Category: Latin America

MIL-OSI Economics: Good news for the Páramos at COP16

Source: CAF Development Bank of Latin America

CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, with the support of Cumbres Blancas, positioned itself at the COP16 in Cali as the first multilateral institution to address the protection of the páramos with a comprehensive vision that seeks not only environmental conservation, but also the improvement of the quality of life of local communities that depend on these ecosystems.

High mountain ecosystems, especially páramos, play a fundamental role in environmental sustainability and the well-being of millions of people. However, climate change, unsustainable land use and other human activities are seriously threatening these strategic ecosystems.

In this context, the páramos, which are found exclusively in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, are recognized as the most biodiverse high mountain ecosystems in the world. They are home to more than 35,000 species of plants and vertebrates, ranking first in diversity of birds, mammals and amphibians, and second in reptiles. In addition, these ecosystems provide critical services to more than 60 million people who depend directly on their resources, including water and energy supply for cities such as Bogotá, Quito, and Cuenca.

The alliance with Cumbres Blancas reflects the institution’s commitment to promote concrete actions for the restoration and protection of the páramos, and aims to develop initiatives such as the construction of community nurseries, the creation of green employment capacities, and the restoration of watersheds, which are vital to guarantee access to drinking water and energy in these regions.

CAF’s strategic actions in the páramos are aimed not only at mitigating the impacts of climate change, but also at fostering the resilience of the communities living in these territories. Community nurseries, for example, will be a fundamental tool for restoring native flora and reforesting degraded areas. In addition, the creation of green jobs in sectors such as sustainable agriculture and natural resource management will directly contribute to improving the socioeconomic conditions of local populations.

Alicia Montalvo, CAF’s Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity Manager, said, “The challenge we face is not only to protect the biodiversity of the páramos, but to translate our knowledge and efforts into concrete actions to ensure their preservation. Our collaboration with ACTO and other institutions is key to obtaining accurate data and coordinating regional efforts, ensuring that resources are optimally invested where they are most needed.

CAF has already launched several initiatives in the region, ranging from ecological restoration to the promotion of sustainable bio-businesses. One of the most outstanding examples is the work being carried out with the 56 Puruhá indigenous communities of the Cotopaxi páramo, in Ecuador, through a bio-business project promoted together with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Ministry of the Environment and the Heifer Foundation. This project aims to strengthen the organic quinoa production chain and improve the socioeconomic conditions of more than 600 families.

In addition, CAF is promoting, in collaboration with the GEF, a project that seeks to reduce the climate risk affecting paramo populations in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This initiative will directly benefit more than 360,000 people, improving the capacity to adapt to climate change in these vulnerable areas. The goal is to ensure that these strategic ecosystems can continue to provide vital services to local populations.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – Ports Australia conference
Source: Australian Ministers for Infrastructure and Transport

**CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY**

As always, I begin by acknowledging the Muwinina People as the custodians of this land. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Tasmanian Aboriginal Communities.

Tasmania is one of the most beautiful places in our nation and a fitting setting for the Ports Australia Conference.

We recognise the ongoing custodianship that Indigenous Australians have shown towards these lands and I extend this respect to all First Nations people joining us today.

Thank you as well to Mike for that kind introduction, and to Stewart, your Chair, thank you very much for the invitation and for all the work that you do throughout the course of the year.

It is wonderful to see so many public and private leaders from around the world come together.

I would also like to extend a particular welcome to the Minister for Infrastructure for the Kingdom of Tonga.

Like Australia, your nation relies on shipping. It is wonderful to have you here.

I also want to recognise Dr Patrick Verhoeven, the Managing Director of the International Association of Ports and Harbours, and Jens Meier, the CEO of Hamburg Port Authority, who have travelled such a long way.

Your presence underlines the inherently global nature of this industry, and I hope you enjoy your time here in our beautiful country.

This is in fact my second time in Tasmania in the last two weeks.

Last week I was in the north, this week I’m in the south.

On both these visits, I have had the pleasure of engaging with Tasmania’s proud maritime industry.

Last week, I was in Burnie to commission the new shiploader – a project which replaced an essential piece of infrastructure that had been in place for five decades.

The new shiploader doubles the capacity of the old, and can serve ships up to Panamax size, creating local jobs and growing local industry.

It is a project that pays tribute to both the maritime past and future of this great state, as well as setting the local economy up for decades of success to come.

It also speaks to how essential maritime logistics are to our day-to-day lives.

At the port I could see woodchips going to China, as well as cars and supermarket produce coming into the state.

It is too easy to miss the magic that defines our modern world, but when you take even a moment to think about it, it is truly extraordinary.

That port in Burnie on the north coast of Tasmania is connected to a global network that stretches to every corner of our planet.

Everything that we rely on, relies in turn on shipping – which is why it is such a pleasure to be here today with some of the many, many hardworking people who underpin this essential industry.

Events like these are key to fostering a strong, robust sector – and year after year, Ports Australia does a wonderful job bringing you together and advocating for your industry.

I stand here today as a minister in a government that knows that ports are a primary driver of our economy and workforce.

As well as facilitating international trade and the movement of goods throughout the region, our ports are strategic assets and critical infrastructure.

They are vital to sustaining our island nation.

The most recent report from Ports Australia shows exactly this.

Ports move an overwhelming 99 per cent of Australia’s international trade by volume, and importantly, over 694,000 local jobs are facilitated by Australia’s port activities.

This works out to a staggering one in every 20 jobs across the nation.

Container transport has seen a huge increase.

As have vehicle imports.

The most recent numbers show that cruise ships have soared to 18% higher than pre-pandemic numbers.

You take our goods to the world, and you bring the world to us.

Of course, these numbers, while good news, bring pressures of their own.

This story of growth underlines the need to ensure that our infrastructure, our investments and our policies are positioned to support a sustainable, reliable and productive supply chain.

That’s why our government is making investments like those at the Port of Burnie, and it is also why my department led a review earlier this year into the national freight and supply chain strategy.

In total, 71 submissions were received from a variety of stakeholders, including from maritime and associated peak bodies.

Of course, I acknowledge and thank Ports Australia for their submission and engagement throughout the Review process.

The review found that while the foundations of the strategy remain strong, productivity, resilience, decarbonisation and data should be strengthened in the strategy and new National Action Plan.

We are already doing the work of refreshing the strategy and action plan to address the findings of the review, and I look forward to updating you further in due course.

But, of course, the findings of the review touch on challenges that are faced across our entire economy and society – none more so than the need to act to mitigate climate change.

The Albanese Government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Achieving these ambitious economy-wide targets will require concerted action across all sectors, including this one.

Right now, transport contributes 21 percent of Australia’s direct emissions.

Adding to that challenge, transport is one of the hardest sectors to abate.

So, our work here is vital.

That is why we released the Transport Net Zero Roadmap for consultation earlier this year.

While that roadmap covered all modes of transport, it was of particular importance for the maritime sector.

As we know, decarbonisation will rely on a combination of low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs), hydrogen, electrification and efficiency improvements.

Of these, LCLFs offer the clearest pathway for decarbonisation within liquid fuel-reliant sectors that cannot readily electrify in the near-term.

This includes maritime, aviation, heavy vehicle and rail, as well as mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

The bad news is that we need a lot of liquid fuels, but the good news is that Australia is well-placed with comparative advantages in the production of LCLFs:
- We have rich renewable energy resources;
- We use advanced farming practices that embody low carbon emissions;
- We are able to achieve economies of scale;
- We have significant refining and port infrastructure;
- And we have the ability to both enable and encourage domestic fuel consumption, as well as support export capability.
As part of our Future Made in Australia agenda, the Government is fast-tracking support for an LCLF industry.

The government announced $18.5 million as part of the recent Budget, to support a domestic LCLF industry through the development of a certification scheme for those fuels.

And $1.7 billion over the next ten years will go towards a Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund.

This funding will be used in part to support nascent LCLF production technologies through research and development, to help de-risk developments, and to attract private sector investment.

And we will continue to work with industry on further steps as needed.

By successfully building a local LCLF industry we will increase fuel security, strengthen regional economies, diversify income streams for farmers, and meet our decarbonisation objectives – it’s hard to find a bigger win-win than that.

To speak even more specifically to the challenges of this sector, we’ve created a Maritime Emission Reduction National Action Plan, the MERNAP for short.

The MERNAP aims to support Australia’s national emissions reduction targets, contribute to the global decarbonisation of shipping, and future-proof the Australian maritime sector to avoid costly and disruptive transitions later, ensuring an equitable transition, particularly for the maritime workforce, safeguarding jobs and skills for the future.

The vision is that by 2050, Australia will fully leverage the global maritime decarbonisation transition, benefiting our ports, vessels, and the broader energy sector.

This will showcase Australia’s unique comparative advantages while supporting a fair and balanced transition for the industry.

The MERNAP Consultative Group has played a vital role in shaping this action plan, and I’d like to acknowledge those here today, including: Maritime Industry Australia Limited, the Maritime Union of Australia, and of course, Ports Australia.

To support the development of MERNAP, we undertook extensive public consultations that revealed to us that the future of the maritime sector will be powered by multiple energy sources, all of which will require new skills, and see us facing new challenges around technology readiness for alternative fuels.

Safety, operational efficiencies, and strong partnerships across the value chain will be critical to driving this transition.

The Albanese Government remains committed to ensuring that Australia’s maritime industry is prepared for the future, ready to contribute to our national emissions targets, and able to thrive in a decarbonised global economy – including through initiatives like Green Shipping Corridors – partnering with nations, such as New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.

I have focused a lot on what fuels our maritime sector, but there is, of course, an even more important element – the people who run it.

I am proud to say that our plan to establish a Strategic Fleet is underway.

This fleet will provide assistance in times of crisis, supply chain disruption, or natural disaster. And it will support industries reliant on shipping, such as heavy manufacturing.

Tenders to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot will close on 29 November.

Through this process, three vessels that will be privately owned and commercially operated will be selected for the pilot.

This is a major step towards fulfilling our commitment to establish a Strategic Fleet of up to twelve Australian flagged and crewed vessels.

This will strengthen our sovereign maritime capabilities while supporting our maritime workforce.

The creation of a strategic fleet is a central government policy that will shape our workforce for decades to come.

I strongly encourage all interested parties to take part in this process and to consider what role they can play.

The tender process is being managed by my Department, which is seeking innovative tenders that will deliver the objectives of the Pilot Program.

These include providing the Commonwealth with certainty of access to the strategic fleet, to move cargo in times of need, crisis or national emergency. And to support of the needs of Defence —including in training and logistical capacities.

The Albanese Government is seeking to have pilot vessels on the water as soon as possible.

While it is not a silver bullet to solve all of the issues of our current and emerging seafarer shortage, the Strategic Fleet and the work being undertaken by Industry Skills Australia through the Maritime Industry Workforce Plan, will support our maritime workforce by increasing the amount of Australian qualified seafarers at a time of a growing global shortage.

The independent reviews of the Shipping Registration Act and the Coastal Trading Act being conducted by Ms Lynelle Briggs AO and Emeritus Professor Nicholas Gaskell will also contribute to the modernisation of Australia’s shipping regulatory framework, ensuring the Acts are fit for purpose and support the long-term sustainability of an Australian Maritime Strategic Fleet, and the maritime industry more broadly.

Public consultation has commenced and I encourage you all to make your voices heard.

As you can see, there is a lot to do in your sector and we are a government that is determined to get on with doing it.

The reforms the Albanese Government is delivering will do our part to support a productive, resilient supply chain, while positioning Australia to thrive in the new net zero economy.

Thank you for having me, and all the best with the rest of your conference.

ENDS

MIL OSI News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks at the 2024 Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting (As Delivered)

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. –

Good morning, everybody. Thank you, Dr. [Dev] Shenoy, first, for the introduction, and thanks to all of you in the defense research and engineering enterprise, for what you do every day to lead us.

It’s a privilege to be with all of you for this second annual meeting of the Microelectronics Commons. And it’s remarkable to see how much this community has flourished in just the past year.

Now, I won’t bother preaching to this choir about why semiconductors matter. Whether you found religion lately or long ago, you’re all here because you get it.

Yet even people who can fully grasp how chips enable our phones, fridges, cars, and so much of what’s essential to modern life — even scientists and technologists who are steeped in the intricacies of how they’re made — even they may not always consider why chips might be so important to the U.S. Department of Defense.

But over at the Pentagon, we think about that all the time. Because microelectronics are fundamental to the operation of virtually every military system: ships, planes, tanks, long-range munitions, communication gear, satellites, sensors, and more.

Every day, from the Indo-Pacific to the North Atlantic to the Middle East and beyond — from the ocean floor to outer space to cyberspace — as American warfighters stand the watch, they depend on chips to help them defend our country, our allies and partners, and our interests.

Microelectronics are at the heart of practically everything you can imagine U.S. troops using. Radios. Radar. Night-vision goggles. GPS. Battle networks. Avionics that enable dagger-shaped stealth bombers to fly. WiFi.

America’s vibrant innovation ecosystem made it all possible, through collaboration going back decades across government, academia, and industry, encompassing businesses large and small.

You are the heirs to that legacy. And as our nation has embarked on a quest to reignite U.S. leadership in not only chip research and design, but also prototyping, manufacturing, and production at scale, you are cementing your own legacy.

And you’ve already done a lot.

One year ago, shortly after we announced the first Microelectronics Commons awards, we had more than 360 distinct member organizations located across 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. And we thought that was pretty impressive.

But as of today, the Commons boasts over 1,200 member organizations. Meaning this community has more than tripled in size, in just 12 months. Now that’s really impressive. And with that growth, our reach has expanded to even more states, like Arkansas, Maine, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

One year ago, we’d already awarded nearly $240 million to stand up eight regional innovation hubs, reflecting the talent and ingenuity resident all over the country. And that was just the beginning.

Because, as of today, we’ve awarded nearly $700 million toward this endeavor’s goal of bridging the microelectronics gap from lab-to-fab — that infamous valley of death between research and development and production.

Not only does that number include the latest round of nearly three dozen project awards announced just a few weeks ago- it also represents a tripling of our total investment. And there will be more to come.

The CHIPS and Science Act is a “once-in-a-generation investment in America itself,” as President Biden said when he signed it into law.

CHIPS was a bipartisan victory for U.S. national security and economic security — a win that will echo through history for years to come.

It proved that we can still do big things, that our best days are still ahead — sparking programs and initiatives across the Biden-Harris Administration, and across the Department of Defense, where we work closely with the Department of Commerce and many other interagency colleagues on CHIPS implementation.

The CHIPS Act made clear to America — and the world — that the U.S. government is united in its commitment to ensuring that our industrial and scientific powerhouses can deliver what we need to secure the future.

And we’re united beyond the U.S. government.

Take industry: right now we’re living through an era in which a new generation of defense-tech startups and scale-ups is disrupting America’s defense industrial base. That’s welcomed, because competition is good for the taxpayer and good for the warfighter.

So you might expect to see the newcomers and the mainstays always eying each other warily, contesting whose products are better, and rarely collaborating or finding common cause.

Yet that’s not the case with our regional innovation hubs in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest. They’ve given a home to both traditional primes, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX, and newer venture-backed companies, like Anduril, Epirus, and Tignis.

Why? Because chips bring America together.

Or take academia. Right now, in the midst of college football season, fans might expect the likes of Purdue, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Illinois Urbana-Champaign to be at each other’s throats well into January.

But at the Silicon Crossroads hub, all four of those universities are benefitting from a trusted environment that’s fostering collaborative innovation — creating a unified research and prototyping capability where they’re accelerating their unique nanofabrication and test facilities for industry to access.

And you could even say that the Midwest Microelectronics Consortium hub is like the Big Ten Conference, but for semiconductors. (Laughter.) It’s now the largest hub with over 360 members nationwide, hailing from every time zone in the continental United States: Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern. There’s even one hub member in Hawaii.

Why? Because chips bring America together.

Look no further than the Defense-Ready Electronics and Microdevices Superhub, which recently began processing its first outside customer orders. With the nickname “California DREAMS,” it has members from Pasadena, L.A., San Diego, and Santa Barbara — but it also has members from Baltimore, Maryland; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Fort Worth, Texas.

Like I said, chips bring America together. And this work is expanding opportunity as it does so — broadening the number of people and places that support our growing national semiconductor ecosystems, building the workforce pools and talent pipelines that America needs to stay ahead, and bringing new hotbeds of local innovation into the fold.

That’s you. You’re doing this.

At hubs in Massachusetts and New York, you’re helping prepare military veterans for careers in microelectronics.

And you’re also reaching talent at historically-black colleges and universities, like Morgan State University and North Carolina A&T, advancing areas like electromagnetic warfare, 5G and 6G wireless, and commercial leap-ahead technologies.

Across the country, this network of hubs now represents a committed community — of innovators, transition owners, academic leaders, defense industry stakeholders, government program managers, and prototyping and manufacturing facilities, that are together accelerating microelectronics development and production — all to meet DoD’s needs, and many with dual-use applications.

It’s been exciting to see our vision for the Microelectronics Commons become a reality over the last year. And we’re looking forward to the progress that we’ll see in the years to come: as the hubs continue to evolve their operational models, as new projects get awarded and funded, and as our investments deliver for the warfighter at greater speed and scale.

Together, you exemplify what America can do when we’re faced with a pressing challenge.

You’re showing the world — and especially our strategic competitors — what we’re capable of.

And I know you won’t let us down.

Thank you.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Guatemala
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel
- Reviewed: 30 October 2024, 15:01 NZDT
- Still current at: 30 October 2024
Related news features

If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.

Avoid non-essential travel to the following areas due to violent crime (level 3 of 4):
- within 5km of the Mexican border from the Pacific Coast up to and including the Gracias a Dios crossing
- to the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in the department of Huehuetenangodue.
Exercise increased caution elsewhere in Guatemala due to violent crime and civil unrest (level 2 of 4).

Guatemala

Violent Crime
Guatemala has a high violent crime rate. Criminal acts often involve firearms and may include armed robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault and murder. The majority of this crime is drug and gang-related, however, violence can be indiscriminate and occur in areas frequented by tourists.

New Zealanders in Guatemala should remain security conscious and exercise a high degree of caution at all times. This includes in Guatemala City and other major cities, public areas and tourist destinations including Tikal, Petén, Antigua, Volcán de Pacaya and Lake Atitlán.

Sexual assault remains a risk. There have been incidents of drink spiking in tourist areas such as Antigua. We advise New Zealanders to exercise a high degree of caution and avoid travelling alone, especially at night.

Pickpockets and bag snatchers are prevalent in major cities and tourist sites, especially in central markets. We advise New Zealanders to take steps to safeguard and secure their personal belongings.

“Express kidnappings” have also been reported in Guatemala, where criminals abduct a victim for a short amount of time and force them to withdraw funds from their bank account. To reduce the risk of this occurring we recommend you use ATMs that are located within bank branches and during daylight hours only. We also recommend you avoid displaying or wearing items that appear valuable, such as mobile devices and jewellery. No resistance should be given if you are the victim of crime as this could lead to an escalation in violence. Victims have been killed and injured attempting to resist perpetrators.

When travelling to remote areas, including to volcanoes, it may be safer to travel with others or a reputable tour company. The Guatemalan Government PROATUR service offers tourist advice and security escorts for travel around the country.

Road Travel
Inter-city travel can be dangerous, particularly after dark. There have been reports of armed robbery and bus/carjackings affecting tourists on a number of travel routes, including along main highways and the road to and from the international airport in Guatemala City. Armed criminals have been known to set up roadblocks and pose as police officers. If travelling by road, you should keep doors locked, valuables out of sight and windows up at all times. Wherever possible travel in a convoy and avoid all travel after dark.

Travel on local public buses (“chicken buses”) should be avoided for safety and security reasons as they are usually overloaded and there have been armed attacks by gangs and incidents of crime against foreigners on buses. Radio-dispatched or hotel taxis are the safest option as there have been robberies and assaults associated with unofficial taxis. Prepaid vouchers can also be purchased from the INGUAT (tourist office) in the arrivals terminal.

Borders
Special care should also be taken in border areas with Belize, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador and at border crossings due to organised crime and drug-related violence. Allow enough time for border formalities so that you can arrive at your destination before dark.

Seismic Activity
Guatemala lies in a seismically active zone with four active volcanoes, and the possibility of an eruption always exists. Previously volcanic activity has forced evacuation of nearby visitors. Tremors are common, so familiarise yourself with earthquake safety measures. Travellers should be aware of the possibility for travel disruptions in the event of seismic or volcanic activity. Monitor levels of volcanic activity through the local media, and follow any alerts or instructions from local authorities.

Civil Unrest
Protests and demonstrations, including strike action and roadblocks, occur across Guatemala and have the potential to turn violent with little notice. They can cause disruptions to traffic and essential services. We recommend you avoid large gatherings, monitor the local media for updated security information and follow any instructions issued by local authorities, including curfews. Participation in demonstrations by foreigners is illegal and may result in detention and expulsion from the country.

General Travel Advice
Carry a photocopy or certified true copy of your passport as a form of personal identification when travelling.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe and can include lengthy imprisonment or fines.

Do not take photographs of children without permission. Many people in Guatemala fear that children are being kidnapped for adoption or for theft of vital organs, and foreigners have been caught up in violent incidents related to accusations and fears of child kidnapping. Photography of government buildings, airports and military establishments is prohibited, and could result in detention. If in doubt, don’t take a picture.

Medical facilities are limited outside Guatemala City. New Zealanders in Guatemala should have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place that includes provisions for adventure activities and medical evacuation by air.

New Zealanders in Guatemala are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Travel tips

The New Zealand Embassy Mexico City, Mexico is accredited to Guatemala

Street Address Jaime Balmes No 8, 4th Floor, Los Morales, Polanco, Mexico D.F. 11510 Telephone +52 55 5283 9460 Fax +52 55 5283 9480 Email nzmexico@mfat.govt.nz Web Site http://www.mfat.govt.nz/mexico Hours Mon – Fri 0930 – 1400

New Zealand Honorary Consulate Guatemala City, Guatemala

Street Address 13 Calle 7-71, Zona 10, Guatemala City 01010, Guatemala Telephone (+502) 2360-8276 Alternate Telephone (+502) 2360-4961 Fax +502 2431 3742 Email kiwiguatemala@gmail.com

See our regional advice for Central/South America

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MIL OSI New Zealand News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by President Biden on a Campaign Call

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
6:53 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: (In progress) — and your friendship. And thanks to everyone — MS. TERESA: So, President — THE PRESIDENT: — at Voto Latino. (Inaudible.) MS. TERESA: So, President Biden, before we get started — before we get started, I just want to say, literally, three and a half years ago, we — when we were hunkered down, we were doing Zoom calls very similar to this, you came in and you talked to our community, and you said, “Maria Teresa, we are going to have the largest climate change legislation, the biggest infrastructure,” and you listed 20 things, and he’s like, “Will you be there with me?” And I said, “Absolutely.” And I said, “Do you think we’re going to get it done?” You’re like, “Absolutely.” And you know what? You have. So, I’m incredibly grateful for all the work that you’ve done, and I would love for you to say a few words to — to the community based on your ability to deliver every single time. THE PRESIDENT: We got it done. I didn’t get it done. Every major thing we tried to do, from over a trillion dollars in infrastructure to work on communities that need help to health care to — I mean, a whole range of things, and we got it done. As I said earlier, your partnership, your friendship, and your leadership has really made a big difference. And thank everyone at Latino — you know — excuse me, thank everyone at your organization, Voto Latino, for all you do. You know, you’ve always had my back, and I think it’s fair to say I’ve always had yours. This is it. This is it. Seven days to Election Day, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. And that’s not a — that’s not an exaggeration. The choice couldn’t be clearer. Presidential historians tell us the most important thing about a president is character — does he or she have character. Kamala has character. She’ll always stand up for Latinos, but not just Lati- — she’ll stand up for everyone who deserves to be stood up for, and that’s all Americans. Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community. He’s failed businessman. He’s — he only cares about the billionaire friends he has and accumulating wealth for those at the top.
You know, he says immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of our country. Give me a break. He wants to do away with the birthright citizenship. Who the hell else said that in the last 100 years?
And just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Well, let me tell you something. I don’t — I — I don’t know the Puerto Rican that — that I know — or a Puerto Rico, where I’m fr- — in my home state of Delaware, they’re good, decent, honorable people. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been. Now, Trump has di- — tried to divide the country based on race, ethnicity, anything that does harm, to take their eye off the ball about what the terrible things he’s done and will do. But Kamala Harris has fought for all Americans and will be a president for all of America. Look, folks, we’ve gotten a lot done together, as you pointed out. Look, Maria Teresa, we did everything from the infrastructure bill to health care to making sure that veterans are taken care of. I mean, across the board, we’ve done so much. We’ve created over 16 million jobs. More Latinos have jobs than ever before. Look, a quarter of all — here’s the way I look at it. A quarter of all the children in our schools today are Latino — are Latino, a quarter of them. How could we possibly not invest everything we have in a quarter of our population that’s going to be our future? It’s going to make a major, major, major, major piece of what this country looks like and what we think and what we believe. So, these are going to have to be the doctors, the teachers, the scientists, and, yes, presidents. You know, I know we’ve asked a lot of each other, but I’m talking to you about one more thing and asking you, as a favor, all of you listening, to vote. Get out early and vote. Do it early. You know, I — I know the long waits on Election Day are all too common, especially in Latino communities. You know, I cast my ballot yesterday. I stood in line for 40, 45 minutes with all the people in Delaware, and I cast my vote yesterday in my home state. I waited in line with a lot of other people. There was a woman ahead of me, an elderly woman, who was in her 90s in a wheelchair, and it was a heavy wheelchair and the person pushing it was having trouble, so I spent time with her. She — she’s — she’s over 90 years old, and she’s breaking her neck to vote because she knows how important it is. Today is National Vote Early Day. Let me say it again. Today is National Vote Early Day. Remind folks to vote early, to return mail-in ballots. Vote for access to a good education so everyone has an opportunity. Vote to eliminate not — what Trump wants — he wants to eliminate the Department of Education and no early education. We’re fighting like hell, and we’re fighting like hell for early education because, you know, it increases exponentially the prospect of success for our sons and our daughters. Vote to give our daughters the same opportunities we give our sons, instead of taking away their rights. Vote to make sure we maintain a significant health care that would provide for our parents and our families and basic health care for all Americans. Trump is trying like hell to get rid of it. More people have health care now than ever before. He says he’s going to — wants to get rid of it. Vote to continue the progress we made on job growth — the growth in jobs for everyone, including Latinos — a significant job growth. Vote for comprehensive imm- — immigration reform instead of mass deportation. What’s he talkin- — think about it. You know, I travel the world because of my role as president and my knowledge of foreign policy. I get inquiries from other heads of state, “Does Trump really mean it? Are you really going to send out the police to gather up thousands and millions of people and deport them?” What the hell is going on here? Vote for comprehensive immigration reform instead of mass deportation. In short, vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House. He’s a true danger to not just Latinos but to all people, particularly those who are in a minority in this country. You know, we have to vote to elect Kamala as president, Tim Walz as vice president. It’s (inaudible) — it’s never been more important. We’ve known each other a long time, Maria Teresa — a long time. And I want to tell you something I can say without equivocation. Our democracy is at stake. And to translate that into pure English — and that’s wh- — I should be able to speak Spanish, but I can’t. We should be able to talk about what this means. He wants to fundamentally change the way our Constitution works. He wants to take away people’s rights. He wants to concentrate power in the hands of a very few — people like him. So, go to IWillVote.com and make your plan to vote early. Make it today, because voting early (inaudible) now basically through election. Make a plan to vote, please, please, please. Your vote is critical. A Latino vote is critical. Let’s make it heard. I want them to remember who you are and who we are. We’re the United States of America. And there’s nothing, nothing at all beyond our capacity when we do it together. So, God bless you all. And God bless you, Maria Teresa, for all you’ve been doing. We have more to do, but we got to get it done. This el- — this election is the most consequential election we’ve ever voted in, no matter how old or how young you are — this election. God bless you all. And God protect our troops. MS. TERESA: Thank you so much, President Biden. And I have to tell you, what you really — what you are saying is a clarion call. It’s a multicultural democracy, and it’s us, as Americans first, that will save this country and our democracy. And I’m so grateful for the time — THE PRESIDENT: The reason why we’re strong. MS. TERESA: — you’ve spent with us. (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT: We’re the most diverse country, and that’s why we’re strong. That is our strength. MS. TERESA: Right. (Laughs.) THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible) our weakness. It’s our strength. MS. TERESA: No, I call it our superpower — our superpower. And I always say, like, you don’t have to take my word for it. The reason that you have disinformation around race is because the Russians and the Chinese recognize that racism is our Achilles heel, but it — they also recognize that it’s our multiculturalism that is our superpower and our strength. THE PRESIDENT: We bring all the best of every culture together. We really do. It’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact. MS. TERESA: It’s true. THE PRESIDENT: Sometimes I think our folks (inaudible) don’t realize it, but it’s truly a fact. Anyway. God love you for what you’re doing. Keep it going, kid. MS. TERESA: I’m super grateful. THE PRESIDENT: Keep it going. MS. TERESA: Yeah, we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started. THE PRESIDENT: We’re not even close to done. MS. TERESA: (Inaudible.) (Laughs.) THE PRESIDENT: And I may be — I may be leaving office on January 20th, but I’m not leaving. MS. TERESA: I — I — THE PRESIDENT: I’m not leaving. MS. TERESA: You promise? THE PRESIDENT: I’m leaving office, but I’m not leaving this fight. MS. TERESA: (Laughs.) THE PRESIDENT: God love you. Thank you so much. MS. TERESA: I’m going to remind you of that. Much love. Say hello to Jill. THE PRESIDENT: Well, you don’t (inaudible) — I’m going to ask for your help and let me join you. MS. TERESA: I will always be there, President.
7:02 P.M. EDT

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: US elections: Editorial writers at LA Times, Washington Post resign after billionaire owners block Kamala Harris endorsements

Democracy Now!

This is Democracy Now!, “War, Peace and the Presidency.” I am Amy Goodman, with Juan González:

The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post newspapers are facing mounting backlash after the papers’ publishers announced no presidential endorsements would be made this year. The LA Times is owned by billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, and The Washington Post is owned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

National Public Radio (NPR) is reporting more than 200,000 people have cancelled their Washington Post subscriptions, and counting.

A number of journalists have also resigned, including the editorials editor at the Los Angeles Times, Mariel Garza, who wrote, “How could we spend eight years railing against Trump and the danger his leadership poses to the country and then fail to endorse the perfectly decent Democrat challenger — who we previously endorsed for the U.S. Senate?”

Veteran journalists Robert Greene and Karin Klein have also resigned from the L.A. Times editorial board.

At The Washington Post, David Hoffman and Molly Roberts both resigned on Monday from the Post editorial board. Michele Norris also resigned as a Washington Post columnist, and Robert Kagan resigned as editor-at-large.

David Hoffman, who just won a Pulitzer Prize for his series “Annals of Autocracy,” wrote, “I believe we face a very real threat of autocracy in the candidacy of Donald Trump. I find it untenable and unconscionable that we have lost our voice at this perilous moment.”

David Hoffman joins us now, along with former Los Angeles Times editorials editor Mariel Garza.

David Hoffman, let’s begin with you. Explain why you left The Washington Post editorial board. Oh, and at the same time, congratulations on your Pulitzer Prize.

DAVID HOFFMAN: Thank you very much.

I worked for 12 years writing editorials in which I said over and over again, “We cannot be silent in the face of dictatorship, not anywhere.” And I wrote about dissidents who were imprisoned for speaking out.

And I felt that I couldn’t write another editorial decrying silence if we were going to be silent in the face of Trump’s autocracy. And I feel very, very strongly that the campaign has exposed his intention to be an autocrat.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, David Hoffman, is there any precedent for the publisher of The Washington Post overruling their own editorial board?

DAVID HOFFMAN: Yeah, there’s lots of precedent. It’s entirely within the right of the publisher and the owner to do this. Previous owners have often told the editorial board what to say, because we are the voice of the institution and its owner. So, there’s nothing wrong with that.

What’s wrong here is the timing. If they had made this decision early in the year and announced, as a principle, they don’t want to issue endorsements, nobody would have even blinked. A lot of papers don’t. People have rightly questioned whether they actually have any impact.

What matters here was, we are right on the doorstep of the most consequential election in our lifetimes. To pull the plug on the endorsement, to go silent against Trump days before the election, that to me was just unconscionable.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Mariel Garza, could you talk about the situation at the LA Times and your reaction when you heard of the owner’s decision?

MARIEL GARZA: Certainly. It was a long conversation over the course of many weeks. We presented our proposal to endorse Kamala Harris. And, of course, there was — to us, there was no question that we would endorse her. We spent nine years talking about the dangers of Trump, called him unfit in 5 million ways, and Kamala Harris is somebody that we know. She’s a California elected official.

We’ve had a lot of conversations with her. We’ve seen her career evolved. We were going to — we were going to endorse her. And there was no indication that we were going to suddenly shift to a neutral position, certainly not within a few weeks or months of the election.

At first, we didn’t get a clear answer — sounds like it’s the same situation that happened at The Washington Post — until we pressed for one. We presented an outline with — these are the points we’re going to make — and an argument for why not only was it important for us, an editorial board whose mission is to speak truth to power, to stand up to tyranny — our readers expect it.

We’re a very liberal paper. There is no — there is no question what the editorial board believes, that Donald Trump should not be president ever.

AMY GOODMAN: Mariel, I wanted to —

MARIEL GARZA: So, it was perplexing. It was mystifying. It was — go ahead.

AMY GOODMAN: Mariel, I wanted to get your response to the daughter of the LA Times owner. On Saturday, Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong’s daughter Nika Soon-Shiong posted a message online suggesting that her father’s decision was linked to Kamala Harris’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza.

Nika wrote, “Our family made the joint decision not to endorse a presidential candidate. This was the first and only time I have been involved in the process.

“As a citizen of a country openly financing genocide, and as a family that experienced South African Apartheid, the endorsement was an opportunity to repudiate justifications for the widespread targeting of journalists and ongoing war on children,” she wrote.

Her father, Patrick Soon-Shiong, later disputed her claim, saying that she has no role at the Los Angeles Times. Mariel Garza, your response?

MARIEL GARZA: Look, I really don’t know what to say, because I have — that was — if that was the case, it was never communicated to us. I do not know what goes on in the conversation in the Soon-Shiong household. I know that she is not — she does not participate in deliberations of the editorial board, as far as I know. I’ve never spoken to her.

We all know how she feels about Gaza, because she’s a prolific tweeter. So, I really can’t say. And this is part of the bigger problem, is we were never given a reason for why we were being silent.

If there was a reason — say it was Israel — we could have explained that to readers. Instead, we remain silent. And that’s — I mean, this is not a time in American history where anybody can remain silent or neutral.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, David Hoffman, this whole issue has been raised by some critics of Jeff Bezos that his company has a lot of business with the US government, and whether that had any impact on Bezos’s decision. I’m wondering your thoughts.

DAVID HOFFMAN: I can’t be inside his mind. His company does have big business, and he’s acknowledged it’s a complicating factor in his ownership. But I can’t really understand why he made this decision, and I don’t think it’s been very well explained. His explanation published today was that he wants sort of more civic quiet, and he thought an endorsement would add to the sense of anxiety and the poisonous atmosphere.

But I disagree with that. I think, like in the LA Times, I think readers have come to expect us to be a voice of reason, and they’ve looked to endorsements at least for some clarity. So, frankly, I also feel that we’re still lacking an explanation.

AMY GOODMAN: You know, you have subtitle, the slogan of The Washington Post, of course, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” It’s being mocked all over social media. One person wrote, “Hello Darkness My Old Friend.”

David Hoffman, your response to that? But also, you won the Pulitzer Prize for your series “Annals of Autocracy,” and you talk about digital billionaires, as well, and what this means. How does this fit into your investigations?

DAVID HOFFMAN: You know, I would hope everybody would understand and acknowledge that we’ve done a lot of good for democracy and human rights. You know, I’ve had governments react sharply to a single editorial. When we call them out for imprisoning dissidents, it matters that we are very widely read.

And that’s another reason why I feel this was a big mistake, because we actually were on a path, for decades, of championing democracy and human rights as an institution.

And, you know, I have to tell you, I wrote a book in Russia about oligarchs. I understand how difficult it is when you have a lively and independent group of journalists. And ownership really matters. And, you know, we’re not just another widget company.

This is actually a group of very, very deep-thinking and oftentimes very aggressive people that have a desire to change the world. That’s the kind of journalism that The Washington Post has sponsored and engaged in.

In 2023, we published a series of editorials that took a look deep inside how China, Russia, Burma, you know, other places — how these autocracies function. One of the findings was that many of these dictatorships are using technology to clamp down on dissent, even things as tiny as a single tweet.

Young people, young college students are being thrown in prison in Cuba, in Belarus, in Vietnam. And I documented these to show how this technology actually isn’t becoming a force for freedom, but it’s being turned on its head by dictatorship.

AMY GOODMAN: We have to leave it there, David Hoffman, Washington Post reporter, stepped down from the Post editorial board when they refused to endorse a presidential candidate; Mariel Garza, LA Times editorials editor who just resigned.

I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.

This programme is republished under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States Licence.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitfarms Nominates Andrew J. Chang for Election to the Board of Directors

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s prospectus supplement dated March 8, 2024, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated November 10, 2023.

TORONTO, Ontario and BROSSARD, Québec, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF) (“Bitfarms” or the “Company”), a global leader in vertically integrated Bitcoin data center operations, today announced that it has nominated Andrew J. Chang for election to its Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Special Meeting of shareholders to be held on November 20, 2024 at 4:00p.m. Eastern Time (the “Special Meeting”).

Bitfarms Special Meeting of Shareholders
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement between the Company and Riot Platforms, Inc. dated September 23, 2024, at the Special Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve an expansion of the Board from five members to six members, to elect an independent director nominated by the Board to serve as the sixth member of the Board, to ratify the Company’s shareholder rights plan adopted on July 24, 2024, and to conduct such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting.

Shareholders and guests can access the virtual meeting using this link. Additional information regarding the Special Meeting, including how to vote, is available via the proxy materials disseminated to shareholders by Bitfarms and as filed on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov/EDGAR.

Nomination of Andrew J. Chang to Bitfarms Board of Directors
Bitfarms’ Governance and Nominating Committee conducted a thorough director search process and held interviews with several qualified candidates, and, along with the Board, unanimously supports the nomination of Andrew J. Chang for election at the Special Meeting.

Mr. Chang is a 20-year veteran of the technology industry with experience as an investor, operating executive, entrepreneur, and advisor. He was a founding partner of Liberty City Ventures, a leading venture capital fund. Mr. Chang also served as Chief Operating Officer of Paxos, a blockchain infrastructure platform that has powered solutions for PayPal, Stripe, and more. At Paxos, he helped grow the team from 8 to 190 employees and launched the first regulated blockchain focused trust company and the first regulated stablecoin in the U.S. During that time, Paxos raised $500M in capital and its most recent valuation is $2.4 billion.

Before joining Paxos, Andrew served as a Lead Strategic Partner Development Manager at Google, working in business development for display ad products. Prior to that, he was the Chief Operating Officer of ConditionOne and an associate at TechStars (New York). He also has experience managing innovation in research, analytics and digital media at WPP PLC-owned Kantar Video and at 360i, a digital marketing agency.

Andrew earned his MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, where he was President of the student body, and a BS from Boston College.

Brian Howlett, Independent Chairman of the Board, said, “The Bitfarms Board is committed to strong corporate governance and recognizes that a diverse set of skills is required to effectively oversee the execution of the Company’s strategic initiatives. Andrew is an impressive technology industry veteran whose experience and knowledge is highly complementary to that of our current Board. We believe he will be instrumental as we execute our aggressive growth plan, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise to maximize value for Bitfarms shareholders.”

About Bitfarms Ltd.

Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global vertically integrated Bitcoin data center company that contributes its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated data centers with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers. The Company’s proprietary data analytics system delivers best-in-class operational performance and uptime.

Bitfarms currently has 12 operating Bitcoin data centers and two under development situated in four countries: Canada, the United States, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered predominantly by environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable and often underutilized energy infrastructure.

To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

www.bitfarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
https://twitter.com/Bitfarms_io
https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding holding the Special Meeting and the timing thereof, and the matters to be put before the Company’s shareholders at the Special Meeting are forward-looking information.

Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of Bitfarms at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Bitfarms to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the construction and operation of new facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion of existing facilities may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; new miners may not perform up to expectations; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; the ongoing ability to successfully mine Bitcoin is not assured; failure of the equipment upgrades to be installed and operated as planned; the availability of additional power may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; and the power purchase agreements and economics thereof may not be as advantageous as expected. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Bitfarms’ filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov), including the MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 7, 2024 and the MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 filed on August 8, 2024. Although Bitfarms has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by Bitfarms. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Bitfarms undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investor Relations Contact:

Bitfarms
Tracy Krumme
SVP, Head of IR & Corp. Comms.
+1 786-671-5638
tkrumme@bitfarms.com

Media Contact:

Québec: Tact
Louis-Martin Leclerc
+1 418-693-2425
lmleclerc@tactconseil.ca

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “I would be interested in talking to Chinese farmers”

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

Veronika Smirnova studies the Chinese approach to global food security and spent a year at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. In an interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she spoke about Xi Jinping’s flagship initiatives, her interest in FAO’s John Boyd Orr, and her love of malatan and xiao long bao.

How I got started in science

It wasn’t a strategic plan. Science chose me, like many future scientists who enjoyed studying many subjects at school. Surprisingly, math and physics were the easiest for me, but I ended up choosing the humanities.

Around the 9th grade, I thought about what direction I would like to choose in the future, and the topic of international relations seemed interesting to me. At that time, I was not yet interested in Chinese culture, I only heard in the news that Russian-Chinese relations were developing at a rapid pace. When it was time to choose a second language (internationalists always learn two), I spent a long time choosing between German and French. But then something sank in my heart, and I began to study Chinese, not yet knowing what awaited me in the future. This is how my love for China began, I gradually began to take an interest in culture and politics.

In my undergraduate studies at Nizhny Novgorod State University, we had amazing courses on analytics for government bodies. I really liked this subject, and I became interested in working in this field. When I went to the master’s program at HSE, I saw that CCEMI, where I now work, was recruiting interns, and I applied. That’s how my path in science began. Then I went to graduate school and continued scientific research.

What am I studying?

China’s participation in the global food security system. Interest in this topic did not develop immediately. In my bachelor’s degree, I studied more about culture and soft power. But in my master’s degree, I thought: I would like to study something more practice-oriented, which could contribute to the improvement of Russian-Chinese relations. The food topic found me itself.

The HSE education system involves earning several credits for projects during the course of study. In my Master’s program, I chose a project that was conducted by the School of Oriental Studies together with Azbuka Vkusa. Against the backdrop of Covid, we studied how retail is developing in Asian countries. I was doing research on China. And then one of the teachers said that there was an opportunity to do an internship at the UN.

At first I wasn’t interested, but my friend, who had this experience, explained that it was a very interesting track where you act as a manager of an educational course.

I applied for the next intake and was accepted to this project. The internship was online. I helped organize a course for UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) and FAO (FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). The course was designed for officials from the post-Soviet space on the topic of agriculture in international trade agreements.

I thought it was an interesting topic because China and Russia were developing relations in the agricultural sector, so I decided to take it up more seriously and continued to study it in graduate school.

What was my master’s thesis about?

I studied Chinese concepts in global governance. This topic is close to my PhD thesis, where I examine how China promotes its approaches to food security co-operation internationally.

In my master’s degree, I was interested to see how China’s policy ambitions are growing in practical terms, what approaches it offers – whether it is trying to take the place of the United States or is offering something unique.

I decided to look at the theoretical approaches of Chinese scholars and compare them with the statements of Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping. And I saw that, in principle, the same thing happened to the concept of global governance developed in the West as to many other Western concepts in China – from complete rejection to active participation.

At first, China came out with sharp criticism, claiming that the concept was aimed at Western countries controlling global development. Then with interest – how to apply it with Chinese specifics. Then, gradual testing began in specific areas. For example, Chinese scientists separately studied issues of sovereignty, participation of non-profit organizations. And already at the next stage, they proposed their own approaches.

At the same time, Chinese leader Xi Jinping put forward the concept of a Community of Shared Future for Humanity and the flagship Belt and Road Initiative, and Chinese scholars were studying how to develop global governance together with other countries through these projects.

What is the Community of Shared Destiny for Humanity?

Xi Jinping put forward this concept in 2013 — by the way, he first spoke about it in Moscow, at MGIMO. At the first stage, it was quite simple, it could be characterized by his words: “In me there is you, in you there is me.” The world is interconnected, and we need to manage things together, because if one participant starts having problems (as we saw during the pandemic), they arise for others as well.

A more correct translation of the name is “the concept of a common destiny.” “A common destiny” implies unification. And China insists that everyone has the right to follow their own path of development, and this community is expressed in the fact that we develop together, but in different ways.

Why China Believes the World Needs Food Security

China is primarily interested in ensuring internal security. It relies on the concept of self-sufficiency. This issue is particularly sensitive for it. In the past, periods of famine were associated with political instability.

During the Cold War, when China suffered famine, the country also faced a food embargo from the United States. And now China believes that “it must hold the rice bowl firmly in its own hands,” as Xi Jinping says.

But having joined the WTO and participated in world trade, one cannot be completely autonomous. If there are problems in the food security sphere somewhere, it affects everyone. China is interested in maintaining general world stability. It is also developing cooperation in the “south-south” direction. This is cooperation between a developing country and a similar country, where it acts not as a donor, but as a partner, sharing its experience in solving problems.

In the area of food security, China’s experience is a strong case: the country was able to defeat hunger with very few resources, land and water. Therefore, this is one of the key areas for cooperation with developing countries. China focuses on them, and mainly seeks to develop partnerships with them.

Russian-Chinese relations

Our relations are now at the peak of prosperity. During the Cold War, Sinologists had a hard time. Relations were tense, we had different views on what communism should be. The Chinese reacted quite sharply to the debunking of Stalin’s personality cult. We had border conflicts. China then, especially against the backdrop of rapprochement with the United States, diverged even more from the USSR.

I remember my first academic supervisor in my bachelor’s degree told me that he was criticized in his close circle for studying the language of a country where he would never go, with which we are at odds. But he said that he was right. The prerequisites for normalizing relations began to emerge in the Brezhnev era, later the issues of demarcation and delimitation of the border were resolved, economic relations also developed, and now our relations have become the best.

What results and achievements I am proud of

I spent the last year in China, and returned in July. I was accepted to the New Sinology program for postgraduate students. It is designed to develop new approaches to China studies, building connections so that scholars can see their subject up close. I chose Renmin University of China, one of the largest in Beijing. I was able to work on my topic with a Chinese supervisor, Professor Song Wei, who is developing the theoretical framework I used in my work.

My other achievements are not really in the scientific sphere. Within my center, I am actively involved in the implementation of joint humanitarian projects between Russia and China.

We organized a Russian-Chinese summer school for students, and we had a project called “China Perspective,” where students from our department met with China experts and learned how to build a career in cooperation with the PRC.

Basically, my journey of getting to know HSE and CCEIS began with me being a participant in the Russian-Chinese summer school — the 9th intake. And the next time, I was already on the organizing committee. The school was held online because of COVID, but there were many participants, some even joined from Brazil.

What I dream about

I am very interested in getting more field experience. For example, going to Chinese villages and talking to farmers. In China, most agricultural products are still produced on small farmsteads.

Where I was in China

I traveled a lot around China, visited ten cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Xi’an, Luoyang, Tianjin, Chengdu and Chongqing. In Shanghai, colleagues from my center organized a conference of the Valdai Club together with the East China Normal University. I was included in the delegation.

There was also a trip to a conference in Shenzhen, to MSU-PPI – a joint university of Moscow State University and Beijing Polytechnic University. I already went to other cities with friends, to immerse myself in Chinese culture. A guy from India studied with me on the program, we became friends, he was more advanced in studying Chinese culture, and I went on my first trip with him.

Science for me is a way of life, a space of connections. You are constantly looking for something to talk about, something to study.

If I hadn’t become a scientist, I could have become a manager or producer of educational courses in the humanities. I still combine this with my scientific career, but I would have concentrated on it.

Who would I like to meet?

For my dissertation, I would like to meet the first FAO Secretary-General, John Boyd Orr, and talk more about his failed initiatives. My research is more in the area of international cooperation, while his research is specifically looking at how certain policies reduce malnutrition in the world.

I was very inspired by the history of the creation of FAO. Boyd Orr was the first Secretary-General, he stood at its origins. He advocated a comprehensive approach to food security. At that time, food security was considered to be only access to products and their availability. He suggested looking at the problem more broadly and advocated that the newly formed organization should control not only development issues and information collection, but also trade, production, and food delivery.

For example, during World War II, scientists discovered that if you increase the rations for pregnant women, then infant mortality drops sharply. They made several such discoveries, were inspired, and thought that this new knowledge would allow them to significantly reduce hunger within the organization.

But due to the onset of the Cold War, due to the importance and criticality of this topic for the world’s major powers, there was not enough space for trust to be created so that a common supranational structure in the form of a UN institution could control all these processes.

What my typical day looks like

Now my typical day is loaded with work: the last year of graduate school, finishing my dissertation, going to the pre-defense. So I wake up, have breakfast, go to work and sit here for a long time. I solve work issues, and when I have a free minute, I finish the text of the dissertation.

What will I do after my defense?

I will continue working at CCEMI. I think that there will be more time for scientific work. I would like to study the topic of Russian-Chinese agricultural cooperation in more detail. It is also interesting to look at the development of the foodtech sphere in China, startups in this area. I would also try to publish in Chinese journals. They are not taken into account in our systems, which is critical for a postgraduate student, and after the defense this issue will no longer be so acute.

Do I get burnout?

I think it was at the beginning, when I didn’t understand how to combine work and study, but here my colleagues helped. We have a friendly atmosphere in the team, everyone supports each other. I adhere to the approach that there are always many interesting projects, but it is important to refuse most of them and concentrate on the most important, otherwise burnout can occur.

What are my interests besides science?

I love yoga. It helps me maintain a sports regimen during periods of intense work. I also like digital drawing, sometimes I even do something design-related. At the launch stage of our project “Chinese Perspective”, I made posters for the VKontakte group.

Where do I recommend starting your acquaintance with China?

I would recommend looking at VK groups dedicated to China. In our Russian-speaking community, for example, there is a group called “Grey Mocha” that publishes cultural notes about China. The Vyshka Chinese Club also provides a lot of useful information.

China has its own social networks. If you want to watch Chinese videos, you should go not to YouTube, but to Bilibili and Kuaishou. WeChat is a must to communicate with Chinese colleagues. They have an interesting service called “Little Red Book” — something like a combination of Instagram and Telegram, it helped me a lot while traveling around China. You can type in “Tasty places there,” and it will show you. You could even find out which of the many cafeterias at my university serves the best food. Or figure out how to take a photo in the Temple of Heaven without people being visible. But to immerse yourself in the Chinese blogosphere, you need to know the language and understand how it works. If you come to China with only English, it will be more difficult.

The leading contemporary Chinese writer

Probably Mo Yan. In the book “Frogs” he describes the social reality of the “One Family – One Child” era. I also liked the plot of the book “Children of the Herd Age” written by Liu Zhenyun. One of the stories describes how a man gave a large ransom for a woman, and she ran away with this ransom without marrying him, and his sister tries to find her.

Popular Chinese Attractions Among Russians

Beijing, Shanghai and Harbin — because of the proximity of the border. In Beijing, the heritage of ancient culture is interesting: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall of China. In Shanghai, people walk along the embankment, look at the Pearl Tower, there are more monuments of Western culture there. Hainan Island is also popular, especially among residents of Siberia and the Far East. The sea there is very clean. There are many interesting delicacies, for example, candies made from shark meat. Other destinations are for more advanced tourists who are also interested in nature. For example, the province of Sichuan, where pandas live and there are national parks.

Differences between Western and Chinese culture

There are, and very strong ones. In China, they tend to be collectivist, not individualistic. We have the concept of conscience, and they have shame. This is a capacious topic, it is difficult to talk about briefly, but it can be outlined with a series of illustrations by Chinese artist Yan Liu.

What was the last thing I read and watched?

Our colleague Ivan Yuryevich Zuenko recently published a book, “China in the Era of Xi Jinping.” I read it and even attended the presentation.

Because of my dissertation, everything is about China now, and I watch something to support Chinese. For example, the talk show “This is China” with Professor Zhang Weiwei and the program “Round Table” with the popular host Dou Wentao.

Advice to young scientists

Get involved in the scientific community early on, as talking to colleagues helps you understand early on what to watch out for and what new and interesting perspectives there are on the issues you’re studying.

Try to publish and speak at conferences. The sooner you gain such experience, the easier it will be to move along this path. And for a sinologist, it is especially important to have your own knowledge base and know exactly where to find certain materials. Order disciplines and helps in scientific work.

Favorite place in Moscow

VDNKh. I lived there during my first year of graduate school, and often walked there. This place is associated with my first pleasant memories after moving to Moscow.

Favorite places in Beijing

First of all, Beihai Park. Chinese parks are different from ours. When I came there for the first time in the evening, I felt like I was in a fairy tale. I also love Houhai, it’s also in the center, a walking place around the lake. And Qianmen Street, it’s quite lively, there are a lot of Chinese eateries, street food.

At first, I didn’t quite have the right idea of Beijing. I thought it was high-rise and modern. But if you travel around southern cities, you’ll notice that Beijing has many low buildings in the center and it’s not so densely built up. There are hutongs on Qianmen Street – ancient buildings. And a nice coffee shop called Metal Hands.

Chinese cuisine

I like it. I often ate xiao long bao (steamed meat buns like dumplings), malatan (a spicy soup where you put the ingredients yourself), and different types of beef noodles. Because of my Indian friends, I also fell in love with Indian food. But in general, there are a couple of places in Beijing where you can eat Russian food. When I started missing mashed potatoes with a cutlet, it was easy to get them.

Where would I go in China

See the natural attractions near the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing. You need to go there in a group and think everything through in advance. There are two large national parks near Chengdu. And next to Chongqing is the Wulong Karst geological park. And there is also a beautiful place Zhangjiajie, you also need to go there for five days, preferably with a group and a guide.

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.

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Franklin Electric Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

Consolidated net sales of $531.4 million, a decrease of 1% to the prior year
Water Systems and Distribution net sales increased 2% and 1%, respectively, while Fueling Systems net sales decreased 10%
Operating income was $73.5 million with operating margin of 13.8%
GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.17

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its third quarter financial results for fiscal year 2024.

Third quarter 2024 net sales were $531.4 million, compared to third quarter 2023 net sales of $538.4 million. Third quarter 2024 operating income was $73.5 million, compared to third quarter 2023 operating income of $78.1 million. Third quarter 2024 EPS was $1.17, versus EPS in the third quarter 2023 of $1.23.

“Our third quarter results were softer than expected due to continued macro pressure from lower home sales and starts, along with weather being wetter than normal. However, the demand environment remains healthy across our key end markets, which has normalized following record levels of sales in recent years. Margins remained stable due to our disciplined cost management, and we are actively pursuing opportunities to further reduce expenses across the enterprise,” commented Joe Ruzynski, Franklin Electric’s CEO.

“As we close out the year, we expect tempered order activity in-line with seasonal patterns. That said, having spent time with our incredible global team members over the past few months, I am energized by the potential of Franklin Electric. With our wide range of capabilities, strategic footprint, and flexible balance sheet, we have the ability to drive differentiated growth and accelerate productivity for years to come,” concluded Mr. Ruzynski.

