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  • MIL-OSI Security: Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Delivers Remarks at the 2024 Hate Crimes Grantee Conference

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Thank you, Liz Ryan, for that introduction and thank you also to Director Karhlton Moore and the Bureau of Justice Assistance for putting together this week’s conference. This inaugural conference has brought together grantees of the Justice Department’s hate crime grants, which includes law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, and national civil rights organizations, for important discussions on best practices for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, supporting victims of hate, and preventing hate crimes and hate incidents.

    I also want to take a moment to thank Houston Police Department Senior Officer Jamie Byrd-Grant, daughter of James Byrd Jr., and Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, for being part of this week’s conference and for their strength and advocacy for so many years after the murder of their loved ones.

    I remember vividly when both of those heinous crimes were committed in 1998. I was almost exactly the same age as Matthew and, like him, was a young gay man living in a small college town. So Matthew’s murder in particular struck a fearful chord in me.

    But thanks to the Byrd and Shepard families’ commitment, and the advocacy of many people in this room, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act 15 years ago. That law gave the Justice Department some of the most important tools it has today.

    So we can both acknowledge how far we have come in the last 26 years but also recognize how much more needs to be done to make sure everyone feels safe in this country.

    The latest FBI hate crime statistics released on Monday demonstrate just how much work remains to do. There were a record number of hate crimes in 2023, and we know that hate crimes are underreported. Nearly 30% of all reported hate crimes were anti-Black or African American. Anti-Latino hate crimes increased from 2022, and there was a record number of hate crimes because of the victim’s sexual orientation. There were also a record number of anti-Arab and anti-Jewish hate crimes, with increases of 34% and 63% respectively, and anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 49%. Yet the numbers alone do not tell the full story. Behind each of the 11,862 hate crimes is a tragic or traumatic story of intimidation and bigotry.

    Hate crimes instill fear in communities and undermine our democracy. The Justice Department has and will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to combat hate in this country.

    That includes prosecuting those who perpetrate these terrible crimes. Earlier this month, for example, the Justice Department charged two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group that operates on the digital messaging platform Telegram, where they promote a white supremacist ideology. Among other charges, the defendants are charged with soliciting users to commit hate crimes against those in the United States and abroad that they deemed to be enemies of the white race, with the goal of igniting a race war.

    But prosecutions are not the only tool available to us to help promote public safety. We also provide financial support to communities through grants to combat hate. Those grants go to a range of recipients, including state and local law enforcement and prosecution agencies, community-based organizations, and civil rights groups.

    I am thrilled to announce that this year, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs is awarding close to $30 million to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, and national civil rights organizations to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. Over the last four fiscal years, the Department has given over $100 million in anti-hate crime grants, a number that demonstrates our strong commitment to this work.

    Through the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program, we are awarding nearly $12 million to local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, as well as to collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.

    For example, the University of Colorado Boulder’s Police Department and Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence will launch a project across the University of Colorado system. That project will educate students, faculty, and community members about hate crime prevention and intervention and train campus officials on strategies for addressing hate crimes and hate-based incidents on campus.

    The 9th Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida, will use its grant funds to establish an online complaint system for hate crimes to be reported, vetted, and referred to the proper law enforcement agency. It will also provide mediation where appropriate for non-violent hate crimes and provide trauma-informed mental health services to victims of hate crimes.

    Through the Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crime Program, the Department is also awarding more than $7.6 million to 11 different community-based and civil rights organizations. That money will fund projects dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.

    For example, the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization will implement a hate crimes preparedness program for approximately 350,000 religious congregations to better prepare for and mitigate the threat from hate crimes and incidents. The No al Odio (or “No to Hate”) project will work with Hispanic communities in California to understand and report hate crimes through a comprehensive education and outreach strategy. And the Global Peace Foundation will use funds to work with Black and African immigrant populations in Maryland to train participants in conflict resolution and to build trust between diverse community members.

    To improve hate crime reporting and access to services for victims, the Department is awarding $1.1 million under the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines. That funding, awarded to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, will support the launch of its statewide hate crimes and bias incidents hotline by investing in partnerships with LGBTQI+, Latino, Black, immigrant, and refugee organizations.

    Both California and Illinois received hate crime reporting hotline grants in FY2022, and both states now have active hotlines for victims to report incidents in multiple languages, speak to trained professionals, and seek support and trauma-informed services.

    Also through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding, the Department is providing $2.5 million to its research and analysis project that evaluates FBI crime data and hate crime reporting patterns within and across states, as well the variation among state laws on hate crimes. The Department is also providing $650,000 to its project on NIBRS data and police service calls, with a focus on identifying hate crimes.

    And through the Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program, we are awarding $1 million to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office (D.A.’s Office) to continue its work identifying, researching, and cataloguing Jim Crow cold case homicides, as well as unsolved homicides of LGBTQI+ victims, particularly those killed during the late 1970s.

    Through a previous grant under this program, the D.A.’s Office is investigating nearly 175 racial terror homicides in New Orleans and over 300 cases statewide.

    In addition to these grants, the Department is also combating hate by supporting resource centers. This includes the launch of a new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center through a $2.7 million award to RTI and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Resource Center will serve as a hub for resources, training, and education, and it will support practitioners who are countering hate crimes and supporting victims in local, state, federal, and Tribal jurisdictions across the nation.

    Additionally, in June, through funding by the Department, the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Training and Technical Assistance Program announced the launch of a website that provides resources for law enforcement, prosecutors, community groups, and the public on how to identify, investigate, prosecute, and prevent hate crimes, as well as on how to address the needs of victims and communities.

    We know that a key tool to combat hate and support victims of hate crimes and incidents is research. To that end, the Department is providing over $2.5 million in funding for three research projects to advance the understanding of law enforcement responses to hate crimes and the needs of survivors and survivor communities. The studies will generate new information to improve specialized law enforcement bias crime units, the use of LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to anti-transgender hate crimes, and outcomes for survivors of hate crimes and their communities.

    This research will also lead to the development of recommendations and guidance to help practitioners and policymakers improve responses to hate crimes.

    In addition to these new grant awards, I am pleased to announce two new trainings. First, the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is releasing a new Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum, designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors, and others who work with them.

    The curriculum was informed by 19 roundtable discussions with youth across seven states, along with pilot testing in many communities. It is designed to empower young people to change attitudes and behaviors and make them less likely to engage in or be victimized by hate crimes or bullying.

    The curriculum is also designed to educate adults who work with youth about the potential use of online technologies to break down cultural barriers and bias. The Department is dedicated to continuing to provide more resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents, and bullying among youth. You are going to hear more about the training from Director Ryan momentarily.

    Second, the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (or the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes. That training was developed in conjunction with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other subject matter experts. It builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes aimed at line-level officers. Both trainings can be requested at no cost by state and local agencies.

    I have touched on the importance of the Justice Department’s prosecutions, grants, and trainings to combat hate. Another critical pillar to our work is our engagement with the communities we serve. The Department’s Community Relations Service (or CRS) is working with communities across the country who are victimized by hate crimes and hate incidents. Using facilitated dialogues and programs, CRS is in communities responding to threats of violence against community members because of who they are and where they are from.

    CRS is also involved in many of the United Against Hate Programs that the Justice Department launched in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. Those programs connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with communities to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes, build trust between communities and law enforcement, and create stronger alliances to prevent and combat hate crimes.

    Over the past two years, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, in close partnership with FBI, CRS, and the Civil Rights Division, have held over 550 United Against Hate events nationwide with over 18,500 participants. Just yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama and the FBI Office here in Birmingham hosted a United Against Hate symposium at Alabama A&M University for students and faculty.

    As the many programs and tools I have mentioned today underscore, the Justice Department remains committed to combating and preventing hate crimes and incidents. The partnerships that we have built across the country and continue to build with everyone here this week are indispensable to that work. I am grateful to stand with you as we work together to reject bigotry used to justify hate-fueled threats and violence and attempts to divide us. We are stronger together. Every person deserves to feel safe in their communities, and we will continue to fight back against hate in all its forms.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good morning. Thank you, Adair, for that warm welcome.

    Before we get started, I want to address a major development that took place late yesterday.

    The Justice Department secured a federal indictment of Ryan Routh, charging him with attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump.

    These new charges returned by the grand jury build on the firearms felony charges we filed last week, which permitted the defendant’s arrest and detention as our investigation continued.

    Immediately after the assassination attempt on September 15th, I made clear that the Justice Department would bring every available resource to bear in this investigation.

    Over the last 11 days, the Department has done just that.

    As alleged in the indictment, and as reflected in court documents filed in this case, evidence uncovered in the investigation sheds new light on the defendant’s actions in the days leading up to this crime, and supports the charge of attempted assassination. This evidence includes:

    A handwritten list seized from the defendant’s car cataloging the dates and venues of the former President’s past and expected appearances.

    A box the defendant left with a witness several months ago, which contained a handwritten letter addressed to “the World,” stating: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you.”

    And cell site records indicating that on multiple days and times in the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt, the defendant was repeatedly in the immediate vicinity of the Trump International Golf Club and the former President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.

    This investigation is still in its early stages and remains active and ongoing. And as in all cases, the allegations we make in our filings are just that until we prove them in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The Justice Department is committed to using the full force of our authorities to thoroughly investigate every lead and ensure accountability in this matter.

    Our nation has now experienced two assassination attempts against the former President in just the last three months. That is abhorrent.

    Violence and threats of violence targeting public officials are dangerous to their safety, the safety of their families, and the safety of the people who protect them. They are dangerous to everything this country stands for.

    The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy. And we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it.

    This must stop.

    Now, I want to turn to the topic of today’s meeting, the work of this office and its law enforcement partners.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Boroughs and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our work to keep communities across South Carolina safe.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our partners today, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do to protect communities here in Columbia and across the state.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this Office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in South Carolina. When people across the state look to see what the Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    That work, together with the work of our state and local law enforcement partners, is making a difference.

    Three-and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. Today, we are seeing results.

    According to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, making 2023 the third consecutive year of decline. That included a 5.9% decrease in the murder rate.

    We have also seen encouraging trends on the national level. Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report indicating we saw an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing.

    Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities, which indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know that progress in many communities is still uneven. And, of course, there is no acceptable level of violent crime.

    That is why the Justice Department is continuing to work with our partners here in South Carolina and across the country to combat violent crime, drug and gun trafficking, and gang violence.

    For example, on a single day earlier this month, this office announced three significant developments in our work to combat drug trafficking and the fentanyl crisis.

    First – in partnership with ATF, Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties – the office secured guilty pleas from six members of a methamphetamine trafficking ring responsible for distributing at least 250 kilograms of meth in the Upstate.

    Second – together with ATF, DEA, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department – the office secured 10-year and seven-year prison sentences, respectively, for two individuals on fentanyl and gun charges.

    Third, together with DEA and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, this Office secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who provided a syringe loaded with drugs, including fentanyl, to a victim who later died of fentanyl poisoning.

    And, just last month, the office worked with federal law enforcement partners – as well as law enforcement in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson counties – to secure a 23-year prison sentence for a cocaine and meth dealer.

    The dealer also conscripted others to buy guns for him so that he could modify them into fully automatic weapons. He sold some of the machine guns, and he kept at least one of them with him during his drug deals.

    And this spring, this office – in partnership with federal law enforcement, the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies – secured sentences for three international gun traffickers. As part of that scheme, two of the defendants recruited straw purchasers to buy  guns on their behalf and then smuggled them to Canada.

    Finally, earlier this year, this office announced the results of a months-long investigation conducted in partnership with 19 federal, state, and local public safety agencies. That investigation resulted in charges against 13 defendants and the seizure of multiple firearms, ammunition, and drugs, including fentanyl.

    That investigation came after the FBI identified communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang and narcotics-related violence; in response, federal, state, and local law enforcement concentrated resources and personnel in those areas.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities here in South Carolina, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Department is awarding $3 million in funding through the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    This grant is part of the more than $36 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in South Carolina this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in South Carolina hire more officers, prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this state.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect people in this state, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office.  And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and agencies around this table. They are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting.

    Thank you. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Update on postal services to Poland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Update on postal services to Poland
    Update on postal services to Poland
    ***********************************

         Hongkong Post announced today (September 26) that, as advised by the postal administration of Poland, due to the impact of heavy rain, mail delivery services to the areas with postcodes 32xxx, 43xxx, 45xxx, 46xxx, 47xxx, 48xxx, 49xxx, 55xxx, 57xxx, 58xxx, 59xxx, 67xxx and 68xxx are subject to delay.

     
    Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 12:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Cramer: NPS Awards More Than $4 Million to Support Park Projects in Grand Forks, Turtle Mountain

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $4,490,000 through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) to support redevelopment projects at parks across North Dakota. The award will be distributed for the following projects:

    • $3,490,000 for the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway, an outdoor recreational area consisting of 2,200 acres. 
    • $1,000,000 to support the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Areas.

    The ORLP program, managed by the NPS and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, provides grants for community sponsored park projects where population is greater than 30,000 residents. Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 40,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue, to states and local communities. LWCF awards allow states to further allocate these funds to support local public parks projects and state conservation, and expand outdoor recreation access.

    In 2019, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped pass the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The legislation reauthorized and reformed the LWCF program to ensure states receive at least 40 percent of its funding. Grants distributed through the LWCF program are locally determined and reviewed at the state level through a process designed and managed by state partners of the NPS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Passes Funding Stopgap Through December 20, Averts Government Shutdown

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here to download audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 78 to 18 today, extending Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations levels for federal agencies through December 20. The measure, which previously passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 341 to 82, also provides funding for the U.S. Secret Service in addition to extending expiring programs and authorities.

    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting for the short-term funding measure:

    “While we averted a shutdown for next week, this CR just really punts September’s work to December,” said Cramer. “It’s a terrible way to run the government and instead of putting appropriations bills on the floor when we had plenty of time to do it, plenty of good bills that passed the Appropriations Committee, Chuck Schumer opts for political show votes and then short-term extensions. Keeping the government open is literally the least we can do, and the American people deserve a lot better than this.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “My id” will help the winners of the “

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Winners of the ” “My id”. QR code of an order placed in exchange for points on the website “A Million Prizes”, will be displayed in the application and will be at hand when needed.

    “With the help of the mobile application “My id” QR codes of completed orders can be used for presentation in stores, museums, theaters and other partners of the program. They are easy to use: for example, if you have a promo code for a discount in a cafe, you can open it on the smartphone screen with just a couple of taps and show it when paying the bill,” the press service noted.

    Department of Information Technology Moscow.

    Participants of the action “

    You can exchange your points for a promo code until December 14, and use it with program partners until December 15, 2024. Reward points make it possible to pay for part of a purchase in stores, restaurants and cafes, buy tickets to concerts and amusement parks, top up your Troika transport card, and make a donation to a charity.

    Information about orders placed for points on the Million Prizes website is presented in the My ID application in the form of QR codes. When you click on the Million Prizes card in it, a list of all orders will open. From it, you can select the one you plan to use at the moment.

    Detailed information about the My ID application and download links can be found on the special project page “Mobile applications and services of Moscow”.

    Mobile application “My id” appeared in July 2023. With its help, city residents can quickly access information from personal documents and documents of their children, including passports, taxpayer identification numbers, insurance numbers and compulsory medical insurance policies. The application allows you to share information with trusted persons if necessary. Digital versions of some documents, such as a single library card, are presented in the form of QR and bar codes. They can be used to receive city services.

    The service is being developed Department of Information Technology the city of Moscow together with the State Institution “New Management Technologies”.

    The use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to improve the quality of life of city residents corresponds to the objectives of the national program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”. More information about the national projects implemented in Moscow can be found on a special page.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144468073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on Senate passage of continuing resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate voted to avoid a government shutdown by continuing existing funding levels through December 20, 2024:

    “This bipartisan continuing resolution prevents a catastrophic government shutdown for our country at a time when the eyes of the world are already firmly upon us. A shutdown isn’t just some federal offices closing for a few days. Service members, law enforcement officers, and federal employees work without compensation. Small businesses depending on government contracts don’t get paid. Many critical services that our government provides simply stop.

    “That’s why I’m glad we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement to keep the lights on and stop playing fast and loose with the American people’s livelihoods.

    “At a moment of increased threats and tension, I am glad to see that the agreement – in addition to maintaining current funding levels – provides an additional $231 million to the U.S. Secret Service to better protect presidential candidates. Candidates for office should be able to freely campaign without the fear of violence, and the Secret Service must have all the resources it needs to keep them safe. I am also pleased that this agreement provides critical resources to facilitate the presidential transition process, a bedrock principle of our democracy.

    “While I am currently attending meetings alongside the U.N. General Assembly and was unable to return to Washington for this evening’s vote, I would have proudly supported this legislation on the Senate floor. Going forward, I am eager to finish the fiscal year 2025 appropriations process and fully fund our government.”

    Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Cramer: Department of Energy Awards Initial Funding to Project Tundra

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here for audio***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an award of $4.2 million to Project Tundra. This is the first installment of up to $350 million to Project Tundra. These funds will be distributed through the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program, which supports the development of community-informed integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage projects.

    “This initial award really brings Project Tundra one step closer to being the first user of carbon capture utilization storage technology at a coal plant with on-site storage in the country, and how appropriate that it would be done in North Dakota,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “This project demonstrates our state’s ingenuity and decades of energy development, experience, and dominance.  Obviously, more work lies ahead, but this is really welcome progress.”

    Project Tundra will capture up to 4 million metric tons of CO2 annually from the Milton R. Young Station, a lignite coal-based power plant. The CO2 would then be safely stored in geologic formations, roughly a mile underground. The facility’s commercial operation is set to begin in 2028. In June 2023, he announced Project Tundra entered into the final stage of development and congratulated the effort to deploy carbon capture at scale in North Dakota. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: EFI Expands Relationship with Global Strategic Partner DPI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDONDERRY, N.H., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Electronics For Imaging, Inc. today reported its subsidiary, EFI Cretaprint S.L.U., has licensed its Building Materials digital printing business to its current global strategic partner, DPI, an innovative technology company with a network of dealers that specializes in research, development, production, sales, and service for high-speed industrial digital printing solutions.

    “This strategic partnership strengthens DPI’s role as the exclusive provider of service and support for EFI’s ceramic digital printers and spare parts, leveraging EFI’s renowned know-how, trademarks, and uncompromising quality standards,” said Scott Schinlever, Chief Operating Officer for EFI’s global inkjet business. “DPI’s expanded role in delivering support to our global customer base reflects the trust and expertise they’ve demonstrated over the years. As part of this agreement, DPI will manage both current and future product and service needs, ensuring that customers continue to receive the high-quality support they have come to expect from EFI.”

    With this agreement, DPI’s global network of dealers and services technicians will take on an expanded service footprint, further enhancing its capacity to meet the evolving needs of customers around the world. “This latest stage in our relationship with EFI allows us to bring comprehensive coverage for customers using these cutting-edge technologies,” said Eddie Cheng, General Manager of DPI. “We’re excited to continue building on our partnership and look forward to showcasing these products and our expanded role at the upcoming TECHNA Expo.” DPI will be exhibiting in Hall 4, Booth 104 at the TECHNA Expo, taking place 24 to 27 September in Rimini, Italy.

    To learn more about EFI’s portfolio of innovative digital inkjet products and support services, visit http://www.EFI.com.

    About EFI
    EFI™ is a global technology company, leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We understand our customers want breakthrough technologies to lead them through their digital journey. That’s why we’re passionate about driving their business growth with a scalable portfolio of products, solutions, services, support, and world-class partnerships for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, building materials, commercial print, and personalized documents with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and workflow software. They work together to increase profits, cut costs, improve productivity, and optimize efficiency – job after job, year after year. We are devoted to our customers. And we definitely believe we have the right people, technology and experience to help them achieve their business goals. (http://www.efi.com)

    Follow EFI online:

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EFIPrint
    Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EFIPrint
    View us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/EFIDigitalPrintTech

    NOTE TO EDITORS: The EFI logo is a registered trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. EFI is a trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

    Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statements provided with EFI products and services.

    Contact:
    Holly O’Rourke, EFI
    News3@efi.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 211-2024: Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme: treatment provider suspended – PT. Fumindo Mandiri Sejahtera Cabang Surabaya (AEI: ID0169MB)

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended PT. Fumindo Mandiri Sejahtera Cabang Surabaya (AEI: ID0169MB) from the…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Reserve Bank of New Zealand releases banking competition select committee submission

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

    26 September 2024 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua supports efforts to improve competition in banking services, including in agricultural and business banking. Competition is a fundamental contributor to the efficiency of the financial system, supporting broader economic prosperity and well-being.

    Our submission to Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry into Banking Competition, published today, outlines the RBNZ’s financial stability mandate, and highlights areas where we can support competition in the banking sector.

    We agree with the Commerce Commission’s problem definition that a more competitive banking market is desirable, Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby says.

    “The Deposit Takers Act that passed in 2023 requires us to take into account competition, and we are doing so by ensuring we take a proportionate approach to regulation while focusing on managing the biggest risks to banks and the financial system.”

    “We keep our rules and standards under review to ensure they can best deliver on our mandate. This includes striking the right balance between stability and competition. An example of this is our active consideration on how we can progress the recommendations for the Reserve Bank from the Commerce Commission’s market study into personal banking services,” Mr Hawkesby says

    “Competition is also relevant to our other roles as a central bank, including our stewardship of the money and cash system. We are currently reviewing the access policy for our inter-bank settlement system, and investigating the potential role digital cash could play in supporting innovation in the financial system. Together with our co-regulators and industry, are working to improve Māori access to capital and basic bank accounts.”

    The submission also details the Reserve Bank’s approach to setting capital requirements for different types of bank lending. These requirements are an essential tool to promote banks’ financial resilience. Capital is the funding of a bank from its owners, and acts as the buffer protecting creditors such as depositors from losses.  

    Our framework is based on matching the level of capital required with the underlying risk of a bank’s lending through the use of risk weights. This is consistent with global practice. We have published a new RBNZ Bulletin article alongside our submission that analyses how risk weights affect bank lending. The Bulletin highlights domestic and international evidence showing the impact of risk weights on the availability and pricing of loans is low compared to other factors.

    “The Commerce Commission’s market study highlighted high levels of customer inertia as a key barrier to competition. Efforts to reduce real and perceived barriers to switching banks and supporting innovation through open banking is key to promoting competition,” Mr Hawkesby says.

    More information

    Submission on Finance and Expenditure Select Committee Inquiry into banking competition (PDF, 378KB) https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=4d1c93a0a3&e=f3c68946f8
    Reserve Bank Bulletin: How risk weights affect bank lending  https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=651ca9ee10&e=f3c68946f8
    Parliament Select Committee Inquiry into Banking Competition https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=e6c8d5275e&e=f3c68946f8
    Keynote speech by Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby: Resilience as a pathway to prosperity https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=b05e115364&e=f3c68946f8
    RBNZ Submission on Personal banking services market study: Draft report (PDF, 355KB) https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=1163a8498b&e=f3c68946f8

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Youth inspiring at Beaconsfield Upper

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Beaconsfield Upper Fire Brigade members Steve Martin (left) and Axel Martin (right)

    Where others may look to their parents for inspiration, Beaconsfield Upper father-son pair Axel and Steve Martin are bucking the trend, with father Steve following in his son’s footsteps .

    Where others may look to their parents for inspiration, Beaconsfield Upper father-son pair Axel and Steve Martin are bucking the trend, with father Steve following in his son’s footsteps.  

    At 17 years old, Axel Martin is a member of the Beaconsfield Upper Fire Brigade.  

    He joined Juniors at 14 years old, and last year completed his General Firefighter Training to become a senior firefighter. 

    “One of my mates used to do juniors with the Beaconsfield Fire Brigade and he said to come along one night, so I came along and then from there on I was pretty much hooked,” Axel said.  

    “I joined with the Beaconsfield Upper Fire Brigade as a proper service member and then got my dad into it. 

    “I didn’t really know much when I first joined, but it didn’t take long until I was friends with everyone. It is such a fun environment and I’ve developed so many skills.” 

    It was driving his son to training that inspired Axel’s father, Steve, 52, to eventually begin his General Firefighter Training.  

    “I would drive down there for 25 minutes, drop him off at Juniors, and then I would drive home, get out of the car, virtually sit on the couch, get up, get back in the car, drive down, pick him up. I don’t know why I didn’t stay down there,” Steve said.  

    “Eventually, spending time in and around the fire station made me think a bit more about it. 

    “I enjoyed Thursday nights going down there to drop him off because I got to see all the equipment they’ve got, and I thought about all the jobs they did. 

    After completing General Firefighter Training together last year, the pair have been paged to several incidents.  

    “The amazing thing to me was as a parent you spend your whole life teaching your child how to walk, how to talk, telling them that they’re not doing this right, they’re not learning this, they need to do their homework, ‘you should be studying more,’” Steve said. 

    “This is the first time that we have actually learned something side by side and he put me to shame with his knowledge compared to mine, so he’s more qualified than me at the moment.” 

    For Axel, he has enjoyed helping the community and said volunteering with the CFA gives you responsibility at a young age.  

    “I love it, to be honest. I love it so much,” Axel said.  

    “It’s made me feel like I’m really helping out the community – It’s also given me a goal for my future because I want to become a paid firefighter. 

    “I love how at CFA we are more than just father-son, we are a part of a team learning and helping the community together.” 

    Steve, who wants to become a driver, pictures himself as a firefighter well into the future. 

    “I should have volunteered years ago,” Steve said.  

    “We’re giving back to the community, that’s the biggest thing.  

    “If you’re not in the CFA and you’re reading this, go and spend a morning with the CFA, have a look and get involved.” 

    The Juniors program is run for children from 11 to 15 years old. 

    You can find more information on the Junior Volunteer Development Program here. 

    Axel took to the panel at the August Volunteer Forum with his dad during Victorian Youth Fest (from 1-30 September). Youth Fest is a month-long celebration which highlights the contributions of young people in their communities, with Axel sharing his story coming up through the ranks. 

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, US to keep law enforcement dialogue

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong had candid, professional and pragmatic exchanges with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas via video link on Wednesday.

    Wang said that the two sides earnestly implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, adhere to mutual respect, dispute management and mutually beneficial cooperation, and have achieved many visible outcomes in areas such as drug control, repatriation of illegal immigrants and cooperation on individual cases.

    China is willing to maintain communication with the U.S. at all levels, and push for steady and long-term law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. The U.S. side should attach importance to addressing China’s concerns, demonstrate sincerity with concrete actions, and remove obstacles for deepening cooperation, Wang noted.

    The two sides agreed to stay in communication on important issues in the field of law enforcement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s water conservancy projects create 2.1M jobs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday.

    At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year.

    Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector.

    Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent.

    Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ​Universal Music launches label division in China’s GBA

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Universal Music Greater China, a division of Universal Music Group, announced on Sept. 24 the launch of Universal Music China Greater Bay Area, a new label division covering the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in China.

    Night view of Luohu district in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of China’s most open and economically vibrant regions. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The new division, headquartered in Shenzhen, marks the first time a major international music company has established an office specifically focused on serving the Greater Bay Area, home to over 86 million people and one of the world’s most populous urban areas.

    Gary Chan, managing director of Universal Music Hong Kong and senior vice president of Universal Music Greater China, will lead the new division, aiming to enrich the area’s music scene. By embracing its economic and cultural vibrancy, this initiative aims to elevate both the local and global appeal of the region’s diverse musical heritage.

    “The launch of Universal Music China Greater Bay Area represents a strategic expansion, leveraging the vast market potential and unique cultural atmosphere of the Greater Bay Area,” said Timothy Xu, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China. “We eagerly anticipate welcoming the outstanding talents from this region to join us in driving forward the next era of Chinese pop music. In this pursuit, we are setting our sights on transforming the Greater Bay Area into a trendsetting hub that epitomizes creativity, vitality, and connectivity, crafting fresh musical expressions and innovative entertainment experiences.”

    The Greater Bay Area, which includes nine cities in Guangdong province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, is a significant economic and cultural hub. It contributed 11.1% to China’s GDP in 2023 and generates nearly a quarter of the country’s music performance revenue. The region’s rich Cantonese cultural heritage has profoundly shaped local and Asian pop culture, resonating with audiences worldwide.

    The announcement stated that the new label would assemble a “robust” local team to handle marketing, talent scouting and artist management in the area. Its mission is to transform the local music scene “by blending global musical trends with the Greater Bay Area’s vibrant and youthful energy.” The company noted that this approach leverages the region’s musical heritage and entertainment industry, aiming to create unique “experiences that captivate audiences worldwide.”

    Adam Granite, executive vice president of Market Development at Universal Music Group, said: “Our commitment to the Greater Bay Area is part of Universal Music Group’s global strategy to invest in local and regional music scenes, particularly in rapidly growing markets like China. By deepening our roots in local cultures and enhancing support for local artists, we aim to elevate the Chinese music landscape and introduce its unique sounds on the world stage.”

    Regarding China as a key music market, Universal Music Greater China has already established offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taiwan to support growth across the region.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: RMB, stocks rally amid China’s stimulus

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The renminbi rallied to its strongest level in more than a year and Chinese equities continued their rebound on Wednesday, after a potent policy package lifted investors’ confidence in the Chinese economy, which is expected to sail through headwinds.

    Economists, investment banks and asset managers said that policymakers’ more decisive stance to shore up the economy, a global interest rate cut cycle, and low asset valuations have combined to make it a potentially good time to invest in Chinese financial assets, which are expected to attract more foreign inflow in the months ahead.

    However, they cautioned that the forecast may be contingent upon the implementation of further policy support to address economic challenges, with the most urgent priorities being additional fiscal spending to bolster domestic demand and direct funding to alleviate property sector woes.

    On Wednesday, the renminbi, or Chinese yuan, rose to 6.9951 against the US dollar in the offshore market, up 158 basis points from the previous close and past the 7-per-dollar milestone for the first time in 16 months.

    Guan Tao, global chief economist at BOCI China, said that the renminbi’s rally is attributable to both Tuesday’s policy release, which strengthened investors’ confidence in China’s economy, and the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut last week, which narrowed the yield spreads between US and Chinese bonds.

    Looking ahead, Guan said the renminbi is likely to register two-way fluctuations against the dollar, with limited possibility of one-sided, drastic appreciation because uncertainties remain surrounding the Fed’s pace of rate cuts, including that the Fed might even reconsider rate hikes if the US economy turns out to be overheated.

    Moreover, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, is expected to take measures to prevent any renminbi exchange rate overshooting if needed, and has accumulated rich experience in this regard, said Guan, who had served as head of the Balance of Payments Department at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

    Guan added that in the base case scenario, in which the United States achieves a soft landing while the Fed continues rate cuts, foreign institutions may continue to boost holdings in renminbi-denominated bonds, especially treasury bonds.

    As of August, overseas institutions’ holdings in China’s interbank bond market had risen for 12 consecutive months, an increase in foreign holdings of as much as 1.34 trillion yuan ($190.7 billion), according to the PBOC’s Shanghai head office.

    Upbeat sentiment

    The upbeat sentiment was seen in the A-share market as well. The Shanghai Composite Index went up 1.16 percent to Wednesday’s close of 2,896.31 points, extending a jump of 4.15 percent on Tuesday, the biggest rise in about four years.

    “I believe that this may be a good time to revisit Chinese stocks,” said David Chao, global market strategist for the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) at Invesco, a global investment management company.

    Chao said China has fired off a meaningful monetary stimulus salvo, which may potentially usher trillions of renminbi in liquidity if fully implemented, sending a strong signal that the government is responding to economic headwinds.

    Major package

    On Tuesday, China’s top financial regulators unveiled a set of measures that some analysts said might be the country’s biggest monetary stimulus package following the pandemic.

    This includes a 20 basis point reduction in the seven-day reverse repo rate, a key policy benchmark of interest rates, as well as a 50 basis point cut to rates on existing mortgages and another 50 basis point cut to the reserve requirement ratio, apart from other steps supportive of the property and stock markets.

    The PBOC started to put the package into action by lowering the one-year medium-term lending facility rate, a policy rate, by 30 basis points to 2 percent on Wednesday.

    A Goldman Sachs report said on Wednesday that the latest stimulus package would be strong enough to catalyze a policy-induced rally in shares listed in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland, though it would be unlikely to “turn things around fundamentally”.

    The report said a relending program unveiled on Tuesday will allow listed companies to borrow inexpensive money to shore up stock prices and boost investor sentiment, while the stock stabilization fund that is under policy study, if launched, might help fend off systemic risks in the stock market, as indicated by experiences in other markets.

    While the PBOC introduced two new policy tools aimed at boosting stock market liquidity, the China Securities Regulatory Commission released a guideline on Tuesday to encourage mergers and acquisitions and a draft rule to strengthen listed companies’ market capitalization management.

    Yet more could be done, with Goldman Sachs saying that “we would turn more aggressive on A shares when signs of property market stabilization emerge or policy momentum further strengthens”.

    Ding Shuang, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered Bank, underlined the importance of beefing up fiscal support, as “monetary easing would be less effective without proactive fiscal policy”.

    It is likely that the government will increase bond issuance to accelerate government spending, Ding said, adding that investor sentiment could improve if policymakers decide to broaden the use of bond proceeds, especially to reduce home inventory.

    Ding said that Standard Chartered Bank analysts retain the base case forecast that the renminbi will stay within the range of between 7 and 7.1 against the dollar by the end of the year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Festival ignites wave of cultural enthusiasm

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A gala featuring diverse art forms, from the 600-year-old Kunqu Opera to a children’s chorus, was held at Zhongshan Park in Beijing on Monday, unveiling a festival titled The Heart of Beijing, which will feature a variety of programs till the end of this year.

    The programs, including live performances, workshops and educational events, will be held at iconic historical buildings in the capital, such as Zhongshan Park, the Temple of Heaven, the Bell and Drum Towers and residences once lived in by celebrities such as Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) writer Cao Xueqin and Chinese artist Qi Baishi (1864-1957).

    The festival will also bring programs to Beijing universities, aiming at educating students about the preservation of historical buildings.

    The festival will expand into 10 more cities, such as Yuncheng, Shanxi province; Deyang, Sichuan province; and Hohhot, the capital city of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, introducing historical buildings to a wider audience.

    The festival is held to mark the recent inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis into the UNESCO World Heritage List, which has ignited a new wave of enthusiasm for cultural heritage nationwide, creating a conducive environment for the preservation, protection and promotion of heritage sites.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The vacuum cleaner principle and the envelope method: what technologies are used in the analytical laboratory of MosEcoMonitoring

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    What kind of air do we breathe, how clean is the water in Moscow’s rivers, is the soil suitable for planting, and what substances are contained in the first snow? The specialists of the GPBU testing center can answer these questions. “MosEcoMonitoring” Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection.

    On the eve of World Environmental Health Day, which is celebrated on September 26, mos.ru correspondents visited one of the largest environmental laboratories in the country, saw how it is set up, and learned what methods and equipment specialists use to determine the quality of air, water, and soil in the city.

    Laboratory “kitchens” for natural research

    The MosEcoMonitoring Testing Center occupies a two-story building at the address: Dalniy Pereulok, Building 2, Block 1. Here, water, soil, air, and precipitation samples are examined for more than 400 indicators. The specialists have the most modern equipment at their disposal, which allows them to obtain accurate data in a short time. Just as doctors diagnose diseases in the human body using tests, so ecologists and chemists analyze the composition of the natural environment and the level of impact of the metropolis on it.

    “This is one of the few universal laboratories of its kind in Moscow, which uses both innovative and classical research methods. The specialists are engaged not only in scheduled monitoring: they go to the site in response to requests from residents received on the hotline of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection,” says Marina Petrova, head of the analytical inspection department of the State Budgetary Institution MosEcoMonitoring.

    All work processes in the testing center are subject to strict regulations. In one room, air samples are analyzed, in another – water, in a third – soil. The laboratories resemble huge kitchens – with refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, various bottles, containers and flasks, and chemists in white coats resemble chefs conjuring up another dish.

    DIT of Moscow: since the beginning of the year, Muscovites have handed in 550 tons of recyclable materials using the “Removal of Unnecessary Things” serviceGlitter pens and chess sets made from plastic cups: how Moscow enterprises give recyclable materials a new life

    Blue is ammonia, pink is nitrogen oxides

    An important indicator of environmental well-being is air quality. In the laboratory for studying samples taken from the atmosphere, the shelves are lined with flasks and test tubes of various shapes and sizes, and measuring equipment is placed on the tables: titrators, gas analyzers, aspirators and various probes.

    One of the main methods used to determine the composition of the air environment is chromatography. Special tubes filled with sorbent are used to collect samples. The aspirator they are connected to sucks in air like a vacuum cleaner, and the sorbent holds certain substances and does not release them. The sample is then sent to the laboratory.

    “We regularly monitor the areas where industrial production is located and respond to citizens’ requests. If complaints are received about air pollution in a certain area, we promptly go out to check the information and take samples. Mobile laboratories are equipped with gas analyzers, which can be used to take measurements on site, which allows us to search for the source of air pollution,” explains Marina Petrova.

    The content of various substances in the air is also determined by the classical photometric method. Various chemicals are added to test tubes, which react with the sample and produce different colors. For example, blue indicates the presence of ammonia in the air, pink indicates nitrogen oxides, pale yellow indicates the content of formaldehyde, bright yellow indicates chlorine, and red indicates hydrogen fluoride. To determine the concentration of solid particles in the air, it must be passed through a special filter, and then this filter must be weighed. This method is called gravimetric.

    “We also conduct sampling at industrial enterprises. Sampling equipment helps with this. Specialists also conduct direct measurements. For this, there are gas analyzers, probes of different lengths and diameters. The direct measurement method allows us to determine the concentration of pollutants immediately on site, other studies are conducted in the laboratory,” says Dmitry Pakhomov, Deputy Head of the Analytical Inspection Department.

    Exhibition “Moscow – Caring for the Environment” Opened in Government Service CentersLabs, ultra-sensitive cameras and stress tests: how technology is helping Moscow utility workers

    Distinguish between text and smell

    Another area of activity of the testing center is the study of the quality of water in Moscow rivers, ponds and underground waters. Samples are taken in different places of the objects with special equipment in the form of a narrow cylinder, poured into a common container for mixing, and then poured into bottles of different types – depending on the type of study. Special fixing reagents are added to some containers. After the sample arrives at the laboratory, it is registered and assigned a specific number, under which it “lives” from one to 10 days.

    “Specialists conduct water research on 42 indicators, including general chemical analysis, determination of the content of hydrogen sulfide, metals, organic substances, oil products, biochemical oxygen consumption. Gravimetric, photometric, potentiometric, titrimetric, spectral and other methods of analysis are used,” notes Marina Petrova.

    The organoleptic method is used when it is necessary to determine the smell of water. Using a water bath, the sample is heated to 20 or 60 degrees, then the specialist examines it, like a perfumer, and assigns marks on a five-point scale. In order to correctly evaluate the smell, you cannot use perfume or cosmetics.

    The transparency of water is also determined in an interesting way: it is poured into a narrow flask fixed on a stand, and printed text is placed under it. A specialist looks into the flask without glasses and drains the water using a tap until he can clearly distinguish the letters. The more water remains in the flask, the higher its transparency, and vice versa.

    Moscow Presents Analytical Study of BRICS Cities’ Climate AgendaMore than 1.5 million water quality tests have been conducted in Moscow since the beginning of the year

    Crayfish do not live in bad water

    The purity of water can be checked using biological testing. It is performed using two test objects: green protococcal algae, which are grown in a special climatostat cabinet in the laboratory, and ceriodaphnia crustaceans.

    “We usually use both methods, they complement each other. The prepared test object is placed in a sample of water or aqueous extract from soil or waste. Based on the lifespan and behavior of the test object in the sample, a conclusion is made about its toxicity,” says Maria Guzova, head of the biological analysis department.

    As part of the monitoring programs and at the request of residents, the testing center specialists also conduct soil sampling. They are collected using the envelope method. Up to five kilograms of soil must be collected from the corners and center of the designated square area using metal shovels and drills. The soil is then dried, cleared of stones and foreign fragments, crushed, sifted through a sieve and placed in bags. Samples collected using various methods are delivered to the laboratory, after which they are prepared for testing. This includes drying, crushing and sieving. Further testing is carried out using both the above methods and unique ones (for example, the X-ray fluorescence method).

    Moscow has a program for monitoring urban soils, which includes more than 1,300 permanent monitoring sites, and at least 300 are surveyed annually. Based on the results of the research, specialists assess the anthropogenic and technogenic load, as well as the suitability of the soil for plants.

    How does the analytical laboratory of MosEcoMonitoring work?Water meters: how to verify them and which devices require a laboratory300 kilograms of batteries collected by visitors to Moscow fairs over the summer

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144478073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mosvolonter has released a manual on developing social projects

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Resource center “Mosvolonter” has released a methodological guide on how to develop your own socially useful project. The material “Social design in volunteer activities” is available inelectronic library of the center. You can order it in printed form in the partner services section “Development of competencies”.

    The practical guide will be useful for volunteers who want to become authors of a social project, and for volunteer organizers who implement initiatives on a regular basis.

    “We are opening a new opportunity for volunteers – to become a co-author of social changes in the city. Our community is replenished every day with talented and creative volunteers who come with creative ideas for social projects. Methodological assistance and development of competencies will make their work systematic, competently use resources and knowledge to develop the quality of life of people and their team,” said Alexander Levit, director of the Mosvolonter resource center.

    Leaders and employees of volunteer associations, students and concerned citizens interested in the topic of social design received the first copies of the methodological manual. This year it will be used in 50 capital schools.

    The capital’s youngest volunteers: the program for developing volunteerism in schools has been updated

    From basic concepts to receiving a grant

    The manual includes three chapters, where theoretical information is supplemented by real social projects. You can get acquainted with the material sequentially or study only those blocks that are most relevant to your own project. At the end of each paragraph, important theses from the text, several open questions for reflection and a practical task are presented.

    The authors of the manual recommend starting with testing. Each of the 11 questions corresponds to the paragraphs of the manual. Incorrect answers will indicate sections that require more detailed study.

    Readers will learn that a social project is distinguished by a comprehensive approach to solving a socially significant problem; its implementation is not limited to holding one thematic event.

    Volunteers will study the main approaches to project management in the second chapter. The manual explains how to define the target audience — people who want to get the most out of the project. Another important stage is finding answers to socially significant questions, starting not from the project idea, but from people and their needs. In addition, volunteers will learn to build the logic of social design — the relationship between the goal, objectives, action plan, and project results.

    The authors dwell in detail on the topic of resources and the principles of competent budgeting, and talk about co-financing—the team’s own contribution to the implementation of the project.

    The manual also covers how to work with partners and develop fundraising, how to promote activities on social networks and how to build work with the media.

    Readers will be taught how to correctly fill out a grant application, and will be explained where to get financial support. Attracting grant funds helps to implement initiatives and open new areas, expanding the infrastructure for holding events.

    Training and skill development

    In-person training programs, books and teaching aids, as well as online courses in volunteer areas are in demand among city assistants. Over the past three years, Mosvolonter has doubled its range of educational products: in 2021, there were 20 of them, and today there are already more than 45.

    During this time, a thousand novice volunteers were trainedcourse “Get Connected!”. Another 400 team leaders and managers developed management skills inthe “Manage” program. Approximately 300 Muscovites have been trained as trainers of educational areas attraining “Teach”.

    On online platform resource center, you can learn about the basics of volunteer activities, take a general briefing remotely, and listen to lectures from experts on social design. Participants get acquainted with the possibilities of six areas of volunteering, as well as with the sights of the capital, where Moscow volunteers have helped over the past 10 years.

    At the end of November, Mosvolonter will open access to new online courses in sports and patriotic areas, as well as volunteering in the areas of health protection and public safety. In addition, distance courses will appear on the online platform: “Get Connected” for beginners and “Five Keys” for organizers. Online courses will be posted separately as part of the championship for the development of volunteer competencies.

    You can find out more about volunteer training programs on the website, on the page of the resource center “Mosvolonter” insocial network “VKontakte” and in telegram channel.

    Organizing volunteer activities and involving young people in city events correspond to the objectives of the national project “Education” and the federal project “Social Activity”. More information about the national projects implemented in the capital can be found on this page.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144467073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The capital’s road workers have improved two major highways in Lugansk and Donetsk

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital’s road workers repaired two major highways in Lugansk and Donetsk.

    On one of the busiest highways in Luhansk, almost eight kilometers long, the asphalt concrete pavement of the roadway was renewed, sidewalks were installed, manholes were repaired, and markings were applied. In addition, public transport stops were placed there, a lighting system was installed, and the area was landscaped. For the safety of motorists, delineators with signal posts were installed and safety buffers were made.

    Benches, park swings and lanterns were installed on the sidewalks, and flower beds were planted. A bicycle path of almost seven kilometers was laid from the city center to the residential areas. In addition, three bicycle parking areas were equipped.

    Last year, the capital’s road workers implemented a similar comprehensive improvement project on another central street in Lugansk. Its length is 6.7 kilometers. On an area of 37.1 hectares, they replaced utility networks, sidewalk and road surface, changed the traffic organization, completely updated public transport stops, made children’s and sports playgrounds, and landscaped the area.

    In Donetsk, this year, work was also carried out on one of the central and longest streets. It passes through two districts, and was last improved more than 15 years ago. The city’s main medical institution is located here, and now specialists from the capital are restoring it.

    The work was carried out along the entire length of the street – about six kilometers, as well as on the boulevard part, which is more than 1.5 kilometers long. The capital’s road workers repaired the roadway and sidewalks, applied markings, replaced traffic lights, trans-barrier and pedestrian fences, installed bus stops, mounted a lighting system, and also expanded one parking zone and equipped three new parking lots.

    In addition, small recreation areas with benches surrounded by flower beds have appeared. Later, additional trees and shrubs will be planted.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144417073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Place for meetings and walks: the portal “Discover Moscow” has published a route along the embankments

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the portal and in the mobile application “Get to Know Moscow” a new walking route has appeared. The path goes through the Krymskaya, Prechistenskaya, Bersenevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Raushskaya and Kremlevskaya embankments. Thanks to the audio guide, you can put the excursion in the background and enjoy a leisurely promenade through the capital without being distracted by the screen.

    City residents and tourists will be able not only to admire the colorful views and ancient buildings, but also to learn interesting facts about their history and architecture. In addition to familiar places, participants will discover completely new routes. For example, during a walk along the Krymskaya Embankment, you can walk along the pedestrian bridge over the Vodootvodny Canal of the Moscow River, which opened this summer.

    “The capital’s embankments are among the favorite walking places of Moscow residents and guests. Each of them has its own history, style and architectural features. The new route is an opportunity to look at familiar, well-known places from a different point of view, learn more about them and experience the atmosphere of the capital in a new way. Users can study their favorite embankment in detail or devote a day to a leisurely stroll around all the points. And the audio guide will make the excursion more exciting and memorable,” the press service said.

    Department of Information Technology the city of Moscow.

    In the mid-19th century, there were meadows on this site where horses were grazed, and in architectural plans the location appeared as the Crimean Dam, the rampart from the Crimean Bridge, or the passage from the Crimean Bridge.

    It is suggested to start your acquaintance with the Krymskaya Embankment with a look at the monument to Peter I at the confluence of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal. The impressive sculpture made of steel and bronze weighs over two thousand tons and rises 98 meters above the ground. It was installed in 1997, when Moscow celebrated its 850th anniversary.

    This summer, a new pedestrian bridge across the Vodootvodny Canal of the Moscow River was opened near the monument to Peter the Great. It is 58 meters long and eight meters wide. The bridge connects Balchug Island with the Krymskaya and Yakimanskaya embankments, adding beauty and convenience to walks in the city center. There is a long bench on the bridge where you can rest and admire the scenery.

    Prechistenskaya Embankment is located on the left bank of the Moskva River in the Khamovniki district. It owes its name to the street of the same name, which appeared on the map of Moscow back in the 16th century. The pedestrian Patriarch’s Bridge, located next to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, connects it with Bersenevskaya Embankment.

    The architectural pearls of Prechistenskaya Embankment have been mansions for many years. For example, the building of the patron Ivan Tsvetkov, designed by the famous Viktor Vasnetsov. Or the house of Alexander Levenson, designed by Fyodor Shekhtel. And not without the city estate of Ivan Mazurin, decorated with a turret.

    The main attraction of the embankment is the apartment building of Z.A. Pertsova. The building with majolica, resembling a fairy-tale tower, is rightfully considered one of the most outstanding buildings of the capital in the neo-Russian style. Each of these mansions has its own stories, legends and ancient secrets.

    Bersenevskaya Embankment is located opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It starts near the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge, curving towards the monument to Peter I. According to one version, the embankment owes its name to gooseberries: once upon a time, there were Bersenevskaya gardens on this bank of the Moscow River.

    The legendary Krasny Oktyabr factory is located in the Bersenevskaya Embankment area. The old brick buildings are an example of industrial architecture from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The famous House on the Embankment, immortalized in Yuri Trifonov’s novel, is also located in the historical Yakimanka area.

    Sofiyskaya Embankment stretches along the right bank of the Moskva River directly opposite the Kremlin. It starts from Serafimovich Street and ends near the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. This place is famous for its beautiful view of the Kremlin.

    The name of the embankment is associated with the Church of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God in Srednie Sadovniki, one of the oldest buildings in Zamoskvorechye. The wooden church itself was destroyed in a fire in 1493, and in 1682 a stone St. Sophia Church was built here.

    Walking along the embankment, listeners will pass by the legendary Kokorevsky Podvorye. The old hotel building with shops and wholesale warehouses was built in the early 1860s on the initiative of the entrepreneur and philanthropist Vasily Kokorev.

    Raushskaya Embankment runs along the Moskva River in the Zamoskvorechye district. It is located between Balchug Street and the Bolshoy Ustinsky Bridge. The name of the embankment is presumably associated with the ravushki — canals that used to drain water from the floodplain lands of Zamoskvorechye.

    In 1896, the Raushskaya power plant, which is still operating today, appeared here. Built by order of Emperor Alexander III, it was the first station to produce alternating current. The building of GES-1 of PAO Mosenergo supplies energy to the center of Moscow. The oldest power plant in Russia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique object of industrial architecture. The appearance of the Raushskaya Embankment is complemented and decorated by the Church of St. Nicholas in Zayatskoye, built in the middle of the 18th century under the supervision of the famous master Prince Dmitry Ukhtomsky.

    The Kremlin Embankment, the first stone embankment in Moscow, has long been depicted on all city postcards and is still the most recognizable symbol of the capital. It is about one kilometer long. The embankment offers a good view of Red Square and Vasilievsky Spusk, as well as the southern wall of the Kremlin with its unique ancient towers. In addition, the embankment overlooks the Alexander Garden, as well as the Zotov Estate, an architectural monument of the 18th–19th centuries.

    “Discover Moscow” is a joint project of the departments of information technology, culture, cultural heritage, education and science. The interactive guide contains photographs and descriptions of more than 2.3 thousand buildings, 704 monuments, 410 museums, 490 places, over 270 walking routes, as well as information about 333 historical figures. All this is also available in the mobile application “Get to Know Moscow”.

    The implementation of digital solutions in the cultural sphere corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Culture” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Culture”. More information about this and other national projects implemented in Moscow can be found on a special page.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144474073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Potential US port strike could cripple global supply chain

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Containers are seen in the process of logistics operations at Maher Terminal owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Bayonne, New Jersey, the United States, on Oct. 19, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), a North American labor union, recently threatened to go on strike if a new agreement cannot be reached before the existing contract expires on Sept. 30.

    Experts worry that a potential large-scale port strike could have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy and cripple the global supply chain.

    According to media reports, the ILA is advocating for significant wage increases in the new six-year agreement, arguing that inflation has completely eaten into any raises and wages over the past six years.

    The ILA also demands a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates, and container movements used to load freight at over 30 U.S. ports.

    As the deadline approaches, there is increasing concern that a large-scale port strike in the United States could become a reality. This could potentially be the first major strike to occur along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports since 1977.

    About three-fifths of container shipments to the United States are transported through the East and Gulf Coasts, and according to logistics experts, it is not feasible for the West Coast ports to handle the entirety or a significant majority of these shipments if they were redirected.

    “Even a two-week strike could disrupt supply chains until 2025,” Grace Zwemmer, associate U.S. economist with Oxford, warned in a new report.

    According to transportation analysts at JPMorgan, a strike could cause a daily economic loss of 5 billion U.S. dollars, equivalent to approximately 6 percent of the country’s daily gross domestic product.

    Even if shippers turn to West Coast ports, congestion may occur, leading to cargo delays and significant increases in shipping costs.

    In response to the situation, some international shipping companies are preparing for a shutdown of all ports along the East Coast.

    Market expectations of a breakdown in labor negotiations causing another disruption in the supply chain have led to an increase in stock prices for shipping giant Maersk Group, which has risen nearly 20 percent in the past two weeks as of Tuesday.

    Mike DeAngelis, the senior director of international solutions for freight visibility platform FourKites, believes the potential port strike will only exacerbate the current difficulties.

    “We’re facing a perfect storm — with the Red Sea disruptions preventing normal access to the Suez Canal, and the Panama Canal’s still-reduced capacity, an ILA strike would effectively choke off major arteries of global trade,” DeAngelis said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Asia-Pacific still faces challenges but resilient: ADB

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A customer buys bread at a supermarket in Quezon City, the Philippines on Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Asia and the Pacific still faces challenges but remains resilient, according to an updated Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released on Wednesday.

    The Asian Development Outlook September 2024 maintained its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the Asia-Pacific region at 5 percent, unchanged from its July forecast. The growth outlook for next year was maintained at 4.9 percent.

    Inflation in the region was forecast at 2.8 percent for 2024, while inflation for 2025 was 2.9 percent, the report showed.

    The report revises the growth forecast for 2024 in East Asia to 4.6 percent.

    The outlook for growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia was better than expected at 4.7 percent, while the growth forecast for the Pacific was revised upward to 3.4 percent, driven by an increase in tourist arrivals.

    In South Asia, the growth outlook for this year was unchanged at 6.3 percent, while a decline in public investments and slower-than-expected export recovery imply that the growth forecast for Southeast Asia slightly drops to 4.5 percent.

    ADB Chief Economist Albert Park said growth in developing Asia remained robust during the first half of 2024, fueled by solid domestic demand and export growth.

    “We expect growth in developing Asia will remain robust this year and next,” Park told an online news conference.

    Park said that inflation has continued to moderate, creating more space for monetary policy easing. However, he said that disinflation remains uneven.

    Policymakers in the region need to stay vigilant to keep growth and inflation on track, Park said, pointing out such downside risks as a rise in protectionism, worsening geopolitical tensions and adverse weather conditions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China issues guidelines to promote employment

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Students attend a job fair at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have unveiled a set of guidelines to promote high-quality and sufficient employment by implementing the employment-first strategy.
    According to the guidelines, efforts should be made to create more high-quality jobs, including transforming and upgrading traditional industries, fostering and strengthening emerging industries, developing future industries and accelerating the development of advanced manufacturing clusters.
    Measures should be taken to expand new employment spaces in the digital economy, create more new jobs related to green industries and cultivate new growth points of employment by developing the silver economy, the guidelines state.
    They urge efforts to tackle structural unemployment, such as improving the system of lifelong vocational training.
    They call for refining the targeted and effective public services system for employment and the system of providing employment support for key groups, as well as optimizing the system for supporting self-employment and flexible employment.
    The guidelines also stress the promotion of reasonable increases in people’s remuneration for labor and expanding the coverage of social insurance.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai to issue consumption vouchers

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Shanghai will allocate 500 million yuan (about 71.14 million U.S. dollars) from its municipal budget to issue consumption vouchers for the dining, accommodation, cinema and sports sectors, the Shanghai municipal government’s information office said on Wednesday.

    Funds for the vouchers will be distributed based on each sector’s consumption share and demand: 360 million yuan will go to the dining sector, 90 million yuan to accommodation, 30 million yuan to cinema, and 20 million yuan to sports. The first round of vouchers will be available from Sept. 28.

    Dining and accommodation vouchers have been divided into four tiers based on spending levels, with adjustments to be made according to redemption data during implementation.

    Dining vouchers have four discount levels: a 50 yuan discount on spending of 300 yuan, 100 yuan on spending of 500 yuan, 200 yuan on spending of 800 yuan, and 300 yuan on spending of 1,000 yuan. Accommodation vouchers provide discounts of 50 yuan on spending of 300 yuan, 130 yuan on spending of 600 yuan, 220 yuan on spending of 900 yuan, and 300 yuan on spending of 1,200 yuan.

    Cinema vouchers offer 20 yuan or 30 yuan discounts per movie ticket, while sports vouchers come in six tiers, ranging from 5 yuan off 10 yuan to 80 yuan off 200 yuan, with additional vouchers available for specific activities such as swimming, badminton and winter sports.

    The vouchers will be distributed in two phases. The first phase will run from late September to late October, with additional dining and cinema vouchers set for release during the National Day holiday to boost consumption. The second phase will run from November to December, focusing on increasing the distribution of accommodation and sports vouchers to stimulate off-season spending.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Emergency preparedness: Solid progress made by Auckland Council following reviews

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council has made large steps towards enhancing our emergency preparedness and response capabilities, since the extreme weather events of early 2023.  

    That’s according to the Auditor-General’s report: Improving Aucklanders’ emergency preparedness, which was tabled in Parliament today. 

    Councillor Sharon Stewart, Auckland Council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management chairperson says the uptake on the OAG report recommendations shows the council is committed to being better prepared for future emergencies. 

    “The flooding and cyclone events in early 2023 had a devasting toll on Auckland, with many people losing their homes and some people suffering the loss of a loved one. 

    “In the aftermath of these tragic events it was clear the council needed to become better prepared to help Aucklanders in future emergencies. 

    “We commissioned three independent reviews which all made a number of recommendations about enhancing our emergency response systems and processes. 

    “I’m heartened by the progress made by Auckland Emergency Management in considering and implementing the recommendations of the reviews. 

    “Continually striving to enhance our emergency preparedness will ultimately result in a safer region and could save lives.”  

    Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson says last year was incredibly challenging and it was important to him that Auckland Council had a good honest look at how it did, and how well prepared it is.   

    “A number of internal and independent reviews, including this one carried out by the Office of the Auditor General, contributed to a prioritised programme of work. 

    “But we can’t take our foot off the pedal – the risk is too high. With complex and difficult recovery efforts continuing, the work is by no means over and our community continues to suffer. 

    “We do not and will not shirk from the central role that Auckland Emergency Management and the council needs to play, but event after event shows us that as critical as our preparations are, we are not the only answer – every household in Tāmaki Makaurau needs to have a plan. 

    “If you haven’t already, check your risk on Auckland Council’s

    Flood Viewer and use the many guides available on Auckland Emergency Management’s website to put that plan in place for your home and whānau,” says Mr Wilson. 

    The council engaged the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) to report on how effectively Auckland Emergency Management has addressed the recommendations of three reviews following the early 2023 extreme weather events. 

    These were: the Auckland Flood Response Review: Independent, External Review of Events, January 27-29, 2023 by Bush International Consulting (The Bush Review); the Auckland Severe Weather Events 2023 Debrief by Toa Consulting (The Toa Review) and the Auckland Council: Preparedness for responding to an emergency, Controller and Auditor-General, June 2023, (The OAG review). 

    John Cranfield, Acting General Manager Auckland Emergency Management says he welcomes the OAG review and outlines the progress the council has made around enhancing emergency preparedness. 

    “Since the flooding and cyclone events in early 2023, the council has been working tirelessly to improve how we respond to future emergency events and we have acted on the recommendations of the reviews. We have made real progress across a number of emergency preparedness areas. 

    “Sites for new Civil Defence centres across Auckland have been identified to increase their number and geographical spread. They are now being provisioned and resourced.  

    “In the training space, we conducted two large scale exercises (in October 2023 and March 2024), which gave us an opportunity to test our Emergency Coordination Centre, procedures, and response staff. Almost 400 Auckland Council staff have completed foundation level emergency management training through our ACES programme and new emergency response standard operating procedures and guides have been put in place for all staff, the Mayor and elected members. 

    “Getting local communities emergency ready is a crucial element in Auckland’s emergency preparedness. A new team of community advisors are working with local boards to develop readiness and response plans and provide support to local boards to increase readiness capabilities. 

    “Communications support has been enhanced within AEM, focusing on digital platforms, accessibility, increasing public awareness and keeping the Mayor, elected members and key stakeholders informed, during and after an emergency response. 

    “The welfare coordination group has been reviewed and the terms of reference re-established to ensure a planned and well-coordinated cross agency approach to Auckland’s future emergency responses.” 

    The OAG report found that Auckland Council is better placed today than it was in early 2023 to respond to the next major emergency, noting “there is more work to do to fully address and keep working to implement the recommendations of the three Auckland reviews.” 

    The OAG report also stated that Auckland Council, “accepted the recommendations of the three reviews and developed plans to implement them” and once fully implemented the OAG “considers that all 51 recommendations [across the three reviews] have been met.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chang’e-6 lunar samples to be displayed at Airshow China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon will be on display at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced Wednesday.
    The Chang’e-6 return capsule will also be showcased, allowing the public to witness the advancements of China’s space industry, said Li Yang, an official with the agency.
    The airshow is scheduled for Nov. 12-17 in Zhuhai, a city in south China’s Guangdong Province, and will feature various types of aircraft and carrier rockets.
    According to Hao Changfeng, spokesperson for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the company will present nearly 200 high-tech products, including first-time exhibits such as the Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-8A carrier rocket. “About 150 items will be debuting, with new exhibits making up 75 percent of the display,” said Hao.
    Wu Jiwei, spokesperson for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, announced that the company will showcase more than 260 products, emphasizing advancements in new quality productive forces.
    Since its inception in 1996, Airshow China has become an important window for showcasing advanced aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment from home and abroad. It has also become an international platform for promoting business cooperation in aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Provision – New Dunedin hospital: Southerners deserve better – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    The Government’s announcement today that it will scale back the new Dunedin hospital will negatively impact patient care, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa says.
    “Southerners deserve more than half a hospital or a slow rebuild of the old hospital,” says NZNO delegate Linda Smillie.
    “These decisions will negatively impact patient care. There is a real risk that nurses will not be able to provide the appropriate level of care their patients need.”
    The Government knows the cost of infrastructure projects always blow out because of rising building costs, she says.
    “This is cost cutting by stealth. The Government must find the additional funding needed to build this much-needed health facility.
    “If the Government can find $3 billion to give to landlords and $216 million for tobacco companies, they can find the additional funding needed to build the new Dunedin hospital.
    “Repurposing the existing hospital doesn’t make sense because it is not fit for purpose, and inpatient and outpatient areas need to in close proximity. This option has been well investigated previously and deemed to be unfeasible,” Linda Smillie says.
    NZNO urges Dunedin residents to join them and march on Saturday against the decision to stop the construction and to show the Government how important the new hospital is.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Win for SA sport with new SASI up and running

    Source: University of South Australia

    26 September 2024

    UniSA’s Prof Jon Buckley and Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard with SASI athletes.

    South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) athletes have had a first look at their new, state-of-the-art Mile End facility, ahead of operations commencing next week.
     
    The nearly $90 million SASI build has been designed to give South Australian and SA-based athletes a competitive edge, featuring nation-leading spaces including:

    • Strength and conditioning gym, fit with five lane synthetic turf testing space (three lanes are 60 metres and two lanes are 40 metres) and anti-gravity treadmill.
    • Environmental chamber for athlete testing under a range of temperature, hypoxic and humidity conditions.
    • Full sized indoor sprung timber court and half court movement studio, designed for instant performance analysis under individual and team modes.
    • Ergometer training space, home to the SASI rowing and canoe/kayak programs.
    • Physiology laboratory and athlete health rooms, fit out for our allied health partners.
    • Athlete recovery centre, complete with athlete nutrition zone.
    • Biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories fit for our allied health partners and for students to learn about the role that forces play in movement and physiological responses to exercise and training.

    The Malinauskas Government has invested $68 million towards the development, which provides a world-class sport, research and education hub to high performance athletes, coaches and university students.

    UniSA Prof Jon Buckley and SASI athlete and weightlifter Callum Thomas

    Project partner UniSA has contributed a further $20 million for capital costs, which will see the UniSA Sports Science Hub open on the second floor in the coming months, with high performance sport science laboratories and teaching spaces for students undertaking a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
     
    The building will also be home to the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, which was instrumental in the design and building process, working alongside COX Architecture and Hansen Yuncken.
     
    The new facility launches as one of the best high-performance sports precincts in the country. Its Mile End location sits right on the doorstep of Adelaide’s CBD, and is co-located with the pioneering National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded SA Athletics Stadium, and the SA Netball Centre.
     
    The Mile End sports precinct is set to be a drawcard for international sports teams with world-renowned organisations having already expressed their interest in basing themselves in Adelaide to use these amenities.
     
    A SASI open day event will be held early next year where members of the public will be invited to come along and take a tour of the new facility.
     
    Quotes attributable to Katrine Hildyard
     
    Through this remarkable new SASI, our Government is proudly ensuring South Australia is at the forefront of world-class sport performance and research, and empowering more athletes to chase their sporting dreams.
     
    The new SASI and its state-of-the-art features will be a key site in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games and beyond, supporting the work of our South Australian athletes and coaches and also attracting national and international teams to Adelaide.
     
    This almost $90 million development is a key part of the brilliant sporting precinct we are developing at Mile End with our National Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, upgraded Athletics Stadium and soon to be redeveloped SA Netball Centre all neighbours.
     
    We know that the new SASI will enable every athlete who uses this facility to have the best possible support around them as they strive to realise their ambition to compete at the highest level.
     
    Quotes attributable to SASI Director Keren Faulkner
     
    SASI’s new home in Mile End is something I am extremely proud of where we will help athletes develop into the best version of themselves, both in their sporting pursuits and in their everyday lives.
     
    As an organisation that is at the heart of South Australia’s sporting success, I’m thrilled that this space has been designed to be inclusive and support every type of elite athlete.
     
    It will also enable our coaches and staff to power greatness in their work where we’ve always had a world class team and now, we have the facilities to match this – the sky’s the limit in terms of what we can achieve.
     
    Our partnership with UniSA will also give us great opportunities to promote the way research, science and academia can work together with sport.
     
    Quotes attributable to UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean: UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit
     
    UniSA is very pleased to partner with the State Government and South Australian Sports Institute in this world-class development.
     
    The collaboration draws upon the expertise of SASI and UniSA to dually advance the preparation of high-performance athletes and educate the elite sports workforce of the future.

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen-Backed Bill to Reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act Passes Congress, Heads to President’s Desk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    The Authorization Of The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act Was Set To Expire On October 1, 2024
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that legislation she helped pass in the Senate to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for 10 years has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation is led by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and also cosponsored by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) in the Senate. The Senate passed this bill in July, and it now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
    “For the last two decades, lawmakers from both parties have come together and worked in a bipartisan way to protect Lake Tahoe and the surrounding communities,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to continue this legacy by working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act and reauthorize this much-needed funding to help preserve one of Nevada’s most unique natural wonders for generations to come.”
    “I was thrilled to pass the reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through the Senate this summer, and today’s vote means this critical legislation is officially on its way to becoming law,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud of our bipartisan work to deliver funding for vital programs that keep the lake clean, support local jobs, and support our tourism economy. It is an honor to help lead Team Tahoe and fight for the resources the basin needs to thrive.” 
    “The Lake Tahoe Region is grateful to Congress for their leadership in passing this critical piece of legislation to continue the collaborative work to protect and restore Lake Tahoe,” said Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan. “Extending the federal investment in the EIP will leverage millions of dollars in state and local funding to implement the top priority projects for the lake and our communities.”
    The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act is bicameral, and is cosponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.-02), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-03), Dina Titus (D-Nev.- 01), Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), John Duarte (R-Calif.-13), and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-06). It will allow critical funding to support environmental protection and habitat restoration programs across the basin for the next ten years. This law has delivered millions in federal dollars to Lake Tahoe since the original law passed in 2000.
    Senator Rosen has consistently worked across the aisle to protect Lake Tahoe and ensure it has the federal resources it needs to thrive. She also delivered critical funding to protect Lake Tahoe in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and recently helped secure $24 million to extend the popular East Shore Trail around Lake Tahoe.

    MIL OSI USA News –