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  • MIL-OSI USA: PASSED: Congresswoman Lee-led Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Health Care Access for Non-English Speakers Passes House

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susie Lee’s (NV-03) bipartisan legislation to expand health care access for non-English and limited English proficiency speakers passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Supporting Patient Education And Knowledge (SPEAK) Act, co-led by Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-45),would improve access to health care information technologies such as telehealth and patient portals.

    Nearly 30% of Nevadans regularly speak a language other than English at home, but local health care services do not reflect appropriate language capabilities to get them the care they need. Meanwhile, every county in Nevada is already designated as a health professional shortage area with inadequate telehealth services, making it difficult to get care to southern Nevadans regardless of the language they speak. 

    The SPEAK Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a task force of industry experts and stakeholders to improve health care information technology such as teleheath and patient portals, as well as using interpreters, providing accessible instructions, and enabling multi-person video calls. The task force would then develop recommendations and best practices for addressing barriers for people with limited English proficiency. 

    “Understanding our health care options can sometimes be complicated, and that is especially true for the 300,000 Nevadans who don’t speak English as their first language,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “Many of these same people rely on telehealth services to access their health care, as they are either homebound, disabled, or have limited transportation. My bipartisan bill will make it easier for the millions of Americans across this country who struggle with language and transportation barriers to access this health care tool that they need and in a way that they can understand.” 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moore, Murray, and Dingell Introduce the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

    Moore, Murray, and Dingell Introduce the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors  

    The Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act of 2024 addresses economic barriers faced by survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, ensures 40 days of leave for victims—10 of which must be paid

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking. 

    “Domestic violence survivors shouldn’t face financial hardship as they work to pick up the pieces after experiencing abuse,” Congresswoman Moore said. “But too many endure a financial cost, which is why we must work to remove these barriers, so that survivors can access the resources they need. That’s why I am thankful to partner with my House and Senate colleagues in much-needed legislation to strengthen survivors’ access to health care, unemployment benefits, and paid leave.”

    “No survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault should be forced to choose between their safety and their paycheck, job, or ability to support their family,” Senator Murray said. “Survivors who are dealing with the mental and physical impacts of assault and violence often can’t afford to miss a day of work or can’t provide for their families on their own if they choose to leave a dangerous situation. We must do everything we can to change this heartbreaking reality. The SAFE Act for Survivors Act would take a huge step toward ensuring no woman or person is stuck between worrying for their safety and making ends meet.”

    “Financial abuse occurs in nearly every case of domestic violence. So many survivors are financially tied to their abuser, which ends up being one of the main reasons survivors stay with an abusive partner,” Congresswoman Dingell said. “Survivors have unique needs in their journey to economic independence, and the provisions in this bill will support their ability to provide for their families safely and independently, whether they choose to enter, remain, or take time off from the workplace.”

    The 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors–ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    One in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors’ economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations. 

    According to the Domestic Violence Hotline,  44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

    Highlights of the 2024 SAFE Act include: 

    Increased Access to Leave

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work—40 days of leave, ten of which must be paid—without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.

    Enhanced Workplace Protections

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.

    Access to Unemployment Benefits

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.

    Insurance Protections for Survivors

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    A section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available HERE.

    In addition to Murray, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by Senators Baldwin, Blumenthal, Casey, Hirono, Klobuchar, Padilla, Sanders, Shaheen, and Van Hollen.

    In addition to Dingell and Moore, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by Representatives Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and Barbara Lee (CA-12)

    The SAFE for Survivors Act is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Ascend Justice, Just Solutions, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Family Values @ Work, Center for American Progress, Futures Without Violence, A Better Balance, Legal Aid at Work, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, MomsRising, Center for Law and Social Policy, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, Women Employed, Project Safeguard, The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC UNITED), Family Forward, Caminar Latino-Latinos United for Peace and Equity, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, and The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Escobar Sends Letter Advocating for Expedition of the Repatriation of Sacred Pueblo Artifacts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

    Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) sent a letter to Brigitta Tazelaar, Netherlands Ambassador to the United States, seeking her assistance in expediting the repatriation of sacred Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribe artifacts back to their home. 

    The letter expressed sincere appreciation for the Dutch Government’s commitment to the return of the Pueblo artifacts while urging Ambassador Tazelaar to facilitate their return by the Pueblo’s Winter dance season. The artifacts currently sit in the warehouse of the Nationaal Musuem Van Wereldculturen in Linden.

    “Over the last few months, the Dutch government and officials at the Museum have been most helpful in communicating with the U.S. government and Congress, as well as the Pueblo’s leadership,” the Congresswoman wrote. “I was particularly encouraged by … communication between the Museum and Pueblo in July in which Museum leadership expressed their willingness to return the Pueblo’s artifacts…”

    “However, I am concerned by the turnaround of adjudicating the Pueblo’s request, and I respectfully seek your assistance to expedite the return of the Pueblo’s Powith Winter Drum and other items held in the Netherlands prior to the Pueblo’s Saint Andrew Dance and Winter Dance season, which will begin on November 30, 2024,” wrote Congresswoman Escobar.

     Congresswoman Escobar concluded, “The repatriation of these artifacts is of great ceremonial importance to the Tribe as these artifacts belong to the sacred life of the Pueblo. Their return would revive long-interrupted celebrations and rituals, restoring a vital part of the Pueblo’s cultural heritage.”

    In June, the Congresswoman led a letter to the Dutch government on this topic. 

    Full text of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Van Drew Announces Field Hearing in South Jersey to Investigate Rising Electricity Bills

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ02)

    Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Van Drew announced that he will be holding a field hearing in the district to address the escalating electricity costs impacting New Jersey families. In addition, he will be introducing a package of five critical bills designed to enhance transparency from utility companies and protect consumers from these unfair hikes in the future.

    “We need to ensure big companies cannot take advantage of the system and leave hardworking families paying the price,” said Congressman Van Drew. “This package of bills is just the beginning of holding utility companies accountable. I plan to introduce more legislation to address these problems and will be holding a field hearing in South Jersey to demand answers and solutions from these companies. We will not stop until we get the transparency and accountability the public deserves.”

    The field hearing will be held in South Jersey with a date, time, and location to be released soon. Exelon and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) will be invited along with experts in the field.

    Bills Included in the Package:

    1. Bill to prohibit utilities from passing the costs of projects like smart meters onto consumers through rate hikes.

    2. Bill to close loopholes that currently allow large companies to acquire small utilities while operating under different names for tax benefits.

    3. Bill to mandate utility companies to provide a 30-day notice of planned rate increases, detailing its justification and consumer impact. Any increases of 3% or more must be reported to the Department of Energy (DOE) 60 days prior with fines up to $10,000 for non-compliance.

    4. Bill to require utility companies to provide transparent reporting on service interruptions and overdue payments to the DOE, which is information not currently collected. This increases transparency and will lead to more effective oversight of utilities and ensure more fairness for consumers being treated unfairly in certain regions like South Jersey.

    5. Bill to require states to establish procedures to protect households from energy shutoffs and late fees when facing rate increases above 5%.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis, Colorado WINS Leadership Sign New Partnership Agreement

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis and leadership from Colorado WINS signed the new partnership agreement after the agreement was ratified by members. The new agreement goes into effect today and includes predictable wage increases, further clarity on working conditions including schedules and hiring, as well as language that strengthens the labor-management relationship. It also includes the initial statewide Partnership Agreement in 2021, the wage reopener in 2022, and State entity agreements with individual agencies and Institutions of Higher Education to improve compensation, working conditions, and opportunities for State employees. 

    “We are thrilled to sign this agreement today, making state government more efficient and supporting Colorado’s incredible state workforce. Our dedicated state employees go above and beyond to give back to our communities and people around our state, and this agreement helps provide greater certainty around pay, schedules, hiring and more. I want to thank Colorado WINS for their partnership on this agreement and look forward to the benefits state employees will receive from it,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    “Our members voted 97% in favor of this agreement because it is a step forward on the long road to improving working conditions for state workers, which is critical if we want to retain and attract the talent we need to deliver the best possible services to Coloradans,” said Colorado WINS President Skip Miller. 

    “This is a step forward for all Coloradans, because when state jobs get better, state services get better too. Our members are also hopeful because this agreement commits us to working together on outstanding issues like better recognition for long term service and housing solutions that make it possible for state workers to be able to afford to live where they work. If successful, that work will go a long way to truly making the state an employer of choice,” said Hilary Glasgow, Colorado WINS Executive Director. 

    The agreement builds on the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Service Act, passed in 2020 and signed into law by Governor Polis, which recognized Colorado WINS as the certified employee organization for the 27,100 covered State employees who work across 23 Colorado state departments and 24 Institutes of Higher Education. 

    Read the Partnership Agreement here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Congratulates The 2024 West Virginia National Blue Ribbon Schools

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    September 23, 2024
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) congratulated Gilmore Elementary School in Sandyville, Kellogg Elementary School in Huntington, and Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Fairmont for being recognized as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Since its creation in 1982, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content and attain high academic achievement.
    “Earning a National Blue Ribbon School recognition is an outstanding achievement for any school in our country—and West Virginia is home to three such high-performing schools,” said Senator Manchin. “Young people are our future, and I’m incredibly proud of the students, faculty, and families who helped their schools earn this prestigious award for 2024. Gilmore, Kellogg, and Pleasant Valley Elementary Schools represent the best of the Mountain State. Gayle and I join all West Virginians in congratulating them on this well-deserved academic distinction and community accomplishment.”
    To learn more about the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: WISeKey Announces OISTE’s Participation at the Summit of the Future

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WISeKey Announces OISTE’s Participation at the Summit of the Future

    New York, New York – September 23, 2024: WISeKey International Holding Ltd. (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leader in cybersecurity, AI, Blockchain, and IoT operating as a holding company, today announced that OISTE.org, a non-governmental organization, recently participated in a pivotal event at the UN Headquarters in New York, where world leaders gathered for the Summit of the Future.

    OISTE holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and actively engages with multiple key international bodies, such as the Human Rights Council, the International Telecommunications Union, Clinton Initiative and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). These interactions position OISTE as a significant player in the global conversation around digital identity and the protection of human rights in the digital age.

    During the summit, the “Pact for the Future”, a potentially transformative global agreement designed to reshape multilateral governance for a new era, was unanimously adopted. The pact aims to provide a framework for addressing ongoing global commitments, such as sustainable development, human rights, and climate action, while tackling long-term challenges such as digital equity and global security.

    The Summit of the Future represents a unique opportunity to rethink the multilateral system and forge new solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing issues, including the ever-evolving role of technology in global governance and human rights. Although the pact was broadly accepted, a small group of seven countries opposed a last-minute amendment, delaying its full implementation.

    OISTE’s involvement at such high-level forums underscores its commitment to fostering digital trust and inclusion across borders, emphasizing the need for secure digital identities that uphold human dignity in the digital era. The organization’s work aligns closely with the global goals of achieving fairness, accountability, and sustainability in digital infrastructures, ensuring no one is left behind in the new digital age.

    The foundation’s critical analysis emphasized the urgent need for a decentralized approach to AI, advocating for systems that align with local legislations and prioritize the protection of individual freedoms and self-sovereignty in cyberspace.

    As global reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) increases, OISTE highlights the dangers posed by the concentration of AI technological control in the hands of a select few tech giants. These entities, often more focused on unchecked progression, overlook the critical aspect of individual data protection, leading to a landscape where advancements in AI are viewed as an unregulated step in evolution.

    The intervention by OISTE underscores the necessity for multiple, diversified AI systems, particularly those that respect and adhere to national laws and future international norms. The foundation brought attention to several pivotal reasons, emphasizing ethical considerations, bias mitigation, societal implications, and the diversity inherent in legal systems worldwide.

    For more information about OISTE’s initiatives and its role in shaping the future of digital governance, visit https://oiste.org.

    About WISeKey
    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Disclaimer
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com     		 WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611 / lcati@equityny.com
    Katie Murphy
    Tel: +1 212 836-9612 / kmurphy@equityny.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Backs Legislation to Empower Tenants’ Right to Organize

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 23, 2024
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined in introducing a crucial bill that would empower tenants to organize, participate in, and operate tenant organizations without fear of retaliation or interference in Oregon and nationwide. 
    The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, led by Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., would amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to support the formation of tenant organizations and provide additional funding to ensure tenants have a stronger voice in advocating for their rights and addressing their living conditions.
    “People shouldn’t be punished just for speaking up when they are living in unsanitary conditions or struggling to afford their rent and make ends meet,” Wyden said. “Tenants asking for fair treatment in their own homes should have the right to advocate together, just as workers do. This bill will give tenants the protections to stand up for themselves as our country faces a housing crisis.”
    Only some tenants living in federally supported housing have a legally recognized right to organize without fear of retaliation. This unfair distinction leaves Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients and residents of federally-assisted units in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties without the ability to organize and address housing concerns. Empowering the millions of these tenants in rent-restricted units with the ability to organize promotes stronger, more robust communities and can help improve housing outcomes and reduce eviction filings.
    Key elements of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act are as follows:
    Expanded protections for tenant organizing: The bill guarantees families receiving tenant-based rental assistance the right to establish and participate in legitimate tenant organizations to address issues such as the terms and conditions of their tenancy and other housing and community development activities.
    Preventing retaliation and protecting tenant activities: The bill protects tenants from eviction or harassment in response to their participation in legitimate tenant organizations or exercising their rights.
    Accountability and enforcement for federal funding recipients: The bill requires public housing agencies and owners to recognize legitimate tenant organizations and respond meaningfully to their concerns. It also requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to establish enforcement protocols, including complaint-filing processes, investigation of abuses, and regular reporting to Congress to ensure compliance.
    Funding and support for tenant organizations: The bill provides dedicated funding to support tenant organizing and capacity building, ensuring tenants have the resources and training needed to advocate for their rights effectively.
    Along with Wyden, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The House companion to this legislation was introduced by Representative Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill. 
    This bill has been endorsed by the National Housing Law Project, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Mobility Works, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Tenant Union Representative Network, Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, PA Fair Housing of the Capital Region, PA Fair Housing of Greater Pittsburgh, Liberation in a Generation, Policy Link, Center for Popular Democracy Action, PA Stands Up, Housing Action Illinois, and LOFTE Network, including Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State, the George Wiley Center, Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition, Arkansas Community Organizations, Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, New York Tenants and Neighbors, AIDS Healthcare Foundation/Housing Is a Human Right (Los Angeles), Metropolitan Tenants Organization (Chicago), United Community Housing Coalition (Detroit), and HOMELine (Minnesota).
    The text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Cassidy “It’s Time to Hold China Accountable on Pollution”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) penned an op-ed in The Washington Times for their special Energy Week edition highlighting an industrial manufacturing and trade policy to counter competition from China. The piece highlights Cassidy’s Foreign Pollution Fee Act, legislation to level the playing field with Chinese manufacturing and expand American production.
    “For years, China has strengthened its economy, military, and geopolitical influence at the expense of the U.S. This must stop. It is time to hold communist China accountable with comprehensive legislation that addresses economic development, national security, and the environment. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) is the path forward,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. 
    “It makes absolutely no sense to continue allowing China and other countries to pollute freely and weaken the U.S. economically, and relatively speaking, militarily. We must turn the tables to make China pay instead of making the American people pay. The FPFA does this,” concluded Dr. Cassidy. 
    Read the full op-ed here or below: 
    It’s Time to Hold China Accountable on Pollution
    For years, China has strengthened its economy, military, and geopolitical influence at the expense of the U.S. This must stop. It is time to hold communist China accountable with comprehensive legislation that addresses economic development, national security, and the environment. The Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA) is the path forward.
    Over the years, China has gained an unfair trade advantage over American companies by intentionally not enforcing environmental standards. A business deciding between opening a manufacturing plant in the U.S. or China has a clear monetary incentive to pick China. This has contributed to 2.5 million American jobs being lost to China over the last 20 years.
    This is negatively affecting our environment. Up to a quarter of sulfate pollution in the western U.S. comes from Chinese emissions, according to a study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. China’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions now exceed those of the U.S. and EU combined.
    As this took place, China’s GDP grew from 19th globally to second. China has used its economic strength to become the second-greatest military power in the world. China uses military power as a hegemonic tool, seeking to intimidate Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and other U.S. allies.
    China gets American jobs, expands economically, and uses economic strength to militarize, while America gets China’s pollution. At the same time, the U.S. spends billions to make sure our manufacturing and energy production is the cleanest in the world. This is wrong.
    Classical economics says that there is a place for fees or tariffs if there is an externality, like pollution, not included in the price of a good. This is the basis for the FPFA. This fee capitalizes on the fact that the U.S. has invested billions to control emissions. The FPFA would be commensurate with the avoided cost of complying with international pollution control norms. This decreases the ability of China (and other high-polluting countries) to underprice U.S. manufacturers. The FPFA will incentivize high-polluting countries to reduce emissions. To the degree that it equalizes manufacturing costs, it can encourage re-shoring jobs. Speaking of China in particular, in concert with the economic advantage shifting to the U.S., China will have less money to militarize. For the U.S., it’s a win, win, win, instead of a lose, lose, lose.
    I recently presented my plan to Americans from across the country visiting D.C. in the latest episode of Bill on the Hill. People agreed that putting a fee on dirty products coming from high-polluting countries was not only wise policy but the reasonable course of action. This is consistent with recent nationwide polling that found that 84% of Americans favor taxing foreign companies for importing products that emit more GHG than comparable U.S. products.
    It makes absolutely no sense to continue allowing China and other countries to pollute freely and weaken the U.S. economically, and relatively speaking, militarily. We must turn the tables to make China pay instead of making the American people pay. The FPFA does this.
    • Sen. Bill Cassidy was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014. He serves on the Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee (HELP), the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
    Background
    Cassidy announced he will be holding a summit entitled, “Louisiana Energy Security Summit: Unleashing American Abundance in a Changing Global Landscape,” in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The Energy Security Summit will bring together leaders from the federal, state, and local government, industry, research community, and more. 
    He frequently highlights the geopolitical challenges confronting U.S. manufacturers operating internationally. Adversaries exploit lax environmental and labor standards to gain an unfair trade advantage over American companies. Cassidy advocates for a U.S. foreign policy integrating national, economic, and energy security.
    He and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced their Foreign Pollution Fee Act to level the playing field with Chinese manufacturing and expand American production.
    Earlier this month, he released the 3rd episode of Bill on the Hill, which highlights his Foreign Pollution Fee Act and discusses China’s growing economy and military at the expense of the American worker. After hearing fellow Americans share his concerns, Cassidy presented his plan to address the nexus between economic development, national security, and the environment. His Foreign Pollution Fee Act would even the playing field while holding China accountable.
    He penned editorials in Foreign Affairs, The Washington Times, and jointly in the USA Today Network with State Senator Caleb Kleinpeter (R-Port Allen), and State Representative Blake Miguez (R-Erath) discussing the geopolitical threats China poses to U.S. global standing. Cassidy also joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss his foreign pollution fee, noting the competitive advantage China receives from intentionally ignoring environmental standards. 
    Last Spring, the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution urging Congress to pursue an industrial manufacturing and trade policy to counter competition from China. Learn more here. 
    Last Congress, Cassidy released a landmark energy policy outline in response to the Biden administration’s assault on domestic energy. The outline details how we can successfully reset U.S. energy policy, including Cassidy’s plan for an Energy Operation Warp Speed to cut permitting red tape and unleash domestic energy and manufacturing. In support of this complete vision and in addition to the Foreign Pollution Fee, Cassidy led Republican colleagues in opposition to a domestic carbon tax and introduced the first comprehensive judicial reform for permitting bill. He also pushed back on disastrous proposals from the Biden administration to limit development in the Outer Continental Shelf with the introduction of the WHALE Act and the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Introduces Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    09.23.24
    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024, updating the landmark Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984. Senator Murkowski celebrated the 40th anniversary of the original ARPA with a significant event at the White House last week.
    “The Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024 builds upon the strong foundation of the original APRA of 1984. As the geographic and political landscape of the Arctic evolves, the way we approach, research, and analyze the region should as well,” said Senator Murkowski. “My father arrived to the Senate in 1980 and realized that our country was paying very little attention to the Arctic and its potential. He set out to change that with the introduction of ARPA, establishing a framework for Arctic research and collaboration. He succeeded in that endeavor 40 years ago, and it is a legacy I am proud to continue. The United States should be a leader in the ‘Age of the Arctic,’ and the Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024 will further us in that direction.”
    The Arctic Research and Policy Amendments Act of 2024 proposes the following updates to the original ARPA of 1984:
    Broaden ARPA’s scope to include the Arctic’s increasing role in national and homeland defense.
    Strengthen climate and environmental research to provide sustained funding for research on the Arctic’s impact on global systems.
    Establish an annual award for excellence in Arctic research.
    Expand U.S. Arctic Research Commission to include an Alaskan who is appointed the Governor of Alaska. 
    Last week, Senator Murkowski gave remarks on the Senate floor commemorating the 40th anniversary of the original ARPA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments of Canada and Manitoba Celebrate Opening of New Child-Care Facility in Fort Rouge

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 23, 2024

    Governments of Canada and Manitoba Celebrate Opening of New Child-Care Facility in Fort Rouge

    – – –
    40 New Child-Care Spaces to Open this Fall: Sudds, Kinew

    Families with young children in Winnipeg will benefit from a new child-care facility opening its doors this fall, Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds and Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

    “With these new child-care spots in Winnipeg, we are planting the seeds for a brighter future – one where kids get to learn from the land and their community,” said Sudds. “We will keep working hard to create more spots to get kids off wait lists and into high-quality, affordable child care close to home. Every family deserves access to child care that gives their children the best possible start in life and we are committed to making that a reality.”

    S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care Inc. in Winnipeg has expanded its operations to facilitate 40 new child-care spaces.  These new child-care spaces have been created through S.P.L.A.S.H.’s new Urban Learning Centre, which joins S.P.L.A.S.H.’s Early Learning Centre at 109 Pulford St. as well as S.P.L.A.S.H.’s two other facilities in Winnipeg for a total of 236 infant, preschool and school-age spaces. The new site will offer 10 preschool and 30 school-age spaces.

    The Manitoba government invested $215,000 in capital grant funding to create new school-age spaces through the Early Learning and Child Care Building Fund and provided an additional $13,000 in one-time start-up grant funding.

    “Affordable and accessible child care is the backbone of a strong economy where everyone can participate,” said Kinew. “This is an important step towards our commitment to create more child-care spaces for Manitoba families. This announcement is about making life better for families today and investing in our kids for the future.”

    The Government of Canada invested a further $175,000 under the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to create new preschool spaces through the Child Care Renovation Expansion Grant and provided $4,500 in one-time start-up grant funding. Annual operating funding for preschool-aged spaces will be provided to S.P.L.A.S.H via the Canada-Manitoba Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to ensure long-term sustainability of these new spaces, noted the minister.

    “It is important for Manitoba children and students to have the best possible learning environments throughout our province,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare. “S.P.L.A.S.H.’s expansion will also enable the centre to continue to provide exceptional programming rooted in Indigenous knowledge.”

    For more information about early learning and child-care in Manitoba, visit:  www.manitoba.ca/education/childcare/.

    For more information on the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care agreements, visit: www.canada.ca/en/early-learning-child-care-agreement/agreements-provinces-territories/manitoba-canada-wide-2021.html.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech to 2024 Aerospace Summit

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Good morning, and thank you to Aerospace New Zealand and the committee for inviting me to attend the third annual Aerospace Summit. 

    Thank you also for all the work undertaken by the Aerospace New Zealand committee and your team in the delivery of so many outreach and educational activities around New Zealand. 

    I would also like to acknowledge the many international experts joining us at this Summit. I welcome your participation and thank you for your interest.

    I am an enthusiastic supporter of our aerospace sector, and it is a pleasure to be talking to a room full of people who feel as positive about the future of aerospace as I do. 

    This enthusiasm is also shared by the Government, as evidenced by the fact that for the first time we have a Minister for Space.

    It’s a role I’m very proud of but which also brings a real responsibility for improving the public understanding of just what space involves. Most people relate it simply to rockets but as everyone here knows there’s so much more to it – be it satellites, be it drones or be it the  data these platforms generate. One aspect of this new position I do wish to make clear is that the scope of my portfolio covers not only space activity but also emerging aviation technologies.

    Novel and groundbreaking aviation technologies are set to revolutionise aviation, as well as driving advancements that will impact our daily lives through technologies in communications, mapping and monitoring of land, disaster response and how we transport goods.

    The Government is ambitious for the possibilities for advanced aviation in New Zealand and its potential to grow the economy and boost productivity. 

    To realise that ambition we need to have the right regulatory settings to help unlock the growth of this part of the economy.

    It is the Government’s goal that by the end of 2025, New Zealand will have a world-class regulatory environment that allows rapid iteration and testing of advanced aviation vehicles and technology, while maintaining high standards of safety.

    I am pleased to announce that to achieve this, the Government has agreed to a set of actions to support and grow advanced aviation and remove unnecessary red tape. 

    This light touch regulatory approach, which will also cover experimental or developmental aircraft and systems, will significantly free up innovators to test their tech and ideas. 

    Once innovators get ready to export their technologies, they will transition into the current regulatory regime to allow them to demonstrate the integrity and credibility of their products, as international regulators will demand this. 

    We will also be engaging with the sector to establish permanent restricted airspace areas – or sandboxes – for exclusive use by advanced aviation companies.

    We will be updating other Rules to enable more timely decision-making.

    I look forward to having more to say on this in the coming months. 

    In the meantime, I am looking forward to visiting the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre this afternoon, which is already playing an important role in ensuring companies have access to the right infrastructure to support them with testing and trialling innovative technology. 

    These reforms are just some of the steps the Government is taking to support the growth and development of our wider aerospace sector. 

    I am pleased to release today the New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy, which sets out the Government’s ambitions for the sector and actions to achieve this, supported by principles on our broader space interests. 

    It succinctly brings together previous policy and strategy documents into one cohesive Strategy.

    It also highlights to a global audience the benefits of New Zealand as a location for aerospace activities.

    The new Strategy is on the New Zealand Space Agency website, and I encourage you to take a look.

    Thinking of that global audience, I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel internationally in my time as Minister for Space to promote our space and advanced aviation sectors and share how excited I am at the future we have ahead of us.

    I have visited international space agency facilities across a number of countries and continents and attended events such as the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, and most recently the Australian Space Forum to announce a joint open call for Earth observation proposals with our neighbours across the Tasman.

    Through this travel, I have strengthened New Zealand’s international aerospace relationships with both government and sector partners. 

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and my ministerial colleagues have done the same. These international connections are important not only to drive progress in science, innovation and technology but also to build commercial connections and opportunities for our sector. We have much to offer and we are open for business.

    In another step to support the Government’s work to develop the sector, we will be conducting an economic survey. 

    This will provide an understanding of the size and productivity of the space and advanced aviation sectors to better support opportunities and overcome challenges to future growth. 

    We would like to get as clear of a picture as possible by ensuring everyone is included.

    This survey will begin later in the year, and I encourage you to contribute when the time comes.

    Fostering talent in aerospace-related fields is also important for the ongoing success of the aerospace economy. 

    Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes to celebrate the innovative, talented people in our aerospace sector and inspire the next generation.

    There are two prizes – one for Professional Excellence, which carries a $100,000 prize, and one for Student Endeavour, which carries a $50,000 award.

    Applications close on September 30 – which is just six days away – and I encourage those of you who haven’t yet applied to consider doing so. 

    Applications are also open for the 2025 New Zealand Space Scholarships. So, if you know a high-flying graduate student interested in working on NASA projects in the US next year, please encourage them to apply. These interns bring home invaluable skills and experience from their time away. 

    Another example of Government fostering talent in industry is the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant, a Callaghan Innovation fund which supports innovative New Zealanders with big ideas to take to market their world-leading innovations.

    I am very pleased to announce that four of the seven recipients of the latest round of funding are from, or are involved with, the aerospace industry.

    Congratulations to Astrix Astronautics, Emrod, Fabrum Solutions Limited, and Zenno Astronautics who, alongside other recipients Basis NZ, Toku Eyes and Zincovery Process Technologies, will each receive a share of around $17.5 million in co-funding.

    We recognise the significant achievements and contributions you all make to the success of the sector, and these are just some of the ways we celebrate and further encourage these activities.

    Thank you for your time and attention this morning. I encourage you to make the most of the rest of the Summit and I look forward to doing the same.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual Report [July, 2023 – June, 2024]

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 6:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Key findings

    • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above was 60.1% during July 2023 – June 2024. The same for male and female was 78.8% and 41.7% respectively.
    • Overall LFPR in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above has increased from 57.9% during July 2022 – June 2023 to 60.1% during July 2023 – June 2024. LFPR for female of age 15 years above in usual status (ps+ss) has increased from 37.0% during July 2022 – June 2023 to 41.7% during July 2023 – June 2024.  For male of the same age group LFPR in usual status (ps+ss) increased from 78.5% to 78.8% during the same time span.
    • Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above was 58.2% during July 2023 – June 2024. The same for male and female was 76.3% and 40.3% respectively. 
    • WPR in usual status (ps+ss) among female of age 15 years and above has shown an increase from 35.9% during July 2022 – June 2023 to 40.3% during July 2023 – June 2024. The overall WPR among persons of the same age group in usual status (ps+ss) has increased from 56.0% during July 2022 – June 2023 to 58.2% during July 2023 – June 2024.
    • Unemployment Rate (UR) in usual status (ps+ss) was 3.2% for both male and female of age 15 years and above during July 2023 – June 2024. While the same for male has shown a marginal decline from 3.3% during July 2022 – June 2023 to 3.2% during July 2023 – June 2024, among female it has increased from 2.9% to 3.2% during the same time span.

    Considering the importance of availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.

    The objective of PLFS is primarily twofold:

    • to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
    • to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.

    Six Annual Reports covering both rural and urban areas giving estimates of all important parameters of employment and unemployment in both usual status (ps+ss) and current weekly status (CWS) have been released. These six Annual Reports are brought out on the basis of data collected in PLFS during July 2017- June 2018, July 2018-June 2019, July 2019-June 2020, July 2020 – June 2021, July 2021-June 2022 and July 2022-June 2023.

    Now the seventh Annual Report is being brought out by NSSO on the basis of Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted during July 2023-June 2024.

    B.        PLFS fieldwork during July 2023 – June 2024

    The field work for collection of information in respect of the samples allotted for the period July 2023 – June 2024, was completed timely except for 37 first visit FSU samples (Manipur-21, Madhya Pradesh-4, Tripura-3, Punjab-2, Odisha-1, Chhattisgarh-1, Telangana-2, Maharashtra-1, Gujarat-1, Andhra Pradesh-1) and 80 revisit FSUs which were treated as casualties.
     

    1. A rotational panel sampling design has been used in urban areas. In this rotational panel scheme, each, selected household in urban areas is visited four times, in the beginning with ‘First Visit Schedule’ and thrice periodically later with a ‘Revisit Schedule’. In urban area, samples for a panel within each stratum were drawn in the form of two independent sub-samples. The scheme of rotation ensures that 75% of the first-stage sampling units (FSUs)[1] are matched between two consecutive visits. There was no revisit in the rural samples. For rural areas, samples for a stratum/sub-stratum were drawn randomly in the form of two independent sub-samples. For rural areas, in each quarter of the survey period, 25% FSUs of annual allocation were covered.

     

    1. Sample Size for First Visit during July 2023 – June 2024 in rural and urban areas for the Annual Report: Out of the total number of 12,800 FSUs (7,016 villages and 5,784 UFS blocks) allotted for the survey at the all-India level during July 2023 – June 2024, a total of 12,743 FSUs (6,975 villages and 5,768 urban blocks) were surveyed for canvassing the PLFS schedule (Schedule 10.4). The number of households surveyed was 1,01,920 (55,796 in rural areas and 46,124 in urban areas) and number of persons surveyed was 4,18,159 (2,42,546 in rural areas and 1,75,613 in urban areas). Among the persons surveyed, total number of persons of age 15 years and above was 3,19,773 (1,80,793 in rural areas and 1,38,980 in urban areas).
    2. Conceptual Framework of Key Employment and Unemployment Indicators: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) gives estimates of Key employment and unemployment Indicators like, the Labour Force Participation Rates (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Unemployment Rate (UR), etc. These indicators, and the ‘Usual Status’ and ‘Current Weekly Status’ are defined as follows:

     

    1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.

     

    1. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.

     

    1. Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.

     

    1. Activity Status- Usual Status: The activity status of a person is determined on the basis of the activities pursued by the person during the specified reference period. When the activity status is determined on the basis of the reference period of last 365 days preceding the date of survey, it is known as the usual activity status of the person.

     

    1. Principal activity status (ps) – The activity status on which a person spent relatively long time (major time criterion) during 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the usual principal activity status of the person.

     

    1. Subsidiary economic activity status (ss)– The activity status in which a person in addition to his/her usual principal status, performs some economic activity for 30 days or more for the reference period of 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the subsidiary economic activity status of the person.

     

    1. Activity Status- Current Weekly Status (CWS): The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person.

     

    The Annual Report on PLFS 2023-24 is available at the website of the Ministry (https://mospi.gov.in). The key results are given in the statements annexed.

    Key Findings of PLFS, Annual Report 2023- 2024

    1. Estimates of key labour market indicators in usual status (ps+ss)

     

    1. Increasing Trend in Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons of age 15 years and above

    In rural areas, LFPR increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 63.7% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it increased from 47.6% to 52.0%. LFPR for male in India increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.8% in 2023-24 and corresponding increase in LFPR for female was from 23.3% to 41.7%.

     

    Table 1: Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Survey period

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    80.2

    47.6

    63.7

    75.6

    28.0

    52.0

    78.8

    41.7

    60.1

    2022-23

    80.2

    41.5

    60.8

    74.5

    25.4

    50.4

    78.5

    37.0

    57.9

    2021-22

    78.2

    36.6

    57.5

    74.7

    23.8

    49.7

    77.2

    32.8

    55.2

    2020-21

    78.1

    36.5

    57.4

    74.6

    23.2

    49.1

    77.0

    32.5

    54.9

    2019-20

    77.9

    33.0

    55.5

    74.6

    23.3

    49.3

    76.8

    30.0

    53.5

    2018-19

    76.4

    26.4

    51.5

    73.7

    20.4

    47.5

    75.5

    24.5

    50.2

    2017-18

    76.4

    24.6

    50.7

    74.5

    20.4

    47.6

    75.8

    23.3

    49.8

    Note: (ps+ss)  determined considering both principal activity status and subsidiary economic activity status

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

    1. Increasing Trend in Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons of age 15 years and above

    In rural areas, WPR increased from 48.1% in 2017-18 to 62.1% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it increased from 43.9% to 49.4%. WPR for male in India increased from 71.2% in 2017-18 to 76.3% in 2023-24 and corresponding increase in WPR for female was from 22.0% to 40.3%.

     

    Table 2: Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Indicator

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    78.1

    46.5

    62.1

    72.3

    26.0

    49.4

    76.3

    40.3

    58.2

    2022-23

    78.0

    40.7

    59.4

    71.0

    23.5

    47.7

    76.0

    35.9

    56.0

    2021-22

    75.3

    35.8

    55.6

    70.4

    21.9

    46.6

    73.8

    31.7

    52.9

    2020-21

    75.1

    35.8

    55.5

    70.0

    21.2

    45.8

    73.5

    31.4

    52.6

    2019-20

    74.4

    32.2

    53.3

    69.9

    21.3

    45.8

    73.0

    28.7

    50.9

    2018-19

    72.2

    25.5

    48.9

    68.6

    18.4

    43.9

    71.0

    23.3

    47.3

    2017-18

    72.0

    23.7

    48.1

    69.3

    18.2

    43.9

    71.2

    22.0

    46.8

    Note: (ps+ss) determined considering both principal activity status and subsidiary economic activity status

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

     

    1. Decreasing Trend in Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons of age 15 years and above

    In rural areas, UR decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.5% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it decreased from 7.7% to 5.1%. UR for male in India decreased from 6.1% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24 and corresponding decrease for female was from 5.6% to 3.2%.

     

    Table 3: Unemployment Rate (UR) in usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Indicator

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    2.7

    2.1

    2.5

    4.4

    7.1

    5.1

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    2022-23

    2.7

    1.8

    2.4

    4.7

    7.5

    5.4

    3.3

    2.9

    3.2

    2021-22

    3.8

    2.1

    3.2

    5.8

    7.9

    6.3

    4.4

    3.3

    4.1

    2020-21

    3.8

    2.1

    3.3

    6.1

    8.6

    6.7

    4.5

    3.5

    4.2

    2019-20

    4.5

    2.6

    3.9

    6.4

    8.9

    6.9

    5.0

    4.2

    4.8

    2018-19

    5.5

    3.5

    5.0

    7.0

    9.8

    7.6

    6.0

    5.1

    5.8

    2017-18

    5.7

    3.8

    5.3

    6.9

    10.8

    7.7

    6.1

    5.6

    6.0

    Note: (ps+ss)  determined considering both principal activity status and subsidiary economic activity status

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

     

    1. Estimates of key labour market indicators in Current Weekly Status (CWS)

     

    1. Increasing Trend in Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons of age 15 years and above

     

    In rural areas, LFPR increased from 48.9% in 2017-18 to 58.9% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it increased from 47.1% to 50.8%. LFPR for male in India increased from 75.1% in 2017-18 to 77.5% in 2023-24 and corresponding increase for female was from 21.1% to 35.6%.

     

    Table 4: Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in current weekly status (CWS) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Survey period

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    78.7

    39.7

    58.9

    75.0

    26.1

    50.8

    77.5

    35.6

    56.4

    2022-23

    78.8

    34.6

    56.7

    73.9

    24.0

    49.4

    77.4

    31.6

    54.6

    2021-22

    76.7

    29.2

    53.0

    74.2

    22.1

    48.6

    75.9

    27.2

    51.7

    2020-21

    76.7

    30.0

    53.4

    73.8

    21.7

    48.0

    75.8

    27.5

    51.8

    2019-20

    76.7

    28.3

    52.5

    73.8

    22.1

    48.2

    75.8

    26.3

    51.2

    2018-19

    75.5

    22.5

    49.1

    73.7

    19.7

    47.1

    74.9

    21.6

    48.5

    2017-18

    75.6

    21.7

    48.9

    74.1

    19.6

    47.1

    75.1

    21.1

    48.4

    Note: CWS: activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

     

     

     

    1. Increasing Trend in Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons of age 15 years and above

    In rural areas, WPR increased from 44.8% in 2017-18 to 56.5% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it increased from 42.6% to 47.4%. WPR for male in India increased from 68.6% in 2017-18 to 73.8% in 2023-24 and corresponding increase for female was from 19.2% to 33.8%.

     

    Table 5: Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in current weekly status (CWS) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Indicator

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    75.3

    38.1

    56.5

    70.5

    23.9

    47.4

    73.8

    33.8

    53.7

    2022-23

    75.2

    33.2

    54.2

    69.3

    21.8

    46.0

    73.5

    30.0

    51.8

    2021-22

    71.7

    27.9

    49.9

    68.4

    19.9

    44.6

    70.7

    25.6

    48.3

    2020-21

    71.2

    28.6

    50.0

    66.8

    19.0

    43.1

    69.9

    25.7

    47.9

    2019-20

    70.1

    26.7

    48.4

    66.0

    19.4

    43.0

    68.8

    24.4

    46.7

    2018-19

    69.0

    20.9

    45.0

    67.2

    17.4

    42.7

    68.4

    19.8

    44.3

    2017-18

    69.1

    20.1

    44.8

    67.7

    17.1

    42.6

    68.6

    19.2

    44.1

    Note: CWS: activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

     

    1. Decreasing Trend in Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons of age 15 years and above

    In rural areas, UR decreased from 8.4% in 2017-18 to 4.2% in 2023-24 while for urban areas it decreased from 9.5% to 6.7%. UR for male in India decreased from 8.7% in 2017-18 to 4.8% in 2023-24 and corresponding decrease for female was from 9.0% to 5.0%.

     

     

    Table 6: Unemployment Rate (UR) in current weekly status (CWS) for persons of age 15 years and above

    all-India

    Indicator

    Rural

    Urban

    Rural+Urban

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    male

    female

    person

    (1)

    (2)

    (3)

    (4)

    (5)

    (6)

    (7)

    (8)

    (9)

    (10)

    2023-24

    4.4

    3.9

    4.2

    6.0

    8.7

    6.7

    4.8

    5.0

    4.9

    2022-23

    4.6

    4.0

    4.4

    6.3

    9.1

    7.0

    5.1

    5.1

    5.1

    2021-22

    6.5

    4.5

    6.0

    7.8

    9.9

    8.3

    6.9

    5.8

    6.6

    2020-21

    7.1

    4.8

    6.5

    9.4

    12.2

    10.1

    7.8

    6.6

    7.5

    2019-20

    8.7

    5.5

    7.8

    10.5

    12.4

    11.0

    9.3

    7.3

    8.8

    2018-19

    8.6

    7.3

    8.3

    8.8

    12.1

    9.5

    8.7

    8.7

    8.7

    2017-18

    8.7

    7.5

    8.4

    8.7

    12.7

    9.5

    8.7

    9.0

    8.7

    Note: CWS: activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey

     

    2023-24 refers to the period July 2023 – June 2024 and likewise for 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18

     

    Note: Detailed Results are available at the website of the Ministry (www.mospi.gov.in.)

    *****

    MG/DP

    [1]Villages and urban blocks are the smallest area units taken as first-stage sampling units (FSU) in rural and urban areas respectively.

    (Release ID: 2057970) Visitor Counter : 51

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Communications & DoNER launched ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Application

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister for Communications & DoNER launched ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Application

    The app combines environmental responsibility with a personal touch, allowing individuals to contribute towards a greener planet

    Users can easily upload pictures of the trees they are planting as a tribute to their mothers

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 6:24PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, launched ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ app during a Press Conference of Ministry of Communications and Ministry of DoNER, today, held at National Media Centre, New Delhi.  The Minister also briefed the media about achievements of both the Ministries druing 100 days of the Government.

     

    The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ app is a unique platform where users can plant and dedicate a tree in honour of their mothers. This app not only allows users to contribute towards environmental sustainability but also provides a special way to celebrate their bond with their mother. With its user-friendly interface, people can easily upload pictures of the trees they are planting as a tribute to their mothers.

    Click here for Curtain Raiser – ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ App

    Key Features and Functionality:

    • Simple App Launch: Users can launch the app by tapping the icon on their device, immediately leading to the home screen with the application logo.
    • User-Friendly Upload Process: By tapping the upload button at the bottom of the screen, users are directed to the login page where they can enter their name, select a related ministry or department, and fill in other required details.
    • Capture and Upload Image: The app allows users to dedicate a tree by capturing an image. With a simple click on the “Click Image” button, the device’s camera opens up for users to capture the tree.
    • Tree Details: After capturing the image, users can provide details about the tree type, location (state), and occasion for planting the tree.
    • Seamless Submission: The app offers the flexibility to submit the image or retake it without losing the previously filled details.
    • Location and Timestamp: The app automatically records the location, latitude, longitude, and timestamp of the dedicated tree.
    • Progress Updates: Users can update the tree’s growth by uploading a new image every 30 days, allowing for continuous tracking.
    • Carbon Credit Tracking: Users can track the carbon credits they have earned through their contributions, promoting eco-consciousness.
    • Social Media Sharing: The app encourages sharing tree images on social media, spreading awareness and inviting others to participate in this meaningful initiative.

     

    ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ app combines environmental responsibility with a personal touch, allowing individuals to contribute towards a greener planet in honour of their mothers.

    The android application can be downloaded from https://usof.gov.in/en/ek-ped-maa-ke-naam. The same shall also be available on Google Play Store shortly.

     

    *****

    MG/PD/DP

    (Release ID: 2057971) Visitor Counter : 47

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken hosted the Transforming Humanitarian Response for the 21st Century Ministerial

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary Blinken hosted the Transforming Humanitarian Response for the 21st Century Ministerial in New York City, New York, on September 23, 2024.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
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    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeS0v7cyb_o

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mann Named Friend of Farm Bureau

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) was named a Friend of Farm Bureau for the 118th Congress by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) awards the Friend of Farm Bureau award to members of Congress who have supported Farm Bureau’s position on policy issues, as demonstrated by their voting records, and who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the AFBF Board of Directors.

    “Agriculture is the heartbeat of the Big First District, and my top priority in Congress is supporting those who work tirelessly to feed, fuel, and clothe the world,” said Rep. Mann. “It is the honor a lifetime to represent Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers on the House Agriculture Committee and in Congress. I am humbled to be recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation and Kansas Farm Bureau as a Friend of Farm Bureau for the 118th Congress. I will continue to advocate for policies that benefit Kansas agriculture and America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers.”

    Since being sworn into Congress in 2021, Rep. Mann has been a fierce advocate for Kansas agriculture. Last week, Rep. Mann blasted the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to eliminate stepped-up basis and impose massive “marked-to-market” capital gains tax hikes on family-owned businesses and farms. 

    Representative Mann has continued to push for a fiscally conservative, five-year Farm Bill that supports farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. In May 2024, Rep. Mann voted to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act out of the House Agriculture Committee.

    Rep. Mann has served on the House Agriculture Committee since being sworn into office and currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. He currently serves as co-chair of the Congressional Crop Insurance Caucus and the Congressional Hunger Caucus and is a co-founder of the Congressional FFA Caucus.

    ###

    For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken remarks at the Summit of the Future

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken remarks at the Summit of the Future in New York City, New York, on September 23, 2024.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vut6138pmMc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Vice President Harris’s Meeting with His Highness President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab  Emirates

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Vice President Kamala Harris met with His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the White House today, where they reaffirmed the growing partnership between the United States and the UAE and discussed joint efforts to promote a more secure, stable, and prosperous Middle East region. The Vice President welcomed the UAE’s continued leadership and close partnership with the United States on advanced technology, including the safe, secure, and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence, as well as our shared efforts on strategic investments, diversifying supply chains, and space exploration.  They discussed the immense potential of our two countries to secure the future and generate prosperity for our people and the world. The two leaders also reaffirmed the continued importance of the strong defense partnership between the United States and the UAE for each country’s security and for regional stability.  The two leaders discussed the war in Gaza and efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal, and the Vice President underscored the importance of protecting innocent civilians and sustaining the flow of life saving humanitarian assistance.  They discussed the importance of continued coordination to bring this war to an end and plan for the Day After. They also discussed the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and our work to prevent the conflict from escalating and reach a diplomatic solution that would allow populations on both sides of the border to return to their homes.  The Vice President raised her deep concerns about the conflict in Sudan, which has displaced nearly 10 million people and left 25 million in need of humanitarian aid.  She expressed alarm at the millions of individuals who have been displaced by the war and the atrocities committed by the belligerents against the civilian population.  She underscored the critical importance of getting the warring parties to the table, ending the conflict, and allowing unfettered humanitarian access.  Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to de-escalate the conflict, alleviate the suffering of the people of Sudan, ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the Sudanese people, and prevent Sudan from attracting transnational terrorist networks once again.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cai Guo-Qiang’s big bang of art, science and AI

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    When art meets science, the result can be explosive and revolutionary.

    This fusion lies at the heart of Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey, an exhibition currently on at the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum, which runs until next June.

    The exhibition goes beyond the traditional gallery format, merging art with chemistry, physics and artificial intelligence to display the pioneering work of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, who uses gunpowder in his creations.

    “Cai’s work is a masterful demonstration of how art and science can converge to create something entirely new,” Bethany Montagano, director of USC Museums, told reporters at a preview event on Sept 13.

    “We are excited to host this transformative exhibition, which not only celebrates Cai’s innovative use of gunpowder, but also highlights the important research and collaboration happening at the intersection of art, science and AI,” she says.

    A Material Odyssey features a series of gunpowder test pieces produced for the Getty Research Institute to study.

    The 67-year-old was born in Quanzhou, Fujian province, and trained in stage design at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in the early 1980s. From December 1986 to September 1995, he worked in Japan and has lived and worked in New York since then.

    Best known for his use of gunpowder in intricate paintings, drawings and large-scale pyrotechnic performances, Cai has spent decades pushing the boundaries of art by incorporating volatile materials into his creative process.

    These materials have been central to his philosophy and creative practice, symbolizing both destruction and creation.

    “I am often inspired by the calmness and the natural strength manifested in the work after the vibrant colors fade. Changes in the gunpowder bring about uncontrollability and unpredictability, which is what makes working with gunpowder so fascinating. The change itself is part of my work,” Cai says.

    According to Rachel Rivenc, lead curator and head of Conservation and Preservation at the Getty Research Institute, A Material Odyssey highlights something rarely seen in exhibitions: science as a tool for understanding artistic techniques, and presents imagery that explores the molecular behavior of gunpowder, and its evolution as an artistic medium in the artist’s hands.

    “Cai has embraced the use of gunpowder because he wanted to relinquish control over the creative process. No matter how precisely a gunpowder drawing is planned, the results are still unpredictable,” Rivenc says.

    “The awe-inspiring nature of Cai Guo-Qiang’s work embodies many of the values we hold dear at our museum,” says Rebecca Hall, USC PAM curator. “His gunpowder drawings and paintings, when presented alongside the museum’s permanent collection and housed in this historic building, remind us that as we push the boundaries of art and science, we remain deeply connected to the wisdom and creativity of the past.”

    The event serves as a companion to the artist’s latest project, WE ARE: Explosion Event for PST ART, which lit up the skies above the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept 15. Integrating AI-driven choreography with fireworks, drones and data science, the free daytime performance commissioned by Getty launched PST ART’s new theme, Art & Science Collide, in a spectacular fashion.

    “Today, with the rapid rise of technologies like AI, culture and the arts often seem powerless. I hope WE ARE will serve as a monumental gesture of how the art world can merge the virtual and real in this new AI-driven era, while also standing as a strong voice and decisive action in these turbulent times,” says Cai, who has been researching AI since 2017.

    The event was one of the first large-scale daytime fireworks display in the US to incorporate drone formations equipped with pyrotechnic devices, according to Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J Paul Getty Trust.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown

    Source: Green Party

    The Green Party says the Government’s retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service.

    “This is shallow soundbite policy and a cheap shot to a public service that is being gutted by the Government,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for the Public Service, Francisco Hernandez.

    “Our public service needs to be supported so it can support our communities. Undermining our public servants at every opportunity will only lead to an erosion of the services we all rely on. 

    “We saw firsthand during the pandemic the benefit of flexible work arrangements and how they can support people to achieve a better work life balance, being beneficial to productivity and morale. 

    “This gimmick Government wants to take us back to the pre-internet days when we lacked the flexibility to adopt working arrangements that work for our workers. This Government quite clearly mistrusts and undervalues the public service. 

    “How can the Government claim this is about improving the performance of the public service when it has repeatedly punched down on our public servants? 

    “It is laughable for the Prime Minister to claim that this will be good for the Wellington CBD when his Government has cut almost 7,000 public service jobs, which has had devastating down-stream effects to the local economy. 

    “If we want to reinvigorate the heart of our cities, we need to support public and active transport, bolster our urban density and stop gutting public services, slashing jobs and cutting incomes.

    “Public servants should have the right to safe, decent and meaningful work that affords them the right balance of working from home and from the office. This should be a discussion between employers and employees, not something that is dictated by Nicola Willis.  

    “The Greens would reform our employment laws for all workers in New Zealand to enable flexible working arrangements, including working from home,” says Francisco Hernandez.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Nigeria: fears of disease outbreaks grow in Maiduguri following severe flooding

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Maiduguri, Borno state, 23 September 2024 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is highly concerned about the significant risk of malaria and waterborne diseases, including cholera, following the recent flooding that has inundated vast parts of Maiduguri. in north-eastern Nigeria. MSF fears that this crisis could increase the levels of malnutrition in the area and calls for urgent additional support, especially in terms of water, sanitation, and medical care, to protect people already heavily impacted by long-term insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition.

    On 10 September, heavy rain caused the Alau Dam in Borno State to overflow, leading to major floods in and around the city of Maiduguri. The deluge heavily impacted houses, markets, fields, livestock, and several health facilities. According to Borno State authorities, close to 400,000 people have been registered in 30 makeshift displacement sites.[1] Most of the sites are schools with too few latrines, and a lack of safe drinking water.

    “We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria”, says Dr Issaley Abdel Kader MSF Head of mission in Nigeria. “The number of children affected by malaria and acute watery diarrhoea had already started to increase before the flooding, and we have seen some with clinical signs of cholera since the floods. We are afraid that the number of cases will rise without an increase in medical and humanitarian support, particularly support for water, sanitation and hygiene services.”

    Last week, MSF teams visited several displacement sites (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess people’s needs and start the provision of essential services such as access to water through water-trucking and water tanks, the installation and repair of latrines, and the distribution of mosquito nets. Teams are also running outpatient consultations in the sites, including mental health support, and referring critical patients to the facilities we support. Given the risks posed by malaria and cholera, MSF is also planning to expand the paediatric facility it supports by 100 beds and have begun setting up a cholera treatment centre that can be increased to a 100-bed capacity, if needed.  

    The Borno State government has announced the closure and merging of most displacement sites in the coming days. They plan to keep three main sites to accommodate people who still have no place to stay for one more week, and a mass cholera vaccination is upcoming.

    “All parties involved in the humanitarian response must continue providing assistance to the people affected by the floods as long as it will be necessary and ensure immediate and easy access to medical care for those who need it. The closure of most sites means that many will find themselves in a very vulnerable situation. For those remaining in the sites, prompt action must be taken to swiftly improve hygiene conditions, including access to latrines, safe water and mosquito nets”, says Dr. Issaley.

    Support for communities won’t just be needed at the new displacement sites. Well before the flooding, the entire population of Maiduguri was already facing huge challenges, including one of the worst malnutrition crises recorded in northeast Nigeria. In the past months, hundreds of severely malnourished children have been admitted every week into MSF’s nutritional care hospital.

    “Admissions to the nutritional facilities had just started to reduce when the flooding occurred”, says Dr. Ashok Shrirang Sankpal, deputy medical coordinator MSF Nigeria. “With markets and businesses heavily impacted, the harvest damaged and livestock washed away, there is huge concern that admissions will start to rise again.”

    This is the second time in just a few weeks’ that MSF has had to launch emergency responses linked to flooding in northern Nigeria. In August in Gummi, Zamfara state, homes and farms were destroyed and thousands left newly displaced by severe flooding. Like Maiduguri, people in this area already face significant challenges, including malnutrition, persistent insecurity and lack of access to healthcare. MSF teams have been supporting communities in Gummi over the last few weeks by delivering clean drinking water, repairing boreholes and delivering kits which include plastic sheets for temporary shelter and mosquito nets.

    [1] Nigeria: Floods – Maiduguri (MMC) and Jere Floods Flash Update 3 (18 September 2024) – Nigeria | ReliefWeb

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In 2023, one in every four single-family houses was equipped with a heat pump.

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Home Affairs

    Neuchâtel, 23.09.2024 – Switzerland had 1.79 million residential buildings and 4.79 million dwellings in 2023. 37% of buildings were heated by oil and 17% by gas. 21% of buildings were equipped with heat pumps, a fivefold rise since 2000. One single-family house in four is equipped with a heat pump. These are some of the results from the Building and Dwelling Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website (see link below)

    Address for enquiries

    Info StatBL, BFS, Population section, tel.: +41 58 467 25 25, e-mail: info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

    Publisher

    Federal Statistical Office
    http://www.statistics.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dance drama “Awakening Lion” to showcase charm of Lingnan culture in Hong Kong in October (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    　　The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has invited the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre to perform in October its grand Chinese dance drama “Awakening Lion”, a production that won the Lotus Award, China’s highest award for dance. Set against the backdrop of the Sanyuanli Anti-British Uprising in Guangzhou during the Opium War, the lion dancers of the day look back at their predecessors and retrace the history of a century ago, showcasing the inheritance of national spirit that has been passed down through generations, and allowing the audience to experience the charm of Lingnan culture. The programme is part of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival and the Guangzhou Culture Week.
     
    　　The “Awakening Lion” is the first dance drama on the Mainland featuring Guangdong lion dancing, a representative item of the national intangible cultural heritage. With “awakening” as its spirit and “lion” as its form, the production reflects the awakening of Chinese national identity. It depicts two teenage lion dancers who achieve self-awakening and growth while making various life decisions involving the emotional dynamics and the righteous cause of the nation. In terms of artistic style, the dance drama shows strong characteristics of South China and indigenous features of old Canton. By integrating innovative elements and multimedia technology, together with music and costumes rich in regional characteristics, the staging exudes both modern appeal and visual impact.
     
    　　In terms of choreography, “Awakening Lion” is a fusion of Chinese dance and traditional lion dance. It incorporates the stances of Nanquan (southern-style boxing) and the difficult movements of southern lion dance, such as falling forward, tumbling, leaping and “picking the greens”, into its dance vocabulary. It also blends various southern Guangdong intangible cultural heritages elements, such as Nanquan, Choy Li Fut-style martial arts, wooden fish songs, Yingge dance and big head buddha, to fully realise the creative transformation and innovative inheritance of outstanding traditional culture, and to demonstrate the culture of Lingnan and the spirit of the Bay Area. The production has won the 11th China Dance Lotus Award for Dance Drama and the 11th Five One Project Award. Since its premiere in 2018, it has toured the Mainland, giving over 250 performances, and has been well received by audiences. This time, principal dancers of the Theatre, Iliwan Umar, Pang Guanyu, Liang Qiqi, Li Ao and more, will participate in the Hong Kong performances.
     
    　　The story is about an impoverished boy, Xing, and a wealthy young man, Long, who are preparing for a lion dance competition in the Sanyuanli village of Guangzhou. One day, they have a fight in a teahouse. Xing wins by a narrow margin, and Long is not convinced. Long’s sister, Feng’er, is secretly in love with Xing, while Xing’s mother is against her son’s participation in the lion dance competition. On the day of the competition, the invaders attack the Guangzhou city. Putting aside their grudges, Xing and Long join together with the villagers to fight against the foreign enemies.
     
    　　The Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, formerly known as the Guangzhou Song and Dance Troupe, was founded in 1965. The Theatre upholds the development philosophy of “repertoire as basics, talent as drive, and market as booster”, and has created a number of masterpieces, including the dance drama “Awakening Lion”, “Loong”, “Yingge”, “Xinghai．Yellow River” and dance epic “Guangzhou in the Old Days”, etc. It has won numerous top awards, and has received attention and praise from all walks of life.
     
    　　Guangzhou Culture Week: Dance Drama “Awakening Lion” by Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre will be held at 8pm on October 26 (Saturday) and at 3pm on October 27 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets priced at $200, $260, $340 and $420 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Discount schemes including a Guangzhou Culture Week package discount, group booking discount and concessionary tickets are available for the programmes under the Guangzhou Culture Week (including A New Cantonese Opera “Princess Wencheng” by Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company on October 22 and 23). An additional early bird discount is available until September 26 for purchasing the above-mentioned programmes through any of the discount schemes. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/dance/programs_1768.html.

    　　The programme will feature a dance workshop (conducted in Putonghua) in which participants will get a taste of the dance and martial arts elements of the performance by learning selected scenes guided by the theatre’s dancers. The workshop will be held at 7.30pm on October 25 (Friday) at the Podium Workshop of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $200 are now available at URBTIX. For details, please refer to the above-mentioned website.
     
    　　A number of free extension activities will be organised for this programme. A pre-performance talk entitled “From lion dance to ‘Awakening Lion’ – A sharing on innovation and integration of intangible cultural heritage elements in the creation of dance drama” (in Putonghua) will be held at 7.30pm on October 24 (Thursday) at AC1, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include chief choreographers Qian Xin and Wang Sisi, as well as the main cast. In addition, a backstage tour (in Putonghua) will be held at 4.30pm on October 26 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall, with free admission for ticket holders of the performance of “Awakening Lion”. Participants will be able to enjoy an exclusive pre-performance access to the backstage of “Awakening Lion” to take photos and explore the stage with sets and props with Lingnan characteristics. Online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/dance/programs_1768.html#tab_7_0) for both the pre-performance talk and backstage tour on a first-come, first-served basis.
     
    　　The LCSD will hold the “Guangzhou Culture Week” Programme Exhibition from October 8 to 27 at the Foyer of Sha Tin Town Hall. The exhibition will feature the costumes and props of the Cantonese opera “Princess Wencheng” and dance drama “Awakening Lion”. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome to join on the spot. The Guangzhou Culture Week is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau.
     
    　　Hong Kong is the host city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival for the first time. It organises and co-ordinates over 260 performances and exchange activities to be held across the “9+2” cities of the Greater Bay Area. The festival aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the region and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the cities. For detailed information about the festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk.               

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU publications are recognized as the best at interregional and all-Russian book competitions

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    In mid-September, the award ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of the Interregional Competition “Book of the Year: Siberia – Eurasia – 2024” took place on the main stage of the “Book Siberia” festival. This year, the competition was held for the eighth time, and all these years it has successfully achieved the goals set before it: support for publishers, innovative ideas and practices in the field of literature, book publishing, popularization of books and reading among the population, in scientific, educational and cultural circles. The winner in the nomination “Best educational book” was the textbook “Course in Computational Physics” by Academician M. P. Fedoruk, published by the Publishing and Printing Center (PPC) of NSU. In total, about two hundred publications from different cities of Russia participated in the competition.

    NSU has consistently been the leader of the All-Russian competition of scientific and educational publications “University Book” from year to year. The geography of the competition is vast; this year it was held in Yekaterinburg at the Ural Federal University. More than 500 publications took part in the competition, and the geography of the competition covered 37 cities of the Far East, Siberia, the Urals, the European part of Russia, and the Republic of Belarus. Books of the Publishing and Printing Center of NSU received three certificates and five diplomas in the following nominations: “Best Scientific Publication in Earth Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Economics and Management”, “Best Scientific Publication in Historical Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Culture and Art”, “Best Educational Publication in Physics and Mathematics and Programming”, “Best Educational Publication in Natural Sciences”, “Best Scientific Publication in Philology”, “Best Biographical Publication”.

    NSU publications were also highly appreciated at the oldest all-Russian competition “Best Books of the Year” of the Association of Book Publishers of Russia (ASKI). In 2024, more than 700 publications from all over Russia were submitted to the competition. N. I. Krasnyakov (“Best publication in the field of humanitarian knowledge”) and M. P. Fedoruk (“Best educational publication for higher education”) were awarded diplomas.

    — If we talk about the All-Russian ASKI competition “Best Books of the Year”, it is the most prestigious and significant. We managed to win diplomas in 2017, 2023, 2024. In other years, our university’s publications were consistently included in the competition’s long list, and this is no more than 10 publications in a nomination. Every year, university teachers present worthy, high-level publications. The publishing house’s staff does everything to ensure that these works receive the best editorial preparation and design. We are very proud that the work of the authors and the Publishing and Printing Center not only bears fruit in the educational and scientific environment, but is also highly appreciated in professional competitions, — noted Dmitry Shamov, Director of the NSU IPC.

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

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

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/science/NSU publications-recognized-the-best-at-interregional-and-all-Russian-book-competitions/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget and Foresight Ventures Invest $30 Million in TON Blockchain to Accelerate Growing Telegram-based Projects

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, and Foresight Ventures, a leading Web3 investment firm, have announced a strategic investment of $30 million into TON (The Open Network) Blockchain. This investment will be allocated through the acquisition of TON tokens and aims to accelerate further the adoption of Tap-to-Earn, GameFi, and new emerging trends within the TON ecosystem.

    The TON-based projects present a strong use case for mass adoption through the Telegram ecosystem, which has seen substantial growth in recent years as it expands its offerings for Web3 startups. According to a recent TON report from Bitget Research, TON Blockchain, which benefits from Telegram’s 950 million users, has rapidly become one of 2024’s fastest-growing blockchains. It has experienced over tenfold growth in on-chain transactions, ecosystem TVL, and DEX trading volume, with viral dApps like Catizen, DOGS, and Tomarket amassing millions of users.

    The commitment to TON Blockchain comes at a time when Bitget has witnessed remarkable growth in its user base. By focusing on ecosystem development and expanding its services, Bitget has grown its global user count to 45 million in Q3 2024, almost doubling in the past 12 months. This surge is partly attributed to the increasing demand for innovative projects, particularly those driven by platforms like TON.

    In 2024, Bitget Wallet contributed to the TON ecosystem with TONNECT 2024, a major online event aimed at accelerating the growth of emerging dApps in the TON ecosystem. Thanks to TON’s growing user interest in Bitget’s decentralized wallet, Bitget Wallet continuously topped the charts amongst all apps in Nigeria taking over world-famous apps such as TikTok and WhatsApp on Apple’s App Store.

    “As Bitget continues to BUIDL around The Open Network, our investment in the TON ecosystem provides a solid foundation for driving initiatives that align with our vision. By integrating our expertise in crypto infrastructure with TON’s decentralized architecture, we are well-positioned to strengthen the development of innovative products and solutions. Together, we are bringing the crypto industry closer to mass adoption than ever before.” commented Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    “The surge of the TON ecosystem represents the biggest growth opportunity in the cryptocurrency market this year, and in the next 3 to 5 years. Over the past six months, TON’s TVL has increased 18-fold, reaching $350 million.” Forest Bai, Co-Founder and CEO of Foresight Ventures, stated: “The ecosystem currently boasts over 1,000 dApps, with many applications having millions of users. We hope to continue supporting developers within the TON ecosystem by providing investment, incubation, and marketing support.”

    With the $30 million investment, Bitget and Foresight Ventures will engage more deeply in the future development plans of TON Blockchain, supporting the emergence and go-to-market of more blockbuster dApps on TON.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 25 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

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

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

    About Foresight Ventures
    Foresight Ventures is the first and only crypto VC bridging East and West. With a research-driven approach and offices in the US and Singapore, we are a powerhouse in crypto investment and incubation. Our premier media network includes The Block, Foresight News, BlockTempo, and Coinness. We aggressively invest in the most daring innovations and are dedicated to partnering with visionary projects and top teams to help them succeed, reshaping the future of digital finance and beyond.

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d47bf052-c6ad-4223-b4cf-bf2554a6fafc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Organizations are ramping up efforts to meet sustainability targets, despite geopolitical challenges

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Victoire Grux 
    Tel.: +33 6 04 52 16 55 
    Email: victoire.grux@capgemini.com 

    Organizations are ramping up efforts to meet sustainability targets, despite geopolitical challenges

    • 69% of executives say that anticipating stricter future regulations is a key driver of sustainability initiatives, up from 57% last year
    • Nearly two thirds say geopolitics is driving a slowdown in their sustainability investments
    • Six out of ten are concerned that their organization’s sustainability efforts might appear insincere to the public, up from only 11% in 2023.

    Paris, September 23, 2024 – Organizations continue to make progress in their sustainability initiatives, despite facing geopolitical challenges. Regulation and technology are proving to be a vital part of this progress, with two thirds of executives agreeing that their organization will never be able to achieve its sustainability goals without climate tech. This is according to the Capgemini Research Institute’s latest report, ‘A world in balance 2024: Accelerating sustainability amidst geopolitical challenges’, which tracks advancements in organizations’ environmental and social sustainability over the last three years. The third edition of the report highlights marked improvements in circularity, sustainable design, measurement, water stewardship, biodiversity, and sustainability skilling, despite shortfalls in tackling Scope 3 emissions and consumer skepticism.

    Collectively, organizations are ramping up their efforts to meet their sustainability targets, and their maturity in adopting sustainable practices has increased steadily since 2022. 84% of executives this year say their organization is on target to meet its carbon emissions goals; less than a tenth say they are behind. As organizations look to minimize their impact on the environment, progress is particularly visible in terms of circularity, sustainable product design, measurement, and water management. For instance, nearly three quarters of executives say that recycling products is a core aspect of their manufacturing strategy, up from 53% in 2022, while over two thirds said they were redesigning products to remove fossil fuel feedstock sources, up from less than half in 2022. In addition, three-quarters of executives have implemented a water-stewardship program, up from 55% in 2022.

    In late 2023, executives were planning to increase investments in sustainability this year. However, companies have not followed through: average annual investment in sustainability initiatives and practices now stands at 0.82% of total revenue, down from 0.92% in 2023.

    “This year’s report shows sustainability projects continuing to build momentum in 2024 despite current headwinds,” said Cyril Garcia, Capgemini’s Head of Global Sustainability Services and Corporate Responsibility and Group Executive Board Member. “Business leaders have the power and the responsibility to steer us towards a more sustainable economy. Water stewardship, biodiversity preservation, and circular practices are now established as key business imperatives. Executives are being very pragmatic, and CO2reduction must now be translated into cost savings. We continue to see sustainability efforts bolstered by new climate tech innovations and regulations. The best way to build trust and credibility with consumers is by demonstrating tangible outcomes and planning for a future with sustainability at its heart.”

    Consumers unconvinced about progress
    Consumers want to see corporations going even further and demand transparency. The report finds three-quarters of consumers expecting corporations to play a larger role in reducing GHG emissions in 2024. Furthermore, even as organizations ramp up sustainability initiatives, consumers are more skeptical than ever about corporate sustainability, as more than half believe that organizations are greenwashing their sustainability initiatives, up from 33% in 2023.

    Geopolitics and regulations impacting corporate sustainability initiatives
    Executives pointed to climate-related regulations as a key driver of sustainability projects. A full three-quarters of executives believe that sustainability regulation is necessary to achieve global climate goals, and nearly two thirds even agree that without regulation, their organization would not have launched many environmental sustainability initiatives.

    Globally, 73% of executives agree that the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is honing sustainability measurement and tracking capabilities. However, organizations continue to fall short in terms of reporting on sustainability initiatives, especially on Scope 3 emissions. Among organizations required to report for CSRD in 2025, just over a third say that they are prepared to report Scope 3 downstream emissions next year, while 86% are prepared for Scope 1.

    Meanwhile, tensions such as US-China relations, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the European energy crisis, are leading to disruption to supply chains and business operations, and uncertainty around government funding. This year, nearly two thirds of executives pointed to geopolitics as an increasing consideration in sustainability investments, and 69% are concerned about the impact of the uncertain US political scene. This is felt across countries, but Swedish executives are most concerned (75%), compared with 71% of US executives and 59% of executives in India.

    To access the full report: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/sustainability-trends-2024

    Methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute surveyed 2,152 executives employed at 727 organizations, each with more than $1 billion in annual revenue, across 13 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific and in 12 industries and sectors, in June and July 2024. Executives surveyed were director level and above and 50% were from corporate functions, such as strategy, sustainability, sales, and marketing; 50% were from value chain functions, such as product design, R&D, procurement, and logistics. The Institute also surveyed 6,500 consumers over the age of 18 across the 13 countries and conducted interviews with 12 senior sustainability executives at leading organizations globally.

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

    Get the Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

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

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/ 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sri Lankan PM resigns following new president elected

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena submitted his resignation on Monday morning following Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election as the country’s new president.

    In his resignation letter, Gunawardena stated that with the election of Dissanayake as the ninth executive president of Sri Lanka, he is stepping down in accordance with the country’s constitution.

    Gunawardena also extended his congratulations to Dissanayake on Sunday night, following his victory in the election.

    “I respectfully congratulate you on being elected as the 9th Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presidential election held on Sept. 21, 2024,” he said in a statement.

    “I hope that you as the president will be able to provide welfare to the people by continuing the work we have done to recover and lift the country and the countrymen from the difficult and challenging situation Sri Lanka has faced,” he said in his message.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: By 2023, one in four single-family homes was equipped with a heat pump

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

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Statistical Office

    Neuchâtel, 23.09.2024 – Switzerland had 1.79 million residential buildings and 4.79 million dwellings in 2023. 37% of the buildings were heated by oil and 17% by gas. 21% of the buildings were equipped with heat pumps. The share of the latter has increased fivefold since 2000. One in four single-family homes is equipped with a heat pump. These are some of the results of the building and housing statistics, compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    You will find this press release and further information on this topic on the OFS website (see link below)

    Address for sending questions

    Info StatBL, OFS, Population Section, tel.: 41 58 467 25 25, e-mail: info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Statistical Officehttp://www.statistique.admin.ch

    Social sharing

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neera Bhatia, Associate Professor in Law, Deakin University

    fizkes/Shutterstock

    A record number of Australians are accessing their superannuation early on compassionate grounds, mainly to fund their own medical procedures – or those of a family member.

    Some 150,000 Australians have used the scheme in the last five years. Nearly 40,000 people had applications approved in 2022-23, compared to just under 30,000 in 2018-19 – an increase of 47%.

    Some people think this flexible use of funds is a good way to ensure people can fund their own medical needs. But more transparency and better oversight is needed.

    What are compassionate grounds?

    Since July 2018, the Australian Tax Office has administered the early release of superannuation – meaning before retirement – under certain circumstances, including compassionate grounds.

    Compassionate grounds for you or your dependant (such as child or spouse) are:

    • medical treatment or transport
    • modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs for a severe disability
    • palliative care for a terminal illness
    • death, funeral or burial expenses
    • preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home.

    The medical treatment must be for a life-threatening illness or injury, or to alleviate acute or chronic pain, or acute or chronic mental illness.

    The treatment cannot be “readily available” through the public system. Cosmetic procedures are excluded.

    You also have to prove you cannot afford to pay part or all of the expenses without accessing your super, for example, by spending your savings, selling assets or getting a loan.

    People who can access other funding for the expense, such as via the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are ineligible.

    Why are people using this scheme more?

    The ATO has not explained what is driving the surge. General cost-of-living pressures may play a role. People may have fewer savings to draw on for medical procedures.

    But the treatments most commonly being accessed using superannuation – fertility treatments, weight loss surgeries and dental care – point to other systemic issues.

    There have long been issues with IVF and dental care not being readily available or funded in the public health system.

    Weight loss surgeries (including bariatric surgery) can help combat potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. Recent research suggests there has been an overall drop in the number of Australians having bariatric surgeries since 2016. But of those, 95% are performed through the private system.

    Australians are increasingly turning to their super to fund dental care, which is not covered by Medicare.
    Pixabay/Pexels

    While early access to super can provide individuals access to critical treatment, there are issues with how compassionate grounds are defined and regulated.

    Lack of clarity

    As my co-author and I have shown, the vague wording of the Superannuation Industry regulations leaves them worryingly open to interpretation.

    For example, the meaning of “mental disturbance” is not defined.

    You may not meet the criteria of having an acute or life-threatening illness, or acute or chronic pain. But if you can show a certain condition causes you acute mental disturbance, you may qualify to release your superannuation early.

    People accessing their superannuation for IVF use this criterion, for example, by arguing they need to access funds to continue treatment and alleviate the acute mental distress caused by ongoing infertility issues.

    Two registered medical practitioners are each required to submit a report demonstrating the treatment is needed, and one must be a specialist in the field in which the treatment is required. However, the regulations do not specify clearly that the specialist should have relevant qualifications.

    In the IVF example, this means the specialist opinion can be provided by a fertility doctor rather than a mental health expert – and that person may stand to profit if they later also provide treatment.

    A closed-loop system

    Conflict of interest is another major issue.

    There is nothing in the regulations to stop a medical practitioner – such as a dentist – being involved in all steps and then financially benefiting. They could encourage a patient to access superannuation for a treatment, write the specialist report and then also receive payment for the treatment.

    Some clinics promote accessing superannuation as an option to pay for expensive treatments.

    This raises important questions about the independence of the process, as well as professional ethics.

    Medical practitioners making recommendations for early release of superannuation should be doing so on genuinely compassionate grounds. But the potential for exploitation remains an ethical concern, when a practitioner can financially benefit from recommending early access to nest egg funds.

    Transparency around potential conflicts of interest are impossible to ensure without proper oversight.

    What is needed?

    1. Mandatory financial counselling

    The ATO has warned accessing super early is not “free money”, with a spokesperson urging people to get financial advice. But the law should go a step further and make this compulsory. That way people making decisions during an emotionally charged moment can understand any future implications.

    2. Tightening of the criteria

    Greater clarity in the legislation – such as defining “mental disturbance” – would help prevent loopholes being exploited.

    3. Better oversight

    Less health-care industry involvement would promote greater transparency and independence. An independent body of medical practitioners could assess applications rather than practitioners who could financially benefit if applications are approved. This would help alleviate perceived and actual conflicts of interest.

    Accessing superannuation early may be the only option for some people to start a family or access other life-changing medical care. But they should be able to make this decision in a fully informed way, safeguarded from exploitation and aware of the implications for their future.

    Neera Bhatia receives funding from The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council for an unrelated project.

    – ref. More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk – https://theconversation.com/more-australians-are-using-their-superannuation-for-medical-procedures-but-that-might-put-their-financial-health-at-risk-239588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Leonsdale beneficiaries receive title deeds

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, September 23, 2024

    The City of Cape Town is on a campaign to hand over title deeds to qualifying residents in the city.

    In a statement, the city said approximately 12 000 title deeds need to be delivered to qualifying residents and significant progress is being made towards reaching this goal “one title deed at a time”.

    “The city’s mission of empowering residents is bearing fruit and we remain committed to helping as many residents as possible with our innovative title deeds programme. The city thanks beneficiaries, residents, city staff and all stakeholders for their support and we look forward to assisting more residents in as many communities as possible,” said MMC for Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim.

    The campaign was in Leonsdale at the weekend to hand over title deeds and will visit many more communities over the coming weeks.

    “Our teams have been working hard and we are looking forward to empowering many more beneficiaries. This week we handed over title deeds in Leonsdale and in the coming weeks, we will be in Samora Machel, Delft and other areas,” said Pophaim.

    If you or a family member is a beneficiary of a city unit without a title deed, here’s what you need to do:

    • Identify the easily recognisable title deed agents visiting your area.
    • Have the following documents ready:
      •   owner ID and spouse ID (if applicable)
      •   marriage certificate (if applicable)
      •   In the event of a death, provide a letter of authority and death certificate.

    Alternatively, bring along the required documents to the Human Settlements Kiosk at the Cape Town Civic Centre, Monday to Friday between 09:00 to 12:00.

    For more information or to verify that the agents are legitimate contact 021 444 0333 or email title.deeds@capetown.gov.za or visit the local housing office. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –