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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOH AND HSA CONTINUE TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT AND CRACKDOWN ON E-VAPORISERS OFFENCES

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

    From 1 July to 30 September 2024, 3,840 persons were caught and issued composition fines for possession or use of e-vaporisers, a 52% increase from the previous quarter. These include 743 cases of students caught vaping that were referred by schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), 591 cases caught during community enforcement patrols, 44 cases detected through enforcement operations in the vicinity of IHLs, and 16 cases detected at checkpoints.
    2. The Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Ministry of Education (MOE) are working together to ramp up efforts to tackle the problem of vaping. We also continue to work with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks) to intensify enforcement on multiple fronts, including at the checkpoints, online platforms and in the community, schools and IHLs.
    Enforcement in the community
    3. HSA has been actively monitoring online content to identify persons who vape in public, and use or pose with e-vaporisers in photographs or videos. In July and August 2024, HSA identified and issued composition fines to five such offenders – four males and one female, aged 13 to 34, who posted videos and photographs of themselves with e-vaporisers on their Instagram and TikTok accounts. All the offending posts have been removed. 
    4. In September 2024, HSA also took enforcement action against a 49-year-old man who vaped in an MRT cabin. The incident was captured on social media. HSA raided the offender’s home in Tampines where one e-vaporiser and several drug paraphernalia were found. The man was also wanted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and is currently assisting HSA and CNB in investigations.
    5. HSA has continued to intensify its community enforcement efforts and maintained a strong presence at major, high-profile events. HSA issued composition fines to about 200 individuals at the Formula 1 race weekend in September 2024 and more than 50 individuals at an outdoor music event in Sentosa in August 2024 for e-vaporiser offences. A total of 253 persons were caught through these targeted operations.
    Enforcement at checkpoints
    6. From 1 July to 30 September 2024, HSA and ICA conducted several joint operations at the air, land and sea checkpoints, checking more than 4,000 travellers. Of these, 16 persons were caught in possession of e-vaporisers.
    7. On 17 July 2024, a 32-year-old male Malaysian driver who was driving a Malaysia-registered lorry was stopped by ICA at the Tuas Checkpoint. The driver had attempted to smuggle more than 20,000 e-vaporisers and components with a street value of more than $300,000 into Singapore. The driver was detained and handed over to HSA for further investigations. While under investigation, he attempted to leave Singapore illegally, and was caught by ICA on 19 July 2024. He was sentenced to 28 weeks of imprisonment on 28 August 2024 for offences under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993 and Immigration Act 1959.
    8. It is illegal for travellers to bring prohibited tobacco products like e-vaporisers into Singapore. Travellers found with e-vaporisers or their components will be fined. Transport companies and drivers bringing prohibited tobacco products into Singapore will be subjected to enforcement actions. Convicted foreigners will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.
    Enforcement against suppliers, online advertisements and sales of e-vaporisers
    9. HSA’s targeted enforcement against suppliers of e-vaporisers over the past few months have also resulted in continued disruptions to the illegal supply chain. These include:
    a) On 7 July 2024, HSA conducted a successful enforcement operation at Paya Lebar, targeting an e-vaporiser distribution ring involving foreign domestic workers. HSA officers intercepted 10 individuals – eight buyers, as well as two female sellers, aged 44 and 39, before any transaction took place. Eight e-vaporisers and assorted components, as well as illegal medicines intended for sale were seized.  The two sellers are currently assisting in investigations.
    b) On 21 August 2024, HSA disrupted an e-vaporiser distribution network at Tampines, seizing over 2,000 e-vaporisers and components with a street value exceeding $39,000. Eight individuals, aged 26 to 35, were caught distributing e-vaporisers in their vehicles at an open-air carpark. All eight individuals are currently assisting in investigations.
    10. In the same quarter, HSA also worked with the administrators of local e-commerce and social media platforms to remove more than 1,900 listings of e-vaporisers and components. This is more than three times the number compared to the same period in 2023.
    Continued school and public education efforts
    11. HPB continues to raise awareness and highlight the harms and illegality of vaping through its campaign ‘Vape is a toxic friend you don’t need’. This year’s edition was rolled out from end July 2024, and was pushed out across multiple platforms, from outdoor advertisements to digital and social media channels. To further educate the public and dispel widespread misconceptions, HPB has introduced a dedicated “Vaping mistruths” section on its vape-free webpage on HealthHub. The new tab serves as a resource to debunk common myths surrounding vaping, and provide information about the health risks and legal implications associated with e-vaporisers.
    12. HPB also works with schools to educate students in primary and secondary schools on the benefits of a nicotine-free lifestyle through assembly skits. From July to September 2024, HPB reached almost 37,000 students through these skits.
    13. HPB also provides cessation support and strategies to quit for students who are caught vaping through onsite counselling by Student Health Advisors, as well as QuitLine, a tele-counselling service. From July to September 2024, about 830 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling.
    14. Schools and IHLs have stepped up on preventive education to reinforce anti-vaping messages and the importance of maintaining a nicotine-free lifestyle. Students are educated that e-vaporisers are banned, and the harmful impact of vaping on individuals, families and the society.
    15. In Physical Education and Science lessons, students learn about the health effects of tobacco products, and the harmful substances in them. Common myths about vaping are also covered in Science lessons. Character and Citizenship Education lessons equip students with the ability to recognise impulsive and addictive behaviours that harm one’s mental and physical wellbeing and provide strategies for self-control and managing negative peer influences. To encourage early help-seeking, students are encouraged to inform a trusted adult if they are concerned about their classmates’ behaviour.
    16. Parents can refer to information on Parent Hub to educate their children about the harms of vaping.

    Penalties for e-vaporiser-related offences in Singapore

    17. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, the possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Offenders who are given the opportunity to settle their offences out of Court via a Notice of Composition are strongly encouraged to do so. Those who fail to do so before the due date of the Notices will face harsher consequences in Court.

    18. It is an offence to import, distribute, sell or offer for sale e-vaporisers and their components. Any person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to six months or both for the first offence, and a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both for the second or subsequent offence. All prohibited tobacco items will be seized and confiscated.
    19. 21 persons aged between 14 and 48 years old were convicted in Court from 1 July to 30 September 2024 for selling e-vaporisers and related components in Singapore. The total fines amounted to more than $150,000. Please refer to Annex A for details.
    20. Members of the public who have information on the illegal possession, use, purchase, import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of e-vaporisers can contact HSA’s Tobacco Regulation Branch at 6684 2036 or 6684 2037 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm).

    21. Information pertaining to prohibited tobacco products in Singapore is available on the HSA website. Persons who need help to quit vaping can join the I Quit programme.

    MINISTRY OF HEALTH
    HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
    23 OCTOBER 2024

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Bill to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across New South Wales

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Bill to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across New South Wales

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Local Government

    The Minns Labor Government will today introduce a Bill to Parliament to strengthen puppy and dog welfare across the state by establishing clear guardrails and standards for dog breeders.

    Committed to during the election this legislation has been developed through close consultation with experts, industry and animal welfare advocates, to ensure community expectations are reflected in New South Wales laws.

    The Bill targets key risks to animal health and welfare associated with dog breeding practices that have been of concern for some time.  Changes under this Bill include:

    • Mandating that breeders must, for the first time, obtain a Breeder Identification Number through the NSW pet registry, enabling transparency of the sector and assisting people acquiring a puppy.
    • Setting a lifetime litter limit for fertile female adult dogs (those over 6 months old) to five natural litters or up to three caesarean litters, whichever occurs first.
    • Establishing a care standard of one staff carer for every 20 adult dogs ensuring sufficient care, food and water are provided.
    • Establishing a maximum cap of 20 fertile female dogs (over the age of six months) at any breeding premise.
    • A maximum penalty for individuals of $110,000, two years imprisonment or both and $550,000 for organisations will apply for breaches of this cap.

    This bill seeks to stop puppy farming by providing a robust and modernised regulatory system for all breeders to deliver good animal welfare without imposing undue regulatory burden on legitimate breeders.

    The Government is therefore enabling within the Bill that breeders with more than 20 fertile dogs will be able to apply for a limited exemption from this cap. This exemption will apply for ten years, giving breeders significant time to appropriately scale down their operations.

    Currently in New South Wales there has been no compulsory registration scheme for breeders and no restrictions on the number of breeding female dogs that a person or business can have, or the number of litters a female dog can produce in their lifetimes.

    Without these safeguards animal welfare has been jeopardised with unethical breeders in some instances establishing facilities of dozens or hundreds of dogs without providing essential care.

    The majority of the changes will come into effect from December 2025, allowing time for the Government to rollout an education campaign for breeders, dog owners and those considering acquiring a puppy.

    NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

    “With half of all households having a dog at home there is significant community concern about the welfare of these dogs as puppies, and about the practice of puppy farms.

    “Most breeders do the right thing, but there is a clear message from the community that large-scale, unregulated breeding practices are not acceptable, and breeders should be registered.

    “We came to Government with a commitment to clean up the sector and to enhance animal welfare because it means a lot to everyone in our community and for our dogs.

    “Our Bill ensures transparency, accountability, and appropriate animal welfare standards in all breeding operations across NSW.

    “This Bill is about stopping the bad apples of this industry while supporting good and professional people who prioritise the health and welfare of their animals.

    “These changes will be easy to understand for industry and will allow people to distinguish ethical breeders who promote responsible breeding practices from dodgy puppy farmers.

    Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

    “People expect that any dog purchased from a breeder has been treated well and has not been exploited by dishonest puppy farmers to turn a profit. 

    “This Bill applies a strict regulatory framework to provide the government with greater oversight to ensure all breeders are complying with animal welfare standards and community expectations.

    “All industry and animal welfare stakeholders agree that there is a need to clean out the bad actors and for better animal and customer protection against those few unethical breeders. That is what this Bill delivers.”

    Animal Welfare League NSW CEO Stephen Albin said:

    “The Animal Welfare League NSW strongly supports the Bill as it will crack down on breeders who are doing the wrong thing and improve animal welfare.

    “It also sets a new regulatory framework that will deliver higher standards in the breeding industry and give established breeders time to meet those standards.

    “We have seen a huge spike in breeding since COVID-19, with a big increase in dogs coming into the shelter, blowing out our waiting lists and making it extremely challenging to find new, loving homes for dogs, who are often just puppies.

    “Sadly, too many dogs are not finding a new home.

    “This Bill will help ease the pressure on our shelters and allow us to rehome dogs that have been surrendered or abandoned.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening enforcement to tackle illegal tobacco

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Strengthening enforcement to tackle illegal tobacco

    Published: 24 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Health

    The NSW Government will roll out reforms to better protect the community from the harms of illegal tobacco, including tougher penalties, more enforcement officers, and a new tobacco licensing scheme for retailers.

    A new licensing scheme

    Recent enforcement activities have observed a rise in illicit tobacco retailing including amongst rural communities in NSW, which adversely affects businesses that operate within the law. Illicit retailers undercut legitimate small businesses by selling illicit tobacco at lower prices and some have been found to be located in close proximity to schools.

    A new tobacco licensing scheme will also be introduced, to better protect those businesses doing the right thing and ensure greater oversight of the tobacco retail industry in NSW.

    Under these changes, retailers and wholesalers of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products will be required to hold a tobacco licence and pay an annual fee.

    A licence will be able to be refused, or revoked, if the applicant has been convicted of a tobacco or vaping product related offence.

    The scheme will support comprehensive and targeted enforcement to identify and penalise those retailers and wholesalers doing the wrong thing.

    The proposed legislation includes penalties of up to $220,000 for corporations and $44,000 for individuals for selling tobacco without a licence under the new scheme.

    To ensure that applying for a tobacco licence is not burdensome for small businesses, a technical support phoneline will be available to everyone submitting an application.

    A tobacco licensing scheme will complement the NSW Government’s broader approach to tobacco compliance and enforcement.

    Tougher penalties

    The government will double maximum penalties for a range of tobacco retailing offences, including:

    • Individuals selling tobacco products to minors will be fined up to $22,000 for a first offence and $110,000 for a subsequent offence, with corporations liable for up to $110,000 for a first offence and $220,000 for subsequent offences;
    • Individuals selling tobacco products not in the required packaging or with the mandatory health warnings will be fined up to $22,000, and corporations up to $110,000; and
    • People impersonating or obstructing an inspector can be fined up to $1,100, up from $550.

    Enforcement & seizures

    NSW Health will also recruit an additional 14 enforcement officers to strengthen compliance efforts across the state. This doubles the number of authorised inspectors employed by the Ministry of Health. Ahead of these reforms, NSW Health boosted regional enforcement capacity by supporting the employment of four additional enforcement officers. This compliance workforce complements authorised staff who undertake inspections across local health districts

    From 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024, NSW Health inspectors conducted 565 targeted retail inspections, seizing more than 3.2 million cigarettes and over 600kg of other illicit tobacco products, with an estimated value of over $3.7 million.

    NSW Health collaborates with NSW Police and other state and national regulatory agencies on enforcement related to illicit tobacco sales, including sharing intelligence, working on joint targets and joint operations.

    Information on NSW tobacco retailing laws can be found on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

    Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected breaches of tobacco and e-cigarette retailing laws on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/let-us-know-reports-complaints.aspx

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park MP:

    “I am very concerned by the prevalence of illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes in our community, and their proximity to our schools and children.

    “These new laws are the most significant tobacco retailing reforms in NSW in the last decade and will help us combat the scourge of illicit tobacco sales across the state.

    “We are introducing tougher penalties for retailers doing the wrong thing, and boosting our team of enforcement officers to strengthen our compliance efforts.

    “The increased tobacco penalties reflect the seriousness of these offences. Retailers should be put on notice that if they are caught breaking tobacco retailing laws they will be penalised.”

    “A tobacco licensing scheme in NSW will also further enhance our state’s strong approach to enforcement of tobacco retailing laws. It will allow us to have better oversight over the tobacco industry and will support our comprehensive approach to help reduce the use, impact and associated costs of tobacco in NSW.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr MP:

    “After being made aware of the escalating problem of illegal tobacco in my electorate and across the state, I prepared a Private Members’ Bill to require the licensing of tobacco retailers and increased penalties for offences.

    “This Bill was prepared with widespread consultation with industry and the community, with strong support for my proposals to tackle this growing criminal activity which is undermining health messaging and taking an expensive toll on legitimate retailers.

    “So, I am delighted that the government has met this challenge by proposing its own Bill, reflecting the content of my Bill, and I look forward to supporting the government in this endeavour when parliament resumes.

    “Licensing on its own will not eliminate the black market trade in tobacco but it will provide a valuable structure that will help to reduce the damaging effects of this rapidly-growing problem.

    “I congratulate the government for taking this strong proactive stance and I look forward to working together on further steps to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.”

    Quotes attributable to NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant:

    “NSW Health supports a holistic approach to tobacco control, recognising reducing supply and access to illicit products is one component.

    “Operating a tobacco licensing scheme will ensure NSW Health has accurate, up-to-date information on tobacco retailing and wholesaling activities in NSW, facilitating more efficient and effective enforcement activity.

    “If you think a tobacco or e-cigarette retailing law has been broken by a retailer in NSW, you can report this via the NSW Health website.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lt. Governor Primavera Highlights Colorado’s Modular Housing Leadership, Creating More Housing Coloradans Can Afford

    Source: US State of Colorado

    BOULDER – Today, Lt. Governor Primavera attended and provided remarks at the Boulder Mod Factory ribbon-cutting ceremony. This innovative partnership between the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity will help create more housing Coloradans can afford where they want to live. 

    “A safe home that you can afford should not be out of reach in Colorado. That’s why our administration has been laser-focused on building more housing options in every corner of the state. We have cut government red tape, eliminated outdated and discriminatory housing policies, and made it easier and cheaper for Coloradans to find housing near transportation options. Innovative solutions like Modular homes are an important part of our approach to make housing more equitable and inclusive, and this facility will do just that for Boulder and the greater region,” said Lt. Governor Primavera. Lt. 

    Governor Primavera stands at a podium on stand speaking to a group at the Boulder Mod Factory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. 

    Lt. Governor Primavera stand at a podium on stand speaking to a large seated group at the Boulder Mod Factory Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. 

    This facility is a partnership with the Boulder Valley School District. Career and Technical Education (CTE) program students will work alongside Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers to get hands-on skills and experience, helping them prepare for good-paying jobs. 

    Boulder Mod Factory will produce nearly 50 homes each year once operating at full capacity. All units produced at this facility will be dedicated to affordable housing, helping the city and larger region meet its housing goals. In 2022 Governor Polis signed HB22-1282 – The Innovative Housing Incentive Program, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Mullica and Mike Lynch, and Senators Jeff Bridges and Rob Woodward which created incentives to bring more innovative hosing producers to Colorado. Through this effort the state has invested over $40 million dollars into innovative housing solutions such as modular housing through OEDIT’s Innovative Housing Incentive Program, creating housing Coloradans can afford and bolstering good-paying jobs in innovative manufacturing. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 24 October 2024 Kāinga Ora keeping communities informed An information session held recently in Pakūranga provided an opportunity for new tenants, neighbours, and members of the local community to meet and learn more more about the new Kāinga Ora homes that have been delivered over the past year.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    Rose, Stakeholder Relationship Manager for Central and East Auckland says information sessions continue to be a really important way for Kāinga Ora to keep communities informed.

    “While we ensure information about our developments is always accessible through online channels like our website and our interactive Social Pinpoint maps which we provide by Local Board area, we also recognise that communities appreciate an opportunity to meet face-to-face. We also invite tenants as these events provide an opportunity to meet neighbours and other stakeholders active in the local community.” Rose says.

    Howick Local Board Chair Damian Light who came along agrees.

    “The Howick Local Board is grateful that Kāinga Ora continues to engage with our communities before, during, and after these developments – helping build homes and communities.”

    New Pakūranga customer Abdulla with Central and East Auckland Engagement and Partnerships Manager Helen Grant.

    “Information sessions are a great opportunity for locals to meet with Kāinga Ora team members to learn more about the developments happening around Pakūranga. With a number of new homes already delivered, I also enjoyed an opportunity to meet some of the new tenants and welcome them to the neighbourhood.”

    “It’s also encouraging to see the quality of developments that are being delivered in our area, especially those that are accessible through universal design.” Damian says.

    New Pakūranga tenant Abdulla also enjoyed the information session.

    “I came along as our family have recently moved into a new Kāinga Ora home in this community. I also wanted to let Kāinga Ora know that our home is already having a positive impact on the health of my children,” Abdulla said.

    “When we were living in our other rental house my children were always sick with breathing problems, chest infections, coughs, and colds. I am so happy now as my children are no longer sick. Our new Kāinga Ora home is a healthy house and so warm, and dry,” Abdulla says.

    Kāinga Ora has delivered 81 new warm, dry homes over the past year across 12 sites in Pakuranga including this 6-bedroom family home.

    One of the new Kāinga Ora homes

    Page updated: 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sequel to Sweet Country, among 19 projects supported by Screen Australia’s First Nations Department

    Source: Australia Government Statements 4

    24 10 2024 – Media release

    Warwick Thornton, director of Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country
    Screen Australia’s First Nations Department is thrilled to announce its latest funding slate, including Warwick Thornton’s sequel to Sweet Country titled Wolfram, alongside two powerful documentaries for NITV spanning sport and politics.
    In total, 19 new projects, including 16 funded for development, will receive over $3 million in funding. This investment reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to amplify First Nations voices and stories, aligned with the Federal Government’s National Cultural Policy Revive and its First Nations First pillar – recognising and respecting the crucial place of First Nations stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture.
    Screen Australia’s Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “Our First Nations creatives are at the forefront of Australian storytelling, with many incredible projects being celebrated on the world stage and even more in development. The demand for our funding has never been higher, which is a positive sign for the industry. Across the 23/24FY, our Department invested over $7.1 million of funding including 105 opportunities across development, production, initiatives, attachments and market support – highlighting the incredible talent and rich narratives within Indigenous communities. With films like Wolfram and documentaries Dreaming Big and One Mind, One Heart, I’m inspired by the depth of powerful screen stories authored by First Nations Australians.”
    “It’s an exciting time for First Nations content creators, and we’re witnessing a new wave of talent. Looking ahead, we will continue to create pathways for these storytellers to thrive and expand their careers in the competitive global marketplace, collaborating with industry to enhance project visibility and impact,” said Bates. 
    This funding announcement follows a year of significant achievements for First Nations stories and creatives. Feature films The New Boy and The Moogai have garnered international acclaim. The third series of the landmark drama Total Control captivated local audiences with it being the most watched First Nations series in 23/24. Additionally, the ground-breaking children’s show Little J & Big Cuz returned for its fourth series on NITV and ABC, featuring 17 language groups and providing a powerful voice for children across Australia. The feature length documentary Kindred premiered on NITV in June, further highlighting the power of cultural connection.
    In the past year, the Department has also invested $1 million into the Enterprise program, supporting four First Nations businesses and three practitioners. Collaborating with Instagram Australia, it launched the fourth iteration of the First Nations Creators Program, supporting emerging talent in the content creator economy to build their skills in the digital space. The Department also supported six projects for production through the First Facts: First Nations Factual Showcase initiative, providing emerging and mid-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers with opportunities to create 10-minute documentaries for Network 10.
    Warwick Thornton, director of Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country said, “This is my family’s story. My great grandmother and her daughters worked the Hatches Creek mines for whitefellas. Now a truth will come out and it’s called Wolfram.”
    The projects funded for production are:

    Wolfram: A sequel to Sweet Country: Set three years after Sweet Country, Wolfram continues the story of Philomac, now 17 and still living under the watchful eye of his ill-tempered master Mick Kennedy. After meeting Max and Kid, Philomac decides to free himself and the siblings from the white men’s brutality by running away into desert country. Along the way they are assisted by a pioneering family of Chinese Australian miners Jimmi and Wang Wei, who help reunite the children with their estranged mother Pansy. Wolfram is directed by Warwick Thornton and written by Steven McGregor and David Tranter, whose credits include Sweet Country. Also producing alongside Tranter is David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin of Sweet Country and Cecilia Ritchie (Limbo). It is financed with support from Screen NSW and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund. Distributing is Dark Matter Distribution, with international sales managed by Memento.
    Dreaming Big: This six-part series for NITV takes an intimate look into the lives of gifted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian youths on the cusp of becoming the nation’s next generation of sports stars. Each episode highlights two young elite athletes, showcasing their relentless pursuit to reach the pinnacle of their chosen field as they navigate family and cultural obligations while remaining focused on their goals. The series will be directed by Andrew Dillon (Le Champion) and Abraham Byrne Jameson (One by One), with writer/producer Richard Jameson (Strait to the Plate season 2) and producer Veronica Fury (And We Danced) also attached. It is financed in association with Screen Queensland.
    One Mind, One Heart: In this feature-length documentary for NITV, a historic political Yirrkala bark petition is discovered and makes its way home to Yolgnu country, evoking the spirit of decades of activism for change. The repatriation provides the opportunity to track the long political campaign – through petition, song, dance, campaigning – to keep culture strong and to have a voice for country. One Mind, One Heart is from writer/director Larissa Behrendt (The First Inventors) and producer Michaela Perske (Larapinta). It is financed in association with Screen NSW, with support from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Spectrum Entertainment, Documentary Australia and Philanthropy via the Shark Island Institute.

    Also announced today are three television dramas, 11 feature films and two documentaries that will share in over $540,000 of development funding. The projects include feature film Native Gods from 2024 Enterprise Business recipient Djali House; comedy series Long Story Short from writer/director Tanith Glynn-Maloney (Windcatcher); documentary Fire Country, a transformative exploration of Indigenous fire knowledge and wisdom; and feature film RED, about eight Western Australian First Nations women who share the ugly secret of being surrounded by the missing.
    Click here for the full list of projects funded for Production and Development by the First Nations Department throughout the 2023/24 financial year.
    ABOUT SCREEN AUSTRALIA’S FIRST NATIONS DEPARTMENT
    Entirely led and staffed by First Nations Australians, the Department funds drama, documentary and children’s content across all platforms. The Department also identifies emerging First Nations talent, advocates for representation and funds skills development and career escalation opportunities. For more information on the First Nations Department and funding available, click here.
    Screen Australia is expanding the First Nations Department and is recruiting for the new position of Director of First Nations. This is to align with the Agency’s commitment to supporting authentic First Nations screen stories, to further champion industry practitioners and build opportunities for growth and visibility. For more information about the role, click here.
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    Media enquiries
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    + 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]
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    + 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
    All other general/non-media enquiries
    Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 228-2024: Unplanned Outage: Thursday 24 October 2024 – External Broker Website

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    24 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who use the External Broker Website.

    Information

    Start time: 

    As of: 10:30 Monday 21 October 2024 (AEDT).

    Detail:

    The External Broker Website is currently experiencing an unplanned outage.…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: TV interview, ABC News Breakfast with Bridget Brennan

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Bridget Brennan, Host: Australia is expected to face added pressure to end fossil fuel exports and go further on climate action at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, which officially kicks off today.

    The Prime Minister is attending along with the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, who joins us from the capital, Apia. Good morning to you, Penny Wong.

    Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning, good to be with you. I am here in Samoa, and I’m afraid it’s quite wet and windy.

    Brennan: Oh, is it? Oh, well, not a bad place to be despite the rain. What’s on the agenda there in Samoa?

    Foreign Minister: Well, as you know, this is the first time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been held in a Pacific Island country. So obviously that is a big deal, it’s a big deal for Samoa, it’s a big deal for the Pacific, and it’s why we’re so focused on backing in Samoa’s priorities, which are particularly looking at oceans, but also making sure we work with others to explore the benefit that is the Commonwealth; 56 nations, 2.7 billion people, and importantly, the majority of Small Island States are members of the Commonwealth.

    So, it’s a great opportunity for Australia to work in partnership with countries around the world.

    Brennan: Well, that’s right. King Charles himself will get a look at the sea level rise and what’s happened with the warming ocean there, I believe, today.

    These nations are so susceptible to climate change, it’s a very matter of survival. You must be cognisant that they’re pressing Australia to end fossil fuel exports. Are we listening?

    Foreign Minister: Well, look, I have spent the last two and a half years or two and a bit years travelling through the Pacific. I’ve visited every Pacific Island Forum member, I am acutely aware, as is the Prime Minister and our whole Government, of what climate change is here in the Pacific.

    You know, you might recall Peter Dutton made a joke about water lapping at people’s doors. Well, we are with them, working with them on how we increase climate resilience, climate adaptation. We have the groundbreaking treaty with Tuvalu which enables mobility with dignity, and also, we have legislated very ambitious targets.

    Brennan: So then how do we explain our decision to enable the expansion of coal mines, for example, to countries where they’re seeing the water rising very quickly?

    Foreign Minister: Well, it is the case that we have to transition our economy, and we will do that; we are doing that. That is a big task. When we came to government, I think some 30 per cent of our electricity was from renewable sources, and obviously our target is 82 per cent by 2030. That’s a very big turnaround, and we’re well on the way to doing that.

    But I would make this point: the whole world needs to work to reduce our emissions. The majority of new, the vast majority of new coalfired power is in developing countries, as it is in China. Australia has to reduce its emissions, but the whole world, if we are going to combat sea level rise, temperature rising, the whole world will have to peak and reduce emissions.

    Brennan: Will gender equality and violence against women be on the agenda, because that’s also a really pressing issue for a lot of these nations, and it’s a pressing issue for our nation as well, Penny Wong.

    Foreign Minister: It’s a pressing issue everywhere, and thank you for asking the question, because it is increasingly a part of our international development work. It is obviously a big focus, rightly, in Australia. We have a responsibility to try and reduce the unacceptable levels of violence against women and girls domestically, but also in the world, and we are focusing a lot more of our development assistance on women and girls.

    As I have spoken at the UN about it, and I’ll be speaking here at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting too, so country can achieve its full potential if it leaves behind 50 per cent of its population. So, this is an equity issue, this is an ethical issue, but it’s also a development issue. No country will achieve its full development unless it ensures it brings all of its people, including women and girls, to that task.

    Brennan: I’m sure you know the UN is gravely concerned about displacement in Northern Gaza, the lack of aid going to civilians in that area and attacks on civilian infrastructure. What is our message to Israel about what’s unfolding in Northern Gaza right now?

    Foreign Minister: Well, our message is as it has been for months now; we support a ceasefire in Gaza. We have for 10 months now, and we support the United States Secretary of State, Blinken, in his efforts to broker that ceasefire, which the United States, Australia and others has been calling for, for some time.

    Brennan: Senator, do you think it was appropriate for Senator Lidia Thorpe to pledge allegiance to the sovereign’s “hairs” and not heirs, and is there anything the Government is considering around the response to this revelation?

    Foreign Minister: Look, it was an unusual thing for her to come out and say, I have to say. You know, we’re all part of an institution, that is the Parliament and our democracy, and within that, we have very different views. I don’t share many views with some of the people on the other side of the Parliament, but we are all part of the same institution, a very important institution and our democracy, and that is the Australian Parliament, and, I think it’s a matter for Senator Thorpe to reflect on, the institution of which she is a part and how she wishes to play her role in that institution.

    Brennan: All right. Well, we hope it’s a successful summit there in Samoa. Penny Wong, thanks for your time.

    Foreign Minister: Really good to speak with you. Thanks for having me.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: NEWS RELEASE: Calgary hosts Canada’s largest clean energy conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOTO: Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO, delivered opening remarks at Electricity Transformation Canada 2024 in Calgary, Alberta.

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than 2,600 people attended Canada’s premier clean-energy industry conference and exhibition, the flagship conference of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), held again this year in Calgary, Alberta.

    Held from October 21 to 23, Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) 2024 offered an in-depth educational program in which more than 125 speakers covered topics focusing on the risks and opportunities facing the industry, the affordability of renewables, growth across Canada, and much more.

    The three-day conference also featured more than 150 exhibitors showcasing new and innovative technology solutions from distributors, engineers, investors, installers and manufacturers in the sector of wind energy, solar energy, energy storage and other clean energy technologies.

    “We have now entered the Age of Electricity, in which affordability is paramount—and CanREA members are building the lowest-cost electricity generation sources in the world today. Complemented by energy storage, wind and solar will accelerate our transition to a sustainable energy future,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO, in her opening remarks on Monday night.

    Her remarks echoed the International Energy Agency’s new World Energy Outlook, released last week, which states that clean energy is entering the energy system at an unprecedented rate, including more than 560 GW of new renewables capacity added in 2023, investment flows to clean energy projects approaching 2 trillion USD each year, and electricity use growing at twice the pace of overall energy demand over the last decade.

    “Globally, there has never been so much investment in new, affordable, clean sources of electricity,” Bellissimo pointed out, adding that, here in Canada, we need to make a commitment to clean energy, with a diverse energy strategy that will allow us to meet a rising demand for electricity.

    “In Canada, provinces across the country are actively investing in renewables and energy storage, with more than 10,000 MW of upcoming procurements currently either underway, being procured, or being planned, representing well over $20B in investment,” she said.  

    These procurements are all tracked in CanREA’s clean-energy procurement calendar, a central resource for wind, solar and energy storage procurement opportunities across Canada. CanREA launched a beta version of this calendar on day three of ETC, which is available here: https://renewablesassociation.ca/canreas-clean-energy-procurement-calendar/    

    With electricity’s role in Canada’s energy landscape growing ever-more significant, the discussions at ETC are more timely than ever.

    Don’t miss out next year, when ETC 2025 will be held October 6 to 8 at the Enercare Center in Toronto, Ontario.

    Quotes

    “We have now entered the Age of Electricity, in which affordability is paramount—and CanREA members are building the lowest-cost electricity generation sources in the world today. Complemented by energy storage, wind and solar will accelerate our transition to a sustainable energy future. Globally, there has never been so much investment in new, affordable, clean sources of electricity. In Canada, provinces across the country are actively investing in renewables and energy storage, with more than 10,000 MW of upcoming procurements currently either underway, being procured, or being planned, representing well over $20B in investment.”

    —Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    For interview opportunities, please contact:

    Bridget Wayland, Senior Director of Communications
    Canadian Renewable Energy Association
    communications@renewablesassociation.ca

    About Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC)

    Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) is presented by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), in partnership with RE+ Events, the Italian German Exhibition Group and Deutsche Messe. CanREA is the voice of wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage in Canada. RE+ Events is a global event management organization with a focus on the clean energy industry. The Italian German Exhibition Group is one of the world’s largest and most active event organizers. Deutsche Messe, based in Germany, is one of the leading trade-fair companies worldwide.

    ETC’s mission is to support the accelerated transformation of Canada’s electricity sector by advancing innovative and practical solutions for a sustainable and resilient energy system. ETC aims to inspire attendees with a shared vision of innovation and collaboration to help Canada’s clean energy industry move forward. For more information: https://electricity-transformation.ca/

    About CanREA

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Twitter/X and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.mailto:bwayland@renewablesassociation.ca

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b3c64cd3-0d5d-4ec8-99b9-5ffad12e094c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar/Bangladesh: Rohingya community facing gravest threats since 2017

    Source: Amnesty International –

    • Rohingya say Arakan Army drove them from their homes and killed civilians
    • Urgent need for international support and humanitarian aid as thousands of new arrivals seek protection in Bangladesh
    • Bangladesh must refrain from sending Rohingya back to Myanmar, where indiscriminate military air strikes also killing civilians

    Newly arrived Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh need urgent access to food, shelter and medical attention after enduring the worst violence against their communities since the Myanmar military-led campaign in 2017, Amnesty International said today.

    Testimony shows how Rohingya families forced to leave their homes in Myanmar have been caught in the middle of increasingly fierce clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, one of many armed groups opposing the junta. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced and upwards of tens of thousands of Rohingya have crossed the border or are waiting to cross the border to seek refuge in Bangladesh.

    “Once again, the Rohingya people are being driven from their homes and dying in scenes tragically reminiscent of the 2017 exodus. We met people who told us they lost parents, siblings, spouses, children and grandchildren as they fled fighting in Myanmar. But this time, they are facing persecution on two fronts, from the rebel Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, which is forcibly conscripting Rohingya men,” Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, said. 

    “Those lucky enough to make it to Bangladesh do not have enough to eat, a proper place to sleep, or even their own clothes.”

    The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has had a catastrophic impact on human rights. Myanmar’s military has killed more than 5,000 civilians and arrested more than 25,000 people. Since the coup, Amnesty has documented indiscriminate air strikes by the Myanmar military, torture and other ill-treatment in prison, collective punishment and arbitrary arrests.

    The recent escalation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State started in November 2023 with the launch of a rebel counter-offensive by the Arakan Army and two other armed groups that has posed the biggest threat to military control since the 2021 coup. Myanmar’s military has responded by stepping up indiscriminate air strikes that have killed, injured and displaced civilians.

    The impact on Rakhine State, where many of the more than 600,000 Rohingya in Myanmar still live, has been severe, with towns transformed into battlegrounds.

    The international community needs to step up with funds and assistance for those living in the refugee camps.

    In Bangladesh, authorities have been pushing Rohingya fleeing the conflict back into Myanmar, while those who reached the Bangladesh camps told of a desperate shortage of essential supplies and services there.

    In September 2024, Amnesty interviewed 22 people in individual and group settings who recently sought refuge in Bangladesh, joining more than one million Rohingya refugees, the majority having arrived in 2017 or earlier.

    The new arrivals said the Arakan Army unlawfully killed Rohingya civilians, drove them from their homes and left them vulnerable to attacks, allegations the group denies. These attacks faced by the Rohingya come on top of indiscriminate air strikes by the Myanmar military that have killed both Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine civilians.

    Many Rohingya, including children, who were fleeing the violence to Bangladesh drowned while crossing by boat.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Transportation’s ‘moment of reinvention’ – what could drive equity, sustainability and more

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Unsafe, costly transit contributes to everything from wealth and equity gaps to pollution. But as cities grapple with growing populations, shifting needs, technological advancement and the energy transition, we’re approaching a moment of reinvention that could lead to positive change if planned correctly. Benjamin de la Peña, the CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center breaks down the incentives and strategies that could drive more climate-ready, equitable, safe and affordable transportation. He also discusses the importance of systems thinking and planning that factors in the generations to come — thinking that can help any leader make big change happen. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weLHznBj9B8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey Delivers $24.1 Million to Lower Energy Costs for PA Farmers and Small Business Owners, Create Jobs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey
    Grants funded by Casey-backed Inflation Reduction Act
    112 projects across the Commonwealth are receiving more than $24.1 million from USDA
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) secured a total of $24,116,492 in federal funds to lower energy costs for farmers and small businesses and expand access to clean energy, while creating jobs in rural communities. The 112 awards will help small businesses and farms across the Commonwealth implement cost-saving, clean, efficient energy systems on their properties. The funding comes from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Senator Casey fought to pass.
    “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we are delivering game-changing investments to the Commonwealth that will lower costs for farmers and small businesses, create good paying jobs, and protect our environment for generations to come,” said Senator Casey. “I will always fight for investments that support our Commonwealth’s farmers and small businesses and bring down energy cost for Pennsylvanians.”
    Click HERE to see a list of project recipients of the Inflation Reduction Act funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Boyle Deliver Funding to Modernize Pipeline in Philadelphia, Save Families $250 on Energy Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey
    More than 66 miles of cast iron pipeline will be replaced over five years to reduce methane leaks
    Funding made possible by Casey and Boyle-backed infrastructure law
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2) announced that Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) will receive federal funding to help replace more than 66 miles of old cast iron natural gas pipes with modern materials to reduce gas leaks. The project builds on recent funding awards for additional pipeline replacement and will, taken together with those recent awards, create 120 jobs and save families an average of $250 per household on energy costs. This funding comes from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 
    “Thanks to the infrastructure law, we are making game-changing investments to make our communities safer. This funding will replace and modernize miles of natural gas pipeline to lower energy costs and protect Philadelphia neighborhoods from dangerous methane leaks,” said Senator Casey. “This project is another key example of how modernizing our Commonwealth’s infrastructure creates jobs, brings costs down for families, and keeps Pennsylvanians safe.”
    “I am proud to help deliver this funding for my district. Working with Sen Casey and others, we were able to pass the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Now, funding from this law is making a significant improvement to the aging infrastructure of Philadelphia and the region beyond. The replacement of these gas pipes will ensure a more secure transportation of hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. In addition to creating hundreds of jobs, this project will be the first of many in the future to bring Philadelphia’s aging infrastructure into the 21st century,” said Representative Boyle.
    The PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution and Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) program is a first-of-its kind grant program to help improve public safety, protect public health, and reduce methane emissions from natural gas distribution pipes in historically disadvantaged communities. Leaky natural gas pipes increase energy costs and cause extraneous methane emissions that are dangerous to communities and the environment. This funding will help Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) complete an effort to replace more than 66 miles of publicly owned cast-iron natural gas pipe with new, polyethylene materials. The project will create 120 jobs in Philadelphia, save families an average of $250 per household on energy costs, and reduce methane emissions by more than 300 metric tons annually.
    PGW has received a total of  $125,000,000 to replace over 66 miles of cast-iron pipeline across Philadelphia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government awards new 10-year bus contract to LibertyBus23 October 2024 The Government of Jersey has awarded a new 10-year contract to LibertyBus, part of Tower Transit Group, following a comprehensive two-stage tender process. The contract reflects the Government’s commitment… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    24 October 2024

    The Government of Jersey has awarded a new 10-year contract to LibertyBus, part of Tower Transit Group, following a comprehensive two-stage tender process. The contract reflects the Government’s commitment to providing sustainable, high-quality public transport for Islanders and visitors. 

    LibertyBus, the current operator of bus services in Jersey, was selected for offering best value for money and a range of service improvements that align with the Island’s environmental goals. 

    The Government would also like to acknowledge the high quality of the three shortlisted bids and the strong interest shown in this contract, reflecting the importance of Jersey’s public transport system. 

    Highlights of the contract are: 

    • The introduction of 22 ultra-low emission, high-capacity buses, which will replace older vehicles within the first 12 months of the agreement. The remaining fleet will undergo refurbishment in the early stages of the contract, ensuring improved comfort and reliability.
    • Over the life of the contract, LibertyBus has committed to a complete fleet renewal in alignment with the Government of Jersey’s carbon-neutral strategy. 
    • To further enhance services, LibertyBus will exceed the number of routes and service frequencies required by the tender, providing a record high number of services to the island’s residents. 
    • ​To improve customer experience, new self-service ticketing machines will be installed at Liberation Station, while faster ticketing systems will be rolled out across the bus fleet, ensuring quicker and more efficient boarding for passengers. 