Segment Summaries

Water Systems net sales were $302.2 million, a new third quarter record, an increase of $6.4 million or 2 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. The sales increase was driven by higher sales of groundwater products, all other surface products and water treatment products. The sales increase was partially offset by lower sales of large dewatering pumps, which had a record quarter last year. Water Systems operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $52.8 million, a new third quarter record. Third quarter 2023 Water Systems operating income was $52.7 million.

Distribution net sales were $190.8 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 1 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by sales from a recent acquisition. The Distribution segment operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $12.2 million. Third quarter 2023 Distribution operating income was $10.7 million.

Fueling Systems net sales were $69.7 million in the third quarter 2024, a decrease of $8.0 million or 10 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. Sales decreases were driven by lower volumes. Fueling Systems operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $24.1 million. Third quarter 2023 Fueling Systems operating income was $25.8 million.

2024 Guidance

The Company is lowering its sales guidance for full year 2024 to be approximately $2.00 billion and reducing its EPS guidance for full year 2024 to be in the range of $3.75 to $3.85 which incorporates the Company’s first nine months performance and its outlook for the fourth quarter.

Earnings Conference Call

A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The third quarter 2024 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/cp5pmtx9

For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa5e3e952cc2d47c28144fef8683c97e0

All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, October 29, 2024, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

Forward Looking Statements

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Franklin Electric

Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2023 and America’s Climate Leaders 2023 by USA Today.

Franklin Electric Contact:

Jeffery L. Taylor
Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
InvestorRelations@fele.com



FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	Third Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023			September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023

Net sales	$	531,438		$	538,431		$	1,535,596		$	1,592,163

Cost of sales		341,775			352,178			982,556			1,055,164

Gross profit		189,663			186,253			553,040			536,999

Selling, general, and administrative expenses		115,998			107,687			352,290			324,651

Restructuring expense		139			462			139			735

Operating income		73,526			78,104			200,611			211,613

Interest expense		(1,556	)		(2,984	)		(4,980	)		(10,309	)
Other (expense) income, net		(181	)		277			709			1,865
Foreign exchange income (expense), net		88			(2,483	)		(5,228	)		(8,098	)

Income before income taxes		71,877			72,914			191,112			195,071

Income tax expense		16,983			14,746			43,795			39,167

Net income	$	54,894		$	58,168		$	147,317		$	155,904

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(298	)		(370	)		(663	)		(1,181	)

Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$	54,596		$	57,798		$	146,654		$	154,723

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.19		$	1.25		$	3.18		$	3.34
Diluted	$	1.17		$	1.23		$	3.14		$	3.29


FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents	$	106,273	$	84,963
Receivables (net)		272,003		222,418
Inventories		524,647		508,696
Other current assets		39,560		37,718
Total current assets		942,483		853,795

Property, plant, and equipment, net		226,072		229,739
Lease right-of-use assets, net		62,694		57,014
Goodwill and other assets		575,994		587,574
Total assets	$	1,807,243	$	1,728,122


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Accounts payable	$	173,935	$	152,419
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		124,865		104,949
Current lease liability		17,963		17,316
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings		76,402		12,355
Total current liabilities		393,165		287,039

Long-term debt		11,581		88,056
Long-term lease liability		43,484		38,549
Income taxes payable non-current		–		4,837
Deferred income taxes		31,128		29,461
Employee benefit plans		30,781		35,973
Other long-term liabilities		23,219		33,914

Redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,179		1,145

Total equity		1,272,706		1,209,148
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,807,243	$	1,728,122


FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended
(In thousands)
	September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	147,317		$	155,904
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		41,825			39,582
Non-cash lease expense		15,223			12,664
Share-based compensation		10,127			8,449
Other		5,178			10,894
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(51,440	)		(20,427	)
Inventory		(18,760	)		2,537
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		17,218			4,376
Operating leases		(15,700	)		(12,847	)
Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		(3,870	)		(2,902	)
Other		3,968			399

Net cash flows from operating activities		151,086			198,629

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(28,897	)		(30,155	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment		704			–
Acquisitions and investments		(1,151	)		(6,641	)
Other investing activities		37			26

Net cash flows from investing activities		(29,307	)		(36,770	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		(12,477	)		(87,653	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		5,269			9,010
Purchases of common stock		(56,989	)		(29,888	)
Dividends paid		(35,442	)		(31,315	)
Deferred payments for acquisitions		(348	)		(448	)

Net cash flows from financing activities		(99,987	)		(140,294	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(482	)		(4,848	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		21,310			16,717
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		84,963			45,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	106,273		$	62,507

Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary


	Net Sales
	United States			Latin			Europe, Middle			Asia			Total
(in millions)	& Canada			America			East & Africa			Pacific			Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated

Q3 2023		$182.0			$45.5			$48.7			$19.6			$295.8			$77.7			$189.2			($24.3	)		$538.4
Q3 2024		$183.6			$43.5			$53.4			$21.7			$302.2			$69.7			$190.8			($31.3	)		$531.4
Change		$1.6			($2.0	)		$4.7			$2.1			$6.4			($8.0	)		$1.6			($7.0	)		($7.0	)
% Change		1	%		-4	%		10	%		11	%		2	%		-10	%		1	%					-1	%

Foreign currency translation *		($0.3	)		($4.4	)		($0.3	)		$0.0			($5.0	)		$0.1			$0.0						($4.9	)
% Change		0	%		-10	%		-1	%		0	%		-2	%		0	%		0	%					-1	%

Acquisitions		$4.5			$0.0			$0.0			$0.0			$4.5			$0.0			$4.7						$9.2
% Change		2	%		0	%		0	%		0	%		2	%		0	%		2	%					2	%

Volume/Price		($2.6	)		$2.4			$5.0			$2.1			$6.9			($8.1	)		($3.1	)		($7.0	)		($11.3	)
% Change		-1	%		5	%		10	%		11	%		2	%		-10	%		-2	%		29	%		-2	%

*The Company has presented local currency price increases used to offset currency devaluation in the Argentina and Turkey hyperinflationary economies within the foreign currency translation, net row above.

Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary


Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Third Quarter 2024
	Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	52.8		$	24.1		$	12.2		$	(15.6	)	$	73.5
% Operating Income To Net Sales		17.5	%		34.6	%		6.4	%					13.8	%


Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Third Quarter 2023
	Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	52.7		$	25.8		$	10.7		$	(11.1	)	$	78.1
% Operating Income To Net Sales		17.8	%		33.2	%		5.7	%					14.5	%

The MIL Network –

January 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: How Trump’s racist talk of immigrant ‘bad genes’ echoes some of the last century’s darkest ideas about eugenics

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Shannon Bow O’Brien, Associate Professor of Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin

Donald Trump speaks at Madison Square Garden in New York on Oct. 27, 2024. John Salangsang/Invision/AP

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally and the danger he says that poor immigrants of color pose for the U.S. – often using hateful language to make his point.

In early October 2024, Trump took his comments a step further when he questioned immigrants’ faulty genes, saying without support that “Many of them murdered far more than one person, and they are now happily living in the United States. You know, now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.”

It was far from the first time Trump has invoked eugenics – a false, racist theory that some people, and even some races, are genetically superior to others.

In 1988, for example, Trump told Oprah Winfrey during an interview: “You have to be born lucky in the sense that you have to have the right genes.”

In 2016, Trump said that his German roots are the reason behind his greatness:

“I always said that winning is somewhat, maybe, innate. Maybe it’s just something you have; you have the winning gene. Frankly it would be wonderful if you could develop it, but I’m not so sure you can. You know, I’m proud to have that German blood, there’s no question about it. Great stuff.”

And in 2020, Trump again alluded to his belief that bloodlines convey excellence:

“I had an uncle who went to MIT who is a top professor. Dr. John Trump. A genius. It’s in my blood. I’m smart.”

Trump’s repeated and countless comments about white people’s racial superiority to people of color have prompted some comparisons to the Nazis and their ideology of racial superiority.

The Nazis are indeed the most infamous believers of the false idea that white, blue-eyed, blonde-haired people were superior to others – and that the human population should be selectively managed to breed white people.

But the Nazis didn’t originate these ideas. In fact, the Nazis were so impressed with many American eugenic ideas that they incorporated them into their racist, antisemitic laws.

Root of eugenics

The British scientist Francis Galton, a cousin of the evolutionist Charles Darwin, first developed the theory of eugenics in the 1860s, and it gained a foothold in the U.S. and Britain around this time.

Eugenics sets racial identity, and especially white identity, as the most desirable and worthy.

By the dawn of the early 1900s, much of the American eugenics scholarship looked down on American immigrants from any place other than Scandinavia, thus coining the term “Nordicism.”

In the late 19th and early 20th century, immigration to the U.S. was at its peak. In 1890, 14.8% of people living in the U.S. were immigrants. Many people felt concerned about immigration in the U.S., and there were many prominent eugenicists in America. Two of the most famous were Madison Grant and Lothrop Stoddard.

Both were avowed white supremacists who advocated for scientific racism. They wrote popular and widely read books that helped shape American and German law in the 1920s and 1930s.

Grant, Stoddard and other theorists in the U.S. embraced eugenics as a way to justify racial segregation, restrict immigration, enforce sterilization and uphold other systemic inequalities.

Stoddard attacked the United States’ immigration policies in his 1920 book, “The Rising Tide of Color: The Threat Against White World-Supremacy.” He wrote: “If the present drift is not changed, we whites are all ultimately doomed. … We now know that men are not, and never will be equal. We now know that environment and education can only develop what heredity brings.”

Another prominent eugenicist was Harry H. Laughlin, an educator and superintendent of the Eugenics Record Office, a now-defunct research group that gathered biological and social information about the American population.

Laughlin wrote an influential 1922 book, “Eugenical Sterilization in the United States,” which included a chapter on model sterilization laws. The Third Reich used his book and laws as a template when implementing them in Germany during the height of the Nazi period.

Laughlin also regularly testified before U.S. Congress, with this 1922 testimony representative of his message to lawmakers: “Immigration is essentially and fundamentally a racial and biological problem. There are many factors to consider, but, from the standpoint of the future, immigration is primarily a long time national investment in human family stocks.”

Eugenicists, including Laughlin, have long been specifically preoccupied with Norwegian genetics – believing that America is under attack when immigration occurs from non-Nordic countries.

In November 1922, Laughlin said, “Some of our finest and most desirable immigrants are from Norway.”

In 1924, Congress approved the Immigration Act, which severely limited immigration to the U.S., established quotas for immigrants based on nationality and barred immigrants from Asia.

It was only following the end of World War II and the Holocaust that eugenics fell out of favor and lost its prominence in American thinking.

Trump’s recycling of history

Fears over foreign immigrants weakening the U.S. were popular a century ago, and Trump and many of his followers still embrace them today.

Trump has promised that he will carry out mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, forcibly detaining immigrants in camps and removing 1 million people a year.

In April 2024, Trump used dehumanizing language to express his apparent belief that immigrants are unworthy of empathy. “The Democrats say, ‘Please don’t call them animals. They’re humans.’ I said, ‘No, they’re not humans, they’re not humans, they’re animals.’”

Trump has also promoted eugenicists’ obsession with Scandinavia and the superiority of white people.

In 2018, Trump spoke about immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and Africa, saying “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”

In the same meeting, Trump also reportedly suggested that the U.S. should instead draw in more people from countries like Norway.

In April 2024, Trump again embraced this idea of Scandinavian superiority, saying that he wants immigrants from “Nice countries. You know, like Denmark, Switzerland? Do we have any people coming in from Denmark? How about Switzerland? How about Norway?”

A dangerous flash to the past

A person running for president in 1924 would seem more likely than a candidate in 2024 to espouse this now-discredited point of view.

President Calvin Coolidge ran for election on an “America First” platform in 1924, with the slogan only falling out of favor after groups like the Ku Klux Klan embraced it around the same time.

The idea of America First, at the time, denoted American nationalism and exceptionalism – but also was linked to anti-immigration and fascist movements.

When Coolidge signed the heavily restrictive 1924 Immigration Act into law he stated, “America must remain American.”

One hundred years later, Trump calls to mind an America First mentality, including when he regularly reads the lyrics to a song called “The Snake” during his rallies as a way to explain the dangers of welcoming immigrants into the U.S. The civil rights activist Oscar Brown wrote this poem in 1963, and his family has said that Trump misinterprets the song’s words.

‘I saved you,’ cried that woman.

‘And you’ve bit me even, why’

‘You know your bite is poisonous and now I’m going to die.’

‘Oh shut up, silly woman,’ said the reptile with a grin,

‘You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in.’

I have written a book on this and I used many of my citations in Chapter 4 to help develop this piece though I reworded or reframed it.

– ref. How Trump’s racist talk of immigrant ‘bad genes’ echoes some of the last century’s darkest ideas about eugenics – https://theconversation.com/how-trumps-racist-talk-of-immigrant-bad-genes-echoes-some-of-the-last-centurys-darkest-ideas-about-eugenics-241548

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: During COP16, Canada announces new partnerships to support global biodiversity and Indigenous-led action
Source: Government of Canada News (2)

Biodiversity loss poses a fundamental threat to our everyday lives, impacting clean water, air, fertile soil, food, medicine, the global economy and climate control. The climate crisis is affecting biodiversity as events like wildfires become more severe and frequent in Canada and around the world.
October 29, 2024 – Ottawa, Canada – Global Affairs Canada

Biodiversity loss poses a fundamental threat to our everyday lives, impacting clean water, air, fertile soil, food, medicine, the global economy and climate control. The climate crisis is affecting biodiversity as events like wildfires become more severe and frequent in Canada and around the world.

This week, delegations from around the world are meeting at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, to advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to achieve the international community’s goal of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Canada is committed to working with all partners to halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect Indigenous rights. That’s why the Government of Canada supports conservation efforts to increase the resilience of communities in many parts of the world.

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced 7 projects, worth a total of $62 million, that aim to protect biodiversity in regions around the world, with a particular focus in Latin America. For example, Canada’s contribution will increase the resilience to climate change of Indigenous communities in the Amazon through the integration of ancestral practices to address climate variability.

These projects will be implemented in partnership with the following institutions:
- Conservation International – Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
- UN Development Programme – Biodiversity Ecosystem Restoration for Community Resilience in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh project
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Supporting the Protection of Marine Biodiversity Within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean project
- WildAid – Strengthening Marine Law Enforcement in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean project
- World Food Programme – Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ Resilience to Climate Change in Colombia project
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative
- UN Environment Programme – Accelerating Systemic Change for Gender Equality and Biodiversity Conservation Through the National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans Accelerator Partnership
“Canada recognizes that biodiversity loss poses a fundamental threat to people, the planet and the global economy. We share the environment and depend on it for our livelihoods, survival and well-being. Canada’s support for Indigenous peoples, women and girls, and all actors working to counter biodiversity loss will help ensure that our communities and ecosystems are resilient and able to thrive.”

– Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

MIL OSI Canada News –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: Canada announces $62 million for sustaining livelihoods by protecting biodiversity in developing countries

Source: Government of Canada News

Today, during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a total of $62 million in funding for the following projects

Today, during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced a total of $62 million in funding for the following projects:

Project: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
Partner: Conservation International
Funding: $20 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund aims to support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in 3 biodiversity hot spots: the Cerrado in Brazil; countries in the Indo-Burma region, namely Cambodia, Laos and Thailand; and countries in the Tropical Andes region, namely Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Canada’s contribution will advance gender equality by strengthening leadership skills among women conservationists and enhance locally driven conservation in key biodiversity areas through financial and technical support.

Project: Biodiversity Ecosystem Restoration for Community Resilience in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh
Partner: UN Development Programme
Funding: $12.5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

This project aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystems in climate-vulnerable and marginalized communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. The project will work with these communities to develop and implement community-based biodiversity conservation plans. It will also increase women’s role in decision making and in implementing inclusive biodiversity ecosystem restoration plans with local government agencies, as well as improve the restoration of biodiversity ecosystems by vulnerable households and enhance resilient alternative livelihoods of ecosystem-dependent communities to improve market access and biodiversity conservation.

Project: Supporting the Protection of Marine Biodiversity Within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean Through Dark Vessel Detection Technologies
Partner: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Funding: $5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

This project shares Canadian technical expertise to assist Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Peru in protecting their unique marine biodiversity and supporting coastal communities, specifically women, Indigenous people and Afro-descendants. The project will provide access to innovative Canadian satellite surveillance technology by MDA Space Ltd. to support monitoring and enforcement efforts to reduce the threats posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.

Project: Strengthening Marine Law Enforcement in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean
Partner: WildAid
Funding: $5 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 to 2026 to 2027

This project will help improve the protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru. This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of national marine authorities and government-endorsed community organizations to reduce the threats posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The project will increase the effectiveness of maritime law enforcement by advocating for compliance through education, outreach and the creation of community-wide benefits.

Project: Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ Resilience to Climate Change in Colombia
Partner: World Food Programme
Funding: $9.5 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2024 to 2027 to 2028

This project will help increase the resilience of Indigenous communities in the Amazon. The rich and diverse ecosystems in the southern Colombian Amazon rainforest are highly sensitive to climate change, facing rapid alterations in temperature and water availability. This degradation directly affects the food security and nutrition of forest-dependent communities, particularly Indigenous people and women. The project will focus on climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture and environmental management by combining ancestral practices with modern technology. It will promote sustainable agri-food value chains to improve food security and enhance the role of women in climate governance. Project activities will be carried out in Putumayo, Caquetá and Amazonas.

Project: Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative
Partner: International Union for the Conservation of Nature
Funding: $7 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Indigenous leaders and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. Canada’s contribution will help Indigenous people build their capacity to implement gender-responsive biodiversity conservation actions, build leadership skills to engage in global environmental forums and negotiations, and address the barriers Indigenous peoples face in accessing funding for their self-determined climate and biodiversity priorities and actions.

This initiative will take place in Guatemala, Nepal, Panama and Tanzania. It advances the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which emphasizes Indigenous peoples’ right to conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their land.

Project: Accelerating Systemic Change for Gender Equality and Biodiversity Conservation Through the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Accelerator Partnership
Partner: UN Environment Programme
Funding: $3 million for fiscal years 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026

The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) Accelerator Partnership is a global initiative launched in Montréal at COP15. It provides knowledge, technical and financial support to developing countries for the preparation and implementation of their national biodiversity strategies and action plans. NBSAPs are essential road maps that guide decision making and on-the-ground action to conserve and use biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

Canada’s support will help Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros, Costa Rica, Eswatini, Tajikistan, Thailand and Togo develop and update their NBSAPs and ensure that they are gender-responsive and inclusive.

MIL OSI Canada News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Beyond bottled water and sandwiches: What FEMA is doing to get hurricane victims back into their homes

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Shannon Van Zandt, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University

Two people survey their beachfront home and business, which was destroyed in Hurricane Milton, on Manasota Key, Fla., Oct. 13, 2024. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

In a pattern all too familiar to people affected by disasters, hurricanes Helene and Milton have disappeared from the headlines, just a few weeks after these disasters ravaged the Southeast. Although reporters have moved on, recovery is just beginning for people who were displaced.

According to government and private analysts, damages may exceed US$50 billion apiece for these two storms. The Red Cross estimates that over 7,200 homes were destroyed or severely damaged and that more than 1,200 people were living in shelters across the affected states as of late October 2024.

Staffers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been on the ground since before Helene and Milton hit, positioned to help as soon as the storms passed, along with state and local responders. But many people aren’t clear about how FEMA helps or what its responsibilities are.

This may be one reason why the agency has had to dispel rumors about its response to Helene in North Carolina, such as assertions that representatives were coming to seize damaged property.

We study the impacts of natural disasters and how communities recover. Here’s what FEMA does in zones battered by disasters like Helene and Milton:

This FEMA video explains how to initiate claims after federally declared disasters.

Quick cash grants, then funding for repairs

FEMA works year-round helping communities prepare for disasters and training emergency management personnel to respond to these events. In the wake of declared federal disasters, it offers its Public Assistance and Individuals and Households programs.

Public Assistance Program funds are available to state and local governments and some nonprofits to help pay for things like removing debris, preventing further damage and restoring public infrastructure. Support from the Individuals and Households Program may include funds for temporary housing and for repairing or replacing primary residences, as well as provision of temporary housing units for people displaced from their homes.

FEMA launched a new form of flexible aid in March 2024 that provides quick cash payments of $750 per household for immediate needs, such as food, water, gasoline and emergency shelter. Contrary to rumors that have circulated in the wake of Helene, these payments are just a start, not the maximum support that FEMA offers.

Applicants have to file claims to receive further aid. These requests go through extensive review, such as inspections of home damage. FEMA then decides how much aid to provide, if any.

The agency will fund repairs intended to make the home safe to live in, but this work may not be enough to return the home to its pre-disaster state. Currently, the maximum FEMA aid for housing assistance is $42,500, plus an additional $42,500 for other disaster-related needs. For many, these amounts will be insufficient.

FEMA officials say the agency has enough funding to handle immediate response and recovery from both Helene and Milton. However,
until damage from both storms has been fully assessed, it is hard to know whether FEMA will need supplemental funds from Congress to support long-term recovery.

Insurance plays a key role

FEMA’s programs are intended to help with temporary housing and other needs that aren’t covered by insurance. Homeowners are expected to protect themselves against losing their dwellings by insuring their homes.

However, some natural disasters are not always covered by homeowners insurance. They include storm-driven flooding, earthquakes and wind damage from hurricanes and tornadoes.

In places that are vulnerable to these hazards, homeowners may have to seek separate coverage, either from private insurers or government-backed lenders of last resort. Households that don’t purchase special coverage, either because it costs too much or they don’t think they need it, will struggle to recover.

According to FEMA, only 4% of U.S. homeowners have flood insurance, while 99% of U.S. counties have experienced flooding since 1996.

Other federal funding sources

Another federal funding source for housing repair and replacement and other personal property losses is the Small Business Administration. But, unlike FEMA grants that don’t need to be repaid, the SBA only offers low-interest loans.

The main source of funding for long-term housing recovery is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery grants. These funds must be approved by Congress following a disaster, so it can take months or years for funds to reach communities.

Awarding this money as block grants gives state and local governments more flexibility to meet the needs of affected communities. However, it also makes it easier to allocate the funds in ways that don’t address the housing needs of the people they are intended to help.

In recent years, we have seen many cases in which state or local officials have spent these funds inappropriately. For example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour redirected most of his state’s HUD funds to economic development projects, including expanding the port of Gulfport, rather than rebuilding housing for storm survivors.

Fighting to direct funds to those who need them most often requires legal action, extending the wait for hard-hit communities that need it.

Renters have few options

Disaster recovery programs often overlook renters, even though in many areas up to half of residents may rent their homes. Renters have little control over whether their homes are rebuilt at all, much less whether they will be allowed to return to them.

Our research has shown that owner-occupied housing generally recovers much more quickly than rental housing. Apartment buildings also face a more uncertain recovery than single-family homes.

Helping the neediest victims

Even after recent updates to its rules, FEMA still struggles to adequately meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups in society. This includes low-income and minority households, people with disabilities and those who are undocumented.

Poor households often live in homes that are in bad shape or that have gone through previous disasters without repair. In such cases, it can be hard for FEMA inspectors to determine how much damage was caused by the current disaster, which in turn can lead to claims being denied.

In south Texas, after hurricanes Dolly and Ike in 2008, thousands of low-income households’ claims were denied, leading to a class-action lawsuit that homeowners ultimately won. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, many homeowners were denied rebuilding aid because they couldn’t provide a title to prove ownership.

In response, FEMA created new rules in 2023 for demonstrating ownership. For example, FEMA has modified and expanded the types of documentation needed to prove ownership. The agency has also changed eligibility and assistance rules to make it easier to qualify for assistance.

Recent research suggests that, at least on the whole, FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program is not likely to underserve poor households. Nonetheless, as people across the Southeast take stock of losses from this year’s hurricanes, we believe it will be important to pay special attention to under-resourced households, whose needs may not be adequately addressed by federal programs.

Shannon Van Zandt receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the National Institutes for Standards & Technology. She is a board member of Texas Housers, a non-profit that advocates for housing for low-income Texans.

Walter Gillis Peacock research has been funded by a number of agencies including the National Institute for Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

– ref. Beyond bottled water and sandwiches: What FEMA is doing to get hurricane victims back into their homes – https://theconversation.com/beyond-bottled-water-and-sandwiches-what-fema-is-doing-to-get-hurricane-victims-back-into-their-homes-241176

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Haiti’s gangs turn to starving children to bolster their ranks

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amalendu Misra, Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University

After months of relentless gang violence, thousands of killings, and the unseating of a government, Haiti is faced with another heartbreaking issue which seems likely to prolong the Caribbean island nation’s woes for another generation. Testimonies collected by Amnesty International have uncovered how Haiti’s armed gangs are enlisting hundreds of children.

Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, says: “We have documented heartbreaking stories of children forced to work for gangs: from running deliveries to gathering information and performing domestic tasks under threats of violence.”

Boys as young as six are being forced to work as lookouts, made to build street barriers, trained to use machine guns, and are being ordered to participate in kidnappings and other acts of violence. Girls in the possession of gangs are subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence by older male gang members, according to Piquer.

Haiti’s 200 or so armed gangs currently control around 90% of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, and large parts of the country are ungovernable. The collapse in law and order has allowed gang leaders such as Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier to commit terrible atrocities largely unchallenged.

Read more:
Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier: the gangster behind the violence in Haiti who may have political aspirations of his own

The involvement of children in Haiti’s gangs is not exactly new. According to Unicef, between 30% and 50% of children in Haiti are involved with armed groups in some capacity. There are several socioeconomic explanations for this.

Haiti was once the wealthiest European colony in the Americas – and staged the only ever successful slave rebellion against its French colonial masters before declaring independence in 1804. But modern Haiti is a failed state where more than half of the population now live below the World Bank’s poverty line.

According to figures published by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Haiti has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean. One-third of the population goes hungry every day.

Impoverishment and grinding poverty has made the population desperate. With limited options for survival, many children in Haiti are drawn into criminal groups. At times, the promise of a single meal can be enough to attract a child to join a gang.

That said, the breakdown of order throughout the country has undoubtedly encouraged the gangs to increase their recruitment of children. As with most conflict zones, once indoctrinated, child soldiers make for cheap and deadly combatants.

There is also one other specific social factor that contributes to some parents turning a blind eye to their children joining the gangs. The prevalence of child recruitment by gangs can be linked to a Haitian socioeconomic practice called restaveks.

A restavek, which is Creole for “to stay with”, is a child who is given away by impoverished parents with the unwritten understanding that they will be fed, looked after and will not die of hunger. It has become a form of modern-day slavery.

The End Slavery Now project has found that “more than 300,000 children are victims of domestic slavery” in Haiti today. Many of these children regularly undergo forms of physical and sexual violence.

A set pattern

Child sex slavery and sexual abuse are familiar occurrences in societies torn by civil war. It is more likely to take place in settings where the process of governance is weak or non-existent. This situation facilitates conditions of criminal impunity, leading various actors involved in conflict to sexually exploit children.

There is an established pattern of predatory child sexual slavery in Haiti. Following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 and the ensuing cholera epidemic, some members of the UN peacekeeping force stationed in the country were found to have been running a child sex racket.

In 2017, an investigation by the Associated Press revealed at least 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers were involved. It has been documented that girls as young as 11 were sexually abused and impregnated by the peacekeepers, and then subsequently abandoned to raise their children alone. Impoverished and starving Haitian children fell victim to this racket in exchange for scraps of the peacekeepers’ leftover food.

According to its own admission, the UN peacekeeping force was responsible for “transactional sex” during its operations in the country.

Read more:
‘They put a few coins in your hands to drop a baby in you’ – 265 stories of Haitian children abandoned by UN fathers

In 2019, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, branded violence against children as a “silent emergency” of our time. Unfortunately, not much is being done to address this challenge, despite the urgency of Guterres’ statement.

There are many existential challenges facing Haiti. Some of them are homegrown, such as the prevalence of gangs and their terror techniques.

But, as it is located on a geological fault line in a region susceptible to severe storms, Haiti is particularly prone to natural disasters. A devastating earthquake in 2010 and a cholera epidemic in 2016 debilitated the country, and the knock-on effects will last decades.

To make matters worse, Haiti also suffers from a compassion deficit. A lack of real engagement from the international community has contributed to the erosion of the Haitian civil society and left the population at the mercy of gang violence.

Even the Kenyan-led policing mission tasked with restoring order is suffering from inadequate funding and equipment, which has affected its operational capacity. Only around US$400 million (£308 million) of the US$600 million that was originally pledged for the mission has materialised, with the US shouldering a disproportionate financial burden.

Preoccupied with more high-profile conflicts elsewhere, the international community appears to have little interest in the horrors that are unfolding under the tropical sun in the faraway Caribbean.

Amalendu Misra is a recipient of British Academy and Nuffield Foundation fellowships.

– ref. Haiti’s gangs turn to starving children to bolster their ranks – https://theconversation.com/haitis-gangs-turn-to-starving-children-to-bolster-their-ranks-241386

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: From Policy to Action: Anna-Michelle McSorley Focuses on Health Equity for Latinos

Source: US State of Connecticut

Anna-Michelle McSorley, assistant professor of allied health sciences, joined the faculty of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) this fall. Her work focuses on addressing health inequities related to policies and data collection for Latinos, particularly Puerto Ricans.

“I’m well-situated at UConn to engage with the very population that is migrating from that territorial context into the state of Connecticut,” McSorley says.

According to the most recent U.S. Census data, 18.6% of Connecticut’s population is Hispanic or Latino, equating to more than 670,000 people. Puerto Ricans constitute the largest Latino group within this population, representing roughly 45%. Nearly six million Puerto Ricans live outside of Puerto Rico in the States in total.

McSorley is based at UConn Waterbury. Waterbury has a large Latino population, including more than 110,000 Puerto Ricans. This positions McSorley well to engage directly with the communities her research stands to impact.

“It’s the rigor of research translated into policy action to benefit the people we are trying to serve,” McSorley says.

Much of McSorley’s work focuses on Puerto Rico, which is neither an independent nation nor a state, but a territory of the United States.

McSorley, who identifies as a “Nuyorican” raised between New York and Puerto Rico, understood this unique status from a young age. She realized there was something about how she was able to travel between the U.S. and Puerto Rico that was distinct from other Latino communities and countries.

“I started thinking about that very early in my life,” McSorley says. “Then, through my education, I was able to pinpoint this difference, identify policies and structures that affect it, and have the vocabulary to highlight it as part of my research.”

In her research, McSorley takes an expansive view of the federal and local policies, systems, and agencies that affect our health.

“I think of traditional health policies,” McSorley says. “But I also think of others in our social sphere, like economic policies, that also ultimately shape health outcomes.”

McSorley recently contributed three papers to a historical special edition of the American Journal of Public Health – the first to exclusively focus on Latino health issues – in which Puerto Rico is prominently featured.

McSorley was the first author on one of these papers focusing on three key policy areas contributing to health and health care inequities in Puerto Rico: FEMA, Medicaid, and political representation in the island area.

McSorley and her collaborators assess the ways in which the distribution of FEMA aid and Medicaid funds to the territory perpetuate health disparities.

McSorley’s paper also highlights the role of political representation, or the lack thereof, in the differential application of federal policies in the territory of Puerto Rico.

“Yes, these are matters of health policy,” says McSorley. “However, it’s also a question of political processes, potential political biases, and power dynamics.”

As a territory, Puerto Rico is not a self-governing state. Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections. They are governed by policies enacted by the U.S. Congress, thousands of miles away.

In a major election year, Puerto Rico’s unresolved status as a territory could become a mobilizing issue across the Latino community, McSorley says.

Anna-Michelle McSorley from the Department of Allied Health Sciences at UConn Waterbury. (Jason Sheldon/UConn photo)

“After all, what is being observed in Puerto Rico also serves as a sort of ‘canary in the coal mine’ for communities across the States,” says McSorley. “For instance, the Medicaid block grant structure employed in Puerto Rico has been proposed as an alternative Medicaid funding structure in the States. If applied, this could lead to the same types of cuts to benefits we see in Puerto Rico.”

The other papers to which McSorley contributed in this edition focus on improving data collected on Latino groups. Data often treats Latino populations as a monolith. However, this group includes dozens of unique populations.

One paper calls for better empirical methods for data collection and health statistics that more accurately represent the population. The second paper focuses on Latino reproductive health inequities.

“I want to address data gaps,” McSorley says. “How we collect data on Latinos, and Puerto Ricans specifically in the U.S. or the territory matters in terms of honoring different needs of populations.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: CNO Franchetti and MCPON Honea visit NSWC Panama City Division

Source: United States Navy

Franchetti and Honea’s visit provided the opportunity for them to see firsthand how NSWC PCD, one of the Navy’s premiere research, development, test and evaluation laboratories, supports the fleet through capabilities including mine warfare, expeditionary warfare, robotics, autonomous systems, and naval special warfare.

“It was really exciting to see all the amazing work that is going on all around here. I got to walk around and talk with many [people from this workforce], the commands here and the service members,” said Franchetti. “I’m very excited about the future. It is a very bright future thanks to all the great work that you’re doing here today and have been doing for quite some time.”

Franchetti and Honea spent the first part of their visit engaging with sailors and civilians, while learning more about capabilities to ensure wartime readiness.

“NSWC PCD continues to meet mission readiness by ensuring alignment to the CNO’s Navigation Plan, which poises our Navy to enhance the Navy’s long-term advantage,” said Capt. David Back, NSWC PCD commanding officer. “It is an honor to host the CNO and MCPON.”

Dr. Peter Adair, SES, NSWC PCD technical director, emphasized the significance of getting NSWC PCD’s capabilities to the fleet rapidly.

“Taking sailors and marines out of harm’s way and reducing the operational timeline is imperative. Unmanned technologies are how we are going to get there,” said Adair. “It is our role to ensure the fleet has the capabilities they need for today, tomorrow and the Navy after next.”

The visit concluded with a CNO and MCPON-led All Hands Call with sailors and civilians across Naval Support Activity Panama City.

The warfighter is the Navy’s asymmetric advantage. Franchetti’s Navigation Plan 2024 America’s Warfighting Navy outlines the need to build our unmatched warfighting teams—active and reserve Sailors, with Navy civilians—through a relentless focus on training and learning.

“When I am asked ‘who is the warfighter’ many groups of people come to mind. There are our sailors, on the frontline, but there are also those in the behind the scenes that contribute significantly to Project 33 and to the Navy getting real, getting better,” said Franchetti during her All-Hands address. “I am incredibly grateful for the hard work each of you put into ensuring our mission not only advances operationally, but processes continue to improve so we can support the frontline more efficiently and safely.”

Fourteen individuals were recognized for their significant contributions to the Navy, including 13 sailor recognitions for achievements.

CNO and MCPON presented a Meritorious Civilian Service Award to Andrea Perles, leader in mine warfare for the U.S. Navy. NSWC PCD also announced Hospital Corpsman Second Class Nicholas Harburckak from Chambers, Neb., as the Junior Sailor of the Year and Aviation Ordnanceman First Class Kevin Rodriguez from Smithfield, Va., as the Sailor of the Year at this installation.

The visit provided Franchetti and Honea with a richer understanding of NSWC PCD’s mission to support the America’s Warfighting Navy.

“It is your efforts, your dedication, and your expertise that provides us with the capabilities and enablement of manned and unmanned vessels in the fleet,” said Honea. “Whether you are wearing a uniform or intricately in the behind the scenes, the work you do matters.”

This was Franchetti and Honea’s first visit to NSWC PCD as Chief of Naval Operations and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing Set To Be Honored as the Air National Guard’s Top Airlift Unit

Source: US State of Connecticut

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut National Guard’s 103^rd Airlift Wing has been named the best airlift unit in the Air National Guard by the Airlift/Tanker Association, a group of aviation professionals dedicated to the support of military airlift.

The organization is set to honor the unit with its Major General Stanley F.H. Newman Award during its upcoming annual convention in Grapevine, Texas, which is being held from October 31 to November 3, 2024. The award is a prestigious, national accolade that is presented annually to recognize the most outstanding Air National Guard wing contributing to the overall success of the Mobility Air Forces mission.

The 103^rd Airlift Wing was selected for the award for its exceptional service during the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

“Over the years, I have seen the Connecticut National Guard doing amazing things on behalf of the people of Connecticut and the United States, and their professionalism, dependability, and leadership is second to none,” Governor Lamont said. “The 103^rd Airlift Wing has provided exceptional support to our military forces in support of operations all over the world, and their bravery, teamwork, and exemplary skills make Connecticut proud. I congratulate the unit on receiving this national award in recognition of their accomplishments. The 103^rd Airlift Wing is a model of patriotism.”

“On behalf of the entire Connecticut National Guard, I want to extend my congratulations to the men and women of the 103^rd Airlift Wing for earning the prestigious Major General Stanley F.H. Newman Award,” Major General Francis Evon, commander of the Connecticut National Guard, said. “This remarkable achievement is a testament to your unwavering dedication, professionalism, and excellence in service. You continue to exemplify what it means to be part of Connecticut’s Home Team, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way you represent our state and nation. Your commitment to excellence and mission readiness sets the standard, and I look forward to witnessing your continued success.”

The 103^rd Airlift Wing is among the most operationally engaged tactical airlift units in the Total Air Force.

During the period covered by this award, the unit was chosen to lead a four-ship C-130 Hercules force element while in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility during Exercise Mobility Guardian. The unit also provided expert tactical airlift capability for the European Command area of responsibility during exercise Air Defender.

Additionally, the 103^rd Airlift Wing brought a C-130 Hercules aircraft to Uruguay in support of the Connecticut National Guard’s State Partnership Program and United States Southern Command’s campaigning objectives. In May 2024, the unit completed its Air Mobility Command, Inspector General-observed, Readiness Exercise Validation, where the 103^rd Air Wing Inspector General was lauded as the “gold standard” in their ability to plan, execute and report on a largescale combat readiness exercise.

The Airlift/Tanker Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a forum for ensuring American military forces continue to have the air mobility capability required to implement U.S. national security strategy. Members include active duty, guard, reserve, and retired military personnel, both officers and enlisted, as well as civilian and industry supporters of the air mobility mission.

The Major General Stanley F.H. Newman Award is named in honor of a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who was credited with shooting down the last German airplane of World War II. He died on April 22, 2023, at the age of 99.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Lujan Grisham requests Major Disaster Declaration for Chaves County

Source: US State of New Mexico

SANTA FE – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham formally requested a major disaster declaration from President Biden today in response to the flooding that devastated Roswell and Chaves County earlier this month.

The unprecedented storm that began on October 18 severely affected local residents, infrastructure, and essential services. By securing federal assistance, the state aims to provide Chaves County with the resources needed for a full recovery.

“The people of Chaves County need our support as they work to rebuild and recover,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “A federal disaster declaration will bring critical resources to the area, helping families and businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

The Governor’s office continues to coordinate with local officials and emergency management teams to assess and respond to the damage.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Royal Netherlands Navy Team Visits U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Boosting Joint Readiness and Emergency Care Capabilities

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – A medical team from the Royal Netherlands Navy, stationed aboard the Dutch ship HNMLS Holland (P840), visited U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, early October, to tour the facility and assess its capabilities for potential emergency medical support.

The delegation was welcomed by the hospital staff who provided a tour of the medical and emergency department facilities. The visit highlighted the hospital’s readiness to support allied forces in need.

“The hospital is characterized as a ‘Role 2-plus’ facility which means we can provide advanced trauma management, perform emergency surgery, resuscitative care, stabilize patients and manage post-operative care,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Edinson Rosales, the Operational Forces Medical Liaison for the hospital. “This is a greater capability than most ships operating within the area have and is essential in supporting distributed maritime operations.”

The Holland, an offshore patrol vessel used for drug interdiction and anti-piracy operations in the West Indies, has Role 1 medical care capability. Role 1 is defined within the military health system as the ability to provide medical treatment, initial trauma care, and forward resuscitation, not including surgical care. In the event the ship has a need for greater care, it can contact the hospital.

“Next to primary care, the nurse and doctor on board the ship are able to do damage control resuscitation and life-saving interventions for severely wounded or ill patients. However, when a patient needs specialty care, such as surgery or ICU care, we need to transport patients to a hospital,” said Royal Netherlands Navy Lt. Jan-Peter Schaap, the medical doctor aboard the Holland.

“Whenever we get the chance, we like to see the hospitals in the ports that we are visiting. This way we get to know the facilities and the people within the hospital and therefore the medical possibilities,” said Schaap. “We are also responsible for providing medical care to the U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement personnel on board, so it is nice to have a U.S. Naval hospital to contact when we have questions regarding U.S. personnel.”

The hospital’s capabilities and contact information is shared within the port visit documents of the Dutch Navy and is used throughout their fleet.

“This visit underscores the importance of military-to-military support and cooperation,” said hospital Director for Administration, Lt. Cmdr. Jermaine Johnson. “Our ability to work seamlessly with our allies ensures that we can provide critical medical care during emergencies, enhancing our collective mission readiness.”

Military-to-military support strengthens alliances, fosters mutual trust, and enhances operational effectiveness. The visit provided an opportunity for both teams to exchange knowledge and expertise, further solidifying the partnership between the U.S. and Dutch naval forces.

“This collaboration is essential for ensuring that we can provide the best possible care to all service members, regardless of nationality and aligns with Navy Medicine’s global health engagements and the strategic goals of the Navy,” said Johnson.

As global challenges continue to evolve, U.S. Navy leadership emphasizes the importance of robust military alliances and support systems.

“Our hospital is in a remote part of the Caribbean where there isn’t a lot of support. The Naval station is strategic for maritime domain and the hospital is an important aspect of that strategy,” said Rosales.

Force readiness is a priority to ensure warfighters are staying in the fight. Whether this fight is for drug interdiction, migrant operations, humanitarian assistance, or disaster relief, by providing expeditionary medical support we are maintaining a ready force,” said Rosales. “In this case, it’s for a NATO partner who wants to ensure the health, safety, and readiness of their force, and have identified us as way to close a healthcare gap by relying on joint capabilities.”

U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay is a community-based facility providing health care to the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay community that consists of approximately 5,000 military, federal employees, U.S. and foreign national contractors and their families. The hospital also operates the only overseas military home health care facility providing care to elderly Special Category Residents who sought asylum on the installation during the Cuban Revolution.

Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International and Diplomacy Studies, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa

The last two summits of Brics countries have raised questions about the coalition’s identity and purpose. This began to come into focus at the summit hosted by South Africa in 2023, and more acutely at the recent 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia.

At both events the alliance undertook to expand its membership. In 2023, the first five Brics members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – invited Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join. All bar Saudi Arabia have now done so. The 2024 summit pledged to admit 13 more, perhaps as associates or “partner countries”.

On paper, the nine-member Brics+ strikes a powerful pose. It has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world’s people. Combined, its economies are worth more than US$28.5 trillion – about 28% of the global economy. With Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as members, Brics+ produces about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

Based on my research and policy advice to African foreign policy decision-makers, I would argue that there are three possible interpretations of the purpose of Brics+.
- A club of self-interested members – a kind of global south cooperative. What I’d label as a self-help organisation.
- A reforming bloc with a more ambitious goal of improving the workings of the current global order.
- A disrupter, preparing to replace the western-dominated liberal world order.
Analysing the commitments that were made at the meeting in Russia, I would argue that Brics+ sees itself more as a self-interested reformer. It represents the thinking among global south leaders about the nature of global order, and the possibilities of shaping a new order. This, as the world moves away from the financially dominant, yet declining western order (in terms of moral influence) led by the US. The move is to a multipolar order in which the east plays a leading role.

Read more: Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time

However, the ability of Brics+ to exploit such possibilities is constrained by its make-up and internal inconsistencies. These include a contested identity, incongruous values and lack of resources to convert political commitments into actionable plans.

Summit outcomes

The trend towards closer trade and financial cooperation and coordination stands out as a major achievement of the Kazan summit. Other achievements pertain to global governance and counter-terrorism.

When it comes to trade and finance, the final communiqué said the following had been agreed:
- adoption of local currencies in trade and financial transactions. The Kazan Declaration notes the benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments. The guiding principle would be minimal trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.
- establishment of a cross-border payment system. The declaration encourages correspondent banking networks within Brics, and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with the Brics Cross-Border Payments Initiative. This is voluntary and nonbinding and is to be discussed further.
- creation of an enhanced roles for the New Development Bank, such as promoting infrastructure and sustainable development.
- a proposed Brics Grain Exchange, to improve food security through enhanced trade in agricultural commodities.
All nine Brics+ countries committed themselves to the principles of the UN Charter – peace and security, human rights, the rule of law, and development – primarily as a response to the western unilateral sanctions.

Read more: South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances – it needs Russia, China and the west

The summit emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail over conflict in, among other places, the Middle East, Sudan, Haiti and Afghanistan.

Faultlines and tensions

Despite the positive tone of the Kazan declaration, there are serious structural fault lines and tensions inherent in the architecture and behaviour of Brics+. These might limit its ambitions to be a meaningful change agent.

The members don’t even agree on the definition of Brics+. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa calls it a platform. Others talk of a group (Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi) or a family (Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jianan).

So what could it be?

Brics+ is state-driven – with civil society on the margins. It reminds one of the African Union, which pays lip service to citizens’ engagement in decision-making.

One possibility is that it will evolve into an intergovernmental organisation with a constitution that sets up its agencies, functions and purposes. Examples include the World Health Organization, the African Development Bank and the UN general assembly.

But it would need to cohere around shared values. What would they be?

Critics point out that Brics+ consists of democracies (South Africa, Brazil, India), a theocracy (Iran), monarchies (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and authoritarian dictatorships (China, Russia). For South Africa this creates a domestic headache. At the Kazan summit, its president declared Russia a friend and ally. At home, its coalition partner in the government of national unity, the Democratic Alliance, declared Ukraine as a friend and ally.

Read more: When two elephants fight: how the global south uses non-alignment to avoid great power rivalries

There are also marked differences over issues such as the reform of the United Nations. For example, at the recent UN Summit of the Future the consensus was for reform of the UN security council. But will China and Russia, as permanent security council members, agree to more seats, with veto rights, on the council?

As for violent conflict, humanitarian crises, corruption and crime, there is little from the Kazan summit that suggests agreement around action.

Unity of purpose

What about shared interests? A number of Brics+ members and the partner countries maintain close trade ties with the west, which regards Russia and Iran as enemies and China as a global threat.

Some, such as India and South Africa, use the foreign policy notions of strategic ambiguity or active non-alignment to mask the reality of trading with east, west, north and south.

The harsh truth of international relations is there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. The Brics+ alliance will most likely cohere as a global south co-operative, with an innovative self-help agenda, but be reluctant to overturn the current global order from which it desires to benefit more equitably.

Trade-offs and compromises might be necessary to ensure “unity of purpose”. It’s not clear that this loose alliance is close to being able to achieve that.

– Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity
– https://theconversation.com/brics-could-shape-a-new-world-order-but-it-lacks-shared-values-and-a-unified-identity-242308

MIL OSI Africa –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International and Diplomacy Studies, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa

The last two summits of Brics countries have raised questions about the coalition’s identity and purpose. This began to come into focus at the summit hosted by South Africa in 2023, and more acutely at the recent 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia.

At both events the alliance undertook to expand its membership. In 2023, the first five Brics members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – invited Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join. All bar Saudi Arabia have now done so. The 2024 summit pledged to admit 13 more, perhaps as associates or “partner countries”.

On paper, the nine-member Brics+ strikes a powerful pose. It has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world’s people. Combined, its economies are worth more than US$28.5 trillion – about 28% of the global economy. With Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as members, Brics+ produces about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

Based on my research and policy advice to African foreign policy decision-makers, I would argue that there are three possible interpretations of the purpose of Brics+.
- A club of self-interested members – a kind of global south cooperative. What I’d label as a self-help organisation.
- A reforming bloc with a more ambitious goal of improving the workings of the current global order.
- A disrupter, preparing to replace the western-dominated liberal world order.
Analysing the commitments that were made at the meeting in Russia, I would argue that Brics+ sees itself more as a self-interested reformer. It represents the thinking among global south leaders about the nature of global order, and the possibilities of shaping a new order. This, as the world moves away from the financially dominant, yet declining western order (in terms of moral influence) led by the US. The move is to a multipolar order in which the east plays a leading role.

Read more:
Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time

However, the ability of Brics+ to exploit such possibilities is constrained by its make-up and internal inconsistencies. These include a contested identity, incongruous values and lack of resources to convert political commitments into actionable plans.

Summit outcomes

The trend towards closer trade and financial cooperation and coordination stands out as a major achievement of the Kazan summit. Other achievements pertain to global governance and counter-terrorism.

When it comes to trade and finance, the final communiqué said the following had been agreed:
- adoption of local currencies in trade and financial transactions. The Kazan Declaration notes the benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments. The guiding principle would be minimal trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.
- establishment of a cross-border payment system. The declaration encourages correspondent banking networks within Brics, and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with the Brics Cross-Border Payments Initiative. This is voluntary and nonbinding and is to be discussed further.
- creation of an enhanced roles for the New Development Bank, such as promoting infrastructure and sustainable development.
- a proposed Brics Grain Exchange, to improve food security through enhanced trade in agricultural commodities.
All nine Brics+ countries committed themselves to the principles of the UN Charter – peace and security, human rights, the rule of law, and development – primarily as a response to the western unilateral sanctions.

Read more:
South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances – it needs Russia, China and the west

The summit emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail over conflict in, among other places, the Middle East, Sudan, Haiti and Afghanistan.

Faultlines and tensions

Despite the positive tone of the Kazan declaration, there are serious structural fault lines and tensions inherent in the architecture and behaviour of Brics+. These might limit its ambitions to be a meaningful change agent.

The members don’t even agree on the definition of Brics+. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa calls it a platform. Others talk of a group (Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi) or a family (Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jianan).

So what could it be?

Brics+ is state-driven – with civil society on the margins. It reminds one of the African Union, which pays lip service to citizens’ engagement in decision-making.

One possibility is that it will evolve into an intergovernmental organisation with a constitution that sets up its agencies, functions and purposes. Examples include the World Health Organization, the African Development Bank and the UN general assembly.

But it would need to cohere around shared values. What would they be?

Critics point out that Brics+ consists of democracies (South Africa, Brazil, India), a theocracy (Iran), monarchies (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and authoritarian dictatorships (China, Russia). For South Africa this creates a domestic headache. At the Kazan summit, its president declared Russia a friend and ally. At home, its coalition partner in the government of national unity, the Democratic Alliance, declared Ukraine as a friend and ally.

Read more:
When two elephants fight: how the global south uses non-alignment to avoid great power rivalries

There are also marked differences over issues such as the reform of the United Nations. For example, at the recent UN Summit of the Future the consensus was for reform of the UN security council. But will China and Russia, as permanent security council members, agree to more seats, with veto rights, on the council?

As for violent conflict, humanitarian crises, corruption and crime, there is little from the Kazan summit that suggests agreement around action.

Unity of purpose

What about shared interests? A number of Brics+ members and the partner countries maintain close trade ties with the west, which regards Russia and Iran as enemies and China as a global threat.

Some, such as India and South Africa, use the foreign policy notions of strategic ambiguity or active non-alignment to mask the reality of trading with east, west, north and south.

The harsh truth of international relations is there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. The Brics+ alliance will most likely cohere as a global south co-operative, with an innovative self-help agenda, but be reluctant to overturn the current global order from which it desires to benefit more equitably.

Trade-offs and compromises might be necessary to ensure “unity of purpose”. It’s not clear that this loose alliance is close to being able to achieve that.

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

– ref. Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity – https://theconversation.com/brics-could-shape-a-new-world-order-but-it-lacks-shared-values-and-a-unified-identity-242308
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reed – “Britain back on global stage to support nature’s recovery”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

• UK to kickstart new international efforts to protect and restore nature at COP16 biodiversity conference with a renewed drive to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework
A wildflower meadow on the Pembrokeshire coast

Government sets out the path to protecting 30% of land by 2030

Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis will drive coordinated international action on nature

The UK has today (29 October) taken a leading role at the UN Biodiversity COP16 conference announcing an ambitious international package to protect and restore nature across the world.

At the conference, Environment Secretary Steve Reed set out new criteria to meet England’s 30by30 targets.

Achieving 30 percent of land and sea protected for nature is a key pillar of global efforts to halt the decline of nature and create new areas for wildlife with countries around the world signed up to the target. The Government has worked with farming groups and nature organisations to finalise the criteria for land that can count toward 30by30 in England and accelerate progress toward the target.

To ensure the final criteria are applied consistently across land in England, the update also confirms that Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count towards 30by30 if they are in favourable or recovering condition. This revises existing estimates to show that approximately 7.1% of England’s land currently counts towards the target.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at a meeting of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People at COP16, said:

“Nature around the world is declining at an alarming rate.

“At COP16, we have put Britain back on the global stage to support nature’s recovery.

“The UK is calling for high ambition and momentum to reach our international targets to protect and restore the natural world.”

Analysis is now being undertaken to identify further land which may already be meeting the criteria and to understand where action and support is needed to accelerate progress. A 30by30 pilot is planned for later this year, and the government will work with partners to develop a 30by30 delivery strategy in 2025.

The announcement today follows the appointment of Ruth Davis as the very first Special Representative for Nature, alongside Rachel Kyte’s appointment as Special Representative for Climate, a role abolished by the previous government.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

“It is vital that we halt and reverse the decline of Nature. Our planet’s web of life is fundamental for sustaining our health, wealth and security and further declines in the health of the natural world will undermine growth and well-being, threaten water and food supplies and diminish our resilience in the face of a fast-changing climate.

“We must take urgent action to restore nature in England at every level, and the criteria for delivering 30by30 is a welcome step which translates the ambitions of our international commitments into meaningful action on the ground.”

Richard Benwell, Chief Executive at the Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:

“As COP16 nature talks progress in Colombia, the UK is showing real rigour in its approach to 30by30.

“Now high-standard accounting must be matched by high-speed delivery. There’s a credible risk that Governments spend years adding up what should “count” toward 30by30 without actually improving the world.

“We welcome the new commitment to a 30by30 delivery strategy, which must begin without delay. Faster farming reform, spatial planning for nature’s recovery, and large-scale public and private investment will be the hallmarks of an effective delivery plan to meet the target. “

Supercharging nature protection at home and abroad is a key part of the government’s mission to tackle the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss which threatens growth, our future prosperity and wellbeing.

This builds on swift action the government has taken to recover nature at home. This includes committing to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan and new delivery plans to meet targets on air quality, the circular economy and water.

In the first few months of government, we have introduced legislation to put failing water companies under special measures to curb pollution in our waterways and introduced a Flood Resilience Taskforce to speed up the building of flood defences and implement nature-based solutions like planting trees to protect communities against the impact of extreme weather.

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Published 29 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Responds To Arrest Of Fugitive John Panaligan In Mexico For The Murder Of Chicago-Area Attorney Victor Jigar Patel

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Earlier this week, the U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrest of John Panaligan, who was wanted for allegedly murdering attorney Victor Jigar Patel, in Patel’s Northbrook, Illinois, office on December 7, 2016. At the time of his death, Patel, 36, was representing plaintiffs suing Panaligan in civil court. Panaligan’s arrest in Tepic, Mexico, and extradition ends a more than seven-year manhunt that led to Panaligan’s placement on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2020.

“Nearly seven years ago, Mrs. Patel contacted my office for help in pursuing justice for her husband. Since then, I have continually advocated for her family in that effort,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “I want to express my appreciation for the Northbrook Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the other agencies involved for securing the arrest of the fugitive John Panaligan for the first-degree murder of Jigar Patel. It is my sincere hope that this arrest and the upcoming trial will help bring them the closure they deserve.”

Panaligan allegedly lured Patel to his law office by scheduling an appointment using an alias. Authorities believe Panaligan showed up wearing a disguise, which was captured on nearby security cameras, and then killed the victim in his office. Two days later, Panaligan was detained at the Canadian border for allegedly smuggling a firearm into Canada but was eventually allowed to return to the U.S., where he was interviewed by Northbrook Police in relation to Patel’s death. During the investigation, authorities executed multiple search warrants of Panaligan’s belongings and property. Evidence collected gave authorities reason to believe Panaligan was the prime suspect in Patel’s murder.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. Mr. Leslie Voltaire, President of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti [scroll down for French]

Source: United Nations secretary general

The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Leslie Voltaire, President of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti.

The Secretary-General and the President of the Transitional Presidential Council agreed on the need to expedite the political transition towards holding elections.

The Secretary-General appealed to Haitian stakeholders to set aside their differences and work together for Haiti’s peace and security.

The Secretary-General and the President of the Transitional Presidential Council discussed the Haitian authorities’ views on the future of the Multinational Security Support mission.

*****

Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. M. Leslie Voltaire, Président du Conseil Présidentiel de Transition d’Haïti.

Le Secrétaire général et le Président du Conseil présidentiel de transition ont convenu de la nécessité d’accélérer la transition politique vers la tenue d’élections.

Le Secrétaire général a lancé un appel aux parties prenantes haïtiennes pour qu’elles mettent de côté leurs différences et œuvrent ensemble pour la paix et la sécurité en Haïti.

Le Secrétaire général et le Président du Conseil Présidentiel de Transition ont échangé sur la vision des autorités haïtiennes sur l’avenir de la mission multinationale d’appui à la sécurité.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: How Copilots are helping drive innovation to achieve business results that matter

Source: Microsoft

Headline: How Copilots are helping drive innovation to achieve business results that matter

The pace of AI innovation today continues to be extraordinary, and at Microsoft we are focused on helping organizations embrace it. By providing our customers with the most advanced AI technology across every product we build — combined with our unparalleled partner ecosystem and co-innovation approach — we are helping them make real progress in ways that matter. I am proud to share over 100 customer stories from this quarter alone showing how we are helping customers accelerate AI Transformation — no matter where they are on their journey.

Recently during the Microsoft AI Tour, I spoke with customers who shared ways they are adopting Copilots to empower human achievement, democratize intelligence and realize significant business value. I also discussed the concept of an AI-first business process and the differentiation you can drive when bringing together the power of Copilots and human ambition with the autonomous capabilities of an agent. I was inspired by the outcomes our customers have achieved through pragmatic innovation and the progress they are making to evolve the future of industry. I am pleased to share ten stories from the past quarter that illustrate how Copilots have yielded results for our customers, while highlighting AI Transformation experiences in their own words.

Accenture and Avanade have a long history of helping customers implement cutting-edge solutions, with internal testing a key factor in their ability to deliver customizable Microsoft solutions with deep expertise. Putting Microsoft 365 Copilot into the hands of employees helped them realize ways to increase productivity, with 52% of employees seeing a positive impact on the quality of their work, 31% reporting less cognitive fatigue and 84% finding Copilot’s suggestions fair, respectful and non-biased. Accenture also piloted GitHub Copilot to help build better solutions faster with developers spending less time debugging, resulting in 95% of developers reporting they enjoyed coding more.

“Using our extensive Microsoft technology expertise and practical learnings from our own experience implementing Microsoft 365 Copilot, our solutions empower clients to fully tap into Microsoft AI capabilities.”

Veit Siegenheim, Global Future of Work Lead at Avanade

Nigerian multinational financial services group Access Holdings Plc. serves more than 56 million customers across 18 countries. As the business grew and transitioned from a small bank to a major holding company, it adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot to address challenges in data management, meeting productivity and software development. With the integration of Copilot into daily tools, the company significantly enhanced efficiency and engagement across the business. Writing code now takes two hours instead of eight, chatbots can be launched in 10 days instead of three months and presentations can be prepared in 45 minutes instead of six hours. Copilot has also driven a 25% increase in staff engagement during meetings.

“To inspire everyone in the organization to take advantage of AI, we knew we had to integrate AI into the tools people use every day. Microsoft 365 Copilot made the most sense and was a natural fit for us.”

Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director IT and Digitalization at Access Holdings, Plc.

To improve resident services and reinvent customer engagement, the City of Burlington, Ontario, embraced AI and low-code tools to develop new online services that transform and automate internal processes. In just eight weeks, the city utilized Copilot Studio to develop and launch a custom copilot designed to help residents quickly find answers to frequently asked questions. The city also developed a portal that streamlines building permit reviews and enables customers to track the status of their own applications. As a result, the average time it takes to process a permit approval decreased from 15 weeks to 5-7 weeks, allowing more time for city employees to evaluate complex submissions.

“Our staff and citizens do not have to worry about mundane tasks as much anymore. Now they’re able to have rich, collaborative conversations about how to creatively solve problems, making for a much more fulfilling and rewarding work and customer experience.”

Chad MacDonald, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer at the City of Burlington

Finastra empowers financial institutions with leading software for lending, payments, treasury, capital markets and universal banking. To transform its marketing processes, the company used Microsoft 365 Copilot to automate tasks, enhance content creation, improve analytics and personalize customer interactions. Since integrating Copilot, the team reduced time-to-market for campaigns from three months to less than one. Copilot also significantly reduced the time marketers spend generating and gathering insights from each campaign, with employees citing a 20%-50% time savings across tasks like full-funnel analysis, supply management analysis and budget management.

“Copilot makes you more effective because you get better insights, and it makes you more efficient because you can produce results faster. It also makes work more meaningful and fun because your team can focus on what matters — strategy, creativity and everything that sets you apart from the competition.”

Joerg Klueckmann, Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Finastra

GoTo Group provides technology infrastructure and solutions across Indonesia. It is bending the curve on innovation by significantly enhancing productivity and code quality across its engineering teams by adopting GitHub Copilot. With real-time code suggestions, chat assistance and the ability to break down complex coding concepts, the company has saved over seven hours per week and achieved a 30% code acceptance rate within the first month. With 1,000 engineers already using GitHub Copilot, the tool allows them to innovate faster, reduce errors and focus more time on complex tasks to deliver greater value to their users.

“GitHub Copilot has significantly reduced syntax errors and provided helpful autocomplete features, eliminating repetitive tasks and making coding more efficient. This has allowed me to focus on the more complex elements in building great software.”

Nayana Hodi, Engineering Manager at GoTo Group

South Africa’s Milpark Education faced operational challenges when shifting to online learning due to legacy systems slowing down student interactions and support. Through close collaboration with Enterprisecloud, Milpark migrated its back-office infrastructure to Azure within three months, replacing its legacy student admissions system with an extensible, integrated digital platform powered by technologies such as Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio. In just four months, the educational institution improved efficiency and accuracy of student support, decreasing the average resolution time by 50% and escalations by more than 30%.

“Using Copilot, agents are now able to use generative AI to rapidly get up to speed on case details and respond to students using standardized templates that help them provide more personalized and professional responses. The results speak for themselves.”

Shaun Dale, Managing Director at Enterprisecloud

For over two decades, Teladoc Health has been offering a broad spectrum of services to patients using virtual care services — from primary care to chronic condition management. After the rapid growth of telehealth adoption post-pandemic, operational efficiency was instrumental in managing internal processes and external client interactions. By deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot and using Copilot in Power Automate, the company has reshaped business processes to help employees realize greater time savings while enhancing the client experience. The Copilots and agents helped employees save five hours per week and thousands of enterprise hours annually by eliminating mundane daily processes and fostering better cross-department communications, while also helping new employees get set up to run their workflows 20% faster.

“Copilot is changing the way we work. It’s not just about saving time; it’s about enhancing the quality of our work, allowing us to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional care to our members.”

Heather Underhill, SVP Client Experience & Operations at Teladoc Health

International energy company Uniper adopted a single-cloud strategy with Azure as its foundation to drive rapid AI innovation. To help its employees focus on using core competencies, the company implemented Microsoft 365 Copilot to reduce time spent on manual and repetitive tasks, and help workers focus on more pressing work, such as developing enhanced solutions to speed up the energy transition. Its in-house auditors have already increased productivity by 80% by using Copilot to create plans and checklists. Uniper is also using Copilot for Security to help identify risks twice as fast and take appropriate action sooner.

“As an operator of critical infrastructure, we have to contend with a growing number of reports of phishing and attacks by hackers. AI can help us implement a sensible way of managing the sheer number of threats.”

Damian Bunyan, CIO at Uniper

British telecommunications company Vodafone has transformed its workplace productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot, already seeing strong ROI from its adoption. In early trials, Copilot saved employees an average of three hours per week by using the tool to draft emails, summarize meetings and search for information. Copilot is also enriching the employee experience, with 90% of users reporting they are eager to continue using Copilot and 60% citing improved work quality. For Vodafone’s legal and compliance team, Copilot has significantly accelerated the processes of drafting new contracts, reducing the time required to complete this work by one hour. As a result of these efficiency gains, Vodafone is rolling out Copilot to 68,000 employees.

“Our AI journey is focusing on three areas: operational efficiency inside the organization; rewiring the business to provide an enhanced customer experience; and unlocking growth opportunities through new products and services that we can create around generative AI. Copilot will help drive all three.”

Scott Petty, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone

Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global leader in roll-on/roll-off shipping and vehicle logistics, is empowering better decision-making while fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion with AI tools. After participating in an early access program, the company broadly adopted Microsoft Copilot 365 to help streamline processes, enhance data management and improve communication across its 28 countries. To help strengthen Copilot immersion and realize value faster, they introduced a seven-week Microsoft Viva campaign to teach, communicate and measure Copilot adoption. The campaign resulted in 80% of employees using Copilot, with some teams realizing time savings of at least 30 minutes per day. The company also uses Copilot Dashboard to manage usage and gather user feedback, helping demonstrate ROI and measure results outside of time savings alone.

“Copilot changes the way we think and work while keeping us curious and open to embracing opportunities. I think that is the sort of benefit that is not so measurable, but important. So, my time management and structured approach to my everyday work life has been enhanced with Copilot and Viva.”

Martin Hvatum, Senior Global Cash Manager at Wallenius Wilhelmsen

I believe that no other company has a better foundation to facilitate your AI Transformation than Microsoft. As we look ahead to Microsoft Ignite, I am excited by the latest innovation we will announce as a company, and the customer and partner experiences we will share. We remain committed to driving innovation that creates value in ways that matter most to our customers, and believe we are at our best when we serve others. There has never been a better opportunity for us to accomplish our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more than now, and I look forward to the ways we will partner together to help you achieve more with AI.

AI Customer Stories from FY25 Q1

Accelleron: Accelleron turbocharges IT support solutions and resolution times with Power Platform

Agnostic Intelligence: Agnostic Intelligence transforms risk management with Azure OpenAI Service, achieving up to 80% time savings

Alaska Airlines: How Alaska Airlines uses technology to ensure its passengers have a seamless journey from ticket purchase to baggage pickup

Allgeier: Allgeier empowers organizations to own and expand data operations

ANZ Group: ANZ launches first-of-its-kind AI Immersion Centre in partnership with Microsoft

Asahi Europe & International: Asahi Europe & International charts new paths in employee productivity with Microsoft Copilot

Auburn University: Auburn University empowers thousands of students, faculty and staff to explore new ways of using AI with Microsoft Copilot

Avanade: Avanade equips 10,000 employees with Microsoft Fabric skills to help customers become AI-driven and future-ready

Azerbaijan Airlines: Azerbaijan Airlines expands data access to increase efficiency by 70% with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Aztec Group: Aztec Group uses Copilot for Microsoft 365 to enhance the client experience whilst powering efficiencies

Bader Sultan: Bader Sultan uses Microsoft Copilot to boost productivity and serve clients faster

BaptistCare: BaptistCare supports aging Australians and tackles workforce shortages through Microsoft 365 Copilot

Barbeque Mania!: Barbecue Mania! centralizes your data with Microsoft Azure and saves $3.5 million over 5 years

Bank of Montreal: Bank of Montreal reduces costs by 30% with Azure

BlackRock: How BlackRock’s ‘flight crew’ helped Copilot for Microsoft 365 take off

Capita: Capita uses GitHub Copilot to free developers and deliver faster for customers

Cassidy: Cassidy and Azure OpenAI Service: Making AI simple for all

Cdiscount: Cdiscount, Azure OpenAI Service and GitHub Copilot join forces for e-commerce

Celebal: Celebal drives custom business transformations with Microsoft Fabric

Chalhoub Group: Chalhoub Group’s People Analytics team speeds reporting with Microsoft Fabric

ClearBank: ClearBank processes 20 million payments a month — up from 8,000 — with platform built on Azure

Cloud Services: Faster with Fabric: Cloud Services breaks new ground with Microsoft

Coles Supermarkets: Coles Supermarkets embraces AI, cloud applications in 500-plus stores with Azure Stack HCI

Commercial Bank of Dubai: Commercial Bank of Dubai: innovating a future proof banking platform with Microsoft Azure

CPFL: CPFL expands its data repository by 1500% with Mega Lake project on Microsoft Azure

Cummins: Cummins uses Microsoft Purview to automate information governance more efficiently in the age of AI

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA): DEWA pioneers the use of Azure AI Services in delivering utility services

Digi Rogaland: Digi Rogaland prioritizes student safety with Bouvet and Microsoft Fabric

Eastman: Eastman catalyzes cybersecurity defenses with Copilot for Security

E.ON: A modern workspace in transition: E.ON relies on generative AI to manage data floods with Copilot for Microsoft 365

EPAM Systems: Efficiency inside and out: EPAM streamlines communications for teams and clients with Copilot for Microsoft 365

EY: EY redefines sustainability performance management with Microsoft

Fast Shop: Fast Shop consolidated its data platform on Microsoft Azure and is now ready for the era of AI

FIDO Tech: AI tool uses sound to pinpoint leaky pipes, saving precious drinking water

Florida Crystals Corporation: Telecom expenses for Florida Crystals dropped 78% with Teams Phone and Teams Rooms

Four Agency: Four Agency innovates with Microsoft 365 Copilot to deliver better work faster

Fractal: Fractal builds innovative retail and consumer goods solutions with Microsoft’s AI offerings including Azure OpenAI Service

GE Aerospace: GE Aerospace launches company-wide generative AI platform for employees

Georgia Tech Institute for Data Engineering and Science: Georgia Tech is accelerating the future of electric vehicles using Azure OpenAI Service

Hitachi Solutions: Hitachi Solutions transforms internal operations with Microsoft Fabric

IBM Consulting: How IBM Consulting drives AI-powered innovation with Fabric expertise

iLink Digital: Transforming user-driven analytics with Microsoft Fabric

Insight Enterprises: Insight Enterprises achieves 93% Microsoft Copilot use rate, streamlining business operations to pave the way for customer success

Intesa Sanpaolo: Intesa Sanpaolo accrues big cybersecurity dividends with Microsoft Sentinel, Copilot for Security

ITOCHU Corporation: ITOCHU uses Microsoft Fabric and Azure AI Studio to evolve its data analytics dashboard into a service delivering instant recommendations

IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU): IU revolutionizes learning for its students with the AI study buddy Syntea and Azure OpenAI Service

John Cockerill: John Cockerill engages pro developers to build enterprise-wide apps with Power Platform

Kaya Limited: Kaya Limited elevates customer experience and operational efficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power BI

LexisNexis: LexisNexis elevates legal work with AI using Copilot for Microsoft 365

Lionbridge: Lionbridge disrupts localization industry using Azure OpenAI Service and reduces turnaround times by up to 30%

Lotte Hotels & Resorts: Hotelier becomes a citizen developer, building a smart work culture based on Power Platform and hyper-automated work environment

Lumen Technologies: Microsoft and Lumen Technologies partner to power the future of AI and enable digital transformation to benefit hundreds of millions of customers

LS ELECTRIC: LS ELECTRIC uses data to optimize power consumption with Sight Machine and Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing

MAIRE: MAIRE, transforming the energy sector and an entire company culture with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Mandelbulb Technologies: Early-adopter Mandelbulb Technologies finds success with Fabric

McKnight Foundation: McKnight Foundation accelerates its mission and supports community partners with Microsoft 365 Copilot

MISO: MISO undergoes a digital transformation with Microsoft Industry Solutions Delivery

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI): Recognizing the essence of AI and building the future with clients: MHI’s DI to create proprietary architecture using Azure OpenAI Service

Molslinjen: Molslinjen develops an AI-powered dynamic pricing strategy with Azure Databricks

National Australia Bank: National Australia Bank invests in an efficient, cloud-managed future with Windows 11 Enterprise

Nagel-Group: Works agreements and contracts: Nagel-Group uses Azure OpenAI Service to help employees find information

NC Fusion: Elevating experiences with AI, from productivity to personalization

National Football League Players Association: The National Football League Players Association and Xoriant use Azure AI Services to provide protection to players across 32 teams

Northwestern Medicine: Northwestern Medicine deploys DAX Copilot embedded in Epic within its enterprise to improve patient and physician experiences

Oncoclínicas: Oncoclínicas creates web portal and mobile app to store clinical and medical procedures with Azure Cognitive Services

PA Consulting: PA Consulting saves hours a week with Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Copilot for Sales

Parexel: Parexel speeds operational insights by 70% using Microsoft Azure, accelerating data product delivery and reducing manual work

Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC): From weeks to days, hours to seconds: PIC automates work processes to save time with Microsoft 365 Copilot

PKSHA Technology: PKSHA leans on Copilot for Microsoft 365 as part of their team

Planted: Planted combines economic growth and environmental sustainability — with Microsoft Azure OpenAI

Profisee: Profisee eliminates data siloes within Microsoft Fabric

Programa De Atención Domiciliaria: The Home Care Program in Panama helped more than 17,000 people with the power of Microsoft Power Automate

PwC: PwC scales GenAI for enterprise with Microsoft Azure AI

QNET: QNET increases security response efficiency 60 percent with Microsoft Security Solutions

RTI International: Research nonprofit RTI International improves the human condition with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Rijksmuseum: Rijksmuseum transforms how art lovers engage with the museum, with Dynamics 365

Sandvik Coromant: Sandvik Coromant hones sales experience with Microsoft Copilot for Sales

Share.Market: Share.Market redefines the investment experience with Microsoft Azure

Simpson Associates: Simpson Associates spurs justice for at-risk communities with Azure AI

Softchoice: Softchoice harnesses Microsoft Copilot and reduces content creation time by up to 70%, accelerating customer AI journeys with its experience

Sonata Software: Sonata Software goes from early adopter to market leader with Fabric

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS): SWISS targets 30% cost savings, increased passenger satisfaction with Azure

SymphonyAI: SymphonyAI is solving real problems across industries with Azure AI

Syndigo: Syndigo accelerates digital commerce for its customers by more than 40% with Azure

TAL: TAL and Microsoft join forces on strategic technology deal

Tecnológico de Monterrey: Tecnológico de Monterrey university pioneers ambitious AI-powered learning ecosystem

Telstra: Telstra and Microsoft expand strategic partnership to power Australia’s AI future

The University of Sydney: The University of Sydney utilizes the power of Azure OpenAI to allow professors to create their own AI assistants

Torfaen County Borough: Torfaen County Borough Council streamlines organizational support for Social Care using Copilot for Microsoft 365

Trace3: Trace3 expands the realm of clients’ possibilities with Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Copilot

Unilever: Unilever is reinventing the fundamentals of research and development with Azure Quantum Elements

University of Wisconsin: Microsoft collaborates with Mass General Brigham and University of Wisconsin–Madison to further advance AI foundation models for medical imaging

Via: Marketplace, online support, and remote work: Via embraces the digital world supported by Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Azure

Virgin Atlantic: How Virgin Atlantic is flying higher with Copilot

Virgin Money: Redi, set, go: Virgin Money delivers exceptional customer experiences with Microsoft Copilot Studio

Visier: Visier achieves performance improvements of up to five times using Azure OpenAI Service

World2Meet (W2M): World2Meet, the travel company providing a better customer experience and operations with a new virtual assistant powered by Microsoft Azure

Xavier College: Xavier College begins a process of modernizing its student information systems on Dynamics 365 and AI, unlocking powerful insights

ZEISS: More time for research: ZEISS supports businesses and researchers with ZEISS arivis Cloud based on Microsoft Azure

ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF Group): ZF Group builds manufacturing efficiency with over 25,000 apps on Power Platform

Tags: Azure, Azure AI Services, Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Databricks, Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Quantum Elements, Azure Stack HCI, Copilot, Copilot for Sales, Copilot for Security, Copilot Studio, Dax Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft AI Tour, Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva, Power Automate, Power BI

MIL OSI Economics –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Alleged Bay Area Fentanyl Distributor Extradited From Honduras

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

OAKLAND – The government of Honduras extradited Javier Marin-Gonzales, a Honduran national, to the United States this week to appear on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the distribution of fentanyl in the San Francisco Bay Area. The extradition marks the fifth extradition of an alleged drug distributor from Honduras to the Northern District of California this year.

On Aug. 2, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Marin-Gonzales, 25, at the time a resident of Oakland, in connection with the alleged distribution of fentanyl on three separate occasions. The investigation in this case led to charges against multiple East Bay-based defendants who allegedly traveled into the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco to engage in drug dealing.

According to court documents, at the time of the indictment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that Marin-Gonzales had traveled back to Honduras. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to secure the arrest and extradition of Marin-Gonzales. Marin-Gonzales arrived back in the United States on Oct. 23, 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore today for arraignment on the indictment and further proceedings. A detention hearing for Marin-Gonzales is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024.

“We appreciate our law enforcement partners’ efforts, here and abroad, to bring to justice those who are charged with peddling deadly drugs in our communities,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.

“This arrest and extradition marks a significant step in our ongoing fight against the distribution of dangerous drugs like fentanyl,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “By bringing Marin-Gonzales to face justice in the United States, we are sending a clear message: those who profit from the trafficking of deadly substances will be held accountable, no matter where they operate. The FBI remains committed to working with our domestic and international partners to disrupt drug networks that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to hold accountable drug traffickers operating in the Tenderloin,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris. “The extradition of Marin-Gonzales is another example of how strong global partnerships keep our communities safe.”

The indictment charges Marin-Gonzales with the distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi).

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $5,000,000, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after considerations of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Bisesto is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI SAFE Streets Task Force, DEA, and the Concord Police Department.

MIL Security OSI –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Matt Gaetz Introduces “JAIL for Alien Voters Act” to Punish Illegal Alien Voters with Felony Charges

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Matt Gaetz (1st District of Florida)

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) will introduce the “Judicial Action to Impose Liability for Alien Voters Act,” also known as the JAIL for Alien Voters Act, following President Donald Trump’s warning to illegal aliens: “[i]f you vote illegally, you are going to jail!” The legislation, if enacted, would make voting by an illegal alien a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine, which is in line with the criminal penalty for U.S. citizens unlawfully voting.

Earlier this month, in response to the Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) suing the Commonwealth of Virginia for removing illegal aliens from its voter rolls, Rep. Gaetz introduced the “National Motor Voter Clarification Act,” which would ensure that states can remove illegal aliens from their voter rolls at any time. These two pieces of legislation would help to secure U.S. elections against voting by the tens of millions of illegal aliens who have entered illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden-Harris administration.

The legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Andy Ogles (TN-5), Andy Biggs (AZ-5), Mike Collins (GA-10), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), and Barry Moore (AL-02).

“President Donald Trump is right: illegal aliens who vote in our elections should be in jail. It is unacceptable that illegal aliens get lighter sentences for defrauding our elections than U.S. citizens. My legislation, the JAIL for Alien Voters Act, will create parity in punishment for those who commit voter fraud, regardless of immigration status. It’s common sense that U.S. citizens should be the only ones voting in U.S. elections.” said Congressman Gaetz.

Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s bill can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the bill by Fox News can be found HERE.

###

For updates, subscribe to Congressman Gaetz’s newsletter here.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: For many Venezuelan migrants in the US, working all hours means hope for a life back home

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matt Wilde, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Leicester

Migrants seeking asylum at El Paso, Texas, on the US-Mexico border. Ruben2533 / Shutterstock

Donald Trump and his followers have eagerly whipped up anti-immigrant sentiment throughout the US presidential campaign, as a growing number of migrants from Haiti and Venezuela arrive due to continuing crises at home.

Stories about Haitians eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, have ultimately been proven to be false. And accounts of Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment blocks in Aurora, Colorado, have been called “an incredible exaggeration” by the city’s mayor.

Progressives have rightly challenged such accounts. But the absence of an effective counter-narrative about migration cedes ground to regressive messaging that reduces the complexities of human mobility to a zero-sum game between national populations and migrant-others.

As an anthropologist conducting research with Venezuelan migrants in Chicago, two points strike me as vital to changing the terms of this debate.

The first is that among the Venezuelans I work with – most of whom hold what’s known as temporary protected status – the US isn’t a place they ultimately plan to settle. Their overwhelming focus is on earning enough money to build a life back home. The second is that to truly understand migration, we need to place migrant experiences and motivations in historical context.

Working all hours

Two days after the televised presidential debate in September where Trump made repeated references to immigrants, I shared cold beers with eight young Venezuelan men in the backyard of a rented house on Chicago’s South Side.

Each had his own story of the journey to the US, with most making the perilous walk through the Darién Gap – or la selva (“the jungle”), as they call it – before claiming asylum at the Mexico-US border.

Having eventually been granted the right to work, the men are now employed on the same assembly line in a Chicago factory. Many of them also work as delivery drivers after hours.

“I don’t have to defend myself with words or argue with people,” says Hector, a 24-year-old from San Cristóbal in western Venezuela. “I just need to show that my work is good. In that way, I’m contributing to the better image of Venezuelans.”

Read more:
Venezuelan migrants are boosting economic growth in South America, says research

Guillermo, a 38-year-old from Venezuela’s third-largest city, Valencia, works 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week. When he isn’t working or resting, he’s on WhatsApp talking to friends and family, many of whom are among the estimated 8 million Venezuelans who now live abroad due to the country’s economic and political crisis.

Each week, Guillermo sends several hundred dollars home to his father, wife and daughter. He’s also been slowly working towards buying a house in his home city, a goal that motivates him amid the many hardships he’s endured abroad.

“I’m a guerrero [warrior],” he jokes as he recounts his journey since he left Venezuela in 2017. In that time, Guillermo has worked as a street vender in Colombia, a taxi driver under precarious conditions in Chile, and has crossed borders from Bolivia to Mexico on foot.

This determination to return is shared by Guillermo’s Venezuelan friends in Chicago, all of whom hope to go home despite recent allegations of electoral fraud against the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. “With Maduro, without Maduro, with whoever is there … eventually we want to return to our country,” Guillermo explains.

Read more:
Venezuela: Maduro’s declaration of victory isn’t fooling anyone

Guerrilla redistribution

The reasons for Venezuela’s present situation are complex. Few would dispute the claim that Maduro has grossly mismanaged the economy. But there’s a longer backstory rooted in the deep inequalities between the global north and the global south, as well as the country’s vulnerability as a postcolonial petrostate that has repeatedly experienced cycles of boom and bust.

And then there are the sanctions that were levelled against the country by the Trump administration. According to researchers Benedicte Bull and Antulio Rosales, the sanctions have accelerated Maduro’s transformation of Venezuela into what they term “authoritarian capitalism”.

The bitter irony for the young people I work with is that all of this means they have had to travel thousands of miles to have a chance of building a better life at home. For Hector and Guillermo, the biggest difference between the US and countries like Chile or Colombia is the US dollar, the strength of which means their labour goes much further when it’s sent home in the form of remittances.

In this sense, perhaps a better way of understanding these recent arrivals to the US is that, against all the odds, they’re enacting a form of “guerrilla redistribution” in a profoundly unequal world. For progressives, the urgent political challenge is to widen the terms in which we understand what migration is and what it could be on a more just planet.

The research for this article was funded by the British Academy (SRG2324240415). The author thanks Ana Mattioli for support with interview transcriptions.

– ref. For many Venezuelan migrants in the US, working all hours means hope for a life back home – https://theconversation.com/for-many-venezuelan-migrants-in-the-us-working-all-hours-means-hope-for-a-life-back-home-241648

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s Remarks at the High-Level Segment of COP16 on Biodiversity [trilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Presidente Petro,

Gracias por acoger esta importante sesión, aquí en Cali – un microcosmos de la rica biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.

Excelencias, queridos amigos,

La naturaleza es vida.

Y, sin embargo, estamos librando una guerra contra ella.

Una guerra donde no puede haber vencedores.

Cada año, vemos las temperaturas subir más y más.

Cada día, perdemos más especies.

Cada minuto, vertemos un camión de basura de desechos plásticos en nuestros océanos, ríos y lagos.

No se equivoquen.

Así es como se ve una crisis existencial.

Ningún país, rico o pobre, es inmune a la devastación provocada por el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la degradación de la tierra y la contaminación.

Estas crisis ambientales están entrelazadas. No conocen fronteras.

Y están devastando ecosistemas y medios de vida, amenazando la salud humana y socavando el desarrollo sostenible.

Los motores de esta destrucción están arraigados en modelos económicos obsoletos, que alimentan patrones insostenibles de producción y consumo.

Y se ven multiplicados por las desigualdades – en riqueza y poder.

Cada día que pasa, nos acercamos más a puntos de inflexión que podrían alimentar más hambre, desplazamientos y incluso conflictos armados.

Ya hemos alterado el 75% de la superficie terrestre y el 66% de los océanos.

Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,

La biodiversidad es aliada de la humanidad.

Debemos pasar de saquearla a preservarla.

Como he dicho una y otra vez, hacer las paces con la naturaleza es la tarea definitoria del siglo XXI.

Ese es el espíritu de la Declaración de hoy de la Coalición Mundial por la Paz con la Naturaleza:

Un llamado a la acción para mejorar los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales hacia una relación equilibrada y armoniosa con la naturaleza – protegiendo la naturaleza y conservando, restaurando, utilizando y compartiendo de manera sostenible nuestra biodiversidad global.

Un llamado a reconocer el conocimiento vital, las innovaciones y las prácticas de los Pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes, los agricultores y las comunidades locales.

Un llamado por la vida.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace with those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellences, Chers amis,

Notre mission à Cali est claire : accélérer le progrès pour la biodiversité ; mobiliser les ressources nécessaires ; et renforcer le rôle des peuples autochtones, des personnes d’ascendance africaine et des communautés locales.

Nous pouvons – et nous devons – sauvegarder les écosystèmes qui nous font vivre et maintenir les objectifs climatiques à notre portée.

Tout autre chemin est impensable.

Il en va de la survie de la planète – et de la [nôtre].

Choisissons avec sagesse.

Choisissons la vie.

Faisons la paix avec la nature.

Je vous remercie.

****

[All-English]

President Petro,

Thank you for hosting this important session, here in Cali – a microcosm of our planet’s rich biodiversity.

Excellencies, dear friends,

Nature is life.

And yet we are waging a war against it.

A war where there can be no winner.

Every year, we see temperatures climbing higher.

Every day, we lose more species.

Every minute, we dump a garbage truck of plastic waste into our oceans, rivers and lakes.

Make no mistake.

This is what an existential crisis looks like.

No country, rich or poor, is immune to the devastation inflicted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution.

These environmental crises are intertwined. They know no borders.

And they are devastating ecosystems and livelihoods, threatening human health and undermining sustainable development.

The drivers of this destruction are embedded in outdated economic models, fueling unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

They are multiplied by inequalities – in wealth and power.

And with each passing day, we are edging closer to tipping points that could fuel further hunger, displacement, and even armed conflicts.

We have already altered 75% of the Earth’s land surface and 66% of its ocean environments.

Dear friends,

Biodiversity is humanity’s ally.

We must move from plundering it to preserving it.

As I have said time and again, making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.

That is the spirit of today’s Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature:

A call for action to enhance national and international efforts towards a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature – protecting nature and conserving, restoring and sustainably using and sharing our global biodiversity.

A call to recognize the vital knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous people, people of African descent, farmers and local communities.

A call for life.

Excellencies,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace for those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

We are in Cali to accelerate progress, commit resources, and elevate the role of Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

We can – and we must – save the ecosystems that sustain us and keep our climate goals within reach.

The alternative is unthinkable.

The survival of our planet — and our own — is on the line.

Let us choose wisely.

Let us choose life.

Let us make peace with nature.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

January 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s Remarks at the High-Level Segment of COP16 on Biodiversity [trilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English]

Source: United Nations – English

residente Petro,

Gracias por acoger esta importante sesión, aquí en Cali – un microcosmos de la rica biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.

Excelencias, queridos amigos,

La naturaleza es vida.

Y, sin embargo, estamos librando una guerra contra ella.

Una guerra donde no puede haber vencedores.

Cada año, vemos las temperaturas subir más y más.

Cada día, perdemos más especies.

Cada minuto, vertemos un camión de basura de desechos plásticos en nuestros océanos, ríos y lagos.

No se equivoquen.

Así es como se ve una crisis existencial.

Ningún país, rico o pobre, es inmune a la devastación provocada por el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la degradación de la tierra y la contaminación.

Estas crisis ambientales están entrelazadas. No conocen fronteras.

Y están devastando ecosistemas y medios de vida, amenazando la salud humana y socavando el desarrollo sostenible.

Los motores de esta destrucción están arraigados en modelos económicos obsoletos, que alimentan patrones insostenibles de producción y consumo.

Y se ven multiplicados por las desigualdades – en riqueza y poder.

Cada día que pasa, nos acercamos más a puntos de inflexión que podrían alimentar más hambre, desplazamientos y incluso conflictos armados.

Ya hemos alterado el 75% de la superficie terrestre y el 66% de los océanos.

Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,

La biodiversidad es aliada de la humanidad.

Debemos pasar de saquearla a preservarla.

Como he dicho una y otra vez, hacer las paces con la naturaleza es la tarea definitoria del siglo XXI.

Ese es el espíritu de la Declaración de hoy de la Coalición Mundial por la Paz con la Naturaleza:

Un llamado a la acción para mejorar los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales hacia una relación equilibrada y armoniosa con la naturaleza – protegiendo la naturaleza y conservando, restaurando, utilizando y compartiendo de manera sostenible nuestra biodiversidad global.

Un llamado a reconocer el conocimiento vital, las innovaciones y las prácticas de los Pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes, los agricultores y las comunidades locales.

Un llamado por la vida.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace with those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellences, Chers amis,

Notre mission à Cali est claire : accélérer le progrès pour la biodiversité ; mobiliser les ressources nécessaires ; et renforcer le rôle des peuples autochtones, des personnes d’ascendance africaine et des communautés locales.

Nous pouvons – et nous devons – sauvegarder les écosystèmes qui nous font vivre et maintenir les objectifs climatiques à notre portée.

Tout autre chemin est impensable.

Il en va de la survie de la planète – et de la [nôtre].

Choisissons avec sagesse.

Choisissons la vie.

Faisons la paix avec la nature.

Je vous remercie.

****

[All-English]

President Petro,

Thank you for hosting this important session, here in Cali – a microcosm of our planet’s rich biodiversity.

Excellencies, dear friends,

Nature is life.

And yet we are waging a war against it.

A war where there can be no winner.

Every year, we see temperatures climbing higher.

Every day, we lose more species.

Every minute, we dump a garbage truck of plastic waste into our oceans, rivers and lakes.

Make no mistake.

This is what an existential crisis looks like.

No country, rich or poor, is immune to the devastation inflicted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution.

These environmental crises are intertwined. They know no borders.

And they are devastating ecosystems and livelihoods, threatening human health and undermining sustainable development.

The drivers of this destruction are embedded in outdated economic models, fueling unsustainable production and consumption patterns.

They are multiplied by inequalities – in wealth and power.

And with each passing day, we are edging closer to tipping points that could fuel further hunger, displacement, and even armed conflicts.

We have already altered 75% of the Earth’s land surface and 66% of its ocean environments.

Dear friends,

Biodiversity is humanity’s ally.

We must move from plundering it to preserving it.

As I have said time and again, making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.

That is the spirit of today’s Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature:

A call for action to enhance national and international efforts towards a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature – protecting nature and conserving, restoring and sustainably using and sharing our global biodiversity.

A call to recognize the vital knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous people, people of African descent, farmers and local communities.

A call for life.

Excellencies,

Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.

The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.

This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.

Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.

But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways.

First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.

These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…

These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.

Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.

Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.

We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.

And we must bring the private sector on board.

Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.

They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.

By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.

Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.

Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed.

Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.

Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.

They must be protected.

And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.

The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.

Peace with nature means peace for those who protect it.

We must defend the people who defend nature.

Excellencies,

Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.

Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.

Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.

The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.

But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.

Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet.

We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.

Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

We are in Cali to accelerate progress, commit resources, and elevate the role of Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.

We can – and we must – save the ecosystems that sustain us and keep our climate goals within reach.

The alternative is unthinkable.

The survival of our planet — and our own — is on the line.

Let us choose wisely.

Let us choose life.

Let us make peace with nature.

Thank you.

MIL OSI Africa –

January 25, 2025

Category: Latin America

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