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  • MIL-Evening Report: What makes Chinese students so successful by international standards?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Yongqi Gu, Associate Professor, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Getty Images

    There is a belief widely held across the Western world: Chinese students are schooled through rote, passive learning – and an educational system like this can only produce docile workers who lack innovation or creativity.

    We argue this is far from true. In fact, the Chinese education system is producing highly successful students and an extremely skilled and creative workforce. We think the world can learn something from this.

    In a viral video earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted the unique concentration of skilled labour that attracted his manufacturing operations to China:

    In the US, you could have a meeting of tooling engineers, and I’m not sure we could fill the room. In China you could fill multiple football fields.

    To which Tesla CEO Elon Musk quickly responded on X: “True”.

    When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Shenzhen headquarters of electric vehicle manufacturer BYD earlier this year, he was surprised to learn the company was planning to double its 100,000-strong engineering taskforce within the coming decade.

    He might not have been so surprised had he known Chinese universities are producing more than ten million graduates every year – the foundation for a super-economy.

    The ‘paradox of the Chinese learner’

    Chinese learners achieve remarkable success levels compared to their Western – or non-Confucian-heritage – counterparts.

    Since Shanghai first participated in the PISA educational evaluation in 2009, 15‑year-olds in China have topped the league table three out of four times in reading, mathematics and science.

    How can a supposedly passive and rote Chinese system outperform its Western counterparts? A number of Australian scholars have been studying this “paradox of the Chinese learner” since the 1990s.

    Their research shows those common perceptions of Chinese and other Asian learners are wrong. For example, repetition and meaningful learning are not mutually exclusive. As one Chinese saying goes:

    书读百遍其意自现 – meaning reveals itself when you read something many times.

    What can Western education learn?

    An emphasis on education is a defining feature of Chinese culture. Since Confucianism became the state-sanctioned doctrine in the Han Dynasty (202BCE–220CE), education has entered every fabric of Chinese society.

    This became especially true after the institutionalisation of the Keju system of civil service examinations during the Sui Dynasty (581CE–618CE).

    Today, the Gaokao university entrance examination is the modern Keju equivalent. Millions of school leavers take the exam each year. For three days every July, Chinese society largely comes to a standstill for the Gaokao.

    While the cultural drive for educational excellence is a major motivation for everyone involved in the system, it is not something that is easily learned and replicated in Western societies.

    However, there are two principles we believe are central to Chinese educational success, at both the learner and system levels. We use two Chinese idioms to illustrate these.

    The first we call “orderly and gradual progress” – 循序渐进. This principle stresses patient, step-by-step and sequenced learning, sustained by grit and delayed gratification.

    The second we call “thick accumulation before thin production” – 厚积薄发. This principle stresses the importance of two things:

    • a comprehensive foundation through accumulation of basic knowledge and skills
    • assimilation, integration and productive creativity only come after this firm foundation.
    Technique to art: weekly calligraphy lessons have been mandatory in Chinese primary and middle schools since 2013.
    Getty Images

    Knowledge, skill and creativity

    The epitome of orderly and gradual progress is the way calligraphy is learned. It goes from easy to difficult, simple to complex, imitating to free writing, technique to art. Since 2013, it has been a mandatory weekly lesson in all primary and middle schools in China.

    The art of Chinese writing embodies patience, diligence, breathing, concentration and an appreciation of the natural beauty of rhythm. It teaches Chinese values of harmony and the aesthetic spirit.

    “Thick accumulation” can be illustrated in the way students study extremely hard for the national Gaokao examination, and also during tertiary education. This way they accumulate the basic knowledge and skills required in a modern society.

    “Thin production” refers to the ability to narrow or focus this accumulated knowledge and skill to find and implement creative solutions in the workplace or elsewhere.

    Ways of learning

    On the face of it, the emphasis on gradual and steady progress, and on accumulation of basic knowledge and skills, may look like a slow, monotonous and uninspiring process – the origin of those common myths about Chinese learning.

    In reality, it boils down to a simple argument: without a critical mass of basic knowledge and skills, there is little to assimilate and integrate for productive creativity.

    Of course, there are problems with Chinese learning and education, not least the fierce competitiveness and overemphasis on examinations. But our focus here is simply to show how two basic educational principles underpin Chinese advances in science and technology in a modern knowledge economy.

    We believe these principles are transferable and potentially beneficial for policymakers, scholars and learners elsewhere.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What makes Chinese students so successful by international standards? – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-chinese-students-so-successful-by-international-standards-238325

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Saudi Arabia: Migrant workers at Carrefour sites exploited, cheated and forced to live in squalor

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Migrant workers contracted to sites in Saudi Arabia franchised by French retail giant Carrefour were deceived by recruitment agents, made to work excessive hours, denied days off and cheated of their earnings, said Amnesty International.

    In the new report, “I would fear going to work”: Labour exploitation at Carrefour sites in Saudi Arabia, the human rights organization also documents how workers were made to live in squalid accommodation and feared being ‘fired’ if they complained or resisted working additional overtime.

    The abuses suffered by some of the contracted workers likely amount to forced labour including human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, yet neither Carrefour Group nor its partner Majid Al Futtaim, which operates the franchise in Saudi Arabia, took adequate action to stop them or offer redress to workers.

    “Workers thought they were opening the door to a better life but instead many were subjected to appalling exploitation and abuse. Carrefour’s inaction meant it failed to prevent this suffering, which for some contracted workers likely amounts to forced labour including human trafficking,” said Marta Schaaf, Amnesty International’s Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice, and Corporate Accountability Programme.

    “Carrefour has a clear responsibility under international human rights standards to ensure abuses do not occur throughout its operations, including its franchises. Now Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim should act to remedy the abuses – including urgently compensating those affected – and ensure that workers in their operations are never harmed again.”

    Carrefour has a clear responsibility under international human rights standards to ensure abuses do not occur throughout its operations, including its franchises.

    Marta Schaaf, Amnesty International

    Amnesty International’s report comes just two weeks before the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body will consider a landmark complaint against the Saudi Arabian government regarding wage theft, forced labour and the prohibition of trade unions. The complaint was submitted by global trade union Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) in June 2024, supported by Amnesty International and other organisations.

    Deceived, overworked and underpaid

    Amnesty International’s investigation follows a 2023 report published by the organization exposing abuses at Amazon facilities in Saudia Arabia, involving one of the same labour supply companies. The latest research was based on interviews and information provided by 17 men from Nepal, India and Pakistan. They all worked in various Carrefour facilities in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah between 2021 to 2024 and nearly all are or were employed by labour supply companies and contracted out to Majid Al Futtaim.

    To secure jobs the workers paid recruitment agents in their home countries an average fee of $1,200, and often took on high-interest debt to do so, despite such charges being outlawed by Saudi legislation and prohibited by Majid Al Futtaim’s own policies.

    Almost all the workers interviewed were lied to or misled by the agents, sometimes with the involvement of labour supply companies, about the nature and benefits of the jobs in Saudi Arabia or tricked into believing they were being hired directly by international companies. Many only found out they would be employed by Saudi Arabian supply companies – which are notorious amongst workers – after paying the fees, by which time most could not recoup the money paid and therefore felt unable to backout.

    In Saudi Arabia the men were met with arduous work and repeated underpayment. They described regularly walking more than 20km per day and working 60-hour weeks, sometimes up to 16 hours a day, especially when business was booming in periods such as ‘salary weeks’ and the month of Ramadan. In breach of both Saudi Arabia’s laws and Majid Al Futtaim’s policies, workers said managers at the facilities – which included supermarkets and warehouses, or ‘dark stores’ – would sometimes cancel their weekly rest days. 

    Anand*, a former warehouse ‘picker’, told Amnesty: “Inside Carrefour stores, workers are not treated as humans. They treat workers as animals. They keep on saying, ‘yallah, yallah’ [‘let’s go’, ‘let’s go’]. They cling to our T-shirt to make us work fast.”

    Many of the workers said the hardest part of the experience was not being paid properly for these overtime hours as required by national law and company policies. As a result, they were often denied dozens of additional hours’ pay a month, amounting to hundreds of dollars each year.

    Accommodation provided by the labour supply companies was often dirty and overcrowded, contrary to Majid Al Futtaim’s requirements. Workers said they slept six or eight to a room, with one describing it as “like a cowshed”.

    Contracted workers described a culture of fear. Workers who raised complaints directly with managers at the Carrefour facilities said they were ignored or told to take up the matter with the labour supply companies instead. Some workers who did speak out experienced retaliation from the supply companies or Carrefour facility managers, intimidating others into silence. Although Majid Al Futtaim told Amnesty International that it prohibits retaliation against anyone sharing a “good-faith concern”, workers reported that if they resisted working extra hours, they would be threatened with not being paid or facing dismissal.

    Baburam* told Amnesty International:

    “It was tough to work that long. But the manager wouldn’t let me go… He would say, ‘You must complete the order process, then you can go.’ What could I do? If we didn’t work 15 hours, he would also say, ‘I will terminate you. I won’t pay for your overtime’.”

    Being ‘terminated’ from these facilities could result in workers being made ‘jobless’ until their labour supply company found them a new role – often weeks or months later. During this time, the worker would be left with no income from the supply company or support from the Saudi Arabian state.

    Gopal* said: “Had I complained, I could have lost my job. That’s why I couldn’t complain. Once, 14 or 15 workers complained about it, and they were expelled from the job. When a worker loses his job, the supply company makes him jobless for four to five months.”

    Had I complained, I could have lost my job. That’s why I couldn’t complain.

    Gopal*, contracted worker

    High risks of forced labour        

    The experiences of workers interviewed by Amnesty International indicates that the two key elements of forced labour – involuntary work and threat of penalty – are present in Carrefour Group’s franchise operations in Saudi Arabia.

    While Carrefour Group’s policies make clear it is aware of its responsibilities and has committed to upholding international human rights standards, including throughout its franchises and suppliers, Amnesty International’s research demonstrates that its due diligence processes are wholly inadequate. This is despite the fact that in Saudi Arabia, the severity and frequency of labour abuses – including forced labour – are acute and well-documented.

    “It is well known that despite some reforms, migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to be subjected to the country’s Kafala sponsorship system, have no guaranteed minimum wage and are prohibited from joining or forming trade unions. Carrefour has no excuse for failing to protect its workers from exploitation, and no justification to avoid paying them the compensation they deserve,” said Marta Schaaf.

    “The high risk of exploitation in Saudi Arabia highlights an undeniable need for fundamental reform of the country’s labour system. The ILO Governing Body should urgently open an investigation into violations of workers’ rights and ensure Saudi Arabia brings its labour laws and practices fully in line with international standards.”

    In response to Amnesty International’s findings, Carrefour Group and Majid Al Futtaim said they have launched an internal investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in their Saudi Arabia facilities, while Carrefour Group has also instructed a third-party audit of its franchise partner’s operations. Majid Al Futtaim detailed steps it has taken to remediate abuses since Amnesty International first alerted it, including moving some workers to new housing; reviewing policies on overtime and the ban on recruitment fees; increasing screening of new suppliers and improving access to its employee hotline.

    “Serious questions remain, however, as to why neither company identified or addressed long-standing abuses prior to being alerted by Amnesty International in mid-2024, including after we published our investigation into one of their suppliers last year.Neither company has yet committed to reimburse recruitment fees or compensate workers for harms suffered,” said Marta Schaaf.

    *Names of workers have been changed.

    Background information

    • Carrefour Group was a sponsor of the 2024 Paris Olympics and has an annual turnover of more than €94 billion.
    • Carrefour facilities and stores in Saudi Arabia are operated by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim via a franchise agreement with Carrefour Group, headquartered in France.
    • The ILO Governing Body is due to discuss BWI’s complaint on 7 November.
    • Following Amnesty International’s Amazon investigation, Amazon eventually paid over $1.9 million to reimburse recruitment fees to over 700 workers.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Saudi Arabia: migrant workers at Carrefour sites exploited and forced to live in squalor – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Workers from Nepal, India and Pakistan made to work 16-hour days and threatened with costly lay-offs if they refused to work overtime

    Workers report sleeping six or eight to a room, with one describing it as ‘like a cowshed’

    ‘Inside Carrefour stores, workers are not treated as humans. They treat workers as animals’ – former warehouse picker

    Carrefour, a sponsor of the Paris Olympics with an annual turnover of more than €94 billion, says it has launched an internal investigation 

    ‘Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to be subjected to the country’s kafala sponsorship system, have no guaranteed minimum wage and are prohibited from joining or forming trade unions’ – Marta Schaaf 

    Migrant workers contracted to sites in Saudi Arabia franchised by French retail giant Carrefour have been deceived by recruitment agents, made to work excessive hours, denied days off and cheated of their earnings, said Amnesty International today in a new report. 

    In a 56-page report – ‘I would fear going to work’: Labour exploitation at Carrefour sites in Saudi Arabia – Amnesty also shows how workers have been made to live in squalid accommodation and to fear being fired if they complained or resisted working overtime.

    The research – based on interviews with 17 men from Nepal, India and Pakistan who worked in various Carrefour facilities in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah between 2021 to 2024 – shows that the abuses suffered by some of the workers are likely to amount to forced labour, including human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

    The Carrefour Group, which was a sponsor of the 2024 Paris Olympics and has an annual turnover of more than €94 billion – has a franchise agreement with the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim company which operates Carrefour facilities and stores in Saudi Arabia. Neither the Carrefour Group nor Majid Al Futtaim took adequate action to stop worker abuses or offer redress to workers. 

    To secure their jobs the workers paid recruitment agents in their home countries an average fee of £900 and often took on high-interest debt to do so, despite such charges being outlawed by Saudi legislation and prohibited by Majid Al Futtaim’s own policies.

    Almost all the workers interviewed by Amnesty were lied to or misled by the agents – sometimes with the involvement of labour supply companies – about the nature and benefits of the jobs in Saudi Arabia, or tricked into believing they were being hired directly by international companies. Many only found out they would be employed by Saudi Arabian supply companies – which are notorious among workers – after paying the fees, by which time most could not recoup the money paid and felt unable to back out. 

    In Saudi Arabia, the men were met with arduous work and repeated underpayment. They described regularly working 60-hour weeks, sometimes up to 16 hours a day, especially when business was booming in periods such as “salary weeks” and the month of Ramadan. In breach of both Saudi Arabia’s laws and Majid Al Futtaim’s own policies, workers said managers at the facilities – which included supermarkets and warehouses – would sometimes cancel their weekly rest days. They reported regularly having to walk more than 12 miles per day in their course of their working day.

    Anand*, a former warehouse picker, told Amnesty:

    “Inside Carrefour stores, workers are not treated as humans. They treat workers as animals. They keep on saying, ‘yallah, yallah’ [‘let’s go’, ‘let’s go’]. They cling to our t-shirt to make us work fast.”

    Many of the workers said the hardest part of the experience was not being paid properly for overtime hours as required by national law and company policies. As a result they were often denied dozens of additional hours’ pay a month, amounting to hundreds of pounds each year. Workers described a culture of fear, with those who raised complaints directly with managers at the Carrefour facilities reportedly ignored or told to take up the matter with the labour supply companies. Some workers who did speak out experienced retaliation from the supply companies or Carrefour facility managers, intimidating others into silence. Although Majid Al Futtaim told Amnesty it prohibits retaliation against anyone sharing a “good-faith concern”, workers said if they resisted working extra hours they would be threatened with not being paid or dismissal. 

    Meanwhile, accommodation provided by the labour supply companies was often dirty and overcrowded, contrary to Majid Al Futtaim’s requirements. Workers said they slept six or eight to a room, with one describing it as “like a cowshed”.

    In response to Amnesty’s findings, Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim said they’ve launched an internal investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in their Saudi Arabia facilities, while Carrefour has also begun a third-party audit of its franchise partner’s operations. Majid Al Futtaim detailed steps it has taken to remediate abuses since Amnesty first alerted it, including moving some workers to new housing, reviewing policies on overtime and the ban on recruitment fees, increasing the screening of new suppliers and improving access to its employee hotline. 

    Marta Schaaf, Amnesty International’s Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice, and Corporate Accountability, said:

    “Workers thought they were opening the door to a better life but instead many were subjected to appalling exploitation and abuse. 

    “Carrefour’s inaction meant it failed to prevent this suffering, which for some contracted workers likely amounts to forced labour including human trafficking.

    “It is well known that despite some reforms, migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to be subjected to the country’s kafala sponsorship system, have no guaranteed minimum wage and are prohibited from joining or forming trade unions. 

    “Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim should act to remedy the abuses – including urgently compensating those affected – and ensure that workers in their operations are never harmed again.

    “The high risk of exploitation in Saudi Arabia highlights an undeniable need for fundamental reform of the country’s labour system. 

    “The ILO Governing Body should urgently open an investigation into violations of workers’ rights and ensure Saudi Arabia brings its labour laws and practices fully in line with international standards.”

    Further case studies

    Baburam* told Amnesty:

    “It was tough to work that long. But the manager wouldn’t let me go … He would say, ‘You must complete the order process, then you can go’. What could I do? If we didn’t work 15 hours, he would also say, ‘I will terminate you. I won’t pay for your overtime’.”

    Being “terminated” from these facilities could result in workers being made “jobless” until their labour supply company found them a new role – often weeks or months later. During this time, the worker would be left with no income from the supply company or support from the Saudi Arabian state.

    Gopal* said:

    “Had I complained, I could have lost my job. That’s why I couldn’t complain. Once, 14 or 15 workers complained about it, and they were expelled from the job. When a worker loses his job, the supply company makes him jobless for four to five months.”

    The experiences of workers interviewed by Amnesty indicates that the two key elements of forced labour – involuntary work and a threat of penalty – are present in Carrefour’s franchise operations in Saudi Arabia. While Carrefour’s policies make clear it is aware of its responsibilities and has committed to upholding international human rights standards, including throughout its franchises and suppliers, Amnesty’s research demonstrates that its due diligence processes are wholly inadequate. This is despite the fact that in Saudi Arabia, the severity and frequency of labour abuses – including forced labour – are acute and well-documented.

    *Names of workers have been changed.

    Amazon research and landmark ILO complaint

    Amnesty’s Carrefour investigation follows a 2023 Amnesty report exposing abuses at Amazon facilities in Saudi Arabia, involving one of the same labour supply companies. Following the investigation Amazon eventually paid more than $1.9 million to reimburse recruitment fees to more than 700 workers. Amnesty’s new report comes just a fortnight before the International Labour Organisation’s governing body will consider a landmark complaint against the Saudi Arabian government regarding wage theft, forced labour and the prohibition of trade unions. The complaint was submitted by the global trade union Building and Wood Workers’ International in June, supported by Amnesty and other organisations.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Eugene Earl Spoon

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Deer Lake RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 77-year-old Eugene Earl Spoon who was last seen on the evening of October 18 in Deer Lake.

    Spoon, who is visiting Newfoundland from the state of Kansas in the United States, has grey hair and is known to wear prescription glasses.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Eugene Earl Spoon is asked to contact the Deer Lake RCMP at 709- 635-2173 or your local police. To remain anonymous, call Newfoundland and Labrador Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at http://www.nlcrimestoppers.com, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Inslee approves Washington National Guard support for Navy search and recovery efforts

    Source: Washington State News

    Story Body

    In response to a request for assistance from the United States Navy, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the Washington National Guard to assist with search and recovery efforts for two missing naval aviators from a downed EA-18G near Mount Rainer National Park. The request is for the guard to provide 24/7 security at assigned traffic control points. 

    “Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of these two U.S. Navy service members,” Inslee said. “These moments remind us of the risks military service members take on in service to our homeland. Every day, whether in training or in combat, their courage and honor are the same. We join all Washingtonians in expressing gratitude to the many teams who have been assisting with search and rescue operations including the Yakama Nation, Yakima County, King County, WSDOT Air Search & Rescue, and our Washington National Guard.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to support listing of innovative SMEs on BSE

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo taken on Feb. 17, 2023 shows a view of the Beijing Stock Exchange in Beijing, capital of China.[Photo/Xinhua]

    China will intensify its support for the listing of high-quality innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the Beijing Stock Exchange and the “new third board,” a financing platform designed for SMEs.

    This initiative is outlined in a strategic cooperation agreement signed by the Beijing Stock Exchange, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and the National Equities Exchange and Quotations during the Annual Conference of Financial Street Forum 2024 on Sunday.

    According to the agreement, the three parties will enhance their coordination and collaborate in areas such as institutional synergy, company cultivation and work coordination to form a cohesive force that promotes the development of these enterprises.

    They also aim to assist the enterprises in effectively utilizing capital market tools like mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and equity incentives to achieve high-quality development.

    So far, China has cultivated about 141,000 innovative SMEs that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to produce novel or unique products, including 14,600 “little giant” firms, according to data from the MIIT.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese EVs stand out at Paris Motor Show

    Source: China State Council Information Office

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

    The 2024 Paris Motor Show concluded on Sunday, with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers from China, Europe and the United States showcasing their latest models as competition in the global EV market intensifies.

    Automakers from these regions displayed their vehicles side by side at the event, offering attendees the chance to compare technologies, pricing, and quality firsthand.

    “People are ready to fight against climate change and drive EVs, but not at any cost,” said Serge Gachot, director of the Paris Motor Show, stressing that prices are a major concern.

    He added that Chinese manufacturers are using innovation to bring down costs, making them formidable competitors globally.

    Amid ongoing trade tensions and concerns over potential tariffs on imported Chinese EVs, demand for affordable, high-quality EVs has outpaced protectionist sentiment. Test drives of Chinese models were popular among European attendees, with many praising their advanced features and value for money.

    People visit the pavilion of the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) at the 2024 Paris Motor Show during the media day in Paris, France, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Cost competitiveness

    Several major European carmakers unveiled low-cost EVs, which analysts say is a response to the cost competitiveness posed by Chinese competitors. French carmaker Renault presented its Twingo E-Tech electric prototype, set to debut in 2026 at a price below 20,000 euros (21,748 U.S. dollars).

    Renault also showcased its R4 and R5 electric models, while its Dacia brand promoted the Spring model, price said to be under 20,000 euros (21,748 dollars). BMW introduced budget-friendly MINI models, including a Chinese-made version, alongside premium options like the 5-door Aceman.

    Data from research firm JATO show the average retail price of a battery EV in China was around 31,000 euros (33,710 dollars) in the first half of 2023, compared to 66,000 euros (71,770 dollars) in Europe and 68,000 euros (73,945 dollars) in the United States.

    While European manufacturers work to lower prices, Chinese EV makers are attracting attention with their cutting-edge technology, high-quality vehicles and luxurious interiors offered at more competitive prices. A standout moment at the show was the AITO 9 model, which completed a 15,000-kilometer journey from Chongqing to Paris over 38 days, crossing 12 countries.

    Maxime, a 15-year-old French attendee, marveled at the vehicle’s design and high-end entertainment systems. “The car feels like a world of technology. I could sleep here all day,” he said.

    At BYD’s booth, another attendee called Vanessa was particularly impressed by the luxury Yangwang U8 SUV and the Sealion 7 model. She mentioned that she used to drive a Renault, but after seeing Chinese EVs, she said that Chinese EVs offer superior quality, advanced technology, and stylish interiors compared to European models in the same price range.

    A woman visits the pavilion of Chinese carmaker FAW-Hongqi at the 2024 Paris Motor Show during the media day in Paris, France, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Cooperation over competition

    Despite geopolitical risks, many automakers emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in an increasingly competitive market. The Paris Motor Show provided a platform for industry players to exchange ideas and explore partnerships.

    In recent years, cooperation between Chinese and Western companies has expanded. Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory has become a global production hub, while Renault’s Dacia Spring, developed in China, is a top seller in Europe.

    At the motor show, Leapmotor, in collaboration with Stellantis, unveiled the B10-a compact electric SUV that will be produced in Poland for European consumers.

    Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said that the global automotive industry stands to gain from the collaboration, highlighting the significant demand for affordable, high-quality EVs and how their partnership would help meet this need.

    Leapmotor International CEO Xin Tianshu noted that such collaboration leverages each company’s strengths. “Leapmotor brings technology and cost advantages, while Stellantis offers global sales and manufacturing capacity,” he said.

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

    Nicolas Caillault, CEO of Car East France and a dealer for China’s Hongqi brand, emphasized the crucial role of international cooperation. “The United States needs China, and Europe needs China. It is a must for us to cooperate,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 1st China-Europe freight train for CIIE 2024 arrives in Shanghai

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This year’s first “Jinbo” China-Europe freight train arrives at the Minhang Station in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The first “Jinbo” China-Europe freight train carrying exhibits for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) arrived at the Minhang Station in Shanghai on Sunday, marking the fourth consecutive year that CIIE exhibition products have been transported to Shanghai via the China-Europe freight train service.

    “Jinbo” is short for CIIE in Chinese. The train, which traveled more than 11,000 km over 21 days, is loaded with 76 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers of goods valued at about 100 million yuan (about 14.08 million U.S. dollars), including cosmetics and mechanical equipment.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese-made tunneling machine passes milestone

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A technician examines equipment inside the world’s largest shield machine for railway construction in April before it began operation. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The world’s largest shield machine for railway construction, a tunneling device with a diameter of 15.4 meters, excavated its 1,000th ring segment on Sunday to reach 2 kilometers, a milestone in the construction of a tunnel beneath the Yangtze River for a high-speed railway.

    The achievement also means that the shield machine, called Linghang, which was independently developed by China, is pressing ahead to a higher level of construction difficulty, according to China Railway Tunnel Group Co, constructor of what will be a 14.25-km underwater railway tunnel linking Shanghai’s Chongming Island with Taicang, a city in Jiangsu province.

    “With a gradual, slight downward slope, the pressure from the surrounding water on the construction project is escalating. Many parts of the tunnel to accommodate railway tracks in both directions are to be built at 89 meters underneath the river, where the water pressure is 0.9 megapascal — as enormous as holding six people on a fingernail,” said Fu Bowei, the project’s deputy chief engineer.

    “Such gigantic water pressure places high demands on the performance of our equipment and technologies,” Fu said, adding that the 128-meter-long shield machine began work in April.

    High-speed trains are expected to run at a maximum speed of 350 km/h inside the tunnel — the world’s highest speed in underwater tunnels — and outside the tunnel.

    According to Shanghai’s Jiefang Daily, the tunnel will be ready for the operation of the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hefei high-speed railway by the end of 2029.

    So far, tunnel construction has crossed the embankment on the north side of the Yangtze River and proceeded more than 1,100 meters into the riverbed, and the excavation environment has changed from soft soil to sandy formation.

    “Moreover, hard cement is contained in the environment, which makes the shield cutter easy to wear during tunneling. The shield machine is equipped with a system to detect tool wear. Whenever wear is detected, we make corresponding adjustments,” said Fu.

    “Also, the construction is currently under a protection area for aquatic products, and we must optimize tunneling parameters, including those regarding slurry pressure, thrust and advancing speed, to make its operation adaptable to the environment,” he said.

    The entire tunneling project needs to cross nearly 20 risk sources, including the protection areas for aquatic products as well as docks and parks, said Fu.

    Liu Jianping, deputy manager of the project, said eight smart construction systems, integrating technologies such as cloud computing and virtual and real integration, as well as artificial intelligence inspection, are being deployed.

    These smart systems will be used in tunneling, assembly, prefabrication, transportation, ventilation, detection and management and control.

    The Shanghai-Nanjing-Hefei high-speed railway is the eastern section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed route, and is an important part of the high-speed rail corridor along the Yangtze River in the nation’s “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” rail network.

    The project will create a fast new channel between a megacity cluster with Shanghai as the core as well as two city clusters centered on Nanjing and Hefei.

    It is expected to further bring cities in the Yangtze River delta closer to one another, serving the coordinated development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and promoting the integrated development of the delta region.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli army demolishes UNIFIL observation tower, fence

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A bulldozer of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday “deliberately demolished” an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position in Marwahin, a town in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said.

    “Breaching a UN position and damaging UN assets is a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701,” the UNIFIL said in a statement on social media platform X, reminding the IDF and all actors of their obligations “to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and properties and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.”

    The IDF has repeatedly demanded that the UNIFIL vacate its positions along the Blue Line and has deliberately damaged UN positions, the UN mission said.

    Despite the challenges, “peacekeepers remain in all positions. We will continue to undertake our mandated tasks,” the UNIFIL stressed.

    Israeli forces have attacked UNIFIL positions in Lebanon several times over these days, causing injuries among UN peacekeepers and sparking criticism from the international community.

    The assaults took place as the Israeli army, since Sept. 23, has been launching intensive airstrikes on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. It has also conducted what it said was a “limited” ground operation across the border, allegedly to cripple Hezbollah capabilities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s railway cargo transportation rises in Q3

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This aerial photo shows a freight train loaded with auto parts, home appliances and textile products pulling out of the Xiahuayuan railway cargo terminal in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s railway network transported 1.004 billion tonnes of cargo in the third quarter of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percent and setting a new record for freight volume in a single quarter, official data showed Sunday.

    China’s railway industry has been improving its transportation services and efficiency to support the high-quality development of the economy, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    During this period, railways handled 520 million tonnes of coal, up 3.5 percent year on year.

    The company said it will further speed up the development of a modern railway logistics network to facilitate domestic and international economic circulations, and reduce logistics costs.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chrysanthemum flowers enter harvest season in Liupanshui, SW China

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

    Chrysanthemum flowers enter harvest season in Liupanshui, SW China

    Updated: October 21, 2024 08:39 Xinhua
    Workers harvest chrysanthemum flowers at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. The harvest season for Chrysanthemum flowers has arrived in Liupanshui recently. In recent years, industries related with chrysanthemum flowers have been encouraged in Liupanshui to increase the income of local people. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows workers harvesting chrysanthemum flowers at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows workers carrying harvested chrysanthemum flowers at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows workers harvesting chrysanthemum flowers at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers harvest chrysanthemum flowers at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers check the drying condition of chrysanthemum flowers at a processing workshop in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows workers promoting chrysanthemum flower products via livestreaming at a planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a chrysanthemum flower planting base in Dawan Town of Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Update 4: Search Continues for VAQ-130 Aviators

    Source: United States Navy

    As a matter of respect for the families and in accordance with Navy policy, the identities of the Naval Aviators will be withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

    “It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of two beloved Zappers,” said Cmdr. Timothy Warburton, commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130. “Our priority right now is taking care of the families of our fallen aviators, and ensuring the well-being of our Sailors and the Growler community. We are grateful for the ongoing teamwork to safely recover the deceased.”

    Personnel on site continue to search the expansive area, recovering debris and planning for the long-term salvage and recovery effort.

    The cause of the crash is under investigation.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Development Asia: Build Together, Benefit Together: Seoul’s Approach to Urban Development

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Strong leadership, planning, and stakeholder participation are crucial to the success of Seoul’s approach to its urban development.

    Figure 2: Seoul’s Approach to Urban Development

    Note: SMG–Seoul Metropolitan Government; IoT–Internet of Things
    Source: Created by author based on data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

    Leadership. City leadership is vital in spearheading urban planning efforts and creating an environment conducive to private sector growth and citizen well-being. Strong political commitment is crucial for prioritizing urban planning and allocating resources. Political leaders should champion sustainable development goals, advocate necessary policy changes, and garner support for urban planning initiatives among various stakeholders.

    Clear laws and regulations. Clear policies empower city governments to enforce planning standards, protect public interests, and guide private sector investments in alignment with city objectives. The Seoul Metropolitan Government developed policies and laws that incentivize sustainable development practices, encourage investment in critical sectors, and promote inclusivity and social equity. Robust enforcement mechanisms ensured compliance with urban planning measures and regulations.

    Urban planning. A comprehensive urban plan, which strikes a balance among economic, social, and environmental considerations, is paramount for creating vibrant, livable, sustainable, and resilient cities. A well-crafted urban plan: (i) fosters an environment conducive to business, which attracts investments, stimulates economic growth, and generates employment opportunities; (ii) ensures a high quality of life by providing access to green spaces, recreational facilities, efficient public transportation, and essential services (education, healthcare, water supply, sanitation); (iii) promotes healthy lifestyles through pedestrian-friendly streets and bike lanes; and (iv) enhances resilience to natural hazards through strategic land use, building codes that ensure structures can withstand floods and earthquakes, and effective emergency response plans.

    Compact development. Zoning regulations should encourage mixed-land use and compact growth to optimize land use (e.g., setting a maximum limit on a building’s footprint and floor area ratio promote compact neighborhoods and vertical growth while preventing oversized tower block development). Incentives, such as tax reduction and deregulation, encourage developers to build high-density areas or include a mix of residential, commercial, and retail spaces.

    Stakeholder participation. Engaging stakeholders is necessary to ensure proper project design, support implementation, local resource mobilization, and sustainability of project achievements.

    Smart use of public financing. Focus should be placed on essential urban infrastructure and services that support private sector activities and promote social equity and environmental sustainability. Public financing should also support innovation and technological development, where commercial payoffs may be uncertain or lengthy for private investors. Incentives and risk-sharing mechanisms (e.g., tax breaks, subsidies, preferential loans, matching funds) can attract private capital to city priorities.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Special Representative for Nature appointed in landmark first

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ruth Davis has been appointed the first UK’s Special Representative for Nature.

    The UK government has appointed Ruth Davis OBE as the first Special Representative for Nature. This landmark announcement is being is made as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 meeting in Colombia marks its first formal day.    

    Ruth Davis is one of the country’s leading environmental policy experts, with over twenty-five years’ experience working on issues of nature recovery and climate change.   

    Ms Davis previously advised the government when it hosted COP26, including helping secure an international pledge to end deforestation, which was signed by 145 countries. She played a leading role supporting negotiators and ministers and has previously worked with some of the UK’s leading nature organisations including RSPB and Plantlife. She holds an MSc from Reading University in Plant Sciences and a diploma in Botanical Horticulture from Kew.  

    Her appointment comes as environment ministers gather in Colombia to discuss conservation and sustainable use of the world’s biological diversity. The Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed at COP15 in Montreal, where over 150 countries signed up to and committed themselves to halting and reversing the international decline of nature.   

    Miss Davis will begin her role as Special Representative for Nature at the end of this month and will attend COP16 in her current role as an advocate for nature, working alongside the UK delegation led by Environment Secretary, Steve Reed. 

    This is a joint role between the FCDO and Defra and Ms Davis will report to both the Environment Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.         

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:   

    We cannot address the nature and climate crises without coordinated global action. That is why we have appointed Ruth as our special representative for nature – a landmark first – who will champion our ambition to put climate and nature at the heart of our foreign policy.

    We depend on nature in every aspect of our lives – it underpins our economy, health and society – and yet progress to restore our wildlife and habitats has been too slow. Ruth’s extensive knowledge and expertise will be vital to help us  deliver on our commitments to put nature on the road to recovery.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    One million species are facing extinction, including one third of both marine mammals and coral reefs. And wildlife populations fallen by 73 per cent since 1970, mostly due to a staggering 83 per cent collapse in freshwater species.

    The climate and nature emergency is the most profound and universal source of global disorder. I am delighted Ruth Davis is joining to be our first ever UK Special Representative for Nature to help us achieve our goal of a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.

    Ruth Davis, the Special Representative for Nature said:   

    The government has recognised that the nature crisis is of equal gravity to the climate crisis; and that we cannot tackle one without addressing the other. Ecosystems and the species they support are essential to maintain food security, reduce health risks and manage the impacts of rising global temperatures.    

    I am delighted to be working with colleagues across government, and with partners around the world, to take on this urgent challenge; in particular, ensuring that the rules and incentives that govern the global economy work to protect and restore nature; and that we invest in the commitment, knowledge and passion of local people, who are critical to safeguarding the places where they live.

    The announcement of the Special Representative for Nature follows confirmation that Rachel Kyte will take up the role of the UK’s Special Representative for Climate, announced last month.  

    The Special Representatives will support ministers to raise global ambition on nature recovery and climate change. They will drive engagement with international leaders and build influence on the global stage to meet the UK’s strategic objectives.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government issues rallying cry to the nation to help fix NHS

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Members of the public as well as NHS staff and experts will be invited to share their experiences views and ideas for fixing the NHS

    • Health Secretary calls on entire nation to shape the government’s plans to overhaul the NHS 

    • Public, clinicians and experts urged to submit ideas for its future as new online platform Change.NHS.uk goes live today – putting staff and patients in driving seat of reform

    • Responses will shape government’s 10 Year Health Plan to fix broken health service and deliver government mission to build an NHS fit for the future

    The biggest national conversation about the future of the NHS since its birth is set to be launched today (Monday 21 October), as the entire country is called upon to share their experiences of our health service and help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. 

    Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts will be invited to share their experiences views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the online platform, change.nhs.uk, which will be live until the start of next year, and available via the NHS App.  

    The public engagement exercise will help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan which will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by three big shifts in healthcare – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. 

    As part of the first shift “from hospital to community”, the government wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres, which will be closer to homes and communities. Patients will be able to see family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors, or mental health specialists, all under the same roof. 

    In transforming the NHS from analogue to digital, the government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results, and letters in one place, through the NHS App. It will put patients in control of their own medical history, meaning they don’t have to repeat it at every appointment, and that staff have the full picture of patients’ health. New laws are set to be introduced to make NHS patient health records available across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services in England – speeding up patient care, reducing repeat medical tests, and minimising medication errors. 

    Systems will be able to share data more easily, saving NHS staff an estimated 140,000 hours of NHS staffs’ time every year, because staff will have quicker access to patient data, saving time that can then be spent face-to-face with patients who need it most and potentially saving lives.

    By moving from sickness to prevention, government wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in-ill health and prevent illnesses before they happen. As an example, the 10 Year Health Plan will explore the opportunities smart watches and other wearable tech may offer patients with diabetes or high blood pressure, so they can monitor their own health from the comfort of their own home. 

    The launch of the new online platform will take place at a health centre in East London, where the Secretary of State will meet with the Chief Executive of the London Ambulance Service before the first engagement event involving NHS staff from across the healthcare system as a start to the national conversation.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    My mum worked for the NHS, my sister worked for the NHS and my wife still works for the NHS – so I know first-hand how difficult it has been for staff, and for patients battling against a broken system for over a decade. But it’s time to roll up our sleeves and fix it.

    We have a clear plan to fix the health service, but it’s only right that we hear from the people who rely on the NHS every day to have their say and shape our plan as we deliver it. Together we can build a healthcare system that puts patients first and delivers the care that everyone deserves.

    We have a huge opportunity to put the NHS back on its feet. So, let’s be the generation that took the NHS from the worst crisis in its history and made it fit for the future.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, the NHS saved my life, as it has for so many people across our country. We all owe the NHS a debt of gratitude for a moment in our lives when it was there for us, when we needed it. Now we have a chance to repay that debt.

    Today the NHS is going through the worst crisis in its history. But while the NHS is broken, it’s not beaten. Together, we can fix it.

    Whether you use the NHS or work in it, you see first-hand what’s great, but also what isn’t working. We need your ideas to help turn the NHS around.

    In order to save the things we love about the NHS, we need to change it. Our 10 Year Health Plan will transform the NHS to make it fit for the future, and it will have patients’ and staff’s fingerprints all over it.

    I urge everyone to go to Change.NHS.uk today and help us build a health service fit for the future.

    Investment alone won’t be enough to tackle the problems facing the NHS, why is why it must go hand in hand with fundamental reform.

    The three big shifts will be our key principles for reform and will revolutionise the way people manage their health and access care. Our reforms will also shift the NHS away from late diagnosis and treatment to a model where more services are delivered in local communities and illnesses are prevented in the first place.

    It is vital the government hears from patients, experts and the NHS workforce to make sure we get this right and preserve the things people value about the health service.

    NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:

    NHS staff are facing an unprecedented number of challenges – with record demand for care, alongside growing pressures from an ageing population, rising levels of multiple long-term illnesses and patients with more complex needs. And they are often hampered by working in crumbling buildings with outdated tech, meaning too many patients are waiting too long for care they need.

    So, it is vital the health service innovates and adapts – as it has always done throughout its 76-year history – to design and deliver an NHS fit for the future.

    The 10 Year Health Plan is a chance to make the best practice, normal practice across the country. So, we will be carrying out the largest ever staff engagement exercise in NHS history and leaving no stone unturned as we seek to harness frontline views, alongside those of patients and the public, to ensure this happens.

    It is your experiences – good, bad, and sometimes frustrating – that we need to help shape this once in a generation opportunity, so please get involved!

    Bold ambitions for the NHS can only be achieved by listening to the expertise and knowledge of its 1.54 million strong workforce. Their understanding of what’s holding them back from performing at their best will help us bring down waiting times and provide the world class care the public deserve.    

    The government has already taken immediate action to address challenges in the health service and deliver an NHS fit for the future. Whether that’s agreeing a deal with resident doctors within weeks, securing a funding increase for GP practices to manage rising pressures or hiring an extra 1,000 GPs into the NHS by the end of this year, there are both short- and long-term reforms working hand in hand.

    Lord Ara Darzi said:

    As my recent Investigation found, the NHS is in need of urgent and fundamental reform. The 10 Year Health Plan comes at a crucial moment—and by describing the ultimate destination for the health service, it will help improve decision-making in the here and now.

    The start of this national conversation on the future of the NHS follows on from Lord Darzi’s independent report into the health service that diagnosed its condition. Lord Darzi concluded the NHS is in a ‘critical condition’ with surging waiting lists and a deterioration in the nation’s underlying health, identifying serious and widespread problems for people accessing services. 

    The launch of the engagement exercise for the 10 Year Health Plan will build on these findings and is the next step to delivering the Government’s mission to fix the NHS and deliver a health service fit for the future.

    Rachel Power Chief Executive, The Patients Association said:

    We warmly welcome this ambitious initiative to engage with patients, staff, and the public on the future of our NHS. For far too long, many patients have felt their voices weren’t fully heard in shaping health services. This national conversation, initiated by the government, marks a significant step towards genuine patient partnership and puts patients at the heart of the NHS’s evolution.

    Through our work as an independent charity, we speak directly with thousands of patients living with various health conditions each year. This gives us valuable insights into diverse experiences across the health and care system, from widely shared patient needs to unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups. We’re eager to contribute these wide-ranging perspectives to help shape a health service that truly meets the needs of everyone it serves.

    Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England said:

    We know people appreciate the hard work of NHS staff, but they are all too aware that the NHS faces many challenges that need fixing. The 10-year plan provides the opportunity to do this.

    We urge everyone to have their say on how the NHS should deliver better care to people where and when it is needed, more support to help people stay well, and a culture of listening to and acting on the views of patients.

    All too often, people face unequal access to care, with disabled people and those on lower incomes being particularly at risk. The NHS belongs to us all, so you must speak up and help create a health service that is fit for the future – equal and inclusive for everyone.

    Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association said:

    The NHS rightly holds a place in our nation’s heart, being there for us at moments of great joy, deep sadness, and everything in between. It is also one of local government’s most important partners. What each side does can impact the other.

    Every one of us is unique, complex and carries different ambitions. The NHS plays a key role in helping us to live the life we want to lead, but it cannot do it alone. Through social care and wider wellbeing activity, councils play an essential role in supporting people to do what matters most to them and live a meaningful life.  This exercise is therefore crucial for the future of health, social care and wellbeing.

    Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

    We are delighted to see this first, essential part of developing the 10-year plan getting going. With our rapidly ageing population it’s important that the plan takes fully into account the needs of tomorrow’s older people as well as today’s and helps all of us to age confidently and well. We encourage everyone to get involved and have their say – it’s almost certainly a once in a generation opportunity to do so.

    The Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

    This will be a landmark moment for the NHS. Trust leaders are ready and willing to work with the government to tackle the many challenges the NHS currently faces to create a ‘next generation’ NHS fit for the future.

    Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices said:

    We are encouraged by the ambitious approach the Government is taking to involve patients and organisations from across the sector in shaping the 10 Year Plan. We are excited to play our part in this, and will be working with our members to ensure that people from marginalised and minoritised communities are able to shape the discussions and big decisions ahead.

    Closing the gap in healthy life expectancy is a shared ambition of this Government and the National Voices coalition, and we will work tirelessly to ensure no groups are left behind.

    Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said:

    Following more than a decade of underinvestment and in the face of some serious challenges we are reaching a turning point for the NHS. The 10-year plan will set the service on a path towards being put on sustainable footing so that it can best serve our population. No one working in the NHS will argue that it works perfectly – its staff have been crying out for change and we hope the ten-year plan will deliver for them and their communities, including by listening to the reality of their experiences and by incorporating the many examples of best practice and innovation that are taking place across the country.

    Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:

    We are excited to see this first engagement phase of the NHS 10 Year Plan, a process which will include unpaid carers and ask for their views about the kind of health service they want to see in the future.

    We wholeheartedly agree with the recommendations from the Darzi review which suggested there should be a “fresh approach to supporting unpaid carers”. Unpaid carers are critical to the NHS and the NHS is a critical service for them, but it’s not always set up to help carers and can make their lives harder.

    England’s 4.7 million unpaid carers provide the bulk of support for older, ill and disabled relatives, helping millions to live in local communities where they want to be. Their support is valued at £152 billion, the equivalent of a second NHS, but they also face greater health inequalities and poorer health outcomes.

    With one in three NHS staff also juggling work and care, there’s a real opportunity to create a service which truly supports families who provide unpaid care. We see this as a win:win situation – helping families and building an NHS which is fit for the future; delivering better outcomes for everyone.

    Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:

    We welcome the UK Government’s move to start a public conversation about the future of the NHS in England. Despite the best efforts of its hard-working staff, the NHS is under extreme pressure. This exercise is another important step in the process towards developing a 10-Year-Plan that should ensure all cancer patients across the UK get the care they deserve.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Building economic opportunities in Asia

    Source: Scottish Government

    Extending international business links.

    Scotland’s first Trade Envoy to Japan has been appointed to secure international investment.  

    Stephen Baker will identify new opportunities in Japan’s thriving energy transition, pharmaceuticals, med-tech and food sectors.

    Making this announcement ahead of a trade mission to Singapore and Malaysia, Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

    “Increasing trade and attracting inward investment are vital components of a thriving, growing economy and the Scottish Government’s clear message is that Scotland is open for business.

    “Scottish businesses already have a strong track record when it comes to exports to the Asian market and attracting inward investment, given Scotland’s position as the UK’s most attractive place for inward investment outside London.

    “This appointment will help Scotland to increase business opportunities with similar Japanese companies and organisations, like Sumitomo’s £350 million investment in a manufacturing plant in Nigg.”

    The Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Envoy for Japan Stephen Baker said:

    “Japan and the UK share a strong and vibrant partnership, with Scotland taking a leading role in the energy transition. Given Japan’s substantial economy, there are significant opportunities for trade and investment. Now is the perfect time to include Japan in your business strategy and I look forward to maximising the benefits of this global partnership for Scotland.”

    Background

    The unpaid Japan Envoy role will last for an initial two-year term.

    Mr Baker spent 21 years with Sony, before joining Scottish Development International in 2006, initially covering both trade and investment as Japan Country Head, and later as Regional Director for Information and communications technology, Creative Industry, Financial Services, and Global Business Services. Stephen also served as the Asia Pacific Regional Director for Inward Investment into Scotland.

    Mr Lochhead’s trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will take place between 21-24 October. The visit will include meetings with existing and potential investors. Full details on Ministerial travel and engagements are published pro-actively online.

    Sumitomo subsea cabling plant was secured thanks to a £24.5 million investment from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.

    Scottish international export statistics

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Support North Carolina’s Hurricane  Recovery

    Source: The White House

    FEMA to hire Community Liaisons across the state to aid in recovery

    More than $300 million approved for North Carolina survivors and state recovery efforts

    Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across the Southeast and Appalachia, the Biden-Harris Administration continues its robust Federal efforts to help communities recover and rebuild, including in heavily impacted communities in North Carolina. Across the state, the Administration is working alongside state and local officials to continue surging resources and assisting families, business owners, farmers, and other impacted communities receive the support and assistance they need and deserve.

    To continue supporting recovery efforts, today the Administration is announcing that the Federal government will create a brand-new program and hire Community Liaisons to assist impacted communities with their recovery and rebuilding efforts. These dedicated Community Liaisons will interface between the people of North Carolina and FEMA to ensure their needs are met and serve as trusted messengers for survivors.

    Thus far, the Administration has approved more than $300 million in assistance across the state, including $118 million in individual assistance to more than 87,600 households, and more than $189 million for debris removal and other emergency efforts. In total, across all impacted states in the Southeast and Appalachia, the Administration has approved nearly $2 billion in hurricane recovery assistance.

    These new efforts to support North Carolina’s recovery supplement additional resources and funding, including:

    • More than 1,500 Federal personnel remain deployed supporting the response and recovery operations. This includes more than 400 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members, who are visiting neighborhoods to connect with survivors, assess damage, and offer access to Federal resources that support recovery and rebuilding.
    • Fourteen Disaster Recovery Centers are operating in impacted areas and have served more than 5,700 visitors. More centers will be opening in the coming days. Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns: Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Marion, Morgantown, Newland, Old Fort, Sparta, Sylva, and Waynesville.
    • FEMA is providing temporary hotel stays to more than 2,500 households through Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
    • FEMA inspectors have performed more than 21,000 home inspections to help survivors assess damage and apply for financial assistance.
    • Active-duty troops and National Guard members remain on the ground in their state capacity to support search-and-rescue operations, route clearance, and commodities distribution across western North Carolina. The Department of Defense is also employing additional capabilities to assist with increasing situational awareness across the remote terrain of Western North Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers continues missions supporting debris removal, temporary emergency power installation, water and wastewater assessments with the Environmental Protection Agency.
    • Power has been restored to 99 percent of impacted North Carolina customers due to thousands of utility personnel working around the clock.
    • Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations continue in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA continues to send commodity shipments and voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming in via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are reaching survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.

    Additional actions the Administration is taking to protect public health, provide flexibilities to homeowners and taxpayers, support infrastructure recovery, and support workers, farmers, and students in North Carolina can be found here. Additional actions President Biden directed before Helene’s landfall can be found here.

    Biden-Harris Administration’s Continuous Commitment to Being on the Ground

    Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across North Carolina, President Biden committed to helping impacted communities recover and rebuild, no matter how long it takes. On October 2, less than one week after landfall, President Biden visited North Carolina to survey the damage, meet with first responders and impacted communities, and receive an operational briefing. As part of that visit, he also directed up to 1,000 active-duty troops to partner with the North Carolina National Guard on the ground at the request of the Governor. Days later, to surge additional resources and capacity at the request of the Governor, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops to move into western North Carolina. On October 5, Vice President Harris also visited North Carolina to survey the damage, receive briefings, and meet with first responders.

    The President and Vice President and senior leaders across the Administration have spoken with and coordinated closely with Governor Cooper throughout the response. President Biden talked with Governor Cooper at least twice immediately following Helene’s landfall, and Governor Cooper joined him to survey damage and receive briefings during his visit. They have stayed in close contact in the ensuing weeks.

    At the President’s direction, FEMA Administrator Criswell has been on the ground in North Carolina for multiple days and nights to lead the Federal response since Helene’s landfall. She has traveled across the state to meet with survivors and communities, identify resource needs, and continue ensuring a swift and coordinated recovery effort.  She will return again this evening and remain in place to direct additional measures to speed response and recovery.  Many other Administration leaders, including Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Michael Regan, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, have also visited North Carolina to support recovery efforts and others will do so in the coming days and weeks, including Secretary Tom Vilsack on October 25.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $10 million in grants on offer for NSW Crown reserves

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: $10 million in grants on offer for NSW Crown reserves

    Published: 21 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Lands and Property

    The NSW Government has opened applications for $10 million in community grants to help maintain and improve Crown land reserves, building better communities across the state.

    This year’s CRIF general grants are targeting well-patronised reserves with projects that have high community impact. The program will offer minimum grants of $100,000 for projects and maximum grants of $1 million.

    Crown reserves provide land for recreational areas and infrastructure like sports-fields, local parks, walking tracks and campgrounds.  They also provide land for community organisations and facilities such as public halls, showgrounds, racecourses, scout halls, and surf lifesaving clubs.

    Eligible applicants include Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations, and user groups that are licensed to use Crown reserves across NSW, including showgrounds on Crown land.

    Grants will be made available to maintain and upgrade reserves and the facilities on them. Funding will also be available to manage feral pests and noxious weeds on reserves to keep them in good shape for community use and to protect native plants and animals.

    Project applications will be assessed on criteria including social, economic, cultural or environmental benefits, including supporting public access, amenity and use of reserves, social cohesion, participation in community life, conserving heritage or natural values, creating employment or business opportunities, and enabling Aboriginal people to manage and care for land.

    Find further information on the Crown Reserves Improvement fund and apply.

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “The NSW Government is focused on building better communities and the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund plays a vital role by maintaining and upgrading public reserves for the benefit of local communities right across our state.

    “We are very grateful to the dedicated volunteers, community groups and local councils who help manage reserves and I strongly encourage them to apply for CRIF grants to support their great work.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: More affordable homes on track for delivery

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: More affordable homes on track for delivery

    Published: 21 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Minns Labor Government’s major planning reform focused on creating more affordable homes to the market is already delivering with 135 affordable homes approved for Landcom’s Lachlan’s Line development at Macquarie Park.

    This is the first development to be approved through the new State Significant Development (SSD) pathway for in-fill affordable housing projects, that the NSW Government introduced in December 2023 to make it faster and easier to build more affordable housing.

    These reforms are a key pillar of the NSW Government’s plans to tackle the State’s housing crisis and deliver affordable homes in well-located areas close to transport, jobs and amenities.

    In February 2024, Landcom, in partnership with Link Wentworth, lodged an SSD application with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to build 100 per cent affordable housing dwellings, which has now been approved.

    There are currently another 10 projects which have been lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure through this SSD pathway that are under assessment which if approved, could deliver over 800 more affordable homes.

    With approvals secured, Link Wentworth will look to begin work in 2025 on the 135 affordable homes, with residents expected to be able to move in from 2027.

    This project also utilises another new planning pathway that the NSW Government has introduced to enable Landcom, or delivery partners on their behalf such as a Community Housing Provider, to access an SSD pathway for projects of more than 75 dwellings which have at least 50 per cent affordable housing.

    Lachlan’s Line forms the northern end of the North Ryde Station Precinct which was rezoned for high-density residential development, mixed-use development and public open space in 2013.

    The former industrial area will supply approximately 2,700 homes near two metro stations, a bus interchange and the M2 Motorway.

    Landcom selected Link Wentworth to partner with and provide the affordable housing dwellings.

    For more information see Landcom. 

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to confront the housing crisis by supporting more affordable housing so key workers who are the engine room of our cities can afford to live close to their jobs.

    “It’s great to see the approval pathway creating affordable housing in places where people want to live, closer to jobs, transport and amenities.

    “Landcom is well-placed to increase the delivery of more affordable housing across NSW. Granting State Significant Development status to developments that include affordable housing has allowed faster decisions on this important project.”

    Landcom CEO Alex Wendler said:

    “Landcom partnered with Link Wentworth using an innovative approach which will deliver new affordable homes for up to 270 new residents.

    “The planning reforms have been incredibly successful in delivering quicker approvals and we look forward to partnering with the sector and industry to deliver more housing.”

    Link Wentworth CEO Andrew McAnulty said:

    “We are delighted to be working with NSW State Government to bring forward the delivery of these well located new affordable homes.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 223-2024: Scheduled Outage: Thursday 24 October 2024 – DAFF applications

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    21 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry web-based applications during this planned maintenance period.

    All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system during this planned maintenance period.

    Information

    Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, users of the following systems may experience a brief outage (less than 10 seconds)…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Officers honoured with Police Bravery Medals

    Source: South Australia Police

    Three South Australia Police (SAPOL) officers who risked their lives on duty during two separate distressing incidents have been recognised for extraordinary acts of bravery.

    Last Wednesday, October 16, Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens APM LEM presented Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, Senior Constable Rebekah Cass, and Sergeant Michael Hutchinson with Police Bravery Medals at SAPOL’s Police Academy.

    Brevet Sergeant Allely was awarded for his actions on 3 May 2023 during a stabbing at Crystal Brook, when he saved Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd’s life.

    During negotiations with a Crystal Brook man, Brevet Sergeant Todd came under attack and sustained life-threatening injuries. Brevet Sergeant Allely intervened and received serious injuries in the process but maintained composure and acted decisively throughout the incident.

    Senior Constable Rebekah Cass was awarded for her actions on 16 November 2023, during an incident at Senior when Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was fatally shot. On hearing gunfire, she immediately ran into the house with little regard to her own safety to aid her fellow officers.

    Despite the harrowing circumstances and extreme personal pressures, Senior Constable Cass advised Police Communications of what had transpired and arranged further resources before attending to all injured.

    Similarly, Sergeant Michael Hutchinson was awarded for his actions during the same incident, maintaining his composure in an incredibly distressing situation and being shot in the process.

    By running toward Brevet Sergeant Doig, Sergeant Hutchinson put himself in the line of fire and like the other recipients, demonstrated extraordinary bravery.

    “Their courage and quick-thinking in the face of enormous danger, highlights the quality and tenacity of our people that underpins SAPOL’s strong reputation within the South Australian community,” Commissioner Stevens said.

    “I commend each of them – they are a credit to themselves and to SAPOL.

    “Our officers are trained and equipped to protect the public and maintain their safety, but there are still inherent dangers in policing. Nothing says more about our outstanding police officers than the everyday acts of heroism demonstrated by our three officers awarded.”

    Minister for Police Dan Cregan said, “These commendations exemplify the bravery and courage of SAPOL officers.”

    “Each recipient has put the safety of others ahead of their own, acting immediately to assist their colleagues.”

    Police Bravery Medals are presented to SAPOL employees who perform exceptional and outstanding acts of bravery or act courageously and responsibly in the face of potential or actual danger to their life, or in the face of the possibility of serious injury while performing their duty.

    “SAPOL’s strength is maintained through a strong sense of culture and community pride and our strong foundations are built on the ethos that ‘our people are our strength’,” Commissioner Stevens added.

    “The people that make up SAPOL are by far the organisation’s most valuable assets.

    “Last week’s ceremony saw an opportunity to recognise our people and acknowledge the three officers’ unwavering commitment to policing.

    “Thank you, Jordan, Bec, and Michael for your service, dedication, and exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty.”

    South Australia Police Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens, Senior Constable Rebekah Cass, and Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely following their award presentation on Wednesday 16 October.

    Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely. Senior Constable Rebekah Cass.

    Sergeant Michael Hutchinson.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 224-2024: Scheduled Service Disruption: Friday 25 October to Sunday 27 October 2024 – BICON, DAFF messaging, SeaPest

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    21 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.

    All clients submitting the below declarations:

    • Full Import Declaration (FID)
    • Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
    • Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
    • Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
    • Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)

    All…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Design to delivery: a guide to outsourcing

    Source: Allens Insights

    Business process outsourcings are high-risk, high-reward projects 5 min read

    The outsourcings of yesterday that prioritised cost-cutting above all else have been replaced by a new wave of business process outsourcings (BPOs) focused on procuring technological improvements and expertise, achieving scale, obtaining a competitive edge (and yes, cost savings too).

    The complexity of these projects is only further intensified by the current backdrop of rapid technological advancement, breakneck regulatory change and increasing supply chain risks. Successful outsourcings require careful consideration through all stages of the BPO lifecycle—from initial planning through to the exit phase.

    Whether your organisation is currently planning a BPO or considering it as a future option, this guide outlines everything you need to know through the various stages of your next BPO, including:

    • How to design your procurement strategy
    • Whiteboarding questions to scope your outsourcing
    • Service provider incentives matrix
    • Key considerations for managing data
    • Managing risks and planning for change
    • Board approval checklist

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: BNZ launches Tech Business Hub to empower early-stage technology businesses

    Source: BNZ statements

    New Zealand’s tech sector is set to get a boost thanks to the launch of the country’s first dedicated banking hub for early-stage technology businesses.

    The Waikato-based BNZ Tech Business Hub is designed to address the unique needs of early-stage tech companies.

    It offers BNZ customers access to bankers with specific training and expertise who are equipped to offer financial services to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced in the technology industries.

    Tim Wixon, Head of Technology Industries at BNZ, says, “BNZ’s Tech Business Hub is not just a new offering – it represents a philosophical shift in how we approach banking for this sector. Technology businesses have distinct needs which have not historically been met by traditional banking models. Our hub will help fill this gap by offering practical guidance, advice, and tailored services to help accelerate sector growth.”

    According to the Technology Investment Network, the top 200 New Zealand tech companies generated the second largest source of offshore revenue after dairy. The industry is also growing faster than any other in New Zealand and offers salaries around 30% higher than the New Zealand average.

    “Technology Industries continue to be an increasingly important part of the New Zealand economy. Every year, we see more of our country’s tech companies succeed on the world stage and BNZ remains committed to assist wherever possible”, says Mr Wixon.

    BNZ is ambitious in its support for technology companies in New Zealand, launching a range of innovative solutions in recent years to assist the sector, including Contracted Receivables Financing, Revenue Based Financing for SaaS businesses, and Project Scale Up, which provide high-potential and high-growth technology businesses with access to non-dilutive capital.

    The new Tech Business Hub complements these offerings, underscoring BNZ’s commitment to fostering a vibrant homegrown tech ecosystem.

    Tech Business Hub Team Manager – Figo Liu – says, “Tech businesses require banking partners who speak their language and understand their journey. Our goal is to nurture the tech and startup ecosystem by making it easier to start a business and grow.”

    With the Tech Business Hub now up and running, BNZ is turning its attention to further ways that it can support tech businesses at all stages of their lifecycle.

    “We believe that New Zealand’s tech sector has enormous potential, and we want to do everything we can to help these businesses succeed,” says Mr Wixon. “The BNZ Tech Business Hub is the next step in our commitment to this important part of our economy, and we look forward to working closely with tech entrepreneurs and innovators to help them achieve their goals.”

    The post BNZ launches Tech Business Hub to empower early-stage technology businesses appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man Arrested After Absconding from Mandated Facility in Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have charged a 27-year-old man who absconded from a facility he was required to reside at in Alice Springs over the weekend.

    Just after 3:30pm on Saturday, the man fled the facility, cutting off his electronic monitoring device (EMD) before making his escape.

    CCTV footage reviewed by police showed a Toyota Prado, driven by a female associate, arriving at the scene. Shortly after, the man was seen entering the vehicle and fleeing the area.

    An arrest team, including members from General Duties, Crime, and the Dog Operations Unit, was dispatched to locate the offender, who actively evaded apprehension throughout the evening.

    The following day, Darwin Traffic Operations members, while conducting patrols south of Katherine, received an automatic number plate recognition alert on the vehicle of interest, which was travelling northbound towards Katherine.

    In response, a coordinated plan was enacted, involving Katherine General Duties and Road Policing units, who deployed tyre deflation devices.

    Despite attempts to evade capture, the vehicle was successfully stopped, and both the man and the female driver were arrested. The female, also in breach of her bail conditions for cutting off her EMD, was taken into custody.

    The man was charged with:

    • Failing to obey the direction of a police officer
    • Driving unlicensed
    • Driving with a prohibited drug in his body

    He is due to appear in Katherine court today.

    The female was charged with:

    • Breach of bail

    She is also set to appear in Katherine court today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Three-Body’ awarded China’s best TV drama

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    “Three-Body,” the live-action television adaptation of the science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem,” claimed the best TV drama as China’s national TV arts award unveiled on Sunday.

    The drama’s director Yang Lei received the honor of the best TV drama director of the China TV Golden Eagle Award, which was unveiled in Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province.

    In his acceptance speech, Yang said that Chinese science fiction faces challenges. He said whenever science fiction is mentioned, audiences tend to immediately think of Western sci-fi stories and movies.

    “When I was creating ‘Three-Body,’ I wanted to take a different path. I hoped it would be a Chinese sci-fi story, one that has a sense of Chinese identity,” he said, adding that he approached the filming with a realist perspective.

    He went on to say that the rapid advancement of China’s technology has provided fertile ground for science fiction to grow. He calls on all Chinese sci-fi creators to make full use of Chinese elements in their work to bring the dream of science fiction into reality and to let the universe shine for Chinese science fiction.

    Since its release in January 2023, the 30-episode drama has received critical acclaim. It was rated 8.7 out of 10 by over 480,000 viewers on China’s popular review platform Douban as of Sunday.

    It is the live-action television adaptation of the Hugo Award-winning science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” by Liu Cixin. “The Three-Body Problem” is the first book of a sci-fi trilogy that revolves around physicist Ye Wenjie’s contact with the Trisolaran civilization existing in a three-sun system and the centuries-long clashes that follow between earthlings and the aliens.

    Fans of “Three-Body” expressed their excitement after the series received the award.

    “I’m so excited! A uniquely Chinese path for science fiction has been explored,” said a Chinese fan named Wang Jingyi.

    “When I first read the book, I was blown away. I always wondered how it could be brought to life on screen until I watched Yang Lei’s incredible adaptation,” said Artur Furdey, a British viewer.

    Liu Cixin, the author of the novel, expressed his satisfaction with the adaptation of his work that has been well-received by the audiences.

    “It will take time for Chinese science fiction to take root in the hearts of the public. I hope we can work together to create more and better works,” Liu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to advance doctoral programs in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China has announced plans to strengthen its development of doctoral programs in the science, engineering, agriculture and medical science disciplines.

    The development of doctoral programs in basic and emerging disciplines and in interdisciplinary fields will also be boosted, according to a set of guidelines on deepening the comprehensive reform of doctoral education that were recently unveiled by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

    The proportion of professional doctoral programs should be increased, the guidelines also say.

    They also pledge efforts to accelerate the construction of disciplines related to key fields, step up the integration of various disciplines, and explore new paths for international exchange and cooperation.

    Last month, the Ministry of Education announced that top overseas universities — especially those focused on science and engineering — are encouraged to operate joint education programs with their counterparts in China.

    The ministry said that the country plans to support top universities in expanding their education capacities, and to establish several advanced research universities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese listed companies to receive loans for share buybacks, increasing shareholdings

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    More than 20 Chinese listed companies on Sunday announced that they have signed agreements with financial institutions or obtained commitment letters to secure loans for share buybacks and increasing shareholdings.

    The announcements came after China’s central bank launched a special re-lending facility aimed at guiding banks to provide loans to listed companies and their major shareholders for buybacks and increasing shareholdings on Friday.

    The initial re-lending scale is 300 billion yuan (about 42.09 billion U.S. dollars) at an interest rate of 1.75 percent. The facility can be applied to various types of companies regardless of their ownership, according to the central bank.

    To actively respond to and fully leverage the policy tool introduced by the relevant regulatory body for supporting share buybacks, the company on Oct. 19 signed a credit agreement with the Bank of China to obtain a credit line of no more than 900 million yuan, which will be used for the company’s share buybacks in the A-share market, Sinopec said in an online statement published Sunday.

    Sinopec also revealed that its controlling shareholder China Petrochemical Corporation signed an agreement with the bank to obtain a credit line of 700 million yuan. This funding will be used by the corporation to increase its shareholdings in Sinopec within the A-share market.

    Other companies that have announced plans to secure loans for share buybacks or increasing shareholdings include China Merchants Port Group Co., Ltd. and Sinotrans Limited.

    The re-lending facility offers low-cost funds to financial institutions, which in turn helps to reduce the financing costs for listed companies and major shareholders, said Tian Lihui, head of the Institute of Finance and Development at Nankai University.

    It also helps enhance the inherent stability of China’s capital market, maintain the stable operation of the market and boost market confidence, Tian added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: First Federal Savings Bank Celebrates 120 Years of Powering Local Communities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVANSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) congratulates First Federal Savings Bank on its milestone anniversary and faithful service to its customers and communities for 120 years.

    “From your first home to your forever home, startup or expansion small business loan, or saving for your golden years, First Federal Savings Bank has been a source of support for customers working to achieve their financial goals,” said Courtney Schmitt, VP Marketing Manager at First Federal Savings Bank. “As we reflect and reaffirm our commitment to our customers, we look forward to continuing to serve with honor and distinction to ensure our communities’ future prosperity.”

    “As financial stewards, community banks have always played a central role to the financial health and vitality of their community—whether funding their customers’ financial dreams or supporting community causes and events,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “Milestones like these showcase the value of community banks as relationship lenders and the impact they have every day in powering local communities.”

    About First Federal Savings Bank Member FDIC
    First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

    About ICBA
    The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

    As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.

    The MIL Network –