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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on World Mental Health Day

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on World Mental Health Day:

    “Mental health matters. It always has. But for too long, seeking support for mental health struggles was stigmatized. Like something to be ashamed about. And that made people struggle even more. On World Mental Health Day, we raise awareness and our voices about the importance of caring for our mental health. We have open and honest conversations about caring for ourselves and for others. We get rid of the barriers that society has put up about seeking out help.

    “Mental health is a critical part of our mandate. Earlier this year, we announced the new Youth Mental Health Fund, which will help community health organizations across the country make sure younger Canadians can access the mental health care they need and deserve. We are making generational investments in health care, and making sure those investments improve mental health care services. This includes improving Indigenous Peoples’ access to distinctions-based and culturally appropriate mental health services. Last year, we improved access to suicide prevention supports by launching the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline – available to Canadians wherever and whenever it’s needed.

    “There’s a lot more work to be done to break the stigma. Let’s create environments that support open conversations about mental health. Today, take some time to check in on loved ones, neighbours, and colleagues. Take care of yourselves. It’s okay not to feel okay. And it’s okay to speak to someone and get care. By coming together, we can break down the stigma, help others feel supported, and build a healthier, more compassionate society for everyone.”

    If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For mental health and wellness information and key links to services and supports, please go to Canada.ca/mental-health.

    The Hope for Wellness Helpline provides immediate, toll-free telephone and online-chat-based support and crisis intervention to all Indigenous people in Canada. This service is available 24/7 in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are available by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media Advisory: Veteran Homelessness Program Announcement in Summerside

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    Summerside, Prince Edward Island, October 10, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to attend an important announcement with Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, Cory Snow, Deputy Mayor of Summerside, and Conor Mullin, President of the John Howard Society of PEI.

    Date:
    Friday, October 11, 2024

    Time:
    10:00 a.m. [ADT]

    Location:
    Credit Union Place
    Main lobby (outside of the Veterans’ Convention Centre)
    511 Notre Dame St
    Summerside, PEI C1N 1T2 

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Infrastructure Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    City of Summerside
    Communications & Public Relations
    publicrelations@summerside.ca

    Conor Mullin
    President
    John Howard Society of PEI
    cjmullin@gov.pe.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the Preparatory Meeting of the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Pre-Cop29) [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Excellencies,
    Dear Colleagues,

    It is a pleasure to join you today at PreCop, and I thank the Government of Azerbeijan for hosting us.

    I appreciate the constructive engagement and leadership of the troika.

    I welcome all the hard work done so far, including yesterday, which sends helpful signals for agreement at COP29 on the NCQG.

    However, as the UN Secretary-General has said, we are at a moment of truth in our fight against the climate crisis.

    We are minutes to midnight in our efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5-degree Celsius. 

    We are witnessing the consequences of inaction in real time.

    As we meet, the west coast of Florida is reeling from the catastrophic impacts of hurricane Milton.   

    Extreme weather is devastating lives and livelihoods around the world, with those who contributed the least paying the highest price.

    But there is hope and we are moving in the right direction.

    At the signing of the Paris Agreement, the world was heading towards four degrees Celsius of warming.

    By Dubai we were headed for somewhere between 2.1 and 2.8 degrees based on the UNFCCC’s synthesis report. 

    Last year at COP 28, you all committed to make 1.5C a reality in your next generation of NDCs and you acknowledged that the transition away from fossil fuels must accelerate in this critical decade.

    And at last month’s Summit of the Future, world leaders from the Global North and South came together to agree on steps to begin reforming our international financial architecture:

    Raising the voice and representation of developing countries in our International Financial Institutions to build trust and legitimacy.

    Scaling up development finance to unlock the scale of resources required to meet today’s vast financing gaps.
     
    Overhauling the debt architecture to free up fiscal space and give countries the confidence to invest boldly in their economies.

    And creating a stronger global financial safety net to protect economies when crises strike. 

    COP29 must build on this momentum – and translate the ambitions and commitments in the Global Stocktake into real-world, real-economy outcomes.

    In November, you must agree on an ambitious new climate finance goal that meets the scale of the challenge faced by developing countries.

    Success is an imperative if we are to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius a reality.  

     Excellencies, we can only meet the goals of the Paris Agreement if every country has the means to accelerate climate mitigation and adaptation action.
     
    The New Collective Quantified Goal – or NCQG – is an opportunity to reimagine your economies, climate finance, restore trust, build solidarity, and catalyze ambition.

    It must help address the well-known challenges faced by developing countries: high cost of capital, high levels of indebtedness, and insufficient risk-bearing and affordable capital.

    It must send the right political and policy signals to markets and investors: building confidence in the direction of travel.

    And it must drive further progress in reforming the international financial architecture and implementing innovative sources of finance.

    Yesterday’s High-level Ministerial Dialogue on the NQCG provided important direction and momentum to this process.

    I heard from you a willingness to find common ground on outstanding elements, building on our shared ambition to keep 1.5 within reach and secure a climate resilient future.

    There was also a clear recognition on the importance of the NQCG as an enabler of ambition and action.

    Positions are well known. Now is the time to work together to find agreement.

    We must also secure agreement on Article 6, with an outcome from COP29 that is effective, fair, and ready for implementation.

    We need high integrity carbon markets that are credible and with rules consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

    Baku must be an enabling COP.

    It marks the beginning of the deadline for the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions – or NDCs.

    These must be economy-wide and aligned with the 1.5-degree limit, covering all sectors and all greenhouse gases.

    They must also show how each country intends to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the COP28 outcome.

    This is a chance for countries to align energy strategies and development priorities with climate ambition.

    And the G20, who have the greatest capacity and responsibility, must demonstrate to the rest of the world what good looks like – on ambition, quality, and process.

    Dear Colleagues,

    If COP29 is to deliver the concrete outcomes urgently needed, your work here is absolutely vital.

    We need success to be in reach when decision-makers arrive here in Baku next month. 

    Right now, the greatest threat to global ambition is lack of political will to act.

    In today’s fraught and divided world, we must redouble our collective efforts to keep 1.5 within reach and protect those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

    And we must ensure justice and equity so that no country is left behind in the race to net zero.

    The UN is here to support you every step of the way, as convenors and custodians of this process.

    So, I urge you to keep a laser focus on the concrete outcomes needed this year.

    And to keep a spirit of compromise and global solidarity at the fore, especially in the harder moments ahead.

    I thank you for your crucial service and for your dedication, to people and planet. 
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program honours Floyd H. Prosser

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program honours Floyd H. Prosser

    October 10, 2024                    Halifax, Nova Scotia                                 Parks Canada

    A Parks Canada ceremony is being held to honour Floyd H. Prosser as a Hometown Hero for his exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions during his time with the Canadian Army overseas during the Second World War and in civilian life. In sharing his story with Canadians, we acknowledge how his loyalty and continued commitment to his community made him an inspirational hero in Canada.

    Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, will be in attendance on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

    Alannah Phillips, Field Unit Superintendent of Mainland Nova Scotia, will also be present to help honour and celebrate this Hometown Hero inductee.

    Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.

     

    The details are as follows:

     

    Date:               October 12, 2024 
    Time:              1:00 p.m. ADT 
    Location:        Halifax Citadel
                            5425 Sackville St.
                            Halifax NS B3J3Y3

                                                                                                                                           -30-

    France Faucher
    Manager, Commemorations and Engagement
    france.faucher@pc.gc.ca
    Tel.: 819-210-7266

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Kuwait: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2024 Article IV Mission

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    October 10, 2024

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC: Kuwait has a window of opportunity to implement needed fiscal and structural reforms to boost private sector-led inclusive growth and diversify its economy away from oil:

    • Gradual fiscal consolidation of about 12 percent of GDP is needed to reinforce intergenerational equity.
    • Structural reforms should focus on improving the business environment, attracting FDI, and unifying the labor market.
    • These reforms should be underpinned by continued prudent monetary and financial sector policies.
    • Economic statistics should be strengthened to support well-informed policymaking.

    Recent Developments, Outlook, and Risks

    1. Kuwait has a window of opportunity to implement needed fiscal and structural reforms. Political turmoil has gripped Kuwait in recent years, stalling reforms. The political gridlock was broken in May 2024, when H.H. the Amir Sheikh Meshaal al‑Ahmad al‑Jaber al‑Sabah dissolved the Parliament and suspended parts of the Constitution for up to 4 years, allowing reforms to be expedited.
    2. The economic recovery was disrupted in 2023, and inflation is moderating. Real GDP contracted by 3.6 percent in 2023. This economic downturn was concentrated in the oil sector, which contracted by 4.3 percent in 2023 due to an OPEC+ oil production cut. In addition, the non-oil sector is estimated to have contracted by 1.0 percent in 2023, primarily reflecting lower manufacturing activity in oil refining. Headline CPI inflation declined to 3.6 percent in 2023 reflecting lower core and food inflation. More recently, headline inflation moderated further to 2.9 percent (y-o-y) in August 2024, given lower housing and transport inflation.
    3. The external position remained strong in 2023. The current account surplus moderated to 31.4 percent of GDP in 2023, with a 10.3 percent of GDP reduction in the trade surplus from lower oil prices and production largely offset by a 7.4 percent of GDP increase in the income surplus. Official reserve assets amounted to a comfortable 9.0 months of projected imports at end-2023. However, the external position was substantially weaker than the level implied by fundamentals and desirable policies in 2023, partly reflecting inadequate public saving of oil revenue.
    4. The fiscal balance weakened in FY2023/24. The fiscal balance of the budgetary central government swung from a surplus of 11.7 percent of GDP in FY2022/23 to a deficit of 3.1 percent of GDP in FY2023/24. This mainly reflected a 5.8 percent of GDP reduction in oil revenue given lower oil prices and production, and a 9.7 percent of GDP increase in current spending, of which 5.7 percent of GDP went to the public sector wage bill while 3.4 percent of GDP went to subsidies. Nonetheless, the fiscal balance of the general government (which includes the income from SWF investments) was an estimated 26.0 percent of GDP in FY2023/24.
    5. Financial stability has been maintained. Banks have sustained strong capital and liquidity buffers to satisfy the CBK’s prudent regulatory requirements, while NPLs remain low given judicious lending practices and are well provisioned for.
    6. Under the baseline assuming current policies, the economy is projected to remain in recession in 2024, then to recover over the medium term:
    • Real GDP will contract by a further 3.2 percent in 2024 due to an additional OPEC+ oil production cut, then will expand by 2.8 percent in 2025 as the cuts get unwound, and will grow broadly in line with potential thereafter.
    • The incipient recovery of the non-oil sector will continue in 2024, with non-oil GDP expanding by 1.3 percent despite fiscal consolidation, after which it will gradually converge to its potential of 2.5 percent.
    • Headline CPI inflation will continue to moderate to 3.0 percent in 2024 as excess demand pressure dissipates and imported food prices fall, then will gradually converge to 2.0 percent as the non-oil output gap closes.
    • The current account surplus will moderate further to 28.4 percent of GDP in 2024 as lower oil prices and production reduce the trade surplus, then will gradually decline over the medium term alongside oil prices.
    • The fiscal deficit of the budgetary central government will increase to 5.1 percent of GDP in FY2024/25 as lower oil revenue more than offsets expenditure rationalization, then will steadily rise by about 1 percent of GDP per year over the medium term under current policies.
    1. The risks surrounding these baseline economic projections are skewed to the downside. The economy is highly exposed to a variety of global risks through its oil dependence, in particular to commodity price volatility, a global growth slowdown or acceleration, and the further intensification of regional conflicts. The materialization of these risks would be transmitted to Kuwait mainly via their impacts on oil prices and production. Domestic risks are primarily associated with the implementation of fiscal and structural reforms, which could get further delayed or accelerated. These reforms are needed to diversify the economy away from oil, which would enhance its resilience and stimulate private investment.

    Economic Reforms—Transitioning to a Dynamic and Diversified Economy

    1. The authorities aspire to implement reforms to support the transition to a dynamic and diversified economy. To achieve this goal, a well-sequenced package of fiscal and structural reforms is needed. Structural reforms to improve the business environment and attract foreign investment are needed to boost private sector-led inclusive growth. Meanwhile, fiscal reforms should be implemented to reinforce intergenerational equity while incentivizing Kuwaitis to pursue newly created job opportunities in the private sector, in particular gradual fiscal consolidation.

    Fiscal Policy—Reinforcing Intergenerational Equity

    1. The contractionary stance of fiscal policy is appropriate. Fiscal policy was strongly procyclical in FY2023/24, with a fiscal expansion of 6.9 percent of non-oil GDP contributing to excess demand pressure. Under the FY2024/25 Budget, the non-oil fiscal balance of the budgetary central government should increase by 4.7 percent of non-oil GDP relative to FY2023/24. This large fiscal consolidation will help close the non-oil output gap while reinforcing intergenerational equity. It is mainly driven by current expenditure rationalization, concentrated in planned subsidy cuts worth 4.3 percent of non-oil GDP.
    2. Substantial further fiscal consolidation is needed to ensure intergenerational equity. Under the baseline, the projected fiscal balance of the general government is far below the level needed to maintain the living standards of Kuwaitis for generations to come. A prudent approach calls for gradual fiscal consolidation of about 12 percent of GDP to reinforce intergenerational equity, alongside structural reforms to diversify the economy away from oil. These reforms would also reinforce external sustainability.
    3. Expenditure and tax policy reforms would be needed to support the transition to a dynamic and diversified economy:
    • Fiscal consolidation should be implemented at a pace of 1 to 2 percent of GDP per year until the PIH fiscal balance target is achieved. This would offset or reverse the projected roughly 1 percent of GDP per year increase in the fiscal deficit of the budgetary central government over the medium term, without reducing growth much.
    • Compensation of government employees surged over the past decade, to the top of the GCC. A public sector wage setting mechanism should be introduced to gradually reduce the 41 percent premium over the private sector, while a hiring cap should be used to steadily lower the public sector employment share, both towards high-income country levels.
    • Hydrocarbon consumption subsidies are the highest in the GCC. They should be phased out by gradually raising retail fuel and electricity prices to their cost-recovery levels while providing targeted transfers to vulnerable groups.
    • On-budget public investment plummeted over the past decade, to near the bottom of the GCC. It should be raised to build up the quantity and quality of infrastructure towards high-income country levels.
    • The hydrocarbon share of government revenue remains the highest in the GCC. In the context of the global minimum corporate tax agreement, the government’s plan to extend the CIT to all large domestic companies is welcome. To boost non-oil revenue mobilization, Kuwait should introduce the GCC-wide VAT and excise tax.
    1. The conduct of fiscal policy should be strengthened with Public Financial Management reforms. To align budget planning and execution with fiscal policy objectives, the Ministry of Finance should introduce a medium-term fiscal framework—including a fiscal rules framework with a public debt ceiling and non-oil fiscal balance target—underpinned by a medium-term macroeconomic framework. To inform fiscal policymaking and assess reform proposals, the capacity of the Macro-Fiscal Unit should be strengthened. To facilitate orderly fiscal financing, the Liquidity and Financing Law should be enacted expeditiously.

    Monetary and Financial Sector Policies—Maintaining Macrofinancial Stability

    1. The exchange rate peg to an undisclosed basket of currencies remains an appropriate nominal anchor for monetary policy. It has supported low and stable inflation for many years. Sustaining this successful monetary policy track record requires preserving the independence of the CBK. The monetary transmission mechanism should be strengthened by deepening the interbank and domestic sovereign debt markets, establishing an efficient capital market, and phasing out interest rate caps.
    2. The restrictive stance of monetary policy is appropriate. The exchange rate regime gives the CBK relative flexibility to conduct monetary policy. The policy rate is currently in line with controlling inflation and stabilizing non-oil output while supporting the exchange rate peg, and is above neutral. Under the baseline, monetary normalization is warranted, as inflation further moderates and the non-oil output gap closes.
    3. Systemic risk remains contained and prudently managed. The credit cycle downturn triggered by the pandemic has been gradually unwinding, with the credit gap estimated to be nearly closed. Under the CBK’s latest stress tests, the capitalization and liquidity of the banking system generally exceeded Basel III minimum requirements, while individual bank shortcomings were limited. The stance of macroprudential policy is appropriate given contained systemic risk and subdued credit growth. Given that capital requirements exceed Basel III minimum requirements, the CBK could consider reclassifying part of its country specific capital buffer as a positive neutral countercyclical capital buffer. It should also continue its practice of regularly reviewing the adequacy of its financial regulatory perimeter and macroprudential toolkit. Finally, the CBK should continue its risk-based supervisory approach to assessing banks and effectively addressing any vulnerabilities.
    4. Structural financial sector reforms are needed to enhance financial intermediation efficiency. The unlimited guarantee on bank deposits should be gradually replaced with a limited deposit insurance framework to address moral hazard, while the interest rate caps on loans should be phased out to support efficient risk pricing.

    Structural Reforms—Boosting Private Sector-Led Inclusive Growth

    1. A comprehensive and well-sequenced structural reform package is needed to increase non-oil potential growth. The initial priorities are to improve the business environment by enhancing transparency, raising efficiency, and further opening up the economy. Meanwhile, labor market reforms should be gradually phased in to incentivize private sector-led inclusive growth.
    2. The business environment should be further improved to raise economic competitiveness and promote private investment. To boost transparency, data disclosure on secondary market real estate transactions should be enhanced, while universal auditing standards for corporate balance sheets should be adopted. To raise efficiency, the government should improve public infrastructure, conduct regulatory impact assessments with public consultations, integrate digital public service delivery across ministries, and further streamline business establishment processes. To attract FDI, full foreign ownership of businesses should be permitted, while foreign ownership restrictions on land should be relaxed. Finally, public land sales for residential and commercial development should be scaled up.
    3. Major labor market reforms are needed to promote economic diversification. To incentivize Kuwaitis to seek employment in the private sector, compensation and working conditions should be better harmonized across the public and private sectors. Enhancing the quality of education and aligning it with private sector needs would raise productivity and support economic diversification. Employment of highly-skilled expatriate workers should be supported by introducing targeted visa programs and reforming job sponsorship frameworks, promoting knowledge transfer. Higher female labor force participation should be encouraged by further improving the working environment for women, including by fully implementing the legal requirements for childcare in the private sector.
    4. Reforms are needed to strengthen AML/CFT effectiveness. The AML/CFT framework should be strengthened expeditiously following a risk-based approach to protect its effectiveness.
    5. Progress with climate change adaptation and mitigation should be accelerated. The government has made progress with implementing the 2019 National Adaptation Plan, but is delayed in developing its mitigation plan.
    6. Data provision has some shortcomings that somewhat hamper surveillance, which the authorities should address within their legal constraints. An expenditure-side National Accounts decomposition remains unavailable for 2023, while multi-year delays in the publication of GDP data after the pandemic confounded surveillance and policymaking. The CSB urgently needs additional funding to boost its capacity and resume its annual Establishment Survey, which has not been conducted since 2019. The exclusion of government investment income and SOE profit transfers from the Government Finance statistics hampers fiscal policy analysis, while the omission of government foreign assets from the IIP statistics generates stock-flow inconsistencies with the BOP statistics.

    The mission thanks the authorities for their warm hospitality and constructive engagement.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Luxembourg signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

    Source: ASEAN

    The ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today witnessed the signing of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Xavier Bettel, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

    The accession by Luxembourg brings the number of High Contracting Parties (HCPs) to the TAC to 55. The growing number of HCPs reflects the importance and relevance of the TAC in the current regional and global context.

    The post Luxembourg signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Announce Tanzania as the Second Country Benefitting from the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Scaled-Up Climate Action

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    October 10, 2024

    Washington, DC: The World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are pleased to announce that Tanzania is the second country benefiting from the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Climate Action (the Framework). This follows the approval of an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) in June 2024 by the IMF Executive Board, and the WBG’s active engagement on climate action in the country.

    Tanzania is highly vulnerable to climate change which poses significant risks to its macroeconomic, fiscal, and social development. Through the Framework, the IMF and WBG working closely with other development partners, will coordinate their efforts to support Tanzania’s ambitious policy reform agenda to address risks and challenges associated with climate change and enhance the resilience of the Tanzanian economy.

    The Framework aims to support efforts by Tanzania’s authorities to bring together development partners, the private sector and civil society to address the adverse impacts of climate change. Building on their respective analytical expertise and financing instruments, the IMF and WBG will jointly provide critical support to Tanzania’s authorities in advancing climate action. This will be done through an integrated, country-led approach to policy reforms and public and private climate investments, including through complementary and well-sequenced reform measures.

    Tanzania is the second country to benefit from this Framework, which builds on technical analysis such as the IMF’s Climate Policy Diagnostics (CPD). The country authorities, the WBG and the IMF identified several areas where synergies in capacity development and policy support will be most beneficial, such as (i) climate resilient public financial management, (ii) energy, water and other reforms that will build resilience and promote sustainable development, (iii) disaster risk management and social protection, and (iv) supervision of financial sector climate-related risks.

    Under the Framework, the IMF-WBG will support Tanzania to consider climate change as a key element of medium-term public investment planning and prioritization. The IMF will back the introduction of climate resilient public investment regulations and reporting, while the WBG will focus on supporting sectors that help strengthen Tanzania’s resilience to climate change, such as energy, water, social protection, and agriculture. The two institutions will also support improvements to Tanzania’s disaster risk management policy and implementation, including a disaster risk financing framework and enhancements to the social safety net to make it responsive to climate shocks.

    The WBG and the IMF will also support policies to improve water resource management, while IMF-supported reforms will help expand villages’ land use planning and management. Tanzania will also develop supervision of financial sector climate-related risks with support from the IMF and WBG.

    Finally, the Framework will help catalyze official technical and financial assistance and private sector financing. The IMF and WBG stand ready to support a country-led platform to mobilize additional programmatic and project climate financing that could be implemented in 2025.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Julie Ziegler

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN-Canada Special Summit adopts Joint Statement on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience in Vientiane today. The Leaders from ASEAN and Canada adopted the Joint Leaders’ Statement on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience, in support of the priorities of the Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

    The post ASEAN-Canada Special Summit adopts Joint Statement on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Five EU regional development projects pick up awards at 2024 REGIOSTARS

    Source: European Union 2

    Regional development projects from Italy, Malta, Poland, Hungary, and Spain all scooped up awards at the REGIOSTARS awards ceremony in Brussels. The awards recognise projects that through the EU’s Cohesion Policy deliver change on the ground and strengthen economic and social progress in the EU.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Social Work Professor Focused on HIV, Intimate Partner Violence Research Brings New Perspective

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Even though Chenglin Hong didn’t grow up locally and came to UConn via Beijing, Seattle, and Los Angeles, students in his classes might have more in common with him than they realize.

    “I grew up in a very rural area in northeast China,” he says. “Neither of my parents went to middle school, so I had to navigate the education system and academia by myself. UConn has a very diverse student body. Many are from underserved communities or low-income families, and quite a few also are first-generation students.”

    Chenglin Hong, assistant professor in the UConn School of Social Work (Contributed photo)

    It’s a shared experience that Hong believes will help him relate to those he’s mentoring as one of the newest faculty members in the UConn School of Social Work. He also thinks that even though his position as assistant professor is steeped in research – and some students might find that intimidating – together, they can work in tandem.

    “The majority of students will work as clinicians and practitioners, either as psychotherapists or case managers,” he says. “It’s important for them to know, though, that research and clinical practice are connected. Their experiences will inform my research, and my research will inform the way they deliver services.”

    Hong describes himself as a global health scholar, one who started his career as a medical social worker in China and went on to get his Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health from the University of Washington and Ph.D. from UCLA.

    And what he studies falls under a self-described “big umbrella.”

    Right now, he’s considering the relationship between intimate partner violence among gay and bisexual men and an increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, an understudied area, he says, even though research has shown the prevalence of intimate partner violence among this group is similar or higher than among heterosexual counterparts.

    Hong says his previous research found that as the prevalence of violence rises among gay and bisexual men, so too does the risk of mental health disorders, substance use, and HIV and STIs. He hopes to take this research a step further and look at how technology-based interventions, like eHealth and mHealth, might fit in.

    “My work considers the intersection of social work, public health, psychology, and implementation science to see how I can utilize those interdisciplinary approaches to address the health issues this population faces,” Hong says.

    “I came from a culture where sexual and gender identity are highly stigmatized and people don’t seek care after receiving an HIV diagnosis or an STI diagnosis,” he continues. “That really shaped my research. I want the knowledge I generate to inform practice and policy. I want to be a part of optimizing the standard of services we have and designing new ways to help individuals access health care.”

    The health system in China is vastly different than the United States, Hong notes, explaining that social workers’ primary task in working with those who’ve been diagnosed with HIV is to connect people with medical services, things like getting and taking medications and showing up for follow-up appointments.

    In the U.S., Hong says, supporting one’s medical care isn’t necessarily the focus. There’s already a standard of care and treatment thanks to antiretroviral therapy that offers a life expectancy much the same as the general population.

    “We’re not only talking about physical health in the U.S., we’re also talking about mental health and social well-being,” he says, adding that his work in California with Black sexual minority men living with HIV included a team of professionals, from medical clinicians to lawyers. “That is really different, and I appreciate that approach because physical health is just one component of the overall well-being of individuals.”

    As he begins to establish his research lab at UConn, Hong admits he misses China, his family, and the community he left behind. They’re always in his heart, he says, and have profoundly impacted the way he looks at the world and how he approaches his work.

    “I’m half Korean, half Chinese,” Hong says. “The U.S. is a multicultural society with people from different backgrounds and different cultures. My own experience helps me see the health disparities and think about the best approach for us as researchers to design interventions and services to address societal problems.”

    Read more about Hong’s work here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kuwait: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2024 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 10, 2024

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC: Kuwait has a window of opportunity to implement needed fiscal and structural reforms to boost private sector-led inclusive growth and diversify its economy away from oil:

    • Gradual fiscal consolidation of about 12 percent of GDP is needed to reinforce intergenerational equity.
    • Structural reforms should focus on improving the business environment, attracting FDI, and unifying the labor market.
    • These reforms should be underpinned by continued prudent monetary and financial sector policies.
    • Economic statistics should be strengthened to support well-informed policymaking.

    Recent Developments, Outlook, and Risks

    1. Kuwait has a window of opportunity to implement needed fiscal and structural reforms. Political turmoil has gripped Kuwait in recent years, stalling reforms. The political gridlock was broken in May 2024, when H.H. the Amir Sheikh Meshaal al‑Ahmad al‑Jaber al‑Sabah dissolved the Parliament and suspended parts of the Constitution for up to 4 years, allowing reforms to be expedited.
    2. The economic recovery was disrupted in 2023, and inflation is moderating. Real GDP contracted by 3.6 percent in 2023. This economic downturn was concentrated in the oil sector, which contracted by 4.3 percent in 2023 due to an OPEC+ oil production cut. In addition, the non-oil sector is estimated to have contracted by 1.0 percent in 2023, primarily reflecting lower manufacturing activity in oil refining. Headline CPI inflation declined to 3.6 percent in 2023 reflecting lower core and food inflation. More recently, headline inflation moderated further to 2.9 percent (y-o-y) in August 2024, given lower housing and transport inflation.
    3. The external position remained strong in 2023. The current account surplus moderated to 31.4 percent of GDP in 2023, with a 10.3 percent of GDP reduction in the trade surplus from lower oil prices and production largely offset by a 7.4 percent of GDP increase in the income surplus. Official reserve assets amounted to a comfortable 9.0 months of projected imports at end-2023. However, the external position was substantially weaker than the level implied by fundamentals and desirable policies in 2023, partly reflecting inadequate public saving of oil revenue.
    4. The fiscal balance weakened in FY2023/24. The fiscal balance of the budgetary central government swung from a surplus of 11.7 percent of GDP in FY2022/23 to a deficit of 3.1 percent of GDP in FY2023/24. This mainly reflected a 5.8 percent of GDP reduction in oil revenue given lower oil prices and production, and a 9.7 percent of GDP increase in current spending, of which 5.7 percent of GDP went to the public sector wage bill while 3.4 percent of GDP went to subsidies. Nonetheless, the fiscal balance of the general government (which includes the income from SWF investments) was an estimated 26.0 percent of GDP in FY2023/24.
    5. Financial stability has been maintained. Banks have sustained strong capital and liquidity buffers to satisfy the CBK’s prudent regulatory requirements, while NPLs remain low given judicious lending practices and are well provisioned for.
    6. Under the baseline assuming current policies, the economy is projected to remain in recession in 2024, then to recover over the medium term:
    • Real GDP will contract by a further 3.2 percent in 2024 due to an additional OPEC+ oil production cut, then will expand by 2.8 percent in 2025 as the cuts get unwound, and will grow broadly in line with potential thereafter.
    • The incipient recovery of the non-oil sector will continue in 2024, with non-oil GDP expanding by 1.3 percent despite fiscal consolidation, after which it will gradually converge to its potential of 2.5 percent.
    • Headline CPI inflation will continue to moderate to 3.0 percent in 2024 as excess demand pressure dissipates and imported food prices fall, then will gradually converge to 2.0 percent as the non-oil output gap closes.
    • The current account surplus will moderate further to 28.4 percent of GDP in 2024 as lower oil prices and production reduce the trade surplus, then will gradually decline over the medium term alongside oil prices.
    • The fiscal deficit of the budgetary central government will increase to 5.1 percent of GDP in FY2024/25 as lower oil revenue more than offsets expenditure rationalization, then will steadily rise by about 1 percent of GDP per year over the medium term under current policies.
    1. The risks surrounding these baseline economic projections are skewed to the downside. The economy is highly exposed to a variety of global risks through its oil dependence, in particular to commodity price volatility, a global growth slowdown or acceleration, and the further intensification of regional conflicts. The materialization of these risks would be transmitted to Kuwait mainly via their impacts on oil prices and production. Domestic risks are primarily associated with the implementation of fiscal and structural reforms, which could get further delayed or accelerated. These reforms are needed to diversify the economy away from oil, which would enhance its resilience and stimulate private investment.

    Economic Reforms—Transitioning to a Dynamic and Diversified Economy

    1. The authorities aspire to implement reforms to support the transition to a dynamic and diversified economy. To achieve this goal, a well-sequenced package of fiscal and structural reforms is needed. Structural reforms to improve the business environment and attract foreign investment are needed to boost private sector-led inclusive growth. Meanwhile, fiscal reforms should be implemented to reinforce intergenerational equity while incentivizing Kuwaitis to pursue newly created job opportunities in the private sector, in particular gradual fiscal consolidation.

    Fiscal Policy—Reinforcing Intergenerational Equity

    1. The contractionary stance of fiscal policy is appropriate. Fiscal policy was strongly procyclical in FY2023/24, with a fiscal expansion of 6.9 percent of non-oil GDP contributing to excess demand pressure. Under the FY2024/25 Budget, the non-oil fiscal balance of the budgetary central government should increase by 4.7 percent of non-oil GDP relative to FY2023/24. This large fiscal consolidation will help close the non-oil output gap while reinforcing intergenerational equity. It is mainly driven by current expenditure rationalization, concentrated in planned subsidy cuts worth 4.3 percent of non-oil GDP.
    2. Substantial further fiscal consolidation is needed to ensure intergenerational equity. Under the baseline, the projected fiscal balance of the general government is far below the level needed to maintain the living standards of Kuwaitis for generations to come. A prudent approach calls for gradual fiscal consolidation of about 12 percent of GDP to reinforce intergenerational equity, alongside structural reforms to diversify the economy away from oil. These reforms would also reinforce external sustainability.
    3. Expenditure and tax policy reforms would be needed to support the transition to a dynamic and diversified economy:
    • Fiscal consolidation should be implemented at a pace of 1 to 2 percent of GDP per year until the PIH fiscal balance target is achieved. This would offset or reverse the projected roughly 1 percent of GDP per year increase in the fiscal deficit of the budgetary central government over the medium term, without reducing growth much.
    • Compensation of government employees surged over the past decade, to the top of the GCC. A public sector wage setting mechanism should be introduced to gradually reduce the 41 percent premium over the private sector, while a hiring cap should be used to steadily lower the public sector employment share, both towards high-income country levels.
    • Hydrocarbon consumption subsidies are the highest in the GCC. They should be phased out by gradually raising retail fuel and electricity prices to their cost-recovery levels while providing targeted transfers to vulnerable groups.
    • On-budget public investment plummeted over the past decade, to near the bottom of the GCC. It should be raised to build up the quantity and quality of infrastructure towards high-income country levels.
    • The hydrocarbon share of government revenue remains the highest in the GCC. In the context of the global minimum corporate tax agreement, the government’s plan to extend the CIT to all large domestic companies is welcome. To boost non-oil revenue mobilization, Kuwait should introduce the GCC-wide VAT and excise tax.
    1. The conduct of fiscal policy should be strengthened with Public Financial Management reforms. To align budget planning and execution with fiscal policy objectives, the Ministry of Finance should introduce a medium-term fiscal framework—including a fiscal rules framework with a public debt ceiling and non-oil fiscal balance target—underpinned by a medium-term macroeconomic framework. To inform fiscal policymaking and assess reform proposals, the capacity of the Macro-Fiscal Unit should be strengthened. To facilitate orderly fiscal financing, the Liquidity and Financing Law should be enacted expeditiously.

    Monetary and Financial Sector Policies—Maintaining Macrofinancial Stability

    1. The exchange rate peg to an undisclosed basket of currencies remains an appropriate nominal anchor for monetary policy. It has supported low and stable inflation for many years. Sustaining this successful monetary policy track record requires preserving the independence of the CBK. The monetary transmission mechanism should be strengthened by deepening the interbank and domestic sovereign debt markets, establishing an efficient capital market, and phasing out interest rate caps.
    2. The restrictive stance of monetary policy is appropriate. The exchange rate regime gives the CBK relative flexibility to conduct monetary policy. The policy rate is currently in line with controlling inflation and stabilizing non-oil output while supporting the exchange rate peg, and is above neutral. Under the baseline, monetary normalization is warranted, as inflation further moderates and the non-oil output gap closes.
    3. Systemic risk remains contained and prudently managed. The credit cycle downturn triggered by the pandemic has been gradually unwinding, with the credit gap estimated to be nearly closed. Under the CBK’s latest stress tests, the capitalization and liquidity of the banking system generally exceeded Basel III minimum requirements, while individual bank shortcomings were limited. The stance of macroprudential policy is appropriate given contained systemic risk and subdued credit growth. Given that capital requirements exceed Basel III minimum requirements, the CBK could consider reclassifying part of its country specific capital buffer as a positive neutral countercyclical capital buffer. It should also continue its practice of regularly reviewing the adequacy of its financial regulatory perimeter and macroprudential toolkit. Finally, the CBK should continue its risk-based supervisory approach to assessing banks and effectively addressing any vulnerabilities.
    4. Structural financial sector reforms are needed to enhance financial intermediation efficiency. The unlimited guarantee on bank deposits should be gradually replaced with a limited deposit insurance framework to address moral hazard, while the interest rate caps on loans should be phased out to support efficient risk pricing.

    Structural Reforms—Boosting Private Sector-Led Inclusive Growth

    1. A comprehensive and well-sequenced structural reform package is needed to increase non-oil potential growth. The initial priorities are to improve the business environment by enhancing transparency, raising efficiency, and further opening up the economy. Meanwhile, labor market reforms should be gradually phased in to incentivize private sector-led inclusive growth.
    2. The business environment should be further improved to raise economic competitiveness and promote private investment. To boost transparency, data disclosure on secondary market real estate transactions should be enhanced, while universal auditing standards for corporate balance sheets should be adopted. To raise efficiency, the government should improve public infrastructure, conduct regulatory impact assessments with public consultations, integrate digital public service delivery across ministries, and further streamline business establishment processes. To attract FDI, full foreign ownership of businesses should be permitted, while foreign ownership restrictions on land should be relaxed. Finally, public land sales for residential and commercial development should be scaled up.
    3. Major labor market reforms are needed to promote economic diversification. To incentivize Kuwaitis to seek employment in the private sector, compensation and working conditions should be better harmonized across the public and private sectors. Enhancing the quality of education and aligning it with private sector needs would raise productivity and support economic diversification. Employment of highly-skilled expatriate workers should be supported by introducing targeted visa programs and reforming job sponsorship frameworks, promoting knowledge transfer. Higher female labor force participation should be encouraged by further improving the working environment for women, including by fully implementing the legal requirements for childcare in the private sector.
    4. Reforms are needed to strengthen AML/CFT effectiveness. The AML/CFT framework should be strengthened expeditiously following a risk-based approach to protect its effectiveness.
    5. Progress with climate change adaptation and mitigation should be accelerated. The government has made progress with implementing the 2019 National Adaptation Plan, but is delayed in developing its mitigation plan.
    6. Data provision has some shortcomings that somewhat hamper surveillance, which the authorities should address within their legal constraints. An expenditure-side National Accounts decomposition remains unavailable for 2023, while multi-year delays in the publication of GDP data after the pandemic confounded surveillance and policymaking. The CSB urgently needs additional funding to boost its capacity and resume its annual Establishment Survey, which has not been conducted since 2019. The exclusion of government investment income and SOE profit transfers from the Government Finance statistics hampers fiscal policy analysis, while the omission of government foreign assets from the IIP statistics generates stock-flow inconsistencies with the BOP statistics.

    The mission thanks the authorities for their warm hospitality and constructive engagement.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/10/mcs-101024-kuwait-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2024-aiv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy EOD develops IED exploitation capabilities with NATO allies and partners at Northern Challenge 2024

    Source: United States Navy

    KEFLAVIK, Iceland – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 operated alongside 17 NATO ally and partner nations during Exercise Northern Challenge 2024, Sept. 26-Oct. 9, 2024. Northern Challenge demonstrates the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners by integrating efforts to plan and execute complex EOD detection, neutralization, and exploitation capabilities within a multinational framework.

    Northern Challenge is an annual, joint-funded multinational exercise hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard aimed at preparing NATO allies and partners for international deployments to clear the way for lethal, resilient forces to operate in contested environments and disrupt our adversaries in conflict.

    EODMU 8, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, trained alongside tactical units from U.S. Marine Corps’ 8th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Army’s 702nd and 720th Ordinance Companies . Additional participating NATO allies and partners included Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

    Northern Challenge 2024 included roughly 330 participants, 500+ improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 380 land tasks, and 120 maritime tasks. Throughout the exercise, two teams from EODMU 8 completed 50 training serials and provided four exercise control members who assessed and mentored other nations’ teams. During the exercise, EOD technicians responded to simulated IEDs threats of increasing complexity over a two-week period.

    “At Northern Challenge 2024, we’re working with our NATO allies and partners learning different tools for the toolbox and increasing our lethality on the battlefield,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jake Ferguson, platoon 8-2-2 Leading Chief Petty Officer, EODMU 8. “We’ve had some awesome training put on by our Icelandic and British partners; we’ve done a lot of both maritime and land-based IED serials that we’ve been able to defeat. We’re also turning in evidence, working with the exploitation cell to develop counter-IED tactics and reporting procedures.”

    In addition to conducting complex training scenarios, EOD technicians from across participating countries collaborated within a multinational exploitation center to enhance interoperability at the operational level. These cells ensured that EOD teams were organized to effectively counter IED threats while ensuring the intelligence analysis and information sharing is in accordance with NATO standards and procedures.

    The exploitation cell was comprised of the Technical Exploitation Coordination Cell (TECC) and the Combined Exploitation Laboratory (CEL). The TECC and CEL fuse capacities and capabilities across a joint interagency multinational structure. This multinational effort provided high-level analysis of collected exploitable material (CEM), refining fidelity of the operating area and providing critical information to the operator on the ground or in the water.

    CEM in the lab consisted of a full scope of exploitation methods such as triage, x-ray, chemical analysis, biometrics, forensics, electronics engineering exploitation, and document and media exploitation.

    The end state of the analysis is to inform the command, provide enhanced operator threat assessment on the battlefield, and ultimately deny the adversary anonymity.

    U.S. Navy EOD technicians from Expeditionary Exploitation Unit One (EXU-1) led the CEL in coordination with personnel from U.S. Army Force Europe (USAREUR) and other allies and partners. Their mission throughout the exercise was to assist in processing and analyzing exploitable material collected from simulated explosive threats, analyze and consolidate the findings, then brief the overall threat environment and an assessment of next 24-48 hours, providing a tactical picture for stronger decision-making on the ground and better situational awareness.

    Lt. Ryan DuTot, an EOD officer assigned to EXU-1, served as the exercise’s Combined Exploitation Laboratory office in charge.

    “Northern Challenge 2024 is not just about defusing bombs; it’s about harnessing cutting-edge technology to outsmart adversaries and strengthen global security alliances,” said DuTot. “The integration of technical exploitation into this exercise ensures we don’t just neutralize threats, but also gain critical intelligence from them. Any time we are working with partner nations in an environment like this, it’s a force multiplier that provides long-term strategic benefits.”

    Operating in a range of environments and exchanging knowledge with regional NATO allies and partners enhances every participating unit’s readiness and relationships with international and interagency counterparts.

    “Exercises like Northern Challenge provide an excellent opportunity to rehearse our IED defeat tactics in austere environments,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, EOD Mobile Unit 8. “The unique value of Northern Challenge is the exploitation piece. For our operational platoons, the drills didn’t end at ‘defeating the device’; they concluded after ‘exploiting the device’ so we could gain an appreciation of how the device works, and who employed it.”

    Northern Challenge provided practical training to operators across the joint force, with the integration of the exploitation cell to enhance the intelligence picture driving the threat assessment. As a result, the United States military is better prepared to deploy EOD forces throughout the U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility in support of the collective defense of NATO allies.

    “We’ve worked with the Canadians, Swedes, Icelanders, Polish, Lithuanians, and others; these guys are so good at their craft. Everybody here is a warrior, and they all volunteered to do the same job. Exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures with them is making every single one of us better so that the enemy doesn’t get a leg up on us,” said Ferguson.
    U.S. military participation in Northern Challenge 2024 demonstrates that U.S. and NATO joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

    CTF 68 is a part of the U.S. 6th Fleet and commands all Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces, in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces bridge the gap from sea to shore and provides expeditionary capabilities in remote, complex and austere environments.

    EODGRU 2 and EODMU 8 operate as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and provide skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations.

    For the full collection of photos and news about Northern Challenge 2024 and U.S. Navy EOD, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USNFE-6FPA and https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/EODG-2.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Announce Tanzania as the Second Country Benefitting from the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Scaled-Up Climate Action

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 10, 2024

    Washington, DC: The World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are pleased to announce that Tanzania is the second country benefiting from the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Climate Action (the Framework). This follows the approval of an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) in June 2024 by the IMF Executive Board, and the WBG’s active engagement on climate action in the country.

    Tanzania is highly vulnerable to climate change which poses significant risks to its macroeconomic, fiscal, and social development. Through the Framework, the IMF and WBG working closely with other development partners, will coordinate their efforts to support Tanzania’s ambitious policy reform agenda to address risks and challenges associated with climate change and enhance the resilience of the Tanzanian economy.

    The Framework aims to support efforts by Tanzania’s authorities to bring together development partners, the private sector and civil society to address the adverse impacts of climate change. Building on their respective analytical expertise and financing instruments, the IMF and WBG will jointly provide critical support to Tanzania’s authorities in advancing climate action. This will be done through an integrated, country-led approach to policy reforms and public and private climate investments, including through complementary and well-sequenced reform measures.

    Tanzania is the second country to benefit from this Framework, which builds on technical analysis such as the IMF’s Climate Policy Diagnostics (CPD). The country authorities, the WBG and the IMF identified several areas where synergies in capacity development and policy support will be most beneficial, such as (i) climate resilient public financial management, (ii) energy, water and other reforms that will build resilience and promote sustainable development, (iii) disaster risk management and social protection, and (iv) supervision of financial sector climate-related risks.

    Under the Framework, the IMF-WBG will support Tanzania to consider climate change as a key element of medium-term public investment planning and prioritization. The IMF will back the introduction of climate resilient public investment regulations and reporting, while the WBG will focus on supporting sectors that help strengthen Tanzania’s resilience to climate change, such as energy, water, social protection, and agriculture. The two institutions will also support improvements to Tanzania’s disaster risk management policy and implementation, including a disaster risk financing framework and enhancements to the social safety net to make it responsive to climate shocks.

    The WBG and the IMF will also support policies to improve water resource management, while IMF-supported reforms will help expand villages’ land use planning and management. Tanzania will also develop supervision of financial sector climate-related risks with support from the IMF and WBG.

    Finally, the Framework will help catalyze official technical and financial assistance and private sector financing. The IMF and WBG stand ready to support a country-led platform to mobilize additional programmatic and project climate financing that could be implemented in 2025.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Julie Ziegler

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/09/pr-24363-tanzania-imf-and-wb-announce-2nd-country-benefitting-from-ecf-for-climate-action

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Non-executive chair reappointment at GAD

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Government Actuary’s Department announces the reappointment of Les Philpott as non-executive GAD Board chair.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    Les is an experienced Chair and non-executive director, having held a diverse range of non-executive roles across the public, private and charity sectors.

    He has a background in public management at senior executive levels. He formerly held the role of Chief Executive at the Office for Nuclear Regulation and previously held senior leadership positions in the Health and Safety Executive.

    Commenting on the reappointment Fiona Dunsire, the Government Actuary, said: “With his business understanding and non-executive director experience at chair level, Les has been an insightful and inspirational presence as the Chair of the GAD Board.

    “I look forward to working further with him during his second term as we continue to develop the range of work GAD supports across government.”

    Les also commented and said: “I am delighted to have been reappointed to this role and proud to continue to support the work of such talented, committed people throughout GAD as its Board Chair, particularly in taking forward our new business strategy.”

    Notes:

    Les will continue to lead GAD’s Board as the Non-Executive Chair, for a further 3 years, ending in September 2027.

    This reappointment has been made in accordance with the principles outlined in the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    All appointments to GAD are made on merit.

    He confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the previous 5 years.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir John Armitt appointment as Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission extended

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has extended the appointment of Sir John Armitt as the Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission.

    Sir John Armitt’s appointment as Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has been extended for six months to support the development of the ten-year strategy and the creation of National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. 

    Sir John has served as Chair of the NIC since 2018, before which he was Deputy Chair and a commissioner since the NIC was established in 2015. Sir John was reappointed as Chair in January 2023 for a further two years. Sir John’s current appointment is due to end on 18 January 2025, when he will have served ten years at the NIC. However, due to the need for strong leadership and continuity at the NIC during this period of transition, Ministers have agreed to extend Sir John’s appointment for a further six months to support the NIC during this time. 

    Sir John’s appointment will now end on 18 July 2025. 

    About the Appointment Process

    Sir John Armitt’s appointment has been extended for a further six months following the provisions of his original appointment, having met required performance standards and with the agreement of ministers. The chair role is a non-executive part-time position. 

    Sir John has confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the previous five years including donating to, or canvassing on behalf of, any political party.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Christmas festivities set to return

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen is set to sparkle over the festive period as a new light trail is added to the Christmas programme later this year. 

    Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the return of traditional festive favourites including the Christmas Parade, Aberdeen Christmas Village including the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market, and festive lighting in Union Terrace Gardens. 

    The events line-up includes: 

    • Aberdeen Christmas Village – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Christmas Light-up Trail – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Curated in the Quad Christmas Market at Marischal College – Weekends only (Friday to Sunday) from 15 November to 22 December 2024

    • Aberdeen Christmas Parade and Charlie House Santa Run – Sunday 17 November 2024 

    • Nativity Scene – Monday 2 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 (Blessing Event: 2 December) 

    • Carol Concerts – Saturday 14 December, David Welch Winter Gardens, Duthie Park

    Aberdeen Lord Provost, Dr David Cameron said: “The festive events that will be taking place across the city are always so well received and I enjoy seeing all ages enjoying what the city has to offer. 

    “Each year the events taking place offer something for everyone and it is always great to see families out enjoying the festivities. It also encourages more people to come into the city centre and visit local businesses.”

    The new Christmas Light-up Trail will see 12 light features located across the city centre, with families able to discover them all while taking some fabulous Christmas selfies.

    The Aberdeen Christmas Parade will feature a new route this year due to closures on Union Street Central. The Parade will begin as normal at Albyn Place and turn onto Union Terrace before finishing at His Majesty’s Theatre. 

    Ian Littlewood, Codona’s Operations Director, said: ‘We are really excited about the event this year. The new layout and huge number of extra stalls at the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market is going to look spectacular’. 

    Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “As the song says, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – and Aberdeen’s Christmas celebrations are among the most wonderful in the country. After all, last year’s Aberdeen Christmas Village was ranked the fifth best in the UK. 

    “I have no doubt this year’s will be just as sparkling, thrilling and magical – all the elements that make Christmas in Aberdeen so special. Adding to that will be the unique Curated In The Quad festive market – 50% bigger than last year – that will showcase the finest producers and creatives in the north-east, raise money for the vital work of Charlie House, all while bringing thousands of people into the city centre to boost local shops, bars, restaurants and businesses.” 

    All events are subject to planning and licensing permission. Full details of the Christmas in Aberdeen events will be announced shortly via our website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: Introductory Statement on Syria

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Introductory Statement on Syria. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Location:
    Geneva
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you Mr President,

    I have the honour to present draft resolution L.11 on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf of: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Qatar, Türkiye, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

    Mr President,

    When he briefed this Council last month, the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, Paulo Pinheiro described Syria, as a “quagmire of despair”. A fitting, yet tragic, depiction of the depth of human suffering Syrians continue to endure at the hands of Assad and his allies.

    Once again, the Commission’s report documents violence against civilians; arbitrary arrests; and detentions under the most horrific conditions where torture and sexual and gender-based violence are rife.

    Families receive no information or are misinformed about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones following their detention. There is simply no end to the cruelty that the regime is apparently willing to inflict on those that it is meant to protect.

    The draft resolution highlights violations and abuses against a generation of children in Syria, who have known nothing but a world where violence, fear, hunger and loss are a daily reality.

    A world where at least 2.4 million children are out of school. Where those as young as 11 have endured sexual and gender-based violence in state-run detention facilities. Where children are the innocent victims of indiscriminate attacks on schools, hospitals and civilian areas.

    As we approach International Day of the Girl Child, it is important we note the particular vulnerability of girls in Syria. Throughout this long conflict, girls have been targeted based on their gender, subject to forced marriage, and have taken on increased care-giving responsibilities. It is no wonder that of those out of education, girls are disproportionately affected.

    Mr President,

    The resolution we present today condemns such violations and abuses and calls for them to stop.

    It demands that attacks on schools, healthcare and medical facilities cease. And it implores all parties to maintain unhindered, safe and sustainable humanitarian access to those in need.

    Importantly, the resolution acknowledges that Syria’s future depends on the ability of generations to come to engage meaningfully in a political solution to the conflict.

    I thank all those who have engaged constructively in the negotiation process. 

    If a vote is called on this resolution, I urge members of the Council to vote in favour of it.

    Commissioner Pinheiro made clear that Syrians continue to look to this house for hope, for help. We cannot, should not, will not, abandon them.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on imminent changes to IPP licence termination process

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Information on the new processes for licence terminations for those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence

    The Parole Board is currently updating information on IPP licence terminations to reflect the relevant provisions within the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 that will come into force shortly. Revised guidance for Parole Board members will be published in the near future.

    Anyone serving an IPP or DPP sentence, or family and friends of someone serving an IPP or DPP sentence requiring independent advice is recommended to call the Howard League for Penal Reform hotline: 01209 701 888.  More information can be read here: IPP Licence Termination Hotline

    Further guidance can be found in the licence termination legal guide below, produced jointly by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust and Prisoners’ Advice Service.

    Termination of IPP licence legal guide

    PDF, 787 KB, 20 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email info@paroleboard.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bus franchising Consultation: Monthly message from Cllr Hunt Sheffield is transforming day by day. New homes are being built and regeneration projects are underway with cranes dotted across the city’s skyline. It is an exciting time for our city. 10 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, talks about the decision to hold a consultation on bus franchising:

    Sheffield is transforming day by day. New homes are being built and regeneration projects are underway with cranes dotted across the city’s skyline. It is an exciting time for our city.

    And now we are moving forward with a plan to improve our buses.

    Buses are vital for thousands of people in Sheffield to get to work, access education, go shopping, to care for loved ones and to see friends and family. But I know that our buses are currently not good enough.

    For 40 years, since privatisation in the 1980s, private bus companies have been able to pick and choose routes, cut services and put profit ahead of passengers. Our deregulated bus system means communities have little say and no control.

    There is a way to turn this around. This week we have taken a big step forward to bring our buses back under public control in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire.

    On October 23rd, a public consultation is being launched about whether to move to a ‘franchise’ model for our buses. This would bring regulation of bus routes, frequencies, fares, and tickets under local public control.

    The consultation will ask you if South Yorkshire should adopt a franchise system. This is what has happened in Greater Manchester. Mayor Andy Burnham took control of the bus network in September 2023. Since then, figures show that there has been a more reliable service in Manchester with record numbers of people using buses.

    This is what we want to achieve in Sheffield. Better bus services with more people using them would ease congestion on our roads, it will help further improve air quality, and it would provide people with more opportunities.

    Improving public transport is about social justice. Unreliable and infrequent buses rob people of opportunity. Everyone, wherever you live, whatever your income, should have access to good quality public transport.

    We know that public transport that is run for the public works. In March, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, brought the Supertram back into public control for the first time in 27 years. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is now responsible for the running, upkeep and expansion of the network, and are developing ambitious plans to expand the tram network.  

    I’m hugely optimistic for Sheffield. Creating a better bus network in the coming years is a key part of our plans to give people more opportunities. Look out for the consultation and please have your say. Whether you currently use the buses or not, we want to hear from you.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the association of maternal serum folate supplementation with congenital heart disease (CHD) risk in offspring

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at maternal folate levels and congenital heart disease risk in babies.

    Dr Erica D. Watson, Associate Professor in Reproductive Biology at University of Cambridge, said:

    “It is important to be responsible when writing about this subject because folic acid supplementation has real benefits to fetal health, and we do not want to scare people off from taking their pregnancy vitamins!

    The study indicates that maternal folic acid supplementation largely benefits the development of the baby’s heart. However, the study also shows that in some cases high folate levels in the mother’s blood was associated with an increased risk of heart defects in the baby. More research is needed to understand why this is. It is difficult to predict exactly how much folic acid is too much because genetics, metabolism, diet, and other aspects of the environment of both parents might interact to impact heart development. Importantly, moderate folic acid supplementation likely benefits fetal heart development.”

     

    ‘Maternal Serum Folate During Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Disease in Offspring’ by Qu et al., 2024 was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Thursday 10th October.

    DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.38747

    Declared interests

    Dr Erica D. Watson “I have no conflicts of interest to declare”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nearly 400 people already jailed following summer’s violent disorder

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Hundreds of people who took part in violent disorder during the summer have already been jailed.

    Hundreds of people who took part in violent disorder during the summer have already been jailed, data published today reveals.

    The rapid action taken across the justice system by police, prosecutors and those working in courts has meant that 388 people have been jailed to date – nearly half (47.5%) of all those who have appeared in court so far.

    In total, over 800 people who took part in violent thuggery have now had an initial court hearing as part of a collective effort across criminal justice agencies to keep communities safe and free from further violence and punish those who took part in the mindless disorder. Of these, almost 500 cases have been completed.

    The data released today shows that between 30 July and 3 October:

    • 819 defendants have been received by the courts in connection with the public disorder
    • 817 have already had their first hearing
    • 477 have been sentenced
    • 388 people have been sent to immediate custody
    • 324 cases are still in progress

    Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:  

    The mindless minority who took part in the disgraceful scenes we witnessed this summer were warned they would feel the full force of the law. This data shows that many have already seen the inside of a prison cell and many more face the prospect in future.

    I would like to pay tribute to the dedicated professionals across the criminal justice system who have worked tirelessly to deliver swift justice.

    Further information

    The statistics can be found here at Management information on magistrates’ court activity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Visits Life is Good’s Innovative New Facility in Hudson

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
    HUDSON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan toured Life is Good’s new production and warehouse facility in Hudson on Wednesday. The new facility features innovative direct-to-garment printing technology that allows the apparel company to produce items on-demand, reducing clothing waste by eliminating the need for large speculative orders. Additionally, the building demonstrates a commitment to sustainability with its rainwater collection system and rooftop solar panel array.
    “It was great to tour Life is Good’s new Hudson facility, which is not only creating jobs for Granite Staters, but also using technology to cut down on waste and lower costs for the company,” said Senator Hassan. “This kind of innovation is what allows a small state like New Hampshire to punch above its weight, and showcases how the Granite State is the place to be for all those who want to innovate, research, and create.”
    Senator Hassan has been a leader in efforts to cut taxes for innovative businesses and startups. For instance, she has led the push to restore the full research and development (R&D) tax deduction, which she will continue to push for as part of negotiations for a bipartisan tax cut package in Congress next year. Senator Hassan successfully pushed to include the doubling of the refundable research and development tax credit for small businesses and startups in the Inflation Reduction Act, which is now law. As Governor of New Hampshire, Senator Hassan doubled the supply of state R&D tax credits and made the credit permanent.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of pupils receive support to boost school attendance

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government makes significant expansion to size of attendance mentoring to get thousands more persistently absent pupils back in school

    Thousands more pupils will benefit from the support of a specialist attendance mentor as the government ramps up work to tackle the epidemic of school absence. 

    Persistent absence across the country has increased since the pandemic, with around one in five pupils across the country currently missing 10% or more of school.

    Backed by £15 million, the government will expand the investment and reach of attendance mentoring to reach 10,000 more children and cover an additional 10 areas with some of the worst attendance rates across the country. Nottingham, Ipswich and Blackpool are among the new areas that will benefit from the expansion.

    The original programme, which has been running since 2022 in five pilot areas, sees attendance mentors provide one to one support to persistently absent pupils including those with SEND or mental ill health to break down the barriers to attendance, getting them back in the classroom, learning and thriving.

    The new mentoring programme builds on the government’s plan to deliver free breakfast clubs in every primary school, with delivery starting in up to 750 schools from as early as April 2025. This is one of many programmes that will make sure children start the day ready to learn to ensure they leave school with the best life chances.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

    Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face.

    For too long persistent absence has held back young people across the country and denied them the life chances that they deserve: this government is gripping this generational challenge facing our schools.

    This significant new investment will help thousands of children back into the classroom and marks an important step towards truly turning the tide on persistent absence, helping us drive high and rising standards in every school.

    Pupils on the programme will be supported over a 12 to 20 week period and will have a specific plan to help them, developed by the mentor.

    This might include helping pupils to manage anxious feelings, developing their confidence and self-esteem, establishing more consistent routines at home and supporting pupils to access support from wider services.

    The programme will be run by delivery partners, Etio, a specialist consultancy that is already running a number of successful education projects in England, including the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.

    UK Managing Director at Etio, Dr. Gordon Carver said:

    Etio has been awarded the Attendance Mentoring Pilot Expansion (AMPE) project by the DfE, which aims to improve attendance and produce a robust evidence base for what works. The project is expected to yield important sector insights for tackling one of the most pressing issues in education. Headed up by Etio Project Director, Laura Bell, and a brilliant team behind her, we are keen to begin this important work. 

    The pilot programme has already successfully supported pupils with a wide range of challenges including low-level anxiety, special educational needs, poor attitude to learning and complex family circumstances. The pilot evaluation showed improvements in individual pupils’ attendance, wellbeing, home routines, and engagement at school.

    To make sure the new contract also provides the opportunity to build a more robust evidence base around what works, the department has appointed the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) to oversee a full external evaluation of the programme.

    Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza said:

    As Children’s Commissioner, children tell me all the time that they want to be in school, so this investment is a welcome step in addressing some of the barriers to attendance. These barriers are varied and complex: unmet mental health or SEND needs, family commitments such as being a young carer, or a disengagement from school that needs special care to resolve. 

    I remain deeply concerned by the rate of severe and persistent absences, which have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Attendance mentors can be an important part of the solution, by being a trusted person working closely with children and their families. 

    I have seen through my role as Chair of Greater Manchester Local Attendance Action Alliance how shared objectives, learning from what works and focusing on meeting every child’s needs means we can see real progress. Attendance must be a shared and top priority. Only when we ensure every child can engage with education, will we truly break down the barriers to opportunity. 

    The programme builds on the government’s statutory Working together to improve school attendance guidance which takes a ‘support first’ approach to managing school absence, by working with children and their families to address their specific barriers to regular school attendance.

    The government is committed to tackling the root causes of absence including by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school, introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary and ensuring earlier intervention in mainstream schools for pupils with special needs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Hassan Visits Northern Border, Receives Update on Security Challenges

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    BERLIN – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, received a security briefing and took an aerial tour with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the evolving threats in the Swanton Sector of the Northern border. The Swanton Sector covers portions of the U.S.-Canada border in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, and there has been a significant increase in attempted border crossings in this area over the last year.
    Senator Hassan received an operations update and report for the Swanton Sector from CBP, including challenges that CBP is facing and the need for additional personnel and technology to tackle the recent increase in crossings. Senator Hassan was also briefed by CBP’s Office of Field Operations about drug smuggling patterns for the region. After the briefing, Senator Hassan was taken on an aerial tour of the sector by CBP’s Air and Marine Operations.
    “Strengthening security at the Northern border is an important part of our overall national security,” said Senator Hassan. “I appreciated hearing directly from Border Patrol officials about the challenges that they are facing and what they need to better address them. I will continue working to support law enforcement at the border and keep our communities safe.”
    “I want to thank Senator Hassan for her continued support of US Customs and Border Protection’s work throughout the Swanton Sector, and we appreciated the opportunity to provide her an update on our efforts to keep our Northern border safe and secure,” said US Customs and Border Protection Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia.
    This visit is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security. Senator Hassan has visited both the Northern and Southern border several times as a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Recently, Senator Hassan introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen security at the Northern border by requiring regular updates to the Northern Border strategy. In August, the Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to allow U.S. and Canadian personnel to jointly patrol both sides of the Northern border on aircraft, helping better combat drug smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities. Earlier this year, the Homeland Security Committee voted to advance two of Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bills to reduce the flow of fentanyl, illicit firearms, and money across both directions of the Southern border. Additionally, in March, Senator Hassan’s bipartisan END FENTANYL Act, which will help Customs and Border Protection crack down on fentanyl trafficking at the border, was signed into law. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided Customs and Border Protection with additional tools to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Calls for Study on Hidden Costs of Ageism on Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with a number of Senate colleagues, is requesting the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) examine the impact of ageism on quality and equity of care, patient safety and health outcomes. Ageism in health care is associated with a decreased likelihood that older adults will receive care that meets medical guidelines, as well as an increased likelihood that they are not properly reimbursed for care, and exclusion from clinical trials and other research that is available to the public generally. On a percentage basis, Maine leads the nation with the largest 65 and older population.
    “While ageism is often subtle, it is woven into our workforce, our health care system, and our everyday interactions. Ageism undermines older adults and their contributions to our communities. Research shows that 81 percent of adults aged 50-80 report experiencing internal ageism, 65 percent are exposed to ageist messages, and 45 percent face ageism in interpersonal interactions. These staggering statistics demonstrate how ingrained ageism is in our society,” wrote the senators.
    “Ageism within health care leads to poorer health outcomes, avoidable morbidity, and costly preventable adverse events. Ageism costs the health care system $63 billion annually. In health care, ageism is expressed in our policies, the practices of health care providers, and negative assumptions held by older adults themselves. At the macro level, ageism is complex and reflected in health care access issues which result in older adults being less likely to receive care consistent with medical guidelines, payment policies that do not adequately reimburse for complex care needed for older adults, and exclusion or underrepresentation of older adults in clinical trials and other research,” continued the senators.
    “With AHRQ’s mission to improve the quality, safety, and equity of health care, we believe your organization is well suited to support Congress’ effort to address ageism in health care. Results of the requested review will help inform practice, quality improvement efforts, education of health professionals, and policy,” concluded the senators.
    In addition to King, the letter was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
    Representing one of the oldest states in the country, Senator King is consistently working to address the issues facing Maine seniors. In the American Rescue Plan, which passed 50 to 49 in 2021, King secured $10 billion in broadband funding to help more Maine seniors access life-saving services like tele-health. The legislation also contained funding to quickly vaccinate older Americans, and to lower the costs of healthcare. Senator King has also worked to increase prescription drug price transparency, expand tele-health services, and spoke on the Senate floor in support of expanded homecare services in the Build Back Better proposal. He also has introduced bipartisan legislation to help improve critical quality-of-life service and programs for American seniors, and bipartisan legislation to cut costs for volunteers in Maine who deliver meals to seniors. This past fall, alongside Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), he introduced the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act to help prevent painful and costly falls. He also introduced a ‘Stand Strong’ legislative package that would encourage proactive home modifications and increase access to preventative screenings for older Americans.
    The full text of the letter can be found here or below.
    +++
    Dear Dr. Valdez:
    We write to express our concern about the complexity and pervasive nature of ageism in health care and request that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) examine the impact of ageism on quality and equity of care, patient safety, and health outcomes.
    While ageism is often subtle, it is woven into our workforce, our health care system, and our everyday interactions. Ageism undermines older adults and their contributions to our communities. Research shows that 81 percent of adults aged 50-80 report experiencing internal ageism, 65 percent are exposed to ageist messages, and 45 percent face ageism in interpersonal interactions. These staggering statistics demonstrate how ingrained ageism is in our society. 
    Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination directed towards people on the basis of their age. While ageism is often subtle, it is woven into our workforce, our health care system, and our everyday interactions. Ageism undermines older adults and their contributions to our communities. Research shows that 81 percent of adults aged 50-80 report experiencing internal ageism, 65 percent are exposed to ageist messages, and 45 percent face ageism in interpersonal interactions. These staggering statistics demonstrate how ingrained ageism is in our society. 
    Ageism within health care leads to poorer health outcomes, avoidable morbidity, and costly preventable adverse events. Ageism costs the health care system $63 billion annually. In health care, ageism is expressed in our policies, the practices of health care providers, and negative assumptions held by older adults themselves. At the macro level, ageism is complex and reflected in health care access issues which result in older adults being less likely to receive care consistent with medical guidelines, payment policies that do not adequately reimburse for complex care needed for older adults, and exclusion or underrepresentation of older adults in clinical trials and other research. 
    At the micro level, practices such as the use of ageist language and elder speak, exclusion of older patients from plan of care conversations, and variations in treatment practices due to a patient’s age all affect patients’ quality of care. Self-directed ageism can also lead to adverse outcomes for a patient if their beliefs on aging lead them to believe that the symptoms they are experiencing should be considered a “normal” part of aging. For example, while some cognitive decline is expected as we age, memory loss, confusion, changes in behavior, and inability to complete activities of daily living are all signs of changes in cognitive ability that need to be evaluated by a medical professional. Moreover, people who internalize ageist societal messages tend to have poorer physical, cognitive, and mental health. The reverse is also true—individuals who internalize positive aging messages are likely to exhibit benefits in physical, cognitive, and mental health—highlighting the need to promote age inclusivity.
    We respectfully request that AHRQ examine this issue and provide a synthesis of existing evidence on ageism in health care to inform efforts to reduce ageism within the health care system. Specifically, we request your assistance to answer the following questions:
    What is the full scope of ageism within health care?
    What is the impact of ageism and intersectionality on both the micro and macro levels of health care related to health equity and outcomes?
    What is the evidence for interventions to address ageism and promote age inclusivity in health care?
    With AHRQ’s mission to improve the quality, safety, and equity of health care, we believe your organization is well suited to support Congress’ effort to address ageism in health care. Results of the requested review will help inform practice, quality improvement efforts, education of health professionals, and policy.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: GAD supports the setting up of National Energy System Operator

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    We worked closely with the government on a purchase from National Grid to form the publicly owned National Energy System Operator.

    Credit: iStockPhoto

    We worked closely with the government on the purchase from National Grid of the Electricity System Operator to form the publicly owned National Energy System Operator (NESO).

    The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) worked with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). DESNZ decided to set up NESO to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers.

    Clean power

    The change means Britain’s energy system will be planned by a new publicly owned organisation as part of an overall plan to help deliver clean power by 2030.

    It will help connect new generation projects with the electricity grid, working alongside Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy. NESO launched on 1 October 2024.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    GAD’s expertise

    We worked to time-critical deadlines and provided substantial support around the specialist issue of pensions.

    Support and advice

    Our support for DESNZ involved collaborating with numerous parties inside and outside government, working closely with DESNZ’s legal advisers. We were pleased to receive feedback from DESNZ on our “excellent service, support and advice”.

    Claire King (Head of Implementation at DESNZ for this project) worked with the GAD team and said: “GAD approached this transaction with the utmost professionalism. The team dealt with the many stakeholders as our subject matter experts in pension transfers and managing investment risk. Their experience and enthusiasm helped us to drive the project forward and reach a solution that took account of all parties’ needs.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our online services will be unavailable on 12 and 13 October

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The VMD’s online services will be unavailable from 6am Saturday 12 October until 8pm Sunday 13 October due to essential site maintenance.

    Most of the VMD’s online services will be unavailable from 6am on Saturday 12 October due to essential site maintenance. We expect that all services will resume by 8pm on Sunday 13 October.

    The services that will be temporarily unavailable are:

    Access to the following Registers is also unavailable:

    We apologise for any inconvenience.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 10/10/2024 VIDEO: Blackburn Celebrates Female Athletes on October 10

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following video celebrating women’s athletic achievements on October 10th after introducing a resolution earlier this year to designate 10/10 as ‘American Girls in Sports Day.’ 
    Despite the fact that nearly 70% of Americans agree athletes should only be allowed to compete on teams that correspond with their sex at birth, Senate Democrats blocked the effort to pass this resolution last month.

    Click here to download this video of Senator Blackburn discussing ‘American Girls in Sports Day.’
    “In 2022, the Biden-Harris Department of Education announced new rules that would actually force schools to allow biological men to play on female teams. This regulation really does undermine women’s sports, so I introduced legislation that would establish a day, October 10th, as ‘American Girls in Sports Day.’ The Democrats went to the floor and blocked that resolution, but October 10th should still be a day we set aside and celebrate our female athletes. In the last 50 years, since the signing of Title IX, female athletes have really gone from the sidelines to center stage. That is something to celebrate.” – Senator Blackburn

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK climate finance helps reduce more than 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions globally

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) has helped 110 million people adapt to the effects of climate change.

    • Reduced or avoided over 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, according to official analysis released today.

    • Climate finance has helped to mobilise £8.4 billion of public and £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change.

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF), helps developing countries limit and manage the impacts of climate change, mitigate further global warming from emissions and avert, minimise and address loss and damage.

    The results published today demonstrate the transformational impact of the UK’s International Climate Finance from 2011, ensuring developing countries have access to clean energy and innovative technology to drive the global transition to net zero, while supporting the most vulnerable countries who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Over the last 12 years, the UK has:

    • Supported over 82 million people with improved access to clean energy.
    • Avoided or reduced 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking all UK cars off the road for approximately 1 year and 7 months.
    • Avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, the equivalent to more than 1 million football pitches.

    Through UK International Climate Finance, UK aid is investing in innovative solutions to tackle climate change, such as energy efficiency and forestry across the Global South to demonstrate their commercial viabilities:

    • The Climate Public Partnership (CP3) programme has been addressing the dual challenge of both climate challenge and access to clean, affordable energy by building a public-private partnership to unlock private investments. By investing in private equity funds, including £50 million to the Catalyst Fund, over a portfolio of 124 projects, UK aid successfully mobilised over £86 million of private finance to date.

    • In Madagascar and Indonesia, UK aid is helping to protect, restore and sustainably manage mangrove forests while reducing the poverty of the coastal communities that rely on them. By working together with national governments, local communities and the private sector, the Blue Forests Programme developed green business opportunities based on sustainable mangrove forestry and fisheries management and helped protect around 58,000 hectares of mangrove forests and delivered around 660,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings. 

    These results come as the UK has taken swift action at home to tackle the climate crisis and provide energy security for British families and businesses. The UK is first major economy to set a landmark goal in delivering clean power by 2030. In the space of a few months the Government has already:

    • Lifted the ban on onshore wind in England to roll out a new supply of clean and cheap power.
    • Delivered the most successful renewables energy auction to date, securing enough clean power to supply the equivalent of 11 million homes.
    • Introduced Great British Energy, creating the next generation of skilled jobs and protecting family from volatile fossil fuel prices that helped drive the cost of living crisis.
    • Consented unprecedented amounts of nationally significant solar – 2GW – more than the last 14 years combined.

    The UK will use that strong action at home to accelerate global action at the COP29 summit in Baku, raising ambition to agree a new financial target to support developing countries in tackling climate change.

    Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds said:

    International climate finance is at the heart of our climate and development objectives and our Mission to be a clean energy superpower.

    Our work – and the billions in private finance it has unlocked – will help the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and enable partners to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

    Our programmes are making a positive difference to people’s lives and helping to build a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.

    UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

    The UK has played a key role in supporting the most vulnerable communities across the globe in tackling climate change while alleviating poverty and improving access to cleaner energy sources.

    But there is more work to do, and unlocking greater global climate finance is crucial in addressing the needs of developing countries who are on the frontline of the crisis.

    That’s why the UK will be pushing for an ambitious finance goal for climate aid at COP29. We will continue to champion the voices of those most affected and we will lead from the front in speeding up the global transition to net zero.

    UK Minister for Nature Mary Creagh said:

    We have a responsibility to tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet. This means putting nature loss and climate change at the forefront of the global agenda.

    We are seeing an unprecedented decline in species and the loss of some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Our climate programmes play a vital role in protecting and restoring nature and supporting the communities most affected by this crisis.

    These results come ahead of this year’s UN climate summit COP29 in Baku, which will see countries come together to negotiate a new financial target for supporting developing countries in their climate actions, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG).

    In addition to UK ICF, the UK’s world leading expertise on green finance and net zero industries is supporting developing countries achieve their own climate goals through leveraging private sector funds. Since 2011, the UK has helped mobile £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change purposes.

    The £11.6 billion commitment for the ICF remains the government’s intention as we undertake the spending review. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on 27 September the Prime Minister made clear the UK would continue to be a leading contributor to international climate finance.

    Background

    • The UK’s International Climate Finance is funded by Official Development Assistance (UK aid) from FCDO, DESNZ and DEFRA.
    • UK International Climate Finance (ICF) is a portfolio of investments with a goal to support international poverty eradication now and in the future, by helping developing countries manage risk and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, take up low-carbon development at scale and manage natural resources sustainably. Through annual publications the ICF sets out results from these investments against a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
    • To find out more about International Climate Finance
    • UK International Climate Finance results 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councillor Penberthy on World Homeless Day

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Today, Thursday 10 October, Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, marks World Homeless Day.

    Chris said: “I have made no secret of the fact that Plymouth, like many other towns and cities across the UK, is in the midst of a housing crisis.

    “As I speak today, there are more than 300 households living in temporary accommodation.

    “These numbers are just those we know about. They don’t include people who are sofa-surfing, rough sleepers or people who, for whatever reason, have not registered with us.

    “These families are not just statistics. They are people who want what should be, in 2024, a basic human right; somewhere to call home.

    “Today, on #WorldHomelessDay, I pledge to continue the work that we do to support people who find themselves homeless, to continue our push for more truly affordable housing, to keep working with our partners to support our most vulnerable rough sleepers and to make the tough decisions needed to ease the crisis here in Plymouth.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –