ve been implemented very slowly. Affordable electricity needs to be taken seriously.

    The question is whether the country’s electricity tariff methodology is flexible enough to accommodate poor South Africans, especially during these challenging economic times.

    In my view, it is not. In its current form, vulnerable communities continue to foot the bill for various challenges confronting Eskom, including financial mismanagement, operational inefficiencies, municipal non-payment, and corruption.

    I believe the following steps should be taken.

    Firstly, South Africa should revise its tariff application methodologies so that consumers, especially unemployed and impoverished people, are protected against exorbitant increases.

    Secondly, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa should strengthen its regulations to ensure its compliance and enforcement systems are effective. For example, Eskom should be held accountable when it does not deliver efficient services or mismanages funds, and be transparent about costs associated with its processes. Municipalities should also be held accountable for non-payment and other technical issues they regularly struggle with. Both affect the revenue of the power utility.

    Read more: South Africa’s economic growth affected by mismatch of electricity supply and demand

    Thirdly, the government must make sure that price increases are affordable and don’t hurt the broader economy. It can do this by adjusting its policies to make sure that increases in electricity tariffs are in line with the rate of inflation.

    Fourthly, communities can play a vital role in saving electricity at a household level. This will reduce the country’s overall energy consumption. Furthermore, both small and large businesses should continue to consider alternative energy technologies while implementing energy saving technologies.

    Lastly, the level of free-basic electricity is not sufficient for poor households. Subsidy policies should also be reviewed to allow users access to affordable electricity as their financial situation changes negatively.

    – South Africa’s 36.1% electricity price hike for 2025: why the power utility Eskom’s request is unrealistic
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africas-36-1-electricity-price-hike-for-2025-why-the-power-utility-eskoms-request-is-unrealistic-240941

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fostering is…Everything

    Source: City of Coventry

    Fostering can mean everything to those involved.

    This is the message of a powerful new fostering film from over 100 councils including Coventry City Council, who were the pioneers behind the idea seven years ago to work collaboratively with fostering teams across the UK.

    ‘Everything’ will be launched this week on 17 October. It is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.

    Cllr Pat Seaman, Cabinet Member, Children and Young People, said:

    “The ‘Everything’ project has given our fostering service an amazing film that shows the long-term impact fostering can have, with relationships between carers and children lasting well into adulthood.

    “We were instrumental in developing the idea of working together with other fostering teams to deliver a film with the universal aim of promoting the importance and vital role foster carers play.

    “All councils need to recruit more foster carers, and by collaborating to produce this emotionally powerful film, we will show people how rewarding and life-changing fostering is.

    “The message is the same for all of us – we need more people to step forward and become foster carers. ‘Everything’ will help us to reach more people in our communities and encourage them to find out more about this really rewarding role.

    “We are committed to giving the vulnerable children and young people we care for the best chance to thrive, which for the vast majority of them is with local fostering families. Finally, anybody who can play their part and be the everything in a child’s life, can contact the Coventry fostering team on 024 7683 2828 or email pssfostering@coventry.gov.uk”

    The importance of having local foster carers and how they can make such a massive difference in supporting children and young people, is shared by Coventry foster carers, Genine and Tajae, who reflect on their own experience of supporting relationships with children who have left their care.

    They said:

    “As foster carers we established positive relationships with all the children in our care. It has always been our aim to make them feel accepted, loved, safe and cared for. Although we’ve had highs and lows, we can see the positive impact we have had on the children, even after leaving our care.

    “We are so glad that we are able to keep in contact with some of the children we have cared for. Recently, we went out for dinner with a child (now adult) who left our care four years ago.

    “We spoke about our great memories together and she let us know the positive impact we had on her future. She was so appreciative in knowing that we still cared for her even after all these years and will always be there for her.

    “We are also still in contact with another child who had formed close relationships with both of us and our extended family. We still talk on the phone; he comes to our house and on trips to London with us to see our family- this was something that he really enjoyed while in our care.

    “This has had such a positive impact on him to know that he is still seen as family and is always welcome.” 

    The new film, ‘Everything’, follows foster carer Mike and his family on a journey through time with two of the children they have looked after, who are now adults. A surprise 60th birthday party for Mike gives Will and Zara a chance to reflect on how being fostered made a difference to their lives, thanking him for everything.

    Thanks to footage shot on a genuine old camcorder, we are taken to the 1990s, to see how Will settles into the family. We also jump back to the 2010s, when a young Zara is being taught to play the guitar by Mike, something that comes full circle when she performs a song at the party. Mike’s son Chris is involved throughout, showing the important role the children of foster carers play.

    The concluding message of the film is that what you do with your life could forever change someone else’s – encouraging people to foster to make that change.

    The film was developed with the input and insight of foster carers and people with care experience. It was produced by Reel TwentyFive and project managed by public sector media partner CAN/Rachel Brown. Project Director, Rachel Brown describes the main message of the film:

    “Many people don’t realise how common it is for relationships made through fostering to last well beyond the ‘official’ caring role. This has a huge impact on the lives of those who have been fostered, giving them stability and security well into adulthood.

    “Fostering with your local council or children’s trust means you can better support local children and young people who need a safe and nurturing home where they can grow and thrive.”

    Sarah Thomas, chief executive of the Fostering Network says:

    “The Fostering Network has been proud to support the collaborative film projects since ‘Giants’ in 2017. It’s great to see local authority fostering services pooling resources to produce another amazing film. ‘Everything’ will help to amplify their message about the chronic shortage of fostering households, encouraging more people to come forward and foster.”

    For anybody wanting to find out more about fostering with Coventry, people can contact the fostering team on 024 7683 2828 or email pssfostering@coventry.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –