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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police arrest man following alleged road rage incident

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have charged a man following a suspected road rage incident in Onehunga yesterday, which left a bus driver injured.

    Yesterday afternoon at about 2.20pm, Police were notified of a person who had received an injury during the incident near Onehunga Mall.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, from Auckland City’s Crime Squad, says the offender allegedly threw a wrench at the bus driver during the incident.

    “The wrench went through an open bus window and hit the driver in the head, resulting in an injury above his eye.

    “The victim was transported to hospital and is now recovering at home.

    “Our teams have been making a number of enquiries to identify and locate the person responsible and this morning arrested a man at a Randwick Park address.”

    Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says he is aware of the effect these types of incidents can have on the community and support is being provided to the victim.

    “I want to reassure the public that there is no place for this type of violence in our community.

    “No one deserves to come to work and be subjected to this type of behaviour.

    “Police will continue to identify and hold offenders to account for these of brutal crimes.”

    A 30-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court in the coming days, charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, reckless driving and driving while suspended.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Hassan, Pappas Deliver Remarks at New Hampshire Life Sciences Inaugural Event and Celebrate Granite State Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Salem, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01), delivered remarks at the inaugural celebration of New Hampshire Life Sciences. This statewide life sciences association fosters economic growth and awareness of the life sciences industry in New Hampshire, bringing world-class talent and innovation to the state. You can find photos from today’s event here.
    “Fueling local economies and growing industries, including New Hampshire’s innovative life sciences industry, requires collaboration,” said Senator Shaheen. “That’s why I’m glad to see so many companies and organizations in this association developing cutting-edge therapies right here in the Granite State that will save lives in the state and beyond. The formation of New Hampshire Life Sciences will help improve lives, all while growing our state’s economy and creating good-paying jobs.” 
    “Today’s Live Free Life Science celebration reaffirms that anyone who wants to innovate, research, or create should come to the Live Free or Die State,” said Senator Hassan. “Life sciences companies are advancing cutting-edge science while creating good paying jobs and are an example of the many innovative businesses that choose to make New Hampshire home.”   
    “New Hampshire has always been a place that has driven innovation and technology, and today’s inaugural Live Free Life Science Event and Celebration further proves that,” said Congressman Pappas. “Our life science industry is driving economic growth, employing thousands, and accomplishing innovative work that is saving lives. I want to thank New Hampshire Life Sciences for convening this summit to connect businesses, share information and resources, and plan for the future of life sciences here in the Granite State.” 
    “The strength of New Hampshire’s life sciences industry was on full display at our Live Free Life Science event, and we are thrilled by the engagement from industry and elected leaders from across the state,” said Andrea Hechavarria, President & CEO of NHLS. “There has been incredible momentum generated over our first year in operation, creating a springboard for our work to help grow the Granite State’s cutting-edge life sciences companies.”
    As Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen leads efforts to promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. Last month, Shaheen, Hassan and Pappas celebrated the grand-opening of Novocure’s North American flagship facility located in downtown Portsmouth which will house a world-class training and development center, bringing physicians and scientists from around the world to New Hampshire and creating hundreds of high paying jobs in the state.
    In July, the New Hampshire Congressional delegation welcomed $44 million in federal funding awarded to the ReGen Valley Tech Hub through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate Southern New Hampshire’s growth into a global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative cells, tissues and organs. Last year, Shaheen, Hassan and Pappas visited the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) to celebrate the ReGen Valley Consortium’s Tech Hub designation.  
    Prior to that, Shaheen and Hassan hosted Commerce Secretary Raimondo at ARMI following Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) selection of Southern New Hampshire’s BioFabrication Cluster as a Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) awardee. This separate $44 million award– which Shaheen, Hassan, and Pappas also advocated for – is being used as a down payment to establish Southern New Hampshire’s leading role in regenerative tissue and organ production.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: October 10th, 2024 Heinrich Unveils N.M. Minority Business Development Center’s New Office in Albuquerque

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    Heinrich was instrumental in establishing and standing up the Minority Business Development Center in New Mexico
    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, joined Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, community leaders, and small business owners to unveil a new, larger office space for the New Mexico Minority Business Development Center (Business Center) as part of a new Business Resource Center that will also house the City of Albuquerque’s Small Business Office.
    Heinrich wrote the legislative provision that established and funded the New Mexico Business Center in 2020, securing more than $2.5 million in federal resources through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency for its staffing and programming.

    U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome the newly expanded office space for the New Mexico MBDC in Albuquerque, October 10, 2024.
    “Local businesses are the beating hearts of our communities and backbone of our economy. That’s why, four years ago, I wrote the federal legislative provision that re-opened New Mexico’s Minority Business Development Center and fought to fund its operations. And it’s why I am so pleased to celebrate this expanded Center in Albuquerque and the locations now open in Las Vegas and Las Cruces,” said Heinrich. “With the $2.5 million-plus in federal resources I’ve been able to deliver, we are expanding support for local businesses across our state as they create the types of careers New Mexicans can build their families around, in their home communities.”  
    Background:
    The federal Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) mission is to promote the growth and global competitiveness of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) in order to unlock the country’s full economic potential. The MBDA supports a national network of Business Centers and technical assistance programs that help entrepreneurs and small business owners overcome obstacles and grow their businesses.
    In 2018, New Mexico’s previous Minority Business Development Center closed. In 2020, Heinrich authored report language in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Appropriations Bills that required the U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency to re-open a new Business Center in New Mexico. 
    Heinrich then worked closely with the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce to secure an initial $300,000 in federal funding to help establish the new Business Center, along with delivering $1.875 million in federal funding to support the first five years of its operations. 
    In subsequent funding cycles, Heinrich has secured additional federal resources to expand the staffing and services offered by the Minority Business Development Agency in New Mexico. 
    In the FY2023 Appropriations Bills, Heinrich secured $200,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) to help the Business Center hire two more business advisors based in Las Cruces and expand the reach of their services throughout New Mexico. 
    In the FY2024 Appropriations Bills, Heinrich secured an additional $200,000 CDS to help the Business Center launch a new technical assistance project that will provide professional business development services to support and promote the growth and success of minority-owned businesses across the state. 
    Earlier this year, Heinrich included $300,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending within the FY2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, which advanced out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in August, to help the Business Center create a Food and Beverage “New to Export” Cohort that will provide comprehensive support to business enterprises looking to export their products.
    Heinrich recently welcomed the opening of a new Minority Business Development Centerin Las Cruces, thanks to the federal funding he secured in the FY2023 Appropriations Bills, and an additional $183,000 award from the MBDA and $20,000 from the City of Albuquerque to open a new Rural Minority Business Development Center in Las Vegas.    

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 136th Canton Fair to gather over 30,000 enterprises offline

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 10 — Over 30,000 enterprises from home and abroad will be in physical attendance at the 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

    The fair will be held in Guangzhou in three phases between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4, and is set to include 55 exhibition areas covering 1.55 million square meters.

    Approximately 390,000 digital and smart products will be showcased at this session, skyrocketing 300 percent from the 135th Canton Fair, and the number of green and low carbon products will be up 130 percent from the previous session, according to ministry official Xiao Lu.

    As of Wednesday, about 125,000 overseas buyers from 203 countries and regions have expressed their willingness to attend the 136th fair.

    A record high of over 750 trade promotion activities will be held this session, alongside approximately 400 activities to launch new products, with that number up by over 30 percent from the previous fair.

    The functions of the online platform for the 136th Canton Fair have been optimized further, the ministry said, noting that 48,000 enterprises have uploaded 3.75 million products to the platform, with both of those figures reaching historic highs.

    Launched in 1957 and held twice yearly, the Canton Fair is considered a major gauge of China’s foreign trade.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Statement on Successful Mollie Kathleen Mine Rescue

    Source: US State of Colorado

    TELLER COUNTY – Governor Polis released a statement on the rescue of the 12 individuals trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine: 

    “I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine have been safely rescued. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual lost in this incident. I thank Teller County and Sheriff Mikesell and his team, as well as the other law enforcement and first responders from local and state government for their swift response and tireless efforts, including members of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Thanks to this collaborative effort, each of these individuals will return home safely,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    ### 

    Declaración del Gobernador Polis sobre el Exitoso Rescate en la Mina Mollie Kathleen 

    CONDADO DE TELLER – El Gobernador Polis emitió un comunicado sobre el rescate de las 12 personas atrapadas en la mina Mollie Kathleen: 

    “Me siento aliviado de que 12 de las personas atrapadas en la mina Mollie Kathleen hayan sido rescatadas de manera segura. Nuestro más sentido pésame a la familia y amigos de la persona que murió en este incidente. Agradezco al condado de Teller y al sheriff Mikesell y su equipo, así como a las demás autoridades policiales y socorristas del gobierno local y estatal por su rápida respuesta y esfuerzos incansables, incluyendo los miembros del Departamento de Recursos Naturales, el Departamento de Trabajo y Empleo, y la División de Seguridad Nacional y Manejo de Emergencias. Gracias a este esfuerzo de colaboración, cada una de estas personas regresará a casa sana y salva”, dijo el Gobernador Jared Polis.

     ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Powering up the food system (PPF)

    Source: Plant and Food New Zealand – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Powering up the food system (PPF)

    People | Planet | Food – Roger Robson-Williams speaks with Mike Casey, about producing cherries without using fossil fuels and running a charity called Rewiring Aotearoa.
    They discuss what it takes to build a fully electrified orchard and the emerging opportunities for farmers and growers to help address growing demand for renewable power. Mike explains how Rewiring Aotearoa is helping kiwis save money on energy bills, reduce their carbon emissions, and have the resilience to keep their lights on and homes warm. This episode highlights the changing relationship between energy, food production, and the everyday decisions we all make about how to live our lives.
    For further information on Rewiring Aotearoa see: http://www.rewiring.nz
    To view our full catalogue of podcasts go to our Scigest page: http://www.plantandfood.com/scigest

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: We must ‘help way earlier’ – united call to address systemic failures of Australia’s youth justice systems

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    Joint media release: Justice Reform Initiative and Australian Human Rights Commission 

    Law and justice leaders, parliamentarians, First Nations leaders, child safety advocates, community service providers, peak organisations, and people with lived experience of child imprisonment from around Australia will come together for a landmark parliamentary event in Canberra on Thursday.

    Amid an increasing national spotlight on the systemic failures of harmful youth justice practices across the country, more than 120 representatives – including former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce and Members of Parliament from all sides of politics – will converge in Canberra to recognise the urgent need for systems reform and for child justice, safety and well-being to be made a national priority.

    Co-hosted by the Justice Reform Initiative and National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds, the meeting comes as submissions for the first Federal Senate Inquiry into Australia’s child justice system are set to close on Thursday.

    The event will include a panel discussion featuring four remarkable speakers who have experienced incarceration as children and have critical insights into what needs to change. They will be joined by Anne Hollonds (National Children’s Commissioner who will also provide a brief overview of her report), and Natalie Lewis (Commissioner for the Queensland Family and Child Commission).

    The event follows the tabling in Parliament of the National Children’s Commissioner’s major report ‘Help Way Earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing, and her address at the National Press Club last week.

    Among its 24 recommendations, the ‘Help Way Earlier!’ report specifically calls for:

    • a National Taskforce for Child Justice Reform
    • a National Cabinet Minister for Children
    • a Ministerial Council for Child Wellbeing reporting to National Cabinet 
    • legislation to protect the human rights of children.

    Comments attributed to National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds:

    “Our ‘Help Way Earlier!’ report finds that in Australia we have misunderstood the problems we are trying to solve – that the criminal justice system is not able to reduce offending by children and make the community safer.

    “The evidence shows that the younger you lock up children, the more likely it is that they will go on to commit more serious and violent crimes. Making the justice system more punitive through longer sentences, tougher bail laws, and building more children’s prisons is the wrong approach.