    Constable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, said: “This new contract reflects the Government’s commitment to improving public transport while supporting our carbon-neutral ambitions. We are pleased to continue our partnership with LibertyBus and look forward to seeing the positive impact of the new buses and service for Islanders.” 

    Samuel Ribeiro, Managing Director of Tower Transit, commented: “We are delighted to have renewed the partnership with the Government of Jersey to continue to provide exceptional bus services for the next 10 years. This agreement will see continued investment in fleet replacement, including zero-emission vehicles. Our aim is to build on the network of services and support the GoJ’s plans to deliver increased modal shift over the next decade.” 

    Clint Feuerherdt, CEO & Managing Director of Kelsian Group added: “The UK sees Jersey as a model case for successful bus franchising”, and we are proud to have contributed to its ongoing success. We will continue to utilise our leading experience in zeroemission solutions to deliver a world class transport experience, tailored to the Jersey community.”

    This contract cements LibertyBus’ role in supporting the Island’s transport needs while contributing to Jersey’s environmental goals​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gisborne leads New Zealand in national drill

    Source: New Zealand Government

    ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi, is happening today with over 665,000 people around New Zealand taking part in the drill,” says Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery.

    “ShakeOut is a great opportunity for all of us to put our preparedness to the test. 

    “Gisborne is leading the way, with 27 percent of its population signed up to the drill.  Today I will be joining students at Wainui Beach School in Gisborne for the drill, and will be livestreaming the event on the Get Ready website from 9:15am. 

    “For many of us who work or play near the coast, ShakeOut is also a chance to familiarise ourselves with our tsunami evacuation route, so we know exactly where to go when a tsunami happens. Knowing where to go will help you evacuate quicker and safer after a long or strong earthquake.

    “If you haven’t already, I encourage you to sign up. If you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone you can also practice your escape route.

    “ShakeOut can also be a great time to make a household emergency plan. It’s as simple as having a talk with your whānau, flatmates, or neighbours about what you’ll do and how you can help each other safe in an emergency.”

    You can sign up your business, school, household or community group to ShakeOut in 2024 and do the drill anytime in the next two weeks and still be counted. Sign up at www.getready.govt.nz.

    Before the drill, learn about the earthquake and tsunami risk in your area. If you’re in a coastal area, know your tsunami evacuation zone and make plans to practice your tsunami hīkoi as part of your ShakeOut drill. 

    Find out more and sign up to New Zealand ShakeOut 2024 at www.getready.govt.nz.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CDC Recommends Second Dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine for People 65 Years and Older and for People Who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised

    Source: US Gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Today, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for people 65 years and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised to receive a second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mayo — Update to the Mayo, Yukon October 15, 2024 investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Content warning: The following news release contains information about a sexualized assault which may be distressing.

    On October 15, 2024 Mayo RCMP Detachment initiated an investigation into a home invasion, sexualized assault and theft of motor vehicle. On October 19, Yukon RCMP advised that the perpetrator believed to have committed these offences, was arrested.

    William Dean Ryan Vaneltsi, 34 years old, of no known address, was arrested in Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, and has been charged with the following offences: Sexual Assault, Forcible Entry, Kidnapping, Unlawful Confinement, Assault with a Weapon, Assault Cause Bodily Harm, Break, Enter and Commit Indictable Offence, and two counts of Breach of Probation.

    Shortly after being arrested, Mr. Vaneltsi became sick, and was taken to the hospital. This individual was remanded in Yellowknife on the evening of October 22. Mr. Vaneltsi received a six-day remand order and remains in the hospital in the custody of the North Slave Correctional Center. Yukon RCMP expect to return Mr. Vaneltsi to Whitehorse for a court appearance, once he is cleared medically to fly.

    The name of the victim will be under a publication ban. Yukon RCMP continue to investigate the theft of the vehicle from Mayo. If you have any information about this crime or any other crimes please contact Mayo RCMP at (867) 996-5555. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    Our thoughts are with the victim at this time. Please consider the following supports available in the Yukon if you or someone you know may be in need.

    SART: The Yukon’s Sexualized Assault Response Team (SART) provides a safe and confidential network of services focused on the needs and choices of individuals. SART is available to people of all genders, ages, and sexual orientations who have experienced sexualized assault.

    Website: https://yukon.ca/en/sartyukon/home

    Phone: 1-844-967-7275 (available 24/7)

    Victim Services: Victim Services provides services and help for victims of sexualized violence and all other crimes, regardless of whether or not the victim has reported the crime, a charge has been laid, or there has been a conviction.

    Website: https://yukon.ca/en/legal-and-social-supports/supports-victims-crime/find-out-about-victim-services

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military begin biennial exercise Keen Sword 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    SASEBO, NAGASAKI, Japan  –  

    Units from the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and U.S. military are conducting exercise Keen Sword 25 from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, 2024, at various locations across Japan.

    Keen Sword is the latest in a series of joint-bilateral field training exercises designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of JSDF and U.S. forces. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests and values and a commitment to freedom and human rights. Both countries are focused on ensuring regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, including building new partnerships and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

    Service members from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard will conduct training with their JSDF counterparts alongside Australian and Canadian partners throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa prefecture, and its surrounding waters .

    During this year’s iteration, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) and U.S. Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) will conduct multiple unilateral and side-by-side amphibious landings on Japanese islands as part of the exercise. These events will demonstrate the capability of forward-deployed forces to rapidly counter aggression against Japan and other regional Allies and partners while improving the readiness of our forces.

    This exercise, and others like it, are an opportunity to demonstrate to the world our will to defend Japan and the ironclad nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has stood for more than 70 years.

    The U.S. units scheduled to participate in Keen Sword 25 are U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F), III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), 3rd Marine Division (3d MARDIV), III MEF Information Group (III MIG), 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rd MLG), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), U.S. Army Japan (USARJ), U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ), 5th Air Force (5 AF), 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC); 3rd Multi Domain Task Force (3rd MDTF), 613th Air Operations Center (AOC), 374th Airlift Wing (374 AW), 18th Wing (18 WG), 35th Fighter Wing (35 FW), and 17th Field Artillery Brigade (17th FAB).

    Questions regarding JSDF training and personnel should be referred to Japan Joint Staff Office. Questions regarding Keen Sword 25 should be directed to the Combined Joint Information Bureau at indopacom.yokota.usfj.mbx.j021@mail.mil.

    Further details of the exercise will be released throughout Keen Sword 25.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Austin Confirms North Korea Has Sent Troops to Russia

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed there are North Korean troops in Russia, but it is unclear if they are preparing to become a co-belligerent in Russia’s war on Ukraine. 

    “We are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops that have gone to … Russia,” Austin told reporters in Rome. “What exactly they are doing is left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out.” 

    Austin said the United States is trying to get fidelity on why the North Korean soldiers are in Russia. “We will continue to pull this thread and see what happens here,” he said. “If they’re co-belligerents — [if] their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf  — that is a very, very serious issue.” Impacts of such a move would be felt not only in Europe, but the Indo-Pacific region also, the secretary said. 

    Austin noted that South Korean leaders are intently watching this play out.  

    North Korea is one of Russia’s few open allies in its unjust war on Ukraine. North Korea has shipped arms and munitions to Russia, “and this is a next step,” Austin said.
     

    President Vladimir Putin has taken significant casualties in his misguided war on Ukraine. U.S. officials said recently that Russia has lost more than 300,000 service members since the war began in February 2022. “This is an indication that he may be [in even] more trouble than most people realize,” Austin said. “But again, he went ‘tin-cupping’ early on to get additional weapons and materials from [North Korea], and then from Iran and now he’s making a move to get more people, if … these troops are designed to be a part of the fight in Ukraine.” 

    Austin spoke at the end of a long trip where he first participated in the last NATO Defense Ministerial of the Biden Administration. He then moved to Rome where he took part in the first G-7 Defense Ministers Meeting. He made an unannounced trip to Kyiv where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his defense leadership. He returned to Rome and met with Pope Francis in the Vatican.

    Austin said the Pope is focused on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. “He is concerned about humanitarian issues in both areas, and of course, we share a common desire to see these conflicts scale back in terms of the level of activity and in a ceasefire,” Austin said.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: ACAMS Announces Hong Kong Scholarship Recipients for the Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) Certification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACAMS, a leading global membership organization dedicated to the fight against illicit finance, in partnership with the ACAMS Hong Kong Chapter, is pleased to announce the recipients of its CGSS scholarship program for Hong Kong permanent residents. The program aims to cultivate local talent in sanctions compliance, arming them with the expertise, resources and peer support to excel in their careers and reinforce AFC efforts in Asia.

    This initiative is timely as Hong Kong navigates the evolving sanctions landscape, requiring compliance professionals with advanced skills and up-to-date knowledge.

    Five AFC professionals who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and work in sanctions functions or at financial institutions were awarded:

    • CGSS exam package, including all study materials;
    • Virtual classroom;
    • One-year ACAMS membership.

    The latest CGSS certification program features up-to-date, real-world case studies and a flexible modular format to support practical learning for busy professionals. CGSS-certified individuals are equipped with specialized skills to better manage sanctions risk, establish an effective sanctions compliance program and demonstrate compliance with constantly evolving regulatory requirements.

    “We are delighted to support these talented individuals as they advance their careers and amplify anti-financial crime efforts in Hong Kong and the region,” said Neil Sternthal, ACAMS CEO. “The modular format of the Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) certification is specifically designed to accommodate the demanding schedules of AFC professionals while ensuring they receive targeted training to effectively combat financial crime.”

    Moray Taylor-Smith and Ajay Budhrani, Co-Chairs of the Hong Kong Chapter, added: “The financial crime landscape is increasingly complex, particularly with the rise of digital assets, sophisticated laundering schemes and evolving sanctions regimes. By investing in motivated and capable talent through this scholarship, we are strengthening the region’s defenses and empowering the next generation of AFC leaders to make a significant impact.”

    Scholarship submissions were reviewed by a select panel of judges: Moray Taylor-Smith, Hong Kong Chapter Co-Chair and Executive Director of Security, Integrity and Information Security, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Jude Jung, Consultant of AFC Solutions, ACAMS for the Republic of Korea; Justin Lam, Head of Transaction and Fraud Monitoring, a retail bank in Hong Kong; and Tony Tse T F, Chief Inspector, Hong Kong Police Force.

    More details about the scholarship recipients and judges are available here.

    Find out more about the ACAMS Scholarship initiative here.

    About ACAMS®

    ACAMS is a leading international membership organization dedicated to providing opportunities for anti-financial crime education, best practices, and peer-to-peer networking to AFC professionals globally. With over 110,000 members across 200+ jurisdictions and territories, ACAMS is committed to the mission of ending financial crime through the provision of anti-money laundering/counterterrorism-financing and sanctions knowledge-sharing, thought leadership, risk-mitigation services, ESG initiatives, and platforms for public-private dialogue. The association’s CAMS certification is the gold-standard qualification for AFC professionals, while its CGSS and CCAS certifications are for sanctions professionals and AFC practitioners working in the crypto space, respectively. ACAMS’ 60+ Chapters globally further amplify the association’s mission through training and networking initiatives. Visit acams.org for more information.

    About the CGSS Certification

    Developed for professionals with 18 months to two years of experience in financial crime compliance, the CGSS certification helps them demonstrate the knowledge necessary to manage risks related to sanctions and ensure greater sanctions compliance. CGSS has been developed with active input from a cohort of recognized sanctions and AFC subject matter experts, including those from regulatory and law enforcement backgrounds. CGSS answers the need for an in-depth training program in sanctions compliance, to help industry professionals better respond to the current challenges. It can be deployed to teams globally, ensuring they are trained against the same standards and their specialized knowledge is formally recognized. CGSS-certified teams enable organizations to better manage sanctions risk, establish an effective sanctions compliance program and demonstrate compliance with constantly evolving regulatory requirements.

    About the ACAMS Hong Kong Chapter

    The ACAMS Hong Kong Chapter was founded in March 2012 to facilitate cooperation between private and public sector professionals in deterring financial crime. The Chapter’s mission is to strive for excellence in preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism, by creating a forum in Hong Kong and Asia for training and the exchange of ideas within the financial services community. In 2021, it won the title of “ACAMS Chapter of the Year.”

    Find out more about the ACAMS Hong Kong Chapter here.

    Media Contact:
    Rose Dahlan
    rdahlan@acams.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Faircourt Asset Management Inc. Announces October Distribution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Toronto, ON, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Faircourt Asset Management Inc., as Manager of the Faircourt Fund (NEO:FGX), is pleased to announce the monthly distribution payable on the Shares of the below listed Fund.

    Faircourt Funds Trading Symbol Distribution Amount (per share/unit) Ex-Dividend Date Record Date Payable Date
    Faircourt Gold Income Corp. FGX $0.024 October 31, 2024 October 31, 2024 November 14, 2024

    Faircourt Asset Management Inc. is the Investment Advisor for Faircourt Gold Income Corp.

    This press release is not for distribution in the United States or over United States wire services.

    For further information on the Faircourt Funds, please visit www.faircourtassetmgt.com or
    please contact 1-800-831-0304.

    You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell Shares of the Fund on the NEO Exchange or other alternative Canadian trading system (an “exchange”). If the Shares are purchased or sold on an exchange, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying Shares of the Fund and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them.

    There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning units of an investment fund. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about the fund in the public filings available at www.sedar.com. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza – “There is death in all types and forms in Kamal Adwan hospital and north Gaza. The bombardment does not stop”

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières

    Testimony from MSF orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mohammed Obeid, sheltering in Kamal Adwan hospital, north Gaza – collected on 22 October.

    24 October,2024: “There is death in all types and forms in Kamal Adwan hospital and north Gaza. The bombardment does not stop. The artillery does not stop. The planes do not stop. There is heavy shelling, and the hospital is targeted too. It just looks like a movie; it does not seem real.

    About five days ago, my house was hit. They completely blew up the roof and water tanks, but we were at the ground floor and only one person got injured, thank God. We left a few times, moving to different areas, my family and neighbors were terrified. I sheltered in Kamal Adwan hospital with my wife and children, and I am now working here, where I can treat numerous patients.

    There are no words to describe the situation in Kamal Adwan hospital: it is disastrous. The hospital is completely overwhelmed. There are injured people everywhere, outside and inside the hospital, and we do not have medical and surgical equipment to treat them.

    Ambulances cannot move. We cannot reach the bodies of the people killed and cannot save the injured ones who lie in the streets. Many of them died before reaching the hospital, and others died inside the hospital as we could not treat their wounds.

    We have 30 people dead inside the hospital, and around 130 injured patients who need urgent medical care. Medical staff are exhausted, and many are injured as well. We feel hopeless. I just don’t have words.

    We call on all the countries in the world to consider north Gaza, and to lift the blockade that has led to the death of so many people.”

    Notes

    The situation in North Gaza governorate, where about 175,000 people live according to UN estimates, is extremely dire. The northern part of the Strip, particularly Jabalia camp, has been besieged by Israeli forces since October 7, 2024. People in North Gaza have since been trapped and caught in relentless attacks and violence amidst the ongoing military operation, which has killed over 600 people so far, as of October 22, 2024, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.

    On 7 October 2024, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders in Beith Hanoun, Jabalia and Beit Lahia, North Gaza, including three hospitals (Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and Al-Awda Hospitals), but it was almost impossible for people to move safely as the area was already surrounded and people attempting to evacuate were shot at. Around 55,000 people (OCHA, 16 October 2024), who were able to move in the initial hours of the offensive, were displaced toward the south (but within the northern part of Gaza), mainly to Gaza City.

    Israeli forces are forcibly displacing people along unsafe routes, with reports that people trying to evacuate are being shot at, while trapping the population in Jabalia who face a critical lack of food, essential items, and access to healthcare, and risk being killed.

    Since the beginning of the month of October, there has been a near total lack of humanitarian aid and food entering into North Gaza. Since October 15, some supplies have entered, but in quantities that are largely insufficient for the population. Fuel and medical supplies are running low for the remaining healthcare structures in the north as most movements of humanitarian actors from the south to the north are also being denied.

    Medical evacuations are urgently needed but have been either denied, or extremely difficult to organize.

    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 China: China to boost development of commercial insurance annuities

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 23 — China will vigorously promote the development of commercial insurance annuities, the National Financial Regulatory Administration said in a circular on Wednesday.

    The circular specified the concept of the commercial insurance annuities as products developed by commercial insurance companies with functions such as pension risk management and stable accumulation of long-term funds, which includes qualified annuity insurance, endowment insurance and commercial pensions.

    The circular called for efforts to develop various kinds of pension annuity and insurance products, and said insurance companies should continue to improve the service of pension risk assessment, pension planning and management in the whole life cycle of customers.

    Trials of commercial pension services should be expanded, it said, adding that the administration will support qualified old-age insurance companies to participate in commercial pension services.

    In the meantime, efforts will be made to promote innovation of the commercial insurance annuity business and set up a complete institutional supervision system, according to the circular.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sanya set to welcome China’s National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities

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

    SANYA, China, Oct. 23 — The 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of the People’s Republic of China will be held in Sanya, South China’s Hainan Island, on November 22, just 30 days from now.

    During a press conference on Wednesday, Zhang Changfeng, Vice Mayor of Sanya and organizing committee official, shared updates on the event preparations. He expressed the city’s ambition, saying, “We aim to surprise those who have never been to Sanya, and to offer a fresh perspective to those who have.”

    First launched in 1953, this is one of China’s oldest national multi-sport Games, having been held 11 times previously. Some 10,000 athletes representing China’s 56 ethnic groups will gather on this tropical island to compete in 17 sports, 139 events and three demonstration sports.

    Some events, such as equestrian competitions, have already taken place in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

    Unlike traditional sporting events, the Games feature competitions rooted in the traditional customs of China’s ethnic minorities. One highlight is the debut of the coconut tree climbing race, inspired by the daily lives of the Li and Miao ethnic groups in Hainan, who historically climbed coconut trees for harvesting.

    The swing competition, which is exclusive to female athletes, hails from the Korean ethnic group in northeast China and aims to empower women by encouraging them to broaden their horizons through sport.

    Zhang also noted the organizer is focusing on hosting the Games with a philosophy of simplicity, safety, excellence, sustainability, technology, and cultural depth.

    “All the venues are repurposed from existing facilities, and most materials used are recyclable,” said Zhang. “The torch will be ignited by deep-sea combustible ice, symbolizing the intersection of technology and environmental awareness.”

    Between the opening ceremony on November 22 and the closing ceremony on November 30, a special Ethnic Unity Gala will be held. This longstanding tradition of the Games will feature athletes from all 56 ethnic groups in a grand showcase of their cultures and traditions.

    “In this most beautiful season, the great Chinese family will unite here, showing the strength of ethnic harmony and friendship. That will be the defining highlight of this year’s games,” Zhang said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Malaysian dragon dancers hope to deepen friendship with China through traditional sports

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

    Malaysian dragon dancers hope to deepen friendship with China through traditional sports

    Updated: October 24, 2024 08:08 Xinhua
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association pose for photos after the awarding ceremony of the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 18, 2024. The 2nd Traditional Sports International Festival was held in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21, 2024. The festival includes Wushu, Health Qigong, Go (Weiqi) and Dragon and Lion Dance, attracting contestants from 27 countries and regions. A team from Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association led by Chan Hong Kin won two gold medals in Dragon Dance Category. Chan Hong Kin, 52, has been a member of the team for more than 30 years. He hopes that through the festival in Kunming, the team members from Malaysia can not only show their skills, but also deepen friendship with Chinese people. “I first came to China in 1999,” Chan Hong Kin said, “After the competition, we will go to Lufeng City to visit some old friends. I’m also looking forward to seeing more new Chinese friends in Malaysia.” This year marks the 50th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, which promote more people-to-people exchanges in traditonal culture field. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association compete in the traditional Dragon Dance event at the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association compete in the Dragon Dance freestyle event at the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association and members of Guangzhou Sport University Loong and Lion Dance team participate in the festival, in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chan Hong Kin takes photos and videos during the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 18, 2024 Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association competing in the Dragon Dance freestyle event at the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association visit the Yunnan Nationalities Village in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association and members of Guangzhou Sport University Loong and Lion Dance team pose for photos during the festival, in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chan Hong Kin (front L) and members of Malaysia Johor Loong & Lion Dance Sport Association arrive for the opening ceremony of the festival in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Oct. 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2nd phase of 136th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou

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

    2nd phase of 136th Canton Fair opens in Guangzhou

    Updated: October 24, 2024 08:13 Xinhua
    A buyer selects goods at the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. The second phase of the 136th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, opened in Guangzhou on Wednesday focusing on displaying products such as household goods, gifts, decorations, building materials and furniture. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A buyer selects goods at the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A buyer visits the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Buyers visit the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A buyer talks with an exhibitor at the 136th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cultural activities boost unity, common dev’t of all ethnic groups in Guangxi

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

    Cultural activities boost unity, common dev’t of all ethnic groups in Guangxi

    Updated: October 24, 2024 08:26 Xinhua
    Tourists learn about Yao embroidery in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. Various cultural activities have boosted the unity and common development of all ethnic groups in Mengshan. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Senior people of Yao ethnic group select costumes at a folk fair in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Teenagers of Yao ethnic group perform on stilts at a square in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Actors perform a traditional Yao wedding ceremony in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Teenagers of Yao ethnic group play iron-hoop rolling at a square in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a folk performance at a square in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Teenagers of Yao ethnic group perform drum dance at a square in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Actresses perform to demonstrate Yao embroidery skill at a square in Changping Yao Township in Mengshan County, Wuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Dynabook Unveils New Ultra Lightweight Portégé X30L-M Packed with AI-Powered Performance

    Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Dynabook Unveils New Ultra Lightweight Portégé X30L-M Packed with AI-Powered Performance

    Dynabook ANZ Pty. Limited, The Laptop Experts, proudly announce the launch of its latest innovation, the Portégé X30L-M, a high performance laptop that delivers unparalleled mobility and productivity.

    The post Dynabook Unveils New Ultra Lightweight Portégé X30L-M Packed with AI-Powered Performance first appeared on PR.co.nz.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand insolvencies rise as voluntary administration gains popularity

    Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: New Zealand insolvencies rise as voluntary administration gains popularity

    Latest business insolvency data has revealed the highest single-quarter figure since 2016, but an increasing number of Kiwi business owners are exploring alternatives to liquidation for survival.

    The post New Zealand insolvencies rise as voluntary administration gains popularity first appeared on PR.co.nz.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZCTU alarmed at further cuts to WorkSafe

    Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

    WorkSafe’s announcement that it is planning even further restructuring and cuts just months after losing 15% of its staff has alarmed the NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi.

    “Our health and safety regulator is a critical component of our health and safety system, and we know it already has an undercooked capacity to deliver on its role,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “Taking more people out to save money to pay for tax cuts is short-term thinking that will have long term consequences for the health and safety of New Zealand workers.

    “WorkSafe is now set up to fail. They have stripped down the organisation to its bare bones, throwing whatever they can to the so called ‘front line’ inspectorate, knowing full well that without a well-resourced support function, the inspectorate will be less effective. 

    “Everyone in New Zealand has the right to expect a safe workplace and to be able to come home safely to their family at the end of the day. Sadly, these cuts will mean more workers will be at-risk.

    “This announcement is all smoke and mirrors. The fact remains that WorkSafe, remains well short of the numbers of inspectors the agency once had when it was created in 2013. At that time, we had 8.4 inspectors per 100 thousand workers (similar to Australia) and now it has been run down to 6.3 – a level we last saw when the Pike River disaster occurred.

    “Compounding this problem is the lack of support, and the expectation in this latest proposal for inspectors to pick up more administrative and other functions on top of their day job. This makes a mockery of the claims to move resources to the front line.

    “These proposals signal a further shift away from protecting workers from risks to their health and safety and towards a focus to responding to harm. WorkSafe has had to shrink away from its proper role to fit the budget.

    “Our health and safety system relies on an effective regulator. This latest announcement demonstrates yet again that health and safety is just not a priority for the Government,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –