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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Security: Women of Installations & Logistics Build Strong Future for NSA

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    FORT MEADE, Md. – Construction is booming across the NSA/CSS Washington (NSAW) campus, with upgrades to existing buildings and the expansion of East Campus.

    Behind these innovative projects are the women of Installations & Logistics (I&L), who play a critical role in paving the way for the future of NSA. During Women’s History Month, NSA celebrates them and all of the women helping drive mission outcomes.

    Caryn O. began her career in I&L about 15 years ago and although she had no construction background when she started, she has since flourished in her role as an I&L project manager.

    “I absolutely love being in the construction field because it is really cool to see drawings and then see it actually turn into something physical,” she said.

    After joining I&L, Caryn earned a graduate degree in construction management and has since managed major upgrades to the Friedman Conference Center in 2017 and floor to ceiling renovations in the OPS1 building on NSAW’s main campus that began in 2019. According to Caryn, both projects involved obstacles that had to be overcome, including supply chain issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Despite these obstacles, Caryn said she would definitely recommend construction as a career.

    “I enjoy working with dedicated and hard-working individuals who endure dirt, climate issues, and long hours and never complain,” she said.

    Project Manager Katie F. is leading renovations to the 70-year-old 9800 barracks buildings located east of the “Big 4” – a group of buildings on NSAW’s main campus. This $44.5M project was awarded in 2020, and the final phases are expected to be finished in April.

    “Overall, it was gratifying to support a project that improves the quality of life for service members,” she said.  “It is personally satisfying to use my background and skills to help deliver facilities that will ultimately support NSA’s mission.”

    Katie worked as a civil engineer for several years at an external organization before joining I&L’s Design & Engineering team in 2012. After several years, she decided to learn more about the construction side of projects. In 2017, she joined the Infrastructure team within Project Execution, whose mission is to improve existing spaces and infrastructure at NSAW.

    “As a project manager, I am able to leverage my work experience, as well as my master’s degrees in civil engineering and business administration, to execute projects from start to finish,” Katie said. “It was challenging to balance the requirements of various stakeholders while staying within budget and complying with the contract.”

    Katie said she enjoys learning from people with different areas of expertise.

    “It’s inspiring to watch people with diverse backgrounds, including engineering, business, and trades, collaborate to execute a successful project,” she said.

    Carolyn S. is the deputy project manager supporting the construction of the Chiari Center on East Campus. She has more than 12 years of interior design and project management experience, both external and internal to NSA. She joined NSA in August 2016 as an interior designer in the Design and Engineering office, where she gained a strong foundational knowledge of I&L’s facility design and construction requirements. She joined the Military Construction (MILCON) team in September 2023.

    Carolyn said her favorite part about the MILCON office is that every day is different, and she is able to witness all aspects of a project.

    “Being able to see designs come to life in construction and eventually become a finished building that will support some of our Agency’s biggest missions is one of the best parts of my job,” she said. “Since we are working in active construction, you never know what each day will bring.”

    Jessica M., who joined NSA as a contractor in 2010 and became an Agency employee in 2019, is currently a project manager in the MILCON office working on East Campus Building 5.

    “I enjoy the varied and changing work,” she said, adding that she enjoys the work/life balance that includes telework and a flexible schedule.

    “Being a woman in construction can be intimidating at first,” said Jessica. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 1 in 10 of those in the construction industry are women. Advice I have as a woman in this male-dominated field would be to be your own best advocate, be confident enough to use your skillset and knowledgeable to make the right decisions, understand your strengths, and use all the tools you’ve acquired throughout your life to be successful.”  

    According to Jessica, she and the MILCON team work to build long-lasting facilities that will serve NSA’s workforce for the next 50 years, and keep the mission moving forward.

    “We are being good stewards for being fiscally responsible,” she said. “We are problem solvers. We look at the big picture and find how to reduce or mitigate a problem.”

    All of the women said they enjoy their work and are proud to be a part of the construction field.

    “There are many professional opportunities in construction, and women should not be intimidated by outdated stereotypes of the industry,” Katie said.

    NSA Media Relations
    MediaRelations@nsa.gov
    443-634-0721

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New NSA Display at BWI Honors SIGINT Support to Warfighters

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    The early 1950s saw the dedication of two new organizations headquartered less than 10 miles apart: NSA and the Friendship International Airport — now Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Nearly eight decades later, the partnership between these organizations is expanding in a new way.

    Earlier this week, Agency leaders traveled to BWI for a first look at a newly installed wall display illustrating NSA’s unique support to the Armed Forces through declassified archival imagery. This first-of-its-kind exhibit highlights the SIGINT work of the Agency and its predecessors during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

    “My grandfather served in WWII on the Red Ball Express, I had an uncle who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, and as a combat contingency deployer of 14 times throughout my 27 years in the military, it’s always good to see representation on the wall,” CMSgt Kenneth Bruce, Command Senior Enlisted Leader of USCYBERCOM and Senior Enlisted Advisor of NSA/CSS, said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

    Located in BWI’s Honor Flights corridor, the display welcomes and honors active-duty military and veterans arriving at the airport. According to Bruce, it’s important to increase awareness of NSA’s history as a combat support agency providing SIGINT and cybersecurity insights to military operations around the world.

    “We’re very appreciative of what this represents and what NSA has represented to our Nation,” Chief Bruce said on behalf of the nearly 17,000 members of the Central Security Service, who ensure the warfighter is integrated into what NSA does on a daily basis. “As these honor flights come in to BWI and thousands of service members walk through these hallways, they’ll always have a reminder of what they do and why they do it.”

    A team representing organizations across the Engagement & Policy Directorate worked for five years collaborating to ensure the design, content, and delivery was as impactful as possible in demonstrating NSA’s long-standing support to the U.S. Military, according to Stephanie Bartolowits, chief of Information Management and the project originator. The display supports the Director of National Intelligence’s Transparency Initiative and fulfills NSA’s responsibility to declassify and disseminate materials to the public.

    “We try to do a transparency project every year as an Agency to be forward-leaning, to share with the public what we do,” Bartolowits said. “We’re hoping some of these service members will be able to walk by here, recognize themselves and see these things, and know that we really appreciate them.”

    This exhibit opened less than two years after NSA launched its first-ever recruitment display at the airport, which is home to the Nation’s largest USO lounge and sees more military members traveling through than any other airport, according to Bartolowits.

    Maryland Aviation Administration CEO Ricky Smith said the partnership between BWI and NSA represents a “rich family” of Maryland-based institutions that serve the American people. “To have you present at this airport and to be able to showcase the value you bring to the community is a pleasure,” he said.

    According to Engagement & Policy Director Sheila Thomas, the NSA-BWI partnership is natural.

    “Support to military is in our core, our ethos. I can’t tell you how much it means to see this in a public arena,” she said. “This will continue on well past us, and that’s really something that’s remarkable, something we can be so proud of.”
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Minnie Kenny Remembered During Event at National Cryptologic Museum

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    The life and legacy of one of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Hall of Honor cryptanalysts was recently recognized at the National Cryptologic Museum (NCM). Nearly 70 current and former NSA employees along with NSA organizers, gathered for an afternoon of reflection and fellowship to honor cryptologic giant, Minnie Kenny.
     
    Kenny started at the NSA’s predecessor agency in 1952 as a Communications Clerk. At the time, there were very few African Americans in that role. Kenny quickly excelled in language, traffic analysis and cryptanalysis. She rose through the ranks at the Agency, working at an elite “think tank” studying the future of cryptanalysis. Kenny served as Deputy Commandant of the National Cryptologic School and made her mark as a leader along the way.
     
    The NCM was the backdrop for fellowship amongst the Phoenix Society members and the current workforce. Organizers say the event, “preserves the connection between former and current cultural influencers with an eye on the path laid for future generations at NSA.”
     
    Kenny was known for leaving a red carnation on the desks of managers and employees she felt were doing a good job. So it was only fitting that organizers of the memorial event wore red as a representation.
     
    Kenny’s impact is still felt within the agency. She influenced the career of NSA Chief of Staff, Marlisa Smith who said, “Her name speaks for itself. When you say Ms. Kenny’s name you are just in awe of her.” During the event, Smith told the story of being a very young person at the agency and being scared to approach Minnie Kenny. “When you did approach her, you got that warmth and you knew she really cared about the workforce”.
     
    Former NSA Chief of Staff Ernie Green was also in attendance. He recalled walking in the halls of NSA and getting bumped by a woman who said, “I don’t know you.” That woman was Minnie Kenny. Green said from that point on, Kenny took him under her wing, taking him to Washington D.C., introducing him to influential lawmakers. Green talked about Kenny’s passion of furthering the mission to help elevate African Americans in the agency.
     
    Another Cryptologic Pioneer, Lillian “Lil” Berry said, “The thing that impressed me most about Minnie Kenny was how she pushed us to do our best. How she encouraged us to get our education. She pushed us. The best thing is, she encouraged you to bring your families in, and we have three generations of my family here today.”
     
    Other attendees, including Kenny’s former receptionist told the crowd funny anecdotes about Kenny, from how she liked her coffee to that overseas trip where her luggage was lost…twice.
     
    Those in attendance had the opportunity to view the grounds of the future building named the Kenny Center, in her honor. The 700,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed in 2028. The Kenny Center will provide a modern platform to support Information & Intelligence Analysis (IIA) for NSA and the Intelligence Community (IC).
     
    Guests concluded the afternoon with a tour of the National Cryptologic Museum, given by NSA Historian Dave Hatch. Attendees toured the tribute to Minnie Kenny and other Women in Cryptology, who were ahead of their time.
     
    The overall theme of the day was honoring Minnie Kenny, the contributions she made, the influence she had and the legacy she left.
     
    Guests left with red carnations, a fitting end to honor a life well lived.

    The National Cryptologic Museum is the only fully public museum in the Intelligence Community and is now open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and no reservations are required — click here for more information about the museum or to start planning your visit!

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NSA Awards Authors of Study of Automated Attacks on New Webservers

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    The National Security Agency (NSA) Research Directorate recently selected “Uninvited Guests: Analyzing the Identity and Behavior of Certificate Transparency Bots,” as the winner of its 11th Annual Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition.

    The winning paper, authored by Stony Brook University researchers Brian Kondracki, Johnny So, and professor Nick Nikiforakis, examined a study of automated attacks on new webservers, and explored how a web browser can trust an organization’s publicly issued cryptographic credentials. At the heart of their investigation was a simple question: What happens when you setup a new encrypted website?

    “This paper was selected as the winner because the researchers performed high-level, clearly written, and impactful science,” said NSA’s Director of Research, Gil Herrera. “It is the cutting-edge and relatable research that has made the paper stand out as the winner of this year’s competition.”

    NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research established the annual Best Cybersecurity Paper Competition in 2013 to encourage the development of scientific foundations in cybersecurity, and to support the enhancement of cybersecurity within devices, computers, and systems through rigorous research, solid scientific methodology, documentation, and publishing. Herrera, along with NSA cybersecurity experts and external authorities in the field, selected the winning paper from 30 studies nominated by the public on the Science of Security website.

    The winning researchers studied autonomous systems which probe newly instantiated encrypted websites. They identified 105 malicious security bots attempting to perform nefarious actions such as data exfiltration, reconnaissance, and vulnerability exploitation. They also identified security systems examining sites to identify new phishing attacks. These profiles provide new insights into these autonomous actions happening on the Internet. This data can be used by both system administrators and developers to protect systems from compromise.

    The research team collected this data by creating the Certificate Transparency Honeypot (CTPOT), a system that obtains new certificates and monitors web bots for potential targets. CTPOT allows researchers to trick web bots, isolate them, and identify if they are malicious.

    “Beyond the technical merit of this paper, this paper is noteworthy because the high quality of documentation allows for others to verify and build upon this research advancement,” said Adam Tagert, Technical Director of NSA’s Science of Security Initiative. “Clear and available documentation are key components for advancing science, a primary goal of the NSA Science of Security Program”

    Nominations are now open for the 12th annual Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition. NSA welcomes nominations of papers published in 2023 in peer-reviewed journals and technical conferences that show an outstanding contribution to cybersecurity science. Winners will be announced at the end of 2024.

    Visit the Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper webpage for more information on the competition and to nominate a paper.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Scouts Honored at National Cryptologic Museum’s Annual Scout Day

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    “Best day of my life!” One Scout exclaimed as he left the National Cryptologic Museum’s (NCM) annual event on Saturday March 2nd, 2024.

    Rain couldn’t damper things for the scouts and their families as the event drew a near record number of attendees with more than 650 people coming through the doors of the NCM in just six hours.

    The NCM’s Scout Day was open to scouts and their families all over Maryland and beyond, with some even traveling more than two hours to take part in the festivities. Activity stations ranged from fingerprinting and robotics, to invisible ink and a scavenger hunt. With activities set up throughout the museum, kids and their parents had the opportunity to take in all kinds of lessons. In addition to cipher wheels and decoding encrypted messages, they learned about language, cryptology and the history of coding during slavery.

    Scouts could earn a Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge after completing tasks that showed what it was like to live with visual, hearing and physical impairments.
     
    Scout leaders say events like this help their scouts see the bigger picture.

    “People just don’t realize all the way from Hobos to Space Shuttle, to Military to State secrets, code has been around since the Egyptians,” said Stan Zdun, Scoutmaster for Troop 249 in Edgewater, Md. “Since the beginning of time,” he added.
     
    Jennifer Wilcox, the museum’s Director of Education, and her staff prepared for the event for months. She said that this year’s Scout Day was one of, if not the most successful to date.

    The National Cryptologic Museum is the only fully public museum in the Intelligence Community and is now open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and no reservations are required — click here for more information about the museum or to start planning your visit!

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Doing It Until We Got It Right: A Short History of the Pearl Harbor Investigations

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    On December 7, 1941, Japanese naval aircraft swept in on an unsuspecting US Pacific Fleet and Army in the Hawaiian Islands and destroyed many American ships and aircraft. In a little over two hours, 18 warships—including eight battleships—and over 160 aircraft were knocked out of action. With Japan’s eastern flank secured, its forces would rampage through the rest of the Pacific virtually unopposed.
     
    Within days of the disaster, calls resounded from the public, press, and the government itself for an investigation into how and why such an event could occur. To many, it was not just the magnitude of the defeat, but the extraordinary unpreparedness of U.S. forces in Hawaii: Someone had to pay.
     
    However, fixing responsibility for the debacle at Pearl Harbor was complicated by the revelations about the MAGIC decrypts. MAGIC was the cover name assigned to the intelligence garnered from the decryptions and translations of Japanese diplomatic messages.
     
    From September 1940 until the attack on Pearl Harbor, American cryptologists had read the most sensitive Japanese diplomatic messages and had kept President Franklin Roosevelt informed of every Japanese diplomatic and political policy turn. But MAGIC didn’t tell Roosevelt and other government leaders what the Japanese military was planning — that information was in Japanese Navy communications, and those ciphers and codes had largely resisted the efforts of American cryptologists to break them. Any investigation of the Pearl Harbor disaster would be as much a revelation of what we didn’t know as of what we did know.
     
    The issue of culpability would not be settled in one investigation, and for many people it was never really settled at all. Ultimately, eight hearings would be held during World War II and after, culminating in a joint congressional investigation beginning on November 15, 1945. What follows is a brief summary of each.
     
    The Roberts Commission, December 18, 1941-December 23, 1942: This commission, set by presidential executive order, was charged to determine the facts of the Japanese attack and establish if any dereliction of duty had occurred. MAGIC was discussed, but who received it and the details of the reports were not covered. Not surprisingly, the hearings were hostile to the area commanders, General Walter Short, USA, and Admiral Husband Kimmel, USN. The major political and military figures in Washington were exonerated.
     
    The Hart Inquiry, February 15, 1944-June 15, 1944: The Navy Department ordered Admiral Thomas Hart, former commander of the Asiatic Fleet, to conduct a one-man inquiry on Pearl Harbor so that important testimony would not be lost by hazard of war.
     
    The Army Pearl Harbor Board, July 20, 1944-October 20, 1944: In response to an act of Congress on July 13, 1944, the Army’s adjutant general convened hearings which took testimony from 151 witnesses. MAGIC evidence was taken only during the last week of the hearings. Surprisingly, and perhaps because radio intercept information was downplayed, the board censured Generals George Marshall and Leonard Gerow (War Plans Division) for not fully advising General Short of the situation vis-a-vis Japan.
     
    The Naval Court of Inquiry, July 24, 1944-October 19, 1944: A court of inquiry was convened in response to the same congressional act of July 13, 1944. The hearings made full use of MAGIC, though the testimony on it was classified and kept from the public. The findings of the inquiry completely exonerated Admiral Kimmel. Instead, Admiral Harold Stark, chief of naval operations at the time of Pearl Harbor, was blamed for failing to adequately advise Kimmel of the critical situation prior to the attack.
     
    The Clausen Investigation, November 23, 1944-September 12, 1945: By personal direction of the secretary of war, a one-man inquiry conducted by Major Henry Clausen was detailed to obtain testimony to supplement the Army Board’s completed investigation.
     
    The Hewitt Inquiry, May 14, 1945-July 11, 1945: Similar to the Clausen investigation, the Navy secretary ordered Admiral Kent Hewitt to continue the naval inquiry.
     
    The Clarke Investigation, September 14-16, 1944 and July 13, 1945-August 4, 1945: The secretary of war ordered Colonel Carter Clarke, head of the Military Intelligence Division, which, in turn, oversaw the army’s COMINT efforts, to investigate the handling of communications by the military intelligence division prior to Pearl Harbor.
     
    On November 15, 1945, the Joint Congressional Committee Investigation into the Pearl Harbor disaster held its first session. Established by a Joint Congressional Resolution, this investigation promised to be the most thorough possible. The Truman administration released all of the relevant classified documents, including the MAGIC translations. All of the participants that were still alive, with the exception of the seriously ill Secretary of War Stimson, were examined.
     
    In 1946, the committee’s findings were released in 40 volumes. A single volume report contained 12 findings that apportioned the blame among all the principals: Hawaiian area commanders as well as the War and Navy Departments. A minority report also censured President Roosevelt but concluded, like the majority findings, that Secretary Stimson, Secretary Knox, Generals Marshall and Gerow, and Admiral Stark, as well as General Short and Admiral Kimmel, were culpable for the disaster.
     
    The hope that the investigations would finally determine who was responsible was never fulfilled.
     
    Although many figures in Washington were blamed, Kimmel and Short would bear the onus for the disaster. But the fifty years following the investigations would see a stream of “revisionist” histories and rationalizations for the major figures, such as Admiral Kimmel. Conspiracies to suppress intelligence by Churchill, Roosevelt, and others would be “exposed,” and historians would “discover” new intelligence that existed which would have saved Pearl Harbor.
     
    However, the phoenix-like nature of the Pearl Harbor controversy proved only what one of Admiral Kimmel’s lawyers wrote to him in 1953: “Pearl Harbor never dies, and no living person has seen the end of it.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cybersecurity Speaker Series: Preparing for Post-Quantum

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    FORT MEADE, Md. – Cryptography is our first and last line of defense for the nation’s most sensitive systems. The quantum threat is real and it is imperative to modernize to protect these systems now.

    In the next video in the Cybersecurity Speaker Series released today, NSA’s Senior Cryptographic Authority, Dr. Adrian Stanger, and NSA’s Cryptographic Solutions Technical Director, Dr. William J. Layton, sat down with NSA’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center Chief of Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Defense, Bailey Bickley, to discuss preparing for Post-Quantum.

    “In theory if you make one of these [Quantum Computers], it can solve some math problems regular computers can’t,” said Layton.  “If you were to build a very large scale one that was very reliable, that’s still some distance in the future, it could break an enormous share of all the cryptography we use in the government at home or to run the internet. Essentially the foundation of security for a lot of the world would be shaken if we didn’t do anything about that.”

    Through the Cybersecurity Speaker Series, the center highlights NSA experts to share their insights, lessons, and contributions of their work in cybersecurity. 

    Cyber is an ever-changing landscape, and part of NSA’s mission is to look out to the horizon at new technologies that will become the next generation of threats. Quantum computing will be a game changer and will introduce new and advanced threats. A “Cryptographically Relevant” Quantum Computer has the potential to break existing public key crypto according to Stanger.

     “When we talk about cryptography here, we are not just talking about breaking encryption,” said Stanger, “but also the ability to masquerade as somebody to break authentication which has a bigger and more profound effects as that allows an adversary access to systems.”

    “The real challenge is for those who are managing systems who are custom building things,” said Layton. “For all those things in the world we forget to update or have been carefully built and rarely touched getting through and finding all those places that need to be fixed over the next few years is really the big challenge we are facing.”

    We have to move out now and plan for the future. Once the first cryptographically relevant quantum computer boots up, any system not upgraded to Quantum Resistant cryptography will be susceptible to attack.

    “The take away is “don’t panic!” But plan and prepare now,” said Bickley.

    View the latest Speaker Series installment below, along with the complete series on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter/X @NSACyber and on the CCC LinkedIn showcase page to track future releases.
     
    If you’re interested in joining NSA’s team, visit http://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nsa.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NSA’s Morrison Center Earns Gold LEED Certification for Sustainability

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    The Morrison Center, constructed on the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service (CSS) Washington East Campus, has received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification — the first project on the campus to earn the designation.

    “The Morrison Center demonstrates that innovative design, functionality, and environmental stewardship can coexist harmoniously to create exceptional spaces for the benefit of both people and the planet,” said Randy Westfall, chief of Installations & Logistics (I&L).

    Recent awards bestowed upon one of NSA’s newest buildings is further cementing NSA’s Military Construction (MILCON) team as a leader in sustainable and innovative builds.

    “Obtaining LEED Gold is a notable achievement, demonstrating that our next-generation operational mission space has been built with attention to both the workforce space and the larger environmental impact of our expansion,” said Jeffrey Williams, the environmental engineer responsible for East Campus sustainability.

    Williams noted that the accolades not only highlight the building’s outstanding design and functionality, but also demonstrate NSA’s commitment to environmental stewardship and efficient resource management. “The Morrison Center boasts state-of-the-art insulation, high-performance windows, and efficient HVAC systems to minimize energy consumption and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

    LEED certification is the premier, globally recognized symbol of sustainable building design and construction. While all the buildings on East Campus are built to be LEED Silver, the Morrison Center is the first NSA-owned building to achieve LEED Gold, according to Williams. This certification signifies that the Morrison Center meets stringent criteria for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development, he said.

    The facilities throughout the building feature low-flow fixtures to significantly decrease water usage, as well as use of water from the reclaimed water system in industrial sources, promoting responsible resource management, Williams explained. The structure prioritizes the health and well-being of its occupants by incorporating ample daylight, superior air quality control, and ergonomic design principles, he said.

    Additionally, the facility incorporates lush green spaces for storm water management integrated into the East Campus design, along with a rooftop garden and outdoor gathering areas. According to Williams, this was done to foster a connection with nature and provide a serene environment away from the mission tempo.

    Finally, during the construction — managed by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District East Campus Integrated Program Office — materials were sustainably sourced. From construction to interior finishes, the building utilizes locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials with recycled content, minimizing the impact on natural resources, Williams said.
     
    Under LEED, an evaluated project scores points across six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment quality (IEQ), and design innovation. Certification is achieved by documenting compliance with requirements in each category.

    “The higher the degree of compliance, the higher the certification level,” Williams said. “Achieving LEED Gold demonstrates a high degree of attention to the sustainable aspects of the building’s construction.”

    The certificate marks the latest significant recognition captured by the state-of-the-art building since it opened late last year. The Morrison Center, which serves as the new home for the National Security Operations Center and the Director, also won the Association of General Contractors Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering and Collaboration Award and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) Intelligence Community (IC) Facilities Program of the Year.

    The Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering and Collaboration Award is a highly coveted honor presented annually to construction projects that demonstrate excellence and achieve success by implementing the principles of partnering.

    According to MILCON Chief Matt Boren, construction of the 843,000-square foot facility was successful due to six guiding principles established early on: putting the mission first, safety, operational readiness/schedule, quality, teamwork, and team experience.

    “This project showcases partnering at its finest,” Boren said. “Collaboration and communication among stakeholders and the team’s commitment to a ‘mission first’ mindset resulted in a facility of exceptional quality that will play a vital role in protecting our national security for decades to come.”

    The IC Facilities Program of the Year award recognizes buildings that demonstrate excellence in facility management, maintenance, and operations. The Morrison Center surpassed other facilities projects in the IC by implementing cutting-edge technologies and systems that optimize energy consumption, enhance occupant comfort, and streamline maintenance processes, Boren said.

    By employing intelligent building automation, advanced energy management systems, and efficient waste management strategies, the facility showcases a commitment to operational efficiency and sustainable practices, Boren said.

    The Morrison Center is a testament to the possibilities of sustainable architecture and design, according to Westfall.

    “The receipt of these awards solidifies NSA’s position as a trailblazer in the IC,” Westfall said. “By combining architectural ingenuity, operational excellence, and environmental leadership, this extraordinary structure has set new benchmarks for sustainable building practices.”

    As I&L looks to the future of the East Campus, the Morrison Center stands as an inspiration for architects, developers, and facility managers worldwide, Westfall explained.

    MILCON is already applying the lessons learned in collaboration and design to create future structures on East Campus.

    “Both the Chiari Center and the Kenny Center are being constructed with the goal to further establish the East Campus as the global state-of-the-art IC campus,” Westfall said.
     

    Interested in learning more about joining NSA’s mission? Visit NSA.gov/Careers for more information. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NSA Volunteers Give Back at Sandalwood Elementary

    Source: National Security Agency NSA

    BALTIMORE, MD. — Seven National Security Agency (NSA) employees took the phrase “giving back to the community” to heart during a recent visit to Sandalwood Elementary School where they shared cyber safety tips with 4th and 5th grade students and talked about their careers at NSA.
     
    A new NSA K-12 pilot program called “All In” coordinated the volunteers’ visit. The All In program supports under-resourced elementary schools in the counties surrounding NSA’s Maryland headquarters with STEM and world culture education. The program’s goal is to increase awareness and knowledge to build the next generation of citizens and professionals.
     
    In celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, the volunteers shared cyber safety tips, such as password security, the good and bad of geotagging, and how to stay safe on social media and while emailing. They also highlighted their own cyber careers and experiences.
     
    “The students were engaged in the discussions, eager to share their own stories related to the topics, and walked away with a better understanding on how to be cyber safe at home and in the classroom,” said Jen Greenwaldt, the K-12 Outreach/All In Baltimore County liaison. “Seeing the excitement and engagement of students at these 4th and 5th grade levels was impressive. It made me more aware of the need to educate students on this important topic.”
     
    For Servia D., an engineer at NSA, the visit was personally rewarding.
     
    “I was pleasantly surprised to see how engaged the students were, and how much they already knew about cybersecurity topics at a very young age,” she said. “I am truly fortunate to be part of an Agency that is highly invested into giving back to the community and helping cultivate our future generation, especially in under-represented school communities.”

    To augment Sandalwood Elementary School’s cybersecurity curriculum, the NSA volunteers also shared cybersecurity resources from the National Institute of Standards & Technology and the National Initiative for Cyber Education with the school’s teachers.
     
    “With the evolution of technology and the next generation becoming more in-tune with the cyber world, it’s imperative to embrace the National Cybersecurity Workforce and Education Strategy to instill the importance of cyber safety,” Greenwaldt said.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Over 2 500 quality job vacancies to be offered at Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme Job Fair

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Over 2 500 quality job vacancies to be offered at Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme Job Fair
    Over 2 500 quality job vacancies to be offered at Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme Job Fair
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme (REA Scheme) Job Fair at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai on October 17 and 18, providing a large number of vacancies from various industries for job seekers, particularly middle-aged and elderly people.          Around 60 organisations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering over 2 500 quality full-time or part-time job vacancies from various industries, including retail, catering, hotel, manufacturing and transport industries. More than 20 and 30 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot on their respective days. A wide variety of positions will be offered, including engineer, assistant branch manager, concierge, nurse, administrative officer, legal assistant, engineering supervisor, accounting/book-keeping clerk, assistant digital marketing officer, meal assembly services operator, cook, bookstore assistant, clinical assistant, Chinese medicine dispenser and packaging assistant. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $11,000 to $24,000. Around 81 per cent of the vacancies are full-time jobs. About 97 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Seven education level or below. Around 60 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience. Job seekers can visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details of the vacancies.                Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries on the LD’s employment services and details of REA Scheme at its counter inside the venue. In addition, the job fair on October 17 includes an experience-sharing session featuring artist Kwok Chun-on and REA Scheme participants. The service organisation of REA Scheme and various employers will also deliver talks on the same day.          The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at 1/F, Southorn Stadium, 111 Johnston Road, Wan Chai (near MTR Wan Chai Station Exit A3). Admission is free, with final admission time at 5pm each day.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 15, 2024Issued at HKT 10:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement by Vice President Kamala  Harris Marking One Year Since the Killing of Wadee  Alfayoumi

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    One year ago, Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American Muslim child, was stabbed to death at home. His mother, Hanan Shaheen, was stabbed 12 times in the same senseless attack. 
    There is no place for hate in America. Our nation’s founding principles tell us that every person should have the freedom to live safe from violence, hate, and bigotry – and no American, of any background, should be made to feel unsafe in our nation. That includes Muslim and Arab Americans, who have been a vital part of the American story since our founding days. As I told Wadee’s mother, Hanan, when I spoke with her, I condemn the heinous attack against her family, and all forms of hate and bigotry against Muslim and Arab Americans.
    Over the past year, we have seen a rise in Islamophobic and anti-Arab incidents in America, such as bullying, online harassment, and hate crimes. These hate-fueled attacks are unacceptable, and stand against our fundamental values. President Biden and I have made taking on hate a national priority, and we will continue to do everything in our power to combat hate in all its forms, and against any community. We must be unequivocal: in America, no one should be made to fight hate alone.
    Today and every day, Doug and I hold Wadee’s memory in our thoughts. And we recommit to doing all we can to continue building a country where all people can live safe from hate, bigotry, and violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Vice President Kamala  Harris on the Passing of Lilly  Ledbetter

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Lilly Ledbetter was a tireless leader in the fight for equal rights. 
    After finding out that she had been systematically underpaid for nearly two decades compared to her male colleagues, Lilly became an advocate for equal pay. Her efforts contributed to the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which strengthened protections against pay discrimination, and which was the first bill signed into law during the Obama-Biden Administration.
    I have always believed when we lift up the economic status of women, we lift up the economic status of families and communities – and all of society benefits. That’s why I co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act in the United States Senate, a bill that Lilly was a powerful supporter of, and which would further increase pay transparency. And that’s why I continue to fight for the Paycheck Fairness Act – to honor Lilly’s legacy, and continue building a more fair and equitable future for women, and all Americans.
    Lilly’s advocacy has improved the lives of millions, and will inspire generations to come. Doug and I send our condolences and prayers to the Ledbetter family. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Winston Peters’ $100 billion infrastructure fund is the right idea. Politics-as-usual is the problem

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    New Zealand’s infrastructure woes are a constant political pain point. From ageing water systems to congested roads and assets increasingly threatened by climate change, the country faces mammoth upgrading and future-proofing challenges.

    Enter Winston Peters and NZ First with a surprise proposal for a NZ$100 billion “Future Fund” dedicated to infrastructure investment. Sounds promising – but the proposal’s success will hinge on getting the details right and, more importantly, getting the politics out of infrastructure planning.

    Unveiled at NZ First’s annual convention last weekend, the idea bears striking similarities to challenges previously highlighted by urban planning and infrastructure experts.

    The country currently has an estimated infrastructure deficit of over $100 billion, which aligns eerily with the scale of Peters’ proposed fund.

    The Future Fund proposal sounds impressive on paper. Ring-fenced from political meddling and focused on national interests, it’s billed as a silver bullet for infrastructure funding problems.

    Peters claims he’s taken a page from the Singapore and Ireland playbooks – potentially breaking New Zealand’s habit of treating big infrastructure projects like they’re part of a three-year plan.

    Long-term savings

    As always, the devil is in the details – and the Future Fund is light on them. How exactly would this fund be financed? How would projects be selected and prioritised? And, crucially, how would it be insulated from the political interference it claims to avoid?

    The potential benefits are significant. Research suggests that a stable, long-term approach to infrastructure investment and better utilisation of existing assets could unlock substantial savings – potentially up to 40% of total project costs.

    A well-managed $100 billion fund could provide the certainty and consistency needed to achieve these efficiencies.

    The scale of the fund also aligns with the urgent need for a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. From modernising water systems to expanding road and rail networks, and ensuring resilience against climate change, the required investment is indeed massive.

    Politics is the problem

    Yet the proposal faces significant hurdles, not the least of which is from NZ First’s own coalition partners.

    The National Party’s previous commitments to curb borrowing seem at odds with a fund of this magnitude. Peters argues that debt for wealth creation and infrastructure differs from debt for consumption.

    That’s a valid point, but one that may struggle to gain traction in a political environment focused on reducing overall government debt.

    The proposal also raises questions about how it would interact with existing initiatives, such as the National Investment Agency set up by Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. It’s unclear whether these entities would complement each other or create redundancies and inefficiencies.

    Perhaps the most critical question is whether this fund, despite its claimed independence, can rise above the political cycle. We have a long and exhausting history of proposing infrastructure for political gain, where one government’s “vital infrastructure” becomes the next’s “wasteful spending”.

    Time for a 30-year plan

    While the Future Fund could be a big move in the right direction, we must also rethink how we plan (and pay) for infrastructure completely.

    A good start would be a 30-year plan that all political parties can get behind, like the United Kingdom’s National Infrastructure Assessment. This would give us a real long-term vision rather than promises that change with each election cycle.

    We should also look at more innovative ways to fund projects. Value capture, which leverages rising property values near new infrastructure to help finance its development, helped build London’s Crossrail. And Australia is “asset recycling” from old infrastructure into new projects.

    These aren’t just theoretical ideas. They could change how we build what New Zealand needs without the risks of entirely relying on taxpayers.

    Ending the boom-bust cycle

    Efficiency must also be a priority. Time-of-use charges for roads, already implemented in cities such as Stockholm and Singapore and proposed for Auckland, could reduce congestion and wasteful spending on unnecessary road expansions.

    Volumetric charging for water, as seen in the Kāpiti Coast, can significantly reduce water waste without massive new investments.

    New Zealand could also break free from its boom-bust infrastructure cycle by establishing an agency outside the political realm to manage the cash Winston Peters is proposing.

    A truly independent infrastructure body, similar to Infrastructure Australia, could provide the continuity and expertise needed to see projects through political cycles.

    Money isn’t the only issue here. Politics is the real roadblock. Right now, every election cycle, priorities change, projects fly out the window, and the bill for desperately needed infrastructure only gets bigger.

    The Future Fund seems like a step in the right direction. But without also overhauling how we make decisions about infrastructure, it could end up being just another political football.

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

    – ref. Winston Peters’ $100 billion infrastructure fund is the right idea. Politics-as-usual is the problem – https://theconversation.com/winston-peters-100-billion-infrastructure-fund-is-the-right-idea-politics-as-usual-is-the-problem-241346

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Glenholme — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Justin Rushton

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Colchester County District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 30-year-old Justin Rushton of Glenholme.

    He was last seen on October 13 in either Debert or Truro, and is believed to be driving a black Mazda truck with a grey hood.

    Justin Rushton is described as being 5-feet-11 and 180 pounds. He has blond hair and blue eyes. Clothing description is not known at this time.

    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 Justin Rushton is asked to contact Colchester County District RCMP at 902-893-6820 or your local police. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at http://www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Anderson Road/SH84 roundabout, Wānaka, work starting early November at nights

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Wānaka residents and people who use the SH84 roundabout with Anderson Road will need to build in an extra 10 minutes for a week at night from early November, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    SH84, the Wānaka-Luggate highway, at the Anderson Road roundabout is getting fresh asphalt ahead of the holiday season.  The roundabout area will be reduced to a single lane for repairs and re-sealing with traffic detoured around the site.

    Traffic speeds will be reduced to 30km/h around the road work site.

    “There will be detours in place for drivers who would normally take Anderson Road. Mt Iron Drive entrance will be closed off Anderson Road also, but residential access will be managed for both those streets. The journey along the detour routes could add ten minutes to the normal trip,” says Nicole Felts, Journey Manager for NZTA in Otago.

    “This work is weather dependent so if it rains it could be postponed to the next run of dry nights.”

    Works are planned to start Sunday 3 November and run through to Friday night, 8 November – from 8pm each night to 5.30am the following day.

    Detour details – for light vehicles, utes, vans

    Detours for southbound traffic Anderson Road: Turn right at Link Way, left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Plantation Road. Continue on Plantation to turn left onto Beacon Point. Beacon Point Rd to Lakeside Road. Turn left onto Ardmore Street, continue through RAB to SH84.

    Westbound SH84 to Anderson Road: No right turn into Anderson Road. Traffic to continue through roundabout and traffic signals to Ardmore St, veering right. Right at Lakeside Road, continue to Beacon Point Road. Right onto Plantation Road to Reece Crescent. Left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Links Way.

    Eastbound SH84 to Anderson Road: No left turn into Anderson Road. Traffic to continue through to Sir Tim Wallace roundabout and complete U-Turn to return to Anderson Road roundabout. Traffic to continue through to Ardmore Street, veering right at roundabout. Right at Lakeside Road, continue to Beacon Point Road. Right onto Plantation Road to Reece Crescent. Left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Links Way.

    • Residents on Anderson Road and Mt Iron Drive will be allowed access.
    • HPMV and 50Max: No entry to Anderson Road during these closure times – normal access up to 82 Anderson Road (the business area) won’t be affected as these businesses are not open during the closure times.
    • Over-dimension loads: Can be accommodated through site with prior notice.
    • Emergency vehicles will be accommodated throughout.

    Jounrney Planner updates on this work(external link)

    SH84 and Anderson Road roundabout is indicated by the red road cone icon.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech to the Institute of Finance Professionals NZ, 2024 Conference

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Kia ora koutou

    Greetings from Wellington. I am sorry I can’t be with you in person today, but I’m delighted that I can talk to you virtually. 

    I’d like to begin by acknowledging your chair Bill Goodwin and members of your board.

    I’d also like to acknowledge the fitness of your conference theme: “Adaptability – highlighting the imperative for both corporate and government investment to be more considered and impactful in light of the financial constraints on governments and the increased costs of capital.”

    That’s quite a mouthful. But, as a finance minister who inherited a structural deficit and a challenging set of circumstances, both domestically and internationally, those are themes dear to my heart. 

    New Zealand, like other countries, has faced significant economic challenges in recent years.  Many businesses and households are doing it tough. High inflation has increased household costs and squeezed business margins.

    However, the two most recent ANZ Business Outlook surveys and the New Zealand Herald’s Mood of the Board room survey suggest you and your colleagues in the business world are increasingly positive about the outlook for the future. 

    The green shoots of business confidence are re-emerging.

    I share your optimism. 

    We’ll get the latest update on inflation tomorrow when Stats NZ releases the September quarter inflation data, but all the indications are that inflation is tracking back down to the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. 

    Certainly, that’s the Reserve Bank’s view. It’s decision last week to drop the Official Cash rate by 50 basis points was a welcome fillip for businesses and households. 

    It followed the 25-basis point drop in August.

    Lower interest rates mean families get to keep more of their money and they increase the opportunities for businesses to invest, innovate and expand.

    How people are impacted by interest rate reductions will depend on the terms of their mortgages – whether they are floating or fixed and, if fixed, for what length of time and at what rates.  

    The good news is that right now roughly half of New Zealand’s mortgage lending is either fixed or floating for a period of six months or fewer. 

    That means the impact of a lower official cash rate will flow through to households much faster than might typically be the case. And the impact will be significant.

    To give one example, a family with a 25-year, $500,000 mortgage could expect to be just over $100 a fortnight better off if its rate dropped from 7 to 6.25 per cent.

    Add that to the tax relief that took effect on 31 July and the FamilyBoost childcare payments that many households are now receiving, and we can confidently say that large numbers of families are now significantly better off than they were a year ago.

    Budget 2024 was another important step in the right direction. It put the Government’s books on a credible path back to fiscal sustainability. 

    The Crown accounts are forecast to return to surplus in 2028 and net core Crown debt is forecast to start trending down as a percentage of gross domestic product the same year. 

    This does not mean that our financial and economic challenges have magically evaporated. It also does not mean that we can pat ourselves on the back and relax the focus that we have re-introduced on fiscal discipline.  

    Fiscal discipline is not a one-off, one-Budget affair. It is an ongoing state of mind. 

    It’s not easily achieved, but it is fundamental to our prospects.

    There is no time in recorded history in which a country has enjoyed a continuous period of economic prosperity without a stable macroeconomic environment. 

    What does that mean in practice? It means low inflation, a balance between government expenditure and revenue and a balance between domestic demand and exports. 

    In other words, governments cannot live beyond their means for sustained periods of time without damaging the future prospects of their citizens.

    Our Government doesn’t just think about constraining future government expenditure. We are equally intent on driving more value from the significant investment the Government already makes across the economy. 

    That means delivering more effective management of the considerable assets we own and making better choices about where and how we use taxpayers’ money.

    For me, the ultimate purpose of strengthening the economy and improving the state of the books is not to change the colour of the ink in those books. It is to improve outcomes for people. 

    As we look ahead, the Government is squarely focused on improving the growth prospects of the New Zealand economy.  

    Growing our economy faster requires us to improve the attractiveness of New Zealand as a launch place for business and exporting, it means attracting and retaining people who choose this as the country where they want to develop and deploy their talents, to start new businesses, to expand existing ones, to invest and drive innovation.   

    It’s a competitive world, and so New Zealand needs to constantly improve our proposition to the world. 

    As we look to the future and consider a globe grappling with challenges to climate, peace and stability, our country’s fundamentals are excellent.  

    In an unstable, hungry world, we are a peaceful, food-producing country blessed with secure borders, strong institutions, a strong sense of community, well-established trade relationships, a reputation for producing innovative and enterprising people, and abundant natural resources.

    Even so, our country has not been making the most of these advantages. 

    We still have much to do to develop our human capital, to make this a more attractive place to invest, to boost our trade with the world, to encourage innovation and harness new technologies, to ensure we have a foundation of world-class infrastructure, and to reduce the regulatory and bureaucratic static that can hamper the deployment of good ideas.

    The Government’s reform agenda is about realising the untapped potential we see in so many dimensions of New Zealand life.    

    We know that to be successful in driving growth we need you and your colleagues in the business community on board.  

    The previous government distrusted private capital and discounted the value of private sector innovation. 

    This Government’s attitude is different. 

    We recognise that you have a critical role to play in innovating, investing and developing markets. Our role as government is to create the framework that encourages the business sector to invest, innovate, employ and take risks.  

    Accordingly, our growth agenda focuses on five key areas. 

    They are not just about the next few years, but about the next few decades. 

    First, we have to start with our people – human capital. 

    We as New Zealanders have a deserved reputation for innovating, rolling up our sleeves and getting on with things. And we still score relatively well in international education tests, but not as well as we used to. 

    That is why Education Minister Erica Stanford is refocusing the education system on the core skills that make the most difference to kids’ prospects – reading, writing and mathematics. 

    She is doing so not just to improve the economic outlook but because lifting educational achievement is the best thing we can do to address social inequality. Education has the power to transform lives.

    Making better use of our human capital also requires us to deliver more effective interventions for those citizens who may be left behind – individuals, families and communities whose lives are disrupted by difficult childhoods, educational under-achievement, unemployment, violence, crime; people whose innate human potential goes unfulfilled.  

    This is where our work in social investment comes in. Our Government wants to better harness the considerable resources New Zealand already invests in well-intended interventions for New Zealanders in need. 

    We want to devolve more power to the non-government organisations and iwi who often know better how to deliver for the needs of their community, and who are eager to act on data and evidence about what works for who.

    Our social investment agency is now up and running, is developing prototype social investment contracts, designing a social investment fund and working across Government to take a more rigorous approach to the social investments we make. 

    Second of the themes in our reform agenda is trade and investment. 

    Congratulations to Trade Minister Todd McClay for last month concluding the negotiations for New Zealand’s fastest-ever free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates. 

    The negotiations, which will save New Zealand exporters millions of dollars, took just four months. 

    There will be more agreements to come. 

    And we are looking not just at growing our exports, but, equally importantly, at improving capital flows into New Zealand. 

    The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (the OECD) has identified our foreign investment regime as one of the most restrictive in the developed world. 

    As a result, our stock of foreign direct investment is equivalent to about 40 per cent of GDP which compares to the OECD average of about 50 per cent. 

    This low level of investment not only reduces our opportunities to grow, it also slows our access to frontier technologies like artificial intelligence which are changing the way our competitors and trading partners operate. 

    Foreign direct investment is recognised as a key vector for the transfer of cutting-edge technology.  

    We’ve taken initial steps to address this imbalance. Earlier this year Associate Finance Minister David Seymour directed the Overseas Investment Office to administer the overseas investment regime in a way that:

    • minimised compliance costs; 
    • imposed a burden no broader than necessary; and
    • expedited application processes. 

    As a result, every consent application received and processed after his directive came into effect on 6 June has been decided in under half of the statutory timeframe.

    You can expect to hear more from us on this. 

    The Government will make a new round of significant reforms to the Overseas Investment Act next year. We want to put out the welcome mat to investors who want to help grow this country.  

    Third, science and innovation. 

    New Zealand has a proud history of scientific innovation and putting those innovations to good use. 

    In the 1880s the foundations of the New Zealand meat and dairy products industries were laid by the entrepreneurs who took advantage of developments in refrigeration technology to successfully ship frozen meat and dairy products to Britain for the first time. 

    More recently, Sir Peter Jackson, Dame Fran Walsh and Sir Richard Taylor have made Wellington the global centre of film special effects, Sir Peter Beck’s Rocket Lab is leading the world in the development of small, low-cost rockets and the development of a disease resistant strain of golden kiwifruit by scientists at Plant and Food Research has turbo-charged the kiwifruit industry. 

    I could go on – Ernest Rutherford, the Hamilton jetboat, bungy jumping… you get the picture. We need more of this sort of innovation. 

    The Government is doing its part.

    Judith Collins as Science, Innovation and Technology Minister, has announced the outdated, effective ban on gene technology will be scrapped by the end of next year. 

    Doing so will enable researchers and companies to further develop and commercialise their innovative products, improve health outcomes and help New Zealand to adapt to climate change. Ending the ban has the potential to deliver massive economic benefits to New Zealand.

    Judith is overseeing a shake-up of the state science system to better focus it on our economic needs and commercial opportunities.  

    And she is championing efforts to increase the uptake of artificial intelligence by New Zealand businesses as well as efforts to make it easier for businesses and people wanting to interact with government agencies to access government information and support by using AI. 

    Wearing another of his hats, Todd McClay announced earlier this year as agriculture minister that the Government was partnering with the a2 Milk Company, ANZ and ASB to put another $18 million into AgriZero, the joint venture established to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. 

    The injection took total funding for AgriZero to $183 million over its first four years, half of which is coming from the Crown. This public-private partnership approach is one we want to build on. 

    Fourth, regulation and competition. 

    It sounds dry but removing red tape and making this an easier place in which to get things done really matters, from fixing up the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), to improving building consent processes to having more pro-competitive prudential regulation.

    One of the most significant regulatory reforms our Government is making is removing the burden that the Resource Management Act has imposed on New Zealand. 

    That law has held back housing development, pushed the dream of home ownership out of reach of many young Kiwis, inhibited development and held back productivity and growth. 

    We are fixing the Act, and we have started with the fast-track regime announced by Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop which will speed up consenting for 149 housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, mining, aquaculture, farming, and quarrying projects. 

    In the process, the new regime will deliver measurable benefits to regional New Zealand and help to stimulate growth nationally. 

    Fixing the Act does not mean we are throwing away environmental protections. But it does mean we are getting rid of the unnecessary red tape and delays that have held New Zealand back. 

    Improving New Zealand’s competition settings is equally important. In its most recent survey of the New Zealand economy, the OECD highlighted the importance of this work, given the small size of our population and the tendency for sectors to become dominated by a small clutch of players.

    International experience shows that competition is one of the most important drivers of long-term growth and productivity.   

    You’ll have seen that our Government is taking up the recommendations of the recent Commerce Commission inquiry into banking competition.  

    We are concerned that the two-tier oligopoly has meant Kiwis are missing out on the competitive pricing and services they deserve from their banks.

    I have asked the Treasury to engage with Kiwibank’s parent company on options for raising new capital to enable it to be a more disruptive competitor for the big four banks. 

    Potential sources of investment include KiwiSaver funds, New Zealand investments funds and everyday New Zealanders. I will take proposals to Cabinet later this year. 

    We are also alive to challenges in the grocery and electricity sectors. 

    Finally, infrastructure. 

    New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit that is holding back productivity and that has been worsened by a poor track record of planning, consenting and delivering major projects. 

    We’re working to fix that, by implementing tried and true approaches from more successful economies.

    We hear what business is saying. You want an enduring framework and an enduring pipeline. So do we, and we are applying lessons learned in Australia to our infrastructure reforms. 

    One of these is the importance of bipartisanship. Given the long-term nature of investment in infrastructure it is desirable to have as much buy-in as possible from different political parties. 

    To that end, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has written to the infrastructure spokespeople of each party represented in Parliament inviting them to be briefed by the Infrastructure Commission on the development of a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan.

    Chris is also proposing that Parliament hold an annual special debate on the plan. The debate won’t change the content of the plan because it will be developed independently, but the debate will show where parties agree, where we don’t, and where there is room for compromise in the best interests of New Zealanders. 

    It will come as no surprise to you to hear, that a National-led government sees private capital as key to funding our ambitious work programme and closing New Zealand’s infrastructure gap faster. 

    We are currently in the process of refreshing the policy frameworks that enable private capital to invest in Crown infrastructure. 

    This includes the public private partnership (PPP) framework and unsolicited proposals guidance. We look forward to working further with you on the development of the pipeline.  

    I’ll stop now to leave some time for questions. 

    You can see from the steps we’ve taken and the priorities I’ve outlined that this is a government that is hungry and ambitious for New Zealand. 

    We feel your sense of urgency, we value your expertise, connections and energy, and we want you on board as we seek to tap New Zealand’s untapped potential. 

    You want bold and I want it too. 

    Together, let’s make this the best country in the world in which to do business and raise our families. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM calls for complete, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for an immediate, complete and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a telephone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Wang also called for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

    Wang said that the international community is deeply worried about the prolonged escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

    Noting that all lives are equally precious, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, Wang said that the humanitarian disaster in Gaza must end and that countering violence with violence cannot truly address the legitimate concerns of all parties.

    Pointing out that the conflict in Gaza has once again demonstrated that the Palestinian question remains a core issue in the Middle East, Wang said the voices of the international community are clear, which hope all parties return to the political path of a “two-state solution” as soon as possible. Doing so would realize the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine and the harmonious coexistence of the Jewish and Arab peoples. This is the right way to achieve stability and lasting security for all parties, including Israel, Wang said.

    Wang said that China is highly concerned about the tension between Israel and Iran and believes that renewed conflict and turmoil in the region serves the interests of no one.

    Wang stated that China urges all parties to proceed with caution to prevent falling into a vicious circle. He said China is not self-interested in the Middle East and never engages in geopolitical contests.

    As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always stood on the side of peace, international law and truth and will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and restoring peace in the region, Wang said.

    Wang stressed that United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is mandated by Security Council resolutions to carry out peacekeeping missions, adding that the Israeli side should take concrete measures to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel.

    The two sides also exchanged views on China-Israel relations. Katz said that developing relations with China is an established policy in Israel and serves the common interests of the two countries, adding that the Israeli government abides by its consistent position on the Taiwan question.

    Wang said that China maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward Israel and is willing to resume exchanges in all aspects as soon as possible when the situation eases and promote the sustainable development of the innovative comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

    Wang said he hopes the Israeli side will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and nationals in Israel.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Kite industry thrives in Weifang, east China’s Shandong

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

    Kite industry thrives in Weifang, east China’s Shandong

    Updated: October 15, 2024 09:47 Xinhua
    Creative cultural products themed on kites are pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. The kite culture and thriving kite industry in Weifang have a long and rich history. In 2006, the manufacturing skill of Weifang kites was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Nowadays, Weifang is home to more than 600 kite manufacturers, with their annual output value exceeding 2 billion yuan (about 280 million U.S. dollars) and their products sold to over 50 countries and regions. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers make kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker makes the skeleton of kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Staff members display kite samples at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers make kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member displays kite samples at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A miniature kite is pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker paints the pattern of a kite at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Creative cultural products themed on kites are pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker makes kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A miniature kite is pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Guo Hongli, a kite-making inheritor, showcases a traditional dragon-shaped kite in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Traditional village in S China turns tourist attraction, hot spot for study tours

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

    Traditional village in S China turns tourist attraction, hot spot for study tours

    Updated: October 15, 2024 09:42 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village in Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. Home to unique ancient dwellings established during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) along with profound cultural legacies, Nalu Village also boasts many kinds of specialty food made with conventional techniques. Included in the first batch of traditional villages under state protection in 2012, Nalu is now turning itself into a tourist attraction and a hot spot for study tours. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A teacher and her students visit the site of an ancient school at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A teacher and her students visit the site of an ancient school at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A teacher instructs students to make fans at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A teacher and her students visit an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A villager walks in an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village at sunset in Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Villagers trim vegetables at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists walk in an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist poses for photos at an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a villager walking along an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows fields at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A villager packs homemade rice wine at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists dance at an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a tourist dancing at an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows a villager walking along an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to play constructive role in cooling down Mideast conflict — FM

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Concerning the regional tensions in the Middle East, China will continue to demonstrate a sense of duty as a responsible major country and play a constructive role in promoting the cooling down of the conflict, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

    The two sides spoke highly of China-Iran relations, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining exchanges at all levels and promoting practical cooperation.

    Araghchi said Iran is deeply concerned about the risk of an overall escalation of the current regional situation and does not want to see a further expansion of conflict.

    Iran highly values China’s influence in international affairs and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to cool down the situation through diplomatic means, Araghchi said, adding that Israel should avoid taking risks and proceed cautiously.

    Wang said that the negative impacts of the current Gaza conflict are clearly spilling over, and regional tensions are escalating continuously.

    China has always advocated for resolving hotspot issues through dialogue and consultation and opposes exacerbating tensions, expanding conflicts and taking military adventures, Wang said, calling on all parties to make more efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.

    Wang said that China will proceed from the merits of the issue, strengthen communication among all parties, build a broader international consensus, and pool the strengths of all parties.

    Wang said that China is pleased to see the Iranian government carry out mediation diplomacy, enhance understanding with relevant parties and improve relations with regional countries.

    China supports the historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and is willing to jointly push for a positive outcome from the second meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee to consolidate the momentum of reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability, Wang added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hezbollah says clashing with Israeli forces in S. Lebanon

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Hezbollah said Monday that it clashed or has been clashing with Israeli forces in several border villages in southern Lebanon.

    “The Islamic Resistance fighters remain engaged in violent clashes with the Israeli enemy forces since afternoon in the village of Aita al-Shaab, using various types of machine guns, rockets, and artillery shells. The clashes are still ongoing,” it said in a statement.

    The Shiite group announced later in another statement targeting with guided missiles three Israeli Merkava tanks on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, saying, “The tanks were seen burning with those inside them, with flames rising from them.”

    In other separate statements, the group said it had confronted Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate the outskirts of the village of Markaba, the Labbouneh axis, and the plain of Khallet Wardeh in southern Lebanon.

    It also claimed to have fired rockets at several military bases, barracks, and settlements in northern and central Israel, including Haifa, Netanya, and Karmiel, among others.

    Meanwhile, the Lebanese army reported Monday that it monitored in the afternoon the launch of several drones and about 100 surface-to-surface missiles from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel.

    Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes on Monday carried out about 25 raids on southern Lebanon and 18 more in eastern Lebanon.

    Also on Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes killed three people and injured 84 others across Lebanon on Sunday, bringing the death toll since the beginning of the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict on Oct. 8, 2023, to 2,309 and injuries to 10,782.

    Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. In early October, the army began what it said was a “limited” ground campaign, targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to play constructive role in cooling down Mideast conflict

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Concerning the regional tensions in the Middle East, China will continue to demonstrate a sense of duty as a responsible major country and play a constructive role in promoting the cooling down of the conflict, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

    The two sides spoke highly of China-Iran relations, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining exchanges at all levels and promoting practical cooperation.

    Araghchi said Iran is deeply concerned about the risk of an overall escalation of the current regional situation and does not want to see a further expansion of conflict.

    Iran highly values China’s influence in international affairs and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to cool down the situation through diplomatic means, Araghchi said, adding that Israel should avoid taking risks and proceed cautiously.

    Wang said that the negative impacts of the current Gaza conflict are clearly spilling over, and regional tensions are escalating continuously.

    China has always advocated for resolving hotspot issues through dialogue and consultation and opposes exacerbating tensions, expanding conflicts and taking military adventures, Wang said, calling on all parties to make more efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.

    Wang said that China will proceed from the merits of the issue, strengthen communication among all parties, build a broader international consensus, and pool the strengths of all parties.

    Wang said that China is pleased to see the Iranian government carry out mediation diplomacy, enhance understanding with relevant parties and improve relations with regional countries.

    China supports the historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and is willing to jointly push for a positive outcome from the second meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee to consolidate the momentum of reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability, Wang added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: India, Canada expel each other’s diplomats in tit-for-tat move

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    India on Monday asked six Canadian diplomats in New Delhi to leave the country by Saturday hours after it decided to withdraw its high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other “targeted diplomats and officials” from Canada.

    Canada has also announced expulsion of six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner.

    The development came after Ottawa said the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats are “persons of interest” in a matter related to a Canadian investigation, a claim strongly rejected by New Delhi.

    New Delhi and Ottawa were locked in a diplomatic row in September 2023, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents played a role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, near Vancouver in June. India outrightly denied the allegations and described them as “absurd and motivated”.

    The dispute was followed by the tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions between the two sides.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s foreign trade maintains stable growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A drone photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024 shows a view of the container terminal of Rizhao Port in Rizhao, east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s total goods imports and exports expanded 5.3 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first three quarters of this year, maintaining stable growth, official data showed Monday.

    The goods trade volume expanded to 32.33 trillion yuan (about 4.57 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-September period, reaching a new high, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    Exports rose 6.2 percent year on year to 18.62 trillion yuan, while imports climbed 4.1 percent year on year to 13.71 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, the GAC data showed.

    China’s export product structure continued to improve during the first three quarters, Wang Lingjun, deputy head of the GAC, told a State Council Information Office press conference.

    Mechanical and electrical products continued to dominate China’s exports during the period, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total, according to Wang.

    Specifically, exports of high-end equipment, integrated circuits, automobiles and home appliances rose 43.4 percent, 22 percent, 22.5 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively.

    “The current domestic and international environment is increasingly complex, posing challenges to the development of China’s foreign trade,” said Wang. “Overall, thanks to the dual drive of supply and demand, the country’s imports and exports have maintained stable growth.”

    Moreover, “it is the first time in history for the scale of imports and exports to exceed 10 trillion yuan for three consecutive quarters,” Wang added.

    Various types of market entities have remained active in the first three quarters. Private enterprises achieved imports and exports of 17.78 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, contributing 93.8 percent to the overall growth of foreign trade.

    Imports and exports of foreign-invested enterprises increased by 1.1 percent, achieving growth for two consecutive quarters.

    Driven by stable growth in industrial production and consumption markets, China’s import volume of bulk commodities increased by 5 percent year on year in the first three quarters.

    Among them, energy products such as crude oil, natural gas and coal reached 901 million tonnes, an increase of 4.8 percent year on year. Metal ore imports totaled 1.14 billion tonnes, an increase of 4.9 percent year on year.

    During the same period, imports of consumer goods exceeded 1.3 trillion yuan.

    From an international perspective, market diversification is steadily progressing. In the first three quarters, China’s trade with over 160 countries and regions around the world achieved growth.

    During the period, China’s trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached 15.21 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent, accounting for 47.1 percent of the total.

    Trade with other BRICS countries increased by 5.1 percent year on year, trade with other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership grew by 4.5 percent year on year, while that with ASEAN countries rose 9.4 percent.

    Wang pointed out that China’s advantages such as sound economic fundamentals, vast market, strong resilience and enormous potential have remained unchanged.

    “With the continued implementation of existing policies and the introduction of new policies, the positive factors for foreign trade development have accumulated,” said Wang, adding that China has the foundation for stable trade growth in the fourth quarter.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Taiwan independence’ activities doomed to fail: mainland spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Monday warned that attempts by separatists seeking “Taiwan independence” are doomed to fail.
    Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry.
    Noting that the drills conducted by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Monday were aimed at cracking down on “Taiwan independence” separatists, Wu emphasized that the drills did not target Taiwan compatriots.
    “We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and will not leave any room for ‘Taiwan independence,’” Wu said.
    The command on Monday organized its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct the drills in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: President Xi on Xinjiang work

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Editor’s note: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged firmly grasping the strategic positioning of Xinjiang in the overall national situation and better building a beautiful Xinjiang in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization. Here, China.org.cn reviews key quotes from President Xi on promoting Xinjiang’s development.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Additional tariffs on China’s tech-intensive ‘green trio’ unfair: Customs official

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Some countries have imposed additional tariffs on China’s three major tech-intensive products known as “green trio,” and this is unfair, non-compliant and unreasonable trade protectionism, a Chinese customs official said on Monday.

    The practice will ultimately impede the global green and low-carbon transformation efforts, said Lyu Daliang, spokesperson with the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

    Currently, the global new energy industries are developing rapidly, and China’s tech-intensive green products have not only enriched global supply and alleviated global inflationary pressures, but also made significant contribution to global efforts in addressing climate change and promoting green transformation, said Lyu.

    In the first three quarters, the export of China’s “green trio” — electric vehicles, solar batteries and lithium-ion batteries — reached 757.83 billion yuan (about 107.15 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 4.1 percent of the country’s total export, and these products have reached over 200 countries and regions, data from the GAC showed.

    “We hope that relevant countries can correct their erroneous practices, seek their own legitimate interests in common development, develop new impetus for global economic growth, and jointly address the global challenge of climate change,” said Lyu.

    While commenting on whether China’s steel export will heighten trade tensions, Lyu said that the majority of steel produced and deep processed in China is to meet domestic market demand.

    From January to September, China’s export of steel registered 441.94 billion yuan, decreasing by 3 percent year on year, Lyu said citing export data.

    Noting that China’s steel industry is upgrading, Lyu said such innovative steel products will have vast market both at home and abroad.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s panda pair hits the road to United States

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A pair of giant pandas boarded an airplane in the early hours of Tuesday in southwest China for the United States, where they will settle down in the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. 
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  • MIL-OSI China: PLA drills surrounding Taiwan island ‘a just move’: mainland

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The drills conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan island were a just move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said.
    Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks regarding the PLA Eastern Theater Command’s drills code-named “Joint Sword-2024B,” which involved troops from the army, navy, air force and rocket force.
    The drills were a resolute punishment and a warning against Lai Ching-te for his persistent “Taiwan independence” fallacies and separatist rhetoric, and a powerful deterrent against the provocations of separatist elements seeking “Taiwan independence,” Chen said.
    He said that since taking office as the region’s leader, Lai has been obstinately adhering to the separatist position, seriously challenging the one-China principle and colluding with external forces to continuously make provocations aimed at “Taiwan independence,” which severely undermines cross-Strait relations and poses a grave threat to peace and stability in the Strait.
    “Taiwan independence” and peace in the Strait are as irreconcilable as fire and water, Chen said, warning that if the Taiwan authorities, led by Lai, continue to instigate separatist provocations, they will plunge the people of Taiwan into an abyss of calamity.
    Chen stressed that the national reunification is an unstoppable trend of history and brooks no challenge.
    “Our determination to solve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is rock-solid; our ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unbreakable; and our actions to punish ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist provocations and foil separatist attempts will be decisive and powerful,” Chen said.
    Chen pointed out that the countermeasures only target “Taiwan independence” elements’ separatist activities and interference by external forces, and are by no means targeting Taiwan compatriots.
    He called on Taiwan compatriots to safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation, keep pace with the trends of history, resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence” and external interference, and work with compatriots on the mainland to pursue a bright future of national reunification and rejuvenation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: AI-based algorithm helps find 5 small planets with ultra-short orbital periods

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An international research team has created an AI-based algorithm to discover five ultra-short-period planets with diameters smaller than Earth’s and orbital periods shorter than one day from the stellar photometry dataset provided by the Kepler telescope.
    Among the five planets, four are the closest to their solar-like host stars detected to date, with sizes comparable to that of Mars. This is the first time that astronomers have used AI to complete tasks to search for candidate signals and identify true signals in a single attempt.
    The research, the results of which were published recently in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal, was carried out by a team led by Ge Jian at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
    The occurrence rate of ultra-short-period planets around solar-like stars is very low — about 0.5 percent. Since the first discovery of these planets in 2011, only 145 have been found, of which only 30 have a diameter smaller than that of Earth.
    Astronomers generally use a transit method to locate planets outside the solar system. The principle of this method dictates that when an orbiting planet crosses in front of its host star, the brightness of that host star will be dimmed periodically. But as ultra-short-period planets are often very small and rotate in very short periods, it is very difficult for astronomers to find their faint transit signals.
    To find these elusive planets, the team developed an algorithm that combines GPU phase folding and convolutional neural networks. The algorithm increases search speeds by approximately 15 times, and improves detection accuracy and completeness by about 7 percent compared to the popular, conventional method.
    The team applied the algorithm to the Kepler dataset and identified the five ultra-short-period planets, demonstrating the algorithm’s advantage in searching for faint transit signals.
    Team leader Ge said that this discovery is a milestone in the application of AI to astronomical big data. If astronomers want to use AI to make extremely rare discoveries using vast astronomical data, they must innovate with AI algorithms and generate large artificial datasets based on the physical image characteristics of newly discovered phenomena.
    According to the study, the ultra-short-period planets provide important information for our understanding of the early evolution of planetary systems, planet-planet interactions and star-planet interaction dynamics, and their discovery is important to the theoretical study of planetary formation. 

    MIL OSI China News –