    “That’s because offending by children is a symptom of underlying causes and needs that we are failing to address. Instead we need to pivot towards the solutions based on decades of evidence, to transform our approach and work together across the federation to address the underlying causes of crime by children, and that will make communities safer for everyone.’

    Comments attributed to Chair of the Justice Reform Initiative, Robert Tickner AO:

    “Australia is failing its children every day with a failed approach to youth justice. As the National Children’s Commissioner’s report makes abundantly clear, it’s time for the Commonwealth to step up and show national leadership, working with the states and territories for a better approach.

    “The social factors which drive the crisis in youth justice have been allowed to worsen over time without adequate attention from either side of politics. The unanimous Senate support for an inquiry, set to be tabled in November, is acknowledgment of the need for major systemic change and national leadership to drive that change.

    “Too many children around Australia are managed in prisons, rather than receiving the support and care and opportunity they need in the community. Imagine if schools across the country failed two-thirds or more of their students, or if our hospitals had a death rate of two-thirds of patients or higher. About two-thirds (66%) of children aged 10 to 16 who are released from sentenced detention receive another supervised sentence within 6 months, and more than 4 in 5 (85%) within 12 months.

    “We are paying an enormous price for this failure – both socially and economically. Locking up children across Australia now costs more than $855 million each year at a cost of $2,827 per child per day, equivalent to over $1 million per year per child.

    “This is an issue which should be on the agenda of the National Cabinet. As the Prime Minister has noted, we need state and territory collaboration to develop a national model of best practice based on the evidence of what works to turn young lives around. As a cross party national organisation, the Justice Reform Initiative is calling for youth justice to be taken out of the hothouse war zone of party politics and for our political leaders to come together to support evidence-based policy which reduces crime and makes our communities safer.”

    MEDIA NOTE: The event will be held at 7.30- 9.30am in the Mural Hall. National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner AO, Law Council President Greg McIntyre and Australian Medical Association President Danielle McMullen will be available for comment immediately following the event.

    Media contact: Pia Akerman 0412 346 746

    The Initiative respectfully acknowledges and supports the current and longstanding efforts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reduce the numbers of Indigenous people incarcerated in Australia and, importantly, the leadership role which Indigenous-led organisations continue to play on this issue. We also acknowledge the work of many other individuals and organisations seeking change, such as those focused on the rate of imprisonment for women, people with mental health issues, people with disability and others.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Hope returns to Kashmir after elections, but the ultimate power still belongs to Narendra Modi’s government

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leoni Connah, Lecturer in International Relations, Flinders University

    This year’s local elections in India’s northernmost territory of Jammu and Kashmir were the first since the national government controversially stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status in 2019. It’s also the first local election in Muslim-majority Kashmir since 2014.

    It was a significant moment for the region. The election will restore, at least partially, some degree of self-rule five years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it away.

    Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) was delivered a resounding defeat when the official results were released this week. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Congress alliance won 48 seats in the 90-seat regional legislature. The BJP won 29, mostly in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

    The former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, was also reinstated as leader. This was a surprising turn given he lost his race for a seat in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, in the national elections a few months ago.

    What’s changed?

    Elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been affected in the past by boycotts and low voter turnout, due largely to public mistrust of the government.

    There was also a sense of betrayal after Modi’s government revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This had granted special privileges to local residents and gave the region its own constitution and ability to make its own laws.

    However, voter turnout in this year’s election reached 64%. And the participation of separatists and independent candidates suggested a change in attitude toward the political process.

    For the BJP, the elections are evidence that normalcy has returned to Kashmir after years of ongoing violence. Modi said in a tweet: “Many people claimed that the Jammu and Kashmir would burn if Article 370 was abrogated. However, it didn’t burn, it blossomed.”

    Modi had promised during the campaign that “statehood” would be restored, though he suggested this would be realised only if the BJP was victorious.

    With Modi’s opposition winning, some believed the election to be a de-facto referendum on the territory’s special status.

    The JKNC has always opposed the revocation of Article 370 and the stripping of Kashmir’s autonomy. The party has promised to work towards restoring that special status, as well as repealing the draconian Public Safety Act, which allows for the detention of people for up to two years without charge, and seeking amnesty for prisoners.

    In reality, however, the result won’t undo the revocation of Article 370. The new local assembly will have the power to make and amend laws, debate local issues and approve decisions for the territory, particularly in education and culture. But Abdullah will still need to seek the federally appointed lieutenant governor’s approval on any major decisions.

    Even if many Kashmiris would like to prevent the BJP from extending its reach into the region, the party still maintains some control from New Delhi.

    The BJP expanded the lieutenant governor’s powers over public order and policing. The lieutenant governor also has control over the regional anti-corruption bureau and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

    These powers were heavily criticised by the opposition parties in the region.

    Future of democracy?

    In recent years, Indian security forces have cracked down on the news media, social media and other forms of communication throughout the region, particularly any forms of Kashmiri solidarity with Palestine.

    Human rights advocates say abuses and repression continue in the region, and the climate of fear has had a detrimental impact on Kashmiri life.

    Statehood remains one of the biggest grievances for Kashmiri residents. Abdullah said himself that “restoration of full, undiluted statehood for [Jammu and Kashmir] is a prerequisite for these elections”.

    Only time will tell if these demands can be addressed, but there is hope a new local government might begin to change the bleak situation in Kashmir.

    As I spoke about in a recent podcast, there is optimism the new government will go a long way towards restoring some level of autonomy in Kashmir, as long as it is not obstructed by the lieutenant governor’s new powers.

    Leoni Connah 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. Hope returns to Kashmir after elections, but the ultimate power still belongs to Narendra Modi’s government – https://theconversation.com/hope-returns-to-kashmir-after-elections-but-the-ultimate-power-still-belongs-to-narendra-modis-government-240990

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hurricane Milton plows across US Florida

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Hurricane Milton hit the southeast U.S. state of Florida overnight with strong winds, destructive tornadoes and heavy rain, leaving at least 10 dead and millions of people without power as of Thursday afternoon.

    Police officers and National Guard members clear a downed tree after Hurricane Milton strikes on Davis Island, Tampa City, Florida, the United States, on Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/City of Tampa]

    Milton made its landfall along the west-central coast of Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm and weakened to Category 1 as it plowed quickly across central Florida.

    St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry confirmed five fatalities as a result of tornadoes spawned by hurricane.

    “This has been a tragic 24 hours,” he said at a press conference.

    “Numerous homes and structures across St. Lucie County, including the City of Port St. Lucie and unincorporated areas, suffered significant damage,” said the county in an earlier news release.

    “As Hurricane Milton makes its way into the Atlantic, St. Lucie County Emergency Management officials strongly encourage residents to stay off the roads and stay inside until it has been deemed safe to do so,” said the release, adding that unnecessary traffic or bystanders will hinder response and recovery efforts.

    Three people were confirmed died in Volusia County, including one person killed after a tree fell, according to NBC News.

    In addition, two storm-related fatalities occurred in City of St. Petersburg, the news outlet reported.

    Over 135 residents from the Great American Assisted Living facility in Tampa, the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the county seat of Hillsborough County, were rescued by responders, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook.

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X Thursday morning that over 3 million households were without power.

    He noted that more than 50,000 linemen were in the state working to restore power as efficiently and safely as possible while law enforcement officials and first responders were engaged in rescue missions throughout impacted areas.

    The Florida National Guard has activated over 6,500 service members for Hurricane Milton response operations, according to an update released by the governor’s office.

    U.S. President Joe Biden also wrote on X urging people impacted by Hurricane Milton to “stay inside and off the roads.”

    “Downed power lines, debris, and road washouts are creating dangerous conditions,” he said, adding that “Help is on the way.”

    The U.S. National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center warned that there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the coast from east-central Florida northward to southern Georgia, where a storm surge warning remains in effect.

    Heavy rainfall across the central to northern Florida Peninsula through Thursday morning continues to bring the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding along with moderate to major river flooding, especially in areas where coastal and inland flooding combine to increase the overall flood threat. Damaging hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will continue for a few more hours in east-central and northeastern Florida, according to the agency.

    Milton is the fifth hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast so far in 2024, with three of them striking Florida. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global trade to increase 2.7% in 2024: WTO report

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A logo of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is seen in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The volume of global merchandise trade is expected to increase by 2.7 percent in 2024, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in an update of the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics released on Thursday.

    This prediction is slightly higher than the WTO’s earlier forecast of 2.6 percent made in April.

    According to the report, global merchandise trade experienced an upward trend in the first half of 2024, showing a year-on-year increase of 2.3 percent. This growth is expected to be followed by further moderate expansion throughout the remainder of the year and into 2025.

    Global real gross domestic product growth at market exchange rates is projected to remain steady at 2.7 percent in both 2024 and 2025, the report said.

    The WTO noted that by mid-2024, inflation had decreased sufficiently to enable central banks to cut interest rates. This decline in inflation is expected to increase real household incomes and stimulate consumer spending, while lower interest rates should encourage firms to boost their investment spending.

    The report also cautioned that diverging monetary policies among major economies could result in financial volatility and shifts in capital flows as central banks lower interest rates. This situation may make debt servicing more difficult, especially for poorer economies.

    “We are expecting a gradual recovery in global trade for 2024, but we remain vigilant of potential setbacks, particularly the potential escalation of regional conflicts like those in the Middle East,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

    The impact could be most severe for the countries directly affected, but it may also indirectly influence global energy costs and shipping routes, she said, calling for continuous efforts to foster inclusive global trade.

    “It is imperative that we continue to work collectively to ensure global economic stability and sustained growth, as these are fundamental to enhancing the welfare of people worldwide,” she said.

    The report forecasts a decline in exports in Europe by 1.4 percent and a decrease in imports by 2.3 percent in 2024. European exports have been negatively impacted by the region’s automotive and chemicals sectors.

    Meanwhile, exports in Asia for this year are expected to grow by 7.4 percent, outpacing other regions. Driven by manufacturing powerhouses such as China, Singapore and South Korea, the region’s exports rebounded strongly in the first half of this year.

    The short-term outlook for services trade is more optimistic than that for goods trade, with an 8-percent year-on-year growth in the U.S. dollar value of commercial services trade recorded in the first quarter of 2024. The report added that statistics indicate this relatively strong growth is likely to continue into the second quarter for services trade.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the Honor Our Fallen Concert

    Source: United States Navy

    Introduction

    Good evening, everyone. It is an honor to join you for this wonderful concert.

    Mr. Loeven, thank you for the kind introduction, and for your hard work putting on this astounding weeklong event.

    Thank you to the City of San Francisco, the Center for Humanitarian Assistance, and everyone who played a role in putting on this event.

    Rear Admiral Meyer, Brigadier General Niebel, Rear Admiral Valdes, and Rear Admiral Rosen, thank you for joining us tonight and for your leadership of our Sailors and Marines throughout the region—and for your support to San Francisco Fleet Week.

    And, to the 1st Marine Division Band, who we’re all here to see perform: thank you for sharing your gifts with us and choosing to serve your country.

    Value of Service

    The true strength of our Navy and Marine Corps is not in ships, submarines, aircraft, AAVs, or other equipment—but indeed our people.

    Our service is powered by their spirit and dedication to our nation’s ideals.

    Service is not an obligation; it’s a privilege—a chance to be a part of something greater than ourselves and to uphold the values that define us as a nation.

    The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have built and maintained the world’s most capable teams thanks to that spirit of selfless service.

    I vividly recall my time in command of USS Bulkeley, itself a testament to that enduring legacy.

    In fact, on September 11th, 2001, I was in New York City preparing for the commissioning ceremony of Bulkeley.

    I saw upfront the wreckage of the World Trade Center—the destruction and loss of life wrought by cowards with no respect for human life.

    But I also witnessed firsthand the spirit of our Nation.

    Americans from all walks of life, coming together in a moment of tragedy, resolving to stand up and hold accountable those who did us harm.

    Then, as now, every man and woman serving in our Navy, Marine Corps, and all of our armed forces had chosen to serve.

    Just as every single warrior we lost throughout our long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan swore an oath to defend our Constitution.

    They came from every corner of our nation—representing the rich tapestry of our 330 million citizens and drawing from a global pool of talent.

    Because, you see, service to our country and service in the armed forces are not merely jobs; they are fundamental aspects of our democracy, deeply ingrained in the very fabric of our nation—initially forged during the Revolutionary War and renewed in every conflict since.

    The United States is built upon millions of individual acts of valor and courage, at home and overseas, throughout our history.

    And each of us serving today carries the legacy of those who served before us.

    Today, our Sailors, Marines, and Department of the Navy civilians are deployed around the globe, continuing to defend our Nation, as well as our international allies and partners, against the specter of terrorism.

    Closing

    At the close of World War II, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz wrote in his message to the Pacific Fleet that the fallen Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines were, and I quote:

    “A cross section of democracy. They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation—the obligation to insure that their sacrifice will help to make this a better and safer world in which to live.”

    That obligation remains, and that work continues.

    On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you to all who have fought, served, and sacrificed in the long history of defending freedom around the world.

    As I close, I would like to take this moment to speak directly to our Gold Star families who have lost loved ones.

    You will forever be in our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers.  We will never forget the sacrifices of your loved ones.

    I promise you that we—the nearly one million Marines, Sailors, and Civilians of the Department of the Navy—will continue to honor their legacy, and strive to live up to the examples of selfless service they set forth.

    Thank you all here today for taking the time to remember their sacrifice.

    May God grant us all fair winds and following seas. Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS Annapolis Returns Home to Naval Base Guam Following Indo-Pacific Deployment

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    NAVAL BASE GUAM  –  

    The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Guam after a successful three-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, Oct. 5, 2024.

    “USS Annapolis exemplifies excellence and stands as the pinnacle of our submarine force, playing a vital role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Neil Steinhagen, commander, Submarine Squadron 15. “Their unwavering commitment to advancing theater security and executing operational tasks has produced outstanding results. True to their motto, ‘Born Free, Hope to Die Free,’ the crew of Annapolis consistently meets every challenge head-on, showcasing unparalleled operational readiness and exceptional teamwork. Bravo Zulu, team—welcome home!”

    Under the command of Capt. James Tuthill, Annapolis completed missions vital to national security, bolstering operational maritime capabilities in the Pacific. During their deployment, the submarine participated in key bilateral operations with the French Navy and welcomed Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander, Submarine Group Seven, during a port visit to Yokosuka, Japan.

    “My crew answered the call, exemplifying remarkable dedication to our mission across the Pacific,” said Tuthill. “I couldn’t be prouder of them, or the tenacity and professionalism they displayed every day at sea. Their resilience, determination, and refusal to quit when things got hard define my extraordinary team. It’s a true honor to lead such an inspiring group. They rose to every occasion.”

    Commissioned on April 11, 1992, Annapolis is the fourth ship in the history of the U.S. Navy to be named for Annapolis, Maryland, home of the United States Naval Academy.

    Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Annapolis is one of four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines forward-deployed in the Pacific. Renowned for their unmatched speed, endurance, stealth, and mobility, Los Angeles-class submarines form the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force, ensuring readiness and agility in safeguarding maritime interests around the world.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional pursuit ends in arrest

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police have arrested a man following a lengthy pursuit through regional SA today.

    Just after 7.40am on Friday 11 October, police initially responded to reports of an alleged assault at a home in Hamley Bridge.

    Shortly after, police received reports the suspect had left in a silver Mitsubishi Lancer sedan. The vehicle was then allegedly involved in a petrol drive off at Balaklava about 8.30am.

    Patrols searched the region and sighted the vehicle travelling north on the Augusta Highway, ten kilometres south of Snowtown. They lost sight of the vehicle and did not pursue it.

    PolAir was brought in to assist with the search and tracked down the suspect vehicle. It was sighted again just before 10am travelling north on the Horrocks Highway north of Gulnare.

    PolAir and patrols on the ground continued tracking the vehicle though the townships of Booleroo Centre, Wilmington and Carrieton.

    The Lancer was followed for some time along Baratta Road before it eventually stopped on a paddock track at Belton just before 1pm and the driver was arrested.

    The 40-year-old man from Hamley Bridge was arrested and charged with assault, illegal use of a motor vehicle, making off without payment, dangerous driving to escape police and drive while disqualified.

    He was refused police bail and will appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Monday.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China gets most orders for green ships

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

    China captured over 70 percent of global orders for green vessels and achieved full coverage across all mainstream ship types during the first three quarters of 2024, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Thursday.

    Propelled by advancements in green technologies and innovation, Chinese shipyards saw new orders surge 51.9 percent year-on-year to 87.11 million deadweight tons between January and September, accounting for 74.7 percent of the global total, the MIIT data showed.

    Meanwhile, the country’s shipbuilding output reached 36.34 million dwt, up 18.2 percent on a yearly basis, making up 55.1 percent of the world’s total.

    Hu Tieniu, a researcher at the Marine Design & Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that the notable growth underscores China’s commitment to advancing sustainable shipbuilding practices, catering to an increasing global demand for eco-friendly vessels.

    Chinese shipbuilders have made significant strides in incorporating green technologies, enhancing the industry’s competitiveness and solidifying the nation’s position as a leading shipbuilding powerhouse on the world stage, said Yu Mengsa, a researcher at China Ship Scientific Research Center in Wuxi, East China’s Jiangsu province.

    The latest data also revealed that among 18 major ship types, such as container ships and oil tankers, China ranked first in new orders with 14 of them during the nine-month period. Shipyards across the country have already surpassed their business targets for the year, driven by a surge in market demand.

    For example, Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, or CSSC, delivered 17 commercial vessels from January to September, with a record-breaking delivery of eight liquefied natural gas carriers anticipated by the end of this year.

    “With 34 new ship orders secured, we have reached 200 percent of the annual target for this year, and our production schedules are now projected to extend through to around 2030,” said Weng Hongbing, the group’s president.

    Cao Bo, deputy director at the statistics and information department of the Beijing-based China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, said that in response to changes in the new supply and demand environment, green transformation has become a core trend in the global shipbuilding industry.

    “Confronted with new requirements for emission reductions, shipping companies, leading shipyards and major energy companies have begun to lead, provide, or invest in a variety of solutions,” said Cao.

    Energy-efficient, environmentally friendly vessel designs and a range of power options, including methanol, ammonia and hybrid systems, are gradually maturing or rapidly progressing toward commercialization, he added.

    China’s shipbuilding industry accelerated its green transformation in 2023. Orders for LNG- and methanol-powered green vessels have grown rapidly, with breakthroughs also achieved in zero-carbon vessel orders, including ships equipped with electric and hybrid systems or powered by hydrogen fuel. New orders for green-powered ships accounted for 57 percent of the global market share, data from the MIIT showed.

    Fueled by green technologies and high value-added vessels, Jiangsu province exported a diverse range of vessels valued at 69.27 billion yuan ($9.78 billion) in the first eight months of this year, achieving a 75.1 percent year-on-year increase, data from Nanjing Customs shows.

    Early this week, models of five 40,000-metric ton self-unloading bulk carriers were unveiled at the research and development unit of CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Co Ltd in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province, providing a design and manufacturing foundation for upcoming new builds.

    Huang Gang, a manager of the company’s sales unit, said that self-unloading bulk carriers differ from conventional bulk carriers as they are high-value, customized vessels that offer exceptional unloading efficiency and adaptability to various ports and sea conditions. Equipped with built-in unloading arms, these ships can extend and unload autonomously.

    For instance, a single unloading system can achieve a discharge rate of over 5,500 tons per hour, meaning a 26,000-ton self-unloading bulk carrier can be unloaded within five hours, while a standard bulk carrier would typically require two to three days to complete the same task.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Agri-food system to be revamped

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Researchers have seen a decline in consumer demand for grains and cereals in China and a rising interest in protein-rich and nutrient-dense foods, a change they said underscores the need to revamp the country’s agri-food system, which heavily relies on arable land.
    In 2022, food sourced from crop fields accounted for 83.5 percent of China’s total food consumption. In contrast, forest products contributed only 4.8 percent, grassland products 0.4 percent, aquatic harvests 1.5 percent and livestock 10 percent, according to agrarians and nutritionists from institutions such as China Agricultural University, Zhejiang University and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
    The researchers also highlighted additional structural challenges, including unsustainable production methods and a significant reliance on imports for items such as soybeans, which undermine the resilience of a populous nation’s food supply.
    The findings were published in the China and Global Food Policy Report 2024 during the World Agri-food Innovation Conference in Beijing.
    The report noted that by capitalizing on the food-yielding potential of forests, grasslands, rivers and lakes, China can conserve 6.5 million hectares of arable land and cut carbon emissions by 180 million metric tons, a 19 percent decrease from current levels.
    The researchers also proposed fostering the alternative protein industry, which focuses on creating protein-rich food sources not reliant on traditional animal agriculture. The aim is to alleviate pressure on water and soil resources and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
    They predict that by replacing 10 percent of pork and beef with plant-based meats and another 1 percent with lab-grown meat, as well as substituting 15 percent of milk from livestock with plant-based milk and using insect protein feed for 10 percent of soybean meal, livestock production could decrease by 8.2 percent and dairy production by 16.6 percent by 2035.
    This shift would lessen the demand for grains and soybean meal by 15.9 million tons and 9.23 million tons, respectively, while conserving 1.2 million hectares of arable land and reducing agricultural carbon emissions by 9 percent, the researchers said.
    “Alternative proteins hold significant promise in addressing environmental impacts and enhancing public health,” said Fan Shenggen, professor at the China Agricultural University, the lead author of the report.
    Fan said China, confronting environmental and health issues within its food systems, has the potential to spearhead global progress in alternative proteins. To translate these possibilities into tangible outcomes, he stressed the necessity of public investments in research and development, regulatory reforms, incentivizing the private sector and shifting consumption patterns.
    Bruce Friedrich, the founder and president of the Good Food Institute, a Washington-based think tank, said China has the potential to lead a global shift in protein sources, just as it has successfully promoted the expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles.
    “The world is eating more and more meat, and that’s not going to change. But we can make that meat using science,” he said, adding plant-based and lab-grown meat could be a $1.1 trillion industry.
    Lasse Bruun, the United Nations Foundation’s director for climate and food, said by showcasing the socioeconomic and food security advantages of alternative protein, China could set a precedent for other BRICS+ nations.
    “We need to see a transition toward a global equitable and climate-safe consumption of animal products …and this transition will not be possible unless countries with excessive animal agriculture embrace alternative protein from plants, cells and fermentation,” he said.
    The report was published during a nationwide initiative to advocate for the idea of macro food, as China investigates novel protein and carbohydrate sources beyond traditional crops.
    In February, the most recent No 1 Central Document, a crucial annual policy declaration, reaffirmed its backing for deep-sea aquaculture. It called on local authorities to uphold a “macro food perspective”.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop – Adelaide, South Australia

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Look it is just fantastic to be here at Ferguson Australia. Can I thank Andrew and Kate and all of the staff here for taking us around and talking us through the whole process of lobsters and lobster exports. And it’s wonderful to be here with Don, my wonderful colleague, the Trade Minister, and also with Joe Szakacs, the State Minister for Trade and Investments.

    We’re here the morning after the Prime Minister has announced we have agreed a timetable with China to allow the full resumption of Australian live rock lobster exports by the end of this year. And what does that mean for Australians, for Australian jobs and Australian workers? It means that in businesses like Ferguson Australia, for workers like the team we’ve seen here today, we have been able to open up an export market which is so important to the industry, to profits, and also to jobs and wages for Australians. I know from our discussions that the Fergusons have been involved in the fishing industry here in South Australia since the 1960s, but obviously, when under the previous government, the businesses were effectively blocked from entering the Chinese market, that a lot of businesses like this one here in South Australia took a really big hit. A $700 million market was shut down overnight. But as a result of the excellent work by the Albanese Government, the Prime Minister and obviously the Trade Minister as well, we’re able to start exporting this first-rate Australian product back into the Chinese market.

    Obviously, this has occurred in the context of the stabilisation of our relationship with China. I said before the election and what we have delivered on is that we would look to stabilise the relationship with China without compromising on things which are important to Australians. When we came to government we inherited some $20 billion worth of trade impediments. $20 billion worth of trade impediments under Peter Dutton. Now, less than $500 million of those impediments remain.

    Obviously, we will continue, as we have over the last two and a bit years, to press for those trade impediments to be removed. The approach we have taken to China has been patient, it has been calibrated, it has been deliberate. And our approach has paid dividends for Australians, for Australian businesses and for Australian workers. Very pleased that we have seen this announcement overnight by the Prime Minister. Very pleased that we’ll see Australian rock lobster in the Chinese market again. And again, I thank the Ferguson’s for their hospitality today and I’ll hand over to the Trade Minister.

    Don Farrell, Trade and Tourism Minister: Well, thank you, Penny, and thank you for the really good work that you’ve done with the Prime Minister to stabilise our relationship with China that has resulted in this decision yesterday to lift the final impediment on the final product back into China. We lost more than $700 million worth of trade with rock lobster going into China. By the end of the year, of course, Chinese consumers will have the advantage of the wonderful Australian product. The best rock lobster in the world comes from Australia and particularly from South Australia. And we are so pleased that the stabilisation process that you, as Foreign Minister, undertook has resulted in now the final removal of all the products.

    As you said, two and a half years ago, we started with $20 billion worth of trade impediments. They have now been removed. And of course, what that’s meant is greater prosperity for Australian producers, and more jobs for Australian workers. But we’re not going to rest on our laurels, as you will have seen in the last week or two, we’ve negotiated new free trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and we’re encouraging companies like Fergusons to expand, to look at other markets so that we diversify our trading relationships. That’s the best way we can increase our prosperity and increase the number of jobs in this country.

    I want to thank the Fergusons. I was here only a couple of months ago where we said we’d be back with some good news, and that’s today. We’ve got that good news. And I want to thank the industry for sticking with us, it’s been a tough four years for this industry and all the way along the line I’ve wanted to give them some hope to make sure that they understood that if they stick with it, we would eventually get this sort of result. And I’m so pleased that the industry have toughed it out. They’ve diversified, but now the opportunity exists for them to go back into China. We’ve got a wonderful product here. We’ve got a clean and green image in China. We know from all of the other products that we’ve got back into the Chinese market over the last two and a half years, we actually go back with a greater volume than when we started. So, I’ve got the greatest of confidence that we’re not just going to stay where we are in terms of our exports, we’re actually going to increase those exports into the Chinese markets, and that’s very good news for this country. Thank you very much. And I want to thank my state colleagues, they’ve been working really hard with us – Joe and Claire. We’ve never given up hope. We’ve kept persisting and that persistence has now paid off. Thank you very much.

    Joe Szakacs, SA Minister for Trade and Investment: Thank you, everyone. Can I start by acknowledging the incredible work of the Commonwealth Government, particularly led by Senator Wong and Senator Farrell. The stabilisation of the China relationship has meant that important trade matters for South Australia have been able to be prosecuted by the Commonwealth Government, the Albanese Government, and thanks to their hard work and the support provided by our State Government here, we’ve seen these materialise today. Just yesterday, I announced that the trade numbers, the exports to China from South Australia, have hit another all-time high at $4.27 billion. To give some context for the impact that this announcement today or yesterday will have on the local industry in lobster, this was an over $70 million industry for South Australia that flatlined overnight. So, the resumption of the full exports of South Australian lobster into China will have a material impact for local jobs and local economic prosperity.

    Can I also say that the South Australian Government has been planning for this day for some time. Just a couple of months ago, I was actually just down here with Senator Farrell and Andrew to announce the $475,000 Seafood Support Package that our government implemented. That package is now ready to go. It supports one of two things. It supports the immediate re-engagement with China of our seafood industry, and particularly our lobster industry. It also supports and builds on the important diversification work that has been occurring to other markets, like Hong Kong, like Vietnam, like Korea and Japan. And we were in there inside today and we saw fresh live lobster being packed to head over to Hong Kong. That’s exactly the work that our State Government has been undertaking to diversify.

    Also, I just want to note that with the resumption of China Southern Airlines into South Australia, into Adelaide in December, we will see 15 tonnes of air freight every flight open up. Why is that critical? Well, it’s critical for lobster. We can’t put lobster on a boat. We can’t move lobster through ports of other states or territories. We need the best South Australian lobster to be in a plane, in the belly of a plane, into market in one day. With 15 tonne of air freight every single day being opened up from Adelaide to Guangzhou, that means direct air freight route for companies like Ferguson and other local producers. So, I just, again want to say thank you and particularly pay note to the Commonwealth Government for their extraordinary efforts in this regard.

    Clare Scriven, SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development: So, this is a wonderful announcement, but particularly for our regional economies. The rock lobster industry is worth $158 million to South Australia overall, and a significant amount of that has been in terms of China and the market there. So, it’s been a really difficult time for the lobster fishermen and also for the economies in our regional areas who rely on that lobster fishing industry. So, this is a great announcement. We are really pleased that the Federal Government and State Government has worked so hard to be able to achieve this and we look forward to an uplift for our regional economies as well as our lobster fishermen.

    Foreign Minister: Thanks, Clare. Okay, happy to take questions.

    Journalist: Minister Wong, when will the first lobsters hit China? Is this an immediate thing?

    Foreign Minister: Well, the announcement is by the end of the year that the trade impediments will be removed. Obviously, we’re hoping a little bit earlier than that. I was speaking to Andrew before about how that might be operationalised by the industry. I know with wine we started with a few shipments and then obviously month by month those, those exports grew. But the announcement is by the end of the year, but we’re hoping for earlier.

    Journalist: Now, do you trust China as a trading partner after the past four years? And what lessons have you learnt here?

    Foreign Minister: Well, we learnt a few lessons as a country, didn’t we? The first is that Peter Dutton talking tough isn’t the same as being tough. And that Mister Dutton and his colleagues really took an approach to the relationship with China which ultimately didn’t end up with a relationship that was stable, where we could agree, disagree, cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest. We saw that the Opposition continues to seek to politicise the China relationship. Now, I’ve been very clear: China has a set of interests. Some of those are very different to Australia’s. There are going to be areas where we disagree and Australia has been very clear about standing up for those issues which are important to Australians. But we also know that its important to engage and we will continue to do that in a mature, calibrated and deliberate way.

    Journalist: And will you pull back on other issues you might have with China to try and keep these trade deals going?

    Foreign Minister: Well, I think you’ve seen that we have been very clear about those areas where we disagree. And the whole point about trying to stabilise a relationship is to recognise there will be areas where you disagree and those will continue. There will be areas where you can cooperate and you want to work on them. And perhaps most importantly, you have to engage. You have to keep engaging in dialogue, in visits, in discussion, and we will continue to do that. And I was very pleased, for example, last night at the airport I saw a number of the Australian parliamentarians who are going to Beijing for the first parliamentarian trip for some time. So, we will have areas where we continue to have different views. Your Government will continue to articulate Australia’s position on them in accordance with our national interests. But we also recognise that it is important for us to seek to work with China to open up these markets. The reason is what you saw in there. This is about Australian jobs.

    Journalist: I just have some questions from Canberra about the Middle East. So, the Opposition says Australians fleeing from Lebanon should be made to pay for Government-supported flights back home if they’ve ignored Government warnings. What’s your response to that?

    Foreign Minister: Look, we’re taking the same approach on this as we talk to people who had to flee in the earlier part of the conflict after the horrific events of October 7. But I would say this; we have a flight scheduled for Sunday, that’s October 13, there are no further flights scheduled beyond that. So, I’d say to Australians, there is a flight scheduled on October 13. There are no further flights scheduled and any further flights would obviously, as I said, flights are not going to be scheduled indefinitely and are subject to operational and security constraints. You should leave now if you wish to leave.

    Journalist: And did the government go too far with its wording on the October 7 motion in Parliament? Should you have ensured it was wording the Coalition would support?

    Foreign Minister: Well, you know who’s gone too far in this and that’s Mr Dutton. Mr Dutton is out of step with the majority of the international community, including allies such as the US, the United Kingdom, members of the G7. He refused to support a ceasefire in Gaza. Can I remind everybody that a ceasefire in Gaza has been called for, led by the United States and backed in by every single member of the United Nations Security Council.

    So, the United States and every member of the UN Security Council have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but Mr Dutton does not want to vote for it. I’d also make the point that we had a debate in the Senate yesterday – the Coalition there was prepared to support a broader motion, including some of the issues that Mr Dutton refused to support in the House. Mr Dutton is doing what he always does, which is to seek to divide, to seek to inflame. Whenever there is a moment where we need Australians to come together, you can always count on Peter Dutton to look to divide Australians. Whenever there is a moment where we need Australians to come together, Mister Dutton will always work to divide them.

    Journalist: Thank you, Ministers. I just wanted to ask about biosecurity testing requirements. Is that something we’ve agreed to?

    Trade and Tourism Minister: Thanks, Dominic. So, we have been in discussions, of course, for some months now with the Chinese authorities in order to deal with all of the biosecurity issues that have been raised by the Chinese Government in the past. We have now got a way forward to resolve all of those biosecurity issues in a way that meets all of the Chinese requirements. So, what you’ll see, I think, between now and Christmas when there’s a full resumption, is a gradual resumption of exports of Australian rock lobster into China that will meet all of the requirements of the Chinese Government.

    Journalist: And what does that mean for Australian companies? Do they have to do anything extra or is that onus on the government when it comes to testing?

    Trade and Tourism Minister: Well, every government imposes its regulations on products coming into their country. China is no different from that. But I’m very confident, as a result of all of the discussions that have taken place, particularly the good work of the Agriculture Minister, Minister Collins, and before that, Minister Watt, we will ensure that we satisfy all of the requirements that the Chinese Government require about all of the products that we export into China.

    Journalist: Thank you. And just one for the Foreign Minister, if that’s all right. Yesterday you met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar and he put forward some suggestions about how Australia could act in terms of responding to the junta’s rule. I’m just wondering if there’s any particular ideas that you were receptive to or if we’re considering any further measures that he suggested?

    Foreign Minister: We are very concerned about the situation in Myanmar. We’re concerned because, as a decent country, the loss of life and the disrespect for human rights concerns us all. We’re also concerned because Myanmar is critical to regional stability. If you look at the history of Southeast Asia, the history of ASEAN, stability in Myanmar has been a central part of the stability of the region. So, that matters to Australia. We are very concerned about the situation. We are very concerned about the behaviour of the regime. You would have seen previously that we have put sanctions on particular members of the regime. And recently I also put sanctions on particular companies, including those supplying jet fuel, given that the regime was in engaging in attacks on its own people.

    I was very pleased to meet with the Rapporteur. We discussed the situation in Myanmar. We discussed the need to focus more on the humanitarian crisis. People might recall I visited Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh some time ago. I made the point that that is Australia’s largest single humanitarian contribution, under both governments. We have put very substantial amounts of humanitarian support there because it is a humanitarian crisis in our region. And we’ll continue to work with both the international community, regional partners, to try and contribute to finding stability in Myanmar and certainly averting or dealing with the humanitarian crisis which is on our doorstep.

    Thanks very much, everybody.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 5866 Fundamentals of Metrology – CANCELED

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Credit: OWM/K. Dill

    Course Description

    The 5-day Fundamentals of Metrology seminar is an intensive course that introduces participants to the concepts of measurement systems, units, good laboratory practices, data integrity, measurement uncertainty, measurement assurance, traceability, basic statistics and how they fit into a laboratory Quality Management System. Additional topics covered will include overall Laboratory Management and specific discussions of the requirements for proficiency testing, calibration certificate generation and software verification and validation. Topics will be covered using a variety of measurement disciplines and laboratory measurements and case studies so that the participants will be able to apply the concepts to any measurement discipline upon completion. Topics are covered in a mixture of training styles including lecture, hands-on exercises, case studies and discussion.

    This class covers the following procedures from NISTIR 6969:

    • GLP 1, Quality Assurance of the Measurement Process;
    • GLP 9, Rounding Expanded Uncertainties and Calibration Values;
    • GMP 11, Assignment and Adjustment of Calibration Intervals for Laboratory Standards;
    • GMP 13, Ensuring Traceability;
    • SOP 1, Preparation of Calibration Certificates;
    • SOP 29, Assignment of Uncertainty; and
    • SOP 30, Process Measurement Assurance Program.

    Learning Objectives

    At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

    • IDENTIFY and USE reference materials to ensure good quality, accurate, traceable measurement results;
    • EXPLAIN highlights and key concepts of each topic (noted on the Table of Contents and the detailed learning objectives) to each other and to your managers and show how these topics fit in to a management system using ISO/IEC 17025 as the basis;
    • Have and know how to IMPLEMENT several simple tools, job aids, and references to use and improve your laboratory operations.

    Materials & Supplies

    Several notebooks and course materials will be provided.

    Prerequisites

    The instructor will send confirmed participants the prerequisite documentation ‘AFTER’ the registration deadline.  Required prerequisites include having a demonstrated knowledge of basic mathematics (pre-test) and completion of a number of reading assignments (listed in Pre-work section). Additional helpful pre-work will be provided to students who have been accepted by the instructor prior to the seminar to minimize course homework time. Participants must be proficient in spreadsheet functions and operations, and formatting in word processing software.

    Pre-Work

    In addition to completing and submitting the Math Exercises, please read:

    Pre-Work Deadline

    Submit the math exercises (pre-work) according to instructions by COB on Monday, September 2, 2024.

    Post-Work

    Fundamentals of Metrology, Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP) Problems – required for State Weights and Measures Laboratories (not applicable for other participants.)

    Minimum Requirements

    Successful completion requires that participants fully participate in all classroom and laboratory exercises, turn in or present accurate work assignments, and be present for the entire course. There will also be a Final Exam on the last day of the class. The Final Exam and Final Calibration Certificate each contribute equal value to the final grade; the final grade also includes class participation and laboratory exercises. A passing grade on all portions is required to obtain a training certificate that indicates “successful completion” (e.g., getting a 100 percent on the final is not an excuse to participate minimally in classroom and laboratory.) Successful completion qualifies the participant to participate in the Mass, Volume and Length seminars, though those may have additional prerequisites.

    *Homework note: students generally report taking one to two hours for homework each night.

    Audience

    State laboratory personnel who have responsibilities for developing, implementing, and/or improving the quality management system in their laboratory, as well as those who are seeking OWM recognition and/or accreditation or improvements to support recognition/accreditation.  This course is also available for non-weights and measures participants. 

    Please make sure you have read the NIST Visitor and Contractor Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses page before arriving on site.

    Cost

    The current registration fee for this seminar is $2,800 and confirmed participants will be sent payment instructions.  This fee does not cover travel, lodging or meal expenses.  Registration fees for State weights and measures regulatory officials and metrologists are funded by NIST OWM.

    Instructors

    Isabel Chavez Baucom and Jose Torres
    Email: isabel.chavez.baucom [at] nist.gov (isabel[dot]chavez[dot]baucom[at]nist[dot]gov)

    Technology Requirements

    Registered participants will need to bring a 10-digit scientific calculator to use during this seminar.  Participants MUST be familiar with the use of the hand-held scientific calculator.  Additionally, use of a laptop or tablet PC is required to succeed in the seminar.  Participants must have access to Microsoft Word and Excel (version 2010 or newer are acceptable) and be able to open and use template Excel workbooks that will be provided on USB media.  Participants must be able to save/store files to USB media devices to facilitate printing and turning in homework assignments; if not able to use USB media, participants must be able to connect their laptop to a printing device by cable or BlueTooth and be able to upload files to a secure Google Drive.

    You will need a government-issued photo ID (e.g., passport or driver’s license) when you check into the Visitors Center at the entrance of NIST and if bringing a vehicle onto the NIST campus, a vehicle registration card.

    PLEASE NOTE: Effective July 21, 2014, under the REAL ID Act of 2005 (https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-frequently-asked-questions), agencies, including NIST, can only accept a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for access to federal facilities if issued by states that are REAL ID compliant or have an extension. NIST currently accepts other forms of federally issued identification in lieu of a state-issued driver’s license, such as a valid passport, passport card, DOD’s Common Access Card (CAC), Veterans ID, Federal Agency HSPD-12 IDs, Military Dependents ID, Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC), and TSA Trusted Traveler ID. See Visitor Information for the latest information.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 91 Mass Metrology Seminar

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Credit: OWM/K. Dill

    Course Description

    The Mass Metrology Seminar is a two-week, “hands-on” seminar.  It incorporates approximately 30 percent lectures and 70 percent demonstrations and laboratory work in which the participant performs measurements by applying procedures and equations discussed in the classroom.  The seminar focuses on the comprehension and application of the procedures, the equations, and calculations involved.  The seminar includes the operation of the laboratory equipment, review of publications, standards, specifications, and tolerances relevant to the measurements.  Training covers mass calibration procedures published in NISTIR 6969 and NISTIR 5672 and are suitable for the calibration of mass standards to OIML R111 Class E2 through M3 tolerances, ASTM classes 1 through 7 and NIST HB 105-1 Class F.  Training is provided to enable the participant to correctly identify and implement the correct calibration process for each weight classification.  Each procedure and the entire seminar incorporates concepts covered in the Fundamentals of Metrology seminar, especially, concepts related to metrological traceability, statistical analysis, measurement assurance methods, uncertainty analyses, software validation, and generation of ISO/IEC 17025 compliant calibration certificates for all measurements made during the seminar.

    Learning Objectives

    At the end of this seminar, using Standard Operating Procedures 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 29, 30, and 34 and Good Measurement Practices 10, 11, 12, and 13 participants will be able to:

    • IDENTIFY mass artifacts and use appropriate procedures to ensure good quality, accurate, traceable mass measurement results;
    • EXPLAIN highlights and key concepts of each topic to each other and to your managers using the slides and reference materials; and
    • PERFORM mass calibration procedures, use and validate the job aids, and use reference materials to perform laboratory calibrations, including hands-on handling of mass standards and balances, calculation of measurement results, integration of measurement assurance, uncertainty analysis, and software validation to produce valid calibration results and certificates.

    Note regarding course level and expectations:  This course is conducted equivalent to a university-level course and is part of our IACET-accredited processes with requirements to demonstrate successful achievement of learning objectives within each module.  Significant time outside of the classroom and laboratory is expected and is commonly reported (1 hour to 2 hours per day) to complete homework, reading, data entry, and creation and editing of calibration certificates. Students should avoid trying to meet other obligations while attending this course as much as possible.

    Materials & Supplies

    Participants are encouraged to bring template versions of the mass calibration certificates issued by their laboratory as a starting point for the calibration certificates to be submitted during the seminar. Alternatively, participants should bring the calibration certificate they generated during the Fundamentals of Metrology seminar as a starting point. The former is recommended! Feedback and suggested changes to ensure ISO/IEC 17025 compliance will be provided during the seminar. Generation of calibration certificates will be required, so come prepared. A number of notebooks and course materials will be provided, so please ensure you have extra luggage space to carry these items.

    Prerequisites

    Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Metrology Seminar is a prerequisite for the Mass Metrology Seminar. The Mass Metrology Seminar is built on the concepts learned during the Fundamentals of Metrology Seminar, applying units, measurement uncertainty, measurement assurance, traceability, and Quality Management System concepts to the mass calibration procedures.

    Pre-Work

    It is strongly recommended that you complete the Basic Mass Metrology CD as it will give you a head start on the Mass Seminar, including exposure to the contents of NISTIR 6969, Selected Laboratory and Measurement Practices, and NISTIR 5672, Advanced Mass Calibrations and Measurements Assurance Program for the State Calibration Laboratories.. Completing the NIST SP 1001 should take 16 to 40 hours. Participants are encouraged to read and comprehend as much as possible the content of NISTIR 6969 and NISTIR 5672 regardless of completing NIST SP 1001.

    NOTE:  Additional reading pre-work and Excel preparation recommendations may be sent by the instructor prior to the seminar. Extensive use of Excel is made in this course; strong familiarity equation entry and validation is essential.

    Post-Work

    Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP) problems are assigned at the completion of the course to those metrologists who participate in the NIST OWM State Laboratory Program.  Acceptable completion of the problems is required for NIST Office of Weights and Measures Laboratory Recognition in support of mass calibrations.  (See Handbook 143, Program Handbook training requirements as updated here.

    Minimum Requirements

    To receive a Training Certificate for this course, successful completion requires participants to actively participate in the entire course (e.g., 100 % attendance, take notes, engage in discussions, ask questions), complete all classroom, homework, and application exercise assignments, successfully perform mass calibrations as evidenced by measurement results entered in course control charts and calibration certificates, and pass a written final exam.  In addition, students submit a series of calibration certificates that are graded based on SOP 1 and NIST SP 811 criteria, as evidence of completion of all application exercises conducted during the hands-on portion of class exercises.

    *Homework note: students generally report taking one to two hours for homework each night.

    Audience

    This training seminar is open to industry and government metrologists.

    Cost

    The current registration fee for this seminar is $6,200 and confirmed participants will be sent payment instructions.  This registration fee does not cover travel, lodging or meal costs.  Registration fees for State weights and measures regulatory officials and metrologists are funded by NIST OWM.

    Instructors

    Elizabeth Koncki and Jose Torres
    Email:  elizabeth.koncki [at] nist.gov (elizabeth[dot]koncki[at]nist[dot]gov)

    Technology Requirements

    • Registered participants must provide a notebook computer for the Mass Metrology Seminar and be well trained in the development and use of spreadsheets for complex repetitive calculations.
    • Participants must have access to Microsoft Excel (versions 2010 and later are acceptable) and can open and effectively create their own spreadsheets to perform calculations, and use template Excel workbooks that will be provided on USB media.  Be aware that for networked access of Microsoft files, access to the NIST network is not ensured (e.g., it can be problematic if using a version of Office 365 that requires network access to operate properly.) 
    • Participants must have administrative rights for the computer so that that files can be transferred to and from it as required by the seminar exercises through the use of USB memory sticks:  You must also be able to save/store files to USB media devices to facilitate printing and turning in classwork.  Internet and network access is not assured during the seminar.  Students without administrative approvals or ability to use USB media are encouraged to contact the instructor before the class to discuss alternatives (e.g., using a personal laptop, using a RW/CD,  or other alternatives.)   Students need to verify the capability to run executable files to ensure successful access and use of the software needed in this course.  If not able to use USB media, participants must be able to upload files to a secure NIST Box and/or Google Drive and/or Microsoft SharePoint data transfer cloud service.
    • Availability of a scientific calculator (minimum 12 digits) may be useful as a supplement to Excel; if using a calculator, familiarity with its operation is essential.

    All visitors must be preregistered and present photo identification and vehicle registration information upon arrival. NIST can only accept a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for access to federal facilities if issued by states that are REAL ID compliant or have an extension.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Family Education Assistance Center to be Renovated in Novo-Peredelkino

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    One of the branches of the family education assistance center “Bereg Nadezhdy” will undergo major repairs. The design documentation for the work was approved by Moscow City Committee on Pricing Policy in Construction and State Expertise of ProjectsThe head of the department reported this. Ivan Shcherbakov.

    Repairs are planned for the building at the address: Sholokhova Street, Building 6, Block 3.

    “Moskomexpertiza has approved a major overhaul project for a three-story building in the Novo-Peredelkino district. It houses the Bereg Nadezhdy (Bank of Hope) family education assistance center, which helps orphans. The renovation will affect the first floor of the building,” said Ivan Shcherbakov.

    During the work, specialists will renew the exterior and interior finishes, replace door and window units in one of the center’s departments. Various materials are used to repair the walls, depending on the functional purpose of the premises.

    In addition, the department’s utility lines will be replaced.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145096073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heading for your own business: how the MBM Business School helps aspiring entrepreneurs

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Find an idea for a business, register your business, learn the basics of marketing and develop a strategy for promoting your personal brand – these and other important knowledge for entrepreneurs can be obtained in“MBM Business School”Any Muscovite who wants to open their own business and run it successfully can become a participant in free classes.

    In October, the MBM Business School celebrated its seventh anniversary. During this time, more than 16 thousand people have completed their studies there. Every second graduate opens your own business. Read about how experts help aspiring entrepreneurs to identify their target audience, study the market and modern trends, and work through legal and accounting issues in the mos.ru article.

    Come up with an idea and create your own brand

    Many people dream of switching from a paid job to their own business in order to freely manage their time, gain financial independence, set goals and achieve results. But starting a business and achieving success is not so easy: it requires not only courage and organizational skills, but also certain knowledge and skills. During the five-day free course at the MBM Business School, students will be helped to find an entrepreneurial idea, taught how to prepare effective presentations, “package” a product or service, analyze the market and promote a brand on social networks.

    “Every day, different speakers address the participants of the classes with specific topics. I talk about the importance of social networks for expanding the audience, attracting customers and increasing brand awareness. At the same time, it is better to limit yourself to two or three social networks at first, because you may not have enough time and energy for more. The next important point is to choose a social network that is used more often by the target audience. For example, Odnoklassniki is preferred by older people than users of the social network VKontakte. In addition, during the class, we have time to create a Telegram channel, come up with a name for it and invite the first subscribers,” says Alexandra Lynova, an expert in visual communication in digital and social media at the MBM Business School.

    To register for the school, you don’t necessarily have to have a ready-made entrepreneurial idea: anyone who wants to start their own business can join. For the convenience of participants, classes are held in person or online.

    “Everyone has entrepreneurial skills, and it’s never too late to change your life. For example, a man over 60 years old became a participant in the last cohort of the MBM Business School. He had worked in journalism all his life, and now he is thinking about his own publishing business. We also had a mother of many children who was inspired by the idea of creating a network of fitness clubs for women with small children. Experts help aspiring entrepreneurs in all matters,” continues Alexandra Lynova.

    Sobyanin: Entrepreneurs can receive educational support from the cityThe country’s first youth entrepreneurship hub has been created in Moscow — Sobyanin

    Set goals and find mentors

    The training at the MBM Business School is structured in such a way that students not only receive theoretical knowledge, but also complete practical tasks and adopt the experience of experts. Thus, the founder and director of the online educational center Diana Ipkeeva came to the MBM Business School a year ago with an already working project, but without a specific understanding of where to move next. Experts helped her refine the concept, formulate the mission and values.

    “I always wanted to work for myself, and after moving to Moscow, my husband and I started tutoring Russian and mathematics. As a result, there were so many students that we decided to open our own educational center and attract other teachers. But I didn’t know where to get them, how to train them and employ them. At the MBM Business School, I became convinced that people needed my idea, received tremendous support from teachers and other entrepreneurs, mastered accounting and legal aspects, and learned the rules of marketing,” says Diana Ipkeeva.

    After training, the entrepreneur added English to the list of subjects at her educational center, tripled the number of teachers, and the number of students increased several times.

    “On this course I found two mentors who still support me. New plans appeared, an understanding of where to grow further, we already have goals planned for two years in advance. I recommend the MBM Business School to anyone who wants to start their own business. These five days are enough to understand whether a person is ready to become an entrepreneur or if it is better for them to work for hire. For those who are not ready, this will help to avoid mistakes and disappointments, and if after the classes a person is strengthened in their desire, they will be informed enough to boldly follow this path,” the mos.ru interlocutor believes.

    From maternity leave to entrepreneurship

    Participants of the MBM Business School take various industry streams: courses for the self-employed, social business, education, restaurant business, beauty industry, marketplace business and women’s entrepreneurship. The latter is in demand among young mothers.

    “My target audience is aspiring female entrepreneurs who dream of being successful in their favorite business. And most of them are mothers who have two, three or even four children. It is important for me to show how a woman can achieve success at a comfortable pace and attract grateful clients, relying on her personal qualities,” says Oksana Sharaya, entrepreneur, coach and women’s trainer at the MBM Business School.

    One of her students, working as a marketer at a bank, decided to start her own jewelry business during the coronavirus pandemic. After completing the course, the aspiring entrepreneur created a business project, registered as self-employed, and today is the owner of a successful jewelry brand.

    “The main thing in training is the search for meaning. A female entrepreneur must understand what she can bring to this world and who will benefit from it. In classical business, it is absolutely unimportant for an entrepreneur and his target audience to have similar values, but for women’s self-realization it is important. In addition, women, as a rule, have good organizational skills and can be unobtrusive leaders, and they implement these qualities in business, inspiring and supporting their employees,” Oksana Sharaya is sure.

    Women entrepreneurs are invited to take part in the MBM mini-intensive

    Overcome the crisis and expand your business

    Participation in the MBM Business School helps aspiring entrepreneurs to work out an idea, form a concept for their brand, and strengthen their business and personal qualities. Offline stream participants prepare projects that they present at the end of the program — a business plan or strategy for developing their company. For example, fashion designer and head of a shoe fashion house Daria Detkina, studying at the business school in 2018 helped her get out of the crisis and find a new direction in her favorite business.

    “Working in one company, I grew from a designer to a creative director. At the same time, private orders began to come in, and I became more and more immersed in the world of entrepreneurship. And after 2014, I finally decided to go into my own business. Fortunately, I quickly found clients, and then a business partner. However, three years later, I realized that I needed to change somehow. Then I learned about the MBM Business School,” says Daria Detkina.

    After participating in the program, the fashion designer decided to create not only custom-made shoes, but also limited collections, and provide services to entrepreneurs who want to produce shoes under their own brand. Darya Detkina has a workshop, a production facility with 3D equipment, and a photo studio, and she recently rented another space, where she is currently renovating.

    “At business school, they told us how to analyze the target audience, create unique offers, explained accounting and legal subtleties. I save all these lectures and often review them. But the most valuable thing for me in my studies was networking. When you communicate with similarly charged, motivated people, it is very inspiring,” says the mos.ru interlocutor.

    The next stream of the MBM Business School will begin offline classes on October 14. You can register for participation by link.

    State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow” also holds free forums, seminars, trainings, conferences for entrepreneurs, which help to improve professional competencies and find like-minded people. You can get advice on opening and running your own business and learn more about measures to support entrepreneurs on the website “Small Business of Moscow”, in person at business service centers and by phone: 7 495 225-14-14.

    Support for entrepreneurs is provided within the framework of the national project “Small and medium entrepreneurship and support for individual entrepreneurial initiatives”. More information about this and other national projects implemented in Moscow can be found on a special page.

    Starting with coffee: entrepreneurs are invited to join the new MBM training projectInvent, produce and sell: what entrepreneurs are taught in the courses of the State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow”The number of small and medium entrepreneurs in the education sector has grown by 27 percent in three years

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144990073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: The Mahjong Portal for Seniors. SharpMind Games, a gaming company from Christchurch, is announcing the launch of a new gaming portal.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Oct. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Christchurch gaming industry news

    New Zealand has its own online gaming portal for seniors with this new Mahjong portal designed primarily for elderly players aged 65+. The goal of this project was to create the best Mahjong game tailored to the specific needs of our senior audience, helping them easily interact with the game elements.

    According to the latest studies, Mahjong solitaire and other similar puzzle games, when played regularly, can help prevent neurological conditions associated with cognitive decline and may even enhance cognitive function. For instance, a study published in Frontiers in Neurology by the National Institute of Health demonstrated that playing Mahjong for 12 weeks improved executive function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (Zhang et al., 2020).

    The senior audience can significantly benefit from playing online puzzle games like Mahjong. However, many seniors find it difficult, or even impossible, to play modern browser games due to various challenges such as vision problems and limited hand or finger mobility. For example, vision problems can make it hard to distinguish game elements on the screen. Or it can be difficult, and sometimes even painful, to click mouse buttons due to limited finger mobility. In response, SharpMind created a web-site to allow the largest number of senior players to enjoy the game comfortably.

    The main factors considered during the development of the new product were the following:

    • Availability of special high-contrast modes for people with vision impairments,
    • Ability to scale elements and customize the interface to personal preferences,
    • Brightness and contrast adjustment options for UI and game board elements,
    • High-quality customer support, recognizing that elderly users may be less familiar with modern technical environments and may need patient, friendly assistance,
    • Additional features such as special tile layouts, relaxing music, and more.

    As a result, TheMahjong.com addresses all these needs, providing senior players with a highly comfortable Mahjong online gaming experience.

    TheMahjong.com is another great game for seniors joining alongside TheJigsawPuzzles.com in its home of New Zealand.

    According to Quantcast, their site TheJigsawPuzzles.com is the most popular entertainment website in the U.S. for people aged 65+, and it ranks among the top five overall websites in the U.S. for a senior audience.

    Contact information: yurilukas@shaprmind.com or call +64 21 157 6470

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4def66fc-5c87-43eb-aedd-7940440d03d5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The government’s social media ban for kids will exempt ‘low-risk’ platforms. What does that mean?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    BAZA Production/Shutterstock

    In a speech to the New South Wales and South Australian government social media summit today, Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland announced more details of how the federal government’s proposed social media ban would actually work.

    The government first announced the ban last month, shortly after SA said it will ban children under 14 from social media. But experts have heavily criticised the idea, and this week more than 120 experts from Australia and overseas wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory premiers urging a rethink.

    Despite this, the government appears to be ploughing ahead with the proposed ban. The details Rowland announced today do not meaningfully address many of the criticisms made over the past few weeks.

    In fact, they actually raise new problems.

    What are the details of the social media ban?

    In her speech, Rowland said the government will amend the Online Safety Act to “place the onus on platforms, not parents or young people” to enforce the proposed social media ban.

    The changes will be implemented over 12 months to give industry and the regulator time to implement key processes.

    The government says it “will set parameters to guide platforms in designing social media that allows connections, but not harms, to flourish”. These parameters could address some of the “addictive” features of these platforms, for instance by limiting potential harms by prioritising content feeds from accounts people follow, or making age-appropriate versions of their apps.

    The government is also considering an:

    exemption framework to accommodate access for social media services that demonstrate a low risk of harm to children.

    The problem with “low risk”

    But allowing young people to access social media platforms that have a demonstrated “low risk of harm” is fraught with issues.

    Risk is difficult to define – especially when it comes to social media.

    As I explained earlier this year around potential harms of artificial intelligence, risk “sits on a spectrum and is not absolute”. Risk cannot be determined simply by considering a social media platform itself, or by knowing the age of the person using it. What’s risky for one person may not be risky for someone else.

    How, then, will the government determine which social media platforms have a “low risk of harm”?

    Simply focusing on technical changes to social media platform design in determining what constitutes “low risk” will not address key areas of potential harm. This may give parents a false sense of security when it comes to the “low-risk” solutions technology companies offer.

    Let’s assume for a moment that Meta’s new “teen-friendly” Instagram accounts qualify as having a “low risk of harm” and young people would still be allowed to use them.

    The teen version of Instagram will be set to private by default and have stronger content restrictions in place than regular accounts. It will also allow parents to see the categories of content children are accessing, and the accounts they follow, but will still require parental oversight.

    But this doesn’t solve the risk problem.

    There will still be harmful content on social media. And young people will still be exposed to it when they are old enough to have an unrestricted account, potentially without the support and guidance they need to safely engage with it. If children don’t gain necessary skills for navigating social media at an early age, potential harms may be deferred, rather than addressed and safely negotiated with parental support.

    A better approach

    The harmful content on social media platforms doesn’t just pose a risk to young people. It poses a risk to everybody – adults included. For this reason, the government’s heavy focus on encouraging platforms to demonstrate a “low risk of harm” only to young people seems a little misguided.

    A better approach would be to strive to ensure social media platforms are safe for all users, regardless of their age. Ensuring platforms have mechanisms for users to report potentially harmful content – and for platforms to remove inappropriate content – is crucial for keeping people safe.

    Platforms should also ensure users can block accounts, such as when a person is being bullied or harassed, with consequences for account holders found to engage in such harmful behaviour.

    It is important that government requirements for “low-risk” accounts include these and other mechanisms to identify and limit harmful content at source. Tough penalties for tech companies that fail to comply with legislation are also needed.

    The federal government could also provide extra resources for parents and children, to help them to navigate social media content safely.

    A report released this week by the New South Wales government showed 91% of parents with children aged 5–17 believe “more should be done to teach young people and their parents about the possible harms of social media”.

    The SA government appears to be heeding this message. Today it also announced a plan for more social media education in schools.

    Providing more proactive support like this, rather than pursuing social media bans, would go a long way to protecting young Australians while also ensuring they have access to helpful and supportive social media content.

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and a former President of the Association of Information Science and Technology.

    – ref. The government’s social media ban for kids will exempt ‘low-risk’ platforms. What does that mean? – https://theconversation.com/the-governments-social-media-ban-for-kids-will-exempt-low-risk-platforms-what-does-that-mean-241120

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung’s AI-Powered Home Appliances Are Becoming More Secure With Knox Matrix

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics is taking protection to the next level with Samsung Knox, the proprietary security platform safeguarding its AI home appliances, alongside additional solutions. The company aims to strengthen the security of not only individual products but also interconnected devices, providing users with peace of mind when using AI home appliances.
     
    At Samsung Developer Conference 2024 (SDC24), Samsung announced plans to extend Knox Matrix from mobile devices and TVs to home appliances following Samsung Knox’s expansion. Knox Matrix provides integrated protection for interconnected devices, allowing them to mutually monitor for security threats and notify users of threat-blocking measures.
     
    ▲ Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, delivers the SDC24 keynote address.
     
    In addition, Samsung plans to introduce mobile biometric authentication to its home appliances next year — eliminating the need to enter IDs and passwords and preventing login information from being exposed.
     
     
    Detecting Security Threats and Notifying Users
    All Samsung smart home appliances1 are safeguarded by Samsung Knox, a holistic and multi-defense security platform that protects users’ data from external threats including malicious software. Nonetheless, Samsung set out to build a secure environment for interconnected devices since strong connectivity between devices creates an improved user experience and protection against data exposure in the age of AI home appliances.
     
    Knox Matrix is a security solution that comprehensively protects connected devices and networks using private blockchain technology. The system consists of Trust Chain, Cross Platform and Credential Sync.
     
    ▲ Knox Matrix is comprised of three main technical elements.
     
    Based on blockchain technology, Trust Chain allows connected devices to monitor each other for security threats and notifies users of threat-blocking measures if there is a problem with the security status. Cross Platform ensures consistent security standards are applied to connected devices, even if they run on different operating systems (OS) and platforms. Credential Sync encrypts data shared between devices and synchronizes credentials to maintain security.
     
    First introduced to the 2024 Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub , Credential Sync uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) technology to share data between devices on the server. Information can be safely shared between connected devices, and existing user data can be restored when a new product is purchased.
     
    Samsung plans to expand the application of Knox Matrix’s Trust Chain, Cross Platform and Credential Sync to major products such as the refrigerator with AI Family Hub beginning next year.
     
     
    Introducing Biometric Authentication
    At SDC24, Samsung also announced that Passkey will be introduced next year to the refrigerator with AI Family Hub as well as home appliances equipped with the 7-inch AI Home LCD screen. Part of Credential Sync, Passkey is a digital credential that allows users to log in to home appliance apps and websites2 using biometrics such as fingerprints on their smartphones.
     
    With the increasing use of apps and web services, the risk of password leaks is on the rise. Passkey alleviates this concern and eliminates the inconvenience of having to remember passwords for each login.
     
    Furthermore, Samsung is planning to apply Knox Vault to its AI home appliances starting next year to further improve hardware-based security. Samsung home appliances equipped with Knox Vault will store sensitive personal information such as passwords and biometric data on a separate hardware security chip — protecting sensitive information from OS-based security breaches or physical hacks.
     
     
    Expanding Recognition From Top-Tier Organizations
    Samsung is committed to improving the reliability of its AI home appliances by expanding security verification from authorized organizations. In February, the Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub + became the first in the global home appliance industry to receive the highest rating of Diamond in the IoT Security Rating conducted by leading certification company UL Solutions. Now, five products including the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo and the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI have received the same rating — setting an industry record.3
     
    ▲ The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo received the Diamond security rating from UL Solutions.
     
    UL Solutions’ IoT Security Rating uses a five-level rating system based on rigorous testing of hacking risks and the security capabilities of smart home appliances. The Diamond rating requires passing stringent evaluations including detecting malicious software tampering, preventing illegal access attempts and anonymizing user data. Samsung plans to expand Diamond certification to even more of its AI home appliances.
     
    Additionally, Samsung conducts internal cyberattack simulations at least once a quarter to verify the security of its AI home appliances. The company’s software developers perform these hacking tests on products and services to identify vulnerabilities and create updates to address any security flaws.
     
    “As the connected ecosystem of AI home appliances expands, the importance of security is growing exponentially,” said Miyoung Yoo, EVP and Head of the Software Development Team, Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to develop security solutions and achieve new certifications to ensure that users can experience peace of mind when using AI home appliances and services in Samsung’s ecosystem.”
     
     
    1 Samsung Knox is applied to select appliances launched in 2018 and later.2 Available on websites that support the international Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standard.3 As of August 2024.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas announces exclusive negotiations to strengthen its partnership with UK over 50s specialist Saga

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Saga plc, the UK specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50, to establish a 20-year partnership with Saga Services Limited (SSL) for the distribution of personal lines Motor and Home insurance products to Saga’s customers. Alongside this, Ageas would also acquire Saga’s Insurance Underwriting business, AICL (Acromas Insurance Company Limited), which together form the Proposed Transaction.

    The Proposed Transaction aligns perfectly with Ageas’s recently unveiled Elevate27 strategy, to capitalise on its robust Non-Life presence across Europe, while accelerating solutions targeted at an ageing population, a rapidly expanding customer segment where the Group and Ageas UK already has real strength and expertise. Furthermore, it presents Ageas with the opportunity to enhance its position as a leading personal lines insurer in the UK, adding scale to a core European market of the Group. By combining Saga’s insights with Ageas UK’s personal lines insurance expertise particularly in this customer segment, the partnership offers a unique competitive advantage in the expanding over 50s market.

    Under the Proposed Transaction, Ageas UK, a subsidiary of Ageas, would enter into a 20-year Affinity Partnership with SSL, Saga’s Insurance Broking business, which distributed in excess of GBP 479 million in Gross Written Premiums (GWP) in the 12-month period ended 31 July 2024 across its motor and home insurance products. The Proposed Transaction represents a total cash payment of GBP 147.5 million, subject to customary completion adjustments, with a potential additional contingent consideration of up to GBP 60 million, subject to meeting agreed policy volumes and profitability targets. Completion of the AICL transaction remains conditional on the signing of definitive transaction documentation and regulatory approvals. As of January 2024, AICL’s Own Funds (Unrestricted Tier1) and Solvency Capital Requirement stand at GBP 83 million and GBP 54 million, respectively.

    Based on the initial consideration and including capital synergies, the estimated impact on the Ageas Group Solvency is – 5%.

    The Proposed Transaction will not affect the Group’s current share buyback programme.

    Background on Saga

    Saga, created over 70 years ago, is a specialist in the provision of products and services for people over 50. The Saga brand is one of the most recognised and trusted in the UK. Saga is known for its high level of customer service and its high-quality, award-winning products and services including cruises and travel, insurance, personal finance and media. (http://www.saga.co.uk)

    Hans De Cuyper, CEO of Ageas said: “We eagerly anticipate further strengthening our partnership with Saga, a well-known brand in the UK. This proposed deal aligns seamlessly with the Ageas Group recently launched Elevate27 strategy, which aims to leverage our strong European presence in Non-Life, add scale to our business, and benefit from material capital diversification. This transaction allows us to grow in a market where we already have real strength and expertise. Ageas has a longstanding tradition of successful partnerships, and we are confident that this collaboration with Saga will open new avenues for creating and accelerating profitable growth.”

    Ant Middle, CEO of Ageas UK said: “This proposed deal with Saga aligns perfectly with our strategy to profitably grow in UK personal lines and in creating powerful partnerships to the benefit of our customers. Deepening our relationship with Saga unlocks even more opportunity to increase our competitiveness in a rapidly expanding over 50s customer segment; an area where we already have real strength and expertise. It also draws on our strengths of technical and operational excellence, and customer care, providing more potential for us to leverage the significant investments made in our business over the last three years and offer our expertise in meeting the unique needs of Saga’s customers.”

    Mike Hazell, CEO of Saga plc said: “We are hugely excited at the opportunity to grow our home and motor Insurance business through this proposed partnership with Ageas. The coming together of Saga’s fantastic brand and Ageas’s unrivalled expertise in operating successful affinity insurance partnerships, would create a winning combination. Our joint reputation for delivering exceptional products and services to people over 50 means this partnership would allow us to serve even more customers with great products at excellent value. Saga is a unique business with a long heritage, great people and loyal customers. We have been clear for some time that developing a partnership approach is the right strategy, providing us with a capital-light route to growth and the ability to reduce debt, leading to the creation of long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.”

    Whilst Ageas and Saga are in exclusive negotiations, the Proposed Transaction remains subject to the parties agreeing binding documentation as well as regulatory approvals, and therefore there is currently no certainty that it will occur. A further announcement will be made in due course, as appropriate.

    Proposed terms

    Affinity Partnership

    • The Affinity Partnership would be for a 20-year term, with the ambition to ‘go live’ by the end of 2025.
    • Ageas UK would pay Saga an upfront consideration of GBP 80 million payable at or around the ‘go live’ date.
    • Additionally, Saga may receive contingent consideration of up to GBP 30 million in 2026 and up to GBP 30 million in 2032, subject to certain policy volume and profitability targets being met.
    • SSL would receive commission on the GWP generated over the term of the Affinity Partnership representing the value that SSL will continue to provide through the Partnership.

    Ageas acquisition of AICL

    • Ageas UK would acquire AICL for a total consideration of GBP 67.5 million, subject to customary completion adjustments.
    • Completion of the AICL transaction is targeted in Q2 2025 and is conditional on the signing of definitive transaction documentation and certain regulatory approvals.

    Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning almost 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 44,000 people and reported annual inflows of more than EUR 17 billion in 2023.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Exhibition on seal carving to go on national tour

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An exhibition on seal carving centered around Beijing’s Central Axis, which opened at the China Millennium Monument’s art museum in Beijing this July, is scheduled to go on a national tour.

    The exhibition is guided by the Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau and the Beijing Municipal Office for Conservation and Management of Beijing Central Axis, and hosted by Beijing Central Axis Protection Foundation and Beijing Gehua Cultural Development Group, along with more than 70 academic institutions and organizations.

    With over 300 seal-carving works inspired by the Beijing Central Axis and its heritage components, the exhibition presented the traditional seal-carving craftsmanship, while showcasing the latest techniques and innovative forms.

    The exhibition will begin its tour at the Beijing Yintai Center, before going to Beijing’s various districts, as well as other provinces including Hubei and Yunnan.

    Along with the exhibition, two books on seal carving were published, including an exhibition catalog presenting around 260 exhibits, and a guide to the craft.

    At the tour’s opening ceremony, the books’ publishing houses and the Beijing Central Axis Protection Foundation gifted the books to more than 20 museums and educational organizations in Beijing.

    A total of 76 organizations and 82 individuals were awarded with honorary certificates for their contribution to the exhibition.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Paris collection draws evolution of ink painting

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Art lovers in China may not be aware of this, but a museum in Paris houses an important collection of Asian and Chinese art. The ongoing exhibition The Journey of Ink: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings From the Musee Cernuschi showing at the Bund One Art Museum in Shanghai marks the first time a selection of masterpieces from the Paris museum is on display in China.

    Running until Jan 5, the exhibition features 89 paintings from the collection of the Musee Cernuschi, including works by familiar masters such as Zhang Daqian, Lin Fengmian, Qi Baishi and Sanyu.

    The Musee Cernuschi’s collection of modern and contemporary Chinese art has been displayed for more than 70 years, says Eric Lefebvre, director and general curator of the French museum. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, “so we think it is a great opportunity to share the ink paintings with audiences in Shanghai”, he told media at the opening ceremony.

    “We have selected artworks spanning almost a century to showcase how Chinese ink art innovated and developed throughout this period.”

    The exhibition ranges from paintings made at the beginning of the 20th century to the creations of living artists in the final chapter.

    “We search for a link with the past in the paintings,” says Mael Bellec, head of the Chinese and Korean collections at the Musee Cernuschi.

    In the curatorial process, Lefebvre and Bellec discovered a narrative thread connecting the works and chose ink painting as the main theme. “Because ink is native to Chinese characteristics, viewing it conjures the feeling of its history,” Bellec says.

    Many Chinese artists stayed in Paris and “while they were there, they did new things with what they learned … When two cultures meet, there is a blending that happens almost immediately and brings forth new ideas”, Bellec tells China Daily.

    “In France, people tend to forget that these artists were there and are part of our history,” he says. “Except for a few artists such as Pan Yuliang, whose biographic movie was made starring famous actress Gong Li, it’s not so easy to recognize and acknowledge them as part of our history, too,” he adds.

    For French visitors to the Cernuschi Museum in Paris, Bellec says: “Studying the art from a faraway country helps you to get out of your own culture and broaden your view of the world and its aesthetics, which is very different from your own.”

    Visitors to the exhibition in Shanghai will find landscape paintings, flowers and birds, and hand scrolls traditionally mounted in the first showroom.

    “Then, one chapter after another, they will observe the evolution of ink paintings, from the forms to the techniques,” Lefebvre says.

    To give audiences a full evolutionary experience, Lefebvre and Bellec also selected a series of videos from the institution’s archives, dating as early as the 1930s, that document the painting process of some artists.

    “From these videos, we can learn about the techniques of Zhang Daqian and see how artist Walasse Ting created the popular action painting style of the United States, reflecting the integration of Chinese and Western art,” Lefebvre says.

    A significant part of the exhibit joins the museum collection from the 1950s when the Musee Cernuschi received an important donation of paintings from Guo Youshou, a Chinese diplomat who later worked for UNESCO.

    An important collector and promoter of Chinese art, Guo facilitated the first series of exhibitions of Chinese art in France, Switzerland and Slovakia. From the 1950s to 60s, he helped to organize three exhibitions of Zhang Daqian in France, says Xie Dingwei, founding director of the Bund One Art Museum.

    “In 1953, Guo donated 76 paintings to the Musee Cernuschi, including works by Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, Pu Ru and my father,” says Xie, the son of renowned Chinese artist Xie Zhiliu.

    Guo’s donation played an important part in the Musee Cernuschi’s collection of modern Chinese art. Today, “we recognize him as a pioneer who made great contributions by introducing Chinese art to the world”, Xie says.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: The project for modernization of housing and communal services in Kursk region has been approved

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Presidium of the Government Commission on Regional Development, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, approved a project to modernize public utilities infrastructure using a preferential loan from the National Welfare Fund in Kursk Oblast.

    “Despite the difficult conditions, Kursk Region continues to develop, including work on modernizing the communal infrastructure in the region. Now a project has been approved, according to which a sewage pumping station with pressure-gravity collectors will be built in Kursk for an actively developing residential area. The existing pumping station cannot cope with the increasing load, and the construction of a new one will solve this problem. The implementation of the project will improve the quality of utilities for 9 thousand people. It will also be possible to connect new subscribers in residential buildings with an area of about 72 thousand square meters and eliminate possible environmental risks,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The capacity of the new sewage pumping station in Kursk will be 520 cubic meters per hour. The project also includes the installation of pressure and gravity collectors with a total length of 5.6 km.

    The total cost of the project is 219.9 million rubles, including the loan from the National Welfare Fund – 119 million rubles. It should be implemented by July 2026.

    “The program for modernizing public utilities infrastructure using preferential loans from the National Welfare Fund, implemented in the regions since 2022, is part of the Government’s socio-economic initiative “Infrastructure Menu”. Earlier, under this program, 2.8 km of sewerage networks were reconstructed in Kursk, as well as about 3 km of heat and hot water supply networks. This improved the quality of life of 29.6 thousand city residents,” said Ilshat Shagiakhmetov, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.

    In total, to date, the Presidium of the Government Commission for Regional Development has approved 239 housing and utilities modernization projects using funds from the National Welfare Fund in 76 regions. The operator of the program is the Territorial Development Fund.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52964/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Integrates Tonstakers, Enabling TON Staking with a Minimum 3% APY

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, has integrated Tonstakers, the top staking protocol by Total Value Locked (TVL) in the TON ecosystem. This new feature lets users stake their TON tokens easily, with just a tap on the mobile app. Users can earn additional rewards from the ecosystem, with an annual return estimated between 3% and 5.5%.

    Beyond TON tokens, Bitget Wallet supports a wide range of staking services, including ETH, popular stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, and DAI, as well as Bitget Wallet’s ecosystem token, BWB. Users can also participate in other re-staking assets, utilizing strategies designed to boost yields. These options provide more ways for token holders to grow their returns. With the intuitive “DeFi” tab on the wallet app’s homepage, users can visualize and manage their staking activities in real-time, tracking daily earnings and unstaking whenever they wish. By offering flexible strategies that accommodate different risk profiles, the wallet helps users find the right balance between maximizing safety and earning potential. This streamlined design makes staking easy and increases both liquidity and overall returns for participants.

    As one of the first Web3 wallets to fully support the TON/Telegram ecosystem, Bitget Wallet employs MPC (Multi-Party Computation) technology, which removes the need for private keys. Users can create and manage their wallets through various login options, including Telegram. With this innovative keyless solution for the TON mainnet, Bitget Wallet enables users to securely create TON wallets without the hassle of traditional private keys. Additionally, Bitget Wallet has developed a Telegram trading bot that offers a one-stop service, including multi-chain trading, a zero gas fee experience for TON DApps, and popular project airdrops. It has also introduced OmniConnect, a software development kit (SDK) that enables Telegram mini-apps to effortlessly link to more than 500 blockchains, simplifying interactions like signing and transactions within DApps.

    This deep connection to the TON ecosystem has led to a significant surge in both user growth and wallet activity. In Q3 2024 alone, the number of TON addresses on Bitget Wallet saw a staggering increase of 4886%. According to research, Bitget Wallet is the most popular wallet in the TON ecosystem, with 68% of users favoring this mobile platform over browser-based solutions. Bitget Wallet’s success is also reflected in the project it supports – Tonmarket, a TON ecosystem app, has amassed over 30 million users in less than three months, quickly becoming a dominant player in the sector.

    Bitget Wallet’s collaboration with the TON ecosystem is fueled by a vision of a decentralized future where financial tools are accessible to everyone. As the TON ecosystem evolves, the emphasis will move from basic staking and tap-to-earn models to more advanced applications in finance, gaming, and social interaction, aiming to provide users with lasting, sustainable value beyond short-term incentives. Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, remarked, “Our integration with Tonstakers is just the beginning. The future growth of the TON ecosystem will stem from innovative applications that foster meaningful engagement. We’re excited to contribute to a future where decentralized finance meets real-world needs.“

    About Bitget Wallet

    Bitget Wallet stands as one of the world’s leading non-custodial Web3 wallets and decentralized ecosystem platform. With the Bitget Onchain Layer, the wallet is well-poised to develop a burgeoning DeFi ecosystem through co-creation and strategic incubation. Aside from a powerful Swap function, Bitget Wallet also offers multi-chain asset management, smart money insights, a native Launchpad, Inscriptions Center, and an Earning Center. Supporting over 100 major blockchains, 500,000+ tokens, and a wide array of DApps, Bitget Wallet is your top wallet for asset discovery and Web3 exploration.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0b1f59be-7ca1-4542-8250-d7d4760d814c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: In 2025, social spending will make up half of Moscow’s budget

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    IN Moscow budget project more than 689 billion rubles are allocated for providing social support measures to Moscow residents in 2025. Sergei Sobyanin reported this in on your telegram channel. Among them are pension supplements, benefits for travel on public transport, for payment of housing and communal services, as well as provision of medicines.

    “Development of the social support system is our most important task. We will introduce more flexible and effective tools, improve the quality of service through digital transformation and simplify the procedure for receiving services,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    From January 1, 2025, the amounts of benefits and payments to senior citizens, families with children and people with disabilities will be indexed by 5.5 percent.

    The draft budget provides 92.8 billion rubles for cash payments to families with children, 202.4 billion rubles for the older generation, of which 177.7 billion rubles are for additional payments to pensions for non-working pensioners.

    The minimum pension with the city supplement will increase to 25,850 rubles per month. About two million Moscow pensioners receive the city supplement.

    More than 186 billion rubles will be allocated to improve the quality of passenger service and provide free and discounted travel for certain categories of citizens on public transport in Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as suburban rail transport. All passengers have access to free transfers between metro stations and Moscow Central Diameters (MCD).

    The city plans to allocate about 62 billion rubles in 2025 to provide Muscovites with free or discounted medicines, medical products and specialized therapeutic nutrition. City residents suffering from oncological, cardiovascular, rare and life-threatening (orphan) diseases, diabetes, bronchial asthma and other ailments will be provided with the most modern and effective medicines in full.

    It is planned to allocate 32.6 billion rubles to finance benefits for payment of housing and communal services (HCS) for certain categories of citizens in 2025, and 22.4 billion rubles to pay subsidies for payment of HCS for families with a low income. About 3.6 million Muscovites use social support measures for payment of HCS.

    In 2025, the capital will continue to implement a project popular among residents of the Moscow Longevity project. A unique network of 134 has been created in the city Moscow longevity centers — city club spaces for communication and self-realization of older Muscovites. It is planned to complete its formation so that Moscow longevity centers appear in each district, including the actively developing territories of TiNAO. 3.9 billion rubles are allocated for the implementation of the project in 2025.

    The development of the social support system for Muscovites will continue. To this end, the city will introduce more flexible and effective tools, improve the quality of service through digital transformation, and simplify the procedure for receiving social services.

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11881050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A school will be built in the Akademichesky district

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow Committee for Architecture and Urban Development has amended the land use and development rules for the construction of a school in the Akademichesky District. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The school will be designed for a thousand places. It is planned to be built at the address: Shvernika Street, Building 17, Building 2 as part of the city’s Address Investment Program. The maximum area of the educational institution will be 30 thousand square meters,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    As specified Juliana Knyazhevskaya, Chairman of the Moscow Committee for Architecture, the area of the land plot for the new educational institution will be 2.29 hectares. It will house the school building itself, sports and playgrounds, and recreation areas.

    In recent years, the city has built seven schools with a capacity of one thousand or more students.

    “All new educational facilities are located in areas that have received an impetus for development. Three of them are in the Nekrasovka district, one each in Obruchevsky, Levoberezhny and Molzhaninovsky, and another one is on the territory of the former ZIL industrial zone in the Danilovsky district. The building in Akademichesky will become a new school built at the expense of the city,” noted the head of the capital’s Department of Civil Construction.

    Rafik Zagrutdinov.

    Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin spoke about construction of social infrastructure in the capital.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145086073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